Do you have to be so damn horny all the time?
The driver of the bus coming back from the Zhongshan ferry port to Xiaolan would not lay off the horn. He kept on honking whenever he approached someone. I know they don't need to the horn, they know you're coming. How do I know that? Well, if they don't hear the wave vibrations of a vey un-aerodynamic design, they can hear the loud squeeks of crappy construction coming from inside the car down the road. I am sure it sounds like a pack of rabbid groundhogs. I am just waiting to pass up Matt Rose who will proceed to yell uncontrollably at us.
I was coming back from the Ferry port in Zhongshan because I headed to Hong Kong today to get a new Two Month "L" -VISA. I hopped a ferry boat this morning at 10AM which meant I had to be on the bus to the ferry port at 820AM. I got to Hong Kong around 1130AM and I got to the VISA office around 12PM. Since I got the VISA in before 1230pm, I can pick it up again at 630pm and head back.
So, I had many hours to kill in Hong Kong.
First thing was to take a break and figure out what I wanted to do and see. I sat down in the concrete park behind the Mandarin Plaze, looking at the big fountain. There I sat flipping thru "The Sailors Guide to Hong Kong". Hmmm...Man Mo Temple looks pretty kool. Apparently its an old fashioned temple (buddhist) in the middle of the Central business district. That would be an interesting contrast. What else? Oh, need to run to the Apple Store and get DVD Studio Pro 3. I need to get some money to pay for the VISA and I only have about $30HK. So, I head back to the ferry terminal because the Apple Store is at the most southern part of the ferry terminal. I get there and they don't have it. PHOOEY! Then the store rep was like, I will call the Central store. Blah blah blah cantonese blah blah blah cantonese. Yup, they got it down at the Central store. Do you want them to hold it and go pick it up or do you want them to run it up here?
Oh, no, I will go pick it up. I got time to spare anywho. Where is it on the map? Oh, its just a couple blocks from Man Mo temple. Thanks. Later.
So, I head off to the subway. I grabbed a train to central and for some stupid reason, I wasn't paying attention, and I got off at the wrong subway stop. Retard. I was only one stop away so i thought I would walk it. HA HA HA HA HA! Not in Central Hong Kong. I got about a block before I ran into the concrete web of roads/highways. Yeah...I don't want to get lost. This map blows too by the way.
So I head back down to the subway, get some cash outta the ATM and hop on the subway to the correct stop.
Finally get there and hit up the Apple Store. Pretty cool stuff I see they got. Some new things. So I purchase the software and they said it was ok to leave there so I didn't have to lug it everywhere. It was about 2pm or so by that time. So, I left and headed out to find Man Mo Temple. On the way there I noticed alot of junk...I mean antique shops. Lots of Buddhist and Indian stuff. I figured I would check it out on the way back from Man Mo temple. I got to Man Mo temple. It looked interesting being a one story oldfashion temple in between two high rises. I mulled around for about 30 minutes, got some fotos, and headed back.
I stopped by a couple junk...I mean antique shops and looked around. Looking for gifts. Too bad they are all expensive. I found one that I think had maybe an authentic Katana, but it was just old and rusty. It was obviously not stainless steel. Who knows. I stopped by this one shop that was a much classier junk...antique shop. The owner was real nice and I chatted with him for a bit. His english was good. I first started talking to him in a bit of Cantonese, much like I did the cab driver earlier in the day, he took me from the ferry boat to the visa office.
As I chatted with this owner fella, I took his card because I know my folks like this kinda stuff, so I will let them know about it. (you hear...read that mom and dad!? Thinking of you! :-) ) As I talked to him I noticed a picture of him with who I thought was Goldie Hawn. "Um...is that, who I think it is?"
"Yes Yes Yes! [he was very proud] That's Goldie Hawn! [I looked surprised because I wasn't expecting them to find this small place...for all I know, its famous] She was wonderful. So warm, so nice. A great personality. Alot of famous people come here cause Hong Kong is really great. Of all, she was one of my favourites. I love it when famous people come here. Its an honour." He showed me some others. One actress who's name I forget, the guy said that she was very cold. The only time she smiled at all was during the process of taking the picture. Great acting. She looked happy. lol
There was a picture of Tom Cruise wearing what I think was a Top Gun hat. Very goofy. The hat was bigger than his head it seemed like. Apparently he had an entourage with him who refused to allow his picture taken. However, after a bit, Tom said, sure, what would it hurt. Apparently he is good with fans. To bad he isn't really all that good with acting.
Then the guy said Angelina Jolie was in there but refused to have her foto taken. Oh well.
After I said goodbye, I headed out to grab some food. Found a little Vietnamese place. Had some yummy food. Then walked back to the Apple Store. Before I got there, I saw a little shop that was selling cheesy looking Santa Costumes for $100HK. I was in charge of finding Clyde a Santa costume, so I tried it out, seems good enuff and its cheap for Hong Kong. So, i talked her down to $80HK. It prolly was much less to make. Oh well. I got to the Apple Store, grabbed my software and headed out. I hopped the subway to Causeway Bay area for the Times Square mall. The 9 story mall. Its huge. I was looking for some present, but didnt really find anything that I could really purchase.
I walked around and looked at some ugly clothes. I then spent about 5 minutes watching the trailer for the new Stephen Chow movie, "Kung Fu Hustle" it looks awesome. His last movie was awesome too...Shaolin Soccer. From there I passed by a TV store. THey had this gigantic widescreen TV playing Spiderman2, so I got sucked into watching that.
After that was over, I headed out to the subway and to the VISA office. Maybe my VISA is finished. I got there at 6pm and it was done.
Crap. I should have prolly come at 5pm to see if it was finished. Then I could have caught the 6pm ferry. Now I have to wait to 8pm. Oh well. So, I chilled out by the fountain and took some pictures of the christmas lights that were out.
I then walked to the ferry port. Got my ticket and headed back.
And this darn van driver back to Xiaolan won't stop honking...