This whole blog thing hasn't worked out how I imagined it would, mainly because it's hard to post pictures.
However, I would like to state, very quickly that I am in Tibet -- Lhasa specifically. We just booked a Landcruiser tour from Lhasa to the Nepal Border today. That will take 5 days. I leave tomorrow morning.
If you wish to track me, I will be going from Lhasa to Xigaste (Shigaste), to Mt. Everest Base Camp, to a tiny tiny city that starts with a Z on the nepal border. Hot.
But, I am healthy, seeing things that have opened my eyes to truly amazing things, and in good old fashion Ken style, purchased enough items to be a signficant part of the Tibetan economy.
I promise everyone who reads regularly, I will post pictures when I get back to Hong Kong - home of the non-dialup reilable internet connection that isn't blocked by the gov't.
Miss you all.
Ken
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Friday, December 22, 2006
Train Ride to Xian
After spending one more day in Beijing, it was time to move on. My next stop on my across Asia Super Tourist tour is Xian (where my camera was stolen).I've always wanted to take an overnight train somewhere. I took Amtrak as a child to Disneyworld in Orlando. I don't remember that trip. I do remember winning a car though (wtf?). Yea, I won a car, but that's not the point of this blog entry is it?
So, yes: Train. So, I decided to go in style to Xian. We took the Chinese Z92 Overnight to Xian - the newest train on the Chinese railways, something they were very proud of. Johannes and I traveled by first-class to Xi'an, leaving at 8:30 p.m. and getting in at 8 a.m. We got our own cabin with our own toilet and table.
It was very Chic. Even more Chic: we had dinner and a beer in the dining car. The fried prawns were great.
Okay, here's pictures:
Beijing West Railway Station. Why wasn't I robbed here? Seemed like a good place to do so. Oh, I know... because it's Beijing and as first-class customers, we got our own lobby. I want to in the Party...
Yay our Train!
Please Mind the Gap - And Join the Party.
Ken
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Wall!
I want to make a Southpark reference right now really badly. But, I'll keep the joke to myself and probably Ian.
Stupid Mongolians.
According to Chinese tradition, I am now a man - because I have now climbed the Great Wall of China. And I think the Chinese saying about being a man is probably true. Because if I see another set of stairs, all I think about is the stairs of the Great Wall.
So many stairs. ... so many stairs.
We decided to visit the Simatai part of the wall. There are several named parts of the wall, because it was built over a large period of time. The most touristy part is named Badaling - and it's completely restored. Simatai is a more mountainous part, less touristy, and probably the most amazing thing I have seen.
Simatai was built during the Ming Dinasty. You gotta learn your Dinasties to follow this blog. I recommend checking wikipedia. Anyways, to keep it simple, this wall is about 500 years old. There's a few other parts around here that were built much eariler and later than the Simatai Wall.
Here's an example. This picture is from the Simatai wall looking at another part (and another name). when I got to the top of the wall, you could see this section into the horizon. It was absolutely stunning. It's completely uninterrupted for miles.
We left Beijing about 9:30 a.m. and got to the Wall about noon. It's outside of Beijing by a considerable amount. It's very interesting to see the Chinese people in Beijing compared to the people in the more rural parts of China. It's like black and white.
This picture is from about the middle of Simatai. in one the guard towers. Some of the towers are in perfect condition, some are ruined. however, they all have a 3x3 grid pattern inside. Guards lived in the tower.
Inside the wall, was ancient and modern Chinese (and English) graffiti. A set of Chinese students walking with us said it was very common for the guards to carve their names into the walls (and also the tourists). While I couldn't tell who was the modern or ancient graffiti, it was still interesting.
continued....
At the wall, there was a group of peasents and farmers trying to sell goods. Every white person who seemed to go up the wall was basically followed by someone all the way up the wall. While annoying, our lady in very broken English told her a little about her background and where she worked (she pointed to a collective farm in the horizon). I found her interesting - a middle aged woman who literally climbed the wall several times a day to sell a book or postcards to tourists. I bought overpriced postcards from here (paid 25 yuan ($3), when they were worth probably around 10 yuan). I felt ripped off, but these people literally live off of the difference between 50 US cents and 1 US Dollar. It's not going to kill my budget if I overpay in some place. Plus, she climbed a wall that wore me out. That's worth 10 yuan in itsself.
If something I am learning about China, and basically Asia in general - everyone has a purpose. This is even more so in the PRC, where state owned enterprises make you wonder why there's someone being paid for this job. But, no matter, they do a job.
At the very top of Simatai is a whole part of the wall that literally is built on a razor sharp mountain. This part of the wall was very broken and obviously it's not the best thing to climb.
There was a sign saying that if you crossed it, you had to pay a fine of 200 yuan. Johannes, Me and a few other tourists climbing with us joked about how this sign seemed out of place and there was no way that it would ever be enforced.
And then a man came out from behind a section of the wall. He was very friendly... but yea... he's got the worst commute in the world. But probably one of the best office views of anyone.
Please Mind the Gap - And Climb the Wall, it's worth it.
Ken
Stupid Mongolians.
According to Chinese tradition, I am now a man - because I have now climbed the Great Wall of China. And I think the Chinese saying about being a man is probably true. Because if I see another set of stairs, all I think about is the stairs of the Great Wall.So many stairs. ... so many stairs.
We decided to visit the Simatai part of the wall. There are several named parts of the wall, because it was built over a large period of time. The most touristy part is named Badaling - and it's completely restored. Simatai is a more mountainous part, less touristy, and probably the most amazing thing I have seen.
Simatai was built during the Ming Dinasty. You gotta learn your Dinasties to follow this blog. I recommend checking wikipedia. Anyways, to keep it simple, this wall is about 500 years old. There's a few other parts around here that were built much eariler and later than the Simatai Wall.
Here's an example. This picture is from the Simatai wall looking at another part (and another name). when I got to the top of the wall, you could see this section into the horizon. It was absolutely stunning. It's completely uninterrupted for miles.We left Beijing about 9:30 a.m. and got to the Wall about noon. It's outside of Beijing by a considerable amount. It's very interesting to see the Chinese people in Beijing compared to the people in the more rural parts of China. It's like black and white.
This picture is from about the middle of Simatai. in one the guard towers. Some of the towers are in perfect condition, some are ruined. however, they all have a 3x3 grid pattern inside. Guards lived in the tower.Inside the wall, was ancient and modern Chinese (and English) graffiti. A set of Chinese students walking with us said it was very common for the guards to carve their names into the walls (and also the tourists). While I couldn't tell who was the modern or ancient graffiti, it was still interesting.
continued....
At the wall, there was a group of peasents and farmers trying to sell goods. Every white person who seemed to go up the wall was basically followed by someone all the way up the wall. While annoying, our lady in very broken English told her a little about her background and where she worked (she pointed to a collective farm in the horizon). I found her interesting - a middle aged woman who literally climbed the wall several times a day to sell a book or postcards to tourists. I bought overpriced postcards from here (paid 25 yuan ($3), when they were worth probably around 10 yuan). I felt ripped off, but these people literally live off of the difference between 50 US cents and 1 US Dollar. It's not going to kill my budget if I overpay in some place. Plus, she climbed a wall that wore me out. That's worth 10 yuan in itsself.If something I am learning about China, and basically Asia in general - everyone has a purpose. This is even more so in the PRC, where state owned enterprises make you wonder why there's someone being paid for this job. But, no matter, they do a job.
At the very top of Simatai is a whole part of the wall that literally is built on a razor sharp mountain. This part of the wall was very broken and obviously it's not the best thing to climb.
There was a sign saying that if you crossed it, you had to pay a fine of 200 yuan. Johannes, Me and a few other tourists climbing with us joked about how this sign seemed out of place and there was no way that it would ever be enforced.And then a man came out from behind a section of the wall. He was very friendly... but yea... he's got the worst commute in the world. But probably one of the best office views of anyone.
Please Mind the Gap - And Climb the Wall, it's worth it.
Ken
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Backdated Entry... cuz I stopped caring.
First off, apologies because I wrote this blog entry pre-robbery. This entry is mainly about my first day in Beijing.
After our Hot Pot experience, we got up to explore parts of Beijing (which we were quickly learning that a) much bigger than any city I have ever been in and b) has too many relics. It’s like Paris meets LA, during rush hour. It doesn’t help that the taxi drivers are not the most helpful in the world.
We spent the day at Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Tiananmen is a big massive open area, and when I saw massive, it’s pretty massive. There were many tourists and locals on the square, flying kites, talking, taking pictures, and so on. The square was also full of scam artists and hawkers.
Oh, hawkers, how I want to punch thee in the face. But, you probably know Kung Fu so I’ll just say “No” 47 ½ times.
The scam artists are very interesting. A young, good looking Chinese girl will come up to you speaking perfect English. She usually asks you where you are from, how long you have been in Bejiing.
Bitch: Hello sir.
Ken: Hello (rolls eyes)
Bitch: I Chinese student learning English. I practice English on you, yes?
Ken: No.
Bitch: What brings you to Beijing.
Ken: I live here in Dengchung District (south of Tiananmen, near the diplomatic apartments).
Bitch: I would like to show you to some museums.
Ken: No, leave me alone, thanks. (end of scene, return to top and repeat in three minutes)
The Museums they offer are actually rooms with paintings usually mass produced. If you go in (which I didn’t, I was highly warned against this), they will basically force you to purchase way overpriced bad art, or take you a tea room where you’ll pay 1,200-1,400 RMB ($200) to sample tea.
The hawkers are usually selling cheap goods you can bargain for. I wanted a Little Red Book, but I assume I’ll find them somewhere else. They also had Mao Hats. No, Larry, you’re not getting a Mao hat.
I literally joked as we were walking to the Forbidden City, “I wonder of the Forbidden City is really a City?”
Haha.
Yea, it is.
The Forbidden City is massive. Literally, we kept walking and the buildings and gardens just went everywhere. In order even to get to the Emperor’s house, you have to walk through nine gates. Yea, nine.
Pictures are better than words. Check it out.
We spent about 5 hours wandering the Forbidden City, and I was so impressed by the detailing and the craftsmanship of the whole area. For being almost 500 years old, the vast majority of it is in good condition. However, there were several parts that were off limits because Beijing is getting ready for the Olympics.
Actually, the Olympics is all Beijing residents like to talk about. They always say to me “Come back to Olympic.”
Please Mind the Gap – And screw you scam artists.
Ken
After our Hot Pot experience, we got up to explore parts of Beijing (which we were quickly learning that a) much bigger than any city I have ever been in and b) has too many relics. It’s like Paris meets LA, during rush hour. It doesn’t help that the taxi drivers are not the most helpful in the world.
We spent the day at Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Tiananmen is a big massive open area, and when I saw massive, it’s pretty massive. There were many tourists and locals on the square, flying kites, talking, taking pictures, and so on. The square was also full of scam artists and hawkers.
Oh, hawkers, how I want to punch thee in the face. But, you probably know Kung Fu so I’ll just say “No” 47 ½ times.
The scam artists are very interesting. A young, good looking Chinese girl will come up to you speaking perfect English. She usually asks you where you are from, how long you have been in Bejiing.
Bitch: Hello sir.
Ken: Hello (rolls eyes)
Bitch: I Chinese student learning English. I practice English on you, yes?
Ken: No.
Bitch: What brings you to Beijing.
Ken: I live here in Dengchung District (south of Tiananmen, near the diplomatic apartments).
Bitch: I would like to show you to some museums.
Ken: No, leave me alone, thanks. (end of scene, return to top and repeat in three minutes)
The Museums they offer are actually rooms with paintings usually mass produced. If you go in (which I didn’t, I was highly warned against this), they will basically force you to purchase way overpriced bad art, or take you a tea room where you’ll pay 1,200-1,400 RMB ($200) to sample tea.
The hawkers are usually selling cheap goods you can bargain for. I wanted a Little Red Book, but I assume I’ll find them somewhere else. They also had Mao Hats. No, Larry, you’re not getting a Mao hat.
I literally joked as we were walking to the Forbidden City, “I wonder of the Forbidden City is really a City?”
Haha.
Yea, it is.
The Forbidden City is massive. Literally, we kept walking and the buildings and gardens just went everywhere. In order even to get to the Emperor’s house, you have to walk through nine gates. Yea, nine.
Pictures are better than words. Check it out.
We spent about 5 hours wandering the Forbidden City, and I was so impressed by the detailing and the craftsmanship of the whole area. For being almost 500 years old, the vast majority of it is in good condition. However, there were several parts that were off limits because Beijing is getting ready for the Olympics.
Actually, the Olympics is all Beijing residents like to talk about. They always say to me “Come back to Olympic.”
Please Mind the Gap – And screw you scam artists.
Ken
Fun Times?
I was robbed in Xi'an today. My camera was taken in a market. I wasn't paying attention to my surroundings and paid the price. Money too.
I am going to have to figure out how to take pictures of the next, oh 15 days of trip? ... shitty.
ken
I am going to have to figure out how to take pictures of the next, oh 15 days of trip? ... shitty.
ken
I found internet... Beijing Day One
I'm literally uploading pictures as fast as I can. These first are from my first day in Beijing. This is Tianimiman Square and the Forbidden City. Enjoy. I will write more later.
I'm literally uploading pictures as fast as I can. These first are from my first day in Beijing. This is Tianimiman Square and the Forbidden City. Enjoy. I will write more later.
I'm literally uploading pictures as fast as I can. These first are from my first day in Beijing. This is Tianimiman Square and the Forbidden City. Enjoy. I will write more later.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Ladies and Gentleman...
Well, the ethernet adapter on my computer is most likely fried. Apple is not sure what's wrong with it. They think the ethernet plug might need to be replaced. It looks like you are not going to get any blog entries from me for this trip.
Sorry, there's not much I can do. I'm using my travel companion's computer, which has a German keyboard (and just a little difficult to type on). This is just not going to work.
It makes me very upset to have to say that....
Ken
Sorry, there's not much I can do. I'm using my travel companion's computer, which has a German keyboard (and just a little difficult to type on). This is just not going to work.
It makes me very upset to have to say that....
Ken
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Smiles
First off, I must apologize because this post really deserved pictures, and I left my camera at the hotel.Hello from Beijing. We arrived safely in Beijing, and ran into some other Hong Kong University students who were coming to Beijing the same weekend as us. After chatting throughout all the custom’s formalities, we went our separate ways and decided to run into each other tonight for dinner or to meet tomorrow.
Anyways, we took a taxi to our hotel in central Beijing. We’re staying a courtyard hotel in what’s traditionally referred to as a “hutong,” Chinese for narrow alley. Hutong are traditional Chinese neighborhoods, they are single-stories with narrow one-way streets with shops lining the outside and homes on the inside.
Our hotel is very nice. I will take pictures tomorrow of it – it’s way too dark to do so.
Anyways, Johannes and I wait around until about 6:30 p.m. for the other HKU students to call us. Unfortunately they didn’t, so out of starvation we decide to go looking for food. Our hotel lady told us to go “Left than Right,” but because I am a dumbass, I went Left, Left, Right to eat.
So we end up walking down some narrow streets of Beijing, where it’s literally below freezing.
We’re not going to go far for food, and we see this little tiny place that looks somewhat busy with good furniture and decide to step in.
No one speaks English, but we realize that the restaurant serves “Hot Pot.” Hot Pot is basically a fire-burning oven placed in front of your table with boiling water in it. They bring you meet and vegetables and you cook it yourself.
Our very nice server doesn’t speak a word of English, but continues to rattle on to us in Mandarin like we’re conversational in Chinese (and we’re just the silent types). Here’s our conversation:
Ken: Ni Hao (Points to hot pot at another table and smiles)
Server: Mandarin Mandarin Mandarin Mandarin Mandarin Mandarin Mandarin (smiles and points to the hot pot on the table).
Ken: (Smiles). “Xie Xie” (thank you.)
Server: Mandarin Mandarin Mandarin Mandarin Mandarin Mandarin Mandarin Mandarin (opens up our menus, which we didn’t open, points to a spattering of things) Mandarin Mandarin Mandarin Mandarin Mandarin Mandarin Mandarin Mandarin Mandarin Mandarin.
Ken: (Smiles)
I think I ordered food.
I’ve never had hot pot in my life. I have no idea how to eat it.
However, the food arrives, it’s absolutely amazing. Basically you take the vegetables, and meet, boil it, then dip it into a peanut sauce (which can be flavored how you want).
Server: Mandarin Mandarin Mandarin Mandarin Mandarin Mandarin Mandarin Mandarin Mandarin (takes various things and puts it in my peanut dip)
Ken: (Smiles)
The food was so great. I was absolutely thrilled – I love little hole in the walls, and we were absolutely stuffed, even though we had no idea what we ordered, how we ordered or how much the bill was).
We get the bill – it comes to 94 yuan (about 12 bucks). We ordered enough food for four people. So we split it, and it comes to like 48 yuan a person. Not bad. Well, I hand her a 100 yuan bill and she brings me change.
Server: Mandarin Mandarin Mandarin Mandarin Mandarin Mandarin Mandarin Mandarin Mandarin Mandarin Mandarin (hands back 6 yuan and smiles)
Ken: Smiles and begins to place the 6 yuan on the table as a tip.
Server: Laughs out loud, Mandarin Mandarin Mandarin Mandarin Mandarin Mandarin Mandarin Mandarin Mandarin Mandarin. (hands the 6 yuan back to us).
Ken: (Smiles and takes the money back).
No Tipping I guess.
So, that’s my first day. I’d write more creatively, but I am a bit tired. We’re going to the Forbidden City tomorrow. Should be fun.
Please Mind the Gap – And Smile.
Ken
Friday, December 15, 2006
Woo!
I just kicked my only final exam's ass. It was four essay questions, and you could choose two to write on. One was Hong Kong's economy with China and another was Hong Kong's air pollution.
I could write a doctoral thesis on both of those subjects. I've done a presentation on question 1 and written enough Bloomberg stories on question 2 to be the Hong Kong Air Pollution beat reporter.
It's nice to be good at school again.
Ken
I could write a doctoral thesis on both of those subjects. I've done a presentation on question 1 and written enough Bloomberg stories on question 2 to be the Hong Kong Air Pollution beat reporter.
It's nice to be good at school again.
Ken
This needs no explanation.
The Lonely Planet guide book I bought about China has a chapter about the Mongol invasion.
It's titled "The Wrath of Khan."
Wow....
It's titled "The Wrath of Khan."
Wow....
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
It was like God smiled, then struck me with a lightning bolt.
Hong Kong decided, I think collectively, to put everything on sale.
Like, everything. Seriously, you need a list?!
Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Paul Smith, Valentino, Ralph Lauren, Prada, Tod's, Dior, YSL, Columbia Sports Company, Nike, Cole Haan, Lacoste, Givenchy, Juicy Couture....
It goes on. The English department store Harvey Nichols, considered one of the most exclusive stores in fashiondom, is having a 40 percent off sale.
Why do they have to be so cruel? The only store not being cruel is Chanel, who thankfully, never puts anything on sale. If you didn't know Chanel burns everything they don't sell. That makes my day.
Ken
Today Covet Item. Take a wild f'kin' guess.
Like, everything. Seriously, you need a list?!
Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Paul Smith, Valentino, Ralph Lauren, Prada, Tod's, Dior, YSL, Columbia Sports Company, Nike, Cole Haan, Lacoste, Givenchy, Juicy Couture....
It goes on. The English department store Harvey Nichols, considered one of the most exclusive stores in fashiondom, is having a 40 percent off sale.
Why do they have to be so cruel? The only store not being cruel is Chanel, who thankfully, never puts anything on sale. If you didn't know Chanel burns everything they don't sell. That makes my day.
Ken
Today Covet Item. Take a wild f'kin' guess.
Monday, December 11, 2006
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Colonialism is Pretty
Let's say you run a civilization. At some point during your history, you decide you need more space, and figure that well, China's the way to go. So, when you arrive in the Pearl River Delta, what do you do? Do you:
I love Macau.
I took a day trip to Macau today. Macau, the strange colonial bedfellow of China, was founded by the Portuguese 500 years ago (Woah). After holding onto this tiny tiny tiny island (two kilometers by one kilometer), for centuries, the Portuguese gave it back to China in 1999. However, they left a very interesting impression on this little island.
First off, it's the only place in China you can gamble. I never equated the Portuguese with gambling, but I never equated the Portuguese with much in the first place so I obviously needed a place to start. They are kinda the strange cousin of Europe who lives by the beach all the time. I know my European friends will enjoy that. We love stereotypes.
Macau is actually really cool though. Hong Kong and Macau both were founded around the same time, but Hong Kong took a "historical building? Fuck that - let's put a car park here" attitude. So, in Macau, you have cobblestone streets, European architecture, and more churches than you can shake a Bishop's staff at.
The architecture was pretty awesome. The streets were all cobblestone, with beautiful frescoes, cute little shops. You'd think you were in some quaint Portuguese or Mediterranean town in Europe -- that somehow was having the largest Chinese tour group in history coming through.
I was also thoroughly entertained by the money in Macau. Macau uses it's own currency - the Pataca. Other than winning the "Hard Consonant Word of the Day," it's probably the least used currency on the face of the planet. It's pegged to the Hong Kong Dollar (which in turn is pegged to the U.S. Dollar). And, funny thing, the currency is in the minority on the island. According to their Monetary Authority, Patacas make up only 22.3 percent of all Macauese currency in circulation. The More You Know. I took some home with me, cuz I like useless money.
Pictures anyone?
Okay, so, yea... Macau likes the Church. A lot of very large, massive, ''power of Christ'' churches. The one that's pretty popular is St. Paul's Cathedral ruins. This was built like 400 years ago and then God got angry some time in the 1800s and decided to burn the entire thing down.
All that's left is the facade in the front. However, it's a pretty massive facade. You can see the whole city, and its casinos, from the facade's second floor.
Cultural Imperialism time though. Since I got to Hong Kong, I have been warned not to take photos of any inner sanctums of the temples here. St. Paul's has a crypt, a fairly nice one, filled with bones and stuff. Obviously God didn't like the architecture, but had a thing for the skeletons.
Anyways, there are signs everywhere saying that say ''this is a sacred place, please respect it.'' Really didn't see it from the Chinese there. It was kinda sad. They were touching things, and taking goofy pictures. I was a little flustered.
Okay more pictures of churches, ready set go:
Sorry, I had to do it. The Power of Christ compelled me to take this picture. I feel my soul rotting.
Okay, enough of good ol' fashion religion. Let's see sin! It's what everyone comes to Macau for anyways:
Woo! Casinos! Steve Wynn just opened a casino last month in Macau. It's the big super-hot place to be right now. It looks deathly familiar... to Las Vegas.
Speaking of Vegas. I wanted to share this picture. This looks like the other Macau streets I have taken pictures of, yes? Wrong! This is a new Casino. In good old Las Vegas style, they built a whole cultural center to emulate old Macau. Except, well, old Macau is like one kilometer from here.
I didn't get it. I think they should have done Paris. That would have at least been in the spirit of Vegas.
The food was actually really good in Macau. It's a mixture of Portuguese and Chinese food. Take that Californian infusion cuisine! The Portuguese got to this idea before you! I did spoil myself though. I ordered a wonderful rack of lamb and a great bottle of wine, and sat on a cobble stone street reading a book. It was heaven in some Portuguese Chinese Gambling Catholic weird sort of way.
Please Mind the Gap - and the Sin.
Ken
PS: Find me 40 bottles of this wine, and I will love you forever. I couldn't find it for the life of me.
- A - Build a trading post, adapting to the 3,000-year-old Chinese Culture in the area.
- B - Build a trading post, deciding that any local culture somehow falls beneath your great civilization. Local culture? Ha!
- C - Build a trading post, get bored, build a casino or 20.
- D - A mixture of B and C, with just enough Catholicism to keep from going to Hell.
I love Macau.I took a day trip to Macau today. Macau, the strange colonial bedfellow of China, was founded by the Portuguese 500 years ago (Woah). After holding onto this tiny tiny tiny island (two kilometers by one kilometer), for centuries, the Portuguese gave it back to China in 1999. However, they left a very interesting impression on this little island.
First off, it's the only place in China you can gamble. I never equated the Portuguese with gambling, but I never equated the Portuguese with much in the first place so I obviously needed a place to start. They are kinda the strange cousin of Europe who lives by the beach all the time. I know my European friends will enjoy that. We love stereotypes.
Macau is actually really cool though. Hong Kong and Macau both were founded around the same time, but Hong Kong took a "historical building? Fuck that - let's put a car park here" attitude. So, in Macau, you have cobblestone streets, European architecture, and more churches than you can shake a Bishop's staff at.
The architecture was pretty awesome. The streets were all cobblestone, with beautiful frescoes, cute little shops. You'd think you were in some quaint Portuguese or Mediterranean town in Europe -- that somehow was having the largest Chinese tour group in history coming through.I was also thoroughly entertained by the money in Macau. Macau uses it's own currency - the Pataca. Other than winning the "Hard Consonant Word of the Day," it's probably the least used currency on the face of the planet. It's pegged to the Hong Kong Dollar (which in turn is pegged to the U.S. Dollar). And, funny thing, the currency is in the minority on the island. According to their Monetary Authority, Patacas make up only 22.3 percent of all Macauese currency in circulation. The More You Know. I took some home with me, cuz I like useless money.
Pictures anyone?
Okay, so, yea... Macau likes the Church. A lot of very large, massive, ''power of Christ'' churches. The one that's pretty popular is St. Paul's Cathedral ruins. This was built like 400 years ago and then God got angry some time in the 1800s and decided to burn the entire thing down.All that's left is the facade in the front. However, it's a pretty massive facade. You can see the whole city, and its casinos, from the facade's second floor.
Cultural Imperialism time though. Since I got to Hong Kong, I have been warned not to take photos of any inner sanctums of the temples here. St. Paul's has a crypt, a fairly nice one, filled with bones and stuff. Obviously God didn't like the architecture, but had a thing for the skeletons.
Anyways, there are signs everywhere saying that say ''this is a sacred place, please respect it.'' Really didn't see it from the Chinese there. It was kinda sad. They were touching things, and taking goofy pictures. I was a little flustered.
Okay more pictures of churches, ready set go:
Sorry, I had to do it. The Power of Christ compelled me to take this picture. I feel my soul rotting.Okay, enough of good ol' fashion religion. Let's see sin! It's what everyone comes to Macau for anyways:
Woo! Casinos! Steve Wynn just opened a casino last month in Macau. It's the big super-hot place to be right now. It looks deathly familiar... to Las Vegas.Speaking of Vegas. I wanted to share this picture. This looks like the other Macau streets I have taken pictures of, yes? Wrong! This is a new Casino. In good old Las Vegas style, they built a whole cultural center to emulate old Macau. Except, well, old Macau is like one kilometer from here.
I didn't get it. I think they should have done Paris. That would have at least been in the spirit of Vegas.
The food was actually really good in Macau. It's a mixture of Portuguese and Chinese food. Take that Californian infusion cuisine! The Portuguese got to this idea before you! I did spoil myself though. I ordered a wonderful rack of lamb and a great bottle of wine, and sat on a cobble stone street reading a book. It was heaven in some Portuguese Chinese Gambling Catholic weird sort of way.
Please Mind the Gap - and the Sin.Ken
PS: Find me 40 bottles of this wine, and I will love you forever. I couldn't find it for the life of me.
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
And you thought U.S. Flying Sucks
Ken: "Hello nice travel agent. I would like to book two flights from Kathmandu, Nepal to Dehli, India."
Agent: "Certainly Rich American. We have three flight options for you."
Ken: "How splendid. Please give me those options."
Agent: "Well, we have Airline A, B and C. Airline A we aren't sure exists anymore."
Ken: "Oh... well, why are you trying to sell me this?"
Agent: "It's the cheapest."
Ken: "I can imagine. Next option, please."
Agent: "Certainly rich American. We have Airline B. Airline B doesn't fly to Dehli right now, but will next month."
Ken:"Oh, so it's expanding? Excellent, I'll take those tickets."
Agent: "Oh, you misunderstood me Rich American. I said they don't fly to Dehli right now, I didn't say they were expanding."
Ken: "So, why don't they fly to Dehli right now."
Agent: "Poor safety record. I think they forgot to hire mechanics or something. Big Nepalese Scandal."
Ken: "Next airline please."
Agent: "Certainly rich American. You can fly Airline C. Airline C is expensive."
Ken: "Well, okay."
Agent: "Very Expensive."
Ken: "Aren't I the rich American?"
Agent: "Certainly you are sir. But you can't afford this ticket. Plus, they require you get pick up the ticket in Kathmandu. I think you have to be Nepali to fly them. Are you Nepali, Mr. Sweet?"
Ken: "I'm not in Kathmandu. I was hoping for an e-ticket. No, I'm American, remember?"
Agent: "Oh, yes.... hmm. Well, Airline C is a good option. Can you wire me your deposit and we'll see if the flight is open for non-Nepalese?"
Ken: "I'm going to take a bus."
Agent: "Call back next week. Some other airlines might start up between now and then."
Sadly, this conversation is pretty much verbatum.
Please Mind the Gap - and get me out of Nepal.
~Ken
Agent: "Certainly Rich American. We have three flight options for you."
Ken: "How splendid. Please give me those options."
Agent: "Well, we have Airline A, B and C. Airline A we aren't sure exists anymore."
Ken: "Oh... well, why are you trying to sell me this?"
Agent: "It's the cheapest."
Ken: "I can imagine. Next option, please."
Agent: "Certainly rich American. We have Airline B. Airline B doesn't fly to Dehli right now, but will next month."
Ken:"Oh, so it's expanding? Excellent, I'll take those tickets."
Agent: "Oh, you misunderstood me Rich American. I said they don't fly to Dehli right now, I didn't say they were expanding."
Ken: "So, why don't they fly to Dehli right now."
Agent: "Poor safety record. I think they forgot to hire mechanics or something. Big Nepalese Scandal."
Ken: "Next airline please."
Agent: "Certainly rich American. You can fly Airline C. Airline C is expensive."
Ken: "Well, okay."
Agent: "Very Expensive."
Ken: "Aren't I the rich American?"
Agent: "Certainly you are sir. But you can't afford this ticket. Plus, they require you get pick up the ticket in Kathmandu. I think you have to be Nepali to fly them. Are you Nepali, Mr. Sweet?"
Ken: "I'm not in Kathmandu. I was hoping for an e-ticket. No, I'm American, remember?"
Agent: "Oh, yes.... hmm. Well, Airline C is a good option. Can you wire me your deposit and we'll see if the flight is open for non-Nepalese?"
Ken: "I'm going to take a bus."
Agent: "Call back next week. Some other airlines might start up between now and then."
Sadly, this conversation is pretty much verbatum.
Please Mind the Gap - and get me out of Nepal.
~Ken
Who knew I would be happy to have a long layover?
On January 5th, I fly from Dehli to Singapore. I get there in the morning (430 a.m. to be precise). I then leave Singapore for Hong Kong at 7 p.m. and get into Hong Kong at 1045 p.m. on the 6th.
So, I get to spend the whole day wandering around in Singapore. Woo, another stamp!
Usually I hate long layovers... but I get to wander Singapore now! I'll make sure to leave my cocaine, pornography, cigarettes and malaysian newspapers at home then.
Ken
So, I get to spend the whole day wandering around in Singapore. Woo, another stamp!
Usually I hate long layovers... but I get to wander Singapore now! I'll make sure to leave my cocaine, pornography, cigarettes and malaysian newspapers at home then.
Ken
Friday, December 01, 2006
Indiana Ken
Ladies and Gentleman, we're starting to wind down here in Hong Kong. I leave for the United States on January 9th. But, I still have a month left here in China. But, would it be appropriate for me to leave Asia on such a boring, downturn note?
Hell fuckin' no.
I'm doing a 23-day trip into Asia. That hand-written ticket is my ticket from Hong Kong to Beijing. Yea... plane ticket is hand written. How cool is that? Here's my travel plans. Links brought to by Wikipedia, the wiki-est pedia out there.
Columbia! Probably stopping in St. Louis to see Danny and Ian. That's like what, Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Lhasa, Shigatse, Kathmandu, Dehli, Agra, Khula Lampour, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Phoenix, St. Louis, Columbia... 13 city destinations in a month? Woah.
I plan on blogging as much of the trip I can. We are heading into parts of the world that are pretty much cut off from civilization. However, I cannot express how excited I am! Please, let me here your comments.
Please Mind the Gap -- and Mount Everest.
~Ken
Hell fuckin' no.
I'm doing a 23-day trip into Asia. That hand-written ticket is my ticket from Hong Kong to Beijing. Yea... plane ticket is hand written. How cool is that? Here's my travel plans. Links brought to by Wikipedia, the wiki-est pedia out there.
- December 16th - Hong Kong to Beijing. My friend Johannes from Germany and I will travel the Forbidden City, The Great Wall and other parts of China's capital.
- December 19th, evening - First-class train from Beijing to Xi'an. We will arrive in the morning of the 20th. Xi'an is one of China's most ancient cities. Hopefully we will see the Terracotta Soldiers, ancient pagotas, etc.
- December 22nd, morning - Fly from Xi'an to Chengdu. Chengdu, also another very ancient city has.... pandas!!!!! Yay Pandas! In Chengdu we will meet Jordan from Canada, and prepare for our trip into...
- December 24th, morning - Fly from Chengdu to Lhasa, in Tibet. I will spend Christmas in Tibet. That will include the Patola Palace, Tibetan monestaries, the highest lake in the world.
- December 28th - Johannes leaves us, he has great and wonderous things to see. But, Jordan and I continue on to Shigatse and Mount Everest Base Camp. Hot.... or... well, more cold. Things get a little, unexact here, because of where we are going from to where we are going to. We however, before New Years eve, will arrive in...
- December 31st - Kathmandu, Nepal. Shangri-la. We will spend three days in Nepal, seeing the scenary, and other stuff. I'd give you specifics, but there's just too much.
- January 4th - We fly from Kathmandu to Dehli, India. We plan to visit Agra, where the Taj Mahal is, and also see what we can in India during our limited amount of time.
- January 7th - evening. I fly back to Hong Kong, via Malaysia. I would like to get out, get my passport stamp and get back in my plane... hehe, yay passport stamps.
Columbia! Probably stopping in St. Louis to see Danny and Ian. That's like what, Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Lhasa, Shigatse, Kathmandu, Dehli, Agra, Khula Lampour, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Phoenix, St. Louis, Columbia... 13 city destinations in a month? Woah.
I plan on blogging as much of the trip I can. We are heading into parts of the world that are pretty much cut off from civilization. However, I cannot express how excited I am! Please, let me here your comments.
Please Mind the Gap -- and Mount Everest.
~Ken
Friday, November 24, 2006
Don't Cry for me...
There's a Chinese person singing "Evita" at the top of his lungs in the shower.
... that is all.
... that is all.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Like a Black Man at a Croquet Match
First off, sorry for not posting recently. Life's been busy, and I haven't traveled or done anything that incredibly exciting here in Hong Kong. However, I have some things to update ya about.
So, I'm starting to realize what it means to be a minority in another country. It took three months, but I'm starting to notice it more and more. I'm not insulted by it, cuz I'll share some examples with you, but more, well, frustrated.
I've only recently started noticing things the Hong Kong-ese do when I, or a group of white people, come into the picture. I think I noticed it completely when I had a series of things happen to me.
Anyways, in the morning I get on my bus. I started noticing that always seem to have the seats next to me open. I especially noticed it one day when I got on a very crowded bus last week, and no matter how crowded the bus was, no one would sit next to me. I shower people, I shower.
I then went to a press conference. I signed in and sat on a couch, by myself like usual, and the security guard walked up to me.
Guard: "Sir, do you work for The South China Morning Post?" (the main english-based newspaper in town. The Post reporter is sitting across from me, she's a very nice Japanese lady.)
Me: "No, I'm with Bloomberg. She's over there."
Guard: "Sorry sir, I assumed you were with the Post because...."
Me: "Because why?"
Guard: "Nothing sir, have a good day."
The press conference was held by a very important gentleman in the community. He did his speech in English, and then took all his questions in Cantonese. There were six white people there standing around, occasionally asking a nice Hong Kong reporter what he's saying.
He could obviously see us. I'm standing in his fucking face with a tape recorder.
So I headed home, on my bus with my own seat, and went to grab dinner at a local restaurant. I was placed in the back, in a special section that had forks and water instead of chopsticks and tea in front of it.
Can I have any more stereotypes placed upon me?
Oh, a tuna sandwich with Mayo on white bread. Thanks!
Please Mind the Gap, and The Man,
Ken
So, I'm starting to realize what it means to be a minority in another country. It took three months, but I'm starting to notice it more and more. I'm not insulted by it, cuz I'll share some examples with you, but more, well, frustrated.
I've only recently started noticing things the Hong Kong-ese do when I, or a group of white people, come into the picture. I think I noticed it completely when I had a series of things happen to me.
Anyways, in the morning I get on my bus. I started noticing that always seem to have the seats next to me open. I especially noticed it one day when I got on a very crowded bus last week, and no matter how crowded the bus was, no one would sit next to me. I shower people, I shower.
I then went to a press conference. I signed in and sat on a couch, by myself like usual, and the security guard walked up to me.
Guard: "Sir, do you work for The South China Morning Post?" (the main english-based newspaper in town. The Post reporter is sitting across from me, she's a very nice Japanese lady.)
Me: "No, I'm with Bloomberg. She's over there."
Guard: "Sorry sir, I assumed you were with the Post because...."
Me: "Because why?"
Guard: "Nothing sir, have a good day."
The press conference was held by a very important gentleman in the community. He did his speech in English, and then took all his questions in Cantonese. There were six white people there standing around, occasionally asking a nice Hong Kong reporter what he's saying.
He could obviously see us. I'm standing in his fucking face with a tape recorder.
So I headed home, on my bus with my own seat, and went to grab dinner at a local restaurant. I was placed in the back, in a special section that had forks and water instead of chopsticks and tea in front of it.
Can I have any more stereotypes placed upon me?
Oh, a tuna sandwich with Mayo on white bread. Thanks!
Please Mind the Gap, and The Man,
Ken
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Because Hong Kong Pop-Culture is not complete without YouTube
This video is so famous in Hong Kong, you can buy t-shirts with him on it. He even has a wikipedia entry... how awesome is that?
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Sorry!
So... yea, I know I haven't posted in this thing in awhile. Would I be a horrible person to say that nothing is going on here in Hong Kong? It's just the usual: Work, School, Exploring the City, etc. There's nothing been interesting to write about, until this afternoon:
I went walking down Antique Street in Central Hong Kong today to look for gifts for people. Other than expensive Tea Sets I found a corner in Hong Kong that sold, of all things, Ivory.
Yea --- Ivory. That super-illegal material made of dead elephant tusks.
So, because I had no soul, I went in to look. Honestly, it was the first reasonable items I have seen. Ivory has long been prized for its ability for carving.
I found a few things that I actually liked --- very intricate, very beautiful, and very very illegal.
Oh well. I'll buy it anyways, and put the Ivory with my Absinthe, Blood Diamonds, Cuban Cigars and a Cambodian or Vietnamese baby in my luggage.
Illegal items are so awesome.
~Ken
Post's Covet Item: A trip into Tibet.
I went walking down Antique Street in Central Hong Kong today to look for gifts for people. Other than expensive Tea Sets I found a corner in Hong Kong that sold, of all things, Ivory.
Yea --- Ivory. That super-illegal material made of dead elephant tusks.
So, because I had no soul, I went in to look. Honestly, it was the first reasonable items I have seen. Ivory has long been prized for its ability for carving.
I found a few things that I actually liked --- very intricate, very beautiful, and very very illegal.
Oh well. I'll buy it anyways, and put the Ivory with my Absinthe, Blood Diamonds, Cuban Cigars and a Cambodian or Vietnamese baby in my luggage.
Illegal items are so awesome.
~Ken
Post's Covet Item: A trip into Tibet.
Saturday, November 04, 2006
Gift Time!!!
Okay, because it seems to be that only my mother leaves comments on my Blog, I'm now requesting comments.
What do you want from China?
If you could have anything from China, please tell me. Ask, and you will have -within reason. Some suggestions - Tea, Tea Sets, Clothing, Sculptures, Jade, etc.
If there is something you're really dying for, and it's a little pricy, let me know and I can find it for you. I gotta know now because I will be searching the City for things, and I will be heading into China next month.
So, send me your material desires, Material Girls (and boys).
Please Mind The Gap,
Ken
This post's Covet Item --- Well, you're the one's coveting things. Tell me!!!
What do you want from China?
If you could have anything from China, please tell me. Ask, and you will have -within reason. Some suggestions - Tea, Tea Sets, Clothing, Sculptures, Jade, etc.
If there is something you're really dying for, and it's a little pricy, let me know and I can find it for you. I gotta know now because I will be searching the City for things, and I will be heading into China next month.
So, send me your material desires, Material Girls (and boys).
Please Mind The Gap,
Ken
This post's Covet Item --- Well, you're the one's coveting things. Tell me!!!
Friday, October 27, 2006
Things Turn Around
You guys hate my narratives, but I like my narratives, so... there.
I went into work today at 5:30 a.m. like I usually do. It was a typical Friday - as the intern, I have to be the first person in the office - usually to do summaries of the English-language newspapers and the like. I actually enjoy showing up to a 70-story building when I am the only in it. It's the only time here in Hong Kong I feel truly able to be to myself.
Anyways. So, I finish my tasks around 8:15 a.m. and then I am just browsing the terminal for interesting stories to e-mail to people. Then my former stocks editor taps me on the shoulder.
Editor: "We need you to cover Hong Kong stocks - everyone called in sick."
Ken: "Just Me?"
Editor: "Yea, Please. I need the preview in 20 minutes, thanks."
Ken: "Okay."
I realize two things immediately that didn't pass through my mind while my editor was talking to me:
1) The Industrial & Commercial Bank of China's $19.1 billion initial public offering is today -the largest IPO in the world's history. It's listing today, on my stock market I have to cover.
2) The Hang Seng Index is set to hit an all-time record.
3) I'm fucking alone to cover it.
4) And I have never written a stocks story without a co-byline before to help me through it.
Okay, maybe four things. After said pissing of pants, I got to work.
9:20 a.m. -I file my preview story in 20 minutes. Basically the preview is an overview of yesterday's market and any stocks we suspect will move today because of company news that came out after the markets closed yesterday.
Editor: "Okay, preview's out. What's your theme?" (context: every market moves for a reason, so without the market opening, I have to tell him my reason of what will move and why.)
Ken: "Consumer spending news in the U.S was mostly postive. That will reflect on the exporting companies such as Yue Yuen and Li & Fung Ltd. ICBC lists today, so all the liquidity that was pulled from the market to apply for ICBC shares will re-enter the market, probably back into their target companies. We'll be up this morning, probably led by usual cast of characters."
Editor: "Oil?"
Ken: "Oil's done nothing the last few days."
Editor: "Watch oil stocks. You have an up theme I take it?"
Ken: "Yes."
Up theme= the Hang Seng Index is up today, for xxx reasons
10 a.m. - Market opens. The Hang Seng is up. I send my first fill story (I produce five updates in a stock story a day: entrance, fill, full story, afternoon update, close.)
Oil stocks are split today, and so are airlines. Usually oil and airlines move in tandem in today's market. If oil's up, oil stocks rise, airlines decline and then visa versa. I need an oil story though.
Editor: "I'm going to work on your oil section. You have very little company price information to back up your thesis. I think you'll need to try again with oil."
Ken: "Sounds good."
11 a.m. - With the exception of oil stocks, my thesis is holding up. The Hang Seng passes its record high and ICBC shares are trading 17 percent above their initial trading amount (so if you had 100 bucks in ICBC... in one hour you have 117.... hot).
However, I don't have a fund manager. I need a fund manager. Yes, they are exactly what they sound like. Very powerful people, who often control and decide the fate of tens of billions of dollars. They are G-d to the stocks writer. I go to my fund manager contact list.
11:45 a.m. - I haven't reached a fund manager. My story in completion is due in 45 minutes.
12:15 p.m. - Lilian at Daiwa answers her number. We speak for about 5 minutes. I've got my fundie. Now, I have a full stocks story due in 15 minutes.
12:40 p.m.-
Editor : "Where's my story?"
Ken: "I'm updating price information now and editing. Give me two minutes."
Editor: "Nope."
I send my story, and I am not happy with it. There is huge things I wanted to write about. I didn't have the time. To avoid doing the dialogue - basically my story gets shot to shit, mainly on the basis that it just wasn't ready. I needed more time. I learn and move on.
Lunch time.
2:00 p.m. -
Editor: "Ready for the market to re-open?"
Ken: "Yea."
Editor: "It should be a pretty easy afternoon. The Hang Seng is up 60ish points, it's probably going to stay that way. See if you can develop your themes more. Maybe oil stocks will pull together. We'll have our 'up' theme."
2:30 p.m. - Market reopens. (The market trades for 1 hour, 30 minutes until 4 p.m. I have a final story due to my editor by 4:30 p.m. - half the time I had in the morning. However, the story is basically written, I just update a lot of the prices).
3:00 p.m. - Hang Seng up 50 points.
3:02 p.m. - Hang Seng up 25 points.
3:03 p.m. - Hang Seng up 10 points.
3:07 p.m. - Hang Seng down 10 points.
3:08 p.m. - Hang Seng up 5 points. My story template dies. The Hang Seng is no longer at a record, nor is up. It's swinging between gains and losses (aka hard as fuck to write).
3:09 p.m. - Hang Seng is down 40 points
3:15 p.m. - Hang Seng is down 80 points.
3:20 p.m. - Hang Seng is down 110 points. (at this point... we have a very different story on our hands, nothing I have written, nor the quotes I have gathered, will work. My story is due in 1 hour, ten minutes..)
Editor: "We need a down story. What's the theme?"
Then I have an idea, and I throw something out.
Ken: "The Hang Seng is down because of ICBC."
Editor: "How?"
Ken: "ICBC is the biggest IPO in the world, and the bulk of the Hang Seng index are finance related stocks. It's most likely people are buying into ICBC, explaining why it's up now 18 percent, and why all the banks are down. Also, the Hang Seng has risen dramatically the past week, we could see some correction and psychological issues about the record high."
Editor: "Sounds Good."
I check the Hang Seng Financial Index - it's exactly what it says it is, a sub index made up of finance related stocks. It's way down. All banks and the Hong Kong Exchange stocks are down.
Bingo - I have my theme. Now I need a fund manager to ask if I am write. Remember last time? I have 15 minutes before the market closes. At this point, most of the investing community is incredibly busy -it will be hard to find someone.
I find a fund manager. He agrees with me somewhat. He also talks more about how the Index is at a record, so people could be just scared of the Hang Seng going any higher. Also, something called ''profit taking'' is happening.
Profit Taking = Stock goes up, you make money. You sell stock and get money, you get your profit. Simple. (FYI: Profit Taking is an illegal word in business journalism. We're never allowed to say a market moves because of profit taking. I agree.)
4 p.m. - The market closes at a stable level of down 60 points. I've got my quotes on what's happening with the market. I look at oil stocks - they are down. I look at airlines - they are up. Yay, took them about fucking time.
I write a couple theme graphs on ICBC being this huge-ass deal for the market, and why banks may not be benefiting from a new dog on the block. I write about how the positive U.S. economy is still helping Yue Yuen and Li & Fung (remember them? They were at the top of my story... they closed up today, yay, one theme didn't have be totally rewritten.).
4:30 p.m. - I send my story.
Broadcast Anchor: "Hey Ken, we're hearing rumors that we had a really high turnover day. Can you check?" (Turnover ... well, basically how much money's worth of stocks changed hands).
4:35 p.m. - We find out the HK Stock Market had the second-highest day of trading in history. The only day higher was the massive sell off in 1998 during the Asian Financial Crisis.
4:50 p.m. - Story gets posted on the wire.
Byline: Ken Sweet.
I, by myself, covered the stock market on: the biggest IPO in the word entering the market, the second-highest volume day ever and the all-time record high for the Hang Seng Index.
By Myself.
I wish Darren was here. He went to Austrailia, I hope he would be proud.
Editor: "Great job today Ken. Have a great weekend."
So I left.
Please Mind the Gap,
~Ken
This Post's Covet Item: Ny-Quil. I didn't say throughout this entire post that I started coming down with something. So I worked all day today pretty much sick.
I went into work today at 5:30 a.m. like I usually do. It was a typical Friday - as the intern, I have to be the first person in the office - usually to do summaries of the English-language newspapers and the like. I actually enjoy showing up to a 70-story building when I am the only in it. It's the only time here in Hong Kong I feel truly able to be to myself.
Anyways. So, I finish my tasks around 8:15 a.m. and then I am just browsing the terminal for interesting stories to e-mail to people. Then my former stocks editor taps me on the shoulder.
Editor: "We need you to cover Hong Kong stocks - everyone called in sick."
Ken: "Just Me?"
Editor: "Yea, Please. I need the preview in 20 minutes, thanks."
Ken: "Okay."
I realize two things immediately that didn't pass through my mind while my editor was talking to me:
1) The Industrial & Commercial Bank of China's $19.1 billion initial public offering is today -the largest IPO in the world's history. It's listing today, on my stock market I have to cover.
2) The Hang Seng Index is set to hit an all-time record.
3) I'm fucking alone to cover it.
4) And I have never written a stocks story without a co-byline before to help me through it.
Okay, maybe four things. After said pissing of pants, I got to work.
9:20 a.m. -I file my preview story in 20 minutes. Basically the preview is an overview of yesterday's market and any stocks we suspect will move today because of company news that came out after the markets closed yesterday.
Editor: "Okay, preview's out. What's your theme?" (context: every market moves for a reason, so without the market opening, I have to tell him my reason of what will move and why.)
Ken: "Consumer spending news in the U.S was mostly postive. That will reflect on the exporting companies such as Yue Yuen and Li & Fung Ltd. ICBC lists today, so all the liquidity that was pulled from the market to apply for ICBC shares will re-enter the market, probably back into their target companies. We'll be up this morning, probably led by usual cast of characters."
Editor: "Oil?"
Ken: "Oil's done nothing the last few days."
Editor: "Watch oil stocks. You have an up theme I take it?"
Ken: "Yes."
Up theme= the Hang Seng Index is up today, for xxx reasons
10 a.m. - Market opens. The Hang Seng is up. I send my first fill story (I produce five updates in a stock story a day: entrance, fill, full story, afternoon update, close.)
Oil stocks are split today, and so are airlines. Usually oil and airlines move in tandem in today's market. If oil's up, oil stocks rise, airlines decline and then visa versa. I need an oil story though.
Editor: "I'm going to work on your oil section. You have very little company price information to back up your thesis. I think you'll need to try again with oil."
Ken: "Sounds good."
11 a.m. - With the exception of oil stocks, my thesis is holding up. The Hang Seng passes its record high and ICBC shares are trading 17 percent above their initial trading amount (so if you had 100 bucks in ICBC... in one hour you have 117.... hot).
However, I don't have a fund manager. I need a fund manager. Yes, they are exactly what they sound like. Very powerful people, who often control and decide the fate of tens of billions of dollars. They are G-d to the stocks writer. I go to my fund manager contact list.
11:45 a.m. - I haven't reached a fund manager. My story in completion is due in 45 minutes.
12:15 p.m. - Lilian at Daiwa answers her number. We speak for about 5 minutes. I've got my fundie. Now, I have a full stocks story due in 15 minutes.
12:40 p.m.-
Editor : "Where's my story?"
Ken: "I'm updating price information now and editing. Give me two minutes."
Editor: "Nope."
I send my story, and I am not happy with it. There is huge things I wanted to write about. I didn't have the time. To avoid doing the dialogue - basically my story gets shot to shit, mainly on the basis that it just wasn't ready. I needed more time. I learn and move on.
Lunch time.
2:00 p.m. -
Editor: "Ready for the market to re-open?"
Ken: "Yea."
Editor: "It should be a pretty easy afternoon. The Hang Seng is up 60ish points, it's probably going to stay that way. See if you can develop your themes more. Maybe oil stocks will pull together. We'll have our 'up' theme."
2:30 p.m. - Market reopens. (The market trades for 1 hour, 30 minutes until 4 p.m. I have a final story due to my editor by 4:30 p.m. - half the time I had in the morning. However, the story is basically written, I just update a lot of the prices).
3:00 p.m. - Hang Seng up 50 points.
3:02 p.m. - Hang Seng up 25 points.
3:03 p.m. - Hang Seng up 10 points.
3:07 p.m. - Hang Seng down 10 points.
3:08 p.m. - Hang Seng up 5 points. My story template dies. The Hang Seng is no longer at a record, nor is up. It's swinging between gains and losses (aka hard as fuck to write).
3:09 p.m. - Hang Seng is down 40 points
3:15 p.m. - Hang Seng is down 80 points.
3:20 p.m. - Hang Seng is down 110 points. (at this point... we have a very different story on our hands, nothing I have written, nor the quotes I have gathered, will work. My story is due in 1 hour, ten minutes..)
Editor: "We need a down story. What's the theme?"
Then I have an idea, and I throw something out.
Ken: "The Hang Seng is down because of ICBC."
Editor: "How?"
Ken: "ICBC is the biggest IPO in the world, and the bulk of the Hang Seng index are finance related stocks. It's most likely people are buying into ICBC, explaining why it's up now 18 percent, and why all the banks are down. Also, the Hang Seng has risen dramatically the past week, we could see some correction and psychological issues about the record high."
Editor: "Sounds Good."
I check the Hang Seng Financial Index - it's exactly what it says it is, a sub index made up of finance related stocks. It's way down. All banks and the Hong Kong Exchange stocks are down.
Bingo - I have my theme. Now I need a fund manager to ask if I am write. Remember last time? I have 15 minutes before the market closes. At this point, most of the investing community is incredibly busy -it will be hard to find someone.
I find a fund manager. He agrees with me somewhat. He also talks more about how the Index is at a record, so people could be just scared of the Hang Seng going any higher. Also, something called ''profit taking'' is happening.
Profit Taking = Stock goes up, you make money. You sell stock and get money, you get your profit. Simple. (FYI: Profit Taking is an illegal word in business journalism. We're never allowed to say a market moves because of profit taking. I agree.)
4 p.m. - The market closes at a stable level of down 60 points. I've got my quotes on what's happening with the market. I look at oil stocks - they are down. I look at airlines - they are up. Yay, took them about fucking time.
I write a couple theme graphs on ICBC being this huge-ass deal for the market, and why banks may not be benefiting from a new dog on the block. I write about how the positive U.S. economy is still helping Yue Yuen and Li & Fung (remember them? They were at the top of my story... they closed up today, yay, one theme didn't have be totally rewritten.).
4:30 p.m. - I send my story.
Broadcast Anchor: "Hey Ken, we're hearing rumors that we had a really high turnover day. Can you check?" (Turnover ... well, basically how much money's worth of stocks changed hands).
4:35 p.m. - We find out the HK Stock Market had the second-highest day of trading in history. The only day higher was the massive sell off in 1998 during the Asian Financial Crisis.
4:50 p.m. - Story gets posted on the wire.
Byline: Ken Sweet.
I, by myself, covered the stock market on: the biggest IPO in the word entering the market, the second-highest volume day ever and the all-time record high for the Hang Seng Index.
By Myself.
I wish Darren was here. He went to Austrailia, I hope he would be proud.
Editor: "Great job today Ken. Have a great weekend."
So I left.
Please Mind the Gap,
~Ken
This Post's Covet Item: Ny-Quil. I didn't say throughout this entire post that I started coming down with something. So I worked all day today pretty much sick.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Tourism meets Buddhism
Picture a Buddhist monestary. What words come to your mind? Serene? Calm? Beautiful? Those are usually the words I put with East Asian temples, from what I have seen since I came to China.
My serene thoughts of a Buddhist monestary were shattered on Sunday, after a few friends and I decided to visit the Tian Tan Buddha on Lantau Island. It's the largest sitting Buddha in the world.
I should have been forewarned about going. First off, I thought such an object would be nice and calm to go see. I ignored the signs right infront of me:
1) Tian Tan Buddha was built in 1990
2) A major Hong Kong transportation company just opened a Cable Car, the Ngong Ping 360, to get to it.
I should have known better. Instead I got this:
AGH! I hate lines!!! The bottom photo was the back of the first of five line segments we had to wait in to get on the cable car. Once we were on, though (1 1/2 hours later), the ride was somewhat pleasant.
Sorry for the glare. We were told that this monestary was way out of the way, and the Ngong Ping 360 was the only way to really get out to see it in time. However, my friends and I noticed a very nicely sculpted path right under the Cable Car.
So, we all felt bad because instead of walking on the nice wooden path through a beautifully green mountainous path, we put ourselves in our sterile little cable car box and rose past it. It was sad. The superficiality of this trip could only get worse....
Now... I support Starbucks. They make great coffee. However, this Starbucks was located in a fake village Ngong Ping 360 built next to Buddha. I quote the brochure:
My serene thoughts of a Buddhist monestary were shattered on Sunday, after a few friends and I decided to visit the Tian Tan Buddha on Lantau Island. It's the largest sitting Buddha in the world.
I should have been forewarned about going. First off, I thought such an object would be nice and calm to go see. I ignored the signs right infront of me:
1) Tian Tan Buddha was built in 1990
2) A major Hong Kong transportation company just opened a Cable Car, the Ngong Ping 360, to get to it.
I should have known better. Instead I got this:
AGH! I hate lines!!! The bottom photo was the back of the first of five line segments we had to wait in to get on the cable car. Once we were on, though (1 1/2 hours later), the ride was somewhat pleasant.
Sorry for the glare. We were told that this monestary was way out of the way, and the Ngong Ping 360 was the only way to really get out to see it in time. However, my friends and I noticed a very nicely sculpted path right under the Cable Car.
So, we all felt bad because instead of walking on the nice wooden path through a beautifully green mountainous path, we put ourselves in our sterile little cable car box and rose past it. It was sad. The superficiality of this trip could only get worse....
Now... I support Starbucks. They make great coffee. However, this Starbucks was located in a fake village Ngong Ping 360 built next to Buddha. I quote the brochure:"Ngong Ping Village occupies 1.5 hectacres adjecent to the Tian Tan Buddha Statue in Lantau, and has been designed to reflect and maintain the cultural and spiritual integrity of the Ngong Ping Area."
I would like to note this Starbucks was next to a giftshop, a French restaurant, and a Chopstick store. Oh! They had a mascot too.
Sorry for the stupid picture, the attendent doesn't know how to use my camera. ... sad. But... you get the picture. There are no monkeys on Lantau island (with the exception of said monkey costume man).
Okay, after losing my soul in the commerciality of that damn village. We made it to the Buddha.
Pretty neat looking, huh? The crowds were massive in the town, but honestly, there was hardly anyone at the Buddha. It was really sad, really.
This was behind the Buddha. Why couldn't the Cable Car have like two exits and dropped me off somewhere in that mountain over there?
Please Mind The Gap - and the creepy monkey.
~Ken
This Posts Covet Item: Ebony chopsticks set at the Chopsticks Store, US$120.
Sorry for the stupid picture, the attendent doesn't know how to use my camera. ... sad. But... you get the picture. There are no monkeys on Lantau island (with the exception of said monkey costume man).Okay, after losing my soul in the commerciality of that damn village. We made it to the Buddha.
Pretty neat looking, huh? The crowds were massive in the town, but honestly, there was hardly anyone at the Buddha. It was really sad, really.
This was behind the Buddha. Why couldn't the Cable Car have like two exits and dropped me off somewhere in that mountain over there?Please Mind The Gap - and the creepy monkey.
~Ken
This Posts Covet Item: Ebony chopsticks set at the Chopsticks Store, US$120.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Rich People Make Me a Sad Panda
Outside of my regular purchases of clothing and consumer goods here in Hong Kong, I am on a side quest for cultural things I can bring back from China to the states. Jade. Sculptures. Paintings. Books. Something that is more long lasting than any tie or shirt I buy at a boutique.
I've had an inkling, since an episode in a park, to purchase a Mahjong set. I don't play Mahjong - my grandmother did though. I use to construct things out of her Mahjong tiles.
It's a memory I have of my Grandma that I cherish. My Mom and Dad are about to go down memory lane.
However! I haven't been able to find one. I've not looked very hard though - I've put off buying cultural items for awhile because I don't know where to buy it, and I don't want to buy cheap rip offs. I also don't want to spend a fortune at a store near the Mandarian Oriental either. So I haven't found a Mahjong set, not one.
So ... to my story:
I was shopping in Central, which is what I do on almost a religious basis. There's always some designer brand flagship store I can walk into and made to feel small, poor and unable to afford this stuff ever because I am a business reporter, not a businessman.
I walked into the Gucci flagship store in Hong Kong. It's literally brand new - opened on Oct. 14. It's three stories and absolutely stunning. I have two items from Gucci - and love both of them.
Anyways, I look to my left, and in a glass case is a Gucci Mahjong set.
... yes.
Traditional Mahjong Set, meets:
Well, I had to see this for myself. Now, a bit of background. I walked into Gucci with a Chanel Bag. I bought a tie at Chanel (yes, I bought a man's tie at Chanel, yes it cost a fortune, and yes it was totally worth it). Chanel gave me this huge-ass bag, and I am dressed quite well today, so I look like I am some rich-ass American with taste.
"YES! I command thee, oh, Gucci store people. Show me the Gucci Mahjong Set."
Well, let's just say if I had HK$22,000 and no soul, I would buy it. They had five in the store. What else could be more unique than a Gucci Mahjong set? I asked to see it, and because I had my Chanel bag qualifications, they pulled out a set for me.
Well, I know my Xmas gift for myself. Let's not send Ken to Tibet, China, or Thailand. Let's buy him a Gucci Mahjong set. YAY!
You know Grandma would be proud.
Please Mind the Gap - and my souless behavior.
Ken
This Post's Covet Item:
In honor of the consumerist culture of Hong Kong, I shall build my Holiday Wish List with each post I put online from here on out.
Well, the Gucci Mahjong Set, obviously. And a Chanel J12 Watch. Black - the small one.
I've had an inkling, since an episode in a park, to purchase a Mahjong set. I don't play Mahjong - my grandmother did though. I use to construct things out of her Mahjong tiles.It's a memory I have of my Grandma that I cherish. My Mom and Dad are about to go down memory lane.
However! I haven't been able to find one. I've not looked very hard though - I've put off buying cultural items for awhile because I don't know where to buy it, and I don't want to buy cheap rip offs. I also don't want to spend a fortune at a store near the Mandarian Oriental either. So I haven't found a Mahjong set, not one.
So ... to my story:
I was shopping in Central, which is what I do on almost a religious basis. There's always some designer brand flagship store I can walk into and made to feel small, poor and unable to afford this stuff ever because I am a business reporter, not a businessman.
I walked into the Gucci flagship store in Hong Kong. It's literally brand new - opened on Oct. 14. It's three stories and absolutely stunning. I have two items from Gucci - and love both of them.
Anyways, I look to my left, and in a glass case is a Gucci Mahjong set.
... yes.
Traditional Mahjong Set, meets:Well, I had to see this for myself. Now, a bit of background. I walked into Gucci with a Chanel Bag. I bought a tie at Chanel (yes, I bought a man's tie at Chanel, yes it cost a fortune, and yes it was totally worth it). Chanel gave me this huge-ass bag, and I am dressed quite well today, so I look like I am some rich-ass American with taste.
"YES! I command thee, oh, Gucci store people. Show me the Gucci Mahjong Set."
Well, let's just say if I had HK$22,000 and no soul, I would buy it. They had five in the store. What else could be more unique than a Gucci Mahjong set? I asked to see it, and because I had my Chanel bag qualifications, they pulled out a set for me.
Well, I know my Xmas gift for myself. Let's not send Ken to Tibet, China, or Thailand. Let's buy him a Gucci Mahjong set. YAY!
You know Grandma would be proud.Please Mind the Gap - and my souless behavior.
Ken
This Post's Covet Item:
In honor of the consumerist culture of Hong Kong, I shall build my Holiday Wish List with each post I put online from here on out.
Well, the Gucci Mahjong Set, obviously. And a Chanel J12 Watch. Black - the small one.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
"Oh! You're not a person. ... sad."
Despite the melodramatic subject, I will try to be more upbeat in this post. Everyone was depressed by my last one.
But, yes - I am not a person. In fact, I really don't exist.
No, I haven't been reading "The Stranger" and other French Existentialist writing while I a muse the evenings away in Hong Kong. Nor have I sold myself into some type of slavery - although knowing some of my readers, that might be something that would perk their ears.
No, in the end, I just don't have business cards.
As I have become a quasi-adult, I find myself in more and more awkward situations where I don't have a business card or 37 to give to sources or random people I meet. In the U.S. - you're just looked at as clumsy by forgetting your business card in a professional environment.
And, usually in the Western World, as I have gotten to know, you exchange business cards after you meet someone and have already conducted business. It's a symbol of "thank you, please remember me, I appreciated our time together." Like you're dating them or something.
In Asia... completely different. Let's go patented Ken Dialogue:
Asian Businessperson: "Hello, thank you for meeting with me. I am Qu Ting."
Ken: "Hello, I'm Ken Sweet with (fill in somewhat important professional aspect here."
Asian businessperson proceeds to pull out silver or gold business card holder, removes a business card. Holding it by the edges, businessperson bows just slightly, holding business card with appropriate language of conversation upwards for recieval. It is held out like an offering.
Now, at this point, I am supposed to take the business card and then provide the same ceremony to the same person, and then business would commence.
What really happens is:
Ken: "Um, I don't have businesscards. Here is my contact infor..."
Businessperson: (in an abrupt tone) "Why don't you have a business card?"
Cue awkward moment.
Business cards are the life blood of people around here. It establishes your place in society. And you give business cards before anyone commences business. And you always bring more than you possibly could need. Today, I had to go the Ritz Carlton hotel to meet with some fund managers. My editor, knowing that I would probably be crucified like Jesus for not having any, gave me seven business cards. I know because I dropped them on the way out of the building (fouling my business cards on the granite floor).
I ran out of them halfway through, and by the time I got to the important person I needed to give a businesscard to, I was out.
Cue Awkward Moment
Please Mind the Gap - and bring business cards.
Ken
But, yes - I am not a person. In fact, I really don't exist.
No, I haven't been reading "The Stranger" and other French Existentialist writing while I a muse the evenings away in Hong Kong. Nor have I sold myself into some type of slavery - although knowing some of my readers, that might be something that would perk their ears.
No, in the end, I just don't have business cards.
As I have become a quasi-adult, I find myself in more and more awkward situations where I don't have a business card or 37 to give to sources or random people I meet. In the U.S. - you're just looked at as clumsy by forgetting your business card in a professional environment.
And, usually in the Western World, as I have gotten to know, you exchange business cards after you meet someone and have already conducted business. It's a symbol of "thank you, please remember me, I appreciated our time together." Like you're dating them or something.
In Asia... completely different. Let's go patented Ken Dialogue:
Asian Businessperson: "Hello, thank you for meeting with me. I am Qu Ting."
Ken: "Hello, I'm Ken Sweet with (fill in somewhat important professional aspect here."
Asian businessperson proceeds to pull out silver or gold business card holder, removes a business card. Holding it by the edges, businessperson bows just slightly, holding business card with appropriate language of conversation upwards for recieval. It is held out like an offering.
Now, at this point, I am supposed to take the business card and then provide the same ceremony to the same person, and then business would commence.
What really happens is:
Ken: "Um, I don't have businesscards. Here is my contact infor..."
Businessperson: (in an abrupt tone) "Why don't you have a business card?"
Cue awkward moment.
Business cards are the life blood of people around here. It establishes your place in society. And you give business cards before anyone commences business. And you always bring more than you possibly could need. Today, I had to go the Ritz Carlton hotel to meet with some fund managers. My editor, knowing that I would probably be crucified like Jesus for not having any, gave me seven business cards. I know because I dropped them on the way out of the building (fouling my business cards on the granite floor).
I ran out of them halfway through, and by the time I got to the important person I needed to give a businesscard to, I was out.
Cue Awkward Moment
Please Mind the Gap - and bring business cards.
Ken
Friday, October 13, 2006
The sound of a face hitting dirt at a million miles an hour sounds like my name.
I've been defeated or downtrodden a couple many times in my life. The first one I can remember distinctly in my mind can be described in two words: Lake Ontario.
That was the answer to a final round to the Arizona State Geography Bee that I missed. I said the Great Salt Lake - I don't remember the question.
I get to add to that collection of downtrodden and defeatist answers today: Enterprise Value. It refers to a value of a company used alternatively than market capitalization, if you really care.
Today I found my first deadline story idea that needed to be written for the wire. It was about a Hong Kong (and later Singapore) based company call Wh_e_elock Properties Ltd. Today its stock shot up 4.4 percent, which is a pretty significant climb for any stock. It was up 20 percent for the week -again a significant climb for any stock.
I noticed this company moving up what's called a HILO chart (52-week highs/lows)... and ran it by my immediates. We found out that an analyst report was put out yesterday night that said this company seemed, on a financial basis, to be open for a privatization option. Usually this is a big deal. It means the stock is worth less than what the market value of the company, and therefore, the stock is worth buying because it's undervalued. We assume the stock is doing well today because of the report -it's very common in stock stories.
I was told to write a quick 5-6 paragraph story about this and the analyst report. I felt pretty good. I finally did some of my own digging and found a decent story that needed to get on the wire. I wrote it, gave it to Darren, who've I've mentioned before, and him and I worked through the story to improve it. So far, so good. I then get to send it to what's called a Spot Editor, a editor who's available at the moment to edit the story and prep it for the wire. At this time, it's about 515 p.m.
Stop.
The editor has some major questions with my story. Legitimate questions. Things I didn't prepare myself to answer. Double Stop.
I'm asked, after 30 minutes of going back and forth, to rewrite the story. The questionable section, well, everything, but specifically: Singapore. I mentioned that above. In this analyst report, one of the reasons for why the company is doing well is because of the property market in Singapore. This is a Hong Kong company that has no property in Singapore.
Editor: "Have you spoken with the analysts who wrote this?"
Me: "No." (I didn't think about doing this... big mistake)
Editor: "Then, how do we answer how this report is legitimate?"
Me: "Um... (insert bullshit statement here... I really didn't know.... then proceed to look like an idiot.)
Editor: "Find a way to show that Singapore matters and some way to valuate this company's worth."
So, I have to find a way to legitimize this stock's value and why Singapore matters. I call the stocks editor in Singapore and ask. I find out there is a company in Singapore called the same thing and owned by the same people. It's also risen to a record high.
Bingo... I found it - it's a dually listed company (companies can list on many stock exchanges... this was one of them). We get the story back together, with the help of my stocks editor Andy, who stayed way past his time necessary to help me. It's 7 p.m.
I was pretty downtrodden at this point cuz I didn't get the story right the first time. I could have given the readers bad info... (I had originally said that there wasn't a Singapore company). However, I'm here to learn and then send off my revised story - feeling good that it answered all the questions necessary.
Editor: "Show me where this is a dually-listed company."
Me: "I asked the stock editor... and called the company."
The editor then shows a function on the terminal that shows if a company is dually listed it would appear there. It didn't. This Singapore company, while related, is not the same company's stock, and therefore, not a dually-listed company.
Editor: "Also... where's the valuation information I wanted you to put in here about the company."
Me: "I thought the Singapore thing would be enough to answer the question about legitimacy, so I didn't look into it." (I didn't know how to, so I didn't). "If you show me how to..."
Editor: "I don't have time to show you anything. I am the only one here and I have a ton of work to do."
Me: "Um..." (awkward silence)
Editor: "Listen, send me all you have on this and I'll put it together when I get time."
So, I prep material for him, hoping I can at least be somewhat helpful. I grab the report, the quotes I got, etc.
I then get a message on my terminal -it's a graph.
It's a graph showing the performance of this company's stock, compared with the Hang Seng Index. This stock has outperformed the market for years, therefore, it's not undervalued, and therefore...
Well, I don't really have a story, do I?
Editor: "Well, the stock still rose a ton, we need to get something out there. Can I have the materials?"
(Hands materials over)
Editor: "Where's the analyst report?"
Me: "Right there" pointing to a 3-page packet.
Editor: "This report is 37 pages long, what you have is a summary. You cannot write a story off a summary. Look here. Eh, nevermind. Go home, I'll work on this when I get a second. You did a lot of work on this. But go home."
I tell him I want to stay until the story is out. It's my story. I want to see it through, no matter how screwy I am....
Editor: "I don't have time to walk you through your story. Go home. I'll see you at the picnic tomorrow."
So I left.
That was the answer to a final round to the Arizona State Geography Bee that I missed. I said the Great Salt Lake - I don't remember the question.
I get to add to that collection of downtrodden and defeatist answers today: Enterprise Value. It refers to a value of a company used alternatively than market capitalization, if you really care.
Today I found my first deadline story idea that needed to be written for the wire. It was about a Hong Kong (and later Singapore) based company call Wh_e_elock Properties Ltd. Today its stock shot up 4.4 percent, which is a pretty significant climb for any stock. It was up 20 percent for the week -again a significant climb for any stock.
I noticed this company moving up what's called a HILO chart (52-week highs/lows)... and ran it by my immediates. We found out that an analyst report was put out yesterday night that said this company seemed, on a financial basis, to be open for a privatization option. Usually this is a big deal. It means the stock is worth less than what the market value of the company, and therefore, the stock is worth buying because it's undervalued. We assume the stock is doing well today because of the report -it's very common in stock stories.
I was told to write a quick 5-6 paragraph story about this and the analyst report. I felt pretty good. I finally did some of my own digging and found a decent story that needed to get on the wire. I wrote it, gave it to Darren, who've I've mentioned before, and him and I worked through the story to improve it. So far, so good. I then get to send it to what's called a Spot Editor, a editor who's available at the moment to edit the story and prep it for the wire. At this time, it's about 515 p.m.
Stop.
The editor has some major questions with my story. Legitimate questions. Things I didn't prepare myself to answer. Double Stop.
I'm asked, after 30 minutes of going back and forth, to rewrite the story. The questionable section, well, everything, but specifically: Singapore. I mentioned that above. In this analyst report, one of the reasons for why the company is doing well is because of the property market in Singapore. This is a Hong Kong company that has no property in Singapore.
Editor: "Have you spoken with the analysts who wrote this?"
Me: "No." (I didn't think about doing this... big mistake)
Editor: "Then, how do we answer how this report is legitimate?"
Me: "Um... (insert bullshit statement here... I really didn't know.... then proceed to look like an idiot.)
Editor: "Find a way to show that Singapore matters and some way to valuate this company's worth."
So, I have to find a way to legitimize this stock's value and why Singapore matters. I call the stocks editor in Singapore and ask. I find out there is a company in Singapore called the same thing and owned by the same people. It's also risen to a record high.
Bingo... I found it - it's a dually listed company (companies can list on many stock exchanges... this was one of them). We get the story back together, with the help of my stocks editor Andy, who stayed way past his time necessary to help me. It's 7 p.m.
I was pretty downtrodden at this point cuz I didn't get the story right the first time. I could have given the readers bad info... (I had originally said that there wasn't a Singapore company). However, I'm here to learn and then send off my revised story - feeling good that it answered all the questions necessary.
Editor: "Show me where this is a dually-listed company."
Me: "I asked the stock editor... and called the company."
The editor then shows a function on the terminal that shows if a company is dually listed it would appear there. It didn't. This Singapore company, while related, is not the same company's stock, and therefore, not a dually-listed company.
Editor: "Also... where's the valuation information I wanted you to put in here about the company."
Me: "I thought the Singapore thing would be enough to answer the question about legitimacy, so I didn't look into it." (I didn't know how to, so I didn't). "If you show me how to..."
Editor: "I don't have time to show you anything. I am the only one here and I have a ton of work to do."
Me: "Um..." (awkward silence)
Editor: "Listen, send me all you have on this and I'll put it together when I get time."
So, I prep material for him, hoping I can at least be somewhat helpful. I grab the report, the quotes I got, etc.
I then get a message on my terminal -it's a graph.
It's a graph showing the performance of this company's stock, compared with the Hang Seng Index. This stock has outperformed the market for years, therefore, it's not undervalued, and therefore...
Well, I don't really have a story, do I?
Editor: "Well, the stock still rose a ton, we need to get something out there. Can I have the materials?"
(Hands materials over)
Editor: "Where's the analyst report?"
Me: "Right there" pointing to a 3-page packet.
Editor: "This report is 37 pages long, what you have is a summary. You cannot write a story off a summary. Look here. Eh, nevermind. Go home, I'll work on this when I get a second. You did a lot of work on this. But go home."
I tell him I want to stay until the story is out. It's my story. I want to see it through, no matter how screwy I am....
Editor: "I don't have time to walk you through your story. Go home. I'll see you at the picnic tomorrow."
So I left.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
A letter he won't read
Dear President Bush,
I know you're an avid reader of my blog and I appreciate your time to be an audience member of this humble piece of Internet real estate.
Could I ask one favor though? Please, for the love of all that's good and holy... talk to the damn Koreans before I find out how it feels to:
a) Get a Tan in 15 seconds
b) Grow a second head
If North Korean officials are saying to newspapers "we're going to fire a nuclear missile," at that point if I was you, I would start thinking about a holiday fruit cake for Kim Jong Il or maybe a nice cheese tray.
Cuz, yea... I may not be in Japan or Taiwan or Korea right now... but I am down wind from them. And radiation is just not fabulous.
Talk to the damn Koreans, please.
Mind the Gap, sir.
~Ken
I know you're an avid reader of my blog and I appreciate your time to be an audience member of this humble piece of Internet real estate.
Could I ask one favor though? Please, for the love of all that's good and holy... talk to the damn Koreans before I find out how it feels to:
a) Get a Tan in 15 seconds
b) Grow a second head
If North Korean officials are saying to newspapers "we're going to fire a nuclear missile," at that point if I was you, I would start thinking about a holiday fruit cake for Kim Jong Il or maybe a nice cheese tray.
Cuz, yea... I may not be in Japan or Taiwan or Korea right now... but I am down wind from them. And radiation is just not fabulous.
Talk to the damn Koreans, please.
Mind the Gap, sir.
~Ken
Monday, October 09, 2006
News
Sometimes news happens. Some stories are bigger than others. I honestly never got that news rush over the agenda to the Columbia City Council. Sorry Matt H.
Enter North Korea and its nuclear test.
7:30 a.m.
I get into work like I usually do. My job in the morning is to write the Hong Kong Stocks preview - basically what's going on in the world that might affect stocks. It's nothing big, I work on it every morning. Because it was coming off a holiday in Asia, it was suspected to be a very quite day on the market. U.S. economic indicators playing possible drag on U.S. market, along with liquidity flowing out of the market in preparation for the $19.1 billion ISBC initial public offering. So, pretty much an uneventful day, I made plans in my schedule to work on a Espr*t story on my down time.
9:30 a.m.
I send my stock preview story to the wire and then spend the morning prepping to call fund investors to get a comment on what happens with the market.
10:00 a.m.
Market opens. Hang Seng is trading down as we suspected, no biggie.
10:37 a.m.
Market loses 200 points in five minutes. Wires start talking about an earthquake in North Korea. The Bureau realizes what's most likely happened.
(Insert Blurry Time Figure Here)
Hong Kong is B-Berg's central Asia bureau. Everything is cooridinated from here. So, everything starts going crazy. "North Korea claims nuclear test" starts being the first things we throw up on the wire.
I call my mom and freak her out. Sorry about that. I also call Jenna... Hi Jenna!
My immediate supervisor and full time stock writer, Darren, throws me on the phones. He wants as many comments about what is going to happen to the market as possible. His boss throws him on covering Korean stocks, because obviously the S. Korean bureau has their hands a little full at the moment.
So, that leaves me with the Hong Kong stocks story for the day. The Hang Seng ends up closing 22x.xx points down from records set on Thursday. But, yea, I was given a story that I pretty much built for the most part on my own. I got all the quotes for the story, helped construct it. I got some help from Darren (who could be reading this blog... howdy mate).
That was my part in the North Korean bomb thing. I covered it.... I think? Who knows.
It was a freakin' rush though. I was thinking back. I haven't had a news rush in a long time, one of a bigger scale like this. I was not writing at the time of 9/11 - yea, Derek, I am not that old...
But this was pretty cool. I was in Asia for big story like that. I wasn't studying in South Korea or something, which, honestly, would be even cooler. At least I have a couple interesting stories to come back with.
I hope I am doing well at B-berg. I sometimes wonder. I'm doing a lot of reporting, but not a lot of writing. I'm going to work on a few stories on my own the next couple weeks to build some clips here.
Anyways, sorry for not writing this more eloquently. I'm bloody tired. However! I refrain from using my traditional closing line for these more popular pop culture references:
"Somebody set up us the bomb!"
Kim Jong Il: I'm so Ronery / So ronery / So ronery and sadry arone / There's no one / Just me onry / Sitting on my rittle throne ...
Nothing better to end a important day with making fun of Kim Jong Il.
~Ken
Enter North Korea and its nuclear test.
7:30 a.m.
I get into work like I usually do. My job in the morning is to write the Hong Kong Stocks preview - basically what's going on in the world that might affect stocks. It's nothing big, I work on it every morning. Because it was coming off a holiday in Asia, it was suspected to be a very quite day on the market. U.S. economic indicators playing possible drag on U.S. market, along with liquidity flowing out of the market in preparation for the $19.1 billion ISBC initial public offering. So, pretty much an uneventful day, I made plans in my schedule to work on a Espr*t story on my down time.
9:30 a.m.
I send my stock preview story to the wire and then spend the morning prepping to call fund investors to get a comment on what happens with the market.
10:00 a.m.
Market opens. Hang Seng is trading down as we suspected, no biggie.
10:37 a.m.
Market loses 200 points in five minutes. Wires start talking about an earthquake in North Korea. The Bureau realizes what's most likely happened.
(Insert Blurry Time Figure Here)
Hong Kong is B-Berg's central Asia bureau. Everything is cooridinated from here. So, everything starts going crazy. "North Korea claims nuclear test" starts being the first things we throw up on the wire.
I call my mom and freak her out. Sorry about that. I also call Jenna... Hi Jenna!
My immediate supervisor and full time stock writer, Darren, throws me on the phones. He wants as many comments about what is going to happen to the market as possible. His boss throws him on covering Korean stocks, because obviously the S. Korean bureau has their hands a little full at the moment.
So, that leaves me with the Hong Kong stocks story for the day. The Hang Seng ends up closing 22x.xx points down from records set on Thursday. But, yea, I was given a story that I pretty much built for the most part on my own. I got all the quotes for the story, helped construct it. I got some help from Darren (who could be reading this blog... howdy mate).
That was my part in the North Korean bomb thing. I covered it.... I think? Who knows.
It was a freakin' rush though. I was thinking back. I haven't had a news rush in a long time, one of a bigger scale like this. I was not writing at the time of 9/11 - yea, Derek, I am not that old...
But this was pretty cool. I was in Asia for big story like that. I wasn't studying in South Korea or something, which, honestly, would be even cooler. At least I have a couple interesting stories to come back with.
I hope I am doing well at B-berg. I sometimes wonder. I'm doing a lot of reporting, but not a lot of writing. I'm going to work on a few stories on my own the next couple weeks to build some clips here.
Anyways, sorry for not writing this more eloquently. I'm bloody tired. However! I refrain from using my traditional closing line for these more popular pop culture references:
"Somebody set up us the bomb!"
Kim Jong Il: I'm so Ronery / So ronery / So ronery and sadry arone / There's no one / Just me onry / Sitting on my rittle throne ...
Nothing better to end a important day with making fun of Kim Jong Il.
~Ken
Friday, October 06, 2006
It's like watching Television
Oh, America - politics scandals from your neck of the woods are always so much fun. If only this stuff can last through Election Day. That would make me so happy.
It would also make me happy if Rep. J.D. Hayworth gets hit by a bus, but I would take this Foley thing costing him a seat any day.
Sorry, no China posts today, not much to write about really. International Bank Wire transfers a) suck b) expensive and c) were probably looked at up/down/left/right by the U.S. gov't as it left the states. Yea, FBI... I used my 650 bucks to squander vast amounts of opium on the afghani black market, come find me.
Please Mind the Gap, and the Congressman's penis.
~Ken
It would also make me happy if Rep. J.D. Hayworth gets hit by a bus, but I would take this Foley thing costing him a seat any day.
Sorry, no China posts today, not much to write about really. International Bank Wire transfers a) suck b) expensive and c) were probably looked at up/down/left/right by the U.S. gov't as it left the states. Yea, FBI... I used my 650 bucks to squander vast amounts of opium on the afghani black market, come find me.
Please Mind the Gap, and the Congressman's penis.
~Ken
Monday, October 02, 2006
Chinese National Day
So, Comrades, I had planned on writing a lengthy and witty blog entry about Chinese National Day. I wrote it, and I decided, I'm not very good at writing communist propaganda. So, I'll explain matter-of-factly instead.
Today was Chinese National Day, the day the Communist Party established the People's Republic of China. On this day 57 years ago is Mao Zedong's said the famous quote "The Chinese People have stood up."
The holiday is not as important in Hong Kong (because of its Communist attachments) than it is in the Mainland. However, we did have a pretty stunning fireworks show. Thanks to YouTube, I have uploaded for you all to enjoy the grande finale.
Hope you enjoyed that, it was pretty amazing to watch. Happy National Day everyone.
Please Mind the Gap,
Ken
Today was Chinese National Day, the day the Communist Party established the People's Republic of China. On this day 57 years ago is Mao Zedong's said the famous quote "The Chinese People have stood up."
The holiday is not as important in Hong Kong (because of its Communist attachments) than it is in the Mainland. However, we did have a pretty stunning fireworks show. Thanks to YouTube, I have uploaded for you all to enjoy the grande finale.
Hope you enjoyed that, it was pretty amazing to watch. Happy National Day everyone.
Please Mind the Gap,
Ken
Saturday, September 30, 2006
For our next course....
Before I left the U.S., I had dinner with a few family friends about their trip to Hong Kong. They gave some great advice. But, they did warn me.
“Watch out for the fancy dinners.” ~Rene.
Oh, Lordy – Mom, you can tell Rene that she was right. I just lived a scene out of “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.” No snakes. No monkey brains. Now, I am an experimental eater. But… this?
Yea…
Tonight was my hall’s High Table Dinner, one of three we are required by the University to attend. It’s a very important function for the Hall. I was excited to go.
Now, Chinese food is served differently here than in the U.S. Traditionally, you serve one dish at a time, and you finish off one/two dishes at one sitting, and then another set will be brought to you.
Let’s start with the first course:
Suckling Pig. That pig was served to me with its face facing me. I had to stare the pig in the face while we ate. And the meat served was not the interior of the pig... it was the outside. I had to eat the skin off a pig... while it looked it at me.
I suddenly wasn’t that hungry. Allison, oh lordy, Allison.
After the pig, here we go.
Shrimp. Now, I like shrimp. But, I don’t enjoy having my food look at me when I eat. And I swear one of them moved. No one else believed me. I actually won’t have Shrimp at Sushi restaurants anymore because I went to one that served me shrimp with the eyes. I don’t want to look at my food while it's looking at me.
Things just kept getting worse. Damn fish...
I am missing a photo of the whole chicken that was served to us... head and all. Again, the bird looked at me while we ate. I miss Chicken Nuggets.
This pastry was actually good. I have no idea what was in it, and how my night was going, I didn't want to know.
In all our table was served something in the neighborhood of 15 dishes with tea. The majority of the food was quite good. I just like not..... well, looking at my food.
And the endless combination of Pork, Shellfish, Dairy, Beef and Dairy taints my body so much, that God himself would ban me from ever devoting a life to Kosher dietary laws.
After dinner, we had a series of speeches (given in Cantonese) and other stuff. Again, I bring up the mentality of the Chinese compared to Western thought. We had the whole series of applause again for people. We were introduced to committees of students and alumni. Everyone in that echelon of power wore the same outfit.
Anyways, the dinner was quite good, despite the looking at my food thing.
Please Mind the Gap, and stop looking at me!
~Ken
“Watch out for the fancy dinners.” ~Rene.
Oh, Lordy – Mom, you can tell Rene that she was right. I just lived a scene out of “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.” No snakes. No monkey brains. Now, I am an experimental eater. But… this?
Yea…Tonight was my hall’s High Table Dinner, one of three we are required by the University to attend. It’s a very important function for the Hall. I was excited to go.
Now, Chinese food is served differently here than in the U.S. Traditionally, you serve one dish at a time, and you finish off one/two dishes at one sitting, and then another set will be brought to you.
Let’s start with the first course:
Suckling Pig. That pig was served to me with its face facing me. I had to stare the pig in the face while we ate. And the meat served was not the interior of the pig... it was the outside. I had to eat the skin off a pig... while it looked it at me.I suddenly wasn’t that hungry. Allison, oh lordy, Allison.
After the pig, here we go.
Shrimp. Now, I like shrimp. But, I don’t enjoy having my food look at me when I eat. And I swear one of them moved. No one else believed me. I actually won’t have Shrimp at Sushi restaurants anymore because I went to one that served me shrimp with the eyes. I don’t want to look at my food while it's looking at me.
Things just kept getting worse. Damn fish...I am missing a photo of the whole chicken that was served to us... head and all. Again, the bird looked at me while we ate. I miss Chicken Nuggets.
This pastry was actually good. I have no idea what was in it, and how my night was going, I didn't want to know.In all our table was served something in the neighborhood of 15 dishes with tea. The majority of the food was quite good. I just like not..... well, looking at my food.
And the endless combination of Pork, Shellfish, Dairy, Beef and Dairy taints my body so much, that God himself would ban me from ever devoting a life to Kosher dietary laws.
After dinner, we had a series of speeches (given in Cantonese) and other stuff. Again, I bring up the mentality of the Chinese compared to Western thought. We had the whole series of applause again for people. We were introduced to committees of students and alumni. Everyone in that echelon of power wore the same outfit.
Anyways, the dinner was quite good, despite the looking at my food thing.
Please Mind the Gap, and stop looking at me!
~Ken
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