David's Hong Kong Adventures

Did Pollack Summit?

2009-03-01T19:26:00.004+08:00

Good Question. The answer is: Summit attempt was a success! Eight out of the twelve members of the expedition made it to the top of the Americas at 22,800 feet / 7,000 meters. The summit day started in the wee hours (3:30AM) and 8.5 hours later we were standing at the highest point in the world outside the Himalaya's. As a team we hits lots of interesting weather, altitude and a gorgeous sunrise. As always on major expeditions, I sobbed with glee at the summit. It was amazing.

I will be adding updates to this blog every few days with more mountain exploits.

I want to thank all of you who contributed to Make-A-Wish Foundation. Through your generosity you gave terminally ill kids lots of special wishes. Your support raised $5460 USD. I will get to you each personally.

For those of you who still want to help Make-A-Wish, click HERE to CONTRIBUTE

A serious Blog entry from my heart.

2009-02-01T07:20:00.003+08:00

Sorry to those who expect humour and giggles. Wait till next time.

1st and Foremost......I want to thank all of you who contributed to Make-A-Wish Foundation. Through your generosity you gave terminally ill kids lots of special wishes. I commit to you to give *all* of myself to reach 7000 metres (22,000) and summit Aconcagua, the tallest mountain in the world outside of Asia. Your support will help inspire me when times get tough, cold and the air thins to 1/2 strength.

For those of you who still want to help Make-A-Wish, click HERE to CONTRIBUTE.

The flight from HK==>Toronto was smooth. I am in the air on the way to Miami as I type this. Tonite I take an overnite flight to Santiago and than onto Mendoza, Argentina; a city rich in Argentinian Wine and tough & angry mules. That's where the rest of climbers meet. That will complete my 2 1/2 day journey from Hong Kong.

Mountain Madness, the guide company, established a blog on their website. Every couple of days they radio in a status which appears on the site. Here is the site ==> Mountain Madness.

How the adze of my ice axe saved the day!

2009-01-29T23:30:00.013+08:00

REMINDER: I am climbing to 22,800 Feet (7,000 metres) for Make-A-Wish ! The summit of Aconcagua in Argentina.
My goal: $10,000 USD to give children with life-threatening medical conditions wishes to help make their dreams come true. Note: Donations go straight to Make-A-Wish!

Click DONATE on the upper right to find out more or click HERE

I hit the plane tomorrow bound for Aconcagua in Argentina. Here is how I am getting there:

Hong Kong==> Toronto ==> Miami ==> Cancun ==> Santiago ==> Mendoza

All told almost 48 hours of canned air and friendly skies.

But the big news is my Ice Axe came in handy before I even stepped foot into a plane. Here's the situation:

I had to be out of the flat in 30 minutes for Chinese New Year's Dinner.
I turned the shower on and shut the door 'cause I like to have the room steam up.
BUT, it turns out that somehow, magically, the door became locked. Somehow, magically, the button inside was pressed in.
So, the showers blasting and I'm dirty to the bone and the doors locked.
First I panicked. My little voice said "Oh my god. What have I done. How will I get in there?" It's Chinese New Year and all the locksmith's are having dinner with their families. What will an boy from the Great State of Maine do?
Than it came to me. I will get a hammer and bang on the knob till it breaks. Problem is I couldn't find my hammer.
But less than a metre away was my Ice Axe I am bringing to the Mountain. I grabbed it and started banging on the knob with the adze of the ax. See diagram above. After a few hard bangs the knob came flying off with no damage to the door.
I entered shower and became fresh and clean.

Special Make-A-Wish Post

2009-01-20T23:47:00.002+08:00

I am climbing to 22,800 Feet (7,000 metres) for Make-A-Wish ! The summit of Aconcagua in Argentina.

My goal: $10,000 USD to give children with life-threatening medical conditions wishes to help make their dreams come true.

Note: Donations go straight to Make-A-Wish!

Click "DONATE" on the box to the right =========>

When I was a young lad I fell in love with mountains. They have always been a magical place to me full of mystery and mistily shrouded peaks. I thank my mom and dad for pointing me down the trail.

In the month of February I will be climbing to 7000 metres / 22,000 feet on the tallest mountain in the world outside of Asia. The mountain is Aconcagua in Argentina. Wiki Link to Mountain ==> Aconcagua

For each foot/metre I climb I will be making a donation to Make-A-Wish.

If you don't know, Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with severe medical conditions. www.wish.org/

Some recent wishes include:

"I want to meet Michael Jordan"
"I wish to ride a horse"
"I wish to be a Cowboy"

I look forward to your support and thank you in advance for helping the kids climb their own personal mountain.

Donating through this website is simple, fast and totally secure and your donation goes straight to Make-A-Wish. It is the most efficient way to support my fundraising efforts. Example: If you pledged 1/4 cent USD per foot I climb, the total would be $55 USD. Sound good? Of course do what you can.

Post#7 I am blame it on the washing machine

2009-01-07T23:24:00.011+08:00

((I have setup a toll free US Phone# 1-888-388-6424 which will ring me in HK so grab me when you want))

He’s Back! Or in the first person: “I’m Back”.

You are undoubtably saying to yourself “where did David go?”

Some of you know me by my stage name of Tony Sapphire. In that case you are undoubtably saying to yourself “where did Tony go?”.

Others know me as Billy Gondola as according to some sages I was born on a chairlift.

In any case I (david, tony, billy, etc…) am back!!!

There is a very simple explanation for my disappearance that might seem fantastical at first but none the less it is true.

The reason is: My washing machine.

I will say it again: The reason the blogs have been absent for four months is due to my washing machine.

How can a washing machine keep David/Billy/Tony off the Blog radar? The reason is it’s specs eg specifications. Don’t hit delete. I am being truthful. Most washing machines I have ever dealt with work quick and easy. 40 min wash / 40 min dry. Full load of clothes. Bim, boom, bam.

My machine is in a whole different category. And it’s not just me. Many of the machines in HK work the same. Here is the specs for a basic cleaning:

2 hour wash / 4 hour dry. Plus the machine can only hold a handful of clothes. A couple bath towels is about it. And, oh yeah, the washer is the dryer (and vice versa) so I can't double task and wash and dry at the same time. Tragically, only one is available at a time.

So do the math. If you add up:

pants + shorts + shirts + towels + socks+ my "un-mentionables" equals:

4 months of cleaning !!!

But I am done. No more cleaning; at least until tomorrow. But for now I am all yours.

2008-08-09T21:16:00.002+08:00

Event:	David's Flat Warming Party
	www.socializr.com/event/756876883
Hosted by:	David and the Queen of England
When:	Aug 16, 2008, 8:00 PM
Location:	at my flat in the Mid Levels-Central-HK
	43 Caine Street F/25, China, TX

Special Quiz Post

2008-07-12T11:25:00.004+08:00

It's been a bit of time since the last purposeful post. There is a semi valid reason for this. This young-ish writer has been in Mumbai and Thailand. Internet access was at a minimum. For now I ask of you to simply answer the question to the right by picking the movie the quote is from ==>

Next article is titled: Packs of Cats and Dogs rule the neighborhood. Cheers!

Special Celtic's Post: The Turnpike was closed from Stockbridge to Boston

2008-06-19T00:50:00.005+08:00

Celtics. #1 in the world. Last time the Celts won I was working for Au Ban Pain in Faneuil Hall cleaning pots and squeezing Orange juice.

Some other Celtic memories:

Living in the Back Bay watching the Celtics with the TV sound down with the radio tuned to the late great Jonny Most. Ken and the Shark were eating Shrimp croquet's.
Being in the the last game in the old Garden trying to get a piece of the chair as "memento".
Watching the a game with my dad from the rafters in the obstructed view section with sweat pouring down our faces.
Partaking in pre-game cocktails my brother at the Fours and Johnny C at Docksides.
Watching the Chief (Robert Parish) drop Bill Lambier once and for all.
Seeing 6th man Walton take off his sweats and enter a game for the last time of his career.
Being at Larry Bird night and watching Magic Johnson remove his Laker jacket revealing a Larry Bird Celtics shirt underneath.
Watching Bird and Dominique Wilkins trade 2's for the entire 4th qtr during a key playoff game.

Post#6: I was bitten by Hong Kong Nemo

2008-06-12T22:27:00.009+08:00

...yes.....I was.....Read on to find out how (and if you're lucky, perhaps why).

But first *please* look to the right side of this page and try to figure out where the quote came from. No fair googling it......I will know if you do! =========>

Place: Off the coast of Hong Kong. It's raining with a taste of thunder but that didn't stop the Pro-Dive boat full of Scuba Diver's from arriving at the first dive spot (of three). I was given a diving buddy to watch my back (and vice versa) and was preparing to enter the sea......Ponder this: Is it possible for two people to actually watch each others backs? Maybe if you used mirrors.....Hmmm...

Let's rewind....or fast foward depending if you are on the other side of the International Date Line.

Scuba Diving equals Boats, Oceans, Coral, Fish, Purple Sunsets, cocktails, giggles and smiles. And this is available right off the coast of HK. Here's the path I took to get to the boat:

Elevator => Taxi => Subway (one switch) => Bus => Dive Boat

All this for one hour and 15 min. Stupendously close.

A few important things to note:

The dive briefing was 10 minutes long and all in Cantonese. The English version (which was just for me) consisted of "Don't forget to breathe and come back to the boat". I have been on lots of dives and this was the most informative.
Luckily communicating under water is by hand signals so nothing will get missed in the English-Cantonese translation. For example, pointing up usually means up in any language (except for the North Polean language in which it means "Cheque Please")
My Favourite: Lunch was Cantonese style. An old bent-over woman who I think dates back to 1800's made fresh dumplings and soup. I watched her mix meat and vegetables together and hand make each dumpling. I couldn't have been happier.....But, the smile was soon to fade as I made my third dive...

Usually when I am swimming through a school of fish they scatter from me. Sometimes there are so many fish that even when they scatter it still is like I'm swimming with them. Very cool. But this time there two smallish fish that didn't shy away. I poked out my finger and they just kinda stayed there.

And than it happened.....

One of the fish made a lounging move and came right at the index finger on my right hand and took a nibble. Nothing was actually removed from the finger (though he might have tasted a bit of Pea Soup we had for lunch....I didn't ask) but I did pull back slightly startled. I started swimming away and they followed me like a Pigeon in the MacDonald's parking lot in downtown Portland.

So I ended the dive and told the captain what happened. He than informed me that the fish who got rough with me was a clown fish and has the moniker "Hong Kong Nemo".

So friends, tell your kids who have watched Finding Nemo for the 1051st time that there really is a Nemo and he lives in the waters off of Hong Kong.

Until next time when I will discuss New Delhi Dora....

Here's to those who wish us well. Wherever they may be....And oh yeah....Celtics will take game 4 in LA......

Post# 5: Humidity or "How to take a shower while walking to work"

2008-06-05T21:33:00.010+08:00

Nice to have you back........it's been a few days............

Thursday night......which is the day after Wednesday and the day before Friday. I am not totally sure how the word "Thursday" came about but scholars debate that it was named after the famous Triple Crown Winner "Happy Thursday" (who won the late daily double at Scarborough Downs on 7 July 1973). Other Scholars unequivocally believe that "Thursday" was a developed by a group of aliens dressed as a wild pack of German Shepards in which their guttural bark sounded something like "arrgr-Thursday-aggrar". You decide....

This entry is going to utilise some basic math....But, don't fret, if you know how to get the answer to 1+1 you will do just fine.

Fact#1: 80% of your bodies heat escapes from your head. I learned that skiing at Sunday River.....no hat means cold toes....Now, those of you that know me know I have a full head of luxurious hair. Thick as the Atlantic Ocean and strong as an Aroostook County lumberjacks' grip. Heat stays in me.

Fact#2: I walk 15 minutes to work down the longest semi-enclosed escalator in the world and through the heart of Central Hong Kong.....Steamy streets.....Cats and Dogs are a bit wobbly.

Fact#3: Humidity abounds. Humidity is the amount of water in the air. In Hong Kong let's say we have our fair share of water in our air.

So hear comes the math:

A=My_Thick_Hair
B=Walk_to_work
C=Humidity

A+B+C = Dave takes a shower on the way to work. Even when I don't want to.....

If the humidity keeps getting worse I am going to have to pack a bar of Irish Spring and my Redken shampoo and use them on the way to work.

But, I have a partial solution. It has to do with variable B (the walk_to_work). Question: When you are in a swimming pool and the water is up to the middle of your thighs what does it feel like to make your way through the water? Answer: Slow and smooth. And that, my friends, is how I have minimized the current affects of the Humidity. I walk like I am in a swimming pool. And it works!

So in closing, I wish you air with low water content and a glass full of beer.

Sleep good......

Post# 4: A bastion of safety with 7-11's

2008-05-19T07:07:00.009+08:00

Welcome once again into the breach.....This is Day# 12 in HK.....!

Sunday nite....preparing for bed.....Wearing my Doctor Dentons.....

PS: Before continuing your perusal, please vote for your movie to right ===> and than return left <==== to continue your read...

Back? good....

Who would have thought you would be reading a few malformed sentences coming from HK about 7-11's? I for one would not believe it.....But, friends, 'tis the truth....Deal with it.

7-11's are more plentiful in Hong Kong than blueberries in Maine.....They are everywhere. Ubiquitous of urban landscape.....Glowing green numbers piercing through HK's fog......

Is this a good thing?

For now, tragically, yes.

Why? Because they are a one-stop shop for the basics in life. Now these aren't your Western style stores....Think bodega meets a newsstand. Many don't have doors; you just wander in and out.

On Saturday, I stopped in three times.

8:15......Diet Coke, tuna fish sandwich (I have been eating sandwiches for breakfast lately)
15:15....Post workout meal....Diet Coke, tuna fish sandwich....(are you seeing a pattern?)
19:30....6 Heineken's for a small to-do on my roof deck...(For those keeping score, no tuna fish)

Other purchases: TP, Aspirin, South China Morning Post, more Diet Coke, a couple lollipops, water, washing detergent, blank cdroms and more diet coke.

Now don't despair....In the 12 days I have been here I have dined on Thai, French, Chinese, Sushi and lots of Cashew Nuts. But, 7-11's have provided this hungry writer a base to work from.

Here's to the Queen of England, Celtics winning game#3, my parents, Boden and Sage, and of course........HK 7-11's....

Stay Well.......

Post#3: Chicken Feet

2008-05-18T13:45:00.003+08:00

Lunch Time 16th May Location: Dim Sum joint call Maxim

Welcome Back Dear Readers,

When I came to Hong Kong I said to the team that I will eat anything except animal Ears, Hoofs, Noses, Tongues, Claws, etc. The promise is about to be broken....Read on....

We had a team lunch today. Actually all of STP (straight through processing) in Hong Kong attended which equals about three big round tables. Speaking of big round tables, they are so far one of my favourite things. When you go out to dinner in the States, the table setup is usually some sort of rectangle (if you don't know what a rectangle is :) :) :) here is a definition for ya: "A four-sided plane figure with four right angles"). With a rectangle you only get to see a few people in your area.

Now....

With a circle the whole table is available and thus you have access to everyone to do what whatever you want eg laugh, scream or take advantage of the special spacious space under the table (that scenario is for another Blog and will not be discussed here. Sorry).

Round table means lots of food spinning round and round like the old carousel in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. Today was Dim Sum. Lot's of it. They keep bringing it out until there was not a shred of room in our systems (Dietary not Computer).

Half way through the meal a dish came that was obviously a bit different than the rest. A bowl of chicken feet appeared. Little finger claws were popping over the top of the bowl. I didn't hesitate. I grabbed a foot with my hand and picked off the meat (what little there was). It did not taste like foot. It was more like a really thin drum stick with almost no meat. Kinda tasty in a hesitant sort of way.....Washed down and away with a slug of Coke Light (as it's called out here).

Next week: Cow ears or was it Horse Hoofs....You'll have to wait.

See Ya....

Post#2: The Sleepiest Sandwich ever....

2008-05-16T21:31:00.000+08:00

Wed nite. First night in the new flat. 10:45PM HK time (aka 22:45)

Hello again Supportive Readers,

Moved into the flat earlier in the day. Nothing but my suitcase and my rental furniture. You know what? That's all I need.....But alas the ship arrives in about 45 days with a lifetime of stuff. Ughhh.....

I digress. Or undress. Take your pick.

Back to 22:45.....I just arrived back in the flat with a foot long Subway......Yes they have a Subway in HK......Instead of the Turkey sandwich it's a foot long of Chicken Claws and Pig Knuckles.....An oh yeah, a bit of mayo....

I finished about three quarters of it and a feeling came over me that I had never experienced before. Total and complete sandman a'calling. It was obvious in that moment that if I didn't drop the sandwich and drop into bed than I knew as true as a Brady pass that I would fall out of my chair and enter a deep sleep. So I *did* drop the sandwich and I *did* run into bed....I did run.....It was weird.....Fell asleep dreaming of trains and rental furniture....

And that, friends, is the story of the Sleepiest Sandwich ever...........

Until the next time.......

Post#1: The Beginning.....

2008-05-13T21:11:00.002+08:00

Hi Dear Readers,

Monday May 12th 6:30PM New York time (06:30AM HK time)

36,000 feet up above the Canadian hinterlands. I always wanted to drive the Alcan aka the Alaskan Canadian Highway from Maine, my home state, to Homer Alaska and work in a cannery for a summer. It almost happened. The day before I was set to go my budddy got a job doing light design on a play in Syracuse. That's his dream and how could I say no.

I left work on Friday 7:20PM with little regret as I completed several years of wonderful work with wonderful people. The next chapter of my work life was inevitable. My team took to me out to lunch which was the same location we had lunch when I was promoted except with far less Tequila and thus a smaller bill.....Thanks Matt!

Why didn't I leave for HK on Friday? Excellent question. Saturday was a family Bar Mitzvah (my entire Mother's side of the family was in attendance (Note: I am wearing the Tommy Bahama shirt my aunt Cynthia gave me at the event.....I love Tommy B) and Sunday was Mother's day.....I wouldn't be on this flight or be in complete control of my typing fingers if I missed Mother's day......

The beginning of the Journey to HK took place on my favourite form of transportation. The train. I totally dig the train. Classic stations around the world, classic trips like the Orient Express, the London-Paris route or the Autotrain to Disney World. I have a book on the great Train Stations sitting right next to a book on the life of Frank Sinatra. Only two books on my coffee table (I don't drink coffee though I do like coffee ice cream. Go figure). Arriving in NYC brought me to the Hyatt at Grand Central Station as I had to be close to the trains I love.

A ride to JFK got on me to this moment. This seat. 11G. Note to Cathy Pacific riders: They have invented their own drink call the Cloud Nine. It is (to quote)...”A refreshing combination of Vodka, Cointreau and Sprite with a refreshing taste of lemon flavour.....”. Yes, they used “refreshing” twice in the same sentence. Give them a break. They fly planes not teach English class. PS: The Cloud Nine was tasty...

I'm off to take a nap.....dreaming of the Alaskan Canadian Highway and smelly fish...

And that, Faithful Readers, is that............