High heeled crocs? Fantastico…
July 5, 2009
November 29, 2008
Fashion Drink???
The sheer options of teas, colas, and soy drinks in 7-11 and other convenience locations often baffles me. The tiny spaces house armies of liquid refreshment. Single lines of tea, fruit drinks, boxed milk drink, and colas fill the typical store. Sure, we have a lot of sodas in the US [you might even get 4 versions of an orange cola in some locales] but they are typically walls of Coke or Pepsi products. In HK, they are brightly colored, sport odd combinations, and are an adventure waiting to happen.
Occasionally, they even outdo themselves. Recently, while going to get my usual tea with lemon – I saw this Aloe: FASHION DRINK. Well, I mean, it’s premium – so it’s good, right? I like fashion, and want to be fashionable – so this should help, right? The best part, there is little floating stuff in it. This is often a phenom of Asia, where you get chewy bonuses with your drink [little coconut pieces, cherry pieces, etc]. These, however, did not look chewy nor have a cutesy shape. So, curiosity won and I bought one:
Despite the sketcharific appearance – it is delicious. I mean, enough sugar and flavor can probably make anything great. The little pieces make the liquid a little thicker, but they are hardly even noticible. I assume it is proof that there is really aloe vera [listed in the ingredients] in the drink. Fun times!
August 23, 2008
10 top things about Hong Kong (pt. 2)
#7. Fashion Statements.
Fashion in Hong Kong is unique. The requisite fashion expected in a major city is here – a stroll through Central, particularly during the prime time hours, reveals fancy suited men and high class dresses. Immediately next to this, however, is a style all a person’s own. They may be sporting a trucker hat, with an oversized shirt, and tights. Anime haircuts, unique leggings, bright make-up – nothing is off limits in Hong Kong. Once, while at a restaurant, I saw a woman wearing an Egyptian inspired outfit, with large sunglasses and even larger golden jewelry. Strangely, she didn’t seem out of place at all. Each person seems freer here to express themselves through clothing than any other place I’ve been. That said, sometimes it’s just odd.
#6. Sweating.
That’s right, pure hard core sweating. Imagine a New Mexico heat wave with Arkansas humidity, and you still aren’t even close to Hong Kong. My first night here, I had no AC (my card wouldn’t work) – and I simply felt like I was suffocating in my sleep. I can walk down the hallway of the dormitory and have to change shirts upon returning to my room. Sometimes, the outside air feels like a thin blanket placed over you. With this, though, comes blasting air conditioning that chills bones. Every establishment you enter seems to have the AC set to maximum. This results in your body freaking out constantly, as you go from shop to shop, restaurant to food stop, from oppressive heat to mini-freezers.
#5. Canto-pop.
Arkansans have country music, Bulgarians have Chalga, and Hong Kong has Canto-pop. This has become a particularly humorous thing for me, as I had to sing some Cantonese songs for an Hall orientation game. A popular gameshow in parts of Asia, non-native Cantonese speakers listen to a song, attempt to sing what they are hearing, and contestants attempt to guess what song they are singing. Once I got over my self-conciousness, it was quite fun. I even danced to a Cookies song (it’s hard not to). So, listen and try to sing!
#4. The Food.
Like shopping, the food is everywhere. The high competition also ensures that most of it is really good and really cheap. But really, the most amazing thing is the variety. I have eaten Indian, Turkish, Italian, Chinese, and Vietnamese in just a short few weeks. While I am waiting for those odd foods Cantonese cuisine is famous for (I have been promised chicken feet at some point), the shear plenty of venues here is amazing. Be prepared to see multiple entries based simply around food…
Up next – the top 3!
