Being a foreigner in a strange country only makes the concept of dating all the more interesting. Expat dating has to be one of the strangest forms of courtship invented by man. People move to other parts of the world but bring their old perceptions and stereotypes with them.
Men from my country seem to assume that women in China are going to be docile and obey their every deviant sexual request. Real Chinese women could not be any further from the American fantasy. Every Chinese woman I know has an opinion and is not the least bit shy about expressing it. If you are paying a prostitute to pretend to be your sex slave, that's one thing, but if you want a real sex slave, you might want to look outside of China.
American women dating Chinese men is just as difficult, mostly for the opposite reasons. American women, in the broadest general terms, want independent men. Chinese men, in my very limited experience, are not the most independent people in the world. There is probably a reason China has always been ruled by dictators. Conforming and fitting in are popular concepts in China. When people around here buy the latest cell phone, winter coat or suitcase, it is the exact same model that everyone else is buying this week.
Then there is marriage. I'm not anywhere close to even thinking about getting married some day, but I don't like the idea of dating someone who can't marry me eventually if that is the hole we both happen to fall down. It's like eating a great meal when you have the stomach flu and you know everything is going to come back up pretty soon.
In Chinese society, if a Chinese woman marries a white man, her parents might be heartbroken, but her friends think she hit the jackpot. If a Chinese man marries a white woman, his family will disown him. I'm not designed to be something someone brags to his friends about but can't take home to his mother. In my experience, the mothers usually like me more than the friends.
Fortunately, Hong Kong is an international city. There are people here from pretty much all over the world. We have men in all shapes, sizes, colors, makes and models. This city is a diversity smorgasbord. But I never liked all you can eat buffets.
Thursday, October 29, 2015
Monday, October 26, 2015
Adventures in Publishing part 4
Shooting For Paris part II is now available for pre-orders at Amazon. Once again, the e-book is at a low price during the pre-orders, but will go up after the full release. The paperback will always be expensive.
I think the release date is December 2nd, but I could be wrong about that. It's sometime in early December. Just in time for Christmas. Nothing says Christmas like April in Paris.
I think the release date is December 2nd, but I could be wrong about that. It's sometime in early December. Just in time for Christmas. Nothing says Christmas like April in Paris.
Sunday, October 25, 2015
Taipei Pictures Again
Chiang Kai Shek might have been a brutal dictator,
but this is a pretty impressive building.
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Taipei Again
The first time I went to Taipei, I stayed in the Xinyi District. There was never enough time to go anywhere else, so I stayed put. That is actually a good way to see a new city, especially if you plan on going back a few times. Big cities are hard to see all at once. When people go to Tokyo for the first time, they try to hit the Imperial Palace, Roppongi, Ginza, Meiji Jingu, SkyTree and a million other sights, but they are all in different wards. The SkyTree and Meiji Shrine are nowhere near each other.
By concentrating on Xinyi, I got to know that area relatively well. I learned nothing about the rest of the city, but I would have learned nothing about any of it if I tried to see all of it in a single weekend.
For this trip, we stayed in Zhongzheng, which has more than enough to see and do for the weekend. But we did stray out of the area a little bit. Taipei, like most large East Asian cities, has an efficient mass transportation system. I never got to use it last time. I went in a group and we got a ride to and from the airport. This time, I went with Lily. We were on our own, so we had little choice but to use the MRT.
There are several options to get into Taipei from the airport. Like Tokyo, Bangkok and Fuzhou, the airport is far away from the city. Unlike Hong Kong and Tokyo, there is nothing like the MTR Airport Express. The one hour bus from the airport to Taipei Main Station seemed to be the most popular option, but we took the shuttle from the airport to the Taoyuan high speed train station since the high speed train went to Taipei Main Station in 20 minutes. The bus is probably more popular because it is about half the price of the train.
We stayed at the Caesar Park Hotel, which is a typical business hotel across the street from Taipei Main Station. I liked the Home Hotel in Xinyi better because it was a smaller boutique hotel. You tend to get better service at boutique hotels. There was nothing wrong with the Caesar Park, other than the bathroom. The location could not have been better.
The hotel is three blocks north of the 228 Peace Park and National Taiwan Museum, which is a block west of the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall, National Concert Hall and National Theater, which are northeast of the National Museum of History and Botanical Garden. Immediately south of the hotel is a shopping neighborhood with more than enough food. Unlike Xinyi, it is not flooded with western food, but we did see a McDonald's and Starbucks. Just like Xinyi, there is a 7-11 on practically every corner.
Since the main MRT station was across the street from our hotel, we took the train a few stops north to the main Confucius temple, creatively called Taipei Confucius Temple. That was not simply the English name. It is actually called that in Chinese. 臺北孔子廟. We also headed east to Taipei 101. I had already been there, but Lily had not.
Taipei's MRT is pretty much like Hong Kong's MTR. Except we had to pay with cash. They have a card similar to the Octopus, but we did not buy any since we don't know when we will ever go back. I have heard that it can be used at 7-11 and other places, just like the Octopus card, so I should probably get one next time. If it is half as convenient as Hong Kong's octopus, there is no reason not to get one. Taipei's MRT has a number of different lines that seem to go everywhere in the city. The trains are not as clean as Hong Kong, but they were a lot less crowded.
On the way back home, we took a taxi from the hotel to the airport. That is probably the most expensive way to go, but we were in a hurry. Taking the high speed train to the shuttle to the airport is a good hour plus however long you have to wait around for the train and shuttle. The taxi ride was also an hour, but there was no waiting time. Overall, we saved almost 10 minutes for three times the price. Maybe that is why the bus is so popular.
Taipei taxis are also pretty much like Hong Kong taxis. They are dirt cheap and dirty compared to Tokyo. Unlike Mainland China, catching a taxi was always easy. It probably helped that we were at a large hotel across the street from the main train station. Unlike Hong Kong, our Taipei driver understood my Chinese perfectly. Nobody was expecting that. He could understand me without the usual “eh” and I caught about half of what he said. That's pretty good when it comes to taxis. He spoke with a heavy accent, but I'm sure my accent sounded crazy to him.
It is nice to know I can communicate with taxi drivers in Taipei, but next time I'm sticking with the trains or buses.
By concentrating on Xinyi, I got to know that area relatively well. I learned nothing about the rest of the city, but I would have learned nothing about any of it if I tried to see all of it in a single weekend.
For this trip, we stayed in Zhongzheng, which has more than enough to see and do for the weekend. But we did stray out of the area a little bit. Taipei, like most large East Asian cities, has an efficient mass transportation system. I never got to use it last time. I went in a group and we got a ride to and from the airport. This time, I went with Lily. We were on our own, so we had little choice but to use the MRT.
There are several options to get into Taipei from the airport. Like Tokyo, Bangkok and Fuzhou, the airport is far away from the city. Unlike Hong Kong and Tokyo, there is nothing like the MTR Airport Express. The one hour bus from the airport to Taipei Main Station seemed to be the most popular option, but we took the shuttle from the airport to the Taoyuan high speed train station since the high speed train went to Taipei Main Station in 20 minutes. The bus is probably more popular because it is about half the price of the train.
We stayed at the Caesar Park Hotel, which is a typical business hotel across the street from Taipei Main Station. I liked the Home Hotel in Xinyi better because it was a smaller boutique hotel. You tend to get better service at boutique hotels. There was nothing wrong with the Caesar Park, other than the bathroom. The location could not have been better.
The hotel is three blocks north of the 228 Peace Park and National Taiwan Museum, which is a block west of the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall, National Concert Hall and National Theater, which are northeast of the National Museum of History and Botanical Garden. Immediately south of the hotel is a shopping neighborhood with more than enough food. Unlike Xinyi, it is not flooded with western food, but we did see a McDonald's and Starbucks. Just like Xinyi, there is a 7-11 on practically every corner.
Since the main MRT station was across the street from our hotel, we took the train a few stops north to the main Confucius temple, creatively called Taipei Confucius Temple. That was not simply the English name. It is actually called that in Chinese. 臺北孔子廟. We also headed east to Taipei 101. I had already been there, but Lily had not.
Taipei's MRT is pretty much like Hong Kong's MTR. Except we had to pay with cash. They have a card similar to the Octopus, but we did not buy any since we don't know when we will ever go back. I have heard that it can be used at 7-11 and other places, just like the Octopus card, so I should probably get one next time. If it is half as convenient as Hong Kong's octopus, there is no reason not to get one. Taipei's MRT has a number of different lines that seem to go everywhere in the city. The trains are not as clean as Hong Kong, but they were a lot less crowded.
On the way back home, we took a taxi from the hotel to the airport. That is probably the most expensive way to go, but we were in a hurry. Taking the high speed train to the shuttle to the airport is a good hour plus however long you have to wait around for the train and shuttle. The taxi ride was also an hour, but there was no waiting time. Overall, we saved almost 10 minutes for three times the price. Maybe that is why the bus is so popular.
Taipei taxis are also pretty much like Hong Kong taxis. They are dirt cheap and dirty compared to Tokyo. Unlike Mainland China, catching a taxi was always easy. It probably helped that we were at a large hotel across the street from the main train station. Unlike Hong Kong, our Taipei driver understood my Chinese perfectly. Nobody was expecting that. He could understand me without the usual “eh” and I caught about half of what he said. That's pretty good when it comes to taxis. He spoke with a heavy accent, but I'm sure my accent sounded crazy to him.
It is nice to know I can communicate with taxi drivers in Taipei, but next time I'm sticking with the trains or buses.
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
No Rain
Before we went to Taipei last weekend, there was talk of a typhoon hitting the Philippines. That was nothing unusual. The Philippines gets hit by typhoons more often than politicians take a vacation. If not for the Philippines, most of those typhoons would hit Hong Kong. So those of us who live here should be grateful it is there.
When we landed in Taipei, the typhoon went from a category 1, which is the smallest, to a category 4, which is pretty high. It turned out to be bigger than the experts expected, but it kept its course and hit the Philippines. There was no evidence that a typhoon was anywhere nearby when we were in Taipei, other than a little wind.
After we went back home, the typhoon swerved north and headed for Taiwan. It should be rainy for the next few days, but most of the storm has died down.
When we landed in Taipei, the typhoon went from a category 1, which is the smallest, to a category 4, which is pretty high. It turned out to be bigger than the experts expected, but it kept its course and hit the Philippines. There was no evidence that a typhoon was anywhere nearby when we were in Taipei, other than a little wind.
After we went back home, the typhoon swerved north and headed for Taiwan. It should be rainy for the next few days, but most of the storm has died down.
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Taipei 2.0
I'm going back to Taipei this weekend. This time, it has nothing to do with work. Lily & I are just going for fun. I saw so little of the city last time, I want to see what else is out there. It is so easy to get to, why not.
After I booked the hotel and plane tickets, a typhoon started heading toward the Philippines. It is not expected to hit Hong Kong or Taiwan, but you never know. These storms have a way of changing course. Even if it goes where it is supposed to go, they are still expecting heavy rain in Taiwan. Since the storm is south of Taiwan, maybe Taipei will be ok. I doubt it will be strong enough to cancel our flight, but I'm expecting it to rain the entire time we are there.
We could just skip it and stay home, but then all that money is down the drain. It is too late to get a refund.
Last time, I stayed in Xinyi, which is a city government/shopping district. This time, we are staying Zhongzheng, which is a national government/shopping district. None of the government buildings mean anything to me. We picked this hotel because it is near some of the sights we want to see and close to the main MTR station. I pretty much stayed near the hotel last time. This time, we are planning on going around town. Being close to the metro should be convenient. Hopefully.
After I booked the hotel and plane tickets, a typhoon started heading toward the Philippines. It is not expected to hit Hong Kong or Taiwan, but you never know. These storms have a way of changing course. Even if it goes where it is supposed to go, they are still expecting heavy rain in Taiwan. Since the storm is south of Taiwan, maybe Taipei will be ok. I doubt it will be strong enough to cancel our flight, but I'm expecting it to rain the entire time we are there.
We could just skip it and stay home, but then all that money is down the drain. It is too late to get a refund.
Last time, I stayed in Xinyi, which is a city government/shopping district. This time, we are staying Zhongzheng, which is a national government/shopping district. None of the government buildings mean anything to me. We picked this hotel because it is near some of the sights we want to see and close to the main MTR station. I pretty much stayed near the hotel last time. This time, we are planning on going around town. Being close to the metro should be convenient. Hopefully.
Monday, October 12, 2015
Dating in Hong Kong
I broke up with my last boyfriend in May. That sounds pretty straightforward. In a way, I suppose it is. We were together in April and apart in May. But it is worth something that we were together for a very long time. It means something to me, at least.
As soon as you are single, people start asking when you are going to get back on the horse. In May, I did not want to be anywhere near any horses. I did not even want to walk past the stable. I could picture myself adopting a few cats and trying on wool sweaters. I still don't see anything wrong with that.
But sooner or later, you are bound to jump back in that ocean. The waves might be too high and you have a pretty good idea of just how polluted the water is, but just like after eating a bad batch of Thai food, you are going to go back for more sooner or later. No matter how sick it made you the last time.
My problem is that I don't know how to date. I met my last boyfriend in high school. It was a lot easier in high school. We told ourselves it was the hardest thing in the world and that life was so difficult, but all of that drama was self-imposed. High school was easy. You saw your friends every day. You were surrounded by a relatively small group of people, usually people you had known for years. Finding someone to date was as easy as showing up.
The adult world works a little differently. The only group of people I see on a regular basis are at work, and I'm not about to date a coworker. A lower than average percentage of the men where I work are heterosexual. I would not want to date at work even if they were all interested and available. I like keeping my private life out of the workplace. Everyone already knows everyone else's business in high school, but there is no reason that has to be true at work.
As soon as you are single, people start asking when you are going to get back on the horse. In May, I did not want to be anywhere near any horses. I did not even want to walk past the stable. I could picture myself adopting a few cats and trying on wool sweaters. I still don't see anything wrong with that.
But sooner or later, you are bound to jump back in that ocean. The waves might be too high and you have a pretty good idea of just how polluted the water is, but just like after eating a bad batch of Thai food, you are going to go back for more sooner or later. No matter how sick it made you the last time.
My problem is that I don't know how to date. I met my last boyfriend in high school. It was a lot easier in high school. We told ourselves it was the hardest thing in the world and that life was so difficult, but all of that drama was self-imposed. High school was easy. You saw your friends every day. You were surrounded by a relatively small group of people, usually people you had known for years. Finding someone to date was as easy as showing up.
The adult world works a little differently. The only group of people I see on a regular basis are at work, and I'm not about to date a coworker. A lower than average percentage of the men where I work are heterosexual. I would not want to date at work even if they were all interested and available. I like keeping my private life out of the workplace. Everyone already knows everyone else's business in high school, but there is no reason that has to be true at work.
Thursday, October 8, 2015
Adventures in Publishing part 3
Time is running out to pre-order Shooting For Paris at Amazon. Once it officially comes out on October 10, the price will increase at least 300%.
At least until sales drop to nothing. Then it will probably go back down again. So if you want a bargain, it's either best to get it right away or wait a while.
And happy birthday, John.
At least until sales drop to nothing. Then it will probably go back down again. So if you want a bargain, it's either best to get it right away or wait a while.
And happy birthday, John.
Thursday, October 1, 2015
More Taipei Pictures
It was pretty convenient, but getting lost in this neighborhood would have been difficult.
Wherever you go, you can see Taipei 101.
This guy was playing “Moon River” on a pan flute to absolutely no one.
a convention center and an expensive hotel.
It might have been a Hilton or Hyatt.
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