743 locations with photos and travel notes
Where to go in China · HK · Macau? Morgan personally visited 743 places in China · HK · Macau, including Tainan, NingBo TianYiGe(ShiJieSanDaJiaZuCangShuLouZhiYi), Ariia — Hangzhou, Hangzhou Wenlan Pavilion - One of the Seven Great Imperial Libraries of the Qing Dynasty, Xiao Mountain International Airport T4 — Hangzhou. Every spot below links to a detail page with photos, visit dates, addresses, and an interactive map.
China · HK · Macau covers 6 popular cities, ranked by visit frequency: 深圳 (311 places), 香港 (159 places), 北京 (32 places), 杭州 (25 places), 上海 (21 places), 廣東 (13 places). Each city's locations include full visit notes, photos, and map positions.
Location: Tainan Travel note: On my 46th birthday, I seriously asked myself for the first time: "What have I truly left behind in this life?" Looking back, there may not be any earth-shattering achievements. But if there's one thing I've done consistently for over twenty years without interruption, it's probably—writing. Travel notes, food diaries, life snippets. Starting from my junior year on the Dreamland BBS, writing on food and travel boards, even composing playful poems about Tainan snacks, appearing on TV news and newspapers a few times. Later, working in Hsinchu Science Park, switching to Wretch Blog, reaching over a million views. Then on Facebook, becoming lazier, turning into stream-of-consciousness diaries. But one thing never changed—no matter how late, tired, or drunk, I'd finish writing about that day before sleeping. Writing like this, over 26 years, accumulated over 4,000 articles. Looking back, I realized those fragments I thought were just casually written down have actually been preserved. Some things aren't about aiming to achieve something from the start; just by doing them persistently, they slowly become part of you. Perhaps some people are walking a similar path. I've also slowly realized: what I'm recording isn't just my own life, but—everyone who has ever appeared in my life. Without these friends, without those moments of eating, drinking, traveling, studying, working, serving in the military, playing sports, or being in relationships together, I couldn't have written these stories. So I've always believed one thing: the connection between people truly comes down to "fate." Without fate, we wouldn't meet in this lifetime. Recently, during several long trips, I thought about many things alone. I started using computers at age three, took on programming projects, built systems, and worked with databases in college. But the AI era has arrived. I clearly know—one day in the future, I won't need to write a single line of code. This is somewhat impactful because it's a skill that grew up with me. Three weeks before my birthday, I made a decision even I didn't expect: I formed a "team entirely composed of AIs." Some handle design, some development, some AEO SEO, some research the latest information, some optimization and testing. And I'm only responsible for one thing: handing my ideas to them for realization. From having to write hundreds of pages of specifications myself in the past, to now—just by speaking, an entire system can be built. Sometimes it even feels like I'm more like "directing an invisible team." So what do I want to do next? I thought of a simple answer. What AI cannot change is our past lives. But what AI can change is how these lives are presented. So I did one thing: organized these past 4,000 articles from different platforms, one by one. Turned them into two websites—Morgan Travel Map https://morgantrip.com, putting these years of memories back on the map. Morgan Food & Drink Map https://morgantrip.com, finding a place in the city suitable for a drink. The travel map holds footprints I've left around the world over the years. From Asian mountains and cities, to European culture and history, to different landscapes in the Middle East and elsewhere. Dozens of countries, countless moments, have all become part of my life. Also including times not far away, in the city, ordinary yet real daily moments. Perhaps travel takes me far, but sometimes, life actually happens in the city. If you like travel and also appreciate subtle feelings in life, perhaps here will leave inspiration for you. The food & drink map is another very real part of my life. I've lived in Taichung, Tainan, Hsinchu, Taipei, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and accumulated vast memories of "eating and drinking" in these cities. One year, I even had over 400 gatherings. Not for networking, but because I truly enjoy—that slight buzz, that exchange between people. Over the years, I've visited one by one in Taipei, compiling about 700 bars and dining spots, each personally visited and written about. Sometimes friends ask me where's good for a drink today, or want to find a place to gather. Sometimes, I just want to sit alone, quietly for a while. Over time, these places slowly accumulated. If you're in Taipei tonight and happen to want to find a place to sit down—have a drink, let time slow down. You can open this website. Some places aren't just for drinking, but for remembering a period of time. If you're in the city and want to find a place to sit down, perhaps here will leave some moments for you. Limited life has a fixed length. But one thing I've always done is—strive to live its "width" larger. Thank you to everyone I've met in my life, whether friends or strangers briefly encountered on journeys. Without you, there wouldn't be these stories, nor these two websites. I'm recording not just my own life, but all the "fate" that has intersected with mine. If one day, you want to see the lives others have walked, or just want to find a place to sit and have a drink in Taipei, perhaps these two websites will come in handy. Morgan Travel Map https://morgantrip.com Morgan Food & Drink Map https://morgantrip.com By Morgan @2026.3.21
Location: Hangzhou Travel note: In Ningbo, we visited Tianyi Pavilion (one of the world's three major family libraries) and tried idealistic Ningbo cuisine. In the afternoon, Andrew, Yen (my junior), and I came from Hangzhou to Ningbo. First, we visited Tianyi Pavilion (Ming Dynasty), which I missed last time. In the evening, Mr. Lin, who does cross-border e-commerce, though not in Ningbo, warmly asked his staff to arrange hospitality. Dinner, KTV, and hotel accommodation were all taken care of. Thanks for the hospitality! Cheers~ By Morgan @2025.11.8 evening
Location: Hangzhou Ariia Travel note: Hangzhou Ariia (2nd visit). After dinner at Qunle Restaurant, a 42-year-old Hangbang cuisine spot even Jack Ma has visited, we went to a nightclub with a group of affluent ladies to check out and learn about male model bars. Cheers～ By Morgan @2025.11.7 evening
Location: Wenlan Pavilion, one of the seven imperial libraries of the Qing Dynasty in Hangzhou Travel note: Last night, I drank and chatted with two girls born in 2005 and 2007 until dawn. In the afternoon, I strolled by West Lake and continued visiting Hangzhou's major museums. I saw Wenlan Pavilion, which stored the Complete Library of the Four Treasuries before the Qing Dynasty, Leifeng Pagoda, bricks and tile fragments from the Wuyue Kingdom, and paintings by Chang Shuhong, the first director of the Dunhuang Academy... Afterward, I took a casual walk around West Lake in the evening. Though I've been here many times, the relaxing beauty of West Lake always brings different feelings in each season, at dawn and dusk, day after day. In the evening, I had beef hotpot and a small drink with Brother Zuguang, his girlfriend, and Andrew. After dinner, we went to Wanli International for the first time. Cheers~ By Morgan @2025.11.5
Location: Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport Terminal 4 Travel Notes: Heading back to Taiwan. Counting the days, I've been out for 18 days this trip. Thanks to all the friends in Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Hengdian, and Ningbo for their hospitality. Special thanks to Brother Andrew for arranging Zonghui to drive me to the airport early in the morning. Wishing Nocera's stock price (NASDAQ:NCRA) to hit new highs soon! By Morgan @2025.10.6 morning
Location: Zhejiang, Zhoushan Putuo Mountain, Fenghua Chiang Family Former Residence, Ningbo Tianyi Pavilion Travel Notes: Called a taxi from the hotel in the morning and spent two hours rushing to the Putuo Mountain ferry terminal. Then it was a day of constantly switching between various modes of transport: cable car, ferry, shuttle bus, taxi, walking, high-speed rail... Putuo Mountain is one of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains (practice sites). It's the third Buddhist sacred mountain I've visited, after Wutai Mountain in Shanxi and Emei Mountain in Sichuan. This is also the practice site of Guanyin Bodhisattva. After paying respects at the Buddha's Peak (Huiji Temple) at the highest point of Putuo Mountain, I traveled 144 kilometers southwest from the easternmost part of Zhejiang Province—over two hours by taxi—all the way to Fenghua. Probably the longest taxi ride I've ever taken. (Including the empty return trip surcharge, the fare totaled 663 RMB.) All to buy a ticket before evening to see the Chiang Family Former Residence. Regardless of how various old and new history textbooks across the strait evaluate it, I simply wanted to see what the atmosphere of this place, frequently mentioned in modern Chinese history, is really like. Finally, in the evening, I took another taxi from Fenghua, spending an hour to return to downtown Ningbo, where another 5A scenic spot in Zhejiang, Tianyi Pavilion, is located. The moonlight of the Mid-Autumn full moon shone on Moon Lake at Tianyi Pavilion—a moon within a moon, reflecting each other beautifully... By Morgan @2025.10.5 evening #PutuoMountain #ChiangFamilyFormerResidence #TianyiPavilion
Location: Hangzhou Travel Notes: In the evening, took the high-speed rail from Hangzhou to Ningbo with Andrew to meet President Lin. Dinner, followed by karaoke and accommodation arrangements—thanks to President Lin for the hospitality~ By Morgan @2025.10.4 evening
Location: Hangzhou Changqiao Polar Ocean Park Travel notes: Hangzhou Changqiao Polar Ocean Park, Xianghu Scenic Area (4A), Kuahuqiao Site Museum (Neolithic, 8,000 years old), and the 'Xianghu Elegance' night lake performance. 'Above is paradise, below are Suzhou and Hangzhou.' You ask when I'll return, but I have no set date. By Morgan @2025.10.3 evening
Location: Zhejiang Provincial Museum, Hangzhou Travel notes: Zhejiang Provincial Museum (Zhijiang Pavilion), West Lake (3rd visit) #Hangzhou #WestLake
Location: Cirque du Soleil - The X Show Hangzhou Travel notes: Cirque du Soleil - The X Show Hangzhou. In the afternoon, went to the mall built by Alibaba next to its Xixi Park headquarters. Andrew met with a woman named Su Rui who left Alibaba to start her own business, discussing the AI short drama market. Su Rui's current venture is in instant retail-chain warehousing, aiming to solve e-commerce's timeliness and last-mile delivery needs. In the evening, went to the New Century Sun Theatre to watch The X Show. Bought seats closer to the front, the view was quite good. Similar to 'The House of Dancing Water' at City of Dreams, Macau, or 'Dai Show' in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, it was very spectacular! By Morgan @2025.10.1 evening #Hangzhou #TheXShowHangzhou
Location: Liangzhu Cultural Site, Hangzhou Travel notes: Liangzhu Cultural Site, night cruise on the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. In the afternoon, visited the origin of the 5,000-year-old Liangzhu culture (late Neolithic) - Mojiao Mountain Palace, Fanshan Royal Cemetery, Sika Deer Park, Liangzhu Museum... In the evening, took a ferry for a night cruise on the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. Compared to cruising on Victoria Harbour, the Huangpu River, or the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River, sailing on this canal, which held the lifeline of ancient water transport, evokes a sense of nostalgia and offers a different kind of charm... By Morgan @2025.9.30 evening #LiangzhuCulture #BeijingHangzhouGrandCanal
Location: Tongwan Dayuan · Tonglu Cuisine (Mingxing Road Branch), Hangzhou Travel notes: Tongwan Dayuan · Tonglu Cuisine (Mingxing Road Branch). Last night after returning, had a conference call that ended at 1 AM. After another online meeting this morning, a student of mine from the Udemy online course platform, who now lives in Hangzhou, invited me for lunch. Brother Ren is a chief surgeon at Zhejiang University Hospital, so he also brought along several interns he's currently mentoring: Zhang Qiang, Xiao Shang, Xiao Zeng... After the meal, he had an expert outpatient clinic in the afternoon. It was not easy to have a meal together amidst his busy schedule. All gatherings in life are fate. Thank you, Dr. Ren, for the treat! :) Cheers~ By Morgan @2025.9.30
Location: Hangzhou Travel note summary: Hangzhou, Kangle Fishing Port Seafood Restaurant. Sam asked me out for dinner last minute in the evening. He came to Hangzhou specially from Yiwu with Brother Lu, a Taiwanese businessman who's been here for 30 years, and Brother Lu's assistant, Xiao Xiang. So Andrew also invited Brother Zuguang, another Taiwanese businessman with 30 years in Hangzhou. A few of us met up in Hangzhou to get to know each other and chat. Thanks for the treat, Andrew! Cheers~ By Morgan @2025.9.29 evening
Location: Hangzhou Travel note summary: Hangzhou, Li Bai Restaurant, Sky Line (3rd visit). In the evening, General Manager Wu, General Manager Huang, and General Manager He from Hangzhou treated Andrew to dinner. I went with my junior Yen. They work in smart cities. Later, we went for a second round at Sky Line, my third visit in four days. Thanks for the treat, Andrew. Cheers! By Morgan @2025.9.28 evening
Location: Zhejiang, Hengdian, Jiu Dian Film Set Travel note summary: Zhejiang, Hengdian, Jiu Dian Film Set. Today, Andrew and I traveled from Hangzhou to Hengdian to visit Brother Leon's childhood neighbor from Kaohsiung, Brother Shaohong. Brother Shaohong has spent about twenty years in Beijing, Shanghai, and Hengdian, having worked as an actor, producer, and director (https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E4%BD%95%E7%B4%B9%E5%AE%8F/20593499). He recently published a book and has been living in the famous film and TV base, Hengdian, these past few years. After having coffee in the evening, Brother Shaohong treated us to Northeastern-style barbecue. Then he took us to see some short drama filming sets, and finally to a bar to continue chatting. Coincidentally, Andrew's company has invested in a live-streaming media company (Xing Ka), so we discussed some potential collaborations with Brother Shaohong. Thanks for the hospitality all night, Brother Shaohong! Cheers~ P.S. The ratio of handsome guys and beautiful girls seen in Hengdian is indeed quite high. By Morgan @2025.9.27 evening
Location: Hangzhou, World's First God of Wealth Temple Travel note summary: Hangzhou, World's First God of Wealth Temple, Changhe Ancient Town, Xu Yan Immersive Palace Banquet, Sky Line Business KTV (2nd visit). The daytime itinerary and dinner were with a few brothers from the Ming Xiong Hui. For dinner, thanks to Andrew for warmly hosting the friends from Ming Xiong Hui. For the night scene, Andrew and I joined a gathering hosted by General Manager Lin from Ningbo, all friends from his e-commerce and payment circles. Thanks to General Manager Lin's friends for the hospitality. Cheers~ By Morgan @2025.9.26 evening
Location: Hangzhou, Xin Bin An, Xiaoshan Cuisine Travel note summary: Hangzhou, Xin Bin An, Xiaoshan Cuisine, Sky Line Business KTV. In the evening, General Manager Lin came from Ningbo to Hangzhou to discuss their cross-border e-commerce business with Andrew and me. Their current monthly turnover is around 15 to 18 million USD. In the evening, General Manager Lin hosted a banquet with Hangzhou cuisine for 11 people, including 3 brothers from the Ming Xiong Brotherhood. Thanks for the treat, General Manager Lin. Later, the remaining 6 of us went for a second round at Sky Line, which opened less than a year ago and is touted as the pinnacle of Hangzhou's business KTVs. All hundreds of private rooms were fully booked, with some rooms even auctioned for over 50,000 RMB to secure a reservation. Thanks for the treat, Andrew. Cheers~ By Morgan @2025.9.25 evening
Location: Hangzhou, Yingying Restaurant Travel notes: We had dinner at Yingying Restaurant (Xiaoshan local cuisine) in Hangzhou, then visited Love Story Wellness Club for the second time. Five of us enjoyed a very hearty meal at a local Xiaoshan home-style restaurant. After that, we went to a famous massage parlor in Hangzhou—the lobby was decorated like a high-end bar. Afterwards, we returned to Andrew's place, opened a bottle of Italian sparkling wine with Yen, and had a heart-to-heart chat. Thanks to Andrew for hosting tonight! Cheers! — Morgan @2025.9.24 night
Location: Hangzhou, Shangyangtai Restaurant by West Lake Travel notes: Visited Shangyangtai Restaurant by West Lake in Hangzhou, then Manhattan Business KTV (6th visit). Taiwan is such a small place—after returning last night, I suddenly remembered that Mr. Xu from Lin Hotel and I had actually met once before through Brother Hong's invitation at Jinyuefu in Taichung, where we drank together. So today was actually our third meeting! Cheers~ Thanks to Andrew for hosting! Later, we continued the night and ended up back at Manhattan... — Morgan @2025.9.23 night
Location: Hangzhou, Manhattan Nightclub Travel notes: Manhattan Nightclub in Hangzhou (5th visit). Came straight to work after getting off the plane—met Mr. Xu, who previously handled the Taichung Chaogangcheng and Lin Hotel projects. Taiwan is so small—he's good friends with Vice Principal Qi from my time studying at Weidao. Later, we continued the night with a late-night snack—thanks to Chengcheng for treating us. Cheers~ — Morgan @2025.9.22 night
Location: Shenzhen, Fisherman's Canteen Travel notes: Fisherman's Canteen and Linji Braised Pork Rice in Shenzhen. In the morning, Sam arranged for us to visit the listed company Tianyima (301178.SZ) at Qiaocheng No.1 Building. At noon, Weizhi took us to a restaurant opened by his fellow Chaoshan locals to eat raw marinated seafood. In the afternoon, we visited Mr. Li, who has millions of video views, at Lenovo Houhai Center. Then in the evening, we went to Shuibei Market, the largest gold distribution hub in China. At night, Awei took us to eat melt-in-your-mouth braised pork rice. Ended this fulfilling day—thanks to our Chaoshan friends for hosting! — Morgan @2025.9.22 night
Location: Shenzhen, Jingzhifang·Authentic Beijing Cuisine Travel notes: Jingzhifang·Authentic Beijing Cuisine (Beijing Roast Duck) (Jiangsu Building Branch) in Shenzhen. Sam arranged dinner here tonight—the roast duck costs around NT$1,000, with crispy, non-greasy skin that melts in your mouth, paired with passion fruit sauce, which was amazing. We also ordered squirrel-shaped mandarin fish, 'Four Young Masters of Beijing,' mapo tofu, zhajiang noodles, and other dishes. All five of us were very satisfied with the whole meal. After dinner, we went back to the small bar downstairs at the hotel for some barbecue and beer, spending a relaxed Saturday night. Thanks to Sam for hosting. Cheers~ — Morgan @2025.9.20 night
Location: Shenzhen Travel note summary: Tonight in Shenzhen, I met a Russian friend Alex who speaks very clear English. It reminded me of my trip to Russia years ago, when I had to rely on my phone to translate everything into Russian to communicate with locals. Today, we could actually chat in simple English, and he knows some Chinese too. He said he taught himself both English and Chinese—truly impressive! By Morgan @2025.9.21 evening
Location: Hangzhou, Hu Xueyan's Former Residence Travel notes summary: I went out for a walk in the afternoon to see some historic sites in Hangzhou, from the former residence of the late Qing dynasty's richest man to the palace gardens of the Southern Song capital, Lin'an. In the evening, I went to the high-altitude bar on the 52nd floor of the Raffles City mall, enjoying the night view of the Qiantang River while eating Gillardeau oysters, paired with a Bordeaux Right Bank red wine and a Cuban cigar. It was an unforgettable life experience and a fleeting moment of luxury. The per-person cost here was around ten thousand Taiwanese dollars. This was also the 11th gathering on my 8th day in Hangzhou—time to head back to Taiwan. Thanks to my buddy Andrew for the warm hospitality throughout this trip. Cheers! :) By Morgan @evening of July 31, 2025
Location: Hangzhou, Xixi Wetland Travel notes summary: I've been to Hangzhou many times, so I've pretty much visited all the famous spots. This afternoon, I went out in the rain to an area near West Lake that I hadn't been to before—Xixi Wetland, a less famous but very serene 5A scenic area. The rain added to the charm of the Jiangnan-style thatched cottages and waterside pavilions. Walking on paths lined with wetland plants, with lakes flowing by, I fully enjoyed the natural scenery under my umbrella. Then, I visited the nearby Cai Zhizhong Art Museum and saw many nostalgic vintage comics from my childhood (like 'Han Feizi,' 'Laozi Says'...), which brought back memories. In the evening, at Andrew's place, we ordered Northwestern hand-grabbed lamb, Northeastern chicken skewers and barbecue, and Shanghai crab roe noodles... and opened an American red wine I brought from Taoyuan Airport. We chatted casually and discussed his company's recent stock price and his future development plans. Cheers! By Morgan @evening of July 30, 2025
Location: Hangzhou, Kangle Yugang · Taizhou Flavor (Binjiang Branch) Travel notes summary: Yesterday, I walked 30,000 steps, covering Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai in one go—probably setting a personal record for daily steps. Later, after Zonghui drove us back from Shanghai to Hangzhou in a company car late at night, we continued drinking at Manhattan Nightclub (my 3rd visit in 5 days). Today, Mr. Yu, former vice president of Ant Group, whom I've met several times already, hosted a dinner for Andrew and me with a table of ten people. He brought two bottles of 2008 Moutai (currently priced at nearly 30,000 Taiwanese dollars each), making it a banquet where the wine was far more expensive than the food. The aged Moutai was indeed quite fragrant and went down smoothly for me. Thanks to Mr. Yu for the warm hospitality. Cheers! By Morgan @evening of July 29, 2025
Location: Shanghai, Guangfulin Archaeological Site Travel notes summary: Guangfulin is a 4,000–6,000-year-old archaeological site near Shanghai. Within a large park area, multiple museum clusters have been built, with the underwater museum being the most astonishing. After visiting all the museums here, I took a taxi in the afternoon and spent an hour and a half to reach Nanxun Ancient Town—small bridges, flowing water, and houses, the classic Jiangnan water town features. In the evening, on a whim, I spent another hour-plus to move on to Luzhi. The six major ancient towns of Jiangnan: Zhouzhuang, Tongli, Luzhi, Xitang, Wuzhen, Nanxun. When I used to live in Shanghai, I had visited four of them, but Nanxun and the last one, Luzhi, always eluded me. Today, I decided to complete all six ancient towns in one go, visiting Luzhi at night. Finally checked off this travel mission! :) By Morgan @evening of July 28, 2025
Location: Hilton Garden Inn, Songjiang District, Shanghai Travel Notes: Today, Andrew and I traveled from Hangzhou to Shanghai to visit Mr. Su. We went to his detached villa in the Shanghai suburbs. The group he founded once achieved annual sales of billions in revenue from lingerie. It's quite a coincidence that Mr. Su currently lives in Taichung when he's in Taiwan. In the evening here, we enjoyed a table of Taiwanese dishes cooked by Mr. Su's private chef. The braised pork belly was incredibly fragrant, making you want to eat more rice with it. After the meal, we listened to Mr. Su, who is in his seventies, share some life philosophies. Thanks for the hospitality~ After leaving, we stayed for a simple night in Songjiang District. By Morgan @Night of 2025.7.27
Location: Romance of the Song Dynasty, Hangzhou Travel Notes: Among China's large-scale performances, besides having seen several 'Impression' series shows, 'Romance of the Song Dynasty' is the third 'Eternal Love' series show I've watched, following the ones in Lijiang and Sanya. Besides the main show, there are many theaters here. In the evening, I had dinner with Taiwanese businesspeople and local friends in Hangzhou. Besides Brother Liu, Xiao Lu, and Brother Xi whom I'd met before, I newly met Mr. Chen, Yibo, Beichen, Acai, and Brother Wang. Yibo is Japanese, 27 years old, and currently founded an MCN company in Japan. Later, we continued to a nightclub in Hangzhou and met Chengcheng and cadre Xiao Liu again. Cheers ~ Thanks for the hospitality~ By Morgan @Night of 2025.7.26
Location: Hangzhou Travel Notes: Duke introduced his university classmate Ning from his time in Australia a few days ago. Ning has been involved in various M&A deals since 2013, and the cases he has led total over $2 billion to date. Ning is also a man of action; just a few days after our conference call, he immediately booked a flight from Beijing to Hangzhou to discuss in person. After meeting with him in Hangzhou today and getting a massage in the afternoon, Andrew and I came to a quite distinctive bar in the evening. Thanks for the treat, brother Andrew~ Cheers! :) By Morgan @Night of 2025.7.25
Location: Shanxia Yijiu · Quzhou Cuisine, Hangzhou Travel Notes: I was suddenly arranged to come to Hangzhou for a meeting. Coincidentally, I had a few glasses of baijiu with local Zhejiang friends in the fund industry (Zhenshi Capital) to celebrate Andrew's birthday~ Later, Andrew and I moved to one of Hangzhou's recently popular nightspots, Manhattan. Cuban cigars + Black Label whisky. Happy birthday, good brother, Cheers! :) By Morgan @Night of 2025.7.24
Location: Shenzhen => Hong Kong => Taiwan Travel note summary: Shenzhen => Hong Kong => Taiwan. In the morning, went to a high-end office building in Nanshan District. A friend arranged for me to visit a short-video finance blogger with millions of followers. Then in the afternoon, went to Futian Free Trade Zone for a whole afternoon of meetings related to the tech industry. Thanks to my junior for specially flying over—it was a very constructive discussion. Finally, the other company thoughtfully arranged a cross-border license plate car to directly take me and my junior to Hong Kong Airport. Thanks. Heading back to Taiwan~ :P By Morgan @2025.4.23
Location: Hong Kong Central, Hashkey Headquarters Travel note summary: Hashkey Headquarters in Central, Hong Kong; Sanmao Beef in Shenzhen; Xiang Nightclub. After finishing a conference call in the morning, went to Three Exchange Square in Central in the afternoon to find Andy. Andy has now moved to Hashkey to assist in managing the RWA department. Came here to chat with him, thanks to Andy for hosting. Then came to Shenzhen. Thanks to a friend for arranging a hotel with a bathtub for me to rest. Then in the evening, he introduced me to a group of his friends from the Chaoshan circle. We all went to eat Chaoshan beef hotpot paired with baijiu. While chatting, we suddenly started talking about some clubs in Luohu. I had a sudden inspiration and interjected, "Chunfeng Road?" Then everyone suddenly raised their glasses to toast me. It really takes some契机 to blend in~ XD Later, we continued to a bar in Shenzhen with live singing performances. Thanks for the hospitality, Cheers~ By Morgan @Evening of 2025.4.22
Location: Oolaa Central, Central, Hong Kong Travel note summary: It was a very last-minute trip to Hong Kong, so I messaged friends from the airport yesterday. Thanks to everyone for making time on short notice to hang out with me. Last night, Kyle from Baichuan Trust arranged for his partner KK and Ah Jie to show me Hong Kong's nightlife. We drank on Cameron Road, then later had some nourishing soup, and didn't part ways until dawn. I met an interesting guy named Brother Feng, who dabbles in investments in everything from eight restaurants to a South African gold mine and Jacky Cheung's concerts in Taiwan. Thanks to all my Hong Kong friends for the hospitality! Then at noon today, Brother Leon introduced me to his Hong Kong partner, Brother Alan. Alan used to work in investment banking and now runs his own real estate fund with licenses 4 and 9. Another company he owns does EV charging stations. We had a great casual chat—thanks, Brother Alan, for hosting. In the evening, I went to Olympic to catch up with my former colleague, William. William is still the CIO at a public fund in Hong Kong. We spent the night mostly talking about AI and investing. Time flies—I miss the old days of drinking red wine together in Hong Kong. Thanks, William, for the hospitality. Cheers! ~ By Morgan @2025.4.21 evening
Location: Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong Travel note summary: At 11:00 AM, I decided on a whim to come to Hong Kong. After hastily redeeming miles for a ticket, I headed out. From around 1:00 PM in the airport lounge, I started drinking all the way onto the plane until landing in Hong Kong a little after 6:00 PM. In total, I had 8 wines (including champagne) plus 1 brandy. I almost forgot whether I came for business or for drinking. When checking in, I coincidentally saw a road with the same name as a wine merchant. Time flies—it's been almost a year since I last visited Hong Kong. @@ By Morgan @2025.4.20 evening
Morgan - Travel Notes AI Music (AI Songs) Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-dCAaRlKV_RKRe_6bb3D_ybnCn72IloB After making a personal Taiwan travel memoir with AI last weekend: https://youtu.be/Ji2wR9gRyLc This weekend, I took nearly 30 countries I've traveled to so far, plus Hong Kong and Macau, and used the doggerel travel notes I wrote for each trip, combined with current AI technology, to create 30 independent songs. I compiled a playlist: (something to listen to during New Year travels?) It's really fun~ XD Doggerel Traveler Morgan - Taiwan: Island Poem Doggerel Traveler Morgan - Romania: Dracula's Dream Doggerel Traveler Morgan - Singapore: Heart Drunk in Lion City Doggerel Traveler Morgan - Laos: Buddha Light Over Laos Doggerel Traveler Morgan - South Korea: Night at Namsan Tower Doggerel Traveler Morgan - Norway: Fjord Wonderland Doggerel Traveler Morgan - Denmark: Copenhagen Sunshine Doggerel Traveler Morgan - Kosovo: Light of Independence Doggerel Traveler Morgan - USA: Bustling Manhattan Doggerel Traveler Morgan - UK: London Dreamwalk Doggerel Traveler Morgan - Dubai: Dubai Adventure Doggerel Traveler Morgan - Turkey: Shadow Across Eurasia Doggerel Traveler Morgan - Poland: Mysterious Salt Mine Legend Doggerel Traveler Morgan - Czech Republic: Prague Sunset
Location: Shanghai, Aurora Museum Travel notes summary: Shanghai, Aurora Museum. A niche private museum near the Huangpu River, established by Taiwan's Aurora Group. The museum building was designed by Tadao Ando. The collection inside is not small, making me linger for some time, including Han and Tang dynasty painted figurines, Western Zhou jade, Yuan and Ming blue-and-white porcelain, Northern Qi Buddha statues... Currently, there's also an exhibition by Belgian artist Daniel Sluse. Through the long river of history, from East to West, from ancient times to the present, countless exquisite works of art have been continuously left behind... By Morgan @2024.9.22
Location: Shanghai Disneyland Travel note: After visiting Mingzhu Lake (a 5A-rated attraction) on Chongming Island (the second largest island after Hainan), I took a DiDi taxi for an hour and a half to make it to Shanghai Disneyland just over two hours before closing. It brought back the same excitement I felt as a kid visiting Tokyo Disneyland for the first time. Hope I can keep that childlike heart even as I grow old. XD
Location: Shanghai, visiting Senior Weidao Travel note: Visited Senior Weidao (also a Don from Taichung First Senior High School) at his home in Shanghai in the evening. Enjoying red wine while overlooking the night view of the Huangpu River was a rare experience. I also brought some Kobayashi Senbei products, a gift from another junior from Weidao, for him to try. Later, I had dinner with the senior and Amy (whom I met last time in Taichung) at a nearby skewer place, chatting about everything under the sun—truly a night worth raising a glass to. Thanks for the hospitality, Senior! Cheers~ :)
Location: Shanghai Museum Travel note: Shanghai Museum (East Hall), Yu Garden, The Bund. When I lived in Shanghai as a younger man, I hadn't yet developed an interest in visiting museums, so I never went to any in Shanghai back then. This time, I made time to visit the Shanghai Museum. When I left, the taxi driver turned out to be a hidden gem—seeing I came from the museum, he started chatting with me about the Mao Gong Ding and Sanxingdui... After getting out, I went to Yu Garden, which I hadn't visited in ages, had some soup dumplings at Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant, then strolled to The Bund and exited via Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street. Many memories from my time in Shanghai came flooding back. The scenery remains the same, but how many people and events have changed beyond recognition. @@
Location: Chua Lam Hong Kong Dim Sum (Shanghai) Travel note: Chua Lam Hong Kong Dim Sum, Da Ding Xiao Zao. Came to Shanghai at noon to meet JoJo (introduced by Brother Leon), who used to work at Citibank, and also got to know Ellinna and Yang, who is in charge of developing and attracting businesses to various industrial parks. I brought out Kobayashi Senbei as a souvenir, and the three ladies immediately went, 'Wow, Kobayashi Senbei!' and they were gone in no time. Thanks to JoJo for lunch. In the evening, I went to the French Concession area on Huaihai Middle Road to meet Brother Mao, who has been deeply rooted in Shanghai for 18 years, working in design, decoration, and renovation across Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai. At night, I drank with Brother Mao's industry friends—Sean, Andy, Xiao Wei, Brother Ke, Ryan (Brother Xu), Emma, and Professor Lin from Shanghai Jiao Tong University. We even ran into friends from Fubon Bank (China) here. Playing dice games like '250' made for another fun night. Thanks for the hospitality! Later, we continued the party at a nightclub (Wanxiang). Cheers~
Location: Wuxi Travel note: Nanchang Street, Su-Zhe-Hui Farmer's Courtyard, Jiuli Cang, Kobayashi Senbei. Came to Wuxi during the Mid-Autumn Festival to meet an old Weidao classmate I hadn't seen in 30 years. Thanks to Brother Weicen (Liwei) for the warm hospitality, accompanying me from afternoon till night. Dinner was spent with the classmate's family and elder relatives, celebrating Mid-Autumn together. Their family's Kobayashi Senbei business has now entered its 70-something year. Because they've expanded into the Chinese market, my classmate now manages the factory and operations here, so it's hard to meet him in Taiwan normally. Thankfully, we finally got to gather in Wuxi today and chat freely. Thirty long years have passed, turning us from awkward junior high students into middle-aged adults, but the youthful memories remain vivid as ever. Hope the next reunion won't take another 30 years. XD
Location: Hangzhou, Zhaogingtai (High-end Zhejiang cuisine) Travel note: Hangzhou, Zhaogingtai for high-end Zhejiang cuisine, ARIIA PARTY CLUB. I visited Hangzhou Museum in the afternoon. Then, because we hit it off so well last night, Arthur invited me out again tonight. I met Brother Liu and Brother Lu for the first time. Thanks for the treat, Arthur! After that, we went for another round of karaoke at a different place—the private room had a pool! Cheers~ By Morgan @2024.9.16 evening
Location: Hangzhou, Xiangshan Shipu Seafood Travel note: Hangzhou, Xiangshan Shipu Seafood, NOVA nightclub. In the evening, my junior and his cousin went for dinner by West Lake, so we parted ways. Andrew introduced me to some local Taiwanese businessmen to have dinner and get to know them. There were Brother Zhuo, Brother Jiang, Brother Arthur, Brother Xi, Brother Chen... What a small world—Brother Arthur is also from Fengyuan! He works in high-end clothing for fishing and hunting. I had a great chat with Arthur; he still has over thirty bottles of stored liquor at Haipai in Taichung. Arthur proactively added me on WeChat, saying we should drink together next time in Taichung. Later, we continued the night at a KTV in Hangzhou. Boss Fan also came by to greet everyone. Cheers~ By Morgan @2024.9.15 evening
Location: Hangzhou, Xingka Huyu Travel note: Hangzhou, Xingka Huyu, Jiuwu Jingcai (Hangzhou Binjiang Yintai store). Today, I accompanied my junior to visit the media company he invested in. I arrived a bit late after clearing customs, so at the dinner table, I only had the last glass of Maotai. I also met several local influencers and live streamers. And I saw Mr. Yu again, whom I met once before—he’s a former Alibaba executive. Later, I’ll drink some West Lake Longjing tea. Thanks to Mr. Ding for the fan from Hangzhou’s Temple of Wealth—it was a fulfilling day~ By Morgan @2024.9.15 evening
Location: Shenzhen KKMall 4F Tanlu Grilled Fish Travel note summary: This morning, I first visited Brother Howard's office in Huangjiang. After noon, I took the high-speed train back to Shenzhen and had grilled fish with Brother Zeng and Mr. Wu, who works on government tenders. They happened to meet at the mall under KK100, where I lived for several years. Thank you, Mr. Wu, for the treat. In the afternoon, I went with Brother Zeng and Brother Gu from Taiwan to a Nayuki's Tea in Futian for tea and chat. Brother Gu works on stem cell and exosome-related skincare products. The last time I met him was years ago at Brother Zeng's office, and he actually remembered it—what a good memory! Afterward, I returned to Hong Kong, transferred at Sheung Shui Station, and prepared to go back to Taiwan. This was a quick trip. Thank you all for your hospitality. :) Summary of movements over 4 days: Taipei-Taichung-Taipei-Hong Kong-Shenzhen-Dongguan-Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Taipei By Morgan @2024.6.18
Location: Taichung Travel note summary: Dongguan Huangjiang Yubao Hotel Zuiyunxuan Restaurant. This trip to Shenzhen was originally just to handle some matters at China Merchants Bank, but unexpectedly, I had the chance to meet many Taiwanese friends. In the afternoon, near Shenzhen North Station, I met with Brother Zeng Yaotian, whom I hadn't seen in a while, and his partner, Calvin, Managing Director of Lantao (Singapore). Who would have thought that after many failed attempts to meet Brother Zeng in Taichung or Taipei, we finally met in Shenzhen~XD Taiwan is small; just chatting with Calvin, we found we had some mutual friends, and some business matters were also related. Afterward, I took the high-speed train directly from Shenzhen North Station to Dongguan and then took a taxi to Huangjiang. Brother Howard was having dinner with his friends tonight, and I happened to join them by chance. Chairman Qiu of the Taiwanese Business Association, Chairman Chen, Mrs. Chen, another Chairman Chen, Chairman Yang, Chairman Peng, Mother Zheng... almost all were well-known Taiwanese business owners who have been working here for years. Tonight, we switched between gaoliang and red wine, and the whole night was spent listening to everyone chatting in Taiwanese, which felt very familiar. After disbanding, I went with Brother Howard and Chairman Yang to an outdoor seat on the street nearby and smoked cigars that Brother Howard recently brought back from the U.S. This was my first time in Huangjiang, and it was much livelier than I imagined. The entire Xingguangcheng street where I stayed was developed by Brother Howard back in the day. The hotel I stayed in tonight was also built by him and was very comfortable. Thank you, Brother Howard, for your hospitality. The connections in life are indeed magical, and it turns out Brother Zeng and Brother Howard also know each other~ The world is so small~ ^^ By Morgan @2024.6.17 evening
Location: Shenzhen Fumin Station Xixizan Niu Chaoshan Beef Hot Pot Restaurant Travel note summary: Shenzhen Fumin Station Xixizan Niu Chaoshan Beef Hot Pot Restaurant. I flew to Shenzhen tonight to have drinks with senior Ethan (Masa), university classmate Ahou, and sister-in-law Jinzhen. Today we drank Dalmore. While drinking, we listened to everyone share the recent economic situation in Shenzhen and Hong Kong, covering industries from electronics and technology to real estate and services... Thank you, senior, for the treat~ Cheers! By Morgan @2024.6.16 evening
Location: Northeast China, Qiulin Kvass (*kvasъ) Travel note: Thinking back a few years, I once backpacked solo through Northeast China for 40 days. During that trip, I visited: Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning provinces in China, and regions/countries like Russia (Vladivostok), North Korea, and South Korea. While traveling, I was deeply impressed by kvass, a drink introduced to China a century ago via the Chinese Eastern Railway by Russian merchant I. Ya. Qiulin. In Slavic languages, 'kvass' originally means yeast, so it's made from Russian black bread (bolshoy khleb) and malt sugar as a base, undergoing saccharification and mixed fermentation with lactic acid bacteria and multiple strains. It tastes unique, rich with the aroma of bread. Recently, I suddenly missed this drink from back then, so I spent about a thousand NTD on air shipping, sending it from Harbin to a Dongguan consolidation warehouse, then to Taiwan. This time, I bought all the flavors. Chilled, I finally got to taste this distinctive flavor again~ Phew~ By Morgan @2024.5.30
Location: Shenzhen Futian Huangting Plaza - Yueji Handmade Cantonese Cuisine, Hong Kong Airport Lounge Travel notes: Shenzhen Futian Huangting Plaza - Yueji Handmade Cantonese Cuisine, Hong Kong Airport Lounge. At noon, came from Hong Kong to Shenzhen to have lunch with university classmate Ahou. Due to the pandemic, it had been over four years since we last met. Ahou now helps design new products at a tech company. The world is small—turns out his friend also knows Kyle, CEO of WhaleChip and a junior from NCKU EE, and they're quite close. Updated each other on current projects and resources to see what we could collaborate on later. Thanks Ahou for the treat! Afterward, Ahou went to the Convention Center for a semiconductor exhibition, while I went to Hongshan Station to meet two lovely ladies for an enzyme bath introduced from Japan, plus facial care with micro-bubbles, hydrating serum, and a mask. After two treatments, began the long journey between two cities and the airport: took Shenzhen Metro from Hongshan to Futian Port, cleared both Shenzhen and Hong Kong borders, transferred to East Rail Line to Sheung Shui, then took A43 bus directly to Hong Kong Airport. Coincidentally, Daniel, founder of BSOS (blockchain + supply chain finance), was also flying back to Taiwan from Hong Kong tonight, so we met up at the airport to chat. Taiwan is small—Daniel is also from central Taiwan and studied at Mingdao for six years. Thanks to Daniel, I visited the American Express lounge at Hong Kong Airport for the first time. Had three glasses of red wine with cheese for dinner while chatting with Daniel about his new crypto project and his fun honeymoon trip to Antarctica. Had a great conversation. Thanks Daniel for the invitation and treat! See you in Taipei! :) By Morgan @2024.4.10 night
Location: Hong Kong Convention Centre Web3 Carnival, Central Exchange Square Two 49F The American Club Travel notes: Hong Kong Convention Centre Web3 Carnival, Central Exchange Square Two 49F The American Club. In the morning, attended the Hong Kong Web3 event hosted by HashKey, also ran into a few Taiwanese crypto friends. In the afternoon, moved to Central, had lunch at the food court below Jardine House. Then chatted with Eugene, founder of Blue Rabbit, at the 49th floor with great views. I had a glass of red wine as afternoon tea. Thanks Eugene for the treat! Next, walked to nearby Sheung Wan to visit Tiffany at Richwell's office, discussing Hong Kong carbon emission rights exchange. In the evening, back at the hotel in Wan Chai, opened the laptop for some analysis. Finished around 9 PM, then went out to Causeway Bay, ordered roast meat with double lemon Coke for dinner. Another Busy Day~ @@ By Morgan @2024.4.9 night
Location: Hong Kong Wan Chai FRITES Belgian Restaurant, Lou Shang Da Pai Dong Travel notes: Hong Kong Wan Chai FRITES Belgian Restaurant, Lou Shang Da Pai Dong. A busy day—it's been over four years since I last returned to Hong Kong. In the morning, went to Standard Chartered Bank in Sha Tin to reissue a debit card, then back to the hotel for a remote Zomma Protocol meeting. Afterward, went to Tsuen Wan to meet Ringo, who just returned from Uganda, Africa. They have MSO license, precious metals trading license, micro-loan license, public chain, wallet... so their business scope is quite broad. In the evening, went to Central Plaza in Wan Chai to meet William. We went to a nearby wine bar for a long-overdue Happy Hour, chatting about global bonds, stock markets, and expectations. Various Belgian beers and red wine made up for the days I missed drinking in high-altitude areas. Thanks William for the treat! At night, had dinner with former Hong Kong colleague Kehuai, whom I hadn't seen in ages. Lman senior and Emily from Digital Times also joined. Kehuai chose this nostalgic Hong Kong restaurant. Though not quite the same as a very local dai pai dong, it's still a characteristic Hong Kong-style restaurant. Hong Kong's per capita consumption isn't cheap—thanks Kehuai for the treat! Cheers~ :) By Morgan @2024.4.8 night
Location: Qinghai, Qilian Mountains Travel Notes: Qinghai Xining Qinghai Museum. Whenever I have extra time during a trip, I try to schedule a museum visit. In these condensed hubs of culture, I learn more about the local development history. The Tang-Tibet Ancient Road, Qingtang Road, Tuyuhun, archaeological tombs, Tibetan thangka... there's always endless fascinating historical knowledge to absorb. @@ By Morgan @2024.4.7
Location: Qinghai, Tibetan Plateau Travel Notes: Qinghai Tibetan Plateau. 1. Kumbum Monastery (Ta'er Si) - Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism (Yellow Hat, 5A attraction). 2. Zongkala Pass on Laji Mountain (elevation 4,188m). 3. Qinghai Lake, China's largest saltwater lake (elevation 3,196m, area 4,543 sq km). Qinghai and Tibet are the only two provinces in China I hadn't visited. Today, I finally set foot on the Tibetan Plateau with an average altitude of 3,000–4,000 meters, almost completing my journey across all of China (except for hard-to-reach Tibet). From Jiangnan water towns to northern frontier landscapes, from the three northeastern provinces to the Yunnan border... ancient roads, west winds, lean horses, small bridges, flowing water, households... I've personally experienced with my own steps and eyes the words from books, including the Five Great Mountains, Emei Mountain, Wudang Mountain, Tianchi Lake from Jin Yong's novels. It took 17 years to fulfill my self-set travel goal in China. Watching lamas create butter sculpture art in Tibetan Buddhist temples, seeing yaks walk in the snow, gazing at the endless water of Qinghai Lake... today added some new life experiences. Saw the news this morning, hoping all my friends and family in Taiwan are safe and well! By Morgan @2024.4.3 #Qinghai #TibetanPlateau
Location: Shenzhen Bao'an, Xin Baoyuan Restaurant Travel Notes: Shenzhen Bao'an Xin Baoyuan Restaurant. It's been over four years since I last returned to Shenzhen. Came here this morning to handle some matters, and took the chance to visit KK Mall and the Kingkey 100 building where I lived ten years ago. Coincidentally, Brother Yin and Brother Leon are also in Shenzhen discussing mergers and investments. Thanks to Brother Yin's connections, local Chairman Zhang treated us to Cantonese cuisine. Chairman Zhang is a big shot in the chip industry, and we paired the meal with Guizhou baijiu. Then we kicked off the long-awaited first round of Shenzhen nightlife. Brother Yin has great face—another elder Brother Dai, upon hearing Brother Yin was in Shenzhen, specially flew from Hanoi, Vietnam to Shenzhen tonight and will join us shortly. Before I get too drunk, a preemptive thank you to Chairman Zhang for the hospitality! :P Cheers! By Morgan @2024.4.1 evening
大德學長，去年推薦了我蔡司-紅酒杯(喬瑟芬3號)， 但因為我後來一整年，人都在外面喝酒， 所以從購入後放屋內，真的用不到幾次，有點可惜。 於是趁著今晚難得沒出門， 點了份海鮮丼飯…
Location: Leifeng Pagoda, West Lake, Hangzhou Travel note summary: Leifeng Pagoda, West Lake, Hangzhou. 'The beauty of West Lake in March, spring rain like wine, willows like mist.' Revisiting this place after over a decade, I couldn't help but recall that moonlit night at West Lake... By Morgan @2023.11.28
Location: Hangzhou Travel note summary: Zhejiang, Hangzhou, Louwailou Restaurant. 'Beyond green hills, towers beyond towers; when will the song and dance at West Lake ever cease?' Louwailou is an old establishment founded in 1848, long famous. Today at noon, Joey specially came from Shanghai to Hangzhou to treat Sheng-ge and me to a meal here, paired with Chardonnay. Eating while admiring the beautiful scenery of West Lake is an unparalleled experience in life. Their signature dishes include Beggar's Chicken, Longjing Shrimp, West Lake Vinegar Fish, and Dongpo Pork. After eating, we went to Hupao Park to pay respects at the nirvana site of Living Buddha Jigong. Thanks for the company and treat, Joey! Afterwards, we returned to West Lake's Bai Causeway to watch the sunset at Broken Bridge. Spring, summer, autumn, winter, sunrise, sunset—West Lake always brings different feelings. In the evening, I had dinner with former Ant Group Vice President, Yu Zong. Another friend brought over a super beautiful livestreamer with millions of followers on Douyin. Thanks for the treat tonight, Yu Zong! We drank West Lake Light Beer, Cheers! By Morgan @2023.11.28 evening
Japan TOKAI Lutina lenses. In the afternoon, I first went to the Mandarin Oriental hotel for a meeting introduced by a friend. Taiwan is so small that when I arrived, I realized Dennis and this young investment company boss already knew each other. Afterward, I went to Formosa Optical to pick up my new glasses, which I had ordered 10 days ago. This time I switched to TOKAI's pressure-relief lenses, so it took longer to get them. So far, they feel quite comfortable to wear. Then I picked up two packages I had bought early for Singles' Day. Compared to when I lived in mainland China and would easily buy over 60 packages, it's really a big difference now. @@ By Morgan @2023.11.7
Location: Shenzhen Travel note: Three online meetings today, scattered in the morning, afternoon, and 9 PM. During the morning meeting, my phone accidentally fell to the ground. @@ So I simply took the high-speed rail back to Taipei and went to buy a new phone to replace it. Then used software to migrate various apps and re-login to a bunch of accounts. After setting up, reopened FB on the new phone. It showed a memory from 4 years ago today: a nearly month-long solo backpacking trip to Yunnan and Laos. Also memories from 7 years ago in Chengdu and Chongqing, 13 years ago at Shanghai Normal University, 6 years ago having dinner with General Manager Liang at the Oxford & Cambridge Club in London. 8 years ago, deeply moved by the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang and the Crescent Moon Spring of Mingsha Mountain... Various life fragments were quickly revisited like flipping through a diary. The world is too big, time is too short. The people we meet in this life are both many and few. Living in the present moment, perhaps it's all arranged by fate... By Morgan @2023.10.9 evening #Yunnan
Location: China - Computer Software Copyright Travel note snippet: Another busy day in China. Started the morning with a conference call with Richwell, Tony in Australia, and Duke in Hong Kong, discussing whether their new fund should use a Hong Kong LPF structure or a Cayman SPC structure. In the afternoon, met with Zomma, Tiffany from Red Building Capital VC, and her colleagues to discuss a DeFi cryptocurrency options platform. After wrapping up, while having dinner, I got a message from my friend Wei back in mainland China. He took the time to apply for a copyright for a system I helped him write a while ago, and it was recently approved. Even though this kind of thing doesn't seem very useful in China, I'll treat it as a keepsake. @@ By Morgan @Evening of 2023.1.10 #FinTech_Blockchain
Location: Hong Kong Travel Notes: Time flies~ Life is but a dream~ I only remember that in 2017, I was flying on average once every less than 9 days, truly living up to the saying 'either at the airport or on the way to the airport.' Over 40 flights that year, almost all to different destinations, covering Europe, Asia, America, and Africa—greatly satisfying my Aries personality that always craves new experiences. Besides Cathay Pacific and various Chinese airlines, I also flew with Turkish Airlines, Emirates, and Ukraine International Airlines. I tried EgyptAir's business class and even took some obscure small flights. I even used Qatar Airways' in-flight Wi-Fi to check in mid-air. Who would have thought things would change so much? Now I almost forget what it feels like when a plane takes off~ XD By Morgan @2022.8.13
Location: China Travel note summary: As someone who lived in China for a long time and was a heavy user of platforms like Taobao, Meituan, Ele.me (Qunar, Elong, Ctrip...) for online shopping, food delivery, and travel, naturally I've found corresponding platforms in Taiwan for a seamless transition. Staying home without going out, I can have steak, sushi, xiaolongbao, braised dishes, seafood porridge... all delivered to my door. The same goes for various red and white wines—order online in the morning, and a whole case arrives in the afternoon. Not having to waste any time going out really brings an inexplicable sense of happiness. ^_^ By Morgan @2022.7.9
Location: Hong Kong Travel Notes: Hong Kong-Taiwan Laptop Shipping Saga. When I returned to Taiwan from Hong Kong during the New Year, because I made a detour to the Philippines, I only brought back my small Asus travel laptop. After struggling for a few months, the hard drive inside developed problems, so I had to ask my former Hong Kong colleague Kehuai to help ship back my workstation-grade Lenovo P50. After several days of continuous communication with FedEx and Taiwan Customs, it was finally released this morning and I received it this afternoon. (Customs thought the declared value was too low, so they required proof of purchase.) Although the shipping plus customs duties totaled over five thousand NTD, after many months, being able to see my long-lost companion again and have it boot up normally was still quite moving. Thanks, Kehuai, and congratulations on soon becoming a dad!
Location: Guangzhou Travel note summary: (#86) Four-day trip to Guangzhou, Mainland China (1) - Departure. Friends who often read my blog might notice that when I write travel notes, I'm used to numbering each trip. But in recent entries, numbers 85, 87, 88 seem to be missing 86. Yes, this isn't Morgan miscounting; there really is trip number 86. It was a very exciting and unforgettable journey for me. I've been wanting to find a chance to write it properly, but too many things happened after returning to Taiwan, so it's been delayed until now, and I can slowly tell the story... Speaking of when I was on a business trip to mainland China at the end of last year, actually, just before returning to Taiwan, I asked the general manager for two days off, plus the original Saturday and Sunday, making four days in total. I shouldered my backpack and traveled to the south of mainland China. No matter where Morgan goes, it seems I'm still the same old me, so even in an unfamiliar environment, the latent wanderlust still drives me to adventure again. Actually, I didn't have any itinerary arranged, nor did I collect any local information. I just made a Skype call to my good friend Jinli, who works in Foshan, Guangzhou, before setting off. [Hey Jinli~~ Let's find a place to go!] Jinli, who never lets me down, of course agreed. Let's go on a whim! We found another good friend that both Jinli and I know, and traveled together. So, on a certain Friday morning, I walked out of the dormitory at Baolai's Shenzhen Film Building, first took the subway to Luohu Railway Station. From Shenzhen to Guangzhou, there's the so-called Guangzhou-Shenzhen high-speed train, also known as the Harmony train. There are two ticket prices: the ordinary one-way ticket is 75 yuan RMB, and the more expensive one is 95 yuan (RMB to TWD is about 1:4.4). Before entering the station, like at an airport, luggage has to pass through a scanning machine. Within an hour, there are about 2-3 trains available.
Location: Hong Kong Mid-Levels Escalator. Total length 800 meters, the world's longest outdoor escalator~
Location: Hong Kong Travel note summary: Taking advantage of the long weekend, aside from filing taxes online, I continued organizing past travel footprints into my personal blog. After finishing nearly 30 articles of doggerel poems about scenic spots in various countries a month ago, this time I added 27 new articles about places I visited in Hong Kong over the past two years. https://morgan0321.org https://morgan0321.org/?s=香港生活 Missing the peaceful days in Hong Kong~ I also hope all my many friends in Hong Kong are safe and well! By Morgan @ 2020.5.2
Location: Dishes English Breakfast, Vision City, Tai Po District, Hong Kong Travel note: Brunch at Dishes in Vision City, Tai Po. It was pretty good! BY Morgan @2017.3.22
During my 43 days in China, I tried various regional cuisines (Cantonese, Hunan, Hangzhou, Sichuan, Yunnan, Hui, etc.) and also found some Taiwanese restaurant chains. One day, colleagues and I went to Feng Hua Hot Pot, part of the Wang Steak group. Wang Steak has eight brands in Taiwan, including Yuan Shao and Tofu Village, and in China, they have Wang Steak, Tasty Steak, and this hot pot place. Missing home abroad, we had to support a Taiwanese brand. From entering to being seated, about 10–20 staff greeted us with 'Welcome to Feng Hua!'—always making you feel at home despite their busyness. 'Hua' comes from Singaporean fishermen who made seafood paste into various滑 (slippery) items. It's individual hot pot: choose a broth (spicy, fish, lamb, mushroom, pickled cabbage, etc.), then add ingredients. A highlight is the 20–30 sauce options, sweet, salty, sour, spicy, lined up like a salad bar. The dishes were beautifully presented: beef rolls in ice-filled glasses, shrimp on ice still moving. We also tried Northeast wide noodles—chewy and unique. Overall, the meat and seafood were high quality. Following Wang Steak's generosity, the Hokkaido red bean milk ice dessert was free and unlimited. The meal cost about NT$350 per person, pricey locally but reasonable for us. With elegant decor, diverse sauces, individual hot pots, and endless dessert, no wonder it's popular. Feng Hua Hot Pot (Shenzhen Shennan East Store / Wang Steak Store #65).
Location: Parkview Restaurant, Sha Tin, Hong Kong Travel note: Just a memo from Parkview Restaurant in Sha Tin, Hong Kong. @ 2018.5.23
Location: Century Plaza Mall, Shenzhen – Shixia Clam Hot Pot Travel note summary: Shixia Clam Hot Pot at Century Plaza Mall in Shenzhen. My older sister was in Shenzhen for work, and being able to have dinner with her here was truly a rare and memorable experience～ XD
Location: Lok Tsui Garden Dai Pai Dong, Kwun Tong, Hong Kong Travel note summary: Lok Tsui Garden Dai Pai Dong in Kwun Tong, Hong Kong. On the eve of Taiwan's election, I came here for dinner with William and Ah Hou. With local Hong Konger Ah Hou leading the way, two bottles of French red wine made the dai pai dong meal uniquely flavorful. We finished with sesame paste from Sung Kee for dessert – perfect & cheers! By Morgan, Jan 10, 2020
Location: Morgan's Notes 039 - Inner Mongolia: Ordos - Kubuqi Desert Travel Notes Summary: Morgan's Notes 039 - Inner Mongolia: Ordos - Kubuqi Desert. Roaming far and wide, I arrived at the great desert of the Hetao region. Riding a camel while sipping wine, I watched the tipsy sunset glow on the clouds. By [email protected] #InnerMongolia, China #KubuqiDesert Morgan’s Blog: http://morgan0321.org , Welcome! : )
Location: Morgan's Notes 040 - Beijing: Forbidden City & Temple of Heaven Sunset Travel Notes Summary: Morgan's Notes 040 - Beijing: Forbidden City & Temple of Heaven Sunset. Home to Ming and Qing royalty, world-renowned and counted among the best. Dreaming back to the Forbidden City's golden age, with the Temple of Heaven's sunset reflecting grand visions. By [email protected] #ForbiddenCity, China #TempleofHeaven Morgan’s Blog: http://morgan0321.org , Welcome! : )
Location: Morgan's Notes 029 - Hebei Qinhuangdao: Shanhaiguan, Old Dragon's Head Travel notes summary: The Great Wall has its starting point at Old Dragon's Head by the Bohai Sea. Straddling land and sea, it's a magnificent sight, with raging waves guarded by mythical beasts. By [email protected] #Qinhuangdao, China Morgan’s Blog: http://morgan0321.org, Welcome! :)
Location: Morgan's Notes 030 - Henan: Longmen Grottoes Travel notes summary: Having visited three of the four great grottoes, Longmen in Luoyang sits by the riverbank. The weathered and ancient Fengxian Temple has endured the frosts of the Northern Wei and Tang dynasties. By [email protected] #Luoyang, China Morgan’s Blog: http://morgan0321.org, Welcome! :)
Location: Morgan's Notes 023 - Beijing: The Great Wall Travel notes summary: A winding giant dragon spanning thousands of years—'He who has not been to the Great Wall is not a true man.' So much history worth singing and weeping over; let's cherish this peaceful era. By [email protected] #GreatWall, China Morgan’s Blog: http://morgan0321.org, Welcome! :)
Location: Morgan's Casual Notes 001 - Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Travel Note Summary: Picking up the pen again after many years, looking back at the past with a heavy heart. Smiling by the window at this floating life, wishing to leave my name in this mundane world. -By Morgan @2019.12.29 (http://morgan0321.org)
Location: Shenzhen, MixC World - Chua Lam's Hong Kong-style Dim Sum Travel Notes: At MixC World in Shenzhen, had brunch with senior Peter and university classmate Ah Hou. When I asked Ah Hou if he wanted Japanese, Korean, or dim sum, as a Hong Konger, he immediately chose Hong Kong-style dim sum without hesitation :P Thanks for the treat, senior!
Location: Shenzhen, Lao Ma Que - Hunan Cuisine Travel Notes: Senior Peter suddenly returned from Chengdu to Shenzhen and introduced me to a Taiwanese senior who's been in Shenzhen for over six years, so I made a trip from Hong Kong. After chatting, we realized we're all from Taichung, which felt especially warm. :) Brother Zeng now runs a private equity fund, mainly focusing on primary market investments. We had tea and chatted in their office on the 45th floor of Excellence Century Center near the convention center. We also listened to Senior Peter, Brother Zeng, and his friends discuss how to implement wearable medical devices. We talked from afternoon until the lights turned on in the building across the street. Afterwards, I had dinner with Senior Peter at Lao Ma Que—the dishes were quite refined and tasty. Thanks also to senior for booking and paying for a room at his hotel, so I didn't have to rush back to Hong Kong tonight. :p By Morgan on the evening of 2019.12.26
Location: Morgan's Notes 015 - Beijing: Prince Gong's Mansion Travel notes summary: Heshen and Yixin are long gone, leaving only the ice surface reflecting the sunset. Seasons change, cold and heat pass; the rise and fall of human affairs can be observed in this mansion. Half of Qing Dynasty history resides here, with a hidden 'fu' character blessing in a cave. If I were to dream back to that era now, who would remember the glory and disgrace of a lifetime? By [email protected] #Beijing, China
Location: Morgan's Casual Notes 004 - Hong Kong Pak Shek Kok: Tom&Grill Travel Note Summary: Facing the sea to spend a Sunday, peaceful times accompanied by red wine. Looking back on the path traveled so far, raising a glass to this present moment. By [email protected] #HongKong
Location: Hong Kong, Pak Shek Kok - Tom Bar & Grill Travel Notes: Haven't been here in over two years. On a Sunday afternoon, with a glass of French red wine and a ribeye steak, gazing at the peaceful seaside, reflecting on the ups and downs of life. Swirling the wine glass, maintaining balance with a slightly tipsy body... Everything in the world has its origin, and there will always be a way out. Cheers to this moment and the present! By Morgan on 2019.12.22
Location: Hong Kong Science Park Travel Notes: In the afternoon, university classmate Ah Hou suddenly said he wanted to meet up, so I had him take minibus 27 from Sha Tin to Science Park. I also showed him around my new office with a bit of a sea view. Chatting and exchanging ideas with an old classmate was rewarding, and time flew by—it was evening before I knew it. Really happy to have the chance to gather with an old friend in Hong Kong. No matter how the situation changes, let's strive to live in the moment! :) By Morgan on 2019.12.19
Location: Shenzhen, Baheli Haiji Shantou Beef Hotpot Travel note: Just the other day I was complaining about having no one to eat hotpot with, and then Senior Peter happened to come from Taiwan to Shenzhen and invited me for hotpot. Thanks for the treat, Senior! Cheers! :)
Location: Shenzhen, Nanshan District, Shenzhen Bay Travel note: #Night view where one ping (坪) of property costs 3 million Taiwan dollars.
Location: Hong Kong Travel note: Hei Hing Hong Kong-style cuisine. In Hong Kong, which has been so turbulent lately, it's really not easy to have a good meal with old friends. Thanks to Barry, whom I haven't seen in a long time, for the treat. Striving to live in every moment. Cheers!
Location: Zhongshan, Guangdong Travel note: Cuihong Village, Zhongshan - Sun Yat-sen's Former Residence and Memorial Museum (5A), Zhongshan Zhan Garden (4A), Zhongshan Film and TV City, Zhongshan Pedestrian Street, Zhongshan Art Museum, Zhongshan Park... Came to Zhongshan originally to have a meal with Ruoyi Baobao, but she went to the US for her honeymoon, so I ended up wandering around Zhongshan city alone. I also visited the former residence of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the Father of the Nation. After carefully reviewing the history and influential figures of the late Qing and early Republic era, it's time to figure out how to take the bus from Zhongshan to Zhuhai, and then cross the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge back to Hong Kong again~ :p By Morgan on 2019.11.10 #Life is just constantly moving and accumulating various memories.
Location: Hailing Island, Yangjiang, Guangdong - Maritime Silk Road (5A), Southern Song Dynasty Shipwreck Travel note: Guided by the lifelong motto 'It is better to travel ten thousand miles than to read ten thousand books,' just as I once personally visited every county and city in Taiwan, relying on my own two feet, today I have finally set foot in all 21 cities of Guangdong Province, including the southernmost tip of mainland China - the Leizhou Peninsula: Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Dongguan, Foshan, Zhuhai, Jiangmen, Zhongshan, Huizhou, Qingyuan, Shaoguan, Chaozhou, Shantou, Shanwei, Jieyang, Meizhou, Heyuan, Yunfu, Zhaoqing, Maoming, Zhanjiang, Yangjiang. Together with Hong Kong and Macau, the Pearl River Delta is no longer just place names on paper, from the macro to the micro. The sights, sounds, food, and experiences from each place have been internalized, giving me a deeper understanding of the entire Guangdong Province. Just recording this here. :) By Morgan on 2019.11.9
Location: Haidilao Hot Pot (Dingsheng Plaza Store), Zhanjiang, Guangdong Travel note: Thanks to Paoli, my senior, for treating me at Haidilao in Zhanjiang!
Location: Western Restaurant, 2F, Sheraton Hotel, Shenzhen Travel note: After two remote meetings with Beijing and Taiwan this morning, I took my laptop and sailed from Zhuhai's Jiuzhou Port to Shenzhen. Tomorrow morning, I have an in-person meeting at Taiping Financial Tower. Having some ribeye steak and Australian red wine helps replenish my energy from all the running around. @@
Location: Shenzhen Four Points by Sheraton Hotel 2F Western Restaurant Travel Notes Summary: Shenzhen Four Points by Sheraton Hotel 2F Western Restaurant. This morning, after back-to-back remote meetings with Beijing and Taiwan, I lugged my laptop from Zhuhai's Jiuzhou Port by ferry to Shenzhen, with an in-person meeting tomorrow at Taiping Financial Tower. Having some ribeye steak and Australian red wine helps replenish a bit of the energy spent running around all over the place. @@ By Moragn @ 2019.10.28
Location: Nanjing Travel note: During the day, I visited Zhuhai's Jintai Temple, Doumen Old Street, and Jiexia Village with fellow alumni. In the evening, after we disbanded, thanks to senior Bingxiong from the NCKU EMBA program, who drove us in his top-of-the-line Mercedes worth 1.8 million RMB, along with Paoli, Nick, Yongde, and me, to a famous Chaoshan beef hot pot restaurant in Zhuhai for dinner. While eating, we listened to senior share that besides his new energy project in Nanjing, he's recently planning to enter the MCN (influencer + platform) market. Learned a lot. Thanks again to senior for the treat! :) By Morgan, evening of 2019.10.26
Location: Zhuhai Travel note: Visit to Baofengtang Company & NCKU Alumni Dinner. Thanks to senior Zhao Zhiqiang (Class of '66, Chemical Engineering) for inviting NCKU alumni working in South China to visit his company. He covered all expenses for meals, accommodation, and a chartered bus tour of Zhuhai for the day. Senior is an overseas Chinese from Hong Kong who eventually set up a factory in Zhuhai after graduation. They manufacture plasma equipment for cleaning surfaces of semiconductors, PCBs, LCDs, LEDs, camera lenses, etc.: http://www.boffotto.com.hk/wap/. With 150 employees, annual revenue reaches 800 million NTD. Clients include major companies like Huawei and Foxconn. At tonight's banquet, besides drinking too much of the 58-proof Kaoliang liquor specially brought by senior Yongping (Class of '81, Mechanical Engineering) from Kinmen, I also met many NCKU seniors, juniors, and peers from various departments: Business Administration, Transportation Management, Industrial Engineering, History, Mechanical Engineering, EMBA, Engineering, Urban Planning, Materials Science, Electrical Engineering. They also span many fields: blockchain, medical rapid testing, big data, solar energy, heavy motorcycles, venture capital, Prudential, teaching, electronic equipment agency... Among them, senior Paoli (Ph.D. student, Class of '101, Industrial Engineering) also graduated from Professor Xie Zhongqi's lab, our former department, and now teaches in Zhanjiang, Guangdong. Everyone chatted about shared memories like Lao Qiu, Hutoupi, Anping Fort... making me nostalgic for those days living in Tainan... It's all fate. Thank you, senior! :) By Morgan, evening of 2019.10.25
Location: Asanabe Japanese Wagyu Buffet, Nanshan, Shenzhen Travel note: My university classmate Ah Niu came to Shenzhen this week for a meeting near Tencent Headquarters, so we arranged to meet nearby for dinner. I also gave him the books and magazines I bought in Laos for their font designers to reference. Tonight's meal had wagyu beef and Haagen-Dazs ice cream—haven't eaten this full in a long time, really stuffed @@. Thanks to Brother Ah Niu for the treat! ^^ By Morgan, evening of 2019.10.24 #Around the 996 area at 9 PM, people and cars are slowly increasing
Location: Hong Kong Central, Man Yee Building & Lan Kwai Fong Travel note summary: Today afternoon I first went to Central, met up with William whom I haven't seen in a while. We had coffee at Starbucks, chatted about his recent situation working in the foreign financial circle in Central, and also congratulated him on recently getting married. ^^ Then in the evening, I met Ruei, whom I also hadn't seen for several months, and we came to Lan Kwai Fong to a Vietnamese pho restaurant opened by Hong Kong food critic Chua Lam. We talked about her recent work at the pharmaceutical company and her experiences learning oil painting. After that, I couldn't stay long and had to rush back to the New Territories before the last MTR train, which now ends at 22:00. @@
Location: Hong Kong Central Man Yee Building & Lan Kwai Fong Chua Lam Vietnamese Pho Travel Notes Summary: Hong Kong Central Man Yee Building & Lan Kwai Fong Chua Lam Vietnamese Pho. This afternoon, I first went to Central to meet William, whom I hadn't seen in ages. We had coffee at Starbucks, catching up on his recent life in Central's foreign financial circle, and congratulated him on recently getting married. ^^ Then in the evening, I met Ruei, whom I also hadn't seen for months, at a Vietnamese pho restaurant in Lan Kwai Fong opened by Hong Kong food critic Chua Lam. We chatted about her recent work at a pharmaceutical company and her recent experiences learning oil painting. Couldn't stay long afterward—had to rush back to the New Territories before the last MTR, now changed to 22:00, closes. @@ By [email protected]
Location: Hong Kong Lee Gardens Travel note summary: Lee Gardens, Hong Kong - Sinopac Capital (Asia) Headquarters. Since I was already in Causeway Bay, I casually asked Tony. Coincidentally, he had just flown back to Hong Kong from Taiwan last night and happened to be at the Hong Kong office today. So I went to his office, which is also Sinopac Capital's new headquarters in Hong Kong, for a visit, and we had coffee and chatted at the Starbucks downstairs. We hadn't seen each other for several months, and this time I listened to him share his firsthand insights into supply chain finance after recently visiting mainland China and Taiwan and meeting with numerous clients. Thanks for Tony's hospitality~ Just keep in touch~ :) By Morgan on 2019.10.21
Location: Hong Kong Causeway Bay, Ho Hung Kee Wonton Noodles Travel note summary: Ho Hung Kee Wonton Noodles (Michelin One Star) in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. I went out to pick up my repaired laptop and顺便 came here for a meal. This over-70-year-old shop, established in 1946, started as a street stall and has now grown into a large restaurant, even earning a Michelin star for its wonton noodles. Besides the fresh shrimp wonton noodles, the congee here is also excellent, cooked over an open flame until very soft and mushy, almost leaving no rice grains behind, just the fragrance of rice. As a single-person lunch, it was just right. :) By Morgan on 2019.10.21
Location: Hong Kong Taikoo Shing, CIAK Italian Restaurant Travel note summary: CIAK Italian Restaurant in Taikoo Shing, Hong Kong. This is a branch of the Michelin one-star CIAK from Central's Landmark. I had lunch with Kehuai and Nicole, and they chose this place to eat. I also顺便 gave them some small souvenirs from each of the six countries I visited in the past quarter. CIAK's pizza and ox tongue left a good impression, but the most unforgettable was its desserts, which were very delicious. Thanks again to Kehuai and his wife for treating! :) After eating, we weren't quite satisfied yet, so we continued the gathering at their home in Quarry Bay. We drank British whisky, ate Taiwanese pastries, Japanese potato chips, and traditional Hong Kong fish balls dipped in Macanese curry sauce, with the Baoquan sun cakes they recently bought while attending classes in Taichung placed nearby. We chatted about each other's experiences around the world, enjoying a very pleasant afternoon. After saying goodbye, I went to the McDonald's they recommended, also in Quarry Bay, said to be the best in all of Hong Kong, for dinner (because the Hong Kong McDonald's headquarters is next door, so quality has to be maintained). Thus ended this fulfilling day. Thanks Kehuai and Nicole! ^^ By Morgan on the evening of 2019.10.19
Location: Shenzhen, Bafangke Shantou Beef Hotpot Travel note: Spent almost the whole day in a financial building in Nanshan District, Shenzhen, meeting with several chairmen of private equity funds and one chairman who is queuing up to apply for a public fund. At noon, they treated me to a nice Cantonese restaurant. Later, my laptop suddenly wouldn't turn on. In the evening, I hurriedly had Shantou beef hotpot, which I hadn't eaten in a long time, and drank a bottle of Nan'ao red wine—without any 'girls'—before rushing back to Hong Kong via the Futian Port. Tomorrow, I'll go to the Lenovo center in Lai Chi Kok to see if it can be fixed. This time, I'm really crying :~
Location: Shenzhen, Sheraton Hotel Chinese Restaurant Travel note: Haven't been here in a long time. Tonight, I had dinner with a girl who used to work at Invesco Great Wall Fund. Cheers!
Location: Shenzhen, Luohu Port McDonald's Travel note: Yesterday, a netizen from Shanghai came to Shenzhen on a last-minute business trip and wanted to meet up. But his schedule was tight: he had a 14:47 high-speed train from Shenzhen to Guangzhou today, then flew directly to Chengdu in the evening, and then to Beijing. I was returning from Kunming to Shenzhen today, but was only scheduled to arrive at Shenzhen Airport at 12:10 noon. The distance from the airport to the train station is not short—one is in the far west, the other in the far east. Time was tight, and I thought we wouldn't be able to meet. But without any delays, miraculously at 13:40, we still managed to meet at the McDonald's next to Luohu Station. What's interesting about this netizen is that he lives in the same area where I used to live in Shanghai, both near Zhongshan Park subway station. So this time, we had the chance to meet and chat, and our vibes seemed to match. After waving goodbye, right next to it was Luohu Port, ready to head back to Hong Kong～ :p
Location: Yunnan, Random Notes Travel Notes Summary: Yunnan is the province with the most ethnic minorities in China, with a full 25 ethnic groups living here, accounting for nearly half of all China's ethnic minorities. I was supposed to have dinner with a Hani girl tonight, but she happened to be in Kunming for training and was flying back to Xishuangbanna late at night, while I was flying from Xishuangbanna to Kunming to transfer back to Shenzhen—we missed each other perfectly in the air. So, I ended up coming alone to eat Yunnan's famous wild mushroom hotpot. There's a timer next to the hotpot; it needs to cook for over 20 minutes before it's safe to eat, so I'm just writing some random thoughts while waiting. Besides seeing all sorts of strange mountains and unique waters on this Yunnan trip, the biggest gain was probably experiencing the lives of many ethnic groups. From the Bai people in Dali, the Naxi people at Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in Lijiang, the Mosuo people at Lugu Lake, the Tibetans and Yi people in Shangri-La, the Jingpo people in Tengchong, the Dai people on the China-Myanmar border, to the Dai, Hani, and Jinuo people in Xishuangbanna... plus the Austrian girl I struck up a conversation with in Laos. Different ethnic groups celebrate different major festivals, speak different dialects, wear different clothing, eat different foods, and believe in different gods... I think this has greatly reminded me, time and again, to have empathy in all things and to embrace various different perspectives. The world is vast, and we are all just tiny specks in it. Looking at things from others' perspectives and practicing empathy might reduce many unnecessary conflicts... :P By Morgan, evening of October 9, 2019.
Location: Shenzhen Travel note: Yunnan Random Notes Yunnan is the province with the most ethnic minorities in China, with a full 25 ethnic minorities living here, close to half of all ethnic minorities in China. Originally, I had plans to have dinner with a Hani girl tonight, but she happened to go to Kunming for training and flew back to Banna late at night, while I flew from Banna to Kunming late at night to transfer back to Shenzhen—we perfectly missed each other in the air. So, I ended up coming alone to eat Yunnan's famous wild mushroom hotpot. There's a timer next to the hotpot; it needs to be cooked for over 20 minutes before eating, so I'm just writing some random things while waiting. Besides seeing various strange mountains and unique waters on this Yunnan trip, the biggest gain was probably experiencing the lives of many ethnic groups. From the Bai people in Dali, the Naxi people at Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in Lijiang, the Mosuo people at Lugu Lake, the Tibetan and Yi people in Shangri-La, the Jingpo people in Tengchong, the Dai people on the China-Myanmar border, to the Dai, Hani, and Jino people in Xishuangbanna... plus the Austrian girl I struck up a conversation with in Laos. Different ethnic groups celebrate different major festivals, speak different dialects, wear different clothing, eat different foods, and believe in different gods... I think this greatly reminds me once again to have empathy in everything and to包容 various different perspectives. The world is vast, and we are all just tiny specks in it. If we try to see things from others' perspectives and think in their shoes, perhaps many unnecessary conflicts could be reduced... :P By Morgan on the evening of October 9, 2019
Location: Yunnan, Xishuangbanna, Wangtianshu Tropical Rainforest Area Travel Notes Summary: Known as the Oriental Amazon, it's filled with various tropical plants and is also one of the filming reference locations for the movie Avatar. The tallest tree reaches 88 meters. Walking on the suspended bridges between the trees, it's best not to look down too much~~ @@ By Morgan @2019.10.7
Location: Macau Travel Note Summary: The Dai Show in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, was created by an international director and stage manager who previously designed Macau's 'The House of Dancing Water' and Las Vegas' 'O' Show, along with performers including those from Cirque du Soleil. Having seen dozens of shows big and small, I can confidently say the Dai Show ranks among the top. When you've watched many performances, you naturally evaluate them based on lighting, sound effects, actors, props, dance, songs, theater, story, atmosphere, aesthetics, tension, interaction, difficulty, surprises, and ultimately, whether they touch the heart. The Dai Show tells the story of the Dai people's Peacock Princess, with cleverly arranged scenes that keep you captivated. The overall performance truly meets world-class standards and is worth watching! By Morgan on the evening of 2019.10.1
Location: Yunnan, Xishuangbanna, Mengle Great Buddha Temple (Royal Temple of the Dai Dynasty) Travel Notes Summary: Within a few days, I quickly experienced spring, summer, autumn, and winter. When I just got off the plane in Kunming, the temperature was 12°C. In Lijiang - Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, it was below 0°C with cold, snowy scenery. Then in Tengchong and Dali, it was 15–25°C, cold in the morning and evening but hot at noon. Now, flying to Xishuangbanna, it's over 31°C with scorching sun. No wonder the Dai people here have the Water-Splashing Festival! @@ By Morgan @2019.10.1
Location: Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Travel Note Summary: Zhuhai Hengqin Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, International Circus
Location: Yunnan, Dali, Chongsheng Temple Three Pagodas, Tianlongbabu Film and Television City Travel Notes Summary: My initial acquaintance with the name Dali came from reading Tianlongbabu as a child. The Dali Kingdom, located in the southwestern frontier and revering Buddhism, under Jin Yong's pen, unfolded a series of amazing stories starting with Duan Yu. Chongsheng Temple is also the prototype of Tianlong Temple. Therefore, coming to Dali, the most important thing for me was to follow in the footsteps of Tianlongbabu and feel this ancient city of a thousand years. Zhennan Prince's Mansion, the Four Great Evils, the Zhenlong Chess Game, the Western Xia Imperial Palace... Lingbo Weibu, Six Meridians Divine Sword, Huagong Dafa, Tianshan Zhemieshou. From Changbai Mountain in the northeast to Dali City in the southwest, from the grasslands beyond the northern frontier to the water towns of Jiangnan Suzhou and Hangzhou, the Five Great Mountains, Shaolin Temple, Wudang Mountain, Emei Mountain, Qingcheng Mountain... Over the years, I've pretty much visited every major location in Jin Yong's martial arts novels. One of my many childhood interests and dreams has been fulfilled in life without leaving much regret! :) By Morgan, random notes at Dali Ancient Town @ 2019.9.29
Location: Yunnan, Tengchong, Volcano, Rehai Hot Spring, Hot Air Balloon Travel Notes Summary: Excluding the indoor hot air balloon I rode at Lotte World in Korea, every time I wanted to ride a hot air balloon in the past, I just missed it. In Cambodia, the weather was bad so I couldn't ride. In Turkey, there wasn't enough time. In Russia, there weren't enough people. Unexpectedly, on my fourth visit to western Yunnan, I finally got to ride one. Standing unsteadily inside the basket under the hot air balloon, slowly ascending, and looking down at the volcanic crater from high above was still a bit thrilling. Besides being an important town on the ancient Tea Horse Road, Tengchong also has dormant volcano groups and sulfur hot spring geothermal areas (5A). This is also the third volcano I've seen in the past two months. But mainly, after so many years, I was finally able to ride a hot air balloon and fulfill a dream. :) By Morgan, 2019.9.28
Location: Yunnan–Burma Road, Ruili–China–Myanmar Border, Yunnan Travel Note Summary: The Yunnan–Burma Road was built during World War II for anti-Japanese efforts. Heading west from Mangshi, after passing several checkpoints requiring document inspections, you reach the border between China and Myanmar. Unlike the heavily guarded North Korean border, here Myanmar might be just across a small river, with no fences or walls in sight. The exchange between people on both sides is much more relaxed than in North Korea. :p
Location: Diancang Mountain, Erhai Lake–Shuanglang, Bai Ethnic Xizhou Ancient Town, Chongsheng Temple Three Pagodas, Dali, Yunnan Travel Note Summary: Diancang Mountain, Erhai Lake–Shuanglang, Bai Ethnic Xizhou Ancient Town, Dali, Yunnan
Location: Dangui Xuan Cantonese Cuisine, Shenzhen Travel Note Summary: Dangui Xuan Cantonese Cuisine, Shenzhen. My junior Youming from the university industrial management department family, who recently moved from Pou Chen in Vietnam to work in Huizhou, got together tonight with senior Agui from the family and me. Dangui Xuan is one of Shenzhen's famous good restaurants, with great dishes. Senior is class of '82, I'm class of '91, and junior is class of '101—almost 20 years apart. Having such a fate to meet up in Shenzhen is truly a rare opportunity and memory. Thanks to Senior Agui for the treat! Junior's drinking skills were really trained well in Vietnam; after each of us drank half a bottle of red wine, he could still continue to a bar in Guomao and have a few more glasses without issue. Cheers! :) By Morgan on the evening of 2019.9.21
Location: Shenzhen, Futian, Donghai Garden Travel note summary: My younger brother's friend Daofang recently started working in Shenzhen, and I only used Klook during my last trip to Indonesia. So today, I specifically introduced her to Jinzhen, the wife of my senior Masa. Jinzhen then arranged a gathering at the home of a Taiwanese sister Liu, allowing Daofang to meet many Taiwanese friends at once. From Chilean and French premium red wines to various beers, we even brought out dice cups to play Liar's Dice. I believe she won't be bored in Shenzhen from now on. XD
Location: Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Exp Thai Cuisine Travel note summary: My university classmate Ah Hou asked me out for dinner, so we met at Festival Walk in Kowloon Tong. Time flies—last time I met Ah Hou and Funky in Shenzhen was already several months ago. The food at this restaurant was quite good, and chatting with an old friend made a few hours pass by pleasantly. :p
Location: Hong Kong Travel note summary: Teleported back to Hong Kong, but it feels even hotter than Indonesia! @@a
Location: Qingdao, Shandong Travel Notes: My impression of Qingdao, Shandong. Qingdao was once a German concession, so my first impression was the century-old German-style train station. From there, in 1903, Germans brought European beer brewing techniques, giving rise to today's world's fifth-largest brewery—Tsingtao Beer. At the beer museum, I tried fresh unpasteurized beer, and even as someone who rarely drinks beer, I found it pleasantly smooth. Beer is truly Qingdao's international calling card; many foreigners first learned of Qingdao through Tsingtao Beer ads. The Qingdao International Beer Festival is now in its 29th year, held by the Golden Sand Beach in Huangdao District, across the Jiaozhou Bay Subsea Tunnel—the architecture is stunning. Beyond beer, Qingdao also has a wine museum and wine street, as China's first European-style winery, Huadong-Baili Winery (1985), is located here. Nearby Yantai is also one of the world's seven major coastal wine regions (alongside France, Italy, the U.S., Chile, South Africa, Australia), so its ties to wine run deep. Besides drinks, Qingdao, like Dalian, has a Polar Ocean World, and to the east lies Laoshan Mountain (5A), a Taoist Quanzhen sacred mountain over the sea. The view from the mountain overlooking the coast is intoxicating. Back in the city, the Badaguan area features various European buildings, with Zhanqiao Pier, May Fourth Square, Olympic Sailing Center, and bathing beaches for seaside fun. Every night, a light show illuminates dozens of skyscrapers along Fushan Bay. For food, the night market in Taidong District spans multiple intersecting streets, with vast arrays of snacks, restaurants, and stalls—rivaling Xi'an's Muslim Quarter. Near the train station, the old Pichaiyuan Street gathers many seafood barbecue spots. So Qingdao is indeed a one-stop, multifunctional city with food, drinks, sea views, and mountains to climb. No wonder friends who've visited all recommend it! :) By Morgan on 2019.8.26
Location: Liaoning, August 2019 Travel Notes: My impression of Dalian and Lushun, Liaoning. From the north of Northeast China, I've come all the way to the southernmost part. Dalian is a comfortable city, and besides Harbin and Yanbian, it's where I've stayed the longest in the Northeast. Staying at Harbor Square near Dalian Port in the east, to the north is the Jinshitan Geological Park (5A), a wonder formed by Cambrian crustal movements hundreds of millions of years ago; to the south is Tiger Beach Ocean Park (5A) with many polar animals; to the west is Lushun Military Port, where the Beiyang Fleet was established in the late Qing Dynasty. Dalian is a city with stories: after the First Sino-Japanese War in 1894, it was successively colonized by Russia and Japan for over forty years, and was also the battlefield of the Russo-Japanese War in 1904, leaving many historical traces. Moving past history, there's now Xinghai Square at the Convention Center, with a music fountain at night号称东北最大, even喷火. At the Poly Grand Theatre in the Conference Center, I watched a stage play about Einstein's life, with a spectacular music fountain nearby. Additionally, there's the beautiful Venice Water Town where you can ride gondolas, the elegantly built Zhongshan Square roundabout from early development, and the Dalian Commodity Exchange, one of China's four major futures exchanges. In this city, I didn't take taxis; the convenient subway and buses got me around. Experiencing Dalian bit by bit left a deep impression... By Morgan on the evening of 2019.8.22
Location: Korean-style Sauna, Yanji City, Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture Travel Notes: Korean-style Sauna, Yanji City, Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture. As I mentioned before, I hope to live like a local when staying in a city, to truly experience its spirit. So since I'm in the Korean Autonomous Prefecture, besides eating cold noodles, gimbap, small rice balls, kimchi, Korean fried chicken, bibimbap, makgeolli, samgyetang... this evening, I first listened to a group of Korean grandmothers singing sijo (a Korean song form), then went to a Korean-style sauna often seen in K-dramas. After getting a ticket and wristband at the entrance, I went to the bathhouse to shower. Inside, I thought the last time I had a scrub was two years ago during a Turkish bath in Turkey, so I had someone give me a good scrub~ After the scrub, reborn with smooth skin, I dried my hair, changed clothes, took the elevator upstairs to the sauna hall. It was my first time at a Korean sauna, so I learned by watching, as most people around were speaking Korean. I just followed what everyone did. In the sauna room, there's a concave brick area where you can lie,趴着, or sit; the floor is warm, so you sweat quickly after lying there awhile. After sweating, in the main hall, you can drag a black mat and pillow to lie down and rest, or sit in a circle with friends to chat. Finally, I understand why Koreans can stay overnight in saunas in K-dramas—the floor outside is spacious, and lying on a mat with a pillow is really comfortable; I almost fell asleep there, especially after sweating a lot and rehydrating. There's also a cafeteria nearby to order Korean food. With a small towel over my shoulders, walking barefoot freely inside is indeed a relaxed mode, and a great place to pass time and bond. No wonder Koreans are so keen on saunas~ XD #Maybe the life I pursue is about constantly接触与学习 various cultures~
Location: Dandong, Liaoning Travel Notes: Yalu River Broken Bridge, Dandong, Liaoning. Two weeks ago, I crossed the Tumen River into North Korean territory. Today, I'm standing on the Yalu River, gazing at Sinuiju across the way. The two river names I memorized from textbooks as a child—I've finally walked and seen them in person. The original Yalu River Bridge was started by Japan in the late Guangxu era (1909) and destroyed during the U.S.-Korean War (1950). The current bridge deck was repaired by China in 1993, while the North Korean side只剩下桥墩, so you can only look across, not cross. (There are other bridges now to cross.) Looking at one river with two banks—one side with high-rises, the other with forests—the wheel of history keeps turning forward. We are all just tiny parts of it, and I'm grateful to live in a region and era without war. So, I just strive to live more fully in the present~ By Morgan on 2019.8.18
Location: Liaoning, Shenyang (Mukden) Palace Travel Notes: In Jin Yong's martial arts novel 'The Sword Stained with Royal Blood', two scenes are related to this place. One is where Yuan Chengzhi hides atop the Chongzheng Hall to assassinate Hong Taiji, and the other is where Dorgon, meeting secretly with Dagu'er in her bedchamber, jumps out of a cabinet to kill Hong Taiji, later claiming he died of natural causes. To merge the imagined scenes from my childhood reading with the real setting, it was worth making the long trip to see it in person. I spent several hours carefully exploring these spots, including the entire pre-Qing imperial palace, feeling I've done justice to the novel I've read nearly ten times. By Morgan on 2019.8.16
Location: Shandong, Yantai - Penglai Pavilion, Changyu Castel Winery Travel Notes: From Dalian Port, there are nightly ferries to Shandong. Last night, I bought a fourth-class bunk ticket (210 RMB) and spent a night on the Bohai Sea, arriving in Shandong. Standing unsteadily on the deck, gazing up at the endless dark night sky over the sea, it had been years since my last overnight sea journey. Time flies, life is but a blink. Arriving in Yantai at dawn, the morning light was intoxicating. Penglai Pavilion is one of China's Four Great Towers, built since the Northern Song Dynasty, nearly a thousand years old. After visiting Yellow Crane Tower in Hubei and Tengwang Pavilion in Jiangxi, this is the third famous tower I've visited. In the afternoon, at Changyu's Castel Winery, I enjoyed red and white wine I hadn't had in a while. In the evening, I finished the small bottle of gold medal brandy gifted by the winery. With a slight buzz, I strolled along Yantai's seaside square, impulsively stepping into the nearby Yantai Art Museum. Looking at the paintings on the walls, listening to the melodious piano music, on this Friday night, enriched by fine wine and art, it's a fleeting moment worth cherishing. Enjoy your life, Cheers! :) By Morgan on the evening of 2019.8.23
Location: Heilongjiang, Wudalianchi Volcanic Cluster Travel Notes: Heilongjiang, Wudalianchi Volcanic Cluster (14 volcanoes + 5 major barrier lakes, including 2 dormant active volcanoes). Escaping the cold in the south in winter, fleeing the heat in the north in summer—with this idea, I brought my laptop to handle daily work and remote meetings. On a whim, I bought a plane ticket and came to Heilongjiang, also temporarily distancing myself from the recent street conflicts in Hong Kong. Around 20 degrees in the northeast is only bearable for me, who fears the cold, in summer. Changing into long sleeves here, the climate is indeed completely different from the south. But this temperature is truly very comfortable now. Wudalianchi has 14 volcanoes, from ancient extinct ones millions of years old to the youngest active volcano that erupted just over 300 years ago during the Kangxi era. The lava landscapes formed by volcanic eruptions include vast stretches of black熔岩的石海、石河, as well as rare large-scale喷气锥、喷气碟 on Earth. Underground, there are常年零下5-10度的岩洞冰宫 and cold spring mineral water rich in carbonate (along with Vichy in France and the Transcaucasus in Russia, known as the world's three major cold springs). Thus, it's also designated as a UNESCO Global Geopark. Reaching the summit of one dormant volcano, Heilong Mountain, and looking down into the crater was my first volcano-viewing experience. Volcanoes standing tall on the flat plain, the scenery is strikingly moving. Suddenly reminded of a phrase I saw in an in-flight magazine, I felt共鸣: 'Live the life rather than simply make a living.' By Morgan on the train to Qiqihar, 2019.7.26
Location: Guangdong, Heyuan, Wanlv Lake, Xinfengjiang Dam Travel notes summary: Wanlv Lake in Heyuan, Guangdong is a 4A-level scenic area and the largest artificial lake in South China, named for its emerald-green water. There are sightseeing boats that take you to several small islands on the lake. Nearby is the Jinghuayuan Scenic Area, named after the Qing dynasty novel 'Jinghuayuan' (a Chinese version of Gulliver's Travels). After watching a performance in the 'Kingdom of Women' and walking down along the scenic spots, I left Jinghuayuan and checked the map at the exit, noticing the Xinfengjiang Dam nearby. With time to spare, I called an Uber to head over. Walking up the mountain road to the dam, I suddenly realized—this dam is not only Guangdong's largest hydroelectric power station but also the very structure that created Wanlv Lake by impounding water. :p Standing on the dam, I took in the vast lake on one side and gazed downstream on the other. On this drizzly afternoon, watching the slight water release, the open and majestic views on both sides were truly invigorating! With this beautiful scene, I concluded my trip to Heyuan, then made my way back to Shenzhen, crossed the Futian Port, and returned to Hong Kong. I guess I have this strange gene that makes me more energetic the more I travel, so I always enjoy moving around. @@ Anyway, enjoy your life~ :) By Morgan on 2019.7.21
Location: Shenzhen Travel Notes: Guangdong, Heyuan - Wanlv Lake, Xinfengjiang Dam. Wanlv Lake is a 4A-level scenic area in Heyuan and the largest artificial lake in South China, named for its emerald green water. There are tour boats that take you to several small islands on the lake. Nearby is the Jinghuayuan scenic area, named after the Qing Dynasty novel 'Flowers in the Mirror', about the protagonist's adventures sailing out to sea (an Eastern version of Gulliver's Travels). After watching a performance in the Daughter Kingdom and viewing scenic spots along the way下山, I left Jinghuayuan. Checking the map at the exit, I noticed the nearby Xinfengjiang Dam. Seeing I had time, I called an Uber to head over. Walking up the mountain road to the dam, I suddenly realized that besides being Guangdong's largest hydropower station, this dam is also what created Wanlv Lake by impounding water. :p Standing on the dam, overlooking the lake on one side and the downstream on the other, on this drizzly afternoon, watching the slight water release, the expansive views on both sides were invigorating! Ending my Heyuan trip with this beautiful scenery, I then moved back to Shenzhen, crossed the Futian Port, and returned to Hong Kong once more. I must have a strange gene that makes me more energetic the more I travel, so I always enjoy moving around tirelessly. @@ Anyway, enjoy your life~ :) By Morgan on 2019.7.21
Location: Guangdong, Jieyang City, Jieyang Confucian Temple, Old and New Urban Areas Travel notes summary: The origin of Jieyang's name dates back to the Qin dynasty. After the Qin pacified the Baiyue region, they established Nanhai Commandery, and Jieyang was one of its counties. It lies west of Chaozhou and south of Meizhou, and is one of the three cities of Chaoshan (Chaozhou, Shantou, Jieyang) (map in the comments~). Here, there's a Confucian temple from the Song dynasty, right next to Jinxian Gate. It now enshrines Confucius, making it one of the well-known Confucian temples across the country. In the afternoon, I started from the old town area, wandering under the weathered arcades of Zhongshan Road and along Daitong Street, lined with old hardware stores, listening to the Chaoshan dialect everywhere (Chaoshan dialect shares some similarities with Minnan dialect, being a sub-dialect of Minnan). Passing by the City God Temple, Tianhou Palace, and Shuangfeng Temple, I soaked in the ancient atmosphere of this millennia-old city. Then, from West Lake Park, I took a bus to the Jiangnan New District, adjacent to the Rong River, where there's a large musical fountain on Saturday nights and clusters of high-rise buildings. Like the locals, I took an evening stroll along the Rong River after dinner, experiencing Jieyang—a city of intense contrasts between old and new cultures... By Morgan on the evening of 2019.7.14
Location: Guangzhou Travel Notes: Hakka World in Meizhou, Guangdong. The main ethnic groups in Guangdong are three: Cantonese people centered around Guangzhou and Shenzhen in the west, Teochew people around Chaozhou and Shantou in the southeast, and Hakka people represented by Meizhou in the northeast. On Friday night, I moved to Meizhou for the first time and visited the Hakka World scenic area—I was stunned! No wonder locals call it Meizhou's calling card. It's a massive integrated project combining a scenic area, amusement park, and residential complex, invested over 10 billion RMB by Guangdong's Hongyi Group. It boasts living as if in a park. What amazed me most wasn't the scenic area itself, but the entire residential community's lakeside night view. Even having seen many beautiful sights, I was in awe—the lake perfectly mirrored the glowing architecture, indescribably beautiful and moving. My impression of Meizhou truly changed through Hakka World. By Morgan, evening of July 12, 2019.
Location: Heyuan City, Guangdong Travel Notes: Life needs to be lived in the present, striving to make each day good. Heyuan is located west of Meizhou and north of Huizhou, in eastern Guangdong. Like me, many probably haven't heard of this city. Though only a fourth-tier city, it has over three million people, mostly Hakka. After arriving, I discovered it has many highlights: first, a Guinness World Record dinosaur museum with the world's largest collection of dinosaur egg fossils (over 18,000, unearthed around Heyuan), dubbed China's Hometown of Dinosaurs. Thus, the Heyuan Hakka World scenic area here built a dinosaur-themed park (operated by the same group as Meizhou Hakka World). Then, Heyuan has what was once Asia's tallest fountain (169 meters, later surpassed by fountains in Inner Mongolia's Kangbashi, etc.), with a nightly music fountain show by the Xinfeng River. The suburbs have the Bavarian Manor project partnered with BGI, promoting a wellness, mind, and retirement hot spring town. Inside is a rare 360-degree rotating theater shaped like a Hakka tulou. I visited these modern attractions one by one and also walked through the old town's Taiping Ancient Street (built in the Qing Dynasty), Guifeng Pagoda, Crocodile Lake, etc. Finally, in the evening, I went to the Peach Blossom Jellyfish Grand Theater with a total investment of 200 million RMB, bought a ticket, and listened with Heyuan citizens to a Mozart concert performed by several foreign musicians. From Minuets 1-4, Turkish March... all the way to the final Eine kleine Nachtmusik, the melodious music from piano, violin, viola, and cello deeply lingered in my mind. After the show, I enjoyed a delicious and rich beef bone soup dinner at the nearby Jianji large shopping mall. Maybe I didn't know Heyuan before, or even heard of it. But I'm glad I came to this city, personally feeling the Hakka people's simplicity and sincerity, and the city's charm and vitality... By Morgan, evening of July 20, 2019.
Location: Guangdong, Nan'ao Island, Qing'ao Bay, Song Well, Tropic of Cancer Monument Travel notes summary: I wasn't very clear about the geographical location near Shantou originally. Today, I used WeChat's ride code to take bus 105 from downtown Shantou, heading east toward Nan'ao Island. Over an hour later, as I stepped onto Nan'ao Bridge, I opened Baidu Maps and realized—Nan'ao, being Guangdong's only island county, is actually right next to the Taiwan Strait, and beyond that is Taiwan. Truly, traveling a thousand miles teaches more than reading ten thousand books. @@ However, seeing the similar bays, waves, and blue skies on Nan'ao Island made me miss the scenery of Sanya on Hainan Island. :p By Morgan @2019.7.6
Heilongjiang, Harbin — ice sculptures. Even though it's the scorching heat of July and ice can't form outdoors, I figured if there are icy mountains and snowy peaks, you've got to find a way to turn them into gold and silver. So in summer, you can still see indoor ice sculptures in Harbin (ticket about 900 TWD). It fulfilled my dream from watching TV shows long ago of actually touching the ice with my own hands. Standing in the sub-zero icy world, the summer heat just vanished instantly. Phew~~~ By Morgan, July 28, 2019.
Location: Sing Kee Seafood Restaurant, Central, Hong Kong Travel Notes: JJ came to Hong Kong from Taiwan this week, so tonight the three of us—JJ, Kehuai, and I—met up for dinner. Kehuai, a local Hong Konger, chose this Michelin-recommended old-established restaurant. The food was pretty good. After eating, we continued to Lan Kwai Fong next door for drinks. Thanks JJ for the meal and Kehuai for the drinks—a fulfilling weekday night. :)
Location: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 12 - Yuen Long, Nam Sang Wai Wetland Travel Notes Summary: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 12 - Yuen Long, Nam Sang Wai Wetland. A place recommended by a Hong Kong friend, in the suburbs of Yuen Long. On this rainy afternoon, I strolled here with an umbrella. Besides having one of Hong Kong's last remaining hand-pulled ferries, it's a place where you can 'see the southern mountains in leisure, with no noise of carts and horses.' Migratory birds land and take off, tranquility returns to nature. It makes one doubt whether they're really in Hong Kong... By Morgan @2019.6.30
Location: Nam Sang Wai Wetland, Yuen Long, Hong Kong Travel Notes: A place recommended by a Hong Kong friend, in the suburbs of Yuen Long. On this rainy afternoon, I strolled here with an umbrella. Besides having Hong Kong's last remaining manually operated ferry, it's so tranquil—seeing the southern mountains without the noise of traffic, migratory birds landing and taking off, returning peacefully to nature. It makes one doubt whether they're still in Hong Kong...
Location: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 21 - Dragon's Back, Hong Kong Island Travel note summary: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 21 - Dragon's Back, Hong Kong Island. It was once selected by Time magazine as Asia's best urban hiking trail. Walking straight up, sweat kept dripping down... whew~ @@ By Morgan @2019.6.29
Location: Dragon's Back, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong Travel Notes: Once selected by Time magazine as Asia's most beautiful urban hiking trail. Walking straight up, sweat kept dripping down—whew~ @@
Location: Guangzhou, Panyu District, Lotus Mountain Travel Notes: This morning, I came to Lotus Mountain in Panyu, Guangzhou with Kunda to meet senior Xinchen, a class of '89 Civil Engineering graduate from NCKU. Senior Xinchen is Kunda's colleague and also knows junior Jiarong. It's been almost half a year since we last met in Hong Kong. I walked around Lotus Mountain, one of Guangzhou's 4A scenic spots, with Kunda, senior Xinchen, and his little daughter. Unexpectedly, the scenery here was much better than I anticipated. Over two thousand years ago, Lotus Mountain was a large quarry, so many man-made, awe-inspiring landscapes naturally emerged. After walking for more than two hours, getting my weekly exercise quota, we had dim sum at the incredibly busy Fujing Restaurant for lunch. Thanks for the treat, senior! :) Continuing down from Panyu, we reached Nansha District, which I visited just last week. At Nansha Pier, I bought a ferry ticket 11 minutes before departure, ready to head to Hong Kong's China Hong Kong City Ferry Pier. Another fulfilling on-the-ground tour of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area~ :p And thank you to all my good friends for your hospitality along the way! ^^
Location: Guangzhou, Zengcheng District, Chaoshan Beef Hot Pot Travel Notes: Tonight, I came to see my NCKU graduate school classmate Kunda in Zengcheng, Guangzhou. I took a bus from Dongguan to Guangzhou Railway Station, then transferred to the subway and took a taxi—about a two-hour journey. Over the past few days, I've met three old friends I haven't seen in a long time. Life really is just a few short autumns; when there's a chance to gather, we should gather more. Kunda has been sent here by Foxconn to pioneer for almost two years, witnessing the development of this area from scratch. After dinner, Kunda took me on his electric scooter to the town center to buy sports shoes. It reminded me of 16 years ago when we often rode scooters together through the streets and alleys of Tainan searching for good food. Back then, I never imagined that many years later, we'd have the chance to ride a scooter together again, wandering the streets in such a distant place. After buying shoes, we went to buy some of Guangzhou's specialty herbal tea. I can only say life is so wonderful—it's not about location, just about fate. Thanks again for the hospitality, Brother Panda!!! :) By Morgan on the evening of 2019.6.22
Location: Shenzhen, Huaqiangbei, We Spirit Wine Bar Travel Notes: Located on the 25th floor of an office building opposite Jiufang Mall. You can enjoy some night views from the high-rise while drinking. However, the bottle of southern French red wine opened today, costing over 400 RMB, even after being decanted for half an hour, still didn't taste very ideal @@. But the atmosphere was quite quiet, at least~ :p
Location: Shenzhen Travel Notes: Dongguan, Minying International Trade Center, Dayu Teppanyaki. Recently reconnected with senior Wengui, class of '82 from my university family, on Facebook. Learned that senior has actually been working in China for many years and has owned property in Shenzhen for a long time. So today, I found an opportunity to meet up with senior. Senior Agui, nine years my senior, after leaving a major tech company, now works at a startup mainly using AI algorithms with image recognition for applications in areas like wind power generation and smart refrigerators. Very happy to see the kind senior again after more than ten years. We exchanged many insights and life琐事, very fulfilling!!! Thanks again for the hospitality, senior Agui. Let's meet again next time! ^^ By Morgan on 2019.6.21
Location: Guangzhou Travel Notes: Guangdong, Humen, Naval Battle Museum, Weiyuan Fort; Guangzhou, Nansha Tianhou Palace, Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street. The accommodation I found on Airbnb this time was pretty good—a two-bedroom, one-living-room, one-bathroom apartment, over twenty pings, bright and clean, located above a department store (Wanda) right at the Dongguan Houjie subway exit. It only cost a little over five hundred Taiwan dollars per night. This is why when staying in second- or third-tier cities, the quality of life seems to improve instead~ XD. After eating the takeout delivered by Meituan in the morning, I leisurely headed out. There's bus L1 downstairs that goes directly to the Naval Battle Museum in Humen. On the bus, I received a notification that the items I bought on Taobao yesterday had arrived. The residential complex has automatic lockers, so no worries even when you're out. After getting off, I exchanged my ID for a free admission ticket to enter the museum. Looking at the various cultural relics and人物 introductions on display inside, I remembered the treaties from textbooks back in school—Treaty of Nanjing, Treaty of Tianjin, Treaty of Beijing... and the wars behind them, including the first Sino-British Opium War that broke out in Humen in 1840. Then I went next door to see the ruins of the Weiyuan Fort from that time, imagining the fierce battles and resistance between the two countries here. In the end, a British army of several thousand threw the entire kingdom into chaos—it's really hard to imagine, quite lamentable, and serves as a lesson from history. Ultimately, it still comes down to strength and whether one has the courage to burn one's boats. After leaving, I hailed a taxi using Gaode Maps, crossed the Humen Bridge to the opposite shore in Guangzhou's Nansha District, and visited the Tianhou Palace, also a 4A scenic spot, and also saw the ruins of the Puzhou Fort on the opposite shore. Finally, I took Guangzhou Metro Line 4 to Guangzhou's liveliest Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street (night market) in the evening. I thought I hadn't been here before, but when I walked to the middle and saw the familiar giant screen, I suddenly realized I had been to this place 12 years ago. Back then, I ate a bowl of sour and spicy noodles full of red color. So much has changed, and people and affairs are no longer the same...... After eating some snacks for dinner here, I took the metro to Guangzhou Railway Station, bought a ticket back to Dongguan. Only by using your eyes and feet can you most truly feel the development of each city in the entire Greater Bay Area~ @@ (Map attached in the final photo) By Morgan on the evening of 2019.6.15
Location: Hong Kong, Mid-Levels — Visiting a friend for wine Travel note summary: After returning to Hong Kong from Nanchang today, I first went to IFC in the evening to pick something up from Kehuai. Then, on a whim, I asked William to join me for dinner and drinks. William, being a great friend, canceled his original plans to hang out. So we headed to his place in Mid-Levels, finished a bottle of 2011 Spanish red wine, and checked on the wine cabinet we moved in together last time—still going strong! Life is about going with the flow and embracing the moment. Cheers to living in the now!
Location: Hong Kong, Sheung Wan, Gough Street — Kau Kee Beef Brisket Travel note summary: Came to Central to pick something up from an old colleague and decided to swing by this famous Hong Kong spot. Only at this time do you not have to queue much. The beef brisket and tendon were tender and flavorful—delicious!
Location: Shanghai Travel note summary: Compared to Hong Kong's high prices, spending in mainland China's second- or third-tier cities offers better value for money. So on Friday night, I came here for dinner and a little drink—with high-speed rail, it's quite convenient now. Transferred by subway, got off in Dongcheng District, and found the highest-rated spot nearby on Dianping. Ordered a steak set meal; with a soft alcoholic drink, it came to under 100 yuan. Since I was the only one dining, the owner-chef came over to ask how the food was. Turns out, the owner Alan is also from Taiwan—he studied Applied Math at Chengchi University and Mechanical Engineering at National Taiwan University. He previously worked at Yageo, foreign companies, and trading firms, and has been in China for over eight years. Now, he runs this restaurant as a side business. We chatted about everything: his NTU friend who recently won a Shanghai blockchain competition, a local soy milk chain that's set up like a bar, and even a TikTok网红 shop with live singing... A pretty interesting Friday night. In the end, we added each other on WeChat, and he gave me a discount for being a fellow Taiwanese—life is all about fate! :p
Location: Hong Kong Travel note summary: From the mountains back to the human world. Arrived in Nanchang in the evening, first dropped my backpack at the upscale residential complex I rented on Airbnb these days (great location on the 53rd floor with a night view of the Gan River), then headed out. With the idea of experiencing local life wherever I stay, I went out in a T-shirt. After a massage near the complex, I strolled along the Gan River all the way to Qiushui Square. This area is part of the new Honggutan district. At night, besides the fixed light shows from the buildings on both banks (similar to Hong Kong's Symphony of Lights), Qiushui Square has what was once touted as Asia's largest musical fountain, with performances every night at 19:30 and 20:30, drawing crowds of locals. There's also a Taiwanese snack street nearby. After the fountain show, I bought some Taiwanese stinky tofu to satisfy a craving, then slowly walked back to the complex to do laundry and prep for tomorrow morning's conference call.
Location: Sanqing Mountain, Shangrao, Jiangxi Travel note summary: Sanqing Mountain, Shangrao, Jiangxi. Seeking the Way in the rain, surrounded by immortal mist～ By Morgan @2019.6.9
Location: Guangdong, Dongguan — Songshan Lake, Huawei Terminal Headquarters Travel note summary: Met up with university classmate Jinli, who came to the mainland from Taiwan for work—today also happened to be his birthday. So the three of us, including Ahou, got together to celebrate. Remembering the old days when Jinli and I rode a scooter on a night trip to Nanheng, soaking in wild hot springs... Now we're all nearing forty, just all talk! :p But Jinli still lives a vibrant life—river tracing, hiking, diving, skiing, he does it all. Human nature really doesn't change. Happy birthday, my old friend and great travel buddy! :) By Morgan on the evening of June 19, 2019.
Location: Jiangxi, "The Three Pure Ones" Large-Scale Stage Show Travel Notes: Tonight, I'm staying at the foot of the famous Taoist mountain, Mount Sanqing. Since there was a performance here in the evening, I bought a ticket to watch it. I ended up going with a grandmother from Shanxi who I met spontaneously; she's almost seventy this year. She told me she came to Jiangxi alone because she didn't want to have too many regrets in life. It was fate that we met, and we got along quite well, so we decided to watch the show together in the evening. Ever since Zhang Yimou's 'Impression' series started the trend of evening performances at Chinese scenic spots, I've been watching them all over the country—from West Lake in Hangzhou and Wuyishan in Fujian to Sanya in Hainan, Wulong in Chongqing, Dunhuang in Gansu, Yangshuo in Guilin, Jiuzhaigou in Sichuan, Wudang Mountain in Hubei, Zhangjiajie in Hunan, and Wutai Mountain in Shanxi... The price for each show is usually around a thousand-something Taiwan dollars. As long as I can gain different creative insights and broaden my horizons, it's always worth it. "The Three Pure Ones" is a relatively new performance, themed around Mount Sanqing and Taoism, telling various related stories, including the legend that Emperor Jianwen went into seclusion here after the Jingnan Campaign and was never found. The show includes various elements: laser light shows, singing, dancing, acrobatics, and animations. There's even a water channel in the middle of the audience aisle where water flows down during water-related scenes, making it feel incredibly immersive. Tonight, there was a scene where the Lotus Fairy descended from the sky (on wires) and invited an audience member to taste Mount Sanqing's tea. After landing, she walked through over a thousand seats and came straight to me. When the spotlight hit, I had no choice but to become part of the show. As they say, life is like a play, so I calmly picked up the tea in front of me, took a sip, and handed it back to the Lotus Fairy. It was an experience of blending into the performance~ XD After the show, I returned to the hotel. The night at the foot of Mount Sanqing was very peaceful, with only the sounds of insects and frogs outside—almost no noise from cars or horses, completely different from nights in the city. During the performance, there was a line that struck a chord: "When are people strongest and most at ease? It's when they have no desires, for then they are unyielding. Take a step back, and the world becomes vast and open." On a night like this, it really makes you think... By Morgan on the evening of June 8, 2019.
Location: Jiangxi, Jingdezhen, Wuyuan Travel Notes: Yesterday, climbing Mount Lu was too tiring, so today I had to slow down and take it easy. In the morning, I set off from Nanchang as usual and first arrived at the famous porcelain production site—Jingdezhen. I visited the official kiln of this era (the clay used for official kilns is different from that of civilian kilns, so the quality is higher), admired the beautiful blue and white porcelain, and then had lunch. After that, I came to Wuyuan, known as the most beautiful countryside in China. The pronunciation of 'Wu' is the fourth tone, derived from the ancient Wujiang River. This season just passed the rapeseed flower season, so I didn't see the famous terraced flower fields that are all over the internet, but I still took a brief stroll through other Wuyuan attractions to experience the slow-paced rural life here~
Location: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 8 - Wetland Park (Hong Kong Wetland Park) Travel note summary: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 8 - Wetland Park (Hong Kong Wetland Park). Having been in Hong Kong for two years, I've pretty much visited all the major hot spots and museums on Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories. So I can only look for those less-visited, niche attractions to explore. The Wetland Park is located in the northwest corner of Hong Kong, above Yuen Long (with a map for reference). Starting from Sha Tin Station, I needed to transfer buses twice to get there. On this rainy afternoon, strolling here with an umbrella, in this exceptionally quiet park with very few visitors, the natural scents of various plants wafted by, and watching all kinds of creatures coexisting in this space made it a very fresh and comfortable place. Besides observing the outdoor ecology, there's also a nice exhibition hall that's both educational and entertaining, making it a place very worth visiting. After the visit, I transferred to the Light Rail, unique to the northernmost part of the West Rail Line, got off at Yuen Long town center, and relying on my intuition for food, after walking around a bit, I resolutely walked into a noodle shop called 'Ho Dau Dei'. I ordered a bowl of shrimp roe lo mein (58 HKD) to try. Only after sitting down did I discover that this shop, opened in 1946, a 73-year-old establishment, was actually listed in the 2019 Michelin Guide. Quite a lucky find. After eating, ending today's itinerary, it's about time to head back... By Morgan on the evening of 2019.6.2
Location: Hong Kong Wetland Park Travel Notes: Having been in Hong Kong for two years, I've pretty much visited all the popular attractions and museums on Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories, big and small. So, I can only look for less-visited, niche spots to explore. The Wetland Park is located in the northwest corner of Hong Kong, above Yuen Long (with a map for reference). Starting from Sha Tin Station, it requires two bus transfers to get there. On this rainy afternoon, strolling here with an umbrella, in an unusually quiet park with very few tourists, the natural scents of various plants wafted by, and watching all kinds of creatures coexist in this space made it a very fresh and comfortable place. Besides observing the outdoor ecology, there's also a nice exhibition hall that's both educational and entertaining—a place very worth visiting~~ After exploring, I transferred to the light rail unique to the uppermost part of the West Rail Line, got off at Yuen Long city center, and relying on my intuition for food, walked around before resolutely entering a noodle shop called 'Ho Dau Dei' (Good to the Bottom). I ordered a bowl of shrimp roe lo mein (58 HKD) to try. After sitting down, I discovered that this shop, opened in 1946, is a 73-year-old establishment and was actually listed in the 2019 Michelin Guide. Quite a lucky find. After eating, it's about time to wrap up today's itinerary and head back... By Morgan in the evening of June 2, 2019.
Location: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 6 - Tap Mun Island Travel note summary: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 6 - Tap Mun Island. Last time during a gathering, Ben mentioned there's also a pier near University Station that goes to some of Hong Kong's smaller islands. So today, I came to this Ma Liu Shui Pier and took a ferry to Tap Mun Island, one of Hong Kong's 263 islands. The island isn't big; walking around it only takes a little over an hour. Although there are some tourists here camping or visiting, the overall number isn't high. Compared to other famous islands like Cheung Chau or Lamma Island, which are bustling with tourists, this place is still a very tranquil corner. Tired from walking, I sat in a pavilion overlooking the sea, gazing at the Nan'ao and Dapeng bays in Shenzhen, which I just visited last week. Sipping refreshing sugarcane juice, with the comfortable sea breeze blowing, life feels peaceful and good... By Morgan @2019.6.1
Location: Hong Kong, Tap Mun Island Travel Notes: Last time during a gathering, Ben mentioned that there's also a pier near University Station that goes to other smaller islands in Hong Kong. So today, I came to this Ma Liu Shui Pier and took a boat to Tap Mun Island, one of Hong Kong's 263 islands. The island isn't big; it only takes a little over an hour to walk around. Although there are some tourists camping or visiting, the overall number isn't high. Compared to other well-known islands like Cheung Chau or Lamma Island, which are bustling with tourists, this place is still a very tranquil corner~ After walking until tired, I sat in a pavilion overlooking the sea, just gazing at Nan'ao and Dapeng in Shenzhen, which I visited last week. Drinking refreshing sugarcane juice and letting the comfortable sea breeze blow by, it felt like time stood still in peace...
Location: Shenzhen, Dapeng Ancient City Travel Notes: Dapeng Ancient City, Xichong Beach. The ancient city was built during the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty (1394) and is one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Shenzhen. After exiting from the last stop of the Longgang Line, Shuanglong, take bus 818 for over an hour to get nearby, then use Gaode Maps to call a car, and you'll arrive in no time. After wandering around the ancient city and feeling the traces of history, I then moved to the easternmost part of Shenzhen: Xichong in Nan'ao Town. Walking onto the beach with no internet, temporarily away from the chaos of constant interruptions, I quietly listened to the sounds of the vast sea and the summer wind, allowing my mind to remain peaceful and settled...
Location: Shenzhen, Longgang, Wine Pink Wine Experience Restaurant Travel note summary: My good friend Dr. Lai Xin came all the way from Xi'an, so I took a bus to Longgang in Shenzhen to meet up with him. We found a wine restaurant opened by a wine merchant. The wine offers great value for money, with New World wines costing less than 100 RMB per bottle. Friday night, gathering and drinking with friends, Cheers!
Location: Hong Kong, Kwun Tong, a high-end car dealership Travel note summary: My elementary school classmate Baojie came to Hong Kong to visit clients and we arranged to meet up. It's been a really, really, really long time—almost 30 years since we graduated from elementary school. Baojie started his own business at 22, making car chassis and shock absorber parts, now exporting to over thirty countries. He's truly rooted in Fengyuan but has a global outlook. Taiwan is small indeed; Baojie happens to know my junior high classmate Shengyan. At noon, we sat together at the car dealership eating boxed lunches while listening to the Hong Kong dealership owner's inspiring stories. A rather unique experience, and I'm glad to have met two old classmates (elementary school + university) in Hong Kong within a week! :) By Morgan at noon on May 17, 2019.
Location: Hong Kong, Wan Chai, Kam's Roast Goose (Michelin one star) Travel note summary: In the evening, I went to have dinner with my university classmate Ah Niu. After leaving the office, I took the East Rail Line to Hung Hom Station, transferred to East Tsim Sha Tsui Station, came out to take the Star Ferry to Wan Chai Pier. Finally got to try the famous Kam's Roast Goose I've heard so much about. Dipped in plum sauce, it was pretty good~ Eat a bit more, see if I can gain some weight~ @@
Location: Hong Kong, Jumbo Kingdom Floating Restaurant Travel note summary: My university classmate Ah Niu came to Hong Kong on a business trip from Taiwan these few days. After his meeting at Hong Kong Polytechnic University today, he arranged to have dinner with Morgan, so I also invited another Hong Kong university classmate, Guo Wei. The three of us came to this filming location of the movie 'The God of Cookery'—the Jumbo Floating Restaurant,号称 the world's largest floating restaurant. After exiting Wong Chuk Hang MTR, we walked a short distance to the Shum Wan Pier, where a shuttle boat took us to the floating restaurant. I hadn't seen Ah Niu for 4 years, and Guo Wei for 6 years; Ah Niu and Guo Wei hadn't seen each other for 17 years. It was a rare chance to gather, eat, chat, and reminisce about movie scenes from our childhood. Truly precious connections~ @@ By Morgan on the evening of May 14, 2019.
Location: Zhuhai City, May 2019 Travel note summary: Zhuhai Grand Theater. Today I had more time, so I switched to booking accommodation via Airbnb. Found a high-floor serviced apartment on the 22nd floor with one bedroom, one living room, one bathroom, plus a kitchen and balcony. In the afternoon, I found a highly-rated Chinese massage place on Dianping to thoroughly relax my meridians. Then I called an Uber to go to the Zhuhai Grand Theater. I bought tickets on-site via Alipay for whatever performance was on. Tonight it was Japan's Four Seasons Theater Troupe performing a musical about witches. Finally, back at the accommodation, I ordered late-night snacks via the Meituan app. Mobile internet technology has truly changed lifestyle habits—food, clothing, housing, transportation, education, entertainment, everything is connected. Now, carrying a phone when going out is more important than carrying a wallet~ @@
Location: Hong Kong Travel note summary: Zhuhai, Dayin Teahouse. Tony had nothing to do in Hong Kong this weekend, so he asked me to come to Zhuhai for a stroll. I just came here last week, so I'm already familiar with the place. I booked an Airbnb with a sea view overlooking the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. After having dim sum at the teahouse, we sat on the balcony in the afternoon, chatting casually under the blue sky. It felt like a different pace and atmosphere compared to the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong!
Location: Hong Kong, Mong Kok, One Pot Travel note summary: Hong Kong, Mong Kok, One Pot. At noon, I returned the apartment to the landlord. In the afternoon, I went to the bank to handle the deposit check. Then, I stopped by the IFC (International Finance Centre) in Central, 70th floor, to catch up with my former colleague from Yuanta Securities. In the evening, I was treated to a very filling hotpot dinner. Indeed, at home you rely on parents, outside you rely on friends :P
Location: Hong Kong, Cyberport Travel note summary: Hong Kong, Cyberport (Technology Park).
Location: Hong Kong, Jordan, Green Leaf Seafood Restaurant Travel note summary: Hong Kong, Jordan, Green Leaf Seafood Restaurant. Today, I attended a gathering of National Cheng Kung University alumni organized by Nick, a junior from the class of '95 in Business Administration. I met Du Jinlai, a senior from the class of '80 in Industrial Management. He now works at Taishin Bank's Hong Kong branch. Of course, he also knows our university senior Shiwei from the class of '80 in our direct lineage. There was also a Hong Kong senior from the class of '73 in Mechanical Engineering, and a senior from the Architecture department. Many more were juniors from the classes of 100-something in Business Administration, Chinese, or Civil Engineering, as well as friends from Taiwan and Hong Kong who studied at National Taiwan University, University of Hong Kong, etc. Everyone works in various industries in Hong Kong or Shenzhen. Ben, a Hong Kong friend of Ramen senior, also came. Listening to work experiences from different fields and a wide age range really broadened my horizons! :) By Morgan on 2019.5.5
Location: Hong Kong, Dr. Sun Yat-sen Museum Travel note summary: Hong Kong, Dr. Sun Yat-sen Museum, Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences, Happy Valley Racecourse Museum, Sai Wan Ho Hong Kong Film Archive. Last night, I slept in Mid-Levels. After having breakfast with William this morning, everyone went their separate ways. Being alone, I decided to visit some museums I hadn't been to yet. Over the past year, I've visited almost all of Hong Kong's ten to twenty museums, big and small. After returning from Sai Wan Ho, I stopped by Quarry Bay to return the small trolley I borrowed from Kehuai last night for moving the wine cabinet, and we had a coffee and chatted. Then, I continued upward and arrived at the Tsuen Wan West pier. In the light rain, I enjoyed the night view of the pier. After a fulfilling day, I'm ready to head back to my accommodation~
Location: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 2 - Dr. Sun Yat-sen Museum, Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences, Happy Valley Racecourse Museum, Hong Kong Film Archive (Sai Wan Ho) Travel note summary: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 2 - Dr. Sun Yat-sen Museum, Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences, Happy Valley Racecourse Museum, Hong Kong Film Archive (Sai Wan Ho). Slept in Mid-Levels last night. After breakfast with William this morning, we all went our separate ways. Being alone, I decided to visit some museums I hadn't been to yet. I've visited almost all of Hong Kong's ten to twenty museums, big and small, over the past year. After returning from Sai Wan Ho, I stopped by Quarry Bay to return the small trolley we used to move the wine cabinet last night to Kehuai, and we had a coffee and chat. Then I continued back up, arriving at Tsuen Wan West Pier. In the light rain, I enjoyed the night view of the pier. After a fulfilling day, I'm ready to head back to my place. ~ By Morgan @2019.5.4
Location: Hong Kong, Mid-Levels, Friday Night Travel Note: I'm moving soon and had to leave the Siemens wine fridge for my landlord. The other day, I saw William bought six new bottles of wine, so I asked if he'd like to take over the wine fridge. He agreed, and tonight we teamed up, hired a GoGoVan truck in Hong Kong, and moved the wine fridge from the New Territories to his place in Mid-Levels on Hong Kong Island. Of course, we also opened a bottle of Argentine wine to share. Life rarely offers such moments of tipsy camaraderie—having friends to drink, chat, and get a little drunk together is truly a joy. Cheers! By Morgan, evening of May 3, 2019
Location: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 9 - Cyberport (Technology Park) Travel note summary: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 9 - Cyberport (Technology Park). Compared to the Hong Kong Science Park, it indeed feels more like a real estate project than a technology park. The transportation isn't very convenient either; taking a bus from the city center also takes a while. But it's still nice for seeing the seaside views and taking a leisurely stroll to relax. :) By Morgan @2019.5.1
Location: Hong Kong, Shek Kip Mei, Pin Heung Lau Travel Note: Had dinner tonight with my Hong Kong colleague Kehuai and his wife Nicole. We went to a restaurant in Shek Kip Mei, located upstairs in a traditional market within the Nam Shan Estate. It started as a dai pai dong and grew so popular that it now has its own shop. The dishes are all very distinctive, paired with lemon Coke drinks with lemon slices—a truly Hong Kong-style dinner. I originally wanted to treat Kehuai, but he ended up paying instead. Wishing everyone health, safety, and smooth sailing! :)
Location: Shanghai Travel Note: My friend Tony just returned to Hong Kong from Shanghai late last night. Today, not minding the fatigue, he came over to catch up. We happened to finish off the last bottle of 2011 Italian red wine I had in stock at home. While eating the food he brought over from Hong Kong Island, we chatted about the business he's actively promoting at Sinopac Securities (Hong Kong). Every reunion in life is a matter of fate. Cheers! By Morgan, evening of April 29, 2019
Location: Hong Kong Providence Bay Small Gathering Travel Notes Summary: Hong Kong Providence Bay Small Gathering. Friend Tony just returned to Hong Kong from Shanghai late last night. Not minding the fatigue, he came to hang out with me today. We just finished off the last bottle of 2011 Italian red wine stocked at my place, while eating food he brought over from Hong Kong Island, chatting about the business he's actively promoting at Sinopac Securities Hong Kong. Every gathering in life is a blessing. Cheers! By Morgan on the evening of 2019.4.29
Location: Weekend Night, Drinking Alone Travel Note: Weekend night, drinking alone. One glass to my hometown, one glass to distant lands; one glass to tomorrow, one glass to the past. May I have the courage to fly against the wind! By Morgan @@Evening of April 28, 2019
Location: Hong Kong, Weekend Night, Drinking Alone Travel Note: Weekend night, drinking alone. One toast to my hometown, one toast to distant places; one toast to tomorrow, one toast to the past. May I have the courage to fly against the wind!
Location: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 10 - Pak Shek Kok Promenade Travel note summary: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 10 - Pak Shek Kok Promenade. I've lived here exactly two years now, and the lease is about to expire, so I'll be moving out soon. Every time I walk along the promenade from the Science Park office back to my residence, it's already dark, or I'm hurrying along without paying much attention to the scenery along the way. After a busy day, today I left a bit earlier. Passing by a rest pavilion, I found a seat and sat down, not in a rush. Looking at the distant Guanyin statue at Tsz Shan Monastery, feeling the beauty of the sunset glow, the expanse of ocean ahead can quickly calm one's mood. Many people ride bicycles, playing Cantonese songs, passing by one after another behind me. Compared to the fast pace and bustling traffic of Central and Sheung Wan on Hong Kong Island, the New Territories here reflects another lifestyle in Hong Kong—fast yet with moments of slowness, allowing one to ponder the essence of life carefully. Life itself is a journey; go with the flow and let things take their natural course. By Morgan on the evening of 2019.4.24
Location: Hong Kong, Pak Shek Kok Promenade Travel Note: I've lived here exactly two years now, and the lease is about to expire as I prepare to move. Every time I walk back home along the promenade from the office, it's already dark, or I'm rushing without paying much attention to the scenery. After a busy day, today I left early for once. Passing by a rest pavilion, I found a seat and sat down, not in a hurry. Gazing at the distant Guan Yin statue at Tsz Shan Monastery, I soaked in the beauty of the sunset. The expanse of ocean ahead quickly calms the mind. Many people cycled by behind me, playing Cantonese songs. Compared to the fast pace and bustling traffic of Central and Sheung Wan on Hong Kong Island, the New Territories here reflects another lifestyle in Hong Kong—fast yet slow, allowing one to ponder the essence of life. Life itself is a journey; go with the flow and let things take their natural course. By Morgan, evening of April 24, 2019
Location: Shenzhen Futian, Ninety's Bistro. I was in Shenzhen for a last-minute business trip. In the evening, I met up with my senior Ethan (masa), his wife, and his tech colleague Edward for dinner. We shared a bottle of white and a bottle of red wine, then headed back to Ethan's place to continue with an Italian red. Easter cheers! Thanks for the hospitality, senior!
Location: Hong Kong Sha Tin, Beerliner German Restaurant. Happy Hour~
Location: Shenzhen Longhua, Tan Yu Restaurant. My university friend Funky from Macau, who just ran a marathon in North Korea, flew back via Shenyang and transited through Shenzhen tonight. So he, Ah Hou, and I got together here. We've known each other for over twenty years since our student days. When we have the chance to meet, we seize these precious moments—life's connections are truly valuable!
Location: Xi'an, Tang Paradise Night Market. The moon waxes and wanes, people experience joys and sorrows, meetings and partings... I wish for everything to clear up after the rain.
Location: Tang Paradise Night Market, Xi'an, Shaanxi Travel note summary: Tang Paradise Night Market, Xi'an, Shaanxi. The moon waxes and wanes, people experience joy and sorrow, parting and reunion... Wishing for everything to clear up after the rain. By Morgan @2019.4.2
Flowing water never stagnates; a door hinge never gets worm-eaten. Taking advantage of the rare clear weather these past few days, I headed out. The Plover Cove Reservoir dam is the world’s first dam built in the sea. I took bus 75K from Tai Po Market Station to get there. After seeing the dam, I walked back to the bus stop and hiked uphill toward Pat Sin Leng for about an hour to reach Bride’s Pool. It’s named after a bride who drowned here on her wedding day, so there are many ghost stories. Leaving Bride’s Pool, I checked my phone on the bus back and realized Chi Shan Monastery was along the route, so I pressed the stop button and got off at Sam Tam Kap. After a 15-minute walk along the mountain road, I saw the Guanyin statue. The monastery is famous for this statue—the world’s second-tallest Guanyin, standing 25 stories high, funded by Li Ka-shing with HKD 1.5 billion (NTD 6 billion). The sound of sutra chanting along the way gradually calmed my mind...
Location: Hong Kong – Wan Chai Ferry Pier & Golden Bauhinia Square in the early morning Travel note summary: Hong Kong – Wan Chai Ferry Pier & Golden Bauhinia Square in the early morning
Location: Hong Kong – Renaissance Harbour View Hotel, Wan Chai Travel note summary: My research institute classmate and close friend from the same mentor group, Zhengda, is accompanying Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu on a visit to Hong Kong today. He spontaneously invited me to catch up. It's been years since I last saw Zhengda, so after dinner in Shenzhen, I rushed back under the stars to the southernmost part of Hong Kong to chat at the hotel where he's staying. We talked until the last train was gone—so happy to meet an old friend in a foreign land! ^^ By Morgan, late night on March 22, 2019
Location: Shenzhen – Sheraton Hotel, Futian Travel note summary: It's been so long since I last came here! Dinner with ribeye steak and whiskey.
Location: Hong Kong – Iberico Bar, Central Travel note summary: So happy to have a group of good friends celebrating my birthday together. From Portuguese and Spanish wines to an Australian red, then back to a new Portuguese red—five people, four bottles of red wine. Cheers! Thanks to Brother Williams for picking up the tab, and also thanks to all my long-unseen good friends on Facebook for the blessings. Truly grateful!!! ^^ By Morgan, birthday evening on March 21, 2019
Location: Hong Kong – Tsukada Farm, Sha Tin Station Travel note summary: My university classmate Ah Hou, returning from Shenzhen to Hong Kong, spontaneously invited me out for afternoon tea. We also called Ruei to join us. The three of us spent a simple afternoon here passing the time.
Location: Shaanxi, Xi'an Jiaotong University, School of Management Travel notes summary: Our company was invited to give a lecture here tonight. With only last-minute promotion last week, over a hundred people showed up. The originally booked 60-seat lecture hall couldn't accommodate everyone, so we had to switch to a larger one. @@ By Morgan @2019.3.12
Location: Xi'an South Gate ACTS Whiskey Bar Travel Note: Xi'an South Gate ACTS Whiskey Bar. Visited the Forest of Steles Museum and Xi'an City Wall in the morning, had dinner with Dr. Lai whom I hadn't seen in a long time in the evening, and ended the day at this mysterious basement bar. By Morgan @March 11, 2019
Location: Shaanxi, Mausoleum of the Yellow Emperor & Xi'an Restaurant Travel Notes: The sky is round, the earth is square, paying respects to Xuanyuan. Legend has it that this cypress tree, personally planted by the Yellow Emperor, is over five thousand years old, narrating the long river of history here... Standing in front of the altar at the Mausoleum of the Yellow Emperor, I saw a guy next to me who looked very familiar, so I went over to chat. M: "Hello, were you at Qianling yesterday?" "Yes, how did you know??" M: "I saw you at Qianling yesterday too, what a coincidence!" "Really? That's amazing!" M: "Yeah, where are you from?" "Wuxi, Jiangsu" M: "Hmm, I've been there before, Blabla..." ...... Just like that, relying on inexplicable fate and my strange tourist memory, I made a new friend. When we returned to Xi'an, we even had dinner together in the evening. At the famous Xi'an Restaurant, we ordered special dishes like gourd chicken, jujube porridge, and Qinling landscape. This gentleman is currently promoting comprehensive practical education in universities, which is problem-based learning and project-based learning. He graduated from Central China Normal University. Coincidentally, his surname is also Wang. Since we both love traveling, besides discussing education, we had no shortage of other topics to talk about, from Jiuzhaigou to Zhangjiajie, from Hubei and Hunan to the northern frontiers and the Jiangnan region. Thanks to Brother Wang for warmly treating me to this meal in the end. It truly is the best portrayal of 'friends from all corners of the world.' ~~ By Morgan on the evening of 2019.3.10
Location: Hukou Waterfall, Yellow River, Shaanxi Travel note: The Yellow River's waters seem to pour from the heavens, rushing toward the sea never to return~
Location: Shaanxi, Changyu Rena Chateau (Chateau, Changyu Rena) Travel Notes: Back when I was still a researcher at an investment trust, I became familiar with Changyu, a century-old listed brand founded in the late Qing Dynasty. Later, I also drank its red wine. However, what I didn't know was that in Shaanxi Province, it also has a winery built with an investment of over 3 billion Taiwanese dollars, one of the 12 wineries it owns worldwide. This winery was jointly built with the Italian winemaking family Rena, so the architectural style follows Italian Tuscan. Inside, there is an 800-mu vineyard, mainly planting Cabernet Sauvignon. After accidentally seeing it this time, I decided to come for a visit. One afternoon, besides coincidentally encountering the March 12th Tree Planting Day activities, I also followed a guide to learn about the wine-making process, understand Chinese wine and the development history of the Changyu brand, and visited the underground wine cellar. Using the ticket to scan a QR code, I tasted self-service red wine. It's an educational and entertaining place, very interesting and worth a visit! After leaving the entrance, I then headed to Xi'an. Tonight, I'm staying at a hostel near the Bell Tower, right next to Xi'an's largest food street night market—Huimin Street. I recalled memories from over eight years ago, when I had lamb paomo here one night with Brother Alvin. Time really flies. Every fragment of memory in life is like a fleeting glimpse, light as clouds and gentle as wind, yet deeply rooted in the mind, engraved in the heart... By Morgan on the evening of 2019.3.9
Location: Xi'an Travel note: Invited by the company to give a lecture at the School of Management, Xi'an Jiaotong University tonight. It was only promoted last week, but over 100 people showed up. The originally booked 60-person lecture hall couldn't fit everyone, so we had to switch to a larger one~ @@
Location: Felfela, a Middle Eastern-style bar in Lan Kwai Fong, Hong Kong Travel note: After coming down from Victoria Peak, I met up with Ruei, who lives on Hong Kong Island. We first visited Tai Kwun, which was converted from a former prison, then went to Lan Kwai Fong for a drink. This bar has many Arab water pipes on the walls, like the ones we smoked in Central Asia before. The River Nile cocktail I wanted was out of stock, so I switched to a Casino to try. We also chatted about Ruei's experience in her new job at a foreign pharmaceutical company over the past few months. A Sunday night, Cheers!
Location: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 3 - Peak Tram, Sky Terrace 428, Madame Tussauds Hong Kong Travel note summary: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 3 - Peak Tram, Sky Terrace 428, Madame Tussauds Hong Kong. I just saw the news that the tram will undergo phased maintenance starting this April. I thought, I've been in Hong Kong for so long but never taken the tram up to Victoria Peak (last time I went up with Xiao Cige in his friend's car). So I decided on a whim to go out and ride it before the maintenance. While on the minibus, I checked online and saw there were fast-track tickets. So I used PayPal to book a round-trip tram ticket. Then, at Central Station Exit K, I followed tourists and English-speaking guides to the tram entrance. The tram's incline is quite steep; looking out the window, the distant buildings all appear tilted. After reaching the peak, I wandered around the observation deck I hadn't been to before, and bought a ticket to visit Madame Tussauds. This afternoon, I finally checked off these famous Hong Kong landmarks. ~ By Morgan @2019.2.17
Location: Victoria Peak Tram, Hong Kong Travel note: Victoria Peak Tram, Sky Terrace 428, Madame Tussauds Hong Kong. I happened to see news that the tram will undergo phased maintenance starting this April. I thought, I've been in Hong Kong so long but never taken the tram up to Victoria Peak (last time, I went up by car with Xiao Ci's friend). So I decided on a whim to go out and ride it before the maintenance. While on the minibus, I checked online and saw there were fast-track tickets, so I booked a round-trip tram ticket via PayPal. Then, at Exit K of Central Station, I followed tourists and English-speaking guides to the tram entrance. The tram's incline is quite steep; looking out the window, distant buildings all appear tilted. After reaching the peak, I visited the Sky Terrace, which I hadn't been to before, and bought a ticket to wander around Madame Tussauds. Managed to check off these famous Hong Kong spots in the afternoon~
Location: Hyatt Regency Hong Kong, Sha Tin Travel note: Went out to eat in Sha Tin city center, forgot today was a holiday. Everywhere had long queues, so I switched to the familiar hotel near University Station. The New Zealand Merlot red wine I had tonight was pretty good~
Location: Hong Kong West Kowloon High-Speed Rail Station, Exiting the station Travel note summary: Exiting Hong Kong West Kowloon High-Speed Rail Station. I was still in Fujian Province this morning, took the high-speed rail, passed through Guangdong Province-Shenzhen after noon, and then connected back to Hong Kong. Taking this trip during Chinese New Year, I made a full circle and returned. Hong Kong-Taoyuan-Taipei-Taichung-Kinmen-Quanzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong. I really had to prepare my wallet well: Hong Kong dollars, RMB, New Taiwan dollars, plus emergency US dollars—I kept a bit of every currency to be safe. Back in Hong Kong, I had to switch from my EasyCard back to my Octopus card again. Being used to moving around everywhere, I always need to practice switching between different situational setups. First time at West Kowloon Station, one location with two checkpoints (China customs, Hong Kong customs). There were self-service gates, so it didn’t take too much time. Should be able to make it back for a remote company meeting after 3 p.m. @@
Location: Fujian, Quanzhou, One-Day Trip Travel note summary: Fujian, Quanzhou, One-Day Trip. Compared to Xiamen's rapid development, I actually prefer Quanzhou a bit more. Not only because ancestors from several generations ago came from Quanzhou, but also because of Quanzhou's long history and coastal diversity and inclusiveness. Buddhism, Islam, Taoism, Christianity—all could develop independently. There's the Great Kaiyuan Temple built in 686 AD, the oldest mosque in China, the Qingjing Mosque built in 1009 AD, and the Mazu Temple—Quanzhou Tianhou Palace built in 1196 AD. All of them give a strong sense of cultural and temporal impact. Walking on the old street of Zhongshan Road, reminiscing about the past while thinking of the present. For lunch, I ate at the century-old restaurant—Haochengcai Steakhouse. I casually ordered a bowl of beef noodle soup and stewed beef tripe with radish, both of which made my picky mouth praise endlessly. Drank a cup of Yi Fang Fruit Tea from Taiwan, then continued on. Came to Qingyuan Mountain, where there's a Laozi statue—Laojun Rock—built in the Song Dynasty, over a thousand years old. Took the opportunity to climb the steep mountain path for over an hour to get some exercise. At the mountain top, I used WeChat Pay to buy a 5-yuan cup of sugarcane juice. After descending, called an Uber (Didi) to go to Nan Shaolin Temple. Quanzhou's Nan Shaolin Temple dates back to the Tang Dynasty, also a thousand years of history, but it has been destroyed and rebuilt many times. The last destruction was during the Qianlong era, and it was rebuilt again in modern times in 1992—a fate full of twists and turns. In the evening, after strolling through the food street and Guangyue Temple (built before 1612), I walked for a full two hours, visiting several shops just to try Quanzhou's famous Ginger Duck (either closed for the New Year or too crowded with long waits). Luckily, I finally got to eat it, ending a fulfilling day. Traveling alone always allows more time to have a good dialogue with myself, which is why I never tire of it. But there are drawbacks too—eating always has limitations and inconveniences. Like today, I had to slowly finish a whole duck by myself. Finally finished eating, can go back to the hotel to sleep. :~~ Tomorrow morning, taking the high-speed rail back to Hong Kong～～ By Morgan, evening of 2019.2.10
Location: Fujian, Quanzhou-Hui'an, Chongwu Ancient City Travel note summary: Fujian, Quanzhou-Hui'an, Chongwu Ancient City. Built during the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty (1387) as a defensive city to resist Japanese pirates. Known as the "Southern Beidaihe." From Quanzhou city center bus station, heading southeast toward Hui'an County by the sea, it takes about an hour or a bit more by car. Buying tickets on the bus here, you can even communicate in Minnan dialect～
Location: Hong Kong, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon Park Travel note: In the morning, I went to Tsim Sha Tsui to pass something to a colleague of Kunda from Innolux, who is also a graduate school classmate from NCKU. Coincidentally, this senior Xinchen is not only an NCKU Civil Engineering '89 alumnus and a classmate of my university club senior Kico, but also a former colleague of my university junior Jiarong at Chi Mei, so we're quite familiar. We hit it off right away despite meeting for the first time. I spent the whole day accompanying him and his family, who came from Guangzhou to Hong Kong for tourism and a Jacky Cheung concert, visiting the History Museum, chatting along the way, and even got treated to breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Thanks for the hospitality, senior! Keep in touch! :) By Morgan, evening of Jan 12, 2019.
Location: Beijing, Zhongguancun, Executive Lounge of a Five-Star Hotel Travel note: At the executive lounge of a five-star hotel in Zhongguancun, Beijing, I had lunch with the chairman of a Beijing public fund. In the evening, I met with Guanzhong, a Tayal indigenous youth who recently graduated from Shih Hsin University's multimedia department and came to Beijing alone to work, for dinner and drinks at the hotel's top-floor lounge. He's quite thoughtful and holds his liquor well—impressive! Cheers!
Location: Beijing Zhongguancun Crowne Plaza Hotel (5-star) Executive Lounge Travel Note: Beijing Zhongguancun Crowne Plaza Hotel (5-star) Executive Lounge. Had lunch with the chairman of a Beijing public fund at noon. In the evening, I went to the executive lounge on the top floor of my hotel with Guan-Zhong, a Tayal indigenous friend who recently graduated from Shih Hsin University's Multimedia Department and came to Beijing alone to work, for dinner and drinks. He's quite a thoughtful young man with good drinking capacity. Cheers! By Morgan @January 8, 2019
Location: Beijing - The Garden of Gardens, Yuanmingyuan Ruins. Travel notes: The Yuanmingyuan Ruins, Peking University, Zhongguancun.
Location: Beijing - Nanluoguxiang. Travel notes: Nanluoguxiang, Houhai Bar Street, Wonderwall Bar. Tonight, I booked a hotel in Nanluoguxiang on Elong called Lü Song Yuan, hidden in a hutong, converted from part of the former Prince Senggelinqin's mansion. Though the single room was a bit small, staying there had a lot of character. Later, I took a walk around Shichahai. It's been years since I last visited Nanluoguxiang and Houhai—time flies! Now there are many more shops and it's livelier. I spontaneously met up with Xiao Bu, who works in Beijing's Financial Street. He was kind enough to take a taxi all the way from Xicheng District to the east. We met at a bar in Nanluoguxiang. Even though it was -6°C outside and my hands and feet were freezing, having a drink and chatting about familiar things with an old colleague from Taiwan quickly warmed me up. Thanks to Xiao Bu for treating me! Wishing everyone success in their own paths! :) By Morgan, evening of Jan 6, 2019.
Location: Beijing - Prince Gong's Mansion. Travel notes: Prince Gong's Mansion. Came here for a walk before it closes for winter maintenance starting tomorrow. This was once the mansion of Heshen and Prince Gong Yixin. I've heard before that in Beijing, you should soak in the nobility of the Forbidden City, the elegance of the Summer Palace, the wealth of the Ming Tombs, the fortune of Prince Gong's Mansion, the majesty of the Great Wall, and the popularity of Yonghe Temple. I've visited all except Prince Gong's Mansion until now. It's famous for fortune because in the Miyun Cave within the mansion, there's a stele with the character '福' (fortune) inscribed by Emperor Kangxi himself (implying a paradise of fortune). One Prince Gong's Mansion holds half the history of the Qing Dynasty. Standing in the pavilion at the center of the lake, I imagined the rise and fall stories of this grand mansion in the past. Full of absurd words, a handful of bitter tears. The setting sun shines on the frozen lake surface, reflecting how many springs, summers, autumns, and winters have passed... Before leaving the mansion, I bought a fortune-character souvenir stamp from a vending machine using Alipay, pulling from the ancient past back to the present. Hope I can really take some fortune away from here~ :) By Morgan, winter of Jan 6, 2019, in Beijing.
Location: Hong Kong - Drinks at the accommodation. Travel notes: Drinks at the accommodation. Evening, Tony, a Taiwanese friend working in Hong Kong, came over for dinner. Cooked a pot of hotpot, opened a bottle of 2007 French red wine. Drinking, chatting, time just flew by. Cheers!
Location: Hong Kong, Having a Drink at a Friend's Place Travel Note: Hong Kong, having a drink at a friend's place. In the evening, Tony, a Taiwanese friend working in Hong Kong, came to have dinner with me. We cooked a pot of hot pot, opened a bottle of 2007 French red wine, drank, and chatted. Time just flew by. Cheers! By Morgan @January 5, 2019
Location: Hong Kong - Cheung Sha Wan, Kwan Kee Bamboo Noodle. Travel notes: Cheung Sha Wan, Kwan Kee Bamboo Noodle. Came to the Lenovo service center in Lai Chi Kok to repair my laptop. At noon, my Hong Kong colleague H.W. took me to eat at this nearby shop. It's on the 2019 Michelin recommended小吃 list. The noodles are handmade捞面 pressed with traditional bamboo, quite smooth and chewy. Just the portion was a bit large :P. After eating, while waiting, I briefly逛ed the Golden and高登computer malls in Sham Shui Po (kinda reminiscent of Guanghua Digital Plaza). After receiving a call from Lenovo, I went back to pick up the repaired computer. Luckily, it wasn't a hard drive issue but the motherboard—what a relief. But it also reminded me that I really should back up my data when I get back @@. By Morgan, Jan 4, 2019.
Location: Hong Kong, Sham Shui Po, Oi Man Sang Dai Pai Dong Travel Notes: Hong Kong, Sham Shui Po, Oi Man Sang Dai Pai Dong—a decades-old establishment. Tonight, William and his girlfriend met me here for dinner, and I brought Ruei along. The four of us ordered some stir-fries and beer—a very authentic Hong Kong-style dinner. Thanks to William for treating us!
Location: Hong Kong, Wan Chai, Espuma Spanish Restaurant Travel Notes: Hong Kong, Wan Chai, Espuma Spanish Restaurant. Ruei recently moved from working at Foxconn in Shenzhen to a job in Hong Kong, so we met for lunch today. This Spanish restaurant on the 25th floor has pretty good food, but the two of us might have ordered a bit too much~ @@
Location: Taohuayuan Xiaochu, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong Travel note summary: My senior from the ramen shop days is invited to give a speech in Shenzhen tomorrow. He passed through Hong Kong today, so we had dinner together tonight. Also joining us was Ben, whom I met over three years ago at Maker Week, along with one of his female colleagues. The restaurant we chose had previously earned two Michelin stars. My senior and Jserv's startup, BiiLabs, is also growing steadily—you can see their presence in EU GDPR projects, UN initiatives, Chinese system integrators, and even Taipei's smart city MOU signing in the Netherlands. My senior is also flying to LINE's headquarters in Tokyo the day after tomorrow for a meeting. I can tell he's incredibly busy but truly enjoys it. That's the joy of entrepreneurship—finding laughter through tears and a sense of achievement amidst the hardships. Ben, aside from his IT company, has now ventured into a tech PR firm. Over dinner, we discussed many applications of blockchain for solving KYC issues, which was a great learning experience for me. Finally, thanks to Ben for treating us to this wonderful dinner. Keep in Touch~~ :) By Morgan, evening of Nov 19, 2018.
Location: Having a drink at home in Hong Kong Travel note summary: Tony just started working at SinoPac Securities Hong Kong this month as the head of the futures department. He came over for dinner and drinks tonight. We bought hotpot ingredients from a nearby supermarket and opened a bottle of Xinjiang Tianshan red wine. We chatted about all sorts of things—OTC options, mutual acquaintances like Ben and Wenxiao, who used to be my colleagues at the investment trust. The connections in life are truly unpredictable, always linking up unexpectedly and inexplicably. Cheers!
Location: Ritz-Carlton, Futian, Shenzhen Travel note summary: After running around for three days straight, today I visited a public fund on top of the Taiping Finance Tower to meet with their general manager and original shareholders. We exchanged WeChat after the chat. At noon, a few of us went to a nearby five-star hotel for yum cha. After that, I'm getting ready to head back to Hong Kong again. Hoping for a tiring but interesting life～ @@
Location: Guangdong, Zhuhai, Hengqin Financial District Travel Notes: Another day of moving around. Today, instead of taking land routes, I took a sea route, boarding a ship to Zhuhai's Jiuzhou Port. Invited by the chairman of a certain life insurance company, I came here for a visit. The other party was also very polite, sending a dedicated person and car, even holding a sign to pick me up. We chatted for an afternoon, covering topics like universal life insurance (investment-linked policies). Then, I took a ship back to Shenzhen. Near Shekou Port, I randomly found an Italian restaurant, OGGI, to drink some Italian red wine and replenish some energy~ Recently, I've been watching the TV drama "Entrepreneurial Era" starring Huang Xuan and Angelababy. There's a line in it that's very well said and gave me a lot of inspiration: "No one cares who you are, everyone only cares what you can do." This is an era of constant turbulence and rapid change. Let's continue to strive and express ourselves freely in this chaotic world~ Cheers! By Morgan on the evening of 2018.10.18
Location: Shenzhen Travel note summary: Hengqin Financial District, Zhuhai. Another day of moving around. Today, instead of taking the land route, I took a boat to Jiuzhou Port in Zhuhai. I was invited by the chairman of a certain life insurance company for a visit. They were very courteous, sending a dedicated car and person with a sign to pick me up. We chatted for an entire afternoon, covering topics like universal life insurance (investment-linked policies). Then I took the boat back to Shenzhen. Near Shekou Port, I randomly found an Italian restaurant, OGGI, had some Italian red wine, and recharged my energy. Recently, I've been watching the TV drama 'Entrepreneurial Era' starring Huang Xuan and Angelababy. There's a line in it that really resonated with me and gave me a lot of inspiration: 'No one cares who you are; everyone only cares what you can do.' This is an era of constant turbulence and rapid change. Let's continue to strive and give it our all in this chaotic world. Cheers! By Morgan, evening of Oct 18, 2018.
Location: InterContinental Hotel, OCT, Shenzhen Travel note summary: I was suddenly called from Hong Kong to Shenzhen for a meeting this morning. I exchanged ideas with the general manager of a public fund I previously met. After having a buffet, I'm now on my way back to Hong Kong. Still a life of constant movement～
Location: Shenzhen, OCT Pyramid Yue Hao French Restaurant. This French restaurant in OCT Creative Park is ranked #1 in Nanshan District on Dianping. The owner is from Hong Kong, and the place is a bit hard to find. The atmosphere and food are quite nice, and the waitstaff are pretty good-looking too. However, it's not exactly cheap—a glass of champagne costs 188 RMB (nearly 1,000 TWD). We had two glasses of champagne, a seafood platter with oysters, a rib-eye steak, and opened a bottle of Australian red wine. I was definitely stuffed by the end! @@
Location: Shenzhen, Futian, Duolai Japanese Restaurant. Today I came from Hong Kong to Shenzhen to have dinner with Tony. I met Tony when he was still in the legal department of Uni-President. Years later, he's now at SinoPac Hong Kong, heading the futures department, and will soon be a licensed RO. So we got together here tonight. Duolai has a nice environment with private rooms. In Futian's prime CBD area, there's even a courtyard outdoors. With three bottles of French red wine, the per-person cost was around 4,000–5,000 TWD. For the dining experience, it was actually quite good. Meeting an old friend in a foreign land—Cheers!~ By Morgan, evening of 2018.9.13
Location: Hong Kong, Kowloon, Elements Mall, Tango Steak. It's next to the ICC, Hong Kong's tallest building. This place mainly features Argentine beef and red wine. For the ultra-high prices in this area, the value for money is actually quite good. Cheers~
After leaving the Railway Museum, I headed to Tai Wo Station and took the 64K bus into the New Territories countryside. Lam Tsuen is famous for its century-old Wishing Tree, which gets packed during the Lunar New Year Wishing Festival, but on a weekday it was quiet and relaxed. I tossed a 'po die' (like a small orange) with my written wish onto the tree—if it doesn’t fall, your wish is said to come true. Nearby, I tried Sister Zhen’s tofu pudding based on a blog recommendation—it was incredibly smooth and delicious! On this afternoon with a No. 1 typhoon signal hoisted, eating tofu pudding while watching the rain was its own little pleasure.
Location: Hong Kong, Plover Cove Reservoir Dam. Plover Cove Reservoir Dam, Bride's Pool Waterfall, Tsz Shan Monastery. 'Flowing water does not stagnate; a door hinge never rusts.' It's been sunny these past few days, so I seized the time to go out for a walk. The Plover Cove dam is the world's first dam built in seawater. You can take bus 75K from Tai Po Market Station. After seeing the dam, I walked back to the bus stop and headed uphill toward Pat Sin Leng. After about an hour or so, I reached Bride's Pool. It's named because a bride once drowned here during her wedding procession, hence the name and many ghost stories. Leaving Bride's Pool, I checked on the bus and found Tsz Shan Monastery was along the route, so I pressed the stop button and got off at Sam A Tsuen. After a 15-minute walk along the mountain road, I saw the Guanyin statue. The most famous feature of Tsz Shan Monastery is this Guanyin statue, the second tallest in the world, standing 25 stories high. It was donated by Li Ka-shing with 1.5 billion HKD (6 billion TWD). The sound of sutra chanting along the way slowly brought peace to my mind... By Morgan on 2018.9.9
Location: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 15 - Mei Ho House, Tai Kwun (Former Central Police Station, Victoria Prison) & Lai King, Kwai Chung Container Terminal Night View Travel Notes Summary: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 15 - Mei Ho House, Tai Kwun (Former Central Police Station, Victoria Prison) & Lai King, Kwai Chung Container Terminal Night View. Mei Ho House was originally a public housing estate in Hong Kong, located between Sham Shui Po and Shek Kip Mei. Later, it was renovated with over 200 million HKD into an international youth hostel. Inside, there's an exhibition gallery showcasing the living conditions of public housing at that time. Tai Kwun is located near PMQ in Central and is a spot that only opened a few months ago. The website says online booking is required, but I found you could enter directly on-site. It's a revitalization project converted from the former Central Police Station and Victoria Prison. I visited the prison cells and the exercise yard for prisoners, getting a slight feel for the prison scenes I used to see in Hong Kong movies. Finally, I went around to Lai King Station to view the Kwai Chung Container Terminal from afar, feeling the beginning of the city lights coming on, and thus ended today's itinerary. ~ By Morgan, evening of September 8, 2018.
Location: Hong Kong, Mei Ho House Travel notes: Mei Ho House in Hong Kong, and Tai Kwun (the former Central Police Station and Victoria Prison). Mei Ho House was originally a public housing estate in Hong Kong, located between Sham Shui Po and Shek Kip Mei. It was later renovated into an international youth hostel at a cost of over 200 million Hong Kong dollars, with an exhibition hall showcasing life in public housing back then. Tai Kwun, located near PMQ in Central, is a newly opened attraction in recent months. The website said online reservations were required, but on-site, I found you could just walk in. It's a revitalization of the former Central Police Station and Victoria Prison. I visited the prison cells and the exercise yard for prisoners, getting a glimpse of the prison scenes I'd seen in Hong Kong movies. Finally, I headed to Lai King Station to view the Kwai Chung Container Terminal from afar, feeling the onset of the evening lights, and thus ended today's journey. ~ By Morgan, evening of September 8, 2018.
Location: Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Festival Walk, Dan Ryan's Grill Travel notes: Dan Ryan's Grill at Festival Walk in Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong. Probably my fourth time here. Having some snacks and red wine to recharge a bit.
Location: Hong Kong, Kowloon Bay, Celebrity Talk Vegetarian & Lower Ngau Tau Kok Estate Travel notes: Celebrity Talk Vegetarian in Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong, and Lower Ngau Tau Kok Estate. I was originally planning to eat in Sha Tin, but suddenly got a message from another university classmate, Ah Hou. Ah Hou has had some family issues recently, so I moved from Sha Tin to near his place to chat with him. Time is the best medicine—many things will gradually get better! After eating at Amoy Plaza, Ah Hou took me around the area where he grew up. I saw some nostalgic and retro Hong Kong exhibits, reminding me of many Hong Kong movies I watched as a child—very atmospheric! After walking to the MTR station, I said goodbye to Ah Hou. Cheer up! Let's meet again next time. :)
Location: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 13 - Sha Tin, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery & Fo Tan, Tao Heung Museum of Food Culture Travel Notes Summary: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 13 - Sha Tin, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery & Fo Tan, Tao Heung Museum of Food Culture. Junming and Voto, after playing in Jeju Island, were heading back to work in Shenzhen and passed through Hong Kong to have a meal with me. So we met up in Sha Tin. Every time I chat with Junming, I never really knew which specific department he was in at Foxconn. This time I finally got a clearer idea; he's under CAA, responsible for iPhone case production. We've known each other for over 20 years since being in the same university department and club. Being able to gather like this occasionally is truly a rare connection. Finally, thanks to the lovely couple for treating me to a brunch and bringing me a souvenir from Korea. After seeing them off at the MTR back to Shenzhen, I went for a walk alone at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. The university is situated on a hill, so it was like going for a hike. After walking around the Weiyuan Lake, seeing it was still early, I took the MTR one stop to Fo Tan. From there, I found the Tao Heung Museum of Food Culture set up by the Tao Heung Group and visited it. Afterwards, checking Google Maps, I found the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery with its Path of Five Hundred Arhats. It said a 30-minute walk. Okay, let's give it a try. It turned out to be a mix of going uphill on stairs, then downhill along the railway tracks, plus sometimes walking on mountain paths I shouldn't have, with occasional rests. In the end, it took a full hour and a half to actually reach the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery. That completed today's exercise quota. After descending, I walked to Sha Tin MTR Station, planning to have dinner here before heading back. Today's itinerary started in Sha Tin and ended in Sha Tin, quite a proper beginning and end. ~ By Morgan, September 2, 2018.
Location: Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Brick Lane & The Chinese University of Hong Kong Travel notes: Brick Lane in Sha Tin, Hong Kong, and The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Junming and Voto, after traveling in Jeju Island, were heading back to Shenzhen for work and stopped by Hong Kong to have a meal with me. So we met up in Sha Tin. Every time I chat with Junming, I never really knew which department he was in at Foxconn. This time, I finally got a clearer idea—he's under CAA, responsible for iPhone case production. We've known each other for over 20 years since university, same department and club, and it's really a rare bond that we can still gather like this occasionally. Finally, thanks to the lovely couple for treating me to brunch and bringing me a souvenir from Korea. After seeing them off at the MTR back to Shenzhen, I went alone to The Chinese University of Hong Kong for a walk. The university is on a hill, so it was like hiking. After walking around Weiyuan Lake, seeing it was still early, I took one MTR stop to Fo Tan and looked for the Tao Heung Museum of Food Culture set up by the Tao Heung Group. After visiting, I checked Google Maps and found the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery with the Five Hundred Arhats Path. It said a 30-minute walk—okay, let's give it a try. Turned out, there were uphill stairs, downhill paths along the railway, sometimes taking wrong mountain trails, and needing breaks. It took a full hour and a half to actually reach Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery. Today's exercise quota was thus met. After descending, I walked to Sha Tin MTR Station, planning to have dinner here before heading back. Today's journey started in Sha Tin and ended in Sha Tin—quite a full circle. ~ By Morgan, September 2, 2018.
Location: Shenzhen, The Langham, Shenzhen, Duke Wine & Grill Travel notes: Duke Wine & Grill at The Langham, Shenzhen. After a meeting at the nearby China Merchants Tower in the afternoon, came here for a little break at dinner. Robin Island Australian Wagyu beef plus French red wine. After drinking, still not satisfied, wanted to add more wine. Tried single glasses of New Zealand and American red wines, but wasn't happy with them. Finally, asked the server to open a new bottle of Spanish red wine, and that was okay. Cheers~
Location: Shenzhen, Futian, Masa's place – drinks gathering. Travel note: I visited my university senior Masa and his newlywed wife Jinzhen in Futian, Shenzhen for dinner and drinks. Also there were some of his colleagues from the panel factory: Ray, Terror, and Sister A, plus Ruici who just graduated and started working at Foxconn. Masa cooked steak and salmon himself, paired with red wine, white wine, and later whisky. A slightly tipsy evening – Cheers! By Morgan, evening of Aug 26, 2018.
Location: Shenzhen Nanshan Qingqing World. Travel note: Yesterday, my university classmate Junming came to Hong Kong to see me before returning to Taiwan from Shenzhen. We casually chatted about his recent fun visit to Google's headquarters in the US and their group's recent IPO plans for industrial internet and remote planning. Today, Junming and I swapped places—I came from Hong Kong to Shenzhen for a casual stroll. Qingqing World is a fairly large park with an 80 RMB entrance fee. Inside, there's a tropical rainforest zone that's quite interesting—they hand out umbrellas and spray water from above to simulate a rainforest environment. Seeing all the green plants and creatures like insects, fish, frogs, mice, and butterflies gave me a slight taste of nature amidst the concrete city. By Morgan on 2018.8.26
Location: Hong Kong, The Visionary – wine tasting gathering. Travel note: I didn’t go out this weekend, just cleaned up at home because William was coming over for red wine. I had to tidy up a bit since I still remember last time he came and asked if my messy room was the maid’s room. This time I had to change William’s wrong impression. After tidying up, when William arrived, we first took a walk along the seaside promenade at Pak Shek Kok nearby, then came back and opened a nice Italian red wine. We chatted casually about life while eating roast meat. Sunday night – Let us Cheers! By Morgan, evening of Aug 19, 2018.
Location: Hong Kong. Travel note: I didn't go out this weekend and did some cleaning at home because William was coming over for red wine. I had to tidy up a bit since I still remember last time he came and asked if my messy room was the servant's quarters. This time, I had to change William's wrong impression. So, I spent some time cleaning up the house. After William arrived, we first took a walk along the seaside promenade at Pak Shek Kok nearby, then came back and opened a nice Italian red wine. We chatted casually about life while eating roast meat. Sunday night—Let us Cheers! By Morgan on the evening of 2018.8.19
Met up with Junming's Foxconn colleague Yang Jun at Tai Po Market Station at noon—he had something to pass to me from Junming. We grabbed a drink and chatted casually before parting ways. Afterward, I walked to the nearby Railway Museum, which documents the history of Hong Kong's railways. After weeks of exploring Hong Kong, I’ve pretty much run out of popular spots, so I’ve started venturing into lesser-known attractions to dive deeper into local culture and daily life.
Location: Hong Kong Tai Po Market Railway Museum. Travel note: Hong Kong Tai Po Market Railway Museum, Lam Tsuen Wishing Tree, Fanling Lung Yeuk Tau Heritage Trail. At noon, I met Junming's Foxconn colleague Yang Jun at Tai Po Market Station—Junming had something for him to pass to me. I had a drink with Yang Jun and chatted casually before saying goodbye. Then, I walked to the nearby Railway Museum, which documents the history of Hong Kong's railways. After several consecutive weeks of exploring Hong Kong, I really couldn't find popular spots to visit anymore, so I had to start moving to lesser-known attractions to more deeply experience and understand Hong Kong's culture and life. After leaving the Railway Museum, I went to Tai Wo Station and took bus 64K from there to the New Territories suburbs. Lam Tsuen is famous for its century-old Wishing Tree—during the Lunar New Year Wishing Festival, it's always packed with people, but visiting on a weekday is much more spacious and relaxed. You throw a 'po die' (like an orange) with your written wish onto the tree; if it doesn't fall, it means your wish may come true. Nearby, there's a tofu pudding shop called Sister Zhen's—tried it as recommended by others' blogs, and it was indeed smooth, tender, and had excellent texture! On this afternoon with a No. 1 typhoon signal, eating tofu pudding while watching the rain was also a fun experience. Taking the same bus back to Tai Wo Station, I transferred one MTR stop to Fanling Station, where there's the Lung Yeuk Tau Heritage Trail with some historic buildings along the way. I've been to the Ping Shan Heritage Trail in Yuen Long before—the feeling here at Lung Yeuk Tau is quite different. Along the path, there's a renovated but abandoned church, the overgrown and eerie Stone House, and an old walled village where residents still live today... it stirred ripples in my heart, like the mottled traces of passing years...
Location: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 23 - Kennedy Town: Forbes Street Wall Trees, Western District Public Cargo Working Area, Western District Public Cargo Working Area & Sai Ying Pun: MTR Exit Reliefs & Central: Mid-Levels Escalator, Graham Street Mural, PMQ Travel note summary: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 23 - Kennedy Town: Forbes Street Wall Trees, Western District Public Cargo Working Area, Western District Public Cargo Working Area & Sai Ying Pun: MTR Exit Reliefs & Central: Mid-Levels Escalator, Graham Street Mural, PMQ. Last week I explored the southeast of Hong Kong; this week it's the southwest's turn. However, the weather wasn't great, so I had to go out with an umbrella. Almost all the places visited today are popular Instagram check-in spots, so even though it was drizzling, I still saw quite a few young ladies visiting. Walking and stopping, it's time to head back. Casually spent a Saturday afternoon~ By Morgan on 2018.8.11
Location: Hong Kong. Travel note: Hong Kong Kennedy Town: Forbes Street Tree Wall, Sai Wan Swimming Shed, Western District Wholesale Food Market. Sai Ying Pun: MTR entrance reliefs. Central: Mid-Levels Escalator, Graham Street Mural, PMQ. Last week, I explored the southeast of Hong Kong; this week, it should be the southwest's turn. However, the weather wasn't great, so I had to go out with an umbrella. Almost all the places visited today are popular Instagram check-in spots, so even though it was drizzling, I still saw quite a few young ladies visiting. Walking and stopping, it's time to head back—casually passing a Saturday afternoon. By Morgan on 2018.8.11
Location: Shenzhen at night. Travel note: Came to have dinner and drinks with my university senior Yusheng (Masa) and his newlywed wife Jinzhen, along with some of his colleagues from the panel factory—Ray, Terror, and Sister A, plus Ruici who just graduated and started working at Foxconn. Senior cooked steak and salmon himself, paired with red wine, white wine, and finally mixed with whiskey—a slightly tipsy night. Cheers! By Morgan on the evening of 2018.8.26
Location: Hong Kong, Kowloon Walled City Park Travel Notes Summary: Today I explored the southeastern part of Hong Kong. Kowloon Walled City was once the most densely populated place in the world and a historically chaotic area in Hong Kong. Stephen Chow's movie 'Kung Fu Hustle' drew inspiration from here. After the Sino-British agreement, it was demolished and turned into the current memorial park. From Lok Fu MTR Station, it's about a 10–15 minute walk. After leaving, I headed to Tai Koo Station, where one of the filming locations for 'Transformers 4'—the 'Monster Building'—is located. Hong Kong's extreme population density is world-famous, with so many people living in such limited space. Next, I went toward Quarry Bay and hiked up the Braemar Hill Trail to Tai Tam Reservoir. Sweat poured from my arms and whole body as I panted up the steep slope, taking several breaks. Luckily, I made up time on the downhill and finished the entire hike within the standard three hours. After descending, I took bus No. 14 and the MTR back to Quarry Bay. Remembering my colleague Kehuai lives here, I dropped by his place and met his wife Nicole. The lovely couple taught me some Cantonese on the spot, and amid constant laughter, I wrapped up today's fulfilling trip. Time to head home~ By Morgan on Aug 4, 2018.
Location: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 22 - Kowloon Walled City Park, Monster Building, Tai Tam Reservoir Travel note summary: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 22 - Kowloon Walled City Park, Monster Building, Tai Tam Reservoir. Today I explored spots in the southeast of Hong Kong. Kowloon Walled City was once the place with the highest population density in the world and a very rough area in old Hong Kong. Stephen Chow's movie 'Kung Fu Hustle' used it as a reference for scenes. After the Sino-British agreement, it was demolished and turned into this memorial park. From Lok Fu MTR station, it's about a 10-15 minute walk. After leaving, I made my way to Tai Koo Station, where one of the filming locations for 'Transformers 4' is: the Monster Building. Hong Kong's cramped living conditions are indeed world-famous—so many people living in such limited space. Next stop, heading towards Quarry Bay. From here, you can take the Mount Parker Road Green Trail up the mountain to Tai Tam Reservoir. Sweat kept flowing from my arms and whole body as I walked. The uphill path really left me gasping for breath, stopping to rest several times. Luckily, I made up some time on the downhill section and finished the whole route within the standard three hours. After descending, I took bus No. 14 and transferred to the MTR back to Quarry Bay. I remembered my Hong Kong colleague Kehuai lives here, so I dropped by his place and also said hello to his wife Nicole. Thanks to the lovely couple, they taught me some Cantonese on the spot. Amid constant laughter, today's fulfilling itinerary ended. Time to head home~ By Morgan on 2018.8.4
Location: Shenzhen, International Garden & Flower Expo Park Travel Notes Summary: Yesterday, I went to Shenzhen with William and Elly to have coconut chicken hotpot, Chaoshan beef hotpot, and tried massage, gua sha, and cupping. Today, I stayed in Shenzhen alone and visited the Garden Expo Park in Zhuzilin. After exiting the subway, I unlocked an Ofo bike and rode for less than ten minutes to get there. Over the years, I've visited the exquisite gardens of Suzhou and the massive Garden Expo Park in Wuhan, similar to Shanghai Expo. Shenzhen's Garden Expo Park was also retained after the exhibition but has mostly transformed into a free park for public activities. I spent a few hours walking around the entire area—this week's exercise quota is definitely met~ Phew~
Location: Hong Kong Travel Notes Summary: Hong Kong Book Fair (Convention Centre) & Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Causette Restaurant. These days coincide with the Hong Kong Book Fair, so I came to browse in the afternoon. Outside the Convention Centre entrance, the crowds were overwhelming. Inside, floors 1, 3, and 5 are all exhibition halls. Yesterday, my legs ached from hiking; today, they hurt from walking around looking at people and books. In the evening, I had dinner with William and his Taiwanese friend Shella, who works at Barclays. We went to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Central and casually ordered truffle pasta with two scoops of ice cream, chatting the night away. After eating and saying goodbye, it's time to head home~ :p
Location: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 28 – Hong Kong Book Fair (Convention and Exhibition Centre) & Mandarin Oriental Hotel Causette Restaurant Travel note summary: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 28 – The Hong Kong Book Fair was happening these days, so I came to browse in the afternoon. Even outside the entrance of the Convention and Exhibition Centre, you could see huge crowds. Inside, floors 1, 3, and 5 were all exhibition halls. Yesterday my legs were sore from hiking, today they ache from walking around looking at people and books. In the evening, I had dinner with William and his Taiwanese friend Shella, who works at Barclays. We went to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Central. I casually ordered a truffle pasta and two scoops of ice cream, chatting away as we ate. The evening passed just like that. After eating, we said our goodbyes, and it was time to head home~ By Morgan @2018.7.22
Location: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 24 - Ma Wan Noah's Ark & Cheung Chau Island Travel note summary: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 24 - Ma Wan Noah's Ark & Cheung Chau Island. Noah's Ark is a theme park located right next to the Tsing Ma Bridge. I took bus 249X from Sha Tin and arrived at Tsing Yi Station after 40 minutes, then transferred to bus 330 and got off at Noah's Ark Station in Ma Wan. After buying tickets at the front desk, I entered. Inside the replica ark is a museum exhibition showcasing lots of scientific and animal knowledge, with some videos about the Earth or floods playing at set times. After leaving Noah's Ark, right next to it is Park Island Ferry Pier. After tapping my Octopus card, I could directly take a ferry to Central Pier. Returning to Central Pier No. 2, I saw it was still early, so I simply walked to Pier No. 5 and casually hopped on a ferry to Cheung Chau. Cheung Chau is more famous for being the hiding place of the 18th-century Guangdong coastal pirate king Cheung Po Tsai, with a mysterious cave. After getting off the pier, turn right; the round trip takes about an hour or so. To reach the cave, you finally need to walk a sweat-inducing mountain path, which also made up for this week's exercise quota. Cheung Chau feels different from Lamma Island, which I visited last time; the streets are more bustling and chaotic. But after walking a bit further, you can quietly sit on the seaside promenade, look at the distant mountains and sunset, listen to the sound of ship horns under the midsummer breeze, and your mind unconsciously becomes peaceful... By Morgan on the evening of 2018.7.21
Location: Hong Kong, Ma Wan Noah's Ark & Cheung Chau Island Travel Notes Summary: Noah's Ark is a theme park located next to the Tsing Ma Bridge. I took bus 249X from Sha Tin and arrived at Tsing Yi Station after 40 minutes, then transferred to bus 330 to the Noah's Ark stop in Ma Wan. After buying tickets at the front desk, I entered the simulated ship hull, which is a museum displaying scientific and animal knowledge, with videos about Earth or floods playing at set times. After leaving Noah's Ark, the Park Island Ferry Pier is right next door. Swiping my Octopus card, I took a ferry directly to Central Pier. Back at Central Pier No. 2, seeing it was still early, I walked to Pier No. 5 and impulsively hopped on a ferry to Cheung Chau. Cheung Chau is famous for being the hiding place of the 18th-century Guangdong pirate king Cheung Po Tsai, with a mysterious cave. After getting off the pier, I walked to the right—the round trip took over an hour. To reach the cave, I had to hike a sweat-inducing mountain trail, which also fulfilled this week's exercise quota. Cheung Chau feels different from Lamma Island, which I visited last time; the streets are livelier and more chaotic, but after walking a bit further, I could sit quietly on the seaside promenade, watching the distant mountains and sunset. With the midsummer breeze blowing and listening to the ship horns, my mind naturally grew calm... By Morgan on the evening of July 21, 2018.
Location: Macau Travel Notes Summary: Macau, The Venetian Hotel, Portofino Italian Restaurant. This was a truly spontaneous decision. I left the Hong Kong office after 4 PM and took the 5 PM luxury seat on the jetfoil from Sheung Wan Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal. Before 7 PM, I was already having dinner at The Venetian. We ended up drinking an Italian red wine and a French red wine. Feeling slightly tipsy and too lazy to move, I simply stayed overnight at The Venetian. Although I've been here a few times, this is my first time staying overnight, and I also took a look at the Parisian Hotel's Eiffel Tower next door~ By Morgan on the evening of July 18, 2018.
Location: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 11 - Sai Kung UNESCO Global Geopark Travel Notes Summary: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 11 - Sai Kung UNESCO Global Geopark. Over the past few weeks, I've been to many places in Hong Kong, from Yuen Long and Tuen Mun in the west to Ma On Shan and Sai Kung in the east, down to Tsim Sha Tsui and Stanley in the south, and up to Sha Tin and Shenzhen in the north. The Sai Kung Geopark is UNESCO-certified and spread out over a wide area. One route leads to the East Dam of the High Island Reservoir. You can buy a special bus ticket at the Volcano Discovery Centre next to the Sai Kung bus stop. The whole journey takes 30 minutes. After winding along a mountain road, we arrived. Getting off the bus and walking a short distance, the wind and rain suddenly picked up. Walking on the dam in the storm, my umbrella turned inside out and my hat almost blew away. Looking at the sea with its huge waves, I wondered if I'd be blown away too. I could only hurry to the nearest pavilion to take shelter. After waiting a while, the wind and rain gradually subsided. A bit later, the scene was completely different from before. The reservoir and sea caves under the white clouds and blue sky were bright and beautiful. Sitting on a rock next to volcanic rock, typing while waiting for my pants to dry, watching the ebb and flow before me, just like life itself. After the rain, the sky always clears. Even if the waves are ten feet high, they eventually calm down. Rested enough, time to get up and continue on my way. ~ By Morgan, afternoon of July 14, 2018.
Location: Hong Kong, Sai Kung, UNESCO Global Geopark Travel notes: I've been exploring many places in Hong Kong these past few weeks—from Yuen Long and Tuen Mun in the west, to Ma On Shan and Sai Kung in the east, down to Tsim Sha Tsui and Stanley, and up to Sha Tin and even into Shenzhen. The Sai Kung Geopark, certified by UNESCO, is spread out over a wide area. One route leads to the East Dam of High Island Reservoir. You can buy a special bus ticket at the Volcano Discovery Centre next to the Sai Kung bus terminal. The 30-minute ride takes you along winding mountain roads. After getting off and walking a short distance, the wind and rain suddenly picked up. Walking on the dam in the storm, my umbrella turned inside out and my hat almost blew away. Watching the huge waves churning in the sea, I wondered if I might be swept away too. I hurried to the nearest pavilion to take shelter. After waiting a while, the storm gradually eased. A bit later, the scene was completely different—the reservoir and sea caves under blue skies and white clouds were stunningly beautiful. Sitting on a rock beside volcanic stone, typing while waiting for my pants to dry, I watched the ebb and flow of the tide, much like life itself. After the rain, the sky always clears; even ten-foot waves eventually calm down. Rested enough, time to get up and keep moving forward. ~ By Morgan, afternoon of July 14, 2018
Location: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 1 - Stanley Travel note summary: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 1 - Stanley. After exiting Hong Kong Station Exit D, I took the 6X double-decker bus. After leaving the city center, we passed Deep Water Bay and Repulse Bay, and arrived in about 30 minutes. After wandering around with William, we returned to Olympic in the evening and had dinner with his two friends from the Hong Kong finance industry at Lik Kee Hot Pot, the place that stuffed us both last time. With four people sharing this time, we should be able to finish it all, right? @@ By Morgan @2018.7.8
Location: Hong Kong, Stanley Travel notes: From Exit D of Hong Kong Station, take the 6X double-decker bus. After leaving the city center, passing through Deep Water Bay and Repulse Bay, it takes about 30 minutes to get there. After wandering around with William, we returned to Olympic in the evening and had dinner with two of his friends from Hong Kong's finance industry. We went to Lik Kee Hot Pot, which stuffed us both last time. With four people sharing, we should be able to finish it this time, right? @@
Location: Shenzhen, Fairy Lake Botanical Garden Travel notes: From Huangbeiling Metro Station, transfer to a bus. It takes about 35 minutes to get there. Then walking a full loop takes another two hours!
Location: Shenzhen, Grand Hyatt Hotel 37F, Yuejing French Cuisine Travel notes: It's really been a long time since I last came here!
Location: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 26 - Ping Shan Heritage Trail in Yuen Long & Gold Coast in Tuen Mun Travel notes summary: This area of Ping Shan was settled during the Qing dynasty by a patriarch surnamed Tang who came from Jiangxi to cultivate the land and establish a family. So, the ancient buildings left by the Tang family are now blended with some newer structures. At the highest point on the hill, there's the Ping Shan Tang Clan Gallery, converted from the old Ping Shan Police Station, housing many artifacts collected by the Tang family, including those from a scholar the family once produced. Leaving Yuen Long and taking the West Rail Line to its final stop, Tuen Mun, which is relatively west in the New Territories, I transferred to the K51 bus to reach Gold Coast, one of Tuen Mun's famous attractions. There's also a BBQ area nearby for grilling. After walking around this afternoon, I've definitely gotten enough exercise for today! By Morgan @2018.7.1 Tsui Sing Lau Pagoda
Location: Hong Kong, Yuen Lung, Ping Shan Heritage Trail & Tuen Mun, Gold Coast Travel notes: During the Qing dynasty, the Ping Shan area was developed by a Deng family patriarch who came from Jiangxi, and the family flourished. So the cluster of ancient buildings left by the Deng family is now integrated with some newer structures. At the highest point on the hilltop, there's the Ping Shan Tang Clan Gallery, converted from the former Ping Shan Police Station. It houses many artifacts collected by the Deng family, including items from a scholar the family once produced. Leaving Yuen Long and taking the West Rail Line to its final stop, Tuen Mun, which is relatively west in the New Territories. Transferring to the K51 bus here takes you to Gold Coast, one of Tuen Mun's famous attractions. There's also a BBQ area nearby for grilling. After walking around like this in the afternoon, I've had enough exercise for today! :p
Location: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 5 - Hong Kong Space Museum Travel note summary: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 5 - Hong Kong Space Museum. Recently on weekends, whenever I have time, I go out to visit Hong Kong's museums. The Space Museum is the fifth one I've visited. I bought tickets for all the shows in one go: the Omnimax film, the 3D film, 'Life in the Universe', and the permanent exhibition. The spherical theater reminded me of the Space Theater I watched as a child at the National Museum of Natural Science in Taichung. Watching the Amazon rainforest adventure, the singularity of the Big Bang... I spent a fulfilling afternoon. When I walked out of the exhibition hall, I checked Facebook and was surprised to see my high school classmate Huifeng had just checked in in Central. I asked him his latest location, and he was very close to me—just a five-minute walk from the Space Museum. So I walked over to meet him at the Eslite Bookstore in Harbour City. The last time we met was over half a year ago in London, and that was also a completely coincidental encounter. This time, he came to Hong Kong last night to catch Cathay Pacific's new flight. So it's really true for us that planned meetings are never as good as chance encounters. We spent the following time at Starbucks, on the Star Ferry, and on the tram, chatting about our funny experiences staying overnight at airports around the world, about the algorithms he works on at AUO, about our old classmates from Taichung First Senior High School... Chattering about this and that, time flew by in a blink. Meeting an old friend in a foreign land is one of life's great pleasures. Hope to see you again next time! :) By Morgan on the evening of 2018.6.30
Location: Hong Kong Space Museum Travel note summary: I've been visiting Hong Kong's museums on weekends whenever I have time lately. The Space Museum is the fifth one I've explored. I bought tickets for the Omnimax film, 3D movie, 'Life in the Universe,' and the permanent exhibition all at once. The spherical theater reminded me of the planetarium shows I watched as a kid at the National Museum of Natural Science in Taichung. From exploring the Amazon rainforest to the singularity of the Big Bang... it was a fulfilling afternoon. After leaving, I checked Facebook and saw my high school classmate Huifeng had just checked in at Central. I asked where he was, and it turned out he was only five minutes away from the Space Museum. So I walked over to the Eslite Bookstore in Harbour City to meet him. The last time we met was over six months ago in London, also by chance. This time, he was in Hong Kong to catch Cathay Pacific's new flight, so we really do keep bumping into each other unexpectedly. We spent the rest of the time chatting over Starbucks, on the Star Ferry, and on the tram, sharing stories about overnight stays at airports worldwide, his work on algorithms at AUO, and catching up on old classmates from Taichung First Senior High School. Time flew by just like that. Meeting an old friend in a foreign land is one of life's joys. Hope to see you again next time! :) By Morgan, evening of June 30, 2018.
Location: Hong Kong Travel note summary: Two days later, I'm back. Had drinks during happy hour with Jack, who's currently teaching at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Buy four, get four free—I ended up drinking four glasses myself. The other three at the table were all PhDs, and the topics ranged from blockchain to medical AI and deep learning. I just chimed in randomly amidst their discussions.
Location: Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Tian Tian Bar Travel note summary: A busy day running around. Took a chartered car from Dongguan back to Shenzhen in the morning, then returned to Hong Kong from Shenzhen. In the afternoon, I visited the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Kowloon Park, and the Heritage Discovery Museum. In the evening, I met up with Dr. Lai, whom I hadn't seen in ages and who now teaches at Xi'an Jiaotong University. We had red wine and discussed MCMC models and risk monitoring. Cheers!
Location: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 29 – Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Kowloon Park, Heritage Discovery Museum & Sha Tin Tin Tin Bar Travel note summary: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 29 – A day of running around. In the morning, I took a chartered car back to Shenzhen from Dongguan, then returned to Hong Kong from Shenzhen. In the afternoon, I visited the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Kowloon Park, and the Heritage Discovery Museum. In the evening, I met up with Dr. Lai, whom I hadn't seen in a long time and who now teaches at Xi'an Jiaotong University, for red wine. We discussed MCMC models and Risk Monitoring. Cheers! By Morgan @2018.6.18
Location: Shenzhen, Mission Hills, wedding banquet Travel note summary: Attended my colleague Terran's wedding banquet. It was my first time attending an outdoor wedding next to a golf course. Before even two dishes were served, several rounds of Shanxi Fenjiu (from the bride's hometown in Shanxi) had already been finished!
Location: Shenzhen, Foreign Affairs bar & restaurant Travel note summary: Came here for the second time. Friday night, drinking and watching the World Cup~ The commentator even slipped in the phrase 'confirmed with a glance, it's the right person,' totally fitting with the recent popular lingo here :P
Location: Shenzhen Travel note summary: Sake & Dish House, Japanese cuisine. Revisiting a place I used to come to three times a week. Tried a new Australian and a Spanish red wine—both were quite nice.
After returning to Tai Wo Station by bus, I transferred one MTR stop to Fanling Station, where the Lung Yeuk Tau Heritage Trail begins. The trail passes several historic buildings. Having visited the Ping Shan Heritage Trail in Yuen Long before, Lung Yeuk Tau felt different—along the way were a renovated but abandoned church, the overgrown and eerie Stone Hall, and an old walled village still inhabited by residents. It stirred ripples in my heart, like the passage of time leaving its mottled traces...
Location: Shenzhen Travel note summary: Hong Kong East Rail Line => Shenzhen Luohu => Guomao (overnight) => Shenzhen Bay Park (Mangrove) => Sea World => Shenzhen Shekou Port => Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal => Kowloon Sky100 (International Commerce Centre, 490m). I really can't sit still—even crossing the border feels like a full-on adventure. Took a ferry, climbed a skyscraper, and went on this huge loop before finally heading home.
Location: Hong Kong, Sheung Wan, Bowl House Japanese Buffet Travel note summary: Hong Kong, Sheung Wan, Bowl House Japanese buffet. Tonight I attended a gathering of all Taiwanese people. It was hosted by Gordon, the new Taiwanese CEO of Rui Feng De Yong. Everyone there works in Hong Kong's finance sector—from Citi Global Markets, ICBC International, to Capital Securities Hong Kong... nearly 50 people in total. Thanks to big bro Gordon for picking up the tab! This was also a chance to catch up with old colleagues from Yuanta Securities, like William, Sam, and James. But with so many people today, we couldn't really chat properly, so a few of us planned to meet again for lunch on Saturday. Thinking back to when we first met, over seven years have passed already. It's really fate that we've all ended up gathering in Hong Kong. @@ By Morgan on the evening of June 7, 2018
Location: Hong Kong, Ma On Shan, Visiting a Friend Travel note summary: Hong Kong, Ma On Shan, visiting a friend. I hadn't seen Andy for over two years. He happened to be in Hong Kong this week, so he invited me over to his Hong Kong home to enjoy the sea view. When I first met Andy, he had just switched from Hong Kong's finance sector to Tencent, handling investments and partnerships for Tencent's gaming division and overseas companies. Time flies—over three years have passed in a blink. Tencent's stock price has soared, and Andy travels even more than I do, often going abroad for work. So it was a rare chance to catch up in Hong Kong today. We chatted about everything—a very fulfilling afternoon. Thanks to the lovely couple for hosting lunch. Let's meet again next time! ^^ By Morgan on June 2, 2018
Location: Hong Kong, Hyatt Regency Sha Tin Travel note summary: Hong Kong, Hyatt Regency Sha Tin, Tin Tin Bar. Friday night, Cheers~~
Location: Lamma Island & Ocean Park Night Show - Symbio, Hong Kong Travel notes: I've visited over a dozen islands around the world, big and small. Today, I explored Lamma Island, one of Hong Kong's famous outlying islands. From Central Pier No. 4, just tap your Octopus card and hop on the ferry—it takes about half an hour to arrive. Walking from Yung Shue Wan Pier to Sok Kwu Wan Pier took around an hour and a half, crossing hills and sweating buckets. That should cover today's exercise! On the way back, instead of Central, I headed to Aberdeen Pier on Hong Kong Island. A 30-minute walk from the pier led me straight to Ocean Park, where I caught the stunning water and fireworks show at the Waterfront. A magical end to the day. Life is fleeting—gotta live in the moment! :P By Morgan, evening of May 26, 2018.
Location: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 7 - Lamma Island & Ocean Park Night Show 'Symbio!' Travel note summary: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 7 - Lamma Island & Ocean Park Night Show 'Symbio!'. Counting up, I've visited over a dozen islands around the world, big and small. Today, I visited one of Hong Kong's famous outlying islands, Lamma Island. From Central Pier No. 4, just tap your Octopus card, beep, and you can board the ferry. The journey takes about half an hour, and we arrived quickly. Walking from Yung Shue Wan Pier to Sok Kwu Wan Pier on the other side took about an hour and a half, going over hills and small ridges, working up quite a sweat. Today's exercise quota should be sufficient. For the return trip, instead of going back to Central, I came to Aberdeen Pier on Hong Kong Island. Walking about half an hour from the disembarkation point, I happened to be right at Ocean Park. So I went in to see the spectacular water and fireworks show 'Symbio!' at the Waterfront Plaza's artificial lake, adding a magical finale to today's itinerary. Life is fleeting; we can only strive to live in the present. :P By Morgan on the evening of 2018.5.26
Location: Hong Kong Heritage Museum Travel notes: Continuing last week's outings, today I visited another museum in Hong Kong—mainly for the permanent Jin Yong Gallery. As a lifelong fan of wuxia novels, I had to make this pilgrimage. Inside, they display Mr. Jin Yong's manuscripts and serialized chapters from Ming Pao Evening News. I also checked out the Bruce Lee Gallery and some art collections. Stepping away from finance, tech, and software engineering—today, no AI, no big data, no blockchain books. Just a simple return to the human world. By Morgan, May 25, 2018.
Location: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 4 - Hong Kong Heritage Museum Travel note summary: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 4 - Hong Kong Heritage Museum. Continuing last week's outings, today I came to another museum in Hong Kong. I mainly came for the permanent Jin Yong Gallery here. As a lifelong fan of martial arts novels since childhood, I had to make a pilgrimage. Inside, they display Mr. Jin Yong's manuscripts and the novel chapters originally serialized in Ming Pao Evening News. Then I also checked out the Bruce Lee Gallery and some art collections. Stepping away from finance, stepping away from technology, stepping away from software engineering. Today, no books on A.I., no big data, no blockchain. Just simply returning to a human-centered world. ~ By Morgan on 2018.5.25
Location: Parkview Restaurant, Sha Tin, Hong Kong Travel notes: Parkview Restaurant in Sha Tin, Hong Kong.
Location: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 14 - Walking along the Waterfront Promenade to Tai Po Travel Notes Summary: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 14 - Walking along the Waterfront Promenade to Tai Po. Since moving away from Shenzhen and not playing badminton regularly, it's really been a long time since I exercised. So this evening, I suddenly felt the urge to move a bit. I turned off the Korean drama on my phone, put on my sneakers, and walked out the door. Since I live by the sea, I just followed the seaside cycling path next to my community all the way to the bustling area of Tai Po. I walked for over an hour like this, finally worked up a sweat, and also had dinner. It reminded me of memories from over a decade ago when I first worked in Hsinchu Science Park, occasionally walking around Jingxin Lake before eating. Time really passes unnoticed. In the blink of an eye, several cycles of cold and heat have passed, how many springs and autumns have flown by...... By Morgan @2018.5.20
Location: Pak Shek Kok Promenade, Hong Kong Travel notes: Since moving away from Shenzhen and not playing badminton regularly, I haven't exercised in ages. So this evening, on a whim, I decided to get moving. I turned off the K-drama on my phone, put on my sneakers, and headed out. Living by the sea, I just followed the coastal bike path next to my community all the way to the bustling Tai Po area. After walking for over an hour, I finally worked up a sweat and grabbed dinner. It reminded me of over a decade ago, when I first worked in Hsinchu Science Park—sometimes I'd walk around Jingxin Lake before eating. Time really flies unnoticed; in the blink of an eye, seasons have cycled, and years have passed...
Location: Hong Kong International Airport, Chek Lap Kok Travel notes: Plans are always changing. Cathay Pacific, like a bus service, came in handy. With my Marco Polo card, I made a last-minute change at the airport and got a seat back to Hong Kong. That wraps up my eighth flight this year.
Location: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 27 - Science Museum & History Museum (Hong Kong Science / History Museum) Travel notes summary: Went out for a weekend stroll to the museums in Hung Hom. The Science Museum reminded me of the National Museum of Natural Science in Taichung that I often visited as a child, with various scientific phenomena learned through interactive exhibits. The History Museum, on the other hand, let me deeply feel the long story of Hong Kong. A day full of gains! By Morgan @2018.5.6
Location: Hong Kong Science Museum & History Museum Travel note: Went out for a weekend stroll and visited the museums in Hung Hom. The Science Museum reminded me of the National Museum of Natural Science in Taichung that I often visited as a child—learning about various scientific phenomena through interactive exhibits. The History Museum, on the other hand, let me fully immerse in Hong Kong's long and storied past. A day full of discoveries!
Location: Hong Kong, Olympic, Likely Hot Pot Travel note: Came to have dinner with William in the evening. We foolishly didn't realize each dish was so generously portioned. When we settled the bill, we'd spent over 4,000 TWD on an incredibly lavish hot pot meal—really, really, really too full! After eating, we had to take a walk in the nearby Tongzhou Street Park. As we strolled and chatted about expectations for China's bond market, walking a full lap finally helped us digest a bit. Time to sleep well now @@ By Morgan, evening of May 5, 2018.
Location: Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Pearl Pavilion Restaurant Travel note: Still living a life of constant back-and-forth奔波—Cheers!
Location: Shenzhen Travel note: Sakana-ya Japanese Cuisine. Came to Shenzhen for business and took the chance to revisit a familiar old spot for a little nostalgia~
Location: Beijing, Wangshunge Restaurant, Fish with Pancake Soup Travel note: At the midday banquet in Beijing's Wangshunge, we enjoyed Lafite Rothschild red wine. In the evening, I had the honor of dining with a sister from Mulan Hui (an organization of China's 50 most influential female entrepreneurs). She shared her experience of combining her jewelry and jade business with blockchain, building a global jewelry trading platform and preparing for an ICO. It was truly enlightening and opened up a completely new direction and perspective—a very rewarding dinner! Cheers! :) By Morgan, evening of April 15, 2018.
Location: Beijing, Headquarters of the Asset Management Association of China Travel note: At the headquarters of the Asset Management Association of China in Beijing, Mr. Liang and our company were invited by Chairman Hong to conduct an internal training lecture for the association's staff this afternoon.
Location: Beijing, Millennium Hotel, Havana Bar Travel note: At the Havana Bar in Beijing's Millennium Hotel, it was a rather last-minute invitation, but my former colleague Xiao Bu and my friend Yan still kindly rushed over by taxi. After leaving Qunyi and managing funds worth billions, Xiao Bu is now the general manager of the wealth management department at Tianfeng Securities in Beijing and Hong Kong. It had been over five years since we last met—time really flies. We chatted a lot, and thanks to Xiao Bu for treating us in the end. Meeting an old friend in a foreign land & One night in Beijing~ Cheers! By Morgan, evening of April 13, 2018.
Location: Shenzhen, Happy Coast, Evening at the Pier Travel note: Shenzhen, Happy Coast, evening at the pier.
Location: Hong Kong, Lan Kwai Fong, Westwood Carvery Travel note: Hong Kong, Lan Kwai Fong, Westwood Carvery. It's been a while since I last visited Lan Kwai Fong. Cheers for new friend tonight!~ :)
Location: Hong Kong Science Park Food Lab Restaurant Travel note: Weekday dinner at Food Lab in Hong Kong Science Park. German pork knuckle paired with French red wine~
Location: de Joel Robuchon in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong Travel note: At de Joel Robuchon in Tsim Sha Tsui. Thank you to all my dear friends and old classmates for the birthday wishes—I've received and noted each one. Wishing everyone good health and safety! :) By Morgan, evening of March 21, 2018
Location: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 30 – Hong Kong BMW Cup Horse Racing (Sha Tin Racecourse) Travel note summary: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 30 – Hong Kong BMW Cup Horse Racing (Sha Tin Racecourse). Couldn't rub the betting tickets like Stephen Chow, so just placed a few small bets for fun. Thanks to the good luck from Brother William, I ended up winning on No. 10 to win—at 118-to-1 odds! By Morgan @2018.3.18
Location: Hong Kong BMW Cup Horse Racing Tournament Travel note: Hong Kong BMW Cup Horse Racing (Sha Tin Racecourse). Can't rub lottery tickets like Stephen Chow, so just placed a few small bets for fun. Thanks to Brother William's good luck, I won on No. 10 to win—at 118-to-1 odds!
Location: Hong Kong Travel note: Old colleague Brother William from Yuanta visited over the weekend for wine tasting. We finally 'chose the concubine'—this Argentine Alta Vista (2009). Enjoying the night view from my Hong Kong apartment while chatting about life. Just as Boss Brian once said, colleagues are temporary, but emotional bonds can last a lifetime. That's how fate between people works. Time always washes away many sorrows—everything will get better and better. Cheers!!!
Location: Hong Kong home – wine tasting gathering. Travel note: My old colleague William from Yuanta came over on the weekend for wine tasting. We finally 'chose the concubine' – this Argentine Alta Vista (2009). Enjoying the night view from my Hong Kong home while chatting about life. Just as our former boss Brian said, colleagues are temporary, but emotional connections can last a lifetime. That’s how fate between people works. Time always takes away many worries; everything will get better and better. Cheers!!! By Morgan @2018.3.17
Location: Uncategorized Travel note: A memory popped up on Facebook and made me reflect. Three years ago when trading Bitcoin, I never imagined this term would become so popular one day. Times are changing at such a rapid pace—our thinking and ideas have to keep refreshing dynamically. @@
Location: Leung Shan Pak Japanese Cuisine, Hung Hom, Hong Kong Travel note: Took the Guangzhou–Kowloon railway back to Hong Kong from Guangzhou. Another weekend shuttling between Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong. Only had dim sum earlier, so I was pretty hungry. Got off the train and immediately looked for a place to eat!
Location: Tian Bar, 99F Four Seasons Hotel, Guangzhou Travel note: The second tallest building in Guangzhou, with amazing views. The Pearl River nightscape is fully visible, and you can see Canton Tower too. Finished the red wine and switched to rum. The drink was called Captain Morgan—tonight, you're the one!
Location: Oreno Dining, Tianhe District, Guangdong Province Travel note: Oreno Dining in Tianhe District, Guangzhou.
Location: Jindaoyuan Chaoshan Claypot Porridge, Shenzhen Travel note: Jindaoyuan Chaoshan Claypot Porridge in Shenzhen. Shrimp and abalone combo—pretty tasty!
Location: Shenzhen – Hutaoli Music Restaurant. Travel note: The last weekend before Chinese New Year. Today’s Spanish red wine had a good price-performance ratio. Cheers! By Morgan @2018.2.10
Location: Shenzhen Hutaoli Music Restaurant Travel note: Shenzhen Hutaoli Music Restaurant. The last weekend before the Lunar New Year. Today's Spanish red wine offered good value for money. Cheers!
Location: Shenzhen, Central City, Gokujou Manzen Japanese Cuisine Travel note: Year-end party at Gokujou Manzen Japanese Cuisine in Shenzhen Central City. Wishing for everything to get better and better in 2018!!!
Location: Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Dan Ryan's Travel note: Pulled back from Shenzhen to Hong Kong again~
Location: Shenzhen, Grand Hyatt Hotel 37F, Yuejing French Cuisine Travel note: Haven't been here in a really long time. M9 Wagyu + French red wine + champagne + unlimited oyster supply. Great supper on Friday night~
Location: Beijing, Tang Palace Seafood Restaurant Travel note: A small gathering of three people. Two bottles of Australian red wine, dishes under ten thousand Taiwan dollars. Cheers!!!
Location: Beijing, Jinglun Hotel, Sihe Xuan Chinese Restaurant Travel note: Using the terminology from 'The Drops of God,' today was an attempt at a cross-border 'marriage' between Old Beijing Zhajiang Noodles and Italian red wine. It certainly has a unique flavor~
Location: Shenzhen, Shizhi Japanese Seafood Buffet Travel note: My university classmate Ah Hou happened to be returning from Hong Kong to Shenzhen today, so we met up at Shatian MTR station and came to Shenzhen together. Then we had dinner and drinks in the evening. Cheers!
Location: Hong Kong, Royal Park Hotel, Sakurata Japanese Cuisine Travel note: The Australian red wine we opened today seems to have a strong aftereffect—I got tipsy pretty quickly. @@
Location: Henan, Luoyang, Longmen Grottoes Travel note: At noon in Luoyang, I tried the Luoyang Water Banquet, one of China's great feasts (others include the Manchu-Han Imperial Feast, Confucius Family Banquet, etc.). With 24 dishes including cold appetizers, hot dishes, and soups, it was truly lavish. I shared a bottle of Dukang liquor with some young guys at the next table who were working on a Huawei project. In the afternoon, I visited Longmen Grottoes, one of China's four major grottoes and the third one I've been to. If I had to describe each in one word: Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes are mysterious, Datong Yungang Grottoes are majestic, and Longmen Grottoes are magnificent. Located by the Yi River with claims of 100,000 Buddha statues, the central grand Buddha personally overseen by Empress Wu Zetian is breathtaking. Back in Zhengzhou city, I met up with my university classmate Junming who happened to be here on business—truly 'meeting an old friend in a distant land.' We ate at a well-served Banu Tripe Hotpot, then went to the 38th floor of the JW Marriott Hotel in the CBD to enjoy the night view, drank a few colorful cocktails, and chatted about life. A rich evening in Zhengzhou, thanks to Brother Junming for hosting! — Morgan, evening of Jan 21, 2018
Location: Henan, Songshan, Shaolin Temple Travel note: After over seven years and five photos—Mount Tai (East), Mount Hua (West), Mount Heng (South), Mount Heng (North), and finally Mount Song (Central)—I've finally visited all Five Great Mountains in order: Shibapan, Changkong Plank Walk, Nantian Gate, Hanging Temple, Shaolin Temple. Fulfilling a childhood martial arts dream! — Morgan, Jan 21, 2018
Location: Beijing, Liufuxuan Restaurant Travel note: In the morning, I visited President Hong of the Asset Management Association of China in the Financial Street area. In the afternoon, I had a meeting at a company related to Zhongguancun. For dinner, I went to a restaurant specializing in Hunan and Cantonese cuisine. Later, I might have a drink at the hotel bar. Used to always busy days, this wraps up my Beijing trip.
Location: Beijing, Sanlitun, Lady Penguin Wine Restaurant Travel note summary: Lately, I haven't been in the mood for high-end, five-star hotel-level restaurants. Instead, I've been leaning towards wine-focused spots with some small bites to go along. Tonight, I'm at a very quiet place in Beijing, opening a 95-point Australian red wine. Slowly chatting, slowly sipping wine—a relaxed evening in Beijing~
Location: Beijing, Guomao, Millennium Hotel Travel note summary: Visiting again after a month. A cold, 5-degree Beijing—a bleak winter~
Location: Shenzhen Travel note summary: Shenzhen, Yueqian Izakaya. A shop with pretty good online reviews. At first, I asked if they had a private room, and they said no. But after we opened the second bottle of red wine and got the server laughing, they said they could arrange a private room for us :P. With a private room where we could chat properly, I later called my old colleague Sam from my Yuanta days to join us for drinks. Sam recently moved to an asset management company in Hong Kong with licenses 1, 4, and 9. Catching up on recent news, we made good use of this Sunday night~ Cheers! By Morgan, evening of Jan 14, 2018
Location: Shenzhen, Sheraton Hotel Travel note summary: Shenzhen Sheraton Hotel. Because it's almost Chinese New Year, the rooms are very empty. As an SPG member, I was immediately upgraded to a business room~
Location: Hong Kong, Wan Chai, Palco Restaurant Travel note summary: Hong Kong, Wan Chai, Palco Restaurant. Had a meeting with a state-owned securities firm in Wan Chai this morning, then casually had a simple lunch nearby~
Location: Shenzhen, Yotsuba Sushi Travel note: Yotsuba Sushi (Xiangmi Lake branch) in Shenzhen. Junming mentioned last time that this is a very high-end Japanese restaurant in Shenzhen, where per-person spending often easily exceeds 5,000 TWD. So, I chose this place with a great atmosphere to ring in the New Year. We opened two bottles of red wine, clinked glasses, and enjoyed dishes like dried pufferfish, grilled eel, and bluefin tuna... Farewell to the ups and downs of 2017, and here's to a smooth and successful 2018 for everyone! Cheers~~ By Morgan, on the evening of December 31, 2017.
Location: Hong Kong, University Station, Hyatt Hotel Travel note: TinTin Bar on the 4th floor of the Hyatt Hotel at University Station in Hong Kong. Spent the last working day of 2017 with old friends. Three people, three bottles of Australian red wine. Cheers & Happy New Year!
Location: Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Tasty Congee & Noodle Shop Travel note: Tasty Congee & Noodle Shop in Sha Tin, Hong Kong. Tonight, I had dinner with William, an old colleague from Yuanta who has been working in Hong Kong's finance industry for six years. We couldn't meet last week in Hong Kong, nor earlier this week in Taiwan, but thankfully, we finally managed to meet today. I chatted with William for a long time, listening to him share many difficulties in his life and family this year. Some parts resonated with my own past experiences, so I nodded in agreement. For the rest, only time can slowly heal. Near the end, I took out a hanging ornament I bought in Istanbul from my backpack and gave it to William, hoping that at this year-end and New Year transition, my old friend can turn his fortunes around and move forward smoothly! Also, thanks to William for treating me to this meal. See you next time~~ :)
Location: Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Cheng Dou Congee & Noodle Travel note: Tonight I had dinner with William, an old colleague from my Yuan Da days who's been working in Hong Kong's finance industry for six years. We couldn't meet last week in Hong Kong, nor early this week in Taiwan, but luckily we finally made it today. We talked for a long time, and he shared many of this year's life and family troubles. Some parts resonated with my past experiences, so I nodded in agreement; for the rest, only time can slowly heal. Near the end, I took out a hanging ornament I bought in Istanbul from my backpack and gave it to William, hoping that at this year-end and New Year transition, my old friend can turn his fortunes around and move forward smoothly! Also, thanks to William for treating me to this meal. See you next time! :) By Morgan @2017.12.28
Location: Hong Kong, Science Park, Tom Bar&Grill Travel note: Dinner at Tom Bar&Grill in Hong Kong's Science Park. Rib eye steak + 3 house red wines~
Location: Shenzhen, Bafangke Shantou Beef Hot Pot Travel Notes: Shenzhen, Bafangke Shantou Beef Hot Pot. Still living a life on the move—back at the hot pot restaurant in Shenzhen where I ate three days ago～
Location: Beijing, Chaoyang District, Longting Restaurant Club Travel Notes: Beijing, Chaoyang District, Longting Restaurant Club. Four people, drank two bottles of 50-degree Gujing Gongjiu. This is a limited-edition, out-of-print original brew—very fragrant and mellow. The key is that after drinking, there's basically no discomfort at all. It's truly an excellent strong-aroma baijiu. During the meal, I heard some anecdotes from tonight's host about his visit to Taiwan, where he was entertained by Wang Jinping, Yang Qiuxing, Terry Gou, and others. Plenty of drinks, full stomach, great fun! By Morgan, evening of Dec 18, 2017.
Location: Beijing Millennium Hotel Havana Bar Travel note: Time flies—it's been a year and a half since I last visited Havana Bar at the Beijing Millennium Hotel. Recently, I've made a round through China's four major cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. Ending up in Beijing's near-zero-degree winter, sipping amaretto, listening to music, and taking a brief pause in life—all to keep moving forward with renewed energy.
Location: Beijing Travel note: Beijing Capital International Airport, Du Xiao Yue Dan Zai Noodles. I never expected to find (Hong Ji) Du Xiao Yue here! I can't even remember how many years it's been since I last had Du Xiao Yue in Tainan... @@
Location: Shenzhen, Shi Wai British-style Izakaya Travel note: Shenzhen, Shi Wai British-style Izakaya (she why). The weather's getting cooler. Had beef hotpot for lunch, and in the evening, came here to warm up with some fine French and Spanish red wines. A great spot with a nice atmosphere, blending British vibes with Japanese cuisine, plus live music and singers. Good place!~~
Location: Hong Kong Travel note: Hong Kong Sha Tin, New Town Plaza. Dinner with rib eye steak and wine. Just a casual weekday meal~
Location: Shenzhen, Da Yu Teppanyaki Travel note: Shenzhen, Da Yu Teppanyaki. Tonight, I'm having dinner with a new '90s-born friend I met late last night, along with their friends. This place is all-you-can-eat, and red wine is also unlimited. It's about NT$1,000 per person. If I just eat, I'll definitely lose money, so I'll have to pour more wine to make up for it~
Location: Shenzhen, Grand Hyatt Hotel 36F, Chairman's Floor, Cantonese Cuisine Travel note: Cantonese cuisine at the Chairman's Floor on the 36th floor of the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Shenzhen. Thanks to Junming and Voto, the lovely couple, for making a special trip from Foxconn in Longhua to have a meal with me. Time flies—it's been over 15 years since we all graduated from university. It's rare to have the chance to share a meal and watch a movie together, making these moments precious memories. ^^ By Morgan on 2017.12.10
Location: Shenzhen, Grand Hyatt Hotel 38F Penthouse Bar Travel note: Met up with my old friend Zhiyang in the afternoon for tea at the Grand Hyatt. Sean has now moved to the asset management department at China Merchants. We caught up on each other's recent lives, and since we hadn't seen each other in a while, we talked freely and had such a great time that we continued the gathering at the rooftop bar. The connections between people are truly wonderful—from Shanghai to Shenzhen, from Taiwan to China. Cherish every moment spent with old friends. Cheers~ By Morgan on the evening of 2017.12.9
Location: Guangzhou, Fisherman's Village Travel note: A feast at Fisherman's Village. Five of us finished four bottles of red wine in no time, and for the second round, we opened four more. I often practice my drinking capacity so I can handle any occasion. Had a great conversation with a senior executive from one of China's four major banks.
Location: Hong Kong, Shatin Greyhound Afternoon Tea Travel note: Afternoon tea at Greyhound in Shatin, Hong Kong. Two bottles of American Canyon Road red wine plus Thai snacks—a little break from the busy schedule.
Location: Shenzhen, Damu/Bafangke Chaoshan Beef Hot Pot Travel note: Chaoshan beef hot pot is incredibly satisfying, so I had it for both meals today. Various cuts of beef, cooked for just 8 seconds, are tender and sweet. Add handmade meatballs, rich beef bone broth, vegetable platters... every meal leaves me fully content and stuffed. Thanks to Senior Peter for treating me to lunch! :)
Location: Shenzhen Travel note summary: It's been a while since I last visited the Japanese izakaya in Shenzhen. The new dish, black-haired Wagyu beef, was incredibly tender. After eating, I went for a full-body wax therapy + cupping session, which was a great way to relax.
Location: Hong Kong, Sham Shui Po, Dai Pai Dong Travel note summary: Back at the dai pai dong in Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong, just a week later. This time, I brought Senior Peter and Xiao Wu along for a hot pot meal.
Location: Sham Shui Po Market Dai Pai Dong, Hong Kong Travel note summary: My old university classmate Ah Hou, who's from Hong Kong, took me out for dinner to experience authentic local life. We met in Sham Shui Po, which feels like a mix of a Taiwanese night market and a flea market, with very old, traditional Hong Kong architecture. After wandering around, he brought me to this market dai pai dong for a lively meal with dark beer. Fully immersed in the local Hong Kong vibe, and thanks to Ah Hou for treating! — Morgan, evening of Nov 15, 2017
Location: Jizhi Taiwanese Charcoal Grill, Shenzhen Travel note summary: Ranked #1 in Shenzhen for barbecue on Dianping. I came to support them partly because the boss, Mr. Lin, is Taiwanese—they also have a shop near Linsen North Road. They treated me to a serving of M9-grade Wagyu short rib; the marbling was beautifully distributed and it truly melted in the mouth.
Location: Shenzhen Travel note summary: After dinner, instead of returning to the Sheraton, I suddenly felt like taking the metro and walking alone to the area near Jingyuan Hotel north of Xiangmi Lake. Back in 2007, when I was 27 and on my first business trip to Shenzhen, I stayed at Jingyuan Hotel. I was naive then, full of curiosity about this unfamiliar environment. I remember Jinli, who worked in Guangzhou, came to see me, and we got foot massages at the Qinghai Building next door—my very first time. Back then, just a few dozen RMB (over 200 NTD) could kill a whole evening, so I often came alone after work. Things like haircuts, taxis, and massages in China were all incredibly cheap at that time. After returning to Taiwan, time flew by as I shuttled between cities across the straits. Shenzhen has grown from just opening its first metro line to now having 11 extensive lines. Compared to Shanghai, I have a different, indescribable feeling and sentiment toward this city. Tonight, I suddenly wanted to revisit this old place from the beginning. A decade later, Jingyuan Hotel still stands, but the Hong Kong-style dim sum restaurant where I ate with Jinli in the Qinghai Building has long been transformed. Memories of chance encounters at that street corner flashed before my eyes. The huge foot massage hall that could hold nearly a hundred people is also gone, replaced by the now-common Hong Kong-style massage parlors. Finally, at the same spot, I casually chatted with a Qiang ethnic girl from Sichuan about my old memories—but actually, this is also a new memory, isn't it? Ten years feel like a dream in Shenzhen. Tonight, I seem to feel it particularly deeply. Looking back at the past decade, looking forward to the next. Time seems to pass so fast, yet also so slow. A decade can hold so many people and experiences, yet in the blink of an eye, it feels like an instant. Better not think too much. 'Wandering the world with wine in hand'—let's continue striving to live life freely and unrestrained. — Morgan, late night of Nov 11, 2017
Location: Shiyé Teppanyaki & Japanese Cuisine All-You-Can-Eat, Shenzhen Travel note summary: Haven't been here in a long time. For just over 300 RMB per person, including all-you-can-drink red wine, it's definitely a good deal!
Location: Shenzhen, Shangri-La Hotel 31F Western Restaurant Travel note: Good rib eye and wine at the Shangri-La Hotel's 31st-floor Western restaurant in Shenzhen. Perfect for a Friday night!
Location: 40th Flight of 2017 Travel Notes: Just arrived at Hong Kong airport. Also concluded my 40th flight this year. Over the past month, I've been traveling to major cities worldwide like Shanghai, London, New York, Kyiv, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong. Besides visiting landmarks, I also met many global tycoons. Achieving something truly requires a lot of effort, but if you don't keep moving forward, you'll just spin in place. So, just keep going is the only way~ By Morgan, morning of 2017.11.7
Just arrived at Hong Kong airport. 也結束了今年第40趟的飛行 過去一個月來 遊走在上海、倫敦、紐約、基輔、深圳、香港 等世界各大城市 除了走訪各地景點地標外…
Location: Shenzhen Travel note: Toriken Izakaya in Shenzhen. Came over from Hong Kong in the morning. Had dinner with my university friend Ah Hou. Tried three pieces of bluefin tuna chutoro that cost NT$1,400, along with some grilled, fried, and cold dishes. Also ordered a pot of apricot wine and a bottle of sake. Terran joined us a bit later for a chat. A rare, relaxing evening~ By Morgan, evening of Oct 28, 2017.
Location: Shanghai, Lan Ting (Shanghainese cuisine) Travel note: In Shanghai, at Lan Ting for Shanghainese cuisine. I met up with my friend Yujia's younger brother Jack from the national defense service, and Charles, a junior from Taichung First Senior High School, for dinner. We came to experience the rich, oily, and savory flavors of Shanghai cuisine again. All of us are from Taichung, and it had been a while since we last caught up. We chatted casually, making it a peaceful and joyful evening. Thanks to Jack for treating us! :) By Morgan, evening of Oct 24, 2017.
Location: Lan Ting, People's Square Station, Shanghai (Shanghainese cuisine) Travel note: Tonight, I met up with Jack, the younger brother of my friend Yujia from the alternative military service, and Charles, a junior from Taichung First Senior High School, for dinner. We came to Lan Ting near People's Square Station to experience the rich, oily, and soy sauce-heavy flavors of Shanghainese cuisine again. All of us are from Taichung and hadn't seen each other in a long time, so we chatted casually—a peaceful and joyful evening. Thanks to Jack for treating us～ :) By Morgan, evening of 2017.10.24
Location: Shanghai Travel note: The Bund, stealing a half-day of leisure. Sitting inside the Peace Hotel, sipping afternoon tea, watching the bustling crowds pass by outside the window, I also reflected on my life so far. I forget how many times I've been to the Bund, but each visit brings a different feeling. Before 30, after 30—time has made many things fade away. The world keeps changing; can I keep up with its pace?
Location: Shanghai, by the Huangpu River, InterContinental Shanghai Expo Travel note: Shanghai, by the Huangpu River, InterContinental Shanghai Expo. Among the eight cities I've lived in so far, Shanghai is the most unforgettable, especially the elegant charm of night Shanghai and the massive crowds from the Shanghai World Expo back then. This is my second time back here after nearly seven years away. From Pudong Airport, I took the maglev train at 300 km/h and reached the city outskirts in just ten minutes. In the evening, I enjoyed a peaceful night at the bar here. By Morgan, evening of Oct 23, 2017.
Location: Hong Kong Travel note: Hong Kong, Harbour City, On-Yasai hot pot. Dinner with Peter. The Japanese shochu wasn't enough, so I had to go home and open another bottle of Italian sparkling red wine to continue drinking!
Location: Hong Kong Travel note: Senior Peter came to Hong Kong to stay over for a night, so I grabbed a bottle of red wine from the fridge, and we drank together on the balcony, chatting away. A quiet weekend night~
Location: 2017 Residence in Hong Kong, having a drink Travel note: Senior Peter came to Hong Kong to stay with me for a night, so I grabbed a bottle of red wine from the fridge and we drank together on the balcony, chatting. A quiet weekend night～ By Morgan @2017.10.13
Location: Hong Kong – Amaroni's New York Italian Restaurant, Kowloon Tong Travel note summary: At Amaroni's New York Italian Restaurant in Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong. Jade came to Hong Kong for classes and met up with me for a meal. The last time we saw each other was during Chinese New Year at Wan You Quan earlier this year. Didn't expect it to be almost year-end again already. Just goes to show how quickly time flies when you're busy. The giant pizza we ordered truly lived up to its name—it was huge. Couldn't finish it, so had to take it home to deal with tomorrow @@
Location: Shenzhen Travel note summary: At a Japanese izakaya in Shenzhen. Senior Peter came to Shenzhen for a CCTV interview and took the chance to meet us for drinks~
Location: Dan Ryan's American Restaurant, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong Travel note summary: Came to City University of Hong Kong area to have a meal and chat with Professor Yan. Thanks for the treat, Professor!
Location: Hyatt Hotel, University Station, Hong Kong Travel note summary: Buffet at the Hyatt Hotel. Last night had Japanese cuisine in Sha Tin; tonight dined with Dr. Jack Lee, who teaches at CUHK. Jack is quite a character—he holds degrees from multiple universities including UC Berkeley, spanning math, statistics, medicine, electronics, financial engineering... Now he works in bioinformatics on image recognition. We hit it off, so we opened another bottle of Australian red wine. Very impressive genius~
Location: Italian Restaurant Rib Eye, Grand Hyatt Hotel, Shenzhen Travel note summary: With Hong Kong under Signal No. 10 (severe typhoon), we had to come to Shenzhen for a meal and to avoid the rain~
Location: Hong Kong Travel note summary: Qatar, Doha International Airport. Ended a two-week trip; will be back in Hong Kong in an hour. With fluctuating flights and plans, I ended up using 12 flight tickets and 3 European train tickets, entering or transiting through 9 countries, nearly 40 hours of flight time, over 20,000 kilometers traveled—setting a new record since June. The world is truly vast. The more I see and the more people I meet, the more I realize my own smallness. All I can do is try my best at what I can do, and keep integrating the inspirations from the journey into this brief life~ By Morgan on 2017.8.13 @ Qatar Airways flight
Location: Hong Kong, Wan Chai – Dimdimsum Dim Sum Specialty Store. Travel note: Dimdimsum Dim Sum Specialty Store in Wan Chai, Hong Kong. Last night, three of us opened two bottles of Glen whisky. After waking up this morning, we came to this famous spot next door for a meal. Rice noodle rolls, siu mai, shrimp dumplings, spring rolls... a few classic Hong Kong-style dim sum dishes, all pretty tasty :)
Location: Hong Kong, Causeway Bay – Guo Qiao Spicy Crab. Travel note: Guo Qiao Spicy Crab in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. Today, a few Taiwanese friends specially came to Hong Kong to see me, including Chairman Gong from the upstream building materials industry, Dr. Chen who runs a cosmetic clinic in Taipei, Xiao Yao who’s still at Kanghe, plus Wenliang who’s now at Capital Securities Hong Kong. We chatted while eating, and afterward wandered around nearby. One Night in Hong Kong~~
Location: Guangzhou – The Westin Hotel. Travel note: The Westin Hotel in Guangzhou. Life seems to be constantly on the move. Last week from Hong Kong to Xi’an, this week from Shenzhen to Guangzhou~
Location: Hong Kong International Airport. Travel note: Hong Kong International Airport. Ended my two-day weekend trip to Xi’an and returned to Hong Kong once again. Another fulfilling weekend spent rushing around on planes~
Location: Hong Kong International Airport Travel Notes: Ended my two-day weekend trip to Xi'an and returned to Hong Kong again. Another fulfilling weekend spent on planes~ By Morgan @2017.7.16
Location: Shaanxi, Xi'an, Zhen'ai Restaurant Travel Notes: It's been over six years since my last visit to Xi'an. I miss the Terracotta Army, Mount Hua, Huaqing Hot Springs, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Tang Paradise... How time flies~ Had dinner with Dr. Lai Xin from Xi'an Jiaotong University in the evening. Cheers~ By Morgan @2017.7.15
Location: Xi'an Travel note summary: It's been over six years since my last visit to Xi'an, Shaanxi. I miss the Terracotta Army, Mount Hua, Huaqing Hot Springs, Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, Tang Paradise... Time really flies!
Location: Hong Kong, Lei Garden Restaurant Travel note summary: Friday dinner at Lei Garden (Michelin one star)~ Lei Garden is also the birthplace of Mango Pomelo Sago. We had Gastrodia elata fish bone soup, flavorful ginger beef ribs, grouper, aged huadiao wine steamed coral crab, roast pork with char siu... plus two bottles of Bordeaux red wine. A very enjoyable meal! Cheers~~
Location: Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, August Moon Restaurant Travel note summary: Dinner with colleagues at August Moon Restaurant in Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong.
Location: Shenzhen, Peacock Bar, Shenzhen Bay Taikoo City Travel note summary: After having Japanese food at Jiucaiwu with Terran in the evening, we rushed to Nanshan to meet up with senior Jerry, who just returned from recruiting in Zhanjiang. We had a few drinks together~ Cheers! P.S. Thanks to senior Jerry for putting me up for the night~ :p
Location: Hong Kong, Shatin, Ana IZAKAYA Travel note summary: Senior Peter visited, and we had lunch together at Ana IZAKAYA in Shatin. He brought a NT$120,000 AR glasses for us to try. Putting them on was quite interesting~ A new perspective~
Location: Hong Kong Travel note: At Abu Dhabi International Airport, about to board the final flight back to Hong Kong. This was a dynamically adjusted itinerary—ended up visiting 6 countries in 12 days, using 8 flight tickets and 2 train tickets across Europe, Asia, and Africa, completing a full circle. It broke my previous long-distance travel mileage record in China. Just keep going in this short life! ~ By Morgan, evening of June 21, 2017.
Had teppanyaki at IKI in Sha Tin, Hong Kong today. Two friends coincidentally visited on the same day. Peter, a senior from Taiwan, came to our office early from Shenzhen and was supposed to just say hi before catching a flight. But before I arrived, he popped into the AR/VR company next door and somehow closed a deal—what a character! Then at noon, Cinderella from Chongqing came for lunch, so we met at Sha Tin MTR station. The fresh air and scenery of Chongqing seem to have done wonders for her skin! :P
Location: Hong Kong, Pak Shek Kok Waterfront Promenade Travel Notes: On my walk home after work, I happened to catch a glimpse of beautiful cloud formations! By Morgan @2017.6.5
On my way home from work, I took a stroll along the Sha Tin Promenade and happened to catch a glimpse of some beautiful clouds!
Had a meal at Tonkichi, a Japanese pork cutlet specialty restaurant in Sha Tin, Hong Kong. Living in Hong Kong is indeed expensive—just ordering a set meal easily costs over a thousand Taiwan dollars. @@
Location: Hong Kong Science Park, Tom Bar & Grill Travel note: T-bone steak, two large draft beers, and a glass of red wine while enjoying the sea view. Ended up with too much alcohol and no snacks to pair, so we ordered extra fried squid. Enjoy the Friday night~
Location: University Station, Hyatt Regency Sha Tin, Hong Kong Travel note: I was pretty hungry in the afternoon, so ended up having a buffet for dinner plus a bottle of red wine. Quite a satisfying meal~
Location: The Chinese University of Hong Kong Travel note: Cross-strait tri-university joint EMBA finance course (CUHK, NTU, Peking University). Just came to help out, but Taiwan is so small—out of over 50 classmates, I ran into an old colleague from Taiwan. By Morgan, May 31, 2017
Location: Hong Kong Travel note: Algorithmic trading course final presentations at HKU. Invited by Professor Jerome, I attended with colleague H.W. as observers—my second time at HKU. Over 60 master's students split into 6 groups, all presentations and Q&A in English. Heard various reports: IB API implementations of TWAP/VWAP, fuzzy neural network predictions, reinforcement learning, VaR, MDD for risk measurement, HSI futures strategies... One group even built a small backtesting/trading platform in C# with UML use case diagrams. After class, went to a bar near HKU with Professor Jerome and other invited guests for red wine, food, and chat—some work in big data/AI, some trade futures in HK. Thanks to Professor Jerome for treating us. Finally returned to Shenzhen via the 24-hour Huanggang Port. A hectic day, wrapped up around 1 a.m.—time flies! @@ By Morgan, late night May 26, 2017
Location: The University of Hong Kong - Algorithmic Trading Course Final Presentation (Algorithm trading & high frequency trading) Travel note summary: Invited by Professor Jerome, I came with my colleague H.W. to sit in on the final presentation for the algorithmic trading course at HKU. This was my second time at HKU. The master's class of over 60 students was divided into 6 groups, with all presentations and Q&A in English. I listened to various reports all evening: some used the IB API to implement TWAP, VWAP; there was Fuzzy neural network for prediction, Reinforcement learning, VaR, MDD for risk measurement, HSI futures trading strategies... One group even built a small trading platform in C# for backtesting and trading, complete with UML and full Use Case diagrams. After class, Professor Jerome, a few other invited guests, and I went to a bar near HKU for red wine, food, and conversation. Some were working in big data and A.I., others were traders in Hong Kong's futures industry. Thanks to Professor Jerome for treating us. Finally, I returned to Shenzhen via the 24-hour Huanggang Port. A hectic day, and by the time I wrapped things up, it was 1 a.m. again. Time really flies~ @@ By Morgan late at night on May 26, 2017.
Location: Shenzhen Grand Hyatt Hotel, 32F, The Kitchen Buffet Travel note: The Kitchen Buffet on the 32nd floor of Shenzhen Grand Hyatt. Looking out the window at KK100 and Diwang Tower...
Location: Hong Kong, Tsim Sha Tsui, Tin Heung Lau (Hangzhou Cuisine) Travel note: Tin Heung Lau in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, is a very famous old restaurant that has been open for nearly 70 years. Their signature crab roe shark fin soup—a small bowl that takes the roe from about six or seven hairy crabs to make—paired with a fragrant, sour dressing made from a blend of Zhenjiang and Shanghai vinegars, is absolutely exquisite. There's also Longjing tea shrimp, crispy fried frog, smoked yellow croaker, and tower vegetable with cured pork—each dish is a classic that makes you nod in satisfaction. Add to that over two catties of rich, aged yellow wine (over 20 years old) and premium pre-rain Longjing tea, averaging over HKD 2,000 per person (about TWD 10,000), it was a truly impressive and wonderful dinner! By Morgan, evening of May 22, 2017.
Location: Shenzhen, Shokuji Teppanyaki & Japanese Cuisine (All-you-can-eat) Travel note: This is my third visit to Shokuji Teppanyaki & Japanese Cuisine in Shenzhen this year, exactly one year since my first time. Ate to my heart's content, chatted happily, and time still flew by as fast as ever～
Location: Shanghai Travel note: Jiangsu TV's dating show 'If You Are the One' has been on air for seven full years. Today, they launched a brand new set of rules. Thinking back to when I first started working in Shanghai in 2010, this was the show I would definitely watch every weekend night. On and off, I've actually been following it for over six years now. From it, you can see various life stories and the different facets of men and women. The new rule lets the male guest choose female guests at the start, dividing them equally into a 'Heartbeat Zone' and an 'Observation Zone'. Only female guests in the Heartbeat Zone have the right to turn off their lights. However, after interaction, the male guest can still choose female guests from the Observation Zone to enter the 'Final Choice Zone'. The newly added 'Thermometer' mechanism allows each female guest to show her level of interest in the male guest, and also lets the male guest understand each female guest's attitude. During the process, the male guest can choose two female guests to enter the Final Choice Zone. If the female guests in the Final Choice Zone keep their lights on in the end, they can successfully pair up. Any show that's been on for seven years indeed needs to innovate and change. But even with changed rules, its essence remains the same. However, precisely because its essence is a 'rigid demand'—human nature—coupled with the powerful host and supporting special guests, it has managed to air continuously for seven years and still firmly occupies this Saturday prime-time slot on Jiangsu TV, unmovable as a mountain :P By Morgan, evening of May 13, 2017.
Location: Shenzhen, Sheraton Hotel, 2F Western Restaurant Travel note: The Angus beef tenderloin I ordered today at the Sheraton Hotel's 2F Western Restaurant in Shenzhen was pretty good, quite tender. Ricky, the F&B manager, is leaving the Sheraton and treated us to his Spanish wine collection～ Another night with two bottles of red wine. Cheers!
Location: Shenzhen, Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, 2nd floor Western restaurant. Travel note: The Angus beef tenderloin I ordered today was pretty good, quite tender. Ricky, the F&B manager, is leaving Sheraton and treated us to his Spanish wine collection~ Another night with two bottles of red. Cheers! By Morgan @2017.5.8
Location: Shenzhen, Sheraton Hotel, 1F Bar Travel note: After having Korean BBQ for lunch, came to the 1F bar of the Sheraton Hotel in Shenzhen to drink some Belgian beer. This week also marks the completion of my farewell tour of several famous hotels in Shenzhen～
Location: Shenzhen Travel note: At a Japanese izakaya called "酒菜屋" in Shenzhen. This is probably my last visit for a while, so I'm definitely going to indulge in their huge bowl of steamed egg—it's a must-try!
Location: Hong Kong, Sha Tin, New Town Plaza, Nha Trang Vietnamese Cuisine. Travel note: Thanks to Ruoyi for treating me to this lunch~ :) By Morgan @2017.5.6
Location: Hong Kong, Shatin, New Town Plaza, Vietnamese cuisine Travel note: Vietnamese food at New Town Plaza in Shatin, Hong Kong. Thanks to Ruoyi for treating me to this lunch! :) Having someone who speaks Cantonese by my side really makes getting around Hong Kong a breeze.
Location: Shenzhen, Grand Hyatt Hotel, 37th floor, Yuejing, French cuisine Travel note: French dinner at Yuejing on the 37th floor of the Grand Hyatt in Shenzhen. Dinner with colleagues—ate my fill, then headed back to the office to prepare for a transoceanic conference call.
Location: Shenzhen, KK100, 96th floor, afternoon tea Travel note: Afternoon tea on the 96th floor of KK100 in Shenzhen. Getting ready to move on—probably won't be back for a while, so taking a good last look at the skyscraper views here. Cheers~
Location: Shenzhen, Grand Hyatt Hotel, 1881 Chinese restaurant Travel note: Dinner at 1881 Chinese restaurant in the Grand Hyatt, Shenzhen. My university classmates Jiahong and Ahou came to pick up a full set of English storybooks for their daughter, and we all ate here together. The roast duck here is famously good—requires advance reservation, roasted in an oven for 75 minutes, leaving a lingering delicious taste. We ended up opening two nice Australian red wines. Thanks to Brother Jiahong for treating us! After getting home, half-drunk and half-awake, I turned on the computer and continued with a Skype conference call with Eastern Europe, which has a 5-hour time difference. Life is just about going with the flow and doing your best, isn't it? By Morgan, evening of May 3, 2017.
Location: Shenzhen, Grand Hyatt Hotel, 1881 Chinese restaurant, roast duck. Travel note: My university classmates Jiahong and Ahou came to pick up a full set of English storybooks for their daughter to read, then we all came here for dinner. The roast duck here is famously good and needs to be reserved in advance—roasted in the oven for 75 minutes, leaving a lingering delicious taste. We opened two nice Australian red wines. Thanks to Brother Jiahong for the treat. After getting home, half-drunk and half-awake, I turned on the computer and continued with a Skype conference call with Eastern Europe, which has a 5-hour time difference~ Life is just about following your whims and doing your best! By Morgan on the evening of 2017.5.3
Location: Shenzhen, Wanfu Yakiniku, April 2017 Travel Note: Wanfu Yakiniku in Shenzhen's Guomao area is one of the must-eat restaurants on Dianping's 2017 list. Came here for dinner with senior Peter. The ingredients and seasoning were really good, paired with refreshing, chilled plum wine to cut the richness and quench thirst. A wonderful dinner indeed—thanks for the treat, senior! :)
Location: Hunan, Changsha, Sibike Robot Restaurant Travel Note: Sibike Robot Restaurant in Changsha, Hunan (serving mala xiangguo).
Location: Wuhan Travel Note: The buffet at Hyatt Regency Wuhan Optics Valley offers good value for money—over 300 RMB per person with plenty of options. The five of us ended up opening four bottles of red wine. My Grand Hyatt Shenzhen VIP card even got a discount here unexpectedly. Great! After eating our fill, we moved on to karaoke and kept drinking~
Location: Shenzhen, Wohun Hancai Japanese Cuisine Travel Note: Wohun Hancai Japanese Cuisine in Shenzhen. Haven't been here in a while. Cheers~
Location: Xi Bei You Mian Village, Wangjing Shopping Center, Beijing Travel note: I originally planned to have dinner with Brother Cai, who used to work at Qualcomm, but he had a family emergency and couldn't make it. Instead, he sent three of his colleagues in a private car to pick me up from the airport and treat me to dinner. They even brought two nice bottles of French red wine. We chatted during the meal—their company is now collaborating with Beida Qingniao to offer courses. Even though it was my first time meeting his colleagues, we had a great conversation. They even gave me a box of Beijing pastries as a gift. So grateful! :) —Morgan, evening of March 29, 2017
Location: English Breakfast, Tai Po District, Hong Kong Travel note: Brunch~~ It tasted pretty good!
Location: Shenzhen, Longhua, Huamuxi Cafe Travel note summary: At Huamuxi Cafe in Longhua, Shenzhen. I haven't had time to reply to everyone's well-wishes one by one, but thank you all! Also, thanks to my university classmates who celebrated my birthday tonight: Jinli, Ahou, Jiahong, Junming, and dear Liang Zong and Senior Peter. It's been a long time since I had my own birthday cake! :p Wishing everyone health, safety, and smooth sailing!!! By Morgan on March 21, 2017.
Location: Shenzhen, Longhua, Huamuxi Cafe, Birthday Celebration Travel Note Summary: Celebrating my birthday at Huamuxi Cafe in Longhua, Shenzhen. I haven't had time to reply to everyone's wishes individually, but thank you all! Also, thanks to my university classmates who celebrated with me tonight: Jinli, Ahou, Jiahong, Junming, and dear Liang Zong and Peter. It's been a while since I had my own birthday cake! :p Wishing everyone health, safety, and smooth sailing!!! By Morgan on 2017.3.21
Location: Shenzhen Travel note summary: Shenzhen, Jiucaiwu, a Japanese izakaya. Haven't been here in a while. Had dinner with Terran tonight. The three of us opened two bottles of French red wine and once again ordered the huge bowl-sized chawanmushi.
Location: Shenzhen, Grand Hyatt Hotel 37F, Yuejing French Restaurant Travel note summary: Shenzhen, Grand Hyatt Hotel 37F, Yuejing French Restaurant. Haven't been here in a while. The menu has changed; it's no longer a main course plus buffet. Today we ordered à la carte: Australian M7 rib eye and a bottle of Chilean red wine. So full @@
Location: Shenzhen, Little Shell, Hubei Cuisine Restaurant Travel note summary: Shenzhen, Little Shell, Hubei Cuisine Restaurant. This evening, my military buddy from the national defense service, Yujia, suddenly called. He happened to be in Shenzhen for business at Tencent's headquarters in Nanshan and asked me to eat together. So after work, I took a taxi to Futian District. It's been about five years since I last saw Yujia—time flies. After successfully entering the Southeast Asian and Myanmar markets, he's recently been spending more time cultivating the Indian market, so he just returned from India. Also at the table were two new friends: Murphy, who works as a headhunter in the tech industry, recently focusing more on recruiting for Huawei's HiSilicon department; and Zhiheng, whose company headquarters is in Finland, mainly doing mobile phone firmware and software, with a team of nearly 100 people. He now lives in Finland permanently, occasionally coming to Shenzhen on business. As we chatted, it turned out Yujia knows the founder of MStar, Yang Weiyi (now CTO of Yangtze Memory Technologies under Tsinghua Unigroup). So Yujia helped introduce Murphy, who wants to get into YMTC's business, via WeChat. Every encounter between people is fate. These past few days, I've had the chance to gather with old friends one after another, which is truly one of life's great joys! Also, thanks to Brother Yujia for treating me to this meal :) By Morgan on the evening of March 6, 2017.
Location: Shenzhen, Golden Jaguar International Gourmet Buffet Travel note summary: Shenzhen, Golden Jaguar International Gourmet Buffet. My old graduate school classmate, Panda, whom I haven't seen in a long time, recently came to Longhua's Foxconn on a business trip from Tainan. Today he made time to come to downtown Shenzhen to have dinner with me, so I brought him here to eat. As we drank sake, we chatted about many past memories and current lives. Many years after graduation, having this chance to drink and talk happily in a foreign land is also a hard-won缘分 (fate). Cheers! By Morgan on the evening of March 5, 2017.
Location: Shenzhen, Da Hu Chongqing Old Hotpot Travel note summary: At Da Hu Chongqing Old Hotpot in Shenzhen. Senior Peter returned from a smart construction site in Zhuhai and invited me to dinner. We had an authentic Chongqing nine-grid spicy hotpot that made both of us tear up and sniffle, but it was so satisfying! Thanks to senior for treating me to this meal. :) By Morgan, evening of March 4, 2017
Location: Shenzhen, Sha Mi Niu Taiwanese Creative Cuisine Travel note summary: At Sha Mi Niu Taiwanese Creative Cuisine in Shenzhen. Got a sudden call from college classmate Ah Hou for dinner. After work, I took a taxi to this restaurant. I wanted to order crispy stinky tofu to satisfy my craving, but it turned out to be soft, boo hoo :~~ But the main point was catching up with an old friend and chatting. Thanks to Ah Hou for the treat! By Morgan, evening of March 2, 2017
Location: Shenzhen, Sheraton Hotel, Osmanthus Western Restaurant Travel note summary: At Osmanthus Western Restaurant in Shenzhen Sheraton Hotel. Wagyu rib eye medium rare + Australian red wine. Visited again after a day, but on a different floor and restaurant. Today, JJ came to Shenzhen from Beijing for business, so we all gathered to eat, drink, and chat. Cheers!~
Location: Shenzhen, Sheraton Hotel Buffet Travel note summary: At Sheraton Hotel Buffet in Shenzhen. Ruiyi and Ruiying came all the way from Taichung to visit Shenzhen. Since we're all from Taichung, I originally wanted to take them to Jin Qian Bao for dinner, but by chance, we ended up here instead. Fate brings people together from afar. Seven of us opened five bottles of red wine in the end. Cheers!~ By Morgan, evening of February 19, 2017
Location: Shenzhen, Four Points by Sheraton Hotel Buffet Travel Note Summary: Ruiyi and Ruiying came all the way from Taichung to visit me in Shenzhen. Since we're all from Taichung, I originally planned to take them to Jin Qian Bao for a meal, but by chance, we ended up dining here instead. Fate brings people together from afar! The seven of us ended up opening five bottles of red wine. Cheers!~ By Morgan on the evening of 2017.2.19
Location: Shenzhen, Little Black Bull Taiwanese Cuisine Travel note: Little Black Bull Taiwanese Cuisine in Shenzhen. Tonight, a gathering of Taiwanese friends working in finance in Hong Kong/Shenzhen. The group basically covered investment trusts, investment consulting, securities, futures, insurance, banking, etc. We had three tables with over 30 people. Afterward, the shareholder of Little Black Bull, who has five branches in Shenzhen and also acts as an AUO distributor, Brother Gao, opened a bottle of whisky. He thought we clicked, so he invited me to keep drinking. When the troops come, you just raise your shield—so cheers!!! By Morgan, evening of Feb 16, 2017! :)
Location: Shenzhen, BuildStone Teppanyaki Cuisine Travel note: BuildStone Teppanyaki Cuisine in Shenzhen. It's been a while since I last visited this place. The last time was for my birthday last year. Time flies—another year has almost passed already @@
Location: Shenzhen, Kingkey 100 Building, 96th Floor Travel note: Kingkey 100 Building, 96th Floor in Shenzhen. This afternoon, it seems like all PC VPN connections were blocked. My thoughts got stuck, so I had to come have some red wine to settle down and find inspiration～
Location: Shenzhen Travel note: Sakana-ya Izakaya in Shenzhen. Haven't been here in quite a while. The value for money is still great—a full table of dishes plus a bottle of red wine for less than 1,500 TWD per person, and there's plenty left to pack up for the weekend.
Location: Shenzhen, Guomao, Jiumaojiu Shanxi Handmade Knife-Cut Noodles Travel note: Jiumaojiu Shanxi Handmade Knife-Cut Noodles at Guomao in Shenzhen. Back to the life of ordering by scanning QR codes with WeChat on my phone and paying directly through WeChat～
Location: Shenzhen, Pengyun Western Restaurant Travel note: Pengyun Western Restaurant in Shenzhen. It was past 8 PM, and I was still busy at the office when my university classmate Ahou suddenly called. He said he had just finished talking with Jinli and then realized he hadn't seen me in a long time either. So he drove over from Longhua to chat with me. After he arrived, we found a spot nearby, ordered some food, and casually caught up. Time flew by—it had been half a year since we last met. Ahou is still working at Shenchao Optoelectronics under Foxconn. Meeting up with an old classmate before the new year felt like an early exchange of New Year's greetings. Heh~ By Morgan, evening of Jan 20, 2017
Location: Shenzhen, Pengyun Western Restaurant Travel Note Summary: I was still busy at the office after 8 PM when my university classmate Ahou suddenly called. He said he had just finished talking with Jinli on the phone and then realized he hadn't seen me in a long time either. So he drove over from Longhua to chat with me. After he arrived, we found a place nearby, sat down, ordered some food, and casually chatted. Time flies—it's been half a year since we last met. Ahou is still at Shenchao Optoelectronics under Foxconn. Meeting up with an old classmate before the new year is like wishing each other an early happy new year. Heh~ By Morgan on the evening of 2017.1.20
Location: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) - Cyber Security Lab Travel note summary: Came here for my 5th meeting in two days. Also took the opportunity to tour the Cyber Security Lab, which cost nearly 100 million NTD to build. This lab can monitor cyber attack situations in various regions globally and can launch numerous VMs for cyber attack/defense practice and competitions. It has previously been used by the Hong Kong police for cybersecurity training and classes. Quite refreshing~ By Morgan @2018.1.18
Location: Hong Kong, Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) Travel note: Hong Kong, Applied Science and Technology Research Institute. Here for my 5th meeting in two days. I also took the opportunity to visit the Cyber Security Lab, which cost nearly 100 million TWD to build. This lab can monitor cyber attack situations in various regions globally and can also spin up a large number of VMs for cyber attack/defense practice and competitions. It has previously been used by the Hong Kong police for cybersecurity training and classes—truly eye-opening!
Location: Hong Kong, University Station, Hyatt Regency Sha Tin Buffet Travel note: Hong Kong, University Station, Hyatt Regency Sha Tin Buffet. Dinner after the afternoon meeting. Returned to my home in Shenzhen after 9 PM and then looked at some code. Before I knew it, it was almost 1 AM—time really flies! @@
Location: Wuhan Travel note: Hubei - Wuhan, Loulan Xinjiang cuisine. Business trip. Morning temperature was only 4°C, a bit warmer by noon. Phew~
Location: Shenzhen, Grand Hyatt Hotel, Yiheyuan Italian Restaurant Travel note: Shenzhen, Grand Hyatt Hotel, Yiheyuan Italian Restaurant. Dinner with Peter, my senior from NCKU Aerospace, and Xiao Wu. The limited-time beef tenderloin was pretty good~ Cheers!~
Location: Shenzhen, KK100 99F, Alba Italian Restaurant Travel note: Shenzhen, KK100 99F, Alba Italian Restaurant. Dinner with Jerry, my senior from NCKU Computer Science, his lovely wife, and their super cute kid~~ ^^
Location: Shenzhen, Yang Mama, desert cuisine Travel note: Shenzhen, Yang Mama, desert cuisine. Dinner brought by Dr. Chen (Canadian), who is very famous in gene therapy. He comes here often, believing food therapy is more effective than medicine. We tried many rare dishes like desert abalone (lamb knee cartilage), camel hump, lamb treasure soup... plus a 32-degree lamb treasure wine with herbs. My whole body really warmed up unknowingly~
Location: Hong Kong, Admiralty, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office Travel note: My Taiwanese passport is about to expire, and I was worried about rushing back to Taiwan later, so I came to Hong Kong to renew it first. The passport renewal office is on the 40th floor of Lippo Centre, right outside Admiralty MTR station. Looking back over the past nine years, I've visited 9 countries, traveled across two-thirds of China, and made several trips to Hong Kong and Macau. The world is truly vast—I hope in the next decade, I can explore more unknown places! ~ By Morgan, 2016.12.28
Location: Nanning, Guangxi - Xing'an Horse Mackerel Hotpot Travel note: A Taiwanese friend, Xiao Yao, came to visit me in Nanning, the capital of Guangxi. He brought along Mr. Gong, who supplies upstream materials and processing for tiles in Taiwan and is currently the industry leader. Since Xiao Yao is familiar with Nanning, we arranged to meet there. Last night after work, I rushed to Shenzhen Airport and arrived at Nanning Airport in just over an hour—my 11th airport visit this year. I had a pleasant chat with Mr. Gong, whom I met for the first time; he now lives in Taichung and recently welcomed a newborn son. For lunch, we shared a hotpot with about 5 jin (2.5 kg) of sliced horse mackerel, totaling over ten plates. Over food and drinks, we spent a quiet afternoon in Nanning...
Location: Shenzhen Grand Hyatt Hotel, 1F - Yiheyuan Restaurant Travel note: It's been a while since I last came here. Today, I tried the pan-fried squid with Italian red wine—a pretty good dinner!
Location: Wuhan, Hubei Travel note: The China International Garden Expo in Wuhan, Hubei, was held last year. Like the Shanghai Expo Park, the site has been preserved and you can still buy tickets to visit. The area is quite large—I walked for several hours and still didn't see everything. Some of the landscape designs have clever creative ideas worth drawing inspiration from. The location is a bit remote, so after touring, I called a private car to take me to the high-speed rail station to catch a train back to Shenzhen.
Location: Chibi City, Hubei Travel note: Chibi, Hubei—the ancient battlefield of the Three Kingdoms. "The great river flows eastward, washing away all the heroes of bygone ages. West of the old fortress, they say, lies Red Cliff where young Zhou won his fame. Jagged rocks pierce the clouds, roaring waves rip the bank, churning up a thousand drifts of snow..."
Location: Shenzhen Travel note: Nanshan, Shenzhen - Shangshan Japanese Cuisine. Today, I had two appointments. The second one came about by chance—I accompanied a visit to a fairly large high-frequency trading fund. The office looked to be over 2,000 square meters, with an open space and bar that rivaled a restaurant. You could tell a lot of effort went into designing it. Among them, Dr. Zhou, a Harvard graduate, was very sharp. I learned a lot from his questions and conversations with others—a quite rewarding day.
Location: Shenzhen Travel note summary: After leaving the office around 9 PM from overtime, two friends working at the Taiwan Affairs Office happened to be in Shenzhen on a business trip. They just landed and asked me out for a late-night snack and a catch-up. I took them to a Japanese yakiniku place called Gen Shochu-jo near my office for a simple meal. After we parted ways, it was time to prepare for Double 11. But honestly, by the end of last year's shopping spree, I had no idea what else to buy. This year, I guess I'll mainly just get a new phone. @@
Location: Shenzhen, Ichininmae Izakaya, Japanese cuisine Travel note summary: Shenzhen, Ichininmae Izakaya, Japanese cuisine. It's the 12th consecutive day of having drinks with meals—whisky, white wine, red wine, beer, you name it. Today was really something: halfway through dinner, a Taiwanese acquaintance walked in. Shenzhen is just as small as Taiwan, huh? :p
Location: Shenzhen, Sakana-Ya Izakaya, Japanese izakaya Travel note summary: Shenzhen, Sakana-Ya Izakaya, Japanese izakaya. Dinner on Monday~
Location: Shenzhen, Sheraton Hotel, 23F Buffet Travel note summary: Shenzhen, Sheraton Hotel, 23F Buffet. Over this past week, I've almost toured all the five-star hotel restaurants in Shenzhen. @@
Location: Shenzhen, Kingkey 100, 99F, Olba Italian Restaurant Travel note: At Olba Italian Restaurant on the 99th floor of Kingkey 100 in Shenzhen, the Italian chef served us beef carpaccio and salmon slices again. The Handpicked Australian red wine we opened today (over 700 RMB) tasted great, though the aftertaste felt a bit strong. Still, it helped us relax and enjoy a wonderful Friday night dinner!
Location: Shenzhen, Grand Hyatt Hotel, 37F, Yuejing French Restaurant Travel note: Dinner with Mr. Liang and Cinderella at Yuejing French Restaurant on the 37th floor of the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Shenzhen.
Location: Shenzhen, Grand Hyatt Hotel, 1F, Yiheyuan Italian Restaurant Travel note: Life is like a dream—live in the moment! At Yiheyuan Italian Restaurant on the 1st floor of the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Shenzhen.
Location: Shenzhen, Central City, Gokujou Mannzen Japanese Buffet Travel note: Six bottles of red and white wine—great dinner! At Gokujou Mannzen Japanese buffet in Central City, Shenzhen.
Location: Shenzhen, Fresh House Japanese Cuisine Travel note: Ranked #4 in Shenzhen online, Fresh House Japanese Cuisine truly uses fresh ingredients and tastes great. We had horse mackerel, tuna, tamagoyaki, tempura, tofu, grilled saury, botan shrimp with sea urchin... then used shrimp heads for soup and fish heads for frying. Out of ten dishes, about 3–4 were truly impressive, making it a memorable Japanese meal. It's right behind the Movie Building where I lived in Shenzhen back in 2007—I haven't been to this area in ages, and seeing how things have changed brought back so many memories!
Location: Sheraton Hotel, Changsha, Hunan. The buffet here is quite a good deal—over 200 RMB per person, with a 10% discount for hotel guests. The sea urchin and oysters are freshly opened on the spot, super fresh!
Location: Hujing Restaurant, Wuhan, Hubei. Last weekend, three of us finished 12 bottles of Macallan. This week in Hubei, a new friend from Chengde brought a local baijiu from his hometown—Jiulongzui. First time mixing red wine, baijiu, and Rio cocktails together. After drinking, we went for karaoke!
Location: Hong Kong Travel note: At an open-air farm restaurant in Tangxia. Brian and Yongcheng, whom I haven't seen in a while, came over from Hong Kong to hang out, so I took the train last night to meet up with them. We had Hong Kong-style dim sum for lunch, and for dinner, we went to this unique open-air restaurant. Their signature dish is the 'sauna chicken'—it's like a steam pot where chicken, yam, and handmade meatballs are steamed together. All the juices drip down to form a rich broth at the bottom. The chicken is free-range, and the meatballs are handmade—everything tasted really good. It was a fantastic meal!
Location: Shenzhen Travel note: At Jiucaiwu, a Japanese izakaya. Senior Peter and Xiao Wu came to Shenzhen for the Maker Week these past few days. The four of us drank two bottles of red wine. The food at Jiucaiwu is still pretty good. After the meal, they showed me the Bim to AR technology—it can turn flat architectural drawings into 3D models displayed on a phone using a specific app, and you can rotate them from any angle. It truly brings the drawings to life, quite interesting and eye-catching!
Location: Shenzhen, Sheraton Hotel Travel note: Caught a cold. Came to get some Taiwanese cold medicine from Manager Liang, and顺便 had some red wine to disinfect~
Location: Shenzhen, Harbin Institute of Technology Graduate School, Xinyuxuan, Northeastern Cuisine Travel note: Came to have a meal with Senior Jerry~
Location: Shenzhen, Wa Kon Kan Sai, Japanese Cuisine Travel note: The menu has been updated~ Tonight trying their organic vegetable hotpot flown in from Shanghai + Chilean red wine~
Location: Chongqing, Wan'er Bei Brother (Wanzhou Bei Erge), Sichuan-Chongqing Jianghu Cuisine Travel Notes: My colleague Cinderella, a Chongqing local, and her father treated me to an authentic local restaurant for lunch. We were joined by one of their friends and his family of three, making it five adults and one child in total. Jianghu cuisine is somewhat similar to Shanghai's Benbang cuisine. We had spicy taro chicken and steamed lamb with rice flour, both of which tasted quite good. After the meal, Cinderella's father drove us to Jiangbei Airport to catch our flight. Thanks for the hospitality! I truly felt the warmth of Chongqing people. :) By Morgan on Oct 9, 2016
重慶 武隆-芙蓉洞 市區：解放碑、重慶小麵、夜景、十八梯 芙蓉洞是一個鐘乳石洞(溶洞) 需坐索道過去 可俯瞰芙蓉江 雖然裡頭沒有桂林的石洞那麼多和廣 但有些造型也堪稱奪人目光 回到重慶市區後…
Location: Chongqing - Wulong Furong Cave + City Center: Liberation Monument, Chongqing Noodles, Night View, Eighteen Steps. Furong Cave is a stalactite cave (karst cave) that requires a cable car ride to reach, offering a view overlooking the Furong River. Although it's not as vast or numerous as the caves in Guilin, some formations are quite eye-catching. Back in Chongqing city center, I said goodbye to a couple from Beijing who were Indian exchange students. On this trip to Wulong, they happened to sit next to me again, so I helped translate for them throughout the journey. After getting off, I walked from the distinctive Hongya Cave all the way to the hotel to check in. Later, I strolled around the bustling Liberation Monument pedestrian street and had some Chongqing noodles—I like the thin noodles. At this restaurant, as soon as you sit down, the staff asks you to scan the WeChat QR code on the table to order and pay directly on your phone, then they deliver the food—very convenient. After eating, I took Metro Line 2. Chongqing is a mountain city, so sometimes the subway entrance is underground, but once the train starts running, it emerges into the air, becoming elevated, and even passes through buildings—very unique. Metro Line 2 offers a partial night view of Chongqing. The city uses lots of lights and neon to decorate itself, making the night view a major highlight and characteristic of Chongqing. Even on this rainy night, it was still beautiful. Finally, I walked along Eighteen Steps Road, which also showcases the features of a mountain city—a long road like a staircase running through uphill and downhill areas. However, there were no lights at night, so I couldn't take any photos. I walked around in the rain all evening and returned to the hotel—time for a good shower and rest! @@ By Morgan, evening of 2016.10.8
Location: Chongqing, Wulong Travel Notes: Wulong's Three Natural Bridges, Longshuixia Fissure, and Impression Wulong. The Three Natural Bridges were one of the filming locations for 'Curse of the Golden Flower' and 'Transformers 4'. The scene where assassins slide down cliffs on ropes is still vivid in my memory. Visiting in person was truly震撼ing.加上 Longshuixia Fissure, the bizarre terrain here can only be described as 'supernatural craftsmanship'—shaped by tectonic movements hundreds of millions of years ago. In the evening, I watched 'Impression Wulong', directed by Zhang Yimou and Wang Chaoge. This is the fourth 'Impression' series I've seen, after Impression West Lake, Impression Liu Sanjie, and Impression Wuyishan. These large-scale song-and-dance performances against natural landscapes always leave different impressions. Impression Wulong focuses on the theme of Sichuan boat trackers' work songs (a folk singing form where a lead singer chants and trackers chorus to coordinate movements). It seems to rain quite frequently here—we were given disposable raincoats upon entry, and it did drizzle later. Watching the performance in the rain was a unique experience. With the advent of motorized boats and the completion of the Three Gorges Dam, trackers have become history and are now listed as intangible cultural heritage. This performance commemorates that tradition. Another fulfilling day has ended... By Morgan on the evening of Oct 7, 2016
Location: Hunan, Hubei (Quick Notes) Travel Notes: Changsha, Hunan - Jiandunmeng (Sword & Shield Alliance) Small Bar. While strolling the streets of Changsha with Manager Liang, we偶然ly found a small shop with quite distinctive decor and went in. It mainly sells various types of glutinous rice wine and offers a variety of small dishes full of Hunan flavor. 'Hunan flavor' means even mildly spicy dishes will still make you stick out your tongue. A very interesting little shop, and we simply settled dinner there~ By Morgan on the evening of Oct 21, 2016
Location: Chengdu Travel Notes: Sichuan - Dujiangyan, Panda Base, Qingcheng Mountain. 1. Dujiangyan was planned and built over 31 years by Li Bing, the governor of Qin during the Warring States period. It mainly diverts water from the Min River into inner and outer canals. The inner canal water is directed to Chengdu for irrigation via分支 channels, while the outer canal water flows to Leshan to merge with the Yangtze River. Utilizing many scientific principles, it's a miracle of world hydraulic engineering. There's also a 128-meter-long outdoor escalator here, which reminded me of the one on Hong Kong's Mid-Levels~ 2. 70-80% of the world's pandas come from Sichuan, so they truly deserve their 'national treasure' status. Their black-and-white bodies move slowly, looking really adorable~ 3. [Worship water at Dujiangyan, seek the Dao at Qingcheng Mountain.] My first knowledge of this place came from 'The Smiling, Proud Wanderer'. Although the Qingcheng Sect is often a supporting role in several of Jin Yong's novels, Qingcheng Mountain is actually one of the four famous Taoist mountains. Zhang Daqian also lived here for three years,专心 painting due to its serene environment. Visiting this afternoon, the oxygen content in the air was unusually high, making me take a few extra deep breaths. After the rain, the mountain was shrouded in mist, adding an ethereal aura. 'One begets two, two begets three, three begets all things...' By Morgan on Oct 6, 2016
Location: Shenzhen, Ximen Ge (Brother Ximen), Hong Kong-style Claypot Rice Travel Notes: Today, Peter, my senior from Cheng Kung University's Aerospace department, came to see me. We had a simple dinner together in the evening. Senior just had interviews with several cross-strait media yesterday for the smart construction site he recently helped China Construction with in Zhuhai, and the Shenzhen-Taiwan Intelligent Building Innovation Center he's promoting with the Taiwan Affairs Office. We hadn't seen each other for months, so we caught up on recent happenings, and I also listened to senior share some useful insights~ :) By Morgan on the evening of Sep 27, 2016
Location: Shenzhen, Grand Hyatt Hotel 37F Belle Vue French Restaurant Travel note summary: At Belle Vue French Restaurant on the 37th floor of the Shenzhen Grand Hyatt. The French red wine we opened today seemed to have a lower alcohol content. The three of us finished two bottles and still didn't feel much of a buzz~
Location: Shenzhen, Four Points by Sheraton Hotel Travel note summary: Shenzhen Four Points by Sheraton Hotel. Taking a weekday break & discussing things~
Location: Shenzhen, Kingkey 100, 96F Xian Yi Lounge Travel note summary: Shenzhen Kingkey 100, 96F Xian Yi Lounge. Went to Huaqiangbei in the morning to repair my laptop. The motherboard, which I've used for over six years, broke. Looks like I need to survey for a new computer. i7-6700 CPU, 16~32GB DDR4 RAM, 256GB SSD+1TB HDD, 15" Screen. Currently considering candidates like Dell's Alienware 15 and Lenovo's P50. The original price is over 70,000 NTD, but some channels have special offers for around 50,000. Still need to think about which one to choose. In the evening, had a few drinks with Manager Liang and Cindy at the lounge upstairs in our company building. Afterwards, went to a nearby Japanese restaurant for some food. Time flies, and just like that, the day is gone @@
Location: Shenzhen, Ichininmae Japanese Cuisine + Spanish Red Wine Travel note summary: Shenzhen Ichininmae Japanese Cuisine + Spanish Red Wine. Dinner with Manager Liang~
Location: Guangxi, Guilin, Jiangdong Renjia Travel notes: In the evening, two local friends from Nanning treated us to a meal at this restaurant. The location was a bit hard to find—we had to go through a very small alley, sometimes even getting out of the car to check if we could pass. But after the twists and turns, it was an eye-opener. Right next to it was the river view of Chuanshan Park, and the fish were freshly caught and cooked to order, very fresh. We ate local specialties like beer fish and braised duck, chatted about international affairs, then returned to the coffee shop from noon to drink tea and enjoy the night view. A very rich and fulfilling evening in Guilin~ By Morgan, evening of September 10, 2016.
Location: Guangxi, Guilin, Vienna Hotel Xiangshan Branch 6F, Memory Cafe Travel notes: A Taiwanese friend, Matsumura, came to Shenzhen to find me, then came to Guilin to meet friends he knew from his time working at the Presidential Office. Brother Matsumura invited me along to meet new friends, so this morning I took the high-speed rail and revisited Guilin. This cafe is quite nice, offering a view of the Sun and Moon Pagodas outside. Chatting and enjoying the scenery on a rainy day has its own special charm~ By Morgan, September 10, 2016.
Location: Shenzhen, Shixia, Shiyie Japanese Cuisine Travel note: Dinner at Shiyie Japanese Cuisine in Shixia, Shenzhen. All-you-can-eat for 368 RMB per person. Boss Liang brought his own bottle of red wine, and they didn't charge a corkage fee. It's been a while since I last came here~
Location: Shenzhen, Huangting Plaza, Grandma's Home (Hangzhou Cuisine) Travel note: Today at noon, I originally planned to meet my junior Boyan from the NCKU IM Class of 102 for lunch at Grandma's Home in Huangting Plaza, Shenzhen. But he said there was another gathering organized by our junior Ziqiao from the BA Class of 102, so I joined them instead. There were eleven people at the table, all 10–12 years younger than me—some are even still in graduate school at Peking University! @@ They came from business, engineering, electronics, and mechanical backgrounds, basically covering graduates from five universities: NTU, NCCU, NTHU, NCTU, and NCKU. Many juniors are working or interning at Tencent or serving in multinational companies. The world changes fast, and so does time. Seeing these outstanding Taiwanese juniors starting their career journeys suddenly reminded me of myself ten years ago. What will I become in the next ten years? By Morgan,有感于 2016.9.4 afternoon.
Location: Shenzhen, Kubilong KTV Travel note: After having Cantonese cuisine with colleagues on Friday night, someone suggested singing, so we went to a KTV near the company. With Taiwanese, Hong Kong, and mainland colleagues, we sang Mandarin, Cantonese, Taiwanese songs, plus occasional English songs—a mix of everything. We sang from around 9 p.m. until past 2 a.m. Though a bit tired, we really had our fill of fun. Time to go home and sleep~ @@
Location: Shenzhen, Wohun Hancai Japanese Cuisine Travel note: Still French red wine, but today paired with Japanese cuisine. Dinner with Boss Liang~
Location: Shenzhen, Sheraton Hotel Travel note: Angus beef + French red wine. A midweek break~
Location: Shenzhen, Guan Shanyue Art Museum, Guanshe Restaurant Travel note: Had lunch with Jerry, a senior who graduated from the NCKU CS PhD program. He now teaches at the Harbin Institute of Technology - Shenzhen Research Institute. He shared many stories about his school and the joys and challenges of raising his three-month-old baby. A very relaxing weekend lunch! After saying goodbye, I headed back to the office to work overtime :p
Location: Shenzhen, Central Book City, Ziyuan Teahouse Travel note: Evening gathering for NCKU alumni in South China. The oldest graduated in 1976, the youngest in 2013, spanning majors like mechanical engineering, business administration, industrial management, chemical engineering, environmental engineering, electrical engineering, urban planning, and microbiology. Alumni included factory owners, a TCM doctor, a Walmart buyer, those from panel maker Shenchao, firmware engineers, open hardware enthusiasts, textile factory workers, and trademark printers... all walks of life! Listening to alumni from different fields broadened my horizons. Thanks to senior Shi Quan for treating us! By Morgan, evening of Aug 24, 2016.
Location: Shenzhen, Grand Hyatt Hotel 1F, Yiheyuan Travel note: Time flies, it's Friday night again~
Location: Shenzhen Travel note: Sakaeya Japanese Restaurant. Such a huge bowl of chawanmushi! @@
Location: Shenzhen, Sheraton Hotel, Wagyu Ribeye Travel note: After 22 hours of continuous overtime from Friday night through the weekend, taking a slight break tonight. Four people, two bottles of Australian red wine~ Cheers~
Location: Shenzhen, Sun Gang Middle School Badminton Hall Travel note: I hadn't touched a racket for months, and then I played for two hours straight—10 doubles and singles matches without a break. I'm completely exhausted, Orz.
Location: Shenzhen, Excellence Century Center 33F, Mingmen Private Club Travel note: A Saturday night dinner. The restaurant is inside a high-end office building next to the Convention Center, so you need to register on the first floor before going up. The club has European-style decor and is on the 33rd floor, so the atmosphere and view are both great. The chef once cooked for Britain's Prince Charles. The evening set menu plus service charge is around NT$3,000 per person, with French wine extra. The total for two came to about NT$10,000. Dining and drinking in a window-side private room with elegant classical music made for a relaxing weekend evening~ By Morgan, evening of August 6, 2016.
Location: Shenzhen, Wa Kon Kan Cai Japanese Cuisine Travel note: Dinner with General Manager Liang~~
Location: Shenzhen, Wang Steak (Shennan Store) Travel note: I hadn't tried this restaurant in Taiwan, but ended up having it in China. However, the prices seem quite a bit higher than in Taiwan~
Location: Hong Kong, Science Park Travel note: The weather was great today. Pokémon Go also launched in Hong Kong today, so I saw a lot of people walking around with their heads down looking at their phones. The big golden egg at the Convention Center is a battle gym~
Location: Shenzhen Travel note: Met up with my junior from the university club CCNS, Rueihong, at a Japanese izakaya called Jiucaiwu in Shenzhen. It's been about eight or nine years since we last met—back then he was still serving his national defense service at the Institute for Information Industry. Long, long, long time no see! :)
Location: Shenzhen, Wa Kon Kan Cai Japanese Cuisine Travel note: At Wa Kon Kan Cai Japanese restaurant in Shenzhen, the sashimi cut by the Japanese owner was delicious. But we ended up opening two bottles of the most expensive Italian red wine in the shop—that was a bit much!
Location: Shenzhen, Korean Saeura Meat Travel note: After working overtime, went food hunting inside a department store at Korean Saeura Meat in Shenzhen.
Location: Seoulite Korean BBQ (Heenuri), K.K. Mall, Shenzhen. After working overtime, went looking for food inside the mall.
Location: Shenzhen, Guan Shanyue Art Museum 2F - Guan She Art Visual Restaurant Travel Note Summary: A very fresh dining environment, and the food isn't too expensive either. Listening to famous, melodious piano tunes while eating and chatting made for a very comfortable afternoon. After the meal and parting ways, I wandered alone to the OCT-LOFT Creative Culture Park. At the creative market here, I searched for some inspiration~ By Morgan @2016.7.17
Location: Shenzhen, 2F of Guan Shanyue Art Museum Travel note: At Guanshe Art Visual Restaurant on the 2nd floor of Guan Shanyue Art Museum in Shenzhen—a very fresh dining environment, and the food isn't too expensive either. Enjoyed a comfortable afternoon chatting over a meal while listening to famous piano melodies. After eating and parting ways, I wandered alone to OCT-LOFT Creative Park, seeking some inspiration at the creative market there.
Location: Shenzhen, St. Regis Hotel 95F Buffet Travel note: Weekend dinner at the buffet on the 95th floor of the St. Regis Hotel in Shenzhen~
Location: Hong Kong, Royal Park Hotel Bar + City University Chinese Restaurant Travel note: It's Friday night again! Started with some red wine at the Royal Park in Sha Tin, then headed to Hong Kong City University in Kowloon Tong for some delicious braised pork knuckle. Cheers!
Location: Shenzhen, KKMall, Gen Shōjō (Yuan Shaojiuchang) Travel note: Sunday dinner at this new restaurant opened by Taiwanese owners in KKMall. Average spend around 800+ TWD per person. Tried the beef belly grilled with sea urchin paste—quite a unique flavor! This week, I had dim sum, American steak, Korean food, Cantonese cuisine, Italian, Chinese hot pot, and Japanese food, ending with yakiniku. Just in terms of eating, it was a diverse and fulfilling week! @@ By Morgan, evening of July 10, 2016
Location: Shenzhen, Central Walk, Gokujō Bankai (Jishang Wanhui) Japanese All-You-Can-Eat Travel note: Got a sudden call from Manager Liang for dinner. He invited Professor Yan from Hong Kong University and a friend. Apologized to Weilun and his colleagues in advance, and thanks to Weilun for covering my bill. Rushed from Xiangmihu to Central Walk. Told Manager Liang I was already full, just coming to chat, but didn't realize Gokujō Bankai was all-you-can-eat. To not waste the 1600 TWD per person fee and three bottles of Chilean red wine LOS VASCOS (about 6000 TWD total), I tried to eat and drink as much as possible. Ended up eating and drinking non-stop from noon past 10 PM—a true food and drink marathon! From Michelin three-star to frog hot pot to Japanese all-you-can-eat, my stomach experienced a fusion of elements. Coincidentally, I had just visited Hong Kong University with Junhong in the afternoon, then dined with a HKU professor in the evening. Thanks to Professor Yan for the treat and introducing us to excellent HKU student interns! By Morgan, evening of July 9, 2016
Location: Shenzhen, Central City, Jishang Wanshan Japanese All-You-Can-Eat. Travel note summary: I got a last-minute call from Mr. Liang in the evening asking me to join for dinner. He had invited Professor Yan, who teaches at the University of Hong Kong, and a friend of his. So I apologized to Weilun and his colleagues in advance and thanked Weilun for covering my bill. I rushed from Xiangmi Lake to Central City. I told Mr. Liang I was already full and would just come to chat, but I didn't realize Jishang Wanhui was an all-you-can-eat place. Not wanting to waste the NT$1,600 per person meal fee and the three bottles of Chilean red wine LOS VASCOS worth about NT$6,000 total, I had to eat and drink as much as possible. We kept going from noon until past 10 PM—a non-stop day of eating and drinking. From a three-Michelin-star meal to frog hotpot and then Japanese all-you-can-eat, my stomach really experienced a fusion of elements. Coincidences kept happening today: I had just visited the University of Hong Kong with Junhong in the afternoon, and in the evening, I was dining with a professor from there. Thanks to Professor Yan for treating us and introducing us to many outstanding HKU students for internships! By Morgan on the evening of July 9, 2016.
Location: Shenzhen, Xiangmi Lake, Shuyi Shuer Frog Hotpot. Travel note summary: After saying goodbye to my university classmate Junhong, I remembered I hadn't seen my former Yuanta colleague Weilun in a long time. He still works in Hong Kong, so I called him, but no one answered. Oh well, I might as well head back to Shenzhen. After over an hour, I passed through the border and returned to Shenzhen. When I was just one MTR stop away from where I was staying at KKMall, I suddenly got a call back from Weilun. After telling him why I called, he said, 'Damn, I just came from Hong Kong to Shenzhen, and you went from Shenzhen to Hong Kong!' I immediately asked where he was in Shenzhen, and he said he was at KKMall. Could it be such a coincidence? @@ So we quickly met at KKMall, and in the evening, I had dinner with Weilun and a few of his colleagues now at J.P. Morgan. Truly, a planned meeting is not as good as a chance encounter! By Morgan @2016.7.9
Location: Hong Kong, Lan Kwai Fong, First Visit. Travel note summary: In the evening, I first drank eight bottles of red wine with colleagues and interns in Shenzhen, then rushed through the Luohu border to Hong Kong. My university classmate Junhong came to Hong Kong from Singapore for a trip, so we met up in Lan Kwai Fong in Central. It's a place with lots of foreigners, a spot I've heard about since I was young—finally got to see it! By Morgan @2016.7.9
Location: Shenzhen, Xiangmihu, Shu Yi Shu Er Frog Hot Pot Travel note: After saying goodbye to my university classmate Junhong, I remembered I hadn't seen my former Yuanta colleague Weilun in a long time—he still works in Hong Kong. Called him but no answer, so figured I'd just head back to Shenzhen. After over an hour, I passed through customs and was back in Shenzhen. When I was just one MTR stop away from where I live at KKMall, I suddenly got a call back from Weilun. After telling him why I called, he said, 'Damn, I just came from Hong Kong to Shenzhen, and you went from Shenzhen to Hong Kong!' I instinctively asked where he was in Shenzhen, and he said he was at KKMall. What a coincidence! @@ So we quickly met up at KKMall, and in the evening had dinner with Weilun and a few of his colleagues now at J.P. Morgan. Truly, planned meetings can't beat chance encounters!
Location: Hong Kong, 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo BOMBANA Italian Restaurant (Michelin 3-star) Travel note: Previously tried 3-star French cuisine at Robuchon in Taipei and Stay with 3-star chef Yannick. This time in Hong Kong, came with Junhong to try this 3-star Italian restaurant. The 4-course lunch set is 1080+10% HKD. We ordered a set plus some à la carte items, totaling over 2000 HKD (about 9000 TWD). The standout feature is probably its truffle—the server brings a cart over and shaves fresh truffle right in front of you. Maybe because it's freshly shaved, the aroma is softer and more pleasant, more likable than the truffle at Maison de la Truffe in Taipei. A nice lunch experience—good friends + good food create beautiful memories in life! Cheers! By Morgan, July 9, 2016
Location: Hong Kong Mid-Levels Escalator Travel note summary: The Hong Kong Mid-Levels Escalator is 800 meters long—the world's longest outdoor escalator!
Location: Hong Kong Lan Kwai Fong Travel note summary: In Hong Kong's Lan Kwai Fong—first drank eight bottles of red wine with colleagues and interns in Shenzhen, then rushed through the Luohu checkpoint to Hong Kong. My university friend Junhong came from Singapore to travel, so we met up at Lan Kwai Fong in Central. It's a place packed with foreigners, somewhere I've heard about since childhood—finally got to see it!
Location: Shenzhen Fortune Plaza Family Mingdong Korean Restaurant Travel note summary: At Family Mingdong Korean Restaurant in Shenzhen's Fortune Plaza, had dinner with my university friend Ahou, his friend, and the friend's younger brother. The Korean fruit soju seemed to have a bit of a kick!
Location: Hong Kong, Science Park, Hei Yun Cantonese Dim Sum. Travel note summary: Besides being treated to lunch, from 10 AM until just now at 6:30 PM, it was a completely continuous series of meetings. I talked about some Program trading stuff and the StrategyQuant platform, listened to others talk about Machine learning, Genetic algorithms, Pattern Recognition, etc., and ended with an exchange with a private equity fund in Central. I'm really a bit tired now—time to take the bus back to Shenzhen. @@ By Morgan @2016.7.4
Location: Hong Kong Hei Yun Dim Sum Travel note summary: At Hei Yun for Hong Kong-style dim sum. Besides being treated to lunch, from 10 AM until just now at 6:30 PM, it was non-stop meetings. I talked about program trading and the StrategyQuant platform, listened to others discuss machine learning, genetic algorithms, pattern recognition, and ended with an exchange with a private equity fund in Central. Really feeling a bit tired—time to take the train back to Shenzhen @@
Location: Shenzhen Sheraton Hotel Travel note summary: Another night with wine and steak at the Sheraton Hotel. Starting tomorrow, Sheraton's parent company Starwood will be officially merged with Marriott for $12.2 billion!
Location: St. Regis Shenzhen, 96F, Cafe. Travel note: Afternoon tea and dinner at the 96F Cafe in St. Regis Shenzhen, paired with Australian red wine and sparkling champagne~
Location: St. Regis Shenzhen, 99F, Elba Italian Restaurant. Travel note: Lunch gathering with colleagues at the 99F Elba Italian Restaurant in St. Regis Shenzhen. It's been a while since I last came, and the waitstaff have all changed.
Location: Shanghai. Travel note: As the weather gets hotter, I tried ordering imported American ice cream online via my phone, air-shipped from Shanghai to Shenzhen. After 48 hours, I finally received the package—the insulation was actually pretty good, with hardly any melting. Ben & Jerry's is the brand second only to Häagen-Dazs; it really tastes rich and creamy, and it cooled down the hot air quite a bit. Whew~
Location: Shenzhen, Yi Ri San Can, Cantonese cuisine. Travel note: Dinner with several master's interns from HKU CS at Yi Ri San Can Cantonese restaurant in Shenzhen. Started by toasting with each person individually—15 people ended up drinking 9 bottles of red wine. Some studied at National Chengchi University in Taiwan, some were exchange students at National Chiao Tung University's electronics institute in Taiwan—a really outstanding group of young people from Shanxi, Northeast China, Sichuan, Beijing, Macau... but it doesn't matter, we gathered because of fate. Cheers!
Location: Shenzhen, Yi Ri San Can Cantonese Cuisine. Travel note summary: In the evening, I had dinner with a few HKU CS master's interns. Starting with toasting each person individually, 15 people ended up drinking 9 bottles of red wine. Some had studied at National Chengchi University in Taiwan, some had been exchange students at National Chiao Tung University's Electronics Institute in Taiwan—a really outstanding group of young people from Shanxi, Northeast China, Sichuan, Beijing, Macau... But it doesn't matter; we gathered because of fate. Cheers! By Morgan @2016.6.20
Location: Shenzhen, St. Regis Hotel 75F, Iridium Spa. Came to the company to handle some things and felt a bit tired, so I booked a massage at the St. Regis Hotel above the office. The view from the 75th floor is quite nice and relaxing. With soothing music and the therapist accurately hitting the pressure points, it helped relieve some of the fatigue I brought back from Wudang Mountain. Resting is always for being able to go further. Keep going~ By Morgan @2016.6.19
Location: St. Regis Shenzhen, 75F, Iridium Spa. Travel note: Came to the company to handle some things and got a bit tired, so I booked a massage at the S.T. Regis spa upstairs from the office. The view from the 75th floor is still quite nice—it's refreshing. With soothing music and the therapist accurately hitting the pressure points, it also helped relieve the fatigue I brought back from Wudang Mountain. Resting is always to go further. Keep going~
Finally made it to Shenzhen without a hitch. On the subway, I had nothing to do, so I took stock of my trips in the first half of the year: Fujian (Fuzhou, Wuyi Mountain, Xiamen, Longyan Hakka Tulou), Guangdong (Guangzhou's Shamian and Canton Tower, Foshan, Shaoguan Danxia Mountain, Kaiping Diaolou, Taishan's Xiachuan Island, Huizhou's Danshui and Daya Bay), Hong Kong (Ngong Ping 360, Tian Tan Buddha, Tai O Fishing Village, Temple Street, Yau Ma Tei, Jordan), Macau (Studio City, Ruins of St. Paul's, Emperor Hotel Bar), Shenzhen (Splendid China, Window of the World, Oil Painting Village, Bantian), Hebei (Qinhuangdao, Chengde Mountain Resort, Little Potala Palace), Hubei (Yichang, Yangtze River Three Gorges cruise, Shennongjia, Wuhan's Yellow Crane Tower and East Lake, Wudang Mountain). Already have a pile of various transport and ticket stubs. This Hubei trip added three more plane tickets, two boat tickets, one train ticket, plus buses, taxis, private cars, Wuhan subway, motorcycle taxis, cable cars, slides, walking, and hiking... Every trip involves constantly switching between various modes of transport. Maybe I'm just used to it by now. Though tired at the moment, I'm happily tired. Because I have a terrible sense of direction, I need to personally remember each place name step by step, especially while I can still walk... :p
Hubei, Wudang Mountain. As a fan of Jin Yong's martial arts novels, Wudang Mountain was a must-visit on this trip. Even though it meant an extra detour to buy a plane ticket from Wuhan to Shiyan (Wudangshan Airport), I had to come see it. Arrived in Wudangshan city yesterday evening. This morning at 7:30, headed up the mountain. First took a bus to Qiongzhongguan, transferred to the cable car up, then walked to the highest point of Wudang Mountain, the Golden Summit. Then walked all the way down to Crow Ridge and took a bus back down. Walked for over six hours in total. Along the way, saw some Wudang Mountain sights like Prince Slope, South Cliff, Chaotian Gate, Purple Cloud Palace, etc. Plus the Jade Void Palace visited yesterday afternoon, the 'Dream of Wudang' performance at the Tai Chi Theater last night (featuring dozens of Wudang masters and martial arts champions), and after descending today: Tai Chi Lake, Happy Valley slide, the mountain entrance gate from over 600 years ago—Xuanyue Gate, and the Shixing Kung Fu Hall run by the 14th generation successor of Zhang Sanfeng. This Wudang trip ended with a very fulfilling itinerary, also fulfilling a childhood dream of mine. Getting ready to board the flight back to Shenzhen~ But it seems there's heavy rain in Shenzhen affecting flights landing... Could it be I can't go back again!!! (Just after posting this, got kicked off the plane back to the terminal~ Orz)
Hubei, Wuhan. Yellow Crane Tower, East Lake, Hubu Alley. 'The sage on yellow crane was gone amid clouds white. To what avail does Yellow Crane Tower remain? Once gone, the yellow crane will ne'er on earth alight; Only white clouds still float in vain from year to year.' - Tang Dynasty, Cui Hao, 'On Yellow Crane Tower'. A poem I've memorized since childhood for decades, only today did I get the chance to see what the Yellow Crane Tower actually looks like. Climbing the Yellow Crane Tower, gazing at the Yangtze River scenery of present-day Wuhan, felt refreshing and fulfilling a wish. East Lake is the largest urban lake in China, six times the size of Hangzhou's West Lake. So of course, it's impossible to walk half around it like I did with West Lake back then. Only in the early morning, I walked along part of the lakeside scenery and encountered many early risers exercising. Although East Lake doesn't have as many poignant stories as West Lake, with light mist veiling it, the interplay of lake light, long bridges, and pavilions was quite a sight. Hubu Alley formed during the Ming Dynasty, named because it was adjacent to the local administrative office (analogous to the central Hubu ministry). It has now become Wuhan's snack street. The dazzling array of snacks on the street was overwhelming. Found an old shop, Cai Lin Ji, and casually ordered some things to fill my stomach. Gained more understanding of Wuhan on this first visit...
Location: Beijing Airport, Flight Cancellation Record. This afternoon, I took a bus from Chengde, transferred to the subway, then the airport express, spending five hours to drag myself all the way back to Beijing Airport. I got my boarding pass, passed security, bought a drink, and had just sat down for less than five minutes when I was notified that the flight was canceled due to thunderstorms in Shenzhen. I had to walk out from the exit and re-inquire with the airline. Other later flights were either fully booked or also canceled. At this point, it was too late to switch to an overnight train, so I stood for over an hour waiting for Air China to handle it. They finally rescheduled the flight to 6:30 tomorrow morning and arranged shared hotel accommodation for the night—two people per room. My roommate was a local Beijinger working in communication software, who had just been to Taiwan for a meeting recently. Life is indeed about constant experiences, but this kind of experience once is enough. Waking up at 4 AM tomorrow, I still hope we can take off smoothly. @@ By Morgan @2016.6.5
Spent five hours this afternoon traveling from Chengde by bus, transferring to subway, then airport express, all the way back to Beijing Airport. Got my boarding pass, passed security, bought a drink, sat down for less than five minutes, then was notified that the flight was canceled due to thunderstorms in Shenzhen. Had to walk out through the exit, re-inquired with the airline. Turns out later flights were either fully booked or also all canceled. At this point, it was too late to switch to an overnight train. So I stood for over an hour waiting for Air China to handle it. They finally rescheduled this flight to tomorrow morning at 6:30. Arranged shared hotel accommodation for the night, two people per room. My roommate is a local Beijinger working in communication software, who coincidentally just had a meeting in Taiwan recently. Life is indeed about constant experiences, but this kind of experience once is enough. Getting up at 4 am tomorrow, still hoping to take off smoothly @@
Hong Kong Science Park To join a meeting this morning and visit our interns and new incubation…
Location: Beijing, Millennium Hotel at China World Trade Center Travel note: After this morning's meeting at the Millennium Hotel in Beijing's China World Trade Center, one of our counterparts was supposed to meet with Qi Qin, and we could have joined them. Unfortunately, he got stuck in traffic, so we didn't get to meet. After lunch at the Grand Hyatt, I moved to this Millennium Hotel where I stayed last time. The value for money here is much better than the Grand Hyatt—a room for around 5,000 TWD is more comfortable and spacious. In the evening, I went to the Havana bar downstairs for a few glasses of Macallan whisky, listened to the band, and had another unforgettable 'One night in Beijing.'
Location: Beijing, Grand Hyatt Hotel Travel note: I was suddenly called for a business trip here at the Grand Hyatt in Beijing. I set off from Shenzhen and didn't arrive at the hotel until midnight. Time flies—it's been over two years since my last visit to Beijing.
Location: Shenzhen, Xiaoliangshan Creative Yunnan Cuisine Travel note: At Xiaoliangshan Creative Yunnan Cuisine in Shenzhen, we tried lemon river fish, papaya chicken, Puer beef pot, Shiping tofu, and spicy pig trotters. The flavors were unique and quite tasty—the sour and spicy notes left a deep impression. Bon voyage, and thanks to JJ for the treat!
Location: Shenzhen, KKMall, Genki Conveyor Belt Sushi Travel note: It rained all day in Shenzhen today. In the evening, a friend suddenly came to borrow books and have dinner. The rain was still heavy at that time. I have to say, living above a mall has its perks—without leaving the building, I took my friend to eat at KKMall, played at the arcade, and after eating, watched a 3D movie, Captain America: Civil War. I fulfilled my host duties without getting soaked. Only at times like these do I feel the rent is worth it. @@
Location: Shenzhen, Shixia, Shiyie Japanese Cuisine & Teppanyaki (First Visit) Travel Notes: I checked on Dianping at noon and found this restaurant ranked 8th in Shenzhen for popular Japanese cuisine, so I decided to try it. Lunch cost 338 RMB (1,700 NTD) per person for an all-you-can-eat menu with made-to-order dishes, including sashimi, sea urchin, oysters, hand rolls, beef tongue, steamed egg, scallops, marbled beef, prawns, lamb chops, shark fin soup... plus plum wine, sake, and Häagen-Dazs ice cream. For the variety and quality of Japanese food at this price, the value is pretty good. But I ate so much and had a bit of alcohol—after finishing, I was exhausted and just wanted to head home for a good nap. @@ By Morgan on 2016.5.22
Location: Shenzhen, Shixia, Shiyie Japanese Cuisine • Teppanyaki Travel note: At noon, I checked on Dianping and found this restaurant ranked 8th in popularity for Japanese cuisine in Shenzhen, so I came to try it. Lunch cost 338 RMB (1,700 TWD) per person for an all-you-can-eat menu with made-to-order dishes, including sashimi, sea urchin, oysters, hand rolls, beef tongue, steamed egg, scallops, snowflake beef, prawns, lamb chops, shark fin soup... plus plum wine, sake, and Häagen-Dazs ice cream. In terms of variety and refinement of Japanese cuisine, the value for money at this price for all-you-can-eat is pretty good. But I ate so much I was stuffed, and with a bit of alcohol, I felt tired and just wanted to go home and sleep. @@ By Morgan on 2016.5.22
Location: Shenzhen Westin Hotel 25F Steakhouse Travel note summary: I wasn't feeling well yesterday. Last night, I went out in the rain for a traditional Chinese medicine gua sha and cupping session. After a good night's sleep, I'm feeling much better today. Tonight, I'm having dinner with President Liang at this famous high-end steak restaurant in Shenzhen. This is also the last steakhouse I wanted to try in Shenzhen. We ordered a set meal that includes ribeye, sirloin, and filet mignon, along with a Chilean red wine. The night view here isn't as high as the ones from the Grand Hyatt or St. Regis, but the scenery is still quite nice. The restaurant has an open kitchen. Although the beef isn't from the US, the cooking and meat quality are both pretty good. The restaurant manager is from Panama, and the waitstaff are of good quality. Overall, the dining experience was satisfying~ Not bad restaurant~ By Morgan on the evening of 2016.5.21
Location: Shenzhen 3D Coffee Travel note summary: This evening, Peter, my senior from the NCKU Aerospace class of '86, came to see me. He came over from Taiwan this time to discuss projects with two friends from Chinese construction and software companies, mainly helping them with smart construction sites, smart water/electricity, smart access control, etc. I heard a lot of practical key points about IoT from my senior. Then the four of us had dinner together. Since today's theme revolved around this area, I thought I might as well take them to this restaurant featuring 3D printing for dinner. The cups, lamps, and even some cookies in the shop are made using 3D printing technology, giving it a strong tech vibe. The shop also provides a salon area for people to book for events. It's quite an interesting shop. The set meals were also surprisingly affordable and acceptable~ By Morgan on the evening of 2016.5.19
Location: Shenzhen Sheraton Hotel Travel note summary: Today, I tried the whiskey-braised beef short ribs instead. They were okay. Four people, two bottles of Australian red wine—another slightly tipsy meal. The new head chef is from Mauritius in Africa. He's been with the Starwood system for seven years and just transferred here two days ago.
Location: Shenzhen Grand Hyatt Hotel Travel note summary: 38F Attic Bar + 37F Yuejing French Cuisine. I arrived too early, so I had to go to the rooftop bar first and have a glass of Italian red wine. After that, I went downstairs to the French restaurant for dinner. Every time I came before, I ordered the 418 RMB set meal. I ate a bit too much at lunch today, so I decided to order à la carte instead. Two of us each ordered half a dozen oysters and a lamb chop. The sauce for the lamb chop was made with saffron and smoked fruitwood, probably whipped up using molecular gastronomy equipment. The lamb chop itself was treated with low temperature for 14 hours, making the meat texture very tender. Paired with a French Bonnet (2008) red wine. Wonderful supper~ By Morgan on the evening of 2016.5.17
Location: Shenzhen Sheraton Hotel Rib Eye Travel note summary: Supper with President Liang. It's been a while since I had steak, so today I can satisfy my craving. The accompanying wine is an Australian Rawson’s Retreat red wine (Rosemount Estate).
Location: Yau Ma Tei / Jordan, Hong Kong. Travel notes: Today, I met up with SAKAYA, a junior from my university club whom I hadn't seen in ten years. She was in Hong Kong for a company trip, so we got together for a meal. Along with one of her colleagues from Nikon, we started eating from 1 PM and didn't finish until 7 PM. They had to catch a flight back to Taiwan from Hong Kong Airport around 9 PM. It was great to see this old friend I've known for over 17 years. Time flies like a turning gear—many things feel like they happened just yesterday, yet it seems we've crossed mountains and rivers in a blink. But SAKAYA hasn't changed much at all, haha~ By Morgan, evening of May 15, 2016.
Location: Hong Kong, Yau Ma Tei/Jordan, Macau Soup Brisket King, Kai Kai Dessert, Yee Shun Milk Company, Hing Kee Claypot Rice Travel Notes: Macau Soup Brisket King: beef brisket lo mein; Kai Kai: walnut soup (Michelin Guide snack); Yee Shun Milk Company: famous double-steamed milk; Hing Kee: oyster omelette, claypot rice with chicken and Chinese sausage (Temple Street). Today, my university club junior SAKAYA, whom I hadn't seen in ten years, was in Hong Kong for a company trip and asked me to eat together. So from 1 PM, with SAKAYA and a colleague from Nikon, we ate non-stop until 7 PM before parting ways—they had to catch a flight back to Taiwan from Hong Kong Airport around 9 PM. It was great to meet this old friend I've known for over 17 years. Time keeps turning like gears; many things feel like just yesterday, yet in a blink, it's as if we've crossed mountains and rivers. But SAKAYA hasn't changed much, huh~ By Morgan on the evening of 2016.5.15
Location: Hong Kong Sun Fat Cha Chaan Teng (MixC Store), Shenzhen. Travel notes: After playing badminton tonight, I had dinner with Jiahong and Kiran. Since Kiran is in Shenzhen for business and stays at the Grand Hyatt, Jiahong parked the car there, and we walked to the restaurant nearby. I've been to this place a few times—it's decent. Kiran, a Stanford graduate and genius, tried badminton for the first time today and didn't look like a beginner at all. Partnered with Jiahong, they won several matches in a row. At dinner, he quickly picked up Chinese words like 'char siu,' 'roast duck,' 'soy sauce chicken,' and 'siu mei' after just a short memorization. In comparison, my English listening and speaking are still not fluent, so I'm motivated to study hard every night. Hope diligence can make up for my shortcomings, so I can communicate more with Kiran next time @@.
Location: Shenzhen. Travel notes: Huiyang / Danshui, Daya Bay, Guangdong Province. After work last night, my Taiwanese friend Elephant Brother, who works at Lite-On, was in Shenzhen for business and suddenly asked if I wanted to go to Danshui. With nothing else to do, I grabbed my backpack and went with him. Over the past few weeks, I've traveled around northern, western, eastern, and southern Guangdong. In Danshui, we met up with some of his Taiwanese and Hong Kong friends—some run their own consulting firms, some are in trade, and one came back from the US and now works in Chongqing. It was interesting to gather and chat with everyone. After resting overnight, we all went our separate ways the next day. After saying goodbye to Elephant Brother over some good Hangzhou-style soup dumplings, I became a backpacker again. I looked up how to take the bus south to Daya Bay, spent over an hour, and arrived at the seaside once more. The weather was great today, and it really lifted my spirits~ :)
Location: Zai Sheng Chongqing Spicy Hot Pot, Shenzhen. Travel notes: Tonight, Kiran, the American colleague of my university classmate Jiahong, is in China for business again. So the four of us—including Kert—came to eat spicy hot pot. It was Kiran's first time trying spicy hot pot in China, and he kept wiping sweat while eating. Definitely an exhilarating new experience~ :p
Location: KK100 Building 95F Buffet, Shenzhen. Travel notes: Colleagues gathering~
Location: Shenzhen, Tang Xiaoguo Steamboat. Travel note: In Shenzhen, at Tang Xiaoguo Steamboat, I tried a hotpot where the food is heated in a steamer basket for the first time. First, the steamer basket is placed inside an iron pot to heat up, then the food is dipped in a special sauce and placed in the steamer to heat for 1–2 minutes. It was quite an interesting way to eat!
Location: Guangdong Province, Taishan, Xiachuan Island. Travel note: From Kaiping Bus Station, I took a bus heading south. After 50 minutes, I arrived in Taishan, then continued south by bus for another 70 minutes to reach Shanzui Port. After queuing for 20 minutes to buy a ferry ticket, a 30-minute boat ride brought me to Duhwan Port on Xiachuan Island. From there, I transferred to a shuttle bus and arrived at Wangfuzhou Scenic Area 18 minutes later. Getting to Xiachuan Island was no easy task—I woke up around 7 a.m. and didn't arrive until past noon. Known as China's Phuket, the island attracts many tourists during peak season. The weather was brilliantly sunny. After checking into the hotel, I quickly changed into short sleeves to beat the heat. After having a hand-pulled pancake and some blood coral grass jelly, I wandered along the coastline, sat in a secluded spot watching the tides ebb and flow, and gazed at the sparkling waves. I then climbed up Denggao Stone step by step, admiring the blue sky and sea while feeling the gentle spring breeze. Here, I let my heart rest for a moment before rising and continuing onward. By Morgan, May 1, 2016.
Location: Guangdong Province, Jiangmen, Kaiping Diaolou. Travel note: Earlier this month, I backpacked through northern Guangdong, and at the end of the month, I headed west. Early in the morning at Luohu Long-Distance Bus Station, I boarded a coach heading west toward Jiangmen. After a bumpy, stop-and-go journey of over four hours, I finally arrived in Kaiping City. After getting off, I had a quick lunch, checked into the hotel, then returned to Kaiping Bus Station to catch a minibus toward Shahu. I hopped off near Liyuan and walked a stretch to reach the scenic area. Among Kaiping's diaolou sites, Liyuan and Zilicun are the more famous ones, which were my main stops today. Most of these diaolou clusters were built by overseas Chinese returning home. They were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2007 and also served as filming locations for the movie 'Let the Bullets Fly.' Walking and sightseeing, I felt the traces of history, and the journey of life continues... By Morgan, April 30, 2016.
Location: Shenzhen, Shopping Park, Haxnbauer German Restaurant. Travel note: In Shenzhen, at Haxnbauer German Restaurant in Shopping Park, I had a meal with my university classmate Ahou, his friend, and his friend's friend. The food was pretty good!
Location: Shenzhen. Travel note: In Shenzhen, at Jiucaiwu, a Japanese izakaya. 'Drink today's wine today'—and I really got drunk~ @@
Location: Tang Xiaoguo, KKMall, Shenzhen Travel note: At Tang Xiaoguo in Shenzhen's KKMall, I tried their spicy miso hot pot this time. I didn't expect it to be so spicy that I had to ask the server for a bowl of water to rinse the food before eating. It was even more overwhelming than the spiciness of a mala hot pot!
Location: Houston Theme Restaurant, Shenzhen Travel note: My university classmate Ah Hou came to see me in Shenzhen in the afternoon. After taking him for a massage near Guomao, we found this restaurant with decent reviews on Dianping for dinner. There was a band performance at night, the American-style food was good, and it was indeed a decent spot. The place was almost full, so business is clearly booming.
Location: Sheraton Hotel, Shenzhen Travel note: After leaving the Sino-Finnish Design Park, a collaborative project between Shenzhen and Helsinki, Finland, I just went for dinner here again.
Location: Zai Sheng Chongqing Mala Hot Pot, Shenzhen Travel note: My senior from ramen class came to Shenzhen from Taiwan for business these days, so we arranged to have dinner together. It happened to be a rainy day with a slight chill, perfect for hot pot. This restaurant even has Sichuan opera face-changing performances during dinner hours. We ordered the mildest spicy broth, and the flavor was just right.
Location: Korean Heenam Woo, Shenzhen Travel note: Colleagues gathered for a meal. I didn't realize this restaurant was a sponsor of 'Descendants of the Sun.' It's been a while since I last came, but some of the grilled meats are still great. The Korean beer Kloud is also quite nice to drink.
Location: Hong Kong Science Park Travel note: A rainy afternoon, just finished the meeting.
Location: Sheraton Shenzhen Futian Hotel, 3F Osmanthus Restaurant Travel note: Eat more at the buffet, drink more red wine, so I'll have energy to work overtime at the company tomorrow~
Location: Shenzhen, Six Thousand Restaurant Travel note: A very affordable and friendly place, business is good. The soy-braised pork bones and beef noodles with curry broth are nice~
Location: Grand Hyatt Shenzhen, 1F Yiheyuan Italian Restaurant Travel note: Angus M3 Rib eye + Italian red wine. Haven't been here for almost a year, the food is still amazing~
Location: Shenzhen, Splendid China Folk Village scenic area Travel note: Since the high-speed rail is fast, I left from Shaoguan in northern Guangdong after 9 AM and was back in Shenzhen before 11 AM. Since I was already out, I was too lazy to go home, so I just kept wandering. Carrying my backpack, I came directly to Splendid China under OCT. I bought a ticket with my phone and went in. It covers 450 acres and is the world's largest miniature scenic area, including many famous Chinese attractions and various ethnic minority dwellings, plus some large-scale performances like 'Golden Spear Dynasty' and 'New Oriental Splendor.' This stroll took another six hours, from sunny to rainy, from day to night. Afterwards, I returned to KK100, checked at the company to see if the programs I ran before the holiday were working normally, then went home for a shower and cooked something simple to eat. The three-day holiday passed quickly again. Keep going and work hard~~ By Morgan, evening of April 4, 2016.
Location: Guangzhou Travel Notes: Danxia Mountain - Yangyuan Stone, one of the Four Famous Mountains of Guangdong. From Guangzhou, take the high-speed rail for 51 minutes to Shaoguan in northern Guangdong. From Shaoguan Railway Station, take a bus to Shaoguan East Station, where you can catch a bus to Danxia Mountain. After about an hour, you'll arrive at the entrance of Danxia Mountain. The most famous feature is the uniquely shaped Yangyuan Stone. Other attractions include Elder Peak, Xianglong Lake, and Yinyuan Stone. The Dan Ladder Iron Chain leading to Elder Peak is quite steep, requiring both hands and feet to climb. It took over six hours to cover the highlights of the scenic area—another day of constant hiking and boat rides. Walk paths untrodden, climb peaks unclimbed, see sights unseen, meet people unmet. The world is too vast, life too short. All we can do is experience as much as possible... By Morgan on April 3, 2016.
Location: Shenzhen, Dashang Wax Therapy Foot Massage Travel Notes: My university classmate Jiahong is currently based in South China. His Apple colleague Kiran from the U.S. was on a business trip to Shenzhen, along with Kert who also came from Taiwan for work. So Jiahong invited me, and the four of us had dinner together. Kiran is an American of Indian descent and a food lover—he enjoys Taiwanese braised pork rice, various snacks, night markets, and seems particularly fond of noodles. So I found a nearby Japanese ramen shop for a simple meal. After dinner, he mentioned that because his Chinese isn't good, he never dares to go for a massage alone in China. I said since we're together this time, there's no need to worry; we can let him experience it. Recalling many shops I've visited before, I finally took everyone for a walk to this place. Besides regular foot massage, they also apply heated wax to the legs at the end. Hopefully, this new friend will have a nice first experience ^^ By Morgan on the evening of March 30, 2016.
Location: Shenzhen, Jiucaiwu (Drinks & Dishes House) Travel Notes: Manager Liang has been feeling a bit down lately, so he gathered some friends for a little drink~
Taking the same bus back to Tai Wo Station, I transferred one MTR stop to Fanling Station, where the Lung Yeuk Tau Heritage Trail begins. The trail passes several historic buildings. Having visited the Ping Shan Heritage Trail in Yuen Long before, Lung Yeuk Tau felt different—along the way were a renovated but abandoned church, the overgrown and eerie Stone Hall, and an old walled village still inhabited by residents. It stirred ripples in my heart, like the passage of time leaving its mottled traces...
Location: Hong Kong, Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car Travel Notes: Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car, Tian Tan Buddha, Tai O Fishing Village. Took a high-speed ferry from Macau to Hong Kong's Sheung Wan Pier (about 1 hour). Then walked via the pedestrian bridge through IFC to Hong Kong MTR Station, took the Tung Chung Line to the terminal station—Tung Chung. Exited and transferred to the cable car up to Ngong Ping (Crystal Cabin HKD 180). After walking up the steps, viewed the 34-meter-high Tian Tan Buddha. Then took Bus 21 from Ngong Ping summit to Tai O (15 min). Actually walked through this place I'd only seen in Hong Kong films (e.g., 'Legend of the Dragon')—narrow old streets, ate seafood, tofu pudding. Walked to the highest point of Tiger Hill, overlooking the entire Tai O scenery. Finally, from Tai O, took Bus 11 (queued for nearly an hour) back to the basement of Citygate Outlets next to Tung Chung Station. Transferred to a minibus to Huanggang Port, crossed the border back to Shenzhen, ending two rich days of Hong Kong-Macau travel~ By Morgan on March 27, 2016.
Location: Macau Travel Notes: One-day trip to Macau with a few colleagues, also to bid farewell to Charles. Today's itinerary: Studio City, Shanghai Illusion Restaurant, 4D movie—Batman, Studio City's Golden Reel (figure-8 Ferris wheel), Ruins of St. Paul's, Heng You Curry Fish Balls, Maria's Portuguese Restaurant, Emperor Hotel 21F Windsor Lounge Bar. Although Funky and Brother James couldn't join us this time due to other commitments, thank you for helping us reserve seats at the bar. Also, thanks to our colleague and his wife for being our guides and taking us around all day—a very fulfilling day~~ By Morgan on the evening of March 26, 2016.
Location: Shenzhen, Su Xing Vegetarian Lifestyle Restaurant Travel note: Went to Su Xing Vegetarian Lifestyle Restaurant in Shenzhen on Friday night with colleagues. It was a bit hard to find, but the environment was elegant and quiet. The vegetarian food was pretty good!
Location: Shenzhen, Shunde Wumizhou Travel note: It's been over a year since I last visited Shunde Wumizhou in Shenzhen. Time really flies!
Location: Shenzhen, Grand Hyatt Hotel 37F, Yuejing French Cuisine Travel note: Time flies, Friday night again~ Cheers!
Location: Shenzhen, Jiucaiwu Japanese Beef Tendon Hot Pot Travel note: A pot costs around 1,500 TWD. The broth is quite sweet, and the beef tendon is very tender and soft~ Delicious!
Location: Shenzhen, Sheraton Hotel Travel note: Wagyu Rib eye + Australian red wine. Haven't been here for a while~ Cheers~
Location: Shenzhen, KK100 Building 95F Buffet Travel note: On the eve of the weekend at the KK100 Building 95F Buffet in Shenzhen, enjoying desserts, sipping red wine, and taking in the night view~
Location: Shenzhen, Chengdu Lao A Po Yuanyang Hot Pot Travel note: The weather suddenly turned cold in Shenzhen today, so I felt like having something warm to eat~
Location: Shenzhen, Wakon Kansai Japanese Cuisine Travel note: Dinner at Wakon Kansai Japanese Cuisine in Shenzhen~
Location: Shenzhen Travel note: At Sakana-Ya, a Japanese izakaya in Shenzhen, I ordered seven dishes with just one bottle of red wine, all for under 2,000 TWD per person. It's within an acceptable price range, the dishes are quite diverse and varied, and it's a place worth visiting again~~
Location: Shenzhen, Jia Zhi Wei Chaozhou Claypot Porridge Travel note: Had dinner with two friends from Jiangxi and Hubei in Shenzhen. The weather was still a bit chilly, so we came to have some claypot porridge to warm our stomachs—it's been a while since I last had it, and the timing was just right.
Location: Shenzhen, Wohun Hancai Japanese Cuisine Travel note: At Wohun Hancai Japanese Cuisine in Shenzhen, we tried some new dishes. We paired seafood with two bottles of South African red wine.
Location: Shenzhen, Wakon Kansai Japanese Cuisine (First Visit) Travel Notes: (Note: Overall excellent—this became a Japanese restaurant I visited nearly ten times after this first visit.) Dinner with Mr. Liang. The owner and head chef is Japanese, so the food is very authentic. We opened two bottles of Chilean and South African red wine. Mr. Liang likes this place a lot; it's a very quiet restaurant~ By Morgan @2016.2.23
Location: Shenzhen, Teppanyaki Travel note: Friday night, drunk night again~
Location: Shenzhen Travel note: At Zhushi Teppanyaki in Shenzhen, two of us opened two bottles of red wine. Cheers to the new year~
Location: Shenzhen, KKMall, Shark Bites Toast Travel note: At Shark Bites Toast in KKMall, Shenzhen, we had brunch at this Taiwanese chain that recently opened here. After eating, I had to open my laptop in the afternoon and get some work done early.
Location: Shenzhen, Dafen Oil Painting Village Travel note: At Dafen Oil Painting Village and Huashenlong Spicy Hot Pot in Shenzhen. In the afternoon, Junhong and I strolled through the artistic oil painting village. In the evening, another college classmate, Ahou, got off work, so Ahou drove us to Bagua 1st Street to try this famous hot pot restaurant in Shenzhen. Inside, it's similar to Haidilao, with equally good service, plus free phone screen protection and manicure services. Junhong and Ahou hadn't seen each other in over ten years. It was truly a rare chance for everyone to gather and share a meal here. See you all next time~ By Morgan, evening of Feb 13, 2016.
Location: Shenzhen Travel note summary: At MixC Shenzhen, we tried the Thai-Vietnamese restaurant Shang Lian. The pomelo in the salad blended perfectly, and the tiger prawn rolls with mango and durian sauce were unique. Paired with two cups of Thai milk tea, the meal for two cost around NT$1,800. Some dishes were quite tasty!
Location: Shenzhen Window of the World Travel note summary: My good friend Junhong made a special trip to Shenzhen to see me before returning to work at MediaTek's Singapore office. After he flew in from Hong Kong today, we first wandered around Lao Jie and Huaqiangbei, then bought tickets to Window of the World—a miniature global park. After exploring, we crossed the street to The Venice Hotel and had Demi Hotpot, which originated from Macau. The service was excellent, with staff even peeling shrimp shells for us with a small knife. A very fulfilling day! — Morgan, evening of Feb 12, 2016
Location: Shenzhen, Nanjing Impressions (Jingji Store) Travel note: I've been wanting to try this place for a while, and Andy recommended it again a few days ago. So today, I came with two Hong Kong colleagues for lunch. Besides the nostalgic decor and tasty food, the entire dining process can be handled via WeChat—from queueing and ordering online to scanning the table's QR code to pay with WeChat Wallet. No need for waitstaff to take orders or for us to settle the bill manually. Everything except serving the dishes is done via phone. Definitely worth learning from! — Morgan, Feb 3, 2016
Location: Shenzhen, Three Meals a Day, Cantonese cuisine Travel note: Yesterday lunch was Hangzhou cuisine at Grandma's Home, today we switched to this Cantonese place. Pretty good!
Location: Shenzhen, Four Seasons Coconut Grove, Coconut Chicken + Honeymoon Dessert Travel note: First time trying hotpot with coconut water as the broth. Thanks to Andy, who just got married, for the invite. Also met two lovely ladies—one who used to work at Goldman Sachs in London, and another currently at China Overseas Holdings. Andy, who works at Tencent, is really familiar with their products; he even taught us some special WeChat features during the meal. Lastly, congratulations to Andy—happy marriage & let's meet up again soon! :)
Location: Shenzhen, Seorae Travel note: A Korean BBQ chain that originated in Korea. The grill has cheese and egg mixture on the side, heated together. You can dip the grilled ingredients in it—tender meat paired with melted, rich cheese, filling your mouth with aroma. Delicious! — Morgan, evening of Jan 29, 2016
Location: Shenzhen, Shunde Yumi Zhou (Fish & Rice Congee) Travel note: Tonight, my Taiwanese finance circle friends gathered for dinner in Shenzhen. I also met my former colleague Pierce, whom I hadn't seen in over three years—it's been so long! Pierce has now moved to a top-ranked public fund in China and bought an apartment in downtown Shenzhen. With the Lunar New Year approaching, thirteen of us attended tonight. Besides exchanging market and life updates, because of the recent cold weather, the discussion unexpectedly focused on my electric heated undershirt and my experience buying over 60 packages during the Double 11 sale on Taobao. That was quite unforeseen! @@ By Morgan, evening of Jan 28, 2016.
Location: Shenzhen, Yamagoya Japanese Ramen Travel note: A shop that expanded from Kyushu. Quality control is pretty good, and the taste is decent.
Location: Shenzhen, Kingkey 100, 95F, St. Regis Hotel Buffet Travel note: Haven't been here in a long time. This time, it's my treat! Two of us spent about 4,000 TWD, ate until quite full, and they even gave us a bottle of red wine. The value for money is acceptable, I guess.
Location: Shenzhen, Itali-An Italian Restaurant Travel note: Friday dinner with Charles, my junior.
Location: Shenzhen, Dao Xuan Teppanyaki Travel note: Trying a different place today. A set meal costing over a thousand TWD—cod, scallops, Angus beef, sakura shrimp fried rice. The flavor is passable, I'd say.
Location: Shenzhen BuildStone Teppanyaki Travel note: Mr. Liang has been here three times this week at Shenzhen BuildStone Teppanyaki, so now all the servers recognize him~
Location: Shenzhen Travel note: First time trying Xiamen BRT. After a three-hour bus ride from the tulou back to Xiamen city, I saw heavy traffic on Sunday night. I was mentally prepared to miss the high-speed train back to Shenzhen and stay another night in Xiamen. Luckily, I took the BRT. Most of Xiamen's BRT runs on elevated roads with dedicated lanes, so it's very fast. Each station has staff managing order, and dwell times are well-controlled. The K1 line from Shoumatou Station to Xiamen North Station, nearly 30 stops, took less than 50 minutes (crossing the sea bridge from the lower left to the top on the map, 3.5 RMB). During peak hours, buses are frequent, with arrivals under a minute, and there are multiple lines. All major hubs—airport, ferry terminals, train stations, and high-speed rail stations—have stops. I even had plenty of time to grab a McChicken Deluxe at McDonald's for dinner before my train leisurely departed. However, Xiamen BRT has room for improvement: token sales are still manual (frequent riders can buy cards), and security is just a simple table where staff casually open or pat bags, feeling more symbolic and prone to causing congestion. Anyway, I made it onto the high-speed train and should be back in Shenzhen from Fujian in over three hours~ :P
Location: Hangzhou Travel note: Wuyishan 'Impression Da Hong Pao' real landscape show. This is the third 'Impression' series by Zhang Yimou I've seen—the first was 'Impression West Lake' in Hangzhou, the second was 'Impression Liu Sanjie' in Yangshuo. 'Impression Da Hong Pao' focuses on tea, Wuyishan, and its landscapes, with 360-degree rotating seats as the main feature, offering a completely different style from the previous two. After the show, leaving the theater, I thought, 'How can I come to Wuyishan without drinking tea?' So I casually walked into a tea shop and drank several cups of Da Hong Pao tea from the owner—some strong and fragrant, some light and aromatic. While drinking, I chatted with the owner about this and that, making this cold night in Wuyishan, with temperatures below 10°C, end on a fulfilling note~ By Morgan on the evening of 2016.1.1
Location: Fujian Longyan·Yongding Hakka Tulou Cluster, Wuyishan, Xiamen Gulangyu Travel note: Fujian Longyan·Yongding Hakka Tulou Cluster. Fujian Tulou is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Among them, Chengqi Lou, known as the 'King of Tulou,' was built in the Ming Dynasty, nearly 400 years ago, taking a full 81 years to complete. From inside to out, it forms four concentric circles. At its peak, it housed over 80 households with more than 600 people; now, it still has over 40 households with over 200 residents. Covering about 2,000 pyeong, standing at the entrance makes a person feel very small. Listening to the guide talk about the life and stories of the Hakka people here, then personally experiencing the tulou, having tea and chatting with local residents, broadened my horizons and added new memories. Time to prepare for the return journey~ By Morgan on 2016.1.3
Location: Shenzhen, BuildStone Premium Teppanyaki (First Visit) Travel Notes: (Note: This is another place I ended up visiting nearly ten times—it's just near the KK100 building.) Dinner with Mr. Liang plus four bottles of French red wine~ 2+1 people, cost over 16,000 NTD (4,000 RMB)~ By Morgan @2015.12.25
Location: Shenzhen BuildStone Teppanyaki Travel note: Dinner with Mr. Liang plus four bottles of French red wine~ 2+1, spending over NT$16,000~
Location: Shenzhen Sheraton Hotel Christmas Buffet Travel note: The Christmas buffet at Shenzhen Sheraton Hotel costs 3,000 TWD per person. Just eating the food alone would definitely be a loss, but luckily they served some red wine to drink. Doing the math, it evens out roughly :p Merry Christmas Eve~
Location: Shenzhen Sheraton Dameisha Resort, Chao Zong Hui Travel note: Tonight, there was a gathering for Taiwanese finance professionals working in Shenzhen. Besides meeting several former colleagues, the brother sitting next to me, Gao Zijian, was also a classmate from National Taiwan University. Years ago, I had a meal with him at South Beauty in Shanghai World Financial Center. This time, he invited Professor Chen Zongqing to give a speech in Shenzhen on behalf of Founder Securities. After many years, we met again in a different city. The person sitting across from me looked very familiar—I thought we had met at a previous gathering. Later, he came over and asked if I had worked somewhere before, and I realized it was Qunwei from the Institutional Business Department of Yuanta Futures. The last time we met was around 2011 when I had just returned to Taiwan from Shanghai. It's been several years again. Now he has moved to Guosen Securities. Meeting unexpectedly in a foreign place after so many years is quite a fate. Tonight, about twenty people came, filling a large table in the private room—some old friends, some new friends. Everyone is working hard away from home, and having such opportunities to occasionally gather, chat, and exchange information is really quite nice :) By Morgan, evening of 2015.12.17
Location: Shenzhen, Sheraton Dameisha Resort, Chao Zong Hui Restaurant Travel Note: Tonight, Taiwanese finance professionals working in Shenzhen had a gathering. Besides meeting several former colleagues, I sat next to Brother Gao Zijian, who is also an alumnus of National Taiwan University. We had dinner together years ago at South Beauty in the Shanghai World Financial Center. This time, he invited Professor Chen Zongqing to give a speech in Shenzhen on behalf of Founder Securities. It's been years, and we met again in a different city. Across from me, someone looked very familiar—I thought we'd met at a previous gathering. Later, he came over and asked if we'd crossed paths somewhere, and I realized it was Qunwei from the Institutional Business Department of Yuanta Futures. The last time we met was in 2011 when I had just returned to Taiwan from Shanghai. It's been years, and now he's moved to Guosen Securities. Running into each other in a foreign place after so long feels like fate. About twenty people came tonight, filling a large table in the private room—some old friends, some new. Everyone is working hard away from home, and it's really nice to have a chance like this to gather, chat, and exchange information. :) By Morgan, evening of Dec 17, 2015.
Location: Shenzhen Jiefang Road, Cuicui Japanese Pork Cutlet Travel note: Friday dinner with junior Charles. The freshly fried pork cutlet tasted pretty good~
Location: Shenzhen, Wu Dao Xiang, Cantonese Cuisine Travel Note: Just Memo it~ By Morgan @2015.12.10
Location: Hunan Changsha, Finance Department - Caixin International Hotel, Jinshuiwan Hunan Cuisine
Location: Shenzhen, Dao Xiang Hong Kong-style Dim Sum
Location: Shenzhen, Yixing Restaurant, Pork Tripe Chicken. Travel note: Last night, through Hongkai whom I met a couple of weeks ago, I got to know a new Taiwanese friend, Brother Elephant. He used to work at Lite-On and is now running his own international trade business in Guangzhou. Even though it was our first meeting, we hit it off. While chatting, I spontaneously called Brother Eagle, and he was super generous, traveling all the way from Nanshan District to Luohu to join us. The three of us went singing and drinking, then had a late-night snack together. Over the past three days, I've had red wine, white wine, and beer—quite a round! Also, congratulations to my old classmate Guo Xiaoping, who got married in Keelung yesterday. Although I couldn't be there in person, I'm genuinely happy for you, my dear old friend! ^^ By Morgan on Dec 6, 2015.
Location: Shenzhen, Dongmen, Baofa Restaurant Travel Note: Yesterday evening, after helping a new friend from Everbright Futures Asset Management remotely solve his Interactive Brokers and MultiCharts connection issue, I got a call from Brother Ying, whom I hadn't seen in a long time, inviting me to dinner. He also invited Hongkai, who used to be a MultiCharts instructor at Kewei and is now working with Tian'an Digital and the Bao'an District Government on a startup incubator. Since Hongkai doesn't drink much, Brother Ying and I ended up finishing about ten beers—really got a bit drunk @@. Thanks to Brother Ying for treating me to this meal! By Morgan, evening of Nov 28, 2015.
Location: Macau, City of Dreams, The House of Dancing Water show. Travel note: After leaving the massage room at Emperor Hotel alone in the morning, I suddenly felt like checking online to see if I could book tickets for The House of Dancing Water tonight. I swiped my phone and surprisingly found available seats. So, my spontaneous weekend plan led me here to watch the show tonight. The House of Dancing Water truly lives up to its reputation—many unimaginably difficult moves combined with various lighting, water pool, and fountain stage effects, transitioning from fantasy to modern and back to fantasy, getting more exciting towards the end. Excellent!!! P.S. After the show, time to figure out where to stay tonight. @@
Location: Macau, Macau Grand Prix. Travel note: The Macau Grand Prix, starting in 1954, is the world's oldest street racing event. I spent the afternoon watching GT supercars, F3 formula cars, motorcycle races, and the China Cup. Experiencing the roaring speed sounds whizzing past my ears continuously and the thrilling scenes of overtaking and reversals was incredibly震撼! Finally, from afar in the stands, I cheered for my Weidao Junior High classmate Lin Boheng, who was competing. Although his car seemed to have some issues after the start, he showed great sportsmanship by returning to the track after repairs and striving to finish the race. Even though he didn't place in the end, that didn't matter much. Today's firsthand experience at the racetrack gave me a deep impression and收获 of this sport. Also, congratulations to my classmate on his recent marriage! :) By Morgan on Nov 21, 2015.
Location: Macau. Travel note: Macau, Emperor Hotel, 21F, Windsor Bar. A colleague asked before getting off work if I wanted to go to Macau. After thinking for a few minutes, I said, okay, let's go! I casually grabbed a power bank and my passport, didn't bring anything else, didn't even know if there were ferry tickets available or where to stay tonight, and went with him. We took a ferry from Shekou Port in Shenzhen to Macau. Very spontaneously, I called my university classmate Funky, and he was also very generous, coming out to meet us and taking us to his usual spot—the rooftop of Emperor Hotel. There's a bar here where we opened two bottles of whiskey (1,600 MOP*2). Funky also invited his graduate school classmate and former teacher, James. The four of us drank, chatted, and listened to band performances here, having a great time. Old friends reuniting—a pleasant Friday night~ Thanks to Funky and Brother James for treating us this round! :) By Morgan on the evening of Nov 20, 2015.
Location: Shenzhen, Dongmen Old Street, Daoke, Robot Knife-Cut Noodles. Travel note: I brought three pairs of pants here to alter the length and顺便 had dinner. Wandering around, my eyes lit up when I suddenly saw this shop where a robot cuts noodles on the spot. As someone who loves trying new things, of course, I went in and sat down. Watching the chef press a remote control, the robot automatically started cutting the noodles. It was not only fun to eat but also quite tasty~ Interesting~ :) By Morgan on the evening of Nov 19, 2015.
Location: Over 60 packages bought on Taobao/Tmall during Double 11. Travel note summary: The over 60 packages I bought on Taobao/Tmall during Double 11 have been filling up my home and office these past few days. The variety of items covers everything from food, clothing, housing, transportation, education to entertainment—Australian M8-grade Wagyu, hotpot ingredients like sea urchin and crab roe buns, four-color raisins from Xinjiang, air chocolate, almond loquat powder, a Golf wallet and belt, Playboy down jacket and pants, lithium battery-heated clothing, Columbia outdoor storm pants, a remote-controlled light switch, water purifier filter cartridges, waterproof non-slip hiking shoes, a Schwyzcross backpack, the full set of Oxford Reading Tree English storybooks with a reading pen, heated massagers for the neck and lumbar spine, a carbon fiber badminton racket, plus French perfume, a Baodao Glasses O2O anti-blue light prescription voucher... I spent over NT$40,000 in one go. This is going to make moving house much more difficult in the future. @@
Location: Shenzhen, Fortune Plaza, Ji's Korean Cuisine. Travel note summary: Evening dinner with my university classmate and former roommate Ahou at Fortune Plaza's Ji's Korean Cuisine in Chegongmiao. Ahou's daughter just turned two months old, and he shared his joy and feelings with me. Ahou's 'post-fatherhood' aura is indeed strong—people kept coming over to say hi all night. First, a beautiful woman sitting next to our table overheard us talking about shorting the RMB before and came over to ask if options are investable. After chatting, it turned out she works at a fixed-income private equity fund nearby but doesn't have much investment experience herself. Then, a friend of Ahou's had some issues and needs while using Tongdaxin software for stock picking, so Ahou asked for my opinion. We exchanged ideas via WeChat among the three of us. The last incident was more interesting: a couple with their four-year-old daughter, after finishing their meal and leaving the restaurant, came back to ask if we were Taiwanese. She said she heard us talking about something related to Taiwan but wasn't sure if her guess was correct, hesitating until finally deciding to come over and ask. They now run a traditional Chinese medicine clinic in Futian that accepts health insurance. The wife's family runs three herbal medicine shops in Sanchong, Taiwan, so the clinic's herbs are all imported from Taiwan. The husband is from Kaohsiung and knows many Taiwanese doctors in Shenzhen. After exchanging name cards, it really felt like fate. Lastly, thanks to Ahou—for treating me to dinner and driving me home specially. Congrats on becoming a dad! ^^ By Morgan, evening of Nov 13, 2015.
Location: Shenzhen, KKMall, Grandma's Home (Hangzhou Cuisine). Travel note summary: Came here for dinner with Ramen Senior, Peter Senior, and their friend, Official Brother, from the Southern Taiwan Science Park Administration.
Location: Shenzhen, Seafood Supermarket, King Crab. Travel note summary: Having friends visit from afar is a great joy. :p
Location: Shenzhen, KKMall, Daoxuan Japanese Cuisine. Travel note summary: A newly opened Japanese restaurant, positioned slightly mid-to-high end. Besides imported Japanese seafood, they also offer teppanyaki. The bill for three people came to nearly NT$4,000.
Location: Shenzhen, No. 79 Fishing Boat Seafood Restaurant Travel note summary: No. 79 Fishing Boat Seafood Restaurant in Shenzhen is on Bao'an South Road, diagonally opposite MixC. They have a lot of seafood displayed right in the middle of the restaurant for customers to pick from, all cooked fresh to order. Pretty good~
Location: Shenzhen, KK Mall, Tang Xiaoguo Travel note summary: My younger brother came to Shenzhen on a business trip from Taiwan this week. I went to have hot pot with him and his Tsinghua University alumni junior, Charles, at Tang Xiaoguo in KK Mall.
Location: Shenzhen, OCT East Tourist Resort Travel note summary: After returning to Shenzhen from a long trip, this week was spent on work, high-end steak, seafood, red wine, and karaoke. Instead of resting at home this Saturday, I went for an outing to the suburbs with junior Charles and Judy, a new colleague who just arrived this week. It took about an hour from downtown to get here, very close to the sea. The Tea Stream Valley area has architecture imitating a Swiss town, Interlaken, along with a forest train and tea garden trails. There's also a 'Tian Chan' performance at 3 PM (70 RMB), which blends Zen themes with various acrobatics—really a great value show worth seeing. The entire scenic area is huge, built with an investment of 3.5 billion RMB, making it a major attraction in Shenzhen. The other side has the Grand Canyon area with many amusement facilities, but we didn't have time to go there. Now taking the shuttle bus down the mountain. Left home at 8 AM, probably won't be back until after 7 PM. Another fulfilling day~ :p
Location: Shanghai Travel note summary: 8. Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Helan Mountain rock paintings, Western Xia Imperial Tombs, Shuidonggou Ruins. Last night, I boarded the train from Hohhot to Yinchuan at 20:49. Having had the experience of not being able to sleep on a hard sleeper from Shanghai to Mount Tai, I spent a bit more money this time to book a soft sleeper. However, I didn't expect my roommate to snore loudly, but I still slept better than on a hard sleeper. Arriving at the destination—Yinchuan—at 5:14 this morning, since it was too early, I simply spent 500 RMB to hire a private car and asked Hui driver Master Ma to take me to several spots I wanted to visit. 'Driving a long chariot, I'll storm the Helan Mountain pass'—Yue Fei, 'Man Jiang Hong'. After having a bowl of Lanzhou pulled noodles for breakfast, around 6 AM, I was alone on Helan Mountain watching the sunrise and saw the paintings made by ancient nomadic people on the rocks. Something I had only read about in textbooks, I finally got to experience it firsthand. This ancient strategic location. At the Western Xia Imperial Tombs, I visited the mausoleum of Li Yuanhao, the founding emperor of Western Xia. Reflecting on this dynasty that played a key role in Chinese history nearly a thousand years ago, now only tombs remain, which is quite poignant. At the Inner Mongolia Museum, I learned about Mongol history; at Zhaojun's Tomb, about Xiongnu history; and at the museum in the Western Xia Imperial Tombs, I gained more understanding of Western Xia's history and culture. Finally, I came to Shuidonggou, which has ruins from the Paleolithic era 30,000 years ago, discovered by French archaeologists in 1923. However, what's special in the scenic area is the Ming Dynasty 'Hidden Soldier Caves'. Ming soldiers built underground tunnels here with various traps and stored weapons to fight nomadic tribes. It's also one of the filming locations for movies like '14 Blades', 'Dragon Gate Inn', and 'A Chinese Odyssey Part Three'. After this trip, I finally have a bit more understanding of this ancient Western Xia region. Keep going!~~ By Morgan on 2015.10.8
Location: Beijing Travel note summary: 6. Inner Mongolia, Ordos, Kubuqi Desert. After watching the sunrise on the grassland early in the morning, I moved to the desert. Yesterday I rode a horse, today I rode a camel. Sitting between the humps, swaying back and forth, I got a little feel for walking in the desert. Besides visiting the desert, today was quite leisurely with no real itinerary, so I remembered Professor Kim Ik-ki from South Korea, whom I met at Mount Wutai when he was also traveling alone. He's 65 years old, studied in the US for over seven years, majoring in sociology. Although retired in Korea, he now teaches again at Renmin University in Beijing. He's amazing—he's visited over 50 countries and more than 100 cities in China, and even been to Taiwan five or six times. Since we both love experiencing life and were both traveling solo this time, we got along really well. We even went to the Hanging Temple together on a motorcycle. One reason I've always loved traveling, besides seeing many different sights and broadening my horizons, is that I get to meet all kinds of people. With billions of people in the world, those you meet on a journey are truly fated. Traveling the world, seeing the sky, the earth, the scenery, the people, and this endlessly fascinating world~ :) By Morgan on 2015.10.6
Virtual Reality 虛擬實境 眼鏡 在中國網購實在是很方便 因此有時候週末沒事手機滑一滑 就是五、六百人民幣出去了 也造成了房間的東西越堆越多 多到都不敢去想如果要搬家怎麼辦 @@…
Location: Gansu, Dunhuang - Mogao Caves, Mingsha Mountain & Crescent Spring, West Line Travel Notes Summary: 11. Gansu Dunhuang West Line Day Trip. Breakfast: Halal restaurant beef noodle soup with transparent noodles, very chewy. A. Dunhuang Film and TV Ancient City - many movies filmed here including New Dragon Gate Inn, Detective Dee 3, 4, etc. B. West Thousand Buddha Caves - some Buddha statues and murals preserved inside, but unfortunately far less well-preserved than Mogao Caves. Lunch: Dining under grapevines, can pick grapes to eat after meal. C. Yangguan Pass Ruins - 'I urge you to drink one more cup of wine; West of Yang Pass you'll meet no more old friends.' Viewed beacon tower ruins and Yangguan Avenue. D. Yumen Pass + Han Dynasty Great Wall Ruins - 'Why should the Qiang flute complain about willow trees? Spring breeze never reaches Yumen Pass.' Viewed Small Square Pan City and Han Dynasty Great Wall ruins. E. Yadan Devil City - compared to Xinjiang's devil city, Dunhuang's has fewer shaped scenic spots, but the sunset slowly sinking into the Gobi still evokes the desolate melancholy of the vast desert. (Yadan is a wind-eroded landform usually only found in deserts; in Uyghur, it means steep slopes.) Dunhuang's climate is very unique - you can experience all four seasons in one day. Waking up at 8 AM, it was only 4°C, but by noon it quickly rose to over 20°C. After sunset, temperatures cooled again, so after watching the sunset, we had to add layers. The whole day's itinerary was very fulfilling, but most unforgettable was the return trip. Sitting alone in the back seat, gazing at the night outside, thinking about many things and memories, the bus stopped in the uninhabited Gobi area. When everyone got off and the bus lights turned off, the sight before us was truly unforgettable for a lifetime. Looking up, the sky was covered with countless stars; overhead, a clearly visible Milky Way. You could see Altair and Vega facing each other across the galaxy, while the Big Dipper shone brightly, guiding travelers. With 360-degree unobstructed views and no light pollution, and coincidentally no moon visible, even the horizon was dotted with starlight. Being surrounded by stars felt special - arguably the most expansive starry sky I've ever seen, and the first time I felt so close to the stars. In that moment, time seemed to stand still, infinitely intoxicating, leaving a breathtakingly beautiful finale for this journey. Here, silence speaks louder than words... By Morgan, evening of 2015.10.10
Location: Shenzhen, Lychee Park Travel Notes Summary: Shenzhen Lychee Park. Yesterday afternoon, I tried wax therapy (boiling wax with some Chinese herbs and applying it warmly to the body). In the evening, I went to Chunfeng Road in the Guomao area for a massage + sauna. This afternoon, I took a stroll in Lychee Park, enjoying the green grass, white clouds, flowing water, and lotus flowers. Consider it a leisurely and relaxing weekend spent~ :p
Location: Shenzhen, Huangting Plaza, Tao Heung Restaurant Travel Notes Summary: Shenzhen Huangting Plaza, Tao Heung Restaurant. Tonight, I attended a gathering of Taiwanese financial professionals working in Shenzhen. I met Jeff, who just came from Taiwan to Shenzhen. Quite a coincidence - his company is Guosen Securities on Hongling Middle Road, which is also where I went on business during my first trip to Shenzhen in 2007. Jeff previously worked at Polaris New Finance Department, which was right downstairs from our old company in Neihu. I used to go there for a short while too. Even the residential complex he lives in now is behind Kingkey 100, same as me - I'm in C2, he's in C3, so we're practically neighbors now. What a small world~ :p Besides that, I also met an old colleague from another company, Jerry, whom I haven't seen in a long time. Had a very satisfying meal, thanks to Manager Xie from CITIC Futures for treating everyone~ :) By Morgan, evening of 2015.9.17
Location: Shenzhen, KKMall, Chongqing Grilled Fish Travel Note: Dinner with colleagues~ By Morgan @2015.9.15
Location: Hong Kong, Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) Travel Notes Summary: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute. Came here for a meeting in the afternoon. After finishing, heading back to Shenzhen~
Location: Shenzhen, KKMall, Xian Zong Lin, Casual Dining Travel Note: My junior from university, Caixin, came to Shenzhen for classes these past few days, so he came to have dinner with me tonight. I ended up bringing him and two colleagues here to eat. It's been about two years since I last saw my junior—I remember last time was in Ximending. Time flies so fast @@. By Morgan, evening of Sep 7, 2015.
今年吃了好多家的月餅 包括稻香、榮華 還有香格里拉酒店等港式月餅 (蓮蓉雙蛋黃) 不過這邊星巴克的月餅 和台灣比 在部分總類與價錢有些差異 一個小小的月餅 要價接近三百台幣 若當早餐吃還真是不便宜～…
Location: Shenzhen Travel note summary: One-day trip to Mount Heng (Nanyue). Woke up at 5 AM for three consecutive days @@. Changsha Railway Station (20 min by subway) → Changsha South Station (30 min by high-speed rail) → Hengshan West Station (20 min by bus) → Nanyue Archway (walk) → Nanyue Visitor Center (eco-bus) → Mid-Hill Pavilion (cable car) → South Heaven Gate (1-hour hike) → Zhurong Peak (highest peak of Mount Heng, 1300m altitude, walk) → South Heaven Gate (eco-bus) → Chuanyan Poetry Forest (walk up) → Mid-Hill Pavilion (eco-bus) → Nanyue Visitor Center (walk) → Nanyue Grand Temple (bus) → Shuilian Cave (bus) → Nanyue Grand Temple (taxi) → Hengshan West Station (13 min by high-speed rail) → Hengyang East Station (2h 45min by high-speed rail) → Shenzhen North Station (subway) → Expected to be home by around 9 PM (should still catch Jiangsu TV's 'The Masked Singer' at 10). Though exhausted, after conquering West Mount Hua and East Mount Tai, I finally completed the third of the Five Great Mountains—Mount Heng—in continuous heavy rain. Orz By Morgan on 2015.9.6
Location: Shenzhen COCO Park Super Steak Travel note summary: Shenzhen COCO Park Super Steak. Last night was king crab + beer, today switched to fruitwood-smoked beef short ribs + red wine~ Cheers!
Location: Shenzhen, MixC Mall, Fengwu Conveyor Belt Sushi Travel note snippet: Dinner with junior Charles at Fengwu Conveyor Belt Sushi in Shenzhen's MixC Mall. By Morgan @2015.8.21
Location: Shenzhen Take Seafood Supermarket Travel note summary: Shenzhen Take Seafood Supermarket (KKMall store). Reopened today after three months of renovation. Headquarters took over the original franchise, completely different from before, now focusing on seafood barbecue. The food is great, and the boss was generous—since he hit it off with our table, he gave us two large plates of oysters plus beer~ By Morgan on the evening of 2015.8.5
Location: Shenzhen Kingkey 100, 100th floor, Wine Pavilion Travel note summary: Shenzhen Kingkey 100, 100th floor, Wine Pavilion. Three of us opened a bottle of Australian red wine worth over 1,000 RMB—just right. Tasting wine, chatting and laughing, drunk and lying back in life......
Location: Shenzhen, Golden Jaguar International Buffet (all-you-can-eat) Travel note: Team dinner at Golden Jaguar International Buffet in Shenzhen, all-you-can-eat style~ Boss Liang picked up the tab!
Location: Hei Hing Hong Kong Style Cuisine, Hong Kong, July 2015 Travel note: Feels like drinking red wine last night to kill germs still had some effect. Tonight, moving from Shenzhen to Hong Kong to continue the effort~~
Location: Shenzhen KKMall Starbucks Travel note: Sean just got back to Shenzhen from Taiwan this evening. After I got home, he came over to pick something up, so we grabbed a drink nearby and chatted. We talked about recent market trends and all sorts of things. Wishing Sean a smooth start at his new fund company tomorrow—hope he gets the new product launched within two months! :)
Location: Shenzhen Chegongmiao Tai Hing Hong Kong-style Restaurant Travel note: This afternoon, I went for a massage at a new shop in Old Street, then took a bus to Chegongmiao to have dinner with a colleague. I also got to see his nearly 60-ping luxury apartment here. We had a relaxed and enjoyable meal. It's such a coincidence—his family lives on Xueshi Road in Taichung, which is super close to my family's Jianxing Road! Thanks for the treat! By Morgan, evening of July 19, 2015
Location: Shenzhen Shopping Park Lolita Bar Travel note: Came here for drinks and music with my college roommate Ahou, senior Masa, and a female friend of Ahou's. Third stop of the night!
Location: Shenzhen Grand Hyatt Hotel 38F Rooftop Bar + 37F French Restaurant Travel note: Manager Liang treated a few colleagues to dinner tonight. We started by opening a bottle of Australian red wine at the Hyatt rooftop in the evening, then went downstairs for Angus steak + lobster soup and another bottle of French red wine. A satisfying meal and drinks, kicking off the weekend eve! By Morgan, evening of July 17, 2015
Location: Shenzhen KK100 95F Buffet Travel note: Senior Lman and Senior Peter came to Shenzhen, so I took the chance to introduce them to Manager Liang. We brought along junior Charles from Taichung First Senior High School, and everyone had dinner together upstairs at the company building tonight.
Location: Xiaodangjia Shunde Cuisine, Futian District, Shenzhen Travel note summary: Tonight, I had dinner with a group of Taiwanese friends, both old and new, working in the finance industry in China and Hong Kong. They're from companies like Haitong, China Resources Yuanda, Cinda-Auswealth, CITIC, and Capital Securities Hong Kong. Taiwan is small, and it's the same in China—even if we didn't know each other before, we always find connections when chatting. Brother Li Donghan, who used to appear on Feifan TV for stock analysis, gave a speech at a CITIC seminar I attended last time. General Manager Ruiyuan is good friends with my senior Shiwei from university... Others also knew former colleagues to some extent. It was a gathering of Taiwanese people striving in a foreign land, where I made many new friends and enjoyed great food—a wonderful night! :) By Morgan, evening of July 13, 2015.
Location: Shenzhen, Kingkey 100, 95th Floor Buffet. What a lively weekend! Yesterday a friend from Taiwan visited, and today another old friend braved the wind and rain to come all the way from Shanghai. For such a tough journey, it would be rude not to treat him to lunch here :p
Location: Shenzhen, KKMall, Tonkatsu Tendon. An old friend came through the wind and rain from Taiwan, so the three of us came here to eat. This place is always very popular, with lines forming before 6 PM. Though it's slightly not as good as Anzu, it's still pretty good~ :p
Location: Hong Kong, Mong Kok, Yu Yan, Hong Kong-style Dim Sum. Came to have some tea and chat with Boss Brian and Brother William. Time flies—it's been months since we last saw each other~ :)
Location: Shenzhen, MixC, Pizza Express. Today I took two new colleagues (who are also seniors) to MixC for a meal. Originally wanted to go to Lüye, but it was way too crowded, so we switched to pizza. After eating, everyone went to Futian District for some drinks, ending a relaxing night~ Keep fighting tomorrow~
Location: Shenzhen, Kingkey 100, 95th Floor, Tiāngōng Chinese Restaurant (Cantonese). Today another heavyweight new colleague arrived, so Manager Liang treated a few colleagues to a meal. The Chinese restaurant on the 95th floor of Kingkey is all private rooms, perfect for business or family gatherings. The food is quite refined: sea cucumber with vegetables, baked prawns, claypot yellow croaker, rice porridge with shrimp... During the meal, Manager Liang shared interesting stories about dining with figures like Xu Yuandong, Peng淮南, Chen Chong, Cai Hongtu... or economic advisors close to Hu Jintao. We drank red wine and chatted, and time just flew by. More talent is gathering, and the company is picking up speed. Let's keep it up~ :)
Location: Shenzhen, Kingkey 100, 95th Floor, St. Regis Hotel, Xiu Western Restaurant Travel note summary: Tonight, Manager Liang treated a new colleague and his wife to dinner—they're old friends of his from way back. I just tagged along to make up a table of four. The dinner buffet costs over 2,000 TWD per person; every time I come, I feel like my small appetite is such a waste. So I ended up loading up on desserts to at least get some extra calories. As usual, besides a glass of red wine, we opened a whole bottle of Australian red to get through the night. The weather was great today, so the view overlooking Shenzhen was crystal clear. We even caught an Italian chef doing a pizza dough tossing show—pretty impressive! A very pleasant evening. Welcome to join the hustle, let's keep pushing! :) By Morgan, evening of June 29, 2015
Location: Smoothie House (Yongkang Street Mango Ice), KKMall, Shenzhen Travel note summary: An old friend from Taiwan came to visit me this afternoon, and he'll also be striving together in Shenzhen soon—very welcome! It's getting livelier lately~ ^^ In such hot weather, we went to the mall near my company to eat ice and chat. Although this shop claims to be the mango ice from Taipei's Yongkang Street, I'm not sure if it's the real deal or a copy. The price isn't cheap though—a small plate of ice for 35 RMB, about 175 TWD~ :p By Morgan @2015.6.28
Location: Shenzhen, MixC, Casa Teppanyaki Travel note summary: Had dinner with a new friend tonight. Andy is the younger brother of my junior high school buddy Haoting, and we met while studying in the US. He's Taiwanese but moved around with his parents' business since childhood, living in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Canada, and more. He double-majored in Statistics and Economics at Carnegie Mellon University in the US. After graduation, he worked as an analyst at Merrill Lynch in Hong Kong for several years, and recently moved to Shenzhen for work. Now at Tencent's headquarters, he's responsible for market research and recommendations on Tencent's acquisitions or investments in other mobile game companies. Andy is a few years younger than me but very polite and easy to get along with. His experience of living all over the world since childhood gives him a broad perspective. Glad to have another fellow Taiwanese friend in Shenzhen. Hope to catch up again next time! :) By Morgan, evening of June 26, 2015
Location: Shenzhen, Grand Hyatt Hotel, 37F French Restaurant Travel note summary: After accompanying Manager Liang to check out RIMOWA suitcases at MixC, we came to the nearby Grand Hyatt for dinner. The main courses were grilled lobster and medium-rare Angus ribeye steak, plus oysters, and we opened two bottles of French red wine between the two of us. Another meal starting at over ten thousand TWD. Tomorrow, another junior from Taichung First Senior High School, who later studied at Tsinghua University for grad school, is coming from Taiwan for a company interview. I'll sit for a bit longer before heading home. Hope I won't be too hungover to affect the interview @@ By Morgan, evening of June 24, 2015
Location: Shenzhen, KKMall, Xin Tai Thai Cuisine Travel note summary: My old comrade from Shanghai days, Sean, is about to switch to a fairly large public fund in China to launch his own planned products and serve as a fund manager. So today, he and his wife flew from Shanghai to Shenzhen to look for a place to live. They searched in Futian District all day but didn't have much luck, so I invited them to check out Luohu District in the evening. We toured the serviced apartment I'm currently staying in for reference. After viewing two vacant units, we went to eat at KKMall downstairs. Haven't seen Sean in ages—last time was last April when I went down to Shanghai from Beijing. Who would've thought we'd be so fated? From Shanghai in 2010 to Shenzhen in 2015, after many years, we'll be hustling in the same city again. Thanks to the lovely couple for treating me tonight, and looking forward to welcoming you here soon! :) By Morgan, evening of June 21, 2015
Location: Shenzhen, Kingkey 100, Yue Cai Wang Fu (Cantonese Cuisine Palace) Travel note summary: Through Ramen senior's introduction, I had dinner tonight with Ben, a new friend from Hong Kong who also knows my junior Jingqun (jserv). Also at the table were Senior Peter, Ben's partner Brother Ou, and Ben's junior from Chinese University of Hong Kong, Elena. Ben founded the Hong Kong startup community "Entrepreneur Commons" and is a tech expert himself, quite well-known in Hong Kong. He's currently involved in founding and participating in many companies and was recently invited to participate in the smart city planning for Shenzhen's Qianhai District. Although it was our first meeting, I happened to have different topics to chat about with everyone. Brother Ou is from Hong Kong and also has a place in Futian District, Shenzhen. Coincidentally, an old friend Sean called me this evening—he's moving from Shanghai to work in Shenzhen and wants to find a place in Futian, so I asked Brother Ou to keep an eye out. Elena is a Russian beauty who just graduated recently and speaks Chinese very well. Since I've dealt with Russian hackers before, I casually chatted with her about that. Plus, she's been to Tainan, so we had no shortage of topics. Ben happens to be the same age as me, both born in the Year of the Monkey, and loves to travel around. Our company is also about to set up a new office in Qianhai District, so of course, I had a lot to ask him. After dinner, everyone moved to the hotel where Senior Peter is staying. The senior demoed their recently completed parking management system, including license plate recognition combined with cameras, algorithm technology, Etag sensors, LED displays, backend servers... plus using web and apps as the management user interface, fully presenting an application of the Internet of Things. Senior Peter has completed countless projects large and small; the investment in various R&D hardware and software is truly immeasurable. After accumulating countless technical foundations and experiences, in the field of hardware-software integration, he's truly among the top in Taiwan. Many systems in Taiwan, from Taipei bus timing, tunnel fire alarm systems, the National Center for High-performance Computing, some community smart devices, even systems used in hotels and by the military... have the presence of his company. It's no exaggeration to say their business scope covers everything. Including Pixar Animation in the US, extreme sports photography systems, Nasdaq exchange, Germany's Mercedes-Benz, Honeywell for air purifiers, Laos' telecom systems, a certain country's customs system... are all his clients. Among them are also Japanese engineering control systems known for being particularly meticulous about technical requirements, and Japanese giants with annual revenues in trillions—it really opened my eyes. I had no idea Taiwan had such an outstanding team and company, quietly honing their skills to the top all along. I'm also very grateful for this visit through Ramen senior, which allowed me to meet several super-talented people at once and broaden my horizons even more. Hope to see you all again next time! :) By Morgan, evening of June 20, 2015
Location: Shenzhen Nanshan Technology Park Maker Faire International Innovation Festival Travel note summary: Today, I cleared my schedule and came to explore with Ramen and Senior Peter. The content was incredibly diverse—robots, aircraft, 3D printing, SBCs, wearable devices... even launchable rockets! The themes mainly focused on current popular topics. Later, Senior Ramen met with Brother Zhang, who left Foxconn to start his own hardware startup accelerator, along with a friend from Xiamen, to discuss collaboration opportunities and methods. I was just tagging along for the fun! Still, it was quite interesting to see some of the startup teams and products in Shenzhen right now. :p
Location: Shenzhen Haidilao Hot Pot Travel note summary: Senior Lman came to Shenzhen for Maker Faire, accompanied by Senior Peter from the NCKU Aerospace Class of '86. So, we arranged to have dinner here together. I've tried Haidilao in Shanghai and Xi'an before, but this was my first time at the Shenzhen branch. Senior Peter is quite a character too—he switched to studying Information Management at Chung Cheng University for grad school, then started his own company after graduation. His company does software-hardware integration, covering a wide range of services, and even handles overseas orders. With just six employees, they achieve an annual revenue of over 200 million RMB. It was a pleasure to share a meal with two interesting seniors in the unfamiliar city of Shenzhen. :) By Morgan on the evening of 2015.6.19
Location: Shenzhen Sheraton Hotel Barbecue Party Travel note summary: Manager Liang is heading to Beijing tomorrow for some business, so he invited me to dinner tonight. Once again, we ended up at the Sheraton. But this time, instead of steak, we went to the 23rd floor for barbecue. It's 300 RMB per person plus 10% service charge. We also opened a bottle of Australian red wine, DB, and ordered two glasses individually. With a bit of a discount, the total for two came to over 800 RMB. The barbecue here is set outdoors, which has a nice vibe, plus you can enjoy a high-altitude view of Shenzhen's nightscape. For the price, it's quite a good deal. On a midsummer night, with a gentle breeze blowing, it really eased the stifling heat of Shenzhen—very comfortable! By Morgan on the evening of 2015.6.18
Location: Shenzhen, Grand Skylight Hotel, Stock Index Options Conference Travel note: Haven't attended a conference in a while. With nothing to do this afternoon, I wandered over. We've been talking about stock index options for so long—looks like they might really be launching soon~ :p By Morgan @2015.6.13
Location: Shenzhen Grand Skylight Hotel Travel note summary: It's been a while since I attended a conference. With nothing much to do in the afternoon, I wandered over here. They've been talking about stock index options for so long—looks like they might actually be launching soon! :p
Location: Shenzhen Travel note summary: A busy day. Went to Hong Kong for a meeting in the morning, then hurried back to Shenzhen right after lunch to accompany Manager Liang in interviewing a candidate from Taiwan. Chris is quite a talent too—graduated with a degree in Financial Engineering, worked in two major proprietary trading departments, then went to London for a dual master's in Computer Science. After the interview, I took him out for dinner and we continued chatting about many things. Just as I guessed after seeing his photo on 104, he's an easygoing person. Recently, many excellent people have had the opportunity to join the team one after another. As for my own many shortcomings, I need to work even harder. @@
Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Hyatt Regency Hotel. Hyatt and Grand Hyatt belong to the same group. After finishing the meeting today, Boss Liang treated us to dinner here. The dinner buffet costs about over five hundred Hong Kong dollars per person plus 10%. I wasn't very hungry, so I just ordered a rosemary lamb chop and opened a bottle of red wine. The dining environment here is quite spacious, allowing one to relax and enjoy. However, Boss Liang brought up again tonight the idea of me going to Hong Kong later to pursue a Ph.D. It's been so many years since I graduated with a Master's degree; I've forgotten too much. Picking up the books again wouldn't be an easy task. @@ By Morgan, on the evening of May 28, 2015.
Hong Kong, Kwun Tong, Big Dipper Weng Top Honor Hot Pot Cuisine. After finishing the meeting in Hong Kong, Boss Liang treated everyone to dinner here. It's not a very cheap restaurant. The five of us ordered several large plates of Angus beef, fresh raw shrimp, raw oysters, meatballs, plus a bottle of red wine, and finally ended the meal by putting dumplings filled with shrimp into the hot pot. It was a very satisfying dinner! By Morgan, on the evening of May 26, 2015.
Shenzhen, KKMall Lady7. If I remember correctly, Lady7 is the Dazzling that opened from Taiwan, so its main attraction is naturally its honey toast. Today, Miki, my former insurance consultant from Prudential, came to Shenzhen for an exam. After the exam, she asked me to have dinner, so we came here to eat. Miki is an old friend I met when I worked in Hsinchu. I can't believe over ten years have passed in the blink of an eye. She said she never thought one day she'd be having dinner with me in Shenzhen. Life goes by too fast. So every opportunity to reunite with an old friend is precious. After the meal, I briefly met one of Miki's colleagues and their Hong Kong friend Bobo from Prudential. We chatted casually for a while before saying goodbye and dispersing. A stormy night in Shenzhen, meeting an old friend in a foreign land. By Morgan, on the evening of May 23, 2015.
Location: Shenzhen, Big Bad Wolf Restaurant Travel note: Tonight, two junior alumni from the association came to Shenzhen on business and we arranged to have dinner together. Both are from the class of '97, four years behind me—one from the Institute of Economics and the other from Finance. One works in corporate banking at Taishin Bank, the other handles IPO business at SinoPac. One frequently travels to Hong Kong, the other is based in Shanghai. Listening to them share about their experiences was quite insightful... I was so busy typing that I missed my subway stop! Orz — Morgan, evening of May 19, 2015
Location: Shenzhen, Han Tang Jing Fang Traditional Chinese Medicine Travel note: Thanks to the chief executive of the Cheng Kung University Taichung Alumni Association, senior Wang Wenda, who added me to a Cheng Kung University Greater China WeChat group yesterday. Right after joining, I met senior Chen Pengren from the class of '85 in Electrical Engineering. He just moved from Shanghai to Shenzhen for work in April. Senior Chen is also someone who bravely pursues his dreams—after working at MediaTek for six years, he resolutely quit to study Traditional Chinese Medicine at a medical school in Shanghai, graduating recently. We chatted on WeChat last night, and since his TCM clinic isn't far from me, I walked over this morning to catch up and get some cupping done. After having lunch together, I brought some herbal medicine home to brew. What an interesting coincidence! :) — Morgan, May 17, 2015
Location: Shenzhen, Kingkey 100 Building, South Beauty Travel note: It's been years since I last ate at South Beauty—the previous time was at the Shanghai World Financial Center. After all these years, even the signature dish, Jiangshi Rolling Fatty Beef, no longer has a live tableside show; it's just served directly cooked. @@
Location: Shenzhen, Sheraton Hotel, Rib eye Travel note: On Sunday evening, just after finishing a whole set of Memory Palace DVDs and replying to a letter from a French friend, I got a call from Manager Liang. He had just returned to Shenzhen from Taiwan and invited me for dinner and red wine. So, I took a taxi to the Sheraton to chat with him about company matters. My appetite was pretty good today—finished everything without needing a doggy bag! — Morgan, evening of May 10, 2015
Location: Shenzhen, Sheraton Hotel, Wagyu Rib eye Travel note: This morning, I went to Hong Kong for a briefing hosted by the Hong Kong government. The presentation was entirely in English, and questions could only be in English or Cantonese—but no one asked anything in Cantonese. My English listening skills are still very lacking; I'll just have to keep working on it. @@ In the evening, I had dinner with Manager Liang. It's been a while since I've had a guest steak with Australian red wine. Cheers! — Morgan, evening of April 27, 2015
Location: China Travel note: I have to say, China's O2O development is really fast these days. For someone as lazy as me, it saves a lot of time. I didn't even leave the house all weekend—just used food delivery apps to order steamed dumplings, pizza, sushi, and spicy hot pot for four meals. Even though I saved some time, the weekend still flew by in a flash, spent coding, studying English, watching Korean dramas, and replying to emails. The older I get, the more I feel there's never enough time. @@
Location: Hong Kong, Hei Hing Hong Kong Style Dim Sum Travel note: Hong Kong—Hei Hing Hong Kong Style Dim Sum. Came to Hong Kong for a meeting and a meal!
Location: Xi'an Travel note: Guilin—Prince Jingjiang's Mansion + Duxiu Peak, Chuanshan Cave. Made the most of my last few hours in Guilin city to visit a few more spots. At Prince Jingjiang's Mansion, I ran into a Taiwanese tour group from the Chai Shan Lions Club. At Chuanshan Cave, I encountered another Taiwanese group. Not sure if I'm just fated with Taiwan, or if there are really that many Taiwanese tourists in Guilin—every day this week, a Taiwanese tour has popped up next to me. @@ Anyway, even though visiting two spots was a bit rushed, with the help of a motorcycle taxi driver, I just barely made it onto the Guiyang-Guangzhou high-speed rail. It reminds me of my trip to Xi'an before, where I also pushed until the last minute just to get one more look at the city. Well, ending my seven-day tour of Guizhou and Guangxi, heading back to Shenzhen now~~ By Morgan on 2015.4.14
Location: Shenzhen Travel note: Guilin—Guanyan Cave, karst cave. It's the last day of the trip. Last night in Guilin, I found a place for a massage and foot bath, which helped me recover a bit. Coincidentally, the foot bath master used to work in Shenzhen's Luohu District and moved back to his hometown after the New Year, so I chatted with him for a while. This morning after checking out, I shouldered my backpack and headed alone to Guilin Bus Station. For 15 yuan, I took a minibus that rattled all the way to Guanyan. Guanyan is also a karst cave, but it's equipped with slides, underground waterways, a small train, and even an elevator inside the cave. While waiting for the slide, I ran into another large group of Taiwanese tourists. In Guilin, Taiwanese people are everywhere. @@ By Morgan on 2015.4.14
Location: Taichung Travel note: Guangxi, Guilin. 1. Boat tour of One River and Four Lakes. 2. Round trip on Yaoshan Cable Car. 3. Night tour of Elephant Trunk Hill + Elephant Hill Legend show. 4. Guilin Zhengyang Pedestrian Street. 5. Night view of Sun and Moon Pagodas. At Yaoshan, I happened to hear Taiwanese again, so I went up alone to strike up a conversation. This time, I met Taiwanese people living in Los Angeles—mostly a big group of uncles and aunties. One of them, Sister Chen, is also originally from Taichung. She's very concerned about Taiwan's current development. I told her that among my friends around my age, many are using their own strength to try to change and influence Taiwan, so maybe in a few years, things will be different from now. We chatted happily, but eventually had to part ways. However, a chance encounter is still a kind of fate. During travels, you always meet all sorts of people—that's one of the great joys of traveling, I guess. By Morgan on the evening of 2015.4.12
Location: Beijing Travel note summary: In Guiyang City, I had half a morning free with no special plans. After breakfast, I walked to Guanyin Cave, named after the natural Guanyin statue inside. I paid my respects sincerely before leaving. Then, I took a taxi to the Guizhou Museum on Beijing Road to browse some ethnic minority clothing and accessories, gaining a better understanding of Guizhou's culture. After that, I headed back to the hotel to check out.
Location: Guangxi, Guilin, Yangshuo Travel note summary: Guangxi, Reed Flute Cave (a karst cave). After a morning boat tour of Guilin's One River and Four Lakes, I had no plans for the afternoon. After lunch, I looked up some Guilin attractions and saw Reed Flute Cave, also known as the State Guest Cave for hosting many Chinese and foreign leaders. It seemed worth a visit, so I booked tickets immediately on Tongcheng website and hired a private car to go. Honestly, it was really impressive! Although the ticket wasn't cheap (around 500–600 TWD), walking inside and seeing nature's craftsmanship combined with modern lighting and visual effects truly amazed me, even as someone who's seen many sights. Especially the snow mountain reflection in the Crystal Palace was beautiful—definitely worth the trip! By Morgan on April 12, 2015.
Location: Guizhou, Guiyang City + Qingyan Ancient Town Travel note: A few days ago, I suddenly felt like going out for a walk, so I asked Boss Liang for leave and booked flights, train tickets, hotels, and some attraction tickets on Ctrip, Tongcheng, Tuniu, and 12306. Threw in some local tours, and the trip was set. After arriving in Guizhou today, my first words off the plane were: 'Oh no, it's much colder here than in Shenzhen.' Wearing just a thin shirt, I hadn't brought enough clothes. So after checking into the hotel, I went to a clothing store next door to buy a thicker jacket and asked the owner how to get to Qingyan Ancient Town. He kindly went on his computer, looked it up online, and said I could take bus No. 16 from here to Riverside Park, then transfer to special bus No. 210 to Qingyan. Lucky me—as soon as I stepped out, I saw a No. 16 bus. Without thinking too much, I quickly hopped on. Once on board, I reached for my wallet and thought, 'Oh no, I don't have small change.' Luckily, a girl nearby said, 'I'll change it for you,' so I ended up with a handful of coins and dropped 2 yuan in. Truly, warmth can be found everywhere in the world~ After getting off, I transferred to No. 210. This ride was a bit longer—took over an hour to reach the terminal. Thankfully, reading the novel 'Sword Spirit' on the bus kept me from getting bored. After getting off, although I knew Qingyan Ancient Town was in the suburbs, I didn't expect it to be really remote—hardly any people around. Fortunately, after entering the ancient town, I slowly saw some folks. Qingyan was built in the Ming Dynasty, over 600 years of history. After visiting many water towns and ancient towns in Jiangnan, coming to Guizhou's ancient town gave a more rustic feel. The bluestone-paved streets had a special charm walking on them at dusk. Just in time for dinner, I saw a shop and went in. 'Gao Ba Xi Fan'—a rice porridge with lotus root soup as the base, topped with peanuts, red dates, sesame, etc., and finally a rice cake ball on top—tasted really unique. Plus, I had pig trotters braised with ginger slices and fried tofu balls, solving a meal and tasting some of Qingyan's famous snacks. Continuing my habit of asking for directions one stop at a time, after eating, I asked the老板娘 how to take a bus back to Guiyang. She told me to walk down and look for the place with lights. So after passing through a dark city gate and road, I saw a minibus to Huaxi. Since Qingyan was indeed quite desolate, moving to a livelier spot first made more sense. So I hopped on the minibus again, asked, and dropped 4 yuan. Arriving in Huaxi, though it was still nearly an hour from Guiyang, it was much livelier here, and I could easily hail a taxi. But the driver was from Huaxi and wasn't familiar with Guiyang roads. Finally, after him circling around and asking around, we made it back to the hotel. Just when I wanted to look at today's photos, I realized the memory card seemed to have a problem—all the photos from earlier were gone @@ But I thought, forget it—memories and experiences are more important than lost photos. Since I'm already on the journey, just go with the flow...... By Morgan on the evening of 2015.4.8
Location: Shenzhen, MixC, Jiangnan Taste Travel note summary: Shenzhen, MixC, Jiangnan Taste. After returning from a meeting in Hong Kong yesterday, I originally planned to have dinner with my university classmate Jiahong, who was on a business trip to Shenzhen, but he was too busy, so we rescheduled for today. I can't even remember how many years it's been since I last saw Orca. Tonight, I had dinner with him and his two Apple colleagues, Emily and Ivy, giving us a chance to catch up a bit. Jiahong just returned from a business trip to the US headquarters, so this opportunity to meet here was quite serendipitous. Seeing old classmates always brings joy. Hope to meet again next time! :) By Morgan on the evening of April 1, 2015.
Location: Shenzhen, Dongmen Pedestrian Street Travel note summary: Shenzhen, Dongmen Pedestrian Street. I gave myself a day off today. After teaching students in the morning, I went for a massage in Huangbeiling in the afternoon, then strolled around Dongmen Old Street in the evening. I originally wanted to eat there, but after wandering around, nothing appealed to me, and there were no DVDs to buy either. In the end, I just bought my favorite chocolate cake and went home to spend my 35th birthday watching the Korean drama 'Best Lee Soon-shin' (Ace Star). Thanks to all my family and friends who wished me a happy birthday today! Many of you I haven't seen in so long, and only today did I get a chance to say hello. Thank you all! Wishing everyone peace and health. :) By Morgan on March 21, 2015.
Location: Shenzhen, KK100, 99th floor, Elba Italian Restaurant Travel note summary: Shenzhen, KK100, 99th floor, Elba Italian Restaurant. Manager Liang treated a few colleagues to dinner: lobster soup, Australian Angus ribeye + Italian red wine.
Location: St. Regis Shenzhen, 95F Buffet + French Red Wine Travel note summary: St. Regis Shenzhen, 95F Buffet + French Red Wine
Location: Grand Hyatt Shenzhen, 38F Penthouse Bar + Travel note summary: Grand Hyatt Shenzhen, 38F Penthouse Bar + 37F Belle Vue French Cuisine. Boss Liang stayed in Shenzhen this weekend instead of returning to Taiwan, so he invited me to hang out at MixC in the afternoon. He first bought a 9,000 RMB spring down jacket at Moncler, then we killed time watching Jupiter Ascending. After the movie, we went to the top floor of the nearby Grand Hyatt in the evening. We opened a bottle of French Burgundy red wine and ordered some cold cuts and cheese. At night, we went downstairs to the French restaurant for oysters, salmon, lobster, and Angus steak, along with another bottle of Chilean red wine (Lapostolle) and two extra glasses of champagne. It really was a day of eating, drinking, shopping, and watching movies—almost completely zoning out. @@ Back at my place, I got a call from Senior Youbin. He, Brother Quanhao, and Sister Caijia came to Shenzhen to visit factories and discuss an agency deal. They were supposed to drop by later, but they got too caught up and were kept late by an old chairman, so we'll have to catch up next time. :) By Morgan, evening of March 14, 2015
Location: Grand Hyatt Shenzhen, Italian Restaurant Travel note summary: Grand Hyatt Shenzhen, Italian Restaurant. Last time I had ribeye, this time I tried sirloin～ Not bad~
Location: Shenzhen Seafood Supermarket Travel note summary: Shenzhen Seafood Supermarket. Came here for a meal with Boss Liang and a few colleagues to finish off the leftover red wines from the past few days. But we also ended up opening new bottles to consume～ It really is a week of red wine～ @@ By Morgan, evening of March 16, 2015
Location: Shenzhen Seafood Supermarket, Fish Head Hot Pot Travel note summary: Shenzhen Seafood Supermarket, Fish Head Hot Pot. After chatting with two HKU students in the afternoon, I had a simple dinner with Boss Liang in the evening. Coincidentally, the boss of this restaurant, who is from Chaoshan, was sitting at the next table. We started chatting by chance, got along well, and opened more and more red wine—almost up to the fifth bottle by the end～ Getting a bit tipsy was inevitable. Back at my place, I still had to teach students remotely. I have a meeting in Hong Kong tomorrow afternoon, but life is about being happy and fulfilled～ ：p By Morgan, evening of March 3, 2015
Location: Shenzhen, Grand Hyatt Hotel, Yiheyuan Italian Restaurant Travel Note Summary: Shenzhen Grand Hyatt Hotel Yiheyuan Italian Restaurant. Manager Liang returned from Hong Kong in the evening and asked me out for dinner. I remembered I hadn't tried this restaurant yet, so we arranged to meet here. The medium Rib eye here is pretty good. Including a bottle of Italian red wine, the cost per person is around 4,000 TWD. By Morgan, evening of March 1, 2015.
Location: Hong Kong Travel note: Hong Kong International Airport. The free airport Wi-Fi is practically unusable—it keeps dropping and rarely connects. I had to pay for a one-hour 3G data pass using my Hong Kong SIM card to kill time. @@ Ready to head back to Taiwan.
Location: Shenzhen, Sheraton Hotel, Angus Ribeye Travel note: Shenzhen, Sheraton Hotel, Angus Ribeye. Had a meal with General Manager Liang and chatted a bit about the company's future development plans.
Location: Shenzhen, Lao Jia Xiang, Hunan Farmhouse Cuisine Travel note summary: To be honest, some of the dishes were quite spicy. In the end, I didn't eat much and could only keep eating cabbage. @@ ~ By Morgan on 2015.2.1
Location: Shenzhen, KKMall, Tan Niu, Hot Pot All-You-Can-Eat Travel note summary: Last night, I had over ten pieces of nigiri sushi for dinner and was a bit stuffed. Tonight, it's all-you-can-eat beef hot pot. I wonder if eating like this will help me gain a little weight. @@ ~ By Morgan on the evening of 2015.1.28
Location: Shunde, Guangdong, Wucao Chicken Travel note: Shunde, Guangdong, Wucao Chicken. A small staff trip that starts and ends with eating. Besides the signature chicken, what's more special here is the live fish, similar to those at Shimen Reservoir, but here they use large crucian carp from the river, prepared in two different cooking styles, including with fermented bean paste, which left a deep impression. After eating and taking photos, the tour bus is ready to head back. ~ By Morgan, Jan 24, 2015
Location: Guangzhou, Shunde Travel Notes: Company year-end party + mini trip in Guangzhou and Shunde. Friday lunch at Shenzhen's Yuyuan for Shanghai cuisine. Friday dinner at Shunde's Zhuroupo for Shunde-style food (a really interesting restaurant—the outside looks like a wet market, with ingredients picked fresh on the spot, and the landscaping is nicely done). With future new colleagues' families and an old friend of CEO Liang from his Big Four banking days, about twenty of us split across two tables. Dr. James, just back from CES in the US, shared his insights—still focused on healthcare and sports, using IoT, cloud, and wearables. Friday night KTV. Stayed at Sheraton Shunde. Feels like we've been eating nonstop; after Sheraton's breakfast, heading out for another famous Shunde restaurant at noon. Truly a food marathon all the way! @@ By Morgan on Jan 24, 2015
Location: Shenzhen, St. Regis Hotel Travel Notes: Shenzhen St. Regis Hotel, Italian restaurant. Just found out today that St. Regis and W Hotel belong to the same group, Orz. A colleague's birthday tonight, so we came to the Italian restaurant here to celebrate. The restaurant opened a bottle of champagne for us and gave us a small cake. Four people spent nearly 3000 RMB. This is my second time here; the first was last October on my first day in Shenzhen. Time flies—over three months have passed in a blink. @@ By Morgan on the evening of Jan 21, 2015
Location: Shenzhen, MixC, Green Tea Restaurant Travel Notes: Shenzhen MixC, Green Tea Restaurant. After crossing back from Hong Kong to Shenzhen, just as I exited the subway heading home, I ran into a colleague from Singapore. He said he was going to eat alone and asked if I wanted to join—what a chance encounter, so off we went. Instead of going home, we went to eat at MixC upstairs. Green Tea is very similar to Grandma's Home, both originating from Hangzhou, and prices are very affordable. We ordered three dishes, under 60 RMB for two. After eating, we planned to watch a movie, but The Hobbit wasn't out yet, and nothing else appealed. Then my Singapore colleague mentioned he hadn't tried massage in his year and a half in China, so I took him to try one. From Hong Kong to Shenzhen, another fulfilling day ends. Tomorrow, keep going! By Morgan on Jan 10, 2015
Location: Hong Kong, Lai Chi Kok, Little Break English Breakfast Travel Notes: Hong Kong Lai Chi Kok, Little Break English breakfast. Last time I visited Brother William, I posted on FB about Lai Chi Kok. An old university CCNS club friend, Youjing, whom I hadn't contacted in twelve years, saw it and messaged me saying, 'What, I live in Lai Chi Kok! Next time you come, remember to find me~~' So this time in Hong Kong, I didn't forget and arranged breakfast with her. Luckily, we managed to meet even with a last-minute plan. Youjing's husband is Hong Kongese, so she settled here after marriage and already has a very cute baby. Her husband is also in finance (Barclays), so we discussed the recent news of Standard Chartered's big layoffs in Hong Kong. Chatted about this and that, and the morning flew by. Thanks to Youjing and her family for hosting today, but the most important thing was seeing an old friend after so many years. Time, life—who knows how much has passed in a blink. Being able to meet an old acquaintance in a foreign land is truly a blessing. Hope to see each other again next time! ^^ By Morgan on Jan 10, 2015
Location: Hong Kong, Mong Kok, an apartment Travel Notes: Hong Kong Mong Kok, an apartment. Last night, with CEO Liang and a Fund Manager from Singapore in the company, we went to the bar on top of Kingkey 100 for red wine and snacks. Tonight, it's whiskey instead, but with old colleagues at Boss Brian's Hong Kong apartment, drinking and having hot pot. Besides William, I also met James, whom I hadn't seen in a long time. Sister-in-law prepared a lavish meal for all of us. Listening to everyone talk about the recent situation in Hong Kong's financial circle, whether from an investment banking perspective or from Chinese/foreign fund managers' angles, I gained a lot. It felt like going back to the old days fighting alongside many old comrades. A wonderful night, just as Boss Brian once said: colleagues may be temporary, but the bonds between people can last a lifetime. :) Also, thanks to Brother William for putting me up for the night. ^^ By Morgan on the evening of Jan 10, 2015
Location: Hong Kong, Mong Kok, an apartment, dinner gathering with former colleagues Travel note summary: Last night, I went with Director Liang and a Fund Manager from Singapore who was visiting the company to the bar on the top floor of Kingkey 100, drinking red wine and having snacks. Tonight, we switched to whiskey, but this time with old colleagues at Boss Brian's place in Hong Kong, drinking and having hot pot. Besides William, I also got to see James, whom I hadn't seen in a long time. Brian's wife prepared a lavish meal for all of us. Listening to everyone talk about the recent situation in Hong Kong's financial circle—whether from the perspective of investment banking or from Chinese and foreign fund managers—was incredibly insightful. It felt like being back in the old days, fighting alongside many old comrades. It was a wonderful night. As Boss Brian once said, colleagues may be temporary, but the bonds between people can last a lifetime. :) Also, thanks to Brother William for putting me up for the night. ^^ ~ By Morgan on the evening of 2015.1.10
Location: Shenzhen, Huo Jiangjun Hot Pot (Yuan Yang Guo). Travel note: I was reading an email from a French friend living in Paris this afternoon when suddenly Ah Hou messaged me on WeChat asking if I wanted to grab dinner. Of course I said yes! Ah Hou then invited Ethan, who brought his friend Johnson along, so it ended up being a dinner for four. Johnson works at Panasonic, and it was my first time meeting him. At first, I felt a bit left out as they discussed the panel industry and technical terms, but luckily Johnson turned out to be a huge foodie. We chatted about high-end teppanyaki spots in Taipei like Dafang, Shinbin, Ben, Honghua, HANA, and Hana... then moved on to Tainan's beef soup and eel noodles, and eventually Japanese and Australian Wagyu. Ah Hou even taught us the Hong Kong way to eat 'xiang ling' (a bit like tofu skin) – you drop it in the hot pot and take it out immediately to keep it crispy. Ethan shared his experience trying rattlesnake soup. Food really is the best conversation starter – we all clicked instantly! XD A very satisfying dinner, and the food here was great too. After nearly 200 gatherings last year, here's the first one of 2015! By Morgan, evening of Jan 1, 2015.
Location: Guangzhou. Travel note: It's true what they say – Guangzhou is a food paradise. Tonight's dinner featured two dishes I'd never tried before. One was Daliang fried milk (Daliang is a place in Shunde), made by stir-frying milk and egg whites until they solidify – smooth, sweet, and savory. The other was a labor-intensive dish where all the fish bones were removed and the cavity stuffed with flour and vermicelli. Paired with a bottle of red wine, it was an excellent meal. After eating, we visited Mike, whom I was meeting for the first time. He mainly works on product advertising design – TCL's smart air conditioners and Tencent's new email service... all packaging designs were commissioned to him. Judging from the work he showed us, it was truly visually impressive. His company even has its own photography studio for shooting products. Mike also opened a bottle of Argentine red wine from his collection for us to enjoy after dinner. A very interesting visit! :) Stayed at: Royal Prince Hotel (Executive Suite). By Morgan, evening of Dec 30, 2014.
Location: Shenzhen KKMall, Feicui Xiaolong Soup Dumplings. Travel note: The skin of the soup dumplings at Feicui in Shenzhen KKMall is incredibly smooth and tender, leaving a strong impression. Both the original and crab roe flavors are good, though it's not cheap—eight soup dumplings, a bowl of chicken soup, a plate of greens, and a plate of beef cost over 1,000 TWD (~300 RMB). By Morgan, evening of 2014.12.29.
Location: Shenzhen, Chegongmiao, Grassland Sheep (Northwest Cuisine) + Pure K KTV. Travel note: Today was the company's year-end dinner. Over the past five days, I've had Shanghai cuisine at Yu Garden, Taiwanese hot pot at Qian Wei Shuan, and Hangzhou dishes at Grandma's Home. Today, we switched to Northwest cuisine. Seeing the grilled lamb chops, grilled lamb leg, and big plate chicken on the table brought back memories of my trip to Xinjiang a few years ago. Time flies! After dinner, we went to a KTV jointly invested by Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. Many song subtitles were in traditional Chinese characters, giving it a strong Taiwanese vibe. But the song selection screen still required pinyin input, which made it quite hard for me to find songs. @@ By Morgan, evening of Dec 23, 2014.
Location: Shenzhen, KKMall, Grandma's Home (Jiangzhe Cuisine). Travel note: I ate a lot of dumplings for lunch to celebrate the winter solstice (here in the north, they eat dumplings for winter solstice, while in the south, they eat tangyuan. The auntie who cooks daily is from the north). For dinner, I tried this famous restaurant that originated in Hangzhou. Business is super busy – during mealtime, there are always 20–30 groups waiting at the door. But its menu isn't limited to Jiangzhe cuisine; there are plenty of dishes from other regional cuisines to choose from. Not bad~ By Morgan, evening of Dec 22, 2014.
Location: Shenzhen KKMall, Waipojia, Jiangzhe cuisine, first visit. Travel note: Ate a lot of dumplings for lunch to celebrate the winter solstice (here in the north, they eat dumplings for the solstice, while in the south it's tangyuan; the auntie who cooks daily is from the north). For dinner, tried this famous restaurant from Hangzhou—business is booming, with 20–30 groups waiting at peak hours. The menu isn't limited to Jiangzhe dishes; there are plenty of other regional cuisines to choose from. Not bad~ By Morgan, evening of 2014.12.22.
Location: Shenzhen, Celebrity Seafood Hot Pot (Yuan Yang Hot Pot). Travel note: Back in Shenzhen. Although the temperature is much higher, it's still chilly. So, hot pot it is to warm up~
Location: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) Travel note: ASTRI in Hong Kong is somewhat similar to Taiwan's Industrial Technology Research Institute. Today, I came here with other colleagues to give a presentation and exchange ideas. It's been a while since I wore a suit out, so I put it on for the occasion. Over half of the attendees today were PhDs. Besides our presentation, we also listened to them share some of their practical projects on big data analysis and cloud technology. Since there was also a female PhD from Korea, the frequency of English usage during the conversation was higher than Chinese. It reminded me that I need to work harder on my English; otherwise, I still feel quite inadequate when communicating with the broader world. @@ After the meeting, I accompanied a colleague who's a physics PhD to a pharmacy in Sha Tin, Hong Kong, to buy Wakamoto for someone he's pursuing. I happened to have taken it for a while, so I helped him look for it there. To thank me, he treated me to dinner at Maxim's MX in Sha Tin Centre. After returning to the office in Shenzhen, I wrote an email to the U.S. to ask about something, then read a letter from Australia. I put away my suit and headed back to my place. Tomorrow afternoon, I still have to teach someone something via Skype. Although a bit tired, it's more interesting to live a fulfilling and varied life every day. :p Just keep going...... By Morgan on 2014.12.12
Location: Shenzhen Take Seafood Supermarket Restaurant Travel note: Shenzhen Take Seafood Supermarket Restaurant, where you can pick what you want to eat and have it cooked by professionals. Today's lunch: Hokkaido king crab + American beef short ribs + Sauvignon Blanc.
Location: Shenzhen Qianwei Shuan, Taiwanese-style hot pot Travel note: Shenzhen Qianwei Shuan, Taiwanese-style hot pot. The weather's getting cooler, so I came to eat some hometown-style hot pot to warm up.
Location: Hefei City, capital of Anhui Province Travel note: Hefei City, capital of Anhui Province. Huaihe Road Pedestrian Street + Li Hongzhang Former Residence + Mingjiao Temple + Lao Xiang Ji + Shi Wei Xian Restaurant (new-style Anhui cuisine) + Yintai Junting Hotel (quasi-five-star). It's been a long time since I last came to Anhui; the previous time was a few years ago when I went to climb Huangshan. This time, I'm here for business and took the chance to look around. But it's really cold outside! Dropping from 15–16 degrees in the south to zero degrees, my face is almost frozen stiff. @@ By Morgan on the evening of 2014.12.16
Location: Hong Kong, Mong Kok, Yu Yan, Cantonese cuisine/dim sum, first visit. Travel note: Came to Hong Kong at noon today to have lunch with my former supervisor, Brian. Feels like every time I'm in Hong Kong, I'm just eating non-stop. In the morning, Brian first took me to a local spot, Fu Kee, for congee—their signature 'jidi congee' was packed with ingredients. After buying herbal tea from a street stall, Brian showed me around his place, where we watched Taiwanese TV news on elections while he treated me to the apparently famous Little Bear Cookies in Hong Kong. Then we wandered around Mong Kok—Langham Place, Pioneer Centre, Nathan Road... At 2 PM, we queued up for this dim sum place he loves, and the food was indeed excellent. After all that eating, I was so full I could barely walk. Before parting, Brian even bought me beef shengjian bao from Wen Chai Bao Dian to take away—really grateful for his warm hospitality! At the MTR station, I tried calling phantom, an old friend who now lives in Hong Kong after marriage—she'd said to look her up next time I'm here, but the call didn't go through; she probably went back to Taiwan to vote too. So, off to Luohu to head back home~ :p By Morgan, 2014.11.29.
Location: Hong Kong Mong Kok, Yu Yan, Cantonese cuisine & Hong Kong-style dim sum Travel note: Hong Kong Mong Kok, Yu Yan, Cantonese cuisine & Hong Kong-style dim sum. Came to Hong Kong at noon today to have a meal with my former supervisor, Brian. It seems like every time I come to Hong Kong, I'm always eating. In the morning, Brian first took me to a local place called Fu Kee for congee; their signature '及第粥' was very rich in ingredients. After buying some herbal tea from a roadside stall, Brian then showed me around his place. While watching Taiwanese TV news about voting, Brian treated me to the seemingly quite famous '小熊餅乾' in Hong Kong. Then we went out and wandered around the Mong Kok area—Langham Place, Pioneer Centre, Nathan Road... At 2 p.m., we continued queuing to eat at this Hong Kong-style dim sum place he really likes, and the food was indeed excellent. After eating so much, my stomach was bulging, and I could barely walk in the end. Unexpectedly, before parting, Brian also bought me beef pan-fried buns from '文財包點' to take away. Really grateful for Brian's warm hospitality. After arriving at the MTR, I called phantom, whom I haven't seen in a long time and who now lives in Hong Kong after getting married. Last time, she said to remember to contact her next time I'm in Hong Kong, but the call didn't go through; she probably went back to Taiwan to vote too. Well, then it's through the Lo Wu checkpoint and back home. :p By Morgan on 2014.11.29
Location: Shenzhen, St. Regis Hotel Buffet Restaurant, 95th Floor, Kingkey 100. Travel note: An old friend came from afar, and three of us had dinner here. This was my second visit. Besides the high-altitude night view, they also serve Japanese cuisine, which is relatively rare to find in mainland China, and it's all-you-can-eat. I ended up taking so much that I was too full to even have fruit or dessert! @@ (Excluding the separately ordered red wine, 500+15% RMB per person) By Morgan, evening of 2014.11.23
Location: Shenzhen, Shengshi Changfen Wang. Travel note: Didn't expect this place I tried seven years ago to still be here. Came back to savor the slippery, smooth texture of their rice noodle rolls~ By Morgan @2014.11.22.
Location: Shenzhen, Kingkey 100 Plaza, Music Fountain. Travel note: After eating, I bought a chocolate bread from a Taiwanese bakery nearby and slowly strolled back. Passing by the plaza in front of Kingkey 100, I had never stopped to carefully watch this fountain show right under my office building before. Tonight, I paused to properly enjoy it—listening to the melodious music echoing in my ears while watching the colorful water columns change endlessly. Life is like a dream; it's better to strive to live in the present. After watching, I returned to my place to continue studying. :p By Morgan, evening of 2014.11.22
Location: Shenzhen, COCO Park Shopping Park, Gaga鲜语 + Hui Lau Shan. Travel note: Today at noon, I had a meal with my old university classmate Junming and an old friend from the university CCNS club, voto, and his wife. Thank you for making the special trip from outside the Guan to inside. Junming has been in the HR department at Foxconn for over eight years, living in Shenzhen much longer than I have. And voto has been here for half a year already—time always flies so fast. Being able to meet and chat about recent happenings with old friends on a leisurely Sunday afternoon, while exchanging some information, is truly a delightful thing. Thank you both for your warm hospitality. Let's meet again next time! ^^ By Morgan, 2014.11.16
Location: Shenzhen, Grand Hyatt Hotel, 37F Belle Vue French Restaurant. Travel note: Today is Manager Liang's birthday, and he treated everyone to a meal. Also at the table was one of Manager Liang's good friends, Jordan, the Chief Investment Officer of Schroder Investment Trust. Manager Liang ordered an Australian 9+ ribeye steak for each of us. This was actually the first time since coming to Shenzhen that I've had a steak of such high quality, both in terms of the meat and overall aroma. However, it wasn't cheap either—excluding wine, each person spent about over 1,200 RMB. But the private room was quiet enough, and the high-altitude night view overlooking the city was nice. It's indeed a good high-end restaurant. I'm glad to have had the chance to sit here with colleagues to celebrate Manager Liang's birthday. Happy Birthday!!! By Morgan, evening of 2014.11.13
Location: Shenzhen, Grand Hyatt Hotel, 37F Belle Vue French Restaurant, first visit. (Note: A place I ended up visiting over ten times later.) Travel note: Today is Manager Liang's birthday, and he treated everyone to a meal. Also joining was his good friend Jordan, the CIO of Schroder Investment Trust. Manager Liang ordered Australian 9+ ribeye steak for everyone—this was my first time having a high-quality steak since coming to Shenzhen, both in terms of meat quality and overall aroma. It wasn't cheap either; excluding drinks, each person spent around over 1,200 RMB. But the private room was quiet, and the high-rise night view was nice—definitely a good upscale restaurant. Glad to have the chance to sit here with colleagues to celebrate Manager Liang's birthday. Happy Birthday!!! By Morgan, evening of 2014.11.13.
Location: Shenzhen, Fumin Station, Tian Tian Liang Chicken Pot. Travel note: My old university friend Jinli came to Shenzhen on a business trip, so we had this evening gathering. Those present included the long-unseen 90th-grade senior Yucheng masa, his junior high school classmate Ruilin, another university classmate Ahou, and Jinli's colleague Amanda from Innolux. Basically, except for me, everyone works in the panel or driver IC industry. Recalling the memories of meeting and traveling with Jinli in Shenzhen back in 2007, I can only say how time flies. During the meal, everyone also chatted about many things from university days, which was truly nostalgic. Anyway, having the chance to reunite here is all due to fate, allowing us to sit at the same table again after so many years and reminisce about the past. Cheers!!!~~ By Morgan, evening of 2014.11.11
Location: Shenzhen KKMall Hanyang Restaurant Korean BBQ Travel note: Last Friday we had Cantonese food, today we switched to Korean BBQ at Hanyang Restaurant in KKMall, inside the KK100 shopping mall. We're trying out restaurants one by one!
Location: Shenzhen, Dongmen, Legendary Maocai Travel note: After an evening massage and foot rub in Shenzhen's Dongmen area, I walked back toward Old Street. I randomly spotted a restaurant and went in. Maocai comes from Chengdu and means 'a one-person hotpot'—basically, it's like the spicy hotpot you often see. I asked for the original flavor, but what arrived was still a sea of red! I kept sticking out my tongue from the heat, and my mouth went numb. I had to order a beer to rinse my mouth and cool down the spiciness. @@ By Morgan, evening of Nov 8, 2014
Location: Shenzhen Fuxinji Pork Stomach Chicken Travel note: William came from Hong Kong to the mainland for a meal and also invited our former colleague Kevin. Along with Pengcheng, who once took exams with me in Shenzhen, and Xiaolei, whom I met for the first time, there were five of us. Kevin now leads an investment team at a fund company jointly established by our former company and a mainland partner. He and my college friend Ayong were also classmates at Jiaotong University's graduate school, so we always talked about having a meal with Ayong someday. We said that for years but never found time in Taiwan. In the end, we each ended up in Shenzhen, and Kevin and I finally had a chance to reunite. Life goes as fate wills—meeting an old friend in a foreign land, all shared in laughter... By Morgan on 2014.11.8
Location: Shenzhen KK100 Yuecheng Wangfu Travel note: Evening set meal, 300+10% RMB.
Location: Shenzhen Wumizhou (No-Rice Porridge) Travel note: The weather turned slightly cooler, and Manager Liang treated everyone to porridge. Wumizhou is a famous restaurant from Shunde, Guangzhou. We cooked shrimp, crab, fish, abalone, fatty beef, and other ingredients one by one in a large clay pot with porridge, and finally ate the porridge infused with all these land and sea delicacies. It was quite nourishing—after eating, my body felt warm! @@ By Morgan on the evening of 2014.11.6
Location: Hong Kong, Lai Chi Kok, Who's Boss Restaurant Travel note: Had lunch with my old colleague William, whom I hadn't seen in a long time, along with his two very humorous colleagues from Beijing and Hong Kong. William now works as a Fund Manager at the Hong Kong branch of J.P. Morgan & Shanghai International Trust (a joint venture). It's been over two years, but William is still as charismatic as ever. Thanks for the treat! Keep in touch! :) Heading back to Shenzhen now. By Morgan, Nov 2, 2014
Location: Hong Kong Travel note: Came to Hong Kong for a stroll with friends. Queued for a long time at Shenzhen Futian Port before crossing. Nathan Road, Top Good Seafood Restaurant, Wong Tai Sin Temple for fortune sticks, Victoria Peak for scenery, Tsui Wah Restaurant for afternoon tea, Avenue of Stars at night, Victoria Harbour for the Symphony of Lights show, Sun Kee Cheese Noodles that many celebrities eat, Shatin local dai pai dong for chicken porridge and pigeon, late-night snack of Istanbul chicken wrap and pizza plus a bottle of Hennessy VSOP—my stomach hardly got any rest... But on this trip, I also met Ah Hou, my college classmate and freshman roommate from Hong Kong whom I hadn't seen in years. Ah Hou now works at Foxconn but returns to Hong Kong every week. I still remember the first Cantonese phrase Ah Hou taught me when I first arrived at the dorm—how to swear. Can't believe over ten years have passed in a flash, everyone has gone their separate ways—time really flies! But Ah Hou looks almost unchanged, just like when we first met over a decade ago :p Thanks to Ah Hou for spending an afternoon with us and treating us to Tsui Wah. Thanks! :) By Morgan on 2014.11.1
Location: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 25 - Wong Tai Sin Temple, Victoria Peak, Avenue of Stars, Victoria Harbour Symphony of Lights Show Travel note summary: Morgan's Hong Kong Life Notes 25 - Wong Tai Sin Temple, Victoria Peak, Avenue of Stars, Victoria Harbour Symphony of Lights Show. Came to Hong Kong for a walk with friends. Queued for a long time at Shenzhen Futian Port before crossing. Nathan Road, Top Good Seafood Restaurant, drew a fortune stick at Wong Tai Sin Temple, saw the view from Victoria Peak, had afternoon tea at Tsui Wah Restaurant, Avenue of Stars at night, Victoria Harbour Symphony of Lights Show, also Sun Kee Cheese Noodles that many celebrities eat, Shatin local dai pai dong chicken congee and pigeon for late-night snack, Istanbul chicken wrap and pizza plus a bottle of Hennessy VSOP... feels like my stomach didn't get much rest... But on this trip, I also met my university classmate and freshman roommate from Hong Kong, Ah Hou, whom I hadn't seen for several years. Ah Hou now works at Foxconn but returns to Hong Kong every week. I still remember the first Cantonese phrase Ah Hou taught me when I first arrived at the dorm was how to curse someone. Who would have thought over ten years have passed in a flash, everyone has gone their separate ways—time really flies~~~ But Ah Hou looks almost exactly the same, as if we just met over a decade ago :p Thanks to Ah Hou for accompanying us for an afternoon and even treating us to Tsui Wah. Thanks! :) By Morgan on 2014.11.1
Location: Shenzhen, 6th China Quantitative Investment International Summit Travel note: The 6th China Quantitative Investment International Summit lasts three days; today is the second day, held at the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. It's been a while since I attended a finance industry seminar. This time, the theme basically revolves around how Big Data is applied in finance. However, except for the last speaker who once taught at the University of Chicago in the U.S., the other speakers didn't seem to cover many key points. I hope tomorrow's agenda brings more insights. Instead, today I saw Guotai'an, a company I dealt with a few years ago. They are now collaborating with the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Shenzhen to establish a financial big data research center here. Recalling many memories from the past, things have really changed. But time never waits for you, so just keep moving forward~ By Morgan on 2014.10.25
Location: Shenzhen, Decanter Bar on the top floor of KK100 Travel note: Shenzhen, Decanter Bar on the top floor of KK100. After work today, I came here with Manager Liang for a casual drink to relax. I also listened to Manager Liang talk about his plan to co-found a new company with a local billionaire in New York in the first quarter of next year. Drinking at a height of over 430 meters is a new experience. We opened two bottles of Australian red wine and ordered some snacks, totaling 1,743 RMB. I drank a bit too much tonight, staggering a bit, but luckily I live right next door and managed to get back to my place safely~ @@ By Morgan on the evening of 2014.10.24
Location: Shenzhen, Yuyuan Restaurant Travel note: To apply for a local work permit, I went to Shenzhen Port Hospital for a physical in the afternoon. In the evening, I had dinner with new colleagues. Among them were a Singaporean who used to be a Trader at one of Asia's top hedge funds (about $2.5 billion AUM), a Physics PhD from the Chinese Academy of Sciences who constantly talks about Fisher or other math formulas, and other colleagues specializing in risk control, statistics, and IT. Talking with each person is also a kind of learning. People need stimulation to improve. Only by stepping out do you realize how vast the world is and how small and inadequate you are. A new stage, a new beginning. Cheers! By Morgan, evening of Oct 22, 2014
Location: Shenzhen, KK100 Serviced Apartments Travel note: Shenzhen, KK100 Serviced Apartments. I started looking for a place after arriving in Shenzhen. Originally, I wanted to find a cheaper place near the company, but Manager Liang said the company would rather subsidize some and have me move to a safer location. So, in the end, I moved alone into a serviced apartment costing over 4,000 RMB per month, located right above KK100. The biggest advantage is probably that I won't have to go outdoors at all when going to the company in the future~ @@ Since I only brought one suitcase when I came, I went to nearby Carrefour, Sui Bao Department Store, Lewanjia Department Store, clothing stores, and the high-end supermarket in KK100 B1 in the past couple of days. From kitchenware to clothes and various daily necessities, I bought a bunch of things all at once. There's no sense of discomfort; I quickly got used to life here again. I also found time to use a discount coupon for a massage and placed five or six consecutive orders on Taobao for less urgent items. At the same time, I spent some time researching the company-provided 4G new phone, installing GMS (Google Mobile Services) and some commonly used apps. Reciprocity—when someone is good to you, naturally you have to work hard to repay them. After spending a few days settling my life, starting next week, I'll have to do my best in work matters. To be all I can be! Let's go, Morgan!~ :P
Location: Shenzhen, Kingkey 100, 99th floor, Elba Italian Restaurant, first visit Travel note: (Note: Later visited over six or seven times.) Had dinner with Manager Liang tonight. Feels like we just moved from Taiwan to Shenzhen, but we're still the same. :P We took the high-speed elevator up to the famous Italian restaurant, Elba, above our office. Over a year ago, I had the 400+ RMB buffet on the 96th floor. Tonight, we changed it up and tried the Italian restaurant a few floors higher, enjoying the night view of Luohu District from the 99th floor—a different vibe. The evening set menu was 700+10% RMB, including beef carpaccio with black truffle, Australian lobster soup with wild salmon roe, pan-fried red snapper with zucchini and saffron sauce, and tiramisu for dessert. We also opened a bottle of Italian red wine (Merlot). The set didn't seem very cost-effective; next time, I'll just order a steak. @@ Manager Liang is a regular here, so from the head waiter to the servers, almost everyone knows him. The Italian head chef even personally prepared a plate of ham for us to have with our drinks. This chef, who oversees a buffet and an Italian restaurant in Kingkey 100, also wants to open a restaurant in Taiwan, so he and Manager Liang agreed to discuss it in detail next time. After dinner, I walked back to the hotel. With my usual poor sense of direction, I went the wrong way and ended up walking for almost an hour (normally 10–15 minutes). Back at the hotel, I randomly bought a paid VPN through Alipay to try it out. Hope it works. Let's try posting this. :P By Morgan, evening of Oct 15, 2014
Location: Taipei Travel note summary: Fuzhou, Fujian, Changle Airport. I originally thought I'd never spent a night at an airport and was excited to try it, so I booked a two-segment ticket on Xiamen Airlines (price was a factor, of course). One segment from Shanghai to Fuzhou, and another early the next morning back to Taipei. I had no plans or prior research for Fuzhou. Turns out, after arriving at Changle Airport, I found out it only stays open until 1 AM—no overnight stay possible. I was being too naive :P. When you're stuck, you adapt. No problem, luckily there was a seaside hotel next to the airport. Walked over and asked; a standard room was over 300 RMB, probably more expensive than booking online, but it solved the immediate problem. Thinking about it, this is actually Morgan's first time in Fujian, but there really isn't any time to wander around. Should I go out for a night stroll now? Nah, better stay in the hotel and get some work done on the computer first @@.
Location: Beijing, Sanlitun Travel note summary: Beijing, Sanlitun. Apart from time spent on business or meeting friends, when I'm alone with a backpack, I become a backpacker. This time in Beijing, Morgan took a trip to Sanlitun. Last time I didn't have time to go. Besides many quiet embassies, Sanlitun also has the bustling Taikoo Li shopping complex—a mix of calm and excitement. But after walking for three or four hours, my legs were almost giving out, so I had to sit by the roadside to rest from time to time, then Keep Going!!!~~ Packing up, getting ready to return to Taiwan. By Morgan @2014.4.16
Location: Shanghai Travel note summary: Today, I was out from morning until late at night before returning to the hotel. First thing in the morning, I went to ICBC to take care of some business. After that, I headed to Shangcheng Road to meet Vice President Daming. Coincidentally, President Huang was also in Shanghai this week. So at noon, I had lunch with them and Vice President Zhenkun at a nearby Fengshouri restaurant for some Shanghainese cuisine. It's been a long time since I had a meal with my old colleagues from Baoshuo. The last time I saw President Huang was a chance encounter at Yuanta's office (I overheard Bruce saying, 'Whose hair is so white over there?' I looked up and it was actually President Huang, so I quickly went over to say hello @@). Later, President Huang asked if I wanted to join them in the afternoon to visit two mainland fund companies (Guotai, Huatai-PineBridge), but I already had plans with Brother Zhiyang, so I had to apologize to President Huang @@. After leaving Shangcheng Road, I went to People's Square Station. Haitong Securities' national headquarters is nearby. Haitong is China's second-largest securities firm, and Brother Zhiyang currently works there as an investment manager, overseeing quite a bit of capital. Since we use and are familiar with many overlapping platforms, and we chatted about the Chinese market, sharing experiences and thoughts, we got so engrossed that time flew by—almost three hours passed in a flash. We'll have to catch up next time. Thanks to Brother Zhiyang for treating me to a hot chocolate at Starbucks~ ^^. Later in the evening, I met up with Xianlong, a senior from my university club who has been working in Shanghai for almost ten years at Pegatron. We ate at Donglaishun opposite the Yaohan department store, catching up on each other's lives. Thanks to my senior for the treat. The last time I had Donglaishun was with Junhong in Beijing, but that was over three years ago. Even though it's the same restaurant name and menu, sharing it with different friends creates different memories. Life goes with the flow. For this Beijing-Shanghai trip, I'm grateful to all sorts of friends who didn't turn down my super last-minute invitations and managed to spare time from their busy schedules to have a meal with me, meet up, and chat. Thanks to all my friends for their generous hospitality~ Over the past few days, I hardly had to pay for any meals or drinks. I'll remember everyone's warmth :) Let's meet up again when you're in Taiwan, or next time I'm in mainland China~~ By Morgan, late night, April 15, 2014.
Location: Shanghai Dong Lai Shun Mutton Hot Pot Travel note summary: Today I was out from morning until late night. First, I handled some business at ICBC, then went to Shangcheng Road to meet Deputy General Manager Daming. Coincidentally, General Manager Huang was also in Shanghai this week, so for lunch, I joined them and Deputy General Manager Zhenkun at nearby Feng Shou Ri for Shanghai cuisine. It’s been a while since I had a meal with my former Baoshuo colleagues. Last time I saw General Manager Huang was by chance at Yuanta’s office (I heard Bruce say someone’s hair was so white, looked up, and it was General Manager Huang, so I quickly went to say hello @@). Later, General Huang asked if I wanted to visit two mainland fund companies (Guotai, Huatai-PineBridge) with them in the afternoon, but I had plans with Brother Zhiyang, so I had to decline @@. After leaving Shangcheng Road, I went to People’s Square Station. Haitong Securities’ national headquarters is nearby—Haitong is China’s second-largest securities firm, and Brother Zhiyang works there as an investment manager overseeing substantial funds. Since we use many overlapping platforms and chatted about China’s market, sharing experiences and ideas, time flew by—almost three hours passed quickly, so we’ll have to catch up next time. Thanks to Brother Zhiyang for treating me to a hot chocolate at Starbucks~ ^^ In the evening, I met with Xianlong, a senior from my university club who has been working in Shanghai at Pegatron for nearly ten years. We had Dong Lai Shun opposite the Yaohan department store, catching up on each other’s lives—thanks to my senior for the treat. Last time I had Dong Lai Shun was with Junhong in Beijing over three years ago. Though it’s the same chain and menu, sharing it with different friends creates different memories. Life goes with the flow. This Beijing-Shanghai trip, I’m grateful to all the friends who accepted my last-minute invitations and made time to have a meal or chat despite their busy schedules. Thanks for everyone’s generous hospitality~ Over these days, I hardly paid for any meals or drinks. I’ll remember each friend’s warmth :) Let’s meet again in Taiwan or next time I’m in mainland China~~ By Morgan, late night of April 15, 2014.
Location: Shanghai, Century Avenue - 96 Plaza, Wang Xiang Yuan Travel note summary: Shanghai, Century Avenue - 96 Plaza, Wang Xiang Yuan. Tonight, I had dinner with two good friends I met when Morgan worked in Shanghai. Yang Ming is from Inner Mongolia and is a skilled programmer. Dr. Xie is from Chongqing and still works in the asset management department at Haitong Futures, unchanged. It's been years since we last saw each other, so being able to reunite is truly rare. Coincidentally, Dr. Xie's child was recently born, so he even brought me a full-month celebration gift. Since both of them can handle spicy food, of course we came here for Hunan cuisine. Wang Xiang Yuan is a famous Hunan restaurant here with many branches across China. Honestly, I'm not really a spicy food person, but their dishes are generally quite up to standard. Even though I was sticking out my tongue, I couldn't stop my chopsticks. The day before yesterday was whiskey, yesterday was red wine, and today it's Tsingtao Beer. Yang Ming's drinking capacity is still astonishing. Every time, he starts with 'Come on, Changwei, bottoms up!' leaving me unsure whether to drink up or not~ :P. In the end, he treated me to this meal~ In one's life, fate is the most precious thing. Life passes by in a flash; how many things can we hold in our hearts to reminisce about? Even though it's just a meal and a drink, it's something that can make you smile when you偶然想起, and cherish for a lifetime :) By Morgan, April 14, 2014.
Location: One of the Four Vertical and Four Horizontal Routes: Beijing–Shanghai High-Speed Railway Travel Note Summary: After surviving the morning rush hour crowds on the Beijing subway, I finally made it to Beijing South Station with great difficulty. Since my Taiwan Compatriot Permit seemed to prevent online ticket purchases (note: later, senior Xianlong said it was possible), I had to buy tickets on-site. I originally wanted a second-class seat, but when I asked about the 10:00 train, the attendant said only first-class seats were left. The next train with second-class availability was two hours later. After a brief thought, I pulled out my UnionPay card—well, time is money, so I bought the first-class seat (933 RMB). The difference is that the seats are larger and more comfortable (only four seats per row), and the staff provides some snacks and drinks. Otherwise, there's not much difference. Departing from Beijing at 10:00, passing through Jinan and Nanjing, I arrived in Shanghai at 14:50, taking 4 hours and 50 minutes total. After checking into the Home Inn I booked on Agoda, I quickly jotted this down before heading out again :P By Morgan @2014.4.14
Location: Beijing Travel note summary: One of the Four Vertical and Four Horizontal High-Speed Rail Lines: Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Rail. After enduring the洗礼 of the morning rush hour crowds on the Beijing subway this morning, I finally made it to Beijing South Station after much hardship. Since it seems Taiwan Compatriot Permits can't be used to buy tickets online in advance (Note: Later, Senior Xianlong said it was possible), I had to buy my ticket on-site. I originally wanted to buy a second-class seat, but when it was my turn, I asked if there were any tickets left for the 10:00 train. The attendant said only first-class seats were available; the next train with second-class seats would be two hours later. After a brief thought, I finally took out my UnionPay card. Well, indeed, time is money, so I bought a first-class seat (933 RMB). The difference with first-class is that the seats are larger and more comfortable (only four seats per row), and there are attendants who provide some snacks and drinks. Other than that, there's not much difference. Departing from Beijing at 10:00, passing through Jinan and Nanjing, and finally arriving in Shanghai at 14:50 in the afternoon—a total of 4 hours and 50 minutes. After checking into the Home Inn I booked on Agoda before my trip, I quickly jotted this down, and now it's time to head out again :P. Morgan
Location: Beijing, Yintai Building, Xiu Rooftop Bar Travel note summary: Beijing, Yintai Building, Xiu Rooftop Bar. After finishing up some business, I met up with Senior Ziyi tonight, whom I haven't seen in a long time. Senior ended up choosing this place, which he quite likes and is quite famous in Beijing~ Senior Ziyi now works under Foxconn, responsible for sales in central and western China. Basically, he can provide clients with anything produced under Hon Hai, so from单纯 hardware and software, it has evolved into offering integrated solutions. Besides InFocus smartphones, recently the main focus has been on products related to smart city needs. And since my entire后续行程 was very spontaneous, thanks to Senior for also troubling his university classmate, Weijie, to let me stay at his place for a night on short notice. Senior Weijie currently works at the famous Taiwanese tea ware brand, Tao Zuofang, responsible for setting up and promoting e-commerce across China. He's also a very talkative and interesting person~ Second Night, in Beijing. Next stop, long time no see, Shanghai! :) Morgan
Location: Beijing Millennium Hotel Havana Bar Arrived in Beijing around 7 PM to get a visa on arrival, but the system crashed. It took until almost 9 PM to get through customs. By the time I reached the hotel, it was past 9. Tonight, Manager Liang booked a separate executive room for Morgan here (1,600 RMB). Honestly, for someone like me who isn't too picky about accommodation, it feels a bit wasteful @@. Guess I'll just make the most of the internet here and work remotely on my Taiwan server. After arriving, Manager Liang invited his goddaughter Lele, who's the executive secretary to the chairman of China Film Group, and her producer boyfriend Xiao Zhu to meet up at the hotel bar. It's been years since I last visited Beijing, and I don't know many people here—aside from my senior Ziyi from grad school, there's just my college classmate Naiwen, who's a manager at Goldman Sachs in Beijing. So I invited Naiwen over to introduce her to Manager Liang, a senior in the finance industry. Naiwen was really kind; she had just spent the whole day out with her parents and must have been exhausted, but she still came to hang out and chat with us. Due to their work, Lele and Xiao Zhu know many celebrities from China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, so our conversation covered a wide range of topics. The connections between people are truly fascinating. Just two or three weeks ago, I met up with Naiwen and her boyfriend in Taipei, thinking it would be ages before I saw her again. Yet here we are, meeting again in less than a month, haha—only this time, it's in Beijing :P. One Night, In Beijing... By Morgan, late night on April 12, 2014.
Location: Beijing Millennium Hotel Havana Bar First Visit Travel note summary: (Note: This is a hotel and bar I visited many times later.) Arrived in Beijing around 7 PM for a visa on arrival, but the system crashed,折腾 until almost 9 PM before clearing customs. Got to the hotel past 9. Tonight, Mr. Liang booked me a行政房 here (1,600 RMB). Honestly, for someone like me who isn’t picky about accommodation, it feels a bit wasteful @@. I’ll just make good use of the internet to write posts remotely on my Taiwan server. After arriving, Mr. Liang invited his goddaughter Lele, who works as the executive secretary to the chairman of China Film Group, and her producer boyfriend Xiao Zhu to gather at the hotel bar. It’s been years since I last visited Beijing, and I don’t know many people here—aside from senior Ziyi from graduate school, there’s only my university classmate Naiwen, who’s a manager at Goldman Sachs Beijing. So I invited Naiwen over to introduce her to Mr. Liang, a senior in finance. Naiwen was really nice; she had just spent the whole day shopping with her parents and must have been exhausted, but she still came to meet and chat with us. Due to their work, Lele and Xiao Zhu know many celebrities from China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, so the conversation covered a wide range. The缘分 between people is truly interesting. Just two or three weeks ago, I met Naiwen and her boyfriend in Taipei, thinking it’d be a long, long time before we met again, yet here we are meeting in less than a month, ha~ Just this time, the location is Beijing :P One Night, In Beijing... By Morgan, late night of April 12, 2014.
澳門 威尼斯人 酒店 Just Memo~ By Morgan @2013.3.18
Location: Macau, The Venetian Macao Hotel
澳門 葡京酒店
Shenzhen Notes 1: I promised N I'd pull myself together and get back to my old life. Though things took an unexpected turn, dwelling on regrets won't help. So I forced myself out of the negativity and started observing my surroundings with fresh senses, feeling the rhythm of this different environment, and slowly moving forward again after being stuck for so long. Last night, for the first time in 20 days, I actually watched local TV, but ended up on the more familiar Phoenix Chinese Channel, watching 'A Date with Luyu'—it relaxed me and let me sense some similar and different perspectives here. Yesterday was also a rare day not rushing on a company project; I thought about going out, but somehow ended up spending the whole day in the hotel again.
Location: Macau, Hoi Van Portuguese Restaurant Travel note: Came to Macau to visit my old university classmate Funky, whom I hadn't seen in years. Thanks to him, we went to a delicious Portuguese restaurant and met his beautiful wife and adorable child. Meeting an old friend in a foreign land made for a truly joyful evening. By Morgan @2013.3.17
Today I walked around Nanjing Road, the Shanghai Bund, City God Temple, and Yu Garden. Shanghai is so huge—I'll have to explore area by area slowly when I have time.
Location: Military Recall Notice Travel note: I suddenly received a military recall notice today—I have to go to Cheng Gong Ling for two days on April 11–12. It really brings back memories of my time at Guanxi Camp back in the day... @@
Location: Tianjin Travel notes: I squeezed in a day trip to Tianjin during my Beijing visit, curious about this direct-controlled municipality. With limited time, I rushed through the Ancient Culture Street, visited the Tianjin Temple of the Queen of Heaven, and explored the Nanshi Food Street. Tianjin's famous 'Three Delicacies'—Goubuli steamed buns, Guifaxiang fried dough twists, and Ear-Hole Fried Cake—are everywhere here. I snacked on the twists and cake, bought some local treats as souvenirs, and tried the legendary Goubuli buns for lunch. At 88 RMB for a mixed basket, they were pricey; the skin was smooth, but the filling didn't live up to the hype. Still, no regrets—life's about trying new things. In the afternoon, I headed to the Yanghuo Market in Tanggu, an early hub for imported goods, though it felt quiet nowadays. The Tanggu waterfront offered a boat ride and views of historical sites. The most striking scene was Tianjin Railway Station at dusk—a beautiful blend of old and new architecture against the river. I took the high-speed rail back to Beijing, then flew to Shanghai. Reflecting on my seven months in China, I traveled to many provinces on weekends, but the country is vast, and there's always more to see. For me, living in the moment and just setting out is what matters most. By Morgan on 2011.1.4
Location: Beijing, China Travel Note Summary: (#121) Beijing, Great Wall, Tianjin 3-Day Tour (1) It's been a week since I returned to Taiwan, but I'm still incredibly busy every day. Thinking back to the weekly group tours before I left Shanghai, the final stop this year was Beijing. I originally planned to go alone, but just before departure, an old classmate from Creative Electronics, Junhong, suddenly said his project ended and he had time to join my tour. Meeting an old friend in a foreign land is always a good thing, of course~ So I tweaked the itinerary a bit and called the hostel near Yonghegong to book an extra bed. Thus, on a certain night in early December, I boarded a flight on the Shanghai-Beijing route and arrived in Beijing from Shanghai, meeting up with Junhong who came directly from Taiwan. To be honest, in my life, aside from a few trips to the mountains, I've rarely been in such low temperatures around zero degrees for so long. So, after returning to Shanghai from those few days of travel, I quite unheroically caught a bad cold. I felt utterly weak and miserable, and only got better after finally going to Kangjun for a master to perform gua sha and cupping. But two weeks later, looking back on this Beijing trip, it still gave me many rewards. The grandeur of the Great Wall, the elegance of the Summer Palace, the imposing majesty of the Forbidden City—aside from not seeing the 'good fortune' of Prince Gong's Mansion (regarding this saying of Beijing's 'Four Auras,' I later looked it up online; opinions are actually very divided, so it's just for reference~), I personally experienced all the others. What is meant by the saying 'To see China's development over 500 years, look to Beijing'? After arriving in Beijing, transferring from the airport express to the subway, the stations on Beijing's main subway lines felt less modern than Shanghai's to me, possessing a unique flavor. After checking into the hostel around 10 PM, I dragged Junhong, whom I hadn't seen in ages, out for a stroll. Since we were right near Gui Street (pronounced like 'ghost'), a famous snack street with many restaurants, bright red lanterns hung high. In the alleyways and hutongs, a biting cold wind blew, and people bundled in coats were still out and about.
Location: A corner of Shichahai, Beijing. Travel note: Just a memo from a corner of Shichahai in Beijing. ~ By Morgan @2010.12.8
Location: Qianmen Street night view, Beijing. Travel note: Just a memo of the night view at Qianmen Street in Beijing. ~ By Morgan @2010.12.8
Location: Ming Tombs - Dingling, Beijing. Travel note: The Dingling Underground Palace (Xuangong) is 27 meters deep, maintaining a constant temperature year-round. ~ By Morgan @2010.12.7
Location: Beijing 2008 Olympics - National Aquatics Center. Travel note: Just a memo of the National Aquatics Center (Water Cube) & National Stadium (Bird's Nest). ~ By Morgan @2010.12.7
Location: Winter visit to the Summer Palace, Beijing. Travel note: Thin ice covers the lake as early winter arrives; clear mountains and waters, a gentle stroll. ~ By Morgan @2010.12.6
Mount Tai in Shandong: 'Ascend Mount Tai and the world seems small.' The Eighteen Bends of Mount Tai (1,600 steps straight up to the South Heaven Gate). Mount Tai's Jade Emperor Peak (Ancient Fengshan Altar, the summit of Mount Tai—elevation 1,545 meters).
Location: Shanghai Institutional Investors' Stock Index Futures Risk Seminar Notes Travel notes: Last Friday, I attended a seminar co-hosted by the China Financial Futures Exchange and Everbright Futures in Shanghai. Everbright, a top-ten financial group in China, is ambitious in the futures market. The event was held at the New Tian Havana Hotel (a Sino-Cuban joint venture) and featured speakers from regulatory bodies, Taiwan's Polaris Man Financial Futures, Everbright, a Hong Kong scholar, and Société Générale's Asia-Pacific index arbitrage team director. The topic focused on risk control issues after the launch of stock index futures, including Basel Accord content. This new derivative is shaking up China's financial institutions. The scale of the event showed Everbright's commitment—lunch was a lavish buffet (worth over NT$1,000 per person), followed by a banquet dinner with plenty of toasts (even the French participant joined in). More than a seminar, it felt like a networking opportunity. For Everbright, showcasing their partnerships and resources was likely the main goal. By Morgan on 2010.11.26
Location: Zhejiang Travel note summary: (#111) A day trip to the thousand-year-old ancient town of Xitang in Jiashan, Zhejiang. I hadn't had a weekend off for several weeks, and this week I suddenly felt like going out for a walk. I remembered that Wenzheng had told me before that there are travel agencies in Shanghai that organize convenient day trips. After arriving, a local friend told me that next to the Shanghai Stadium, there's a tourist distribution center that provides such services (Subway Line 4: Shanghai Stadium Station, Exit 3, walk straight and you'll see the sign, then turn right). So early this morning, without any plans, I just put on my backpack, brought a bottle of water, and went out. Arriving at the tourist distribution center, there were indeed many itineraries to choose from. Since I hadn't been to any of them, I randomly bought a self-guided day trip package to Xitang at the counter (168 RMB). I got on the bus, dozed off, and before I knew it, we had arrived in Zhejiang Province. First, we visited two famous figures, one ancient and one modern: the modern one is a famous filmmaker from mainland China, Sun Daolin; the ancient one is Wu Zhen, one of the Four Masters of the Yuan Dynasty. After lunch at Huazhan Grand Hotel, the afternoon was almost entirely spent in Xitang. Xitang is one of the six major ancient towns in Jiangnan, with a history of over a thousand years. According to the guide, small bridges, flowing water, and households are common features of these water towns, and among them, Xitang covers the largest area, known for its three main characteristics: many bridges, many alleys, and many covered corridors. As for food, qianshi cake is a local specialty. Following the guide's suggestion, I tried the famous Forest Qianshi Cake from an online-recommended shop, and it tasted pretty good. Additionally, we visited some attractions within the ancient town: the Wine Culture Museum, Button Museum, Ming and Qing Dynasty Wood Carving Exhibition Hall, Seventh Prince Temple, Ni Residence, Sacred Hall, and Xiyuan Garden. Personally, I think buying this kind of travel package is quite cost-effective and time-saving. Not only do you not have to plan transportation and attractions, but it's also much cheaper than buying tickets separately (these attractions usually require separate admission fees).
Location: Shaanxi, China Travel note: Datang Furong Garden & Dream Back to the Tang Dynasty & Big Wild Goose Pagoda music fountain water dance & Datang Never Night City—Kaiyuan Square in Xi'an, Shaanxi. Just a memo~
Location: Shanghai, Everbright Futures Seminar Dinner Travel note: At the Everbright Futures seminar dinner in Shanghai. Lunch was a hotel buffet with no alcohol, but by dinner, the local custom of 'no feast without wine' was back in full swing. Each speaker stood up to propose a toast, then Everbright's leaders followed suit one by one. Even the French guest was roped into giving a toast. We drank a bunch of wine before the meal even started! @@ By Morgan @2010.11.19
Location: Jiangsu, China Travel note: After working non-stop for 23 days, I finally took a day off to relax and sort through some photos. This shot is from a business trip to Nanjing last time—taken at night near the Confucius Temple and the Qinhuai River. ["Mist veils the cold stream, and moonlight the sand, as I moor at night on the Qinhuai near taverns."] Nanjing doesn't have too many tourist spots, but this is one of the famous ones. Though it feels quite touristy, the night view of the Qinhuai River is truly eye-catching. There are also painted boats for river tours—maybe you can experience the glamour of its歌舞昇華 past.
Location: Anhui Travel note summary: (Text only) (#116) Anhui · Huangshan Two-Day One-Night Trip (Part 1) ["After returning from the Five Great Mountains, one no longer looks at mountains; after returning from Huangshan, one no longer looks at the Five Great Mountains."] This saying alone shows how famous Huangshan is. So, taking advantage of a two-day weekend, I set off from Shanghai to Huangshan. Since I'm always the type to just go on a whim, from deciding to go to actually departing, I only had one day. I really didn't have time to arrange details; I just casually looked online and once again joined a mainland tour group alone. After gathering in front of the Shanghai Grand Theatre at 6:40 AM and departing, we first took the Shanghai-Hangzhou Expressway, then transferred to the Hangzhou-Huangshan Expressway from Hangzhou. After about five hours, we arrived in Anhui Province from Shanghai. After a casual lunch of Anhui cuisine, we transferred to the scenic area shuttle bus to go up the mountain. At Huangshan, you can take a cable car up from the base (80 RMB) or walk up yourself. According to the guide, walking up one-way takes about four to five hours, and there aren't as many scenic spots along the way. So she suggested taking the cable car up to spend more time at the top. Taking her advice, I took the cable car for a lazy ride up. But even so, over the two days, I still walked about six hours on mountain paths—my knees and calves really suffered ><. After arriving at Yuping Station, I first saw sights like the Welcoming Pine, Farewell Pine, and cliff inscriptions. Du Fu's poem "Gazing at Mount Tai" says: "I must ascend the mountain's crest; it dwarfs all peaks under my feet." Here began this Huangshan journey. Looking down from above, surveying the mountain ranges, Huangshan has rocks everywhere, pines on every rock, and each pine is unique. The strange pines, grotesque rocks, sea of clouds, and hot springs are known as the Four Wonders of Huangshan, forming many scenic spots on this trip that were absolutely breathtaking. (Welcoming Pine - Greeting Guests) (Farewell Pine) After passing strange rocks like the Mobile Phone Rock and Turtle Rock, I then climbed the steep One-Line Sky on all fours. With scenery all along the way, I reached Bright Summit Peak, just in time to catch the sunset.
Location: Shanghai, The Cool Docks (Shiliupu Wharf) Travel note: A corner of the night view at The Cool Docks (Shiliupu Wharf) in Shanghai. It's a place similar to Xintiandi, a scenic area where many old Shanghai buildings have been reconstructed. Staying true to my restless nature, after coming down from Huangshan and returning to Shanghai, I met up with Brother Chen without any rest. 57-year-old Brother Chen is a friend Loco老大 met online, an old Shanghainese. He was sent to work in a factory in Anhui when he was young, then fought his way up. With only a junior high school education, he managed to get into a key university through the college entrance exam. He later worked in government units like the Shanghai Instrumentation Bureau and is now involved in real estate, hotels, and interior design. That night, we went to The Cool Docks (South Bund) near his place, which has many international restaurants. Sitting down, drinking hot chocolate, I listened to Brother Chen talk about many things. Connections between people are about fate. Since we've met for various reasons, let's go with the flow. Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles, and meeting a hundred people yields even more than ten thousand miles or a hundred thousand books. Everyone has their own story and something worth learning... We chatted until the last subway, then headed home. Passing by the Expo site along the way, I encountered a small crowd boarding the train. The six-month-long Expo has ended just like that. Although I visited six times in the end, there were still many places I didn't see. The world is vast, people are numerous, and scenery is wide. In our limited time, we can only do our best to live a life without regrets to the fullest! By Morgan @2010.11.2
Location: Xinjiang Travel Notes: Xinjiang, Colorful City (Wucai Cheng). Just a memo~ By Morgan @2010.9.29
At the Shanghai World Expo, I watched a Shaolin Temple martial arts performance.
Shanghai last night, part 2: Bowling. After dinner, there was an entertainment center next door, so we went up to the third floor to play some bowling. I'd forgotten how many years it had been since I last bowled—it's really hard to find places to play these days.
Location: Hanshan Temple outside Gusu City Travel note: At Hanshan Temple outside Gusu City, ringing the bell in the bell tower.
The office of my company in Shanghai is right next to a travel agency, and the boss knows some celebrities quite well. A colleague once saw S.H.E at night, and this afternoon when I came to the office for overtime, I ran into Lin Ruiyang. I just thought he looked familiar and gave a polite nod and smile, but it wasn’t until he walked into the travel agency that it suddenly hit me who he was. :P
Location: Shanghai Miscellany 2 Travel note: Helping a friend promote a bit—Rita loves traveling way more than I do, and her articles are really engaging. This time she joined a Paris travel event. If any friends read it and think it's good, please vote for her. Thanks! :) http://lionbeauty.pixnet.net/blog/post/26424944
Location: Shanghai Miscellany Travel note: Tonight I took a colleague a few years older than me for foot massage + tuina. The girl massaging me suddenly said she originally thought my colleague and I were "father and son" because I look too much like a kid... Good thing I wasn't drinking tea at the time, or I really would have spit it out. Being told that at 30 years old really makes you sigh at the absurdity of life... = =
Location: Shenzhen - Morning Travel Notes: A restless night. I woke up early and, taking advantage of the free time before testing at Guoxin Securities, walked alone on the streets of Shenzhen. Without paying attention to the passing people and vehicles, I just looked ahead, thinking about things. Perhaps without great destruction, there can be no great construction—this led me to the decision I wrote about yesterday. I’m also clearly aware of the immediate consequences; the 'butterfly effect' surfaced in my mind. I know that many things in the present will continuously influence future developments. Silent words seem to express wordless protest to me, but unable to articulate clearly, I choose silence over speech...... Morgan at 2007.11.9
山西+內蒙古+寧夏+甘肅 11日遊 後記 12. (終) 深圳 寶安國際機場 5張機票，2張火車票， 11天的旅程，最終移動超過了10,000公里 每一次當我自己在排行程時，…
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