HK? A-OK!

First, a medical update:

• Jason - Mostly restored to health. Some coughing and complaints about feeling "weird".
• Mike - Some pain while eating, but not nearly as much as before. Sticking to a diet of soft foods (soup, noodles, rice), water, and tea. Frequently tired, but this is probably a side-effect of the pain killers.

In short, we are both feeling much better. I have an appointment with Dr. T tomorrow at 10:30 AM. If he gives the all clear, I will go back on the doxy. Tickets to Ho Chi Minh city are already bought for Thursday night. Vietnam, here we come.

While Jason has been largely confined to quarters, I managed to get out and about and see a bit of the city. Hong Kong is da bomb. It is definitely a foreign city despite all of the English signage and the general ease of navigation. Sometimes I feel like I am in London but everyone happens to be speaking Cantonese. Other times, I feel like I am in China, but it is filled with Englishmen. The dramatic geography (high rises sandwiched between harbor and hills) is the perfect setting for this kind of fusion.

I have spent a lot of time just wandering the streets. Despite best efforts, I have not been able to find the rumoured piles of pirate DVDs and software. I did buy a few VCDs for Jason to watch during his convalesence, but they were not a particular bargain. Perhaps the most impressive thing about HK streets is the density and variety of shops. In one block, you can get everything from live fish, to dog meat, to computer parts, to doorknobs, to high fashion. Small business is definitely king of the high street in this town. During my wanders, I also took in a few small temples, some nice city parks, and a water polo match.

A few practical matters have been taken care of. The broken camera, a gift for my nephew, and a few other odds and ends (mostly books) are on the way to the US in the care of Federal Express. I found a guy to transfer my 8 NTSC tapes to PAL. He gave a fair price and complemented my camera work. Clothes have also been washed.

This best thing is - today, I got recruited by a fashion scout. This very hip young Cantonese girl stopped me on the street and starting pitching work in commercials. I had to turn her down. My international modeling career has to wait until after the OC. I have suffered from an unbearable glut of confidence since. Nothing puts a skip in your step quite like an attractive (and exotic) woman suggesting you have what it takes to be a male model. Wicked. I'm too sexy for my blog.