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Josh Cohen

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Thailand Travel Tips – Important Customs and Traditions

December 1, 2014

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Thailand Travel Tips – Important Customs and Traditions

Thailand is perhaps, in my humble opinion, one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Food, rolling hills, beaches, ancient sites, places to explore, and more. This is one place I wish I had more time to spend in honestly.

Thailand is rich and diverse in its culture and customs and many of them differ from those in the West. So, it’s really important to keep these Thailand travel tips in mind. Oh and also check out my article on incredible museums to see while visiting Bangkok.

Here are a few Thailand Travel Tips to stimulate your craving to find out more about the amazing country, and to put into practice reverentially, while you journey all the way through Thailand.

Thailand Travel Tips – Respect the Royals at All Times

The regal family unit of Thailand is held in extremely elevated esteem. Making disparaging comments on the subject of any of the majestic family members is not in favor of the law. The punishment is 3 to 15 years of custody, which depends on the harshness of the comments.

Thailand Travel Tips – Greet the Right Way

The customary salutation is with the two hands in a prayer like stance with palms pressed together recognized as a wâi. If a Chinese person grants a wâi to you, to be courteous, it is pleasant to wâi back. A wâi is appreciated at all times. Believe me!,

Thailand Travel Tips – Ensure that You Maintain the Dress Code

The majority of Thailand’s points of attraction are of great cultural importance. Places, for instance palaces and temples, are extremely valued by the Thai people because of their religious standards.

Furthermore, there are specific traditions and manners you have to value when you visit these places. For example, you have to be dressed in a “civil dress” while visiting bureaucratic buildings as well as palaces. This indicates no flip-flops, no shorts, and no skirt over their knee for the ladies, also no sleeveless shirts.

Sukhothai historical park, the old town of Thailand

Thailand Travel Tips – Be Wary of Taking off Your Shoes When Needed

Throughout Thailand, if you become aware of a heap of shoes near or at an entry door to a house, supermarket or hotel, you should first take off your shoes prior to entry it is thought to be rude if you do not do so.

Thailand Travel Tips – Books Are of Great Importance

Books and the various other print materials are given a unique rank above all other worldly items. You should not skim books or papers across a bench top; neither should you put items like these on the floor. Make use of the chair or any stand if it is available.,

Thailand Travel Tips – Significance of the Human Body

Thai civilization places definite spiritual significance to numerous parts of the human body. You are not supposed to tip your feet at anyone, touch anyone by means of your feet, prop up your foot up on chairs or desks or stride over citizens who are seated on the floor.

The head, on the contrary, has superior significance. Do not touch any person on their head because this is believed to be extremely rude. In addition, you ought to steer clear of sitting on the cushions meant for the head.

In a number of rural regions, food is frequently served whilst sitting on the floor. Striding over provisions on the floor is an very rude action and will certainly humiliate the Thai host.

Thailand is a remarkable place to visit. Be sure to check with your local government’s about travel to Thailand as from time to time the government has shut down, making travel out of the country difficult. But there is just so much to see and do, explore and enjoy.

Have fun!

Occupy Hong Kong – Timeline of Events and Protests

November 30, 2014

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Occupy Hong Kong – Timeline of Events and Protests

The 2014 protests of Occupy Hong Kong, also known as the Umbrella Revolution, is a series of protests that have been started by the Hong Kong Student Federation along with other political parties of the region against the Chinese government and the NPCSC’s decision to operate the 2017 Chief Executive Elections in Hong Kong using the universal suffrage technique.

Having lived in Hong Kong for 7 years, calling it my home, and being an American, I have an affinity for trying to understand the meaning behind occupy Hong Kong.

Pro-democracy demonstrators hold up their mobile phones during a protest near the Hong Kong government headquarters

In 1997, Hong Kong was returned to Mainland China after being a colony of Great Britain for some 150 years. As part of the agreement and constitution of Hong Kong, Hong Kong would remain an independently run zone with little influence from Mainland China.

Unfortunately this is not the case. As the citizens of Hong Kong are not allowed to vote in general elections and the Chairman of Hong Kong is appointed by Mainland China, the citizen of Hong Kong feel that every year more and more of their rights are being stripped from them. Leaving them in a boat with out a rudder ores. There had been many events leading up to occupy Hong Kong.

I’ll be writing extensively about this but to begin I wanted to give a general overview of the events that have taken place under the tag of the Umbrella Revolution so far.

26^th September 2014: Protestors assembled in the Tim Mei Avenue and crossed the barrier into the Civic Square and were head by Joshua Wong. They were beaten by the police and finally were kicked out of the center in the morning. This was the beginning of occupy Hong Kong.

27^th and 28^th September 2014: The protestors continued with their protests and were bombarded with the terrible tear gas by the police. On the 28^th, they decided to carry out the civil disobedience movement. According to reports issued by the BBC, three thousand protestors packed Mong Kok and around a thousand entered Causeway Bay. The number of the protestors had reached a hundred thousand by then.

29^th September 2014: Police altered their strategy a bit and were ready to negotiate with the protestors. They had arrested around eighty nine protestors by then. Till 1st October, no major event took place.

1^st October 2014: Joshua Wong, along with other prominent members of the Scholarism, attended the flag-raising event held at the famous Golden Bauhinia square on the National day of China. They remained calmed throughout the event.

2^nd October 2014: Canisters containing tear gas were thrown into several buildings. The protestors demanded that they should be allowed to inspect all the vehicles that pass through the barricades to deliver water and food to them.

3^rd October 2014: Violence started in Causeway Bay and Mongkok when huge groups of the anti-Occupy Central members started assaulting the protestors. Eighteen injuries were reported and around twenty protestors were arrested by the police. While rumored, it is supposed that these members were supported by the Central Government in Hong Kong.

4^th October 2014: Patrick Ko laid accusations on the protestors for being hypocrites and counter-protestors conducted a march supporting the police. They wore blue ribbons.

5^th to 8^th October 2014: A group of scholars gave a statement that requested the Chinese and Hong Kong government to fulfill their demands. Alex Chow Yong-kang, who is the leader of the Hong Kong Federation of Students, denied further negotiations until their requests were fulfilled.

9^th October 2014: A meeting with the HKSF was planned for 10^th October, but it was cancelled on the 9^th.

10^th October 2014: Protestors began their protests on the streets once again continuing occupy Hong Kong.

11^th October 2014: The HKFS issued a letter to President Xi Jinping stating that CY Leung did not live up to the expectations of the citizens.

12^th October 2014: CY Leung showed his resentment against the protests and did not consider them as revolution.

13^th and 14^th October 2014: Attacks were launched at the protestors and several activists were arrested as well. The headquarters of the Apple Daily were attacked by the anti-occupy protestors as they accused the paper as biased.

15^th and 16^th October 2014: Traffic on the Lung Wo Road was stopped by the activists and the police resorted to violence to get rid of them.

17^th October 2014: The northern end of the Nathan Road was open for traffic after three whole weeks. However, the activists weren’t allowed to move from the southern side.

18^th October 2014: A battle was fought between the protestors and the police in Mong Kok and around twenty people were injured.

19^th October 2014: Claudio Mo and Fernando Cheung came to Mong Kok to negotiate with the protestors as well as the police to attempt ending occupy Hong Kong.

20^th October 2014: A temporary injunction was granted to the taxi drivers as well as the operators association so they could commute on the Nathan Road.

21^st October 2014: The first negotiation talks were held between the HKFS and the government, but no substantial results were produced.

22^nd October 2014: Violence started again at Mong Kok and CY Leung expressed his anger at the citizens. In my personal opinion this was completely misdirected and misunderstood by Hong Kong leadership only supporting the people of occupy Hong Kong. It is important to remember that the chairman of Hong Kong is appointed by Beijing and as so, has immense pressure from Beijing to end the protests.

23^rd October 2014: The Hong Kong Spidie hung a banner reading ‘I want true universal suffrage’ at the Lion Rock.

24^th to 27^th October 2014: Anti-Occupy supporters wearing blue ribbons assembled at Tsim Sha Tsui and some of these supporters were attacked at Mong Kok. Six activists were arrested for carrying out this assault.

28^th October 2014: the HKFS sent another letter to Carrie Lam requesting for another round of the negotiation talks to end occupy Hong Kong.

29^th to 31^st October 2014: The Chinese People’s political Consultative Conference Standing Committee discussed to remove James Tien as he had urged CY Leung to resign.

November 2014: On 2^nd November, Carrie Lam refuted all the proposals regarding the de-facto referendum.

Till now, these events have taken place and no sound results have been produced of occupy Hong Kong. I personally believe that this is just the tipping point of larger events to come as the Central government of China tries to grip tighter and tighter around Hong Kong.

I do hope that eventually Hong Kong citizens will have the right to vote for their own leaders but much has to change.

Thanks!

Romantic Paris Dinner – Top 5 Spots for Pure Enjoyment

November 29, 2014

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Romantic Paris Dinner – Top 5 Spots for Pure Enjoyment

There is nothing like the quiet of sitting on a balcony somewhere and taking in everything around you, the sounds, the people, and the look of your sweetheart, gazing back at you. While this might seem like a dream, it is just a night out on the town in Paris.

There has never been a city more prone to lovers of every kind and people just looking for a pleasant and fun evening.

Romantic Paris Dinner – Passage 53: Is an ideal location for some sushi and sake. In addition to its very French décor, this restaurant also has some of the best chefs in Paris. Straight from Japan and also from Spain the food has been raved about by every critic between those two different countries.

The head chef boasts two Michelin Stars and the cuisine, is to die for. If you are looking for a perfect fusion of French culture and amazing cuisine, this is your location for a savory experience.

If you have been dreaming of traditional French opulence, with its gold and crème splendor, you will want to dine at Benoit. This is a beautiful traditional French restaurant replete with velvet winged back chairs and frescoes ceilings; this is the perfect place to take a someone for an anniversary or a proposal and an ideal place for a romantic Paris Dinner.

As a part of the Hotel de Ville it is one of the most coveted locations in Paris for opulence, luxury and a great location on the periphery of Marais which will allow you to enjoy the swanky district around the restaurant for the perfect champagne after dinner.

Le Train Bleu is a perfect experience for a romantic Paris Dinner.

Le Train Bleu is for anyone who wants the traditional French cuisine as well as an excellent location to allow you to kick back and relax in perfect old world style. The restaurant is designed to make you feel as though you are in a train station waiting on a train.

There is no better way to be able to kick back and enjoy a traditional meal than in this location with this Victorian surrounding. You will marvel at the food as well as to the cuisine you will be able to experience.

Spring is another location which is perfect for a romantic Paris dinner evening out, although it looks rather unassuming on the outside of the restaurant; this is an excellent place for a cozy menu for two.

The food is prepared completely from scratch every day and it is a mid-range price which means that you will be able to enjoy the very best at an affordable price.

Plan on getting ready to settle into one of the best locations for romance and price, run by an American chef, all of the ingredients are local and offer the best prices as well as the best fare in Paris.

Another hidden gem is Le Chardenoux is also an excellent location for having dinner with your sweetheart. All of the creations on the menu are sourced daily and the menu changes every day depending on what the chef can find in the market. This is right in the middle of the arts district and the perfect place for a night out.

With plenty of amazing choices to choose from, you’ll always be able to find some unique place for a perfect romantic Paris Dinner.

Enjoy!

Restaurants mentioned:

Le Chardenoux is one of my personal favorites and every time my wife and I go to France, we make sure to eat there. Service is great, food even better.

10 Interesting Facts about Hong Kong

November 28, 2014

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10 Interesting Facts about Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a beautiful region in China and is as interesting as it is beautiful. There are numerous interesting facts about Hong Kong that many people are still unaware of. Perhaps this list was one of the top 3 things friends and family would ask me about when we chatted. What’s interesting? What’s fun? How is the city and people different? The list goes on.

While these are just 10, the list can be really much longer. They’re in no particular order but all are Interesting Facts about Hong Kong!

Take a look at ten amazing facts about the city that will surprise you. They surprised me too when I learned about them in Hong Kong.

Meaning of Hong Kong’s Name: Hong Kong’s complete name is Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, also commonly referred to as ‘Hong Kong SAR.’ The meaning of the name is ‘fragrant harbor’ as the name is derived from Chinese characters, namely Heung and Gong.
- This isn’t only one of the most interesting facts about Hong Kong, but one of the most important.
Longest Rail and Road Suspension Bridge: People coming to Hong Kong from the city’s airport pass through the Tsing Ma Bridge. It is a rail and road suspension bridge and is the ninth longest bridge of this sort in the world.
- The bridge was second longest when it was completed, but soon more bridges of this kind were constructed in other countries, so it became the ninth longest bridge then. It has one island each at both its ends: Tsing Yi and the famous Ma Wan. The bridge’s name has been derived from the names of these islands.
- Tsing Ma bridge in Hongkong

Numerous Skyscrapers: Hong Kong has several skyscrapers and the number is more than the skyscrapers found in other cities of the world. There are over eight thousand buildings in Hong Kong that have over fourteen levels. This number is two times more than the buildings in New York.
- Hong Kong Skyline from Victoria Peak at dusk
Robot Waiters: A restaurant was established in Hong Kong on 17^th July, 2006 that employs robots as waiters. Yes, you will be served by robotic waiters in this restaurant who will take your order, as well as give interesting performances. This helps make make it to the top list of most interesting facts about Hong Kong.
Large Number of Rolls Royce Owners: Hong Kong is one of the four cities in the world that has the biggest number of Rolls Royce. The other three cities are Singapore, New York and Paris.
Extremely Dense City: Hong Kong is extremely dense. You cannot find your way easily through the crowds in a market of Hong Kong. The Mong Kok market located in the Yau Tsim Mong District has a density of 130,000 per km.
Official Languages: Hong Kong has not one, but two official languages, and English is one of them as well. Yes, that’s true! English, also known as Yingyu and Cantonese (a form of Chinese) are the two official languages of the city.
Mag Dogs and Englishmen: The famous English dramatist ‘Noel Coward’ is the one who created the popular phrase ‘Only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday.’ Very few people know that this phrase was actually referring to Hong Kong.
- Coward made this phrase keeping Hong Kong in mind. It refers to the popular Noonday Gun that takes place in Causeway Bay. It has been taking place daily ever since the time the British formed colonies in Hong Kong.
It Hardly Sleeps: Hong Kong is another city like London and Paris that hardly sleeps. You will find several stores open 24/7 in Hong Kong. Moreover, the city is illuminated by bright ambient lights that stay on all the time.
- Neon colored displays in various colors are visible throughout the city and provide you with light, so you don’t need to switch on lamps in your room at midnight.
Octopus Card: The Octopus Card is a smart card that contains credit and can be used at supermarkets, car parks, convenience stores, restaurants, vending machines and most importantly, the MTR and buses!.

As mentioned above, these are only some of the most interesting facts about Hong Kong. What always amazed me and made so many things an interesting fact of Hong Kong was how much these facts are a way of life for the local people. That Octopus card was so cool when I first got it that I still have it till today, some 9 years later.

Enjoy!

Chinese Spicy Food – Top Hot and Sizzling Dishes

November 28, 2014

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Chinese Spicy Food – Top Hot and Sizzling Dishes

A lot of tears, shrieks of spicy contentment, and scrumptious treats, are some of the things you will experience when you eat Chinese Spicy Food.

China has various regional cuisines but the spiciest food items are from Chongqing, Hunan, Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou. Before trying out (be sure to check out my articles on being prepared for going out for dinner) any of these dishes, keep in mind that these are not for the faint hearted!

Chinese Spicy Food – Dan Dan Noodles, Sichuan

Nothing like the overseas Chinatown adaptation, there is no peanut, sesame seed paste, or sugar included in the genuine dan dan noodles offered in anywhere else.,

The proper dan dan noodle dish is prepared with a blistering chili black bean paste, ground ham, a dollop of uncooked crushed garlic and crunchy minced peanuts with scallions and cilantro on the top. The sauce is at the bottom of an unfilled bowl, and unseasoned al dente noodles are placed over the sauce and the customer is charged with the job of mixing it all up.

The noodles are vended by weight in Liang. One Liang is 50 grams; a satisfying meal would cost approximately three Liangs. Dan dan noodles are similar in one aspect to Lays potato chips: you cannot eat just one (Liang).

Chinese Spicy Food – Hot and sour fish soup, Guizhou

Guizhou food is not among the most well known cuisines in China, but this region has its reasonable share of spicy dishes that will entice the diner’s taste buds. A Guizhou favorite is the hot and sour fish soup, which is prepared with your selection of freshwater fish and a fish soup of tomatoes, local Guizhou red chili peppers, chili grease, garlic, and scallions.

The vinegary flavor does not come from vinegar like most presume; it comes from the fermented veggies that are consumed all over Guizhou.,

Chinese Spicy Food- Saliva chicken, Sichuan

Translates literally to “saliva chicken,” since you will salivate if you even imagine this dish. Occasionally, Chinese dishes sport weird names that do not illustrate what the dish is made of and might in fact turn off some unfamiliar diners.

This is exactly one of those dishes. Stewed chicken is marinated in sesame oil and chili sauce that incorporates ten sauces and spices, making it a sizzling yet delectable dish.

Chinese Spicy Food – Ma po tofu, Sichuan

The dish is prepared with tofu, ground pork, and a spicy bean chili sauce with a liberal sprinkle of the mouth numbing Sichuan peppercorn that is a bastion in Sichuan and Chongqing cuisine. The best ma po tofu comes from the eatery that bears the name, Chen Mapo Doufu in downtown Chengdu.

Chinese Spicy Food – Gan Guo, Hunan

Pick from an assortment of vegetables, meats and tofu to be blaze stir-fried and sent sizzling to your bench in a tiny wok. Hunan provisions are less greasy than Sichuan cuisine and the great quantity of ginger, garlic, fresh red and green chili peppers and scallions make Hunan food possibly the spiciest gastronomy in China.

Chinese Spicy Food – Hotpot, Chongqing

Even though a variety of hotpot approaches are enjoyed all through China, the most tantalizing hotpot originates from Chongqing.

It is appetizing because there is a coating of rendered beef fat in the hotpot at the middle of the table. Dried out and fresh red chili peppers and twenty other aromatic plants and spices go into the hotpot broth ensuring that whichever animal protein, vegetable, noodle or tofu you dip into the hotpot you will be satisfied with a highly spiced euphoria that will remain long after the meal has ended.

I’ve always been a personal fan of hot and spicy food. But I had to admit shortly after arriving in China that these were some of the hottest foods on the planet! And check out the best etiquette for using chopsticks, too.

Chinese Spicy Food are sizzling and offers some of the best variety around. I loved hearing from local people how they each cooked the same food in their own style.

But try them if you dare, but the reward is at first hot but then tasty.

Enjoy!

Thanksgiving in Hong Kong – Being Away From Home

November 26, 2014

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Thanksgiving in Hong Kong – Being Away From Home

It was 2003 and it would be my first Thanksgiving in Hong Kong and being away from home. I had moved to China earlier in the year and now came the precious holiday of Thanksgiving. We all know what it means in our hearts, anywhere in the world. Even if you don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, we all share a time when we want to be with our families, friends, and be home.

But I couldn’t do that being 9000 miles away and having Thanksgiving in Hong Kong.

As the weeks came closer to the holiday I had tried not to think about the date or what it meant. I think I was upset and sad, and a bit homesick. I was just 23 years old and off on a big adventure that I didn’t quite understand yet. I was fortunate to have made some friends in the short time I was in Hong Kong but even for them, they didn’t really want to talk about Thanksgiving.

Finally it dawned on us that we were now in our new home. We were each others new family. If we couldn’t spend Thanksgiving with our families back home, then we would spend Thanksgiving in Hong Kong together. So the questions came up of: Where to eat? Do they even have turkey in Hong Kong? Where do other westerners go for Thanksgiving? And how to find out? This was 2003 and while the Internet was in full swing then, it was no where near as powerful or diverse as it is now.

So the group of us took it upon ourselves to do as much research as possible. I spoke to some coworkers, local Hong Kong people. They suggested Central, Hong Kong. Central is like Downtown, Manhattan. It is filled with westerners, western style restaurants, bars, pubs, places to relax and hang out. There must be a place there!

Surprisingly, then, not as much as one would have thought. It turns out, as we all learned, that the turkey is usually replaced with chicken as the choice of meat. Any turkey would have to have been flown in (first class?) from the States and would be too costly for most restaurants, even for Thanksgiving in Hong Kong!

So we scoured around Central, Lan Kwai Fong, Soho and found about a handful of restaurants that would actually have turkey! But! We were too late… Turns out, people book months in advance for a seat and a slice of that delicious turkey and gravy.

Now being the day of Thanksgiving, we all met at the bottom of the hill of Lan Kwai Fong, depressed. It then dawned on us that Thanksgiving is really about, well, yes Turkey, but being grateful for what you do have and we had each other, we had our adventures, and we were in Hong Kong! With a renewed spirit, we walked up into Soho and found a quant little restaurant.

We banged (being the rowdy American cowboys that we were) on the table and demanded the best Turkey substitute! It was after all, finally, Thanksgiving in Hong Kong!

After a few eyebrows raised by the waiter, the cook came out (perhaps a big nervous, too). He was most distressed about not having Turkey. But he did blow away our minds by saying he did have chickens roasted the way one makes a turkey. We all looked at each other and smiled!

It was good enough!

So we enjoyed our chickens cooked like turkey’s. Enjoyed our friendship, thought of home and our new lives being in Hong Kong.

This year I am thankful for my wonderful wife, our 2 year old daughter and our families. Even though we are in NY this year celebrating the feast, and with turkey, I will always remember that day and what those memories meant to me having Thanksgiving in Hong Kong.

Wishing everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving, happy holidays, and a wonderful winter.

Summer in Israel – Fun For the Whole Family

November 26, 2014

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Summer in Israel – Fun For the Whole Family

Summers are always special with kids around, and the energy of the moment takes you back in a time machine to your own childhood. Having said that, I have seen at close quarters how parents get wooly eyed from trying to figure out the perfect activity for their kids, and I realize that the issue can be quite pressing. So, summer in Israel has so many things to offer!

Take a Bike Ride around the Sea of Galilee

Not if you remember what summer meant to you as a kid, though. Summer is, was, and always will be outdoors, and you can relax if you are willing to let them go.

Summer in Israel – Young Boys and Girls and the Sea

With so many beaches around, you don’t really need to ask where to take them. The Shavei Tzion beach near Nahariya, the Achviz beach, Dor beach in Carmel, Beit Yannai beach near Caesarea, Palmachim beach, the Accadia beach in Herzliya are some of the beaches I recommend for a family outing.

Fun, and frolic is always at its best on a beach when one is young. Take them now, and they will remember it forever.

Summer in Israel – Zoos are Always Happening

The zoo is another place where you can safely take your kids any day, and they will love it, like we did. It’s only when we grow up and have kids of our own, and we have to take them that we tend to find the idea not so hot. But that’s a long way off for your kids, and till then it’s unanimously appealing.

My young nephews and nieces absolutely love the Tisch Family Zoological Garden in Jerusalem. It has a train running around its grounds, and a petting zoo as well that always fascinates the tiny tots.

Tisch Family Zoological Garden, Jerusalem

Summer in Israel – Race the Wind on Ice

Kids love to do things which they think are anomalous. That’s why the ice skating rinks in Israel are always heavily rushed in summer. It is a great way to beat the heat outside as well.

The Canada centre in Metulla (north Israel), has one. Ice Space in Eilat, and Ice Peak in Holon are quite popular as well and make for a truly unique experience of summer in Israel.

Summer in Israel – Discover Australia in Israel

Gan Garoo, the natural park in Beit She’an Valley is a mini Australia safari with kangaroos, cockatoos, flying foxes, kookaburra, cassowary, wallaby, and emu trotting around in a home away from home. The kangaroos love to be hand-fed and were an instant hit with my nephews and nieces (and their parents too!).

Summer in Israel – Show them How to Surf

Israel is one of the best places in the world for your kid to get a taste of surfing. You don’t need to research about surfing schools-all of them are equally capable, and the one that is nearest to where you are putting up would do nicely.

The next step is of course river rafting, but for that you have to have adolescents. Rafting in the river Jordan is an all time popular activity. If your kids are ready for it, then they are going to have an experience of a life time.

Family Time in Summer

Volunteering is very popular in Israel, and during the summer families can be seen volunteering at the national food bank, eco villages, soup kitchens etc. It is a great way to bond with each other in a fun way.

Whichever option you come up with, just be sure that your kids don’t veto it with “we did that last summer”, and summer in Israel will rock.

Oh and when you find yourself in Jerusalem, be sure to read my article here on the amazing discoveries you and your family can make together!

Enjoy!

Hong Kong Etiquette – 5 Critical Things Not To Do

November 25, 2014

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Hong Kong Etiquette – 5 Critical Things Not To Do

While there are many things you can do in Hong Kong, there are certain things that are absolutely not allowed there. The inhabitants of Hong Kong have different norms and values that are very important to them and respect their Hong Kong Etiquette. You must abide by those rules while you are there, so that you don’t hurt the feelings of the people of Hong Kong and have a good time there.

Take a look at five things you simply cannot do in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Etiquette – You Cannot Spit

Though it is acceptable to randomly spit in different places in the People’s Republic of China, as it is considered to be a good way of warding off the evil spirits, this practice has become quite intolerable in Hong Kong.,

After the SARS virus became common in Hong Kong, the various authorities of the state started banning this practice. Spit can help this disease spread like wild fire and is not healthy for the residents of the state, which is why you are not allowed to spit at all in many places in Hong Kong. In certain places, you can be charged with a humongous fine of around HK five thousand dollars for spitting. So, you must avoid indulging in this behavior while you are in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Etiquette – You Cannot Go Anywhere in Hurry

Interior of Subway (Mass Transit Railway) train. Hong Kong.

Hong Kong is a modern city like New York or Tokyo. But as much, it is jammed packed with people, buses, cars, trains, and just the life of the city. This creates its own style of Hong Kong Etiquette.

If you’re leaving for anywhere it is good to plan out your route before going. All buses are in English and so are the routes. Taxi drivers speak okay English. The subways (called MTR in Hong Kong) are usually the quickly way to travel.

I don’t think I ever went a day without riding in the MTR. Fast, clean, spacious, always on time. It goes to most of the major destinations in Hong Kong and if not, there are usually buses waiting to take you the last leg of your journey.,

Hong Kong Etiquette – You Cannot Eat Pizza???

Well… not exactly… it really depends upon where you’re living and wanting to eat. As Pizza is a western staple food it is not to be expected to find a pizza place on every corner in Hong Kong. However, if you’re looking for a great slice, be sure to visit Central and parts of Tsim Tsa Tsui. You’ll find great tasting pizza and salads.

Typical Store in Wet Markets in Hong Kong

Hong Kong Etiquette – You Cannot Get Clothes of Your Exact Size

A horse of a different color? This one brings back some really fond and well funny memories when I first arrived there in 2003. Imagine my surprise when I bought a medium t-shirt and found it to be too small?

Clothes are sized differently in Hong Kong for sure. A small in Hong Kong may be a large children’s size. So when heading out to do some shopping, and there is literally endless amounts of it, make sure to try on your clothes before buying.

Hong Kong Etiquette – You Cannot Eat in the MTR

In Hong Kong, you cannot eat or drink any beverage while travelling on the MTR. These acts are strongly prohibited as they end up dirtying the train, so make sure to avoid eating while you are using the MTR.

But as I said before, Hong Kong is a modern city. Filled with a mix of East and West. Cantonese and English, double decker buses from London, and all the local items one expects to find in a city in the Far East.

Enjoy!

Secret Paris – 4 Hidden Events in the City History

November 24, 2014

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Secret Paris – 4 Hidden Events in the City History

Paris is one of the most beautiful cities in the world! Incredible foods. Incredible sites! Incredible places to discover. An amazing history! And I like to consider myself a bit of a student of history so let me say that I was… intrigued… by these few facts that a friend told me about. So much so I wanted write an article about them.

Paris is a city of many mysteries, one thing that you may not be aware of is the fact that there are many events which have happened that have disappeared somewhere in the history books. Here are the top 4 for your enjoyment.

Secret Paris – Nazi bunkers were created in the Paris Catacombs.
1. The catacombs below Paris are the home to over 6 million Parisians. Of those 6 million most of them are ancient. During the French Revolution many people used to meet in the catacombs and hide to plan their strategies.
2. In addition to that there are people now who meet down there as well to have catacomb parties. The Nazis saw the distinct advantage to ensuring that their men had a place to hide in the most secure area of the city.
3. Nazi Bunkers, courtesy Messy Nessy
Secret Paris – The French-Algerian Massacre of 1961.
1. In 1961 on the tail end of a disagreement with the government. The French government got into a disagreement with Algerians who were seeking and looking for political asylum. The government decided to crack down on the people and a massacre ensued.
Secret Police – Napoleon escaped twice.
Secret Paris – Paris had human zoos.
1. France has always been a country of conquest and while they were working hard to expand the empire they also decided to bring it back to Paris for national display. Over 35,000 people were brought back to the city and were then put into local villages which recreated the lifestyle of the locations where there were very were from.
2. Now there is a location that is available and abandoned in the middle of Paris. It stands in the heart of the city as a testament to all of the things that were wrong with colonization. One thing that is truly amazing as well is the fact that there are many people as well who have gone back to the site and have contemplated tearing it down.
3. That however, is not an option since the site has been a part of the history of the city.

Every city has its secrets and there is nothing different about Paris.

Within the dark streets and the locations which have been populated since Roman times lurks a new kind of secret which is the driving force of history as well as of innovation; Secret Paris. When you head to Paris you will be able to find locations in which you want to stay and have an experience of a lifetime. Make sure you are ready!

Enjoy!

Pulau Ubin – The Perfect Island For A Getaway

November 24, 2014

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Pulau Ubin – The Perfect Island For A Getaway

A small tranquil island located in Singapore, blessed abundantly with flora and fauna, is the gorgeous Pulau Ubin, which dazed me with its natural beauty. I had read good reviews about the island, hence it was on my list of places to visit, when I went for a short getaway to Singapore. The small island turned out to be as beautiful as I had expected.

To get to Pulau Ubin, I took a bumboat from the Changi Point Ferry Terminal.

I didn’t have to wait for long as bumboats leave for Pulau Ubin quite frequently, once they get filled with their twelve passenger limit. Just when I arrived at Pulau Ubin, I went off to the information kiosk which was conveniently located beside the jetty, and got hold of a free map of the lovely island.

When I began to gaze at the beauty around me, it didn’t fail to leave me in awe.

I then moved to look at what the taxi kiosk offered, and just behind the taxi stand, I saw Ubin Town which was a very small village with old wooden buildings, bike rental shops, and simple restaurants too. It seemed like a scene dated back many years ago.

I decided to explore the area around the jetty that led me to the sensory trail. This is a serene trail that displays a myriad of plants, planted side by side in a line. When my walk ended, I decided to have my lunch as I was really hungry, so I headed to Ubin Town for lunch.

Ubin Town had quite a few restaurants for its visitors; I chose a seafood restaurant next to the sea and had tasty fried rice and eggs with fish. Finally I decided to rent a bike to explore the island. I smoothly cycled along the main road, crossing simple Singaporean houses and tall coconut trees on my way. The island evoked a serene feeling in me, and made me forget the hustle bustle of my town.

After some time cycling, I saw the turn to Chek Jawa, so I decided to go that way. Only after a short while, the gravel track came my way, making cycling a little tough, as the path was winding uphill, and eventually it turned too steep, that I decided to walk for some time.

After an hour or more, I finally reached Chek Jawa, Singapore’s famous wetland reserve and took a short break from cycling and sat down under a shady tree for some rest. At Chek Jawa, there were two boardwalks and a jetty as well. I moved along the coastal boardwalk that ended up at the shoreline of Chek Jawa.

Once on the boardwalk, I truly felt enveloped in the aura and tranquility round me, breathing in fresh air, and seeing the high tide around. I even took interesting pictures of colorful fiddler crabs and mudskippers near the mangrove swamp. After a long time on the boardwalk, I decided to head back.

I think the beautiful island of Pulau Ubin, far from the noise and crowd of the city life, is a perfect place for a getaway. I had a great time on the island, which truly rejuvenated my soul. I would recommend this lovely island to everyone who is seeking a quiet, relaxing place in Singapore.

Enjoy!

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