Thursday, June 24, 2010

Random Thoughts from Asia

Food, Rants, Trips & Events

Phuket:

• There are bugs ALL over Phuket. Don’t be surprised if you find a dead spider in your rice, fearless flies on your food during dinner and ants and lizards crawling up the wall behind you.
• Sales girls at the malls are hella rude and just sit around talking but employees everywhere else are super nice and definitely knows the meaning of hospitality.
• Most places don’t believe in AC.
• But the beaches definitely felt like heaven on earth.
• Thailand makes you want elephant and monkeys so bad it’s not even funny.

Phuket

Beijing:

• Beijing food was such a huge disappointment; it was okay but definitely not my favorite. I also had the worst PEKING duck I’ve ever had there. Ironic.
• I felt like I was covered in 10 layers of dirt every day from the smog and heat.
• But the heat was bearable because it was dry and cool in the shade (unlike Hong Kong).
• I took a deep breath by accident and my throat was scratchy and irritated the rest of the day. Air pollution is no fun!!
• It was weird that we were in a lot of touristy places (even the airport and a 5-star hotel) and employees barely knew English. It took so much effort just to explain “brown bread” to them.
• I was scared to drink anything because I didn’t want to use their public washrooms.
• If I have to pee in another hole in the ground again with the most pungent smell emitting from it, I’m going to scream! Some of them were so bad that I was willing to hold it in for an hour long bus ride… I give huge props to the cleaning ladies who sits in the washrooms all day. I am so prissy. But I really tried.
• On the other hand, the washrooms that do have 1 or 2 stalls with actual toilets are pretty clean since they are barely used (but still smelly).
• Despite all this, I had more fun in Beijing than I even did Phuket! I’m obsessed with Chinese history so I was in so much awe being in places that I only read about.
• I want to come back again with proper gear to conquer more of the Great Wall. Vancouver trails are nice and some still a good challenge, but the Great Wall really lives up to it’s name and is full of historical significance which makes it that much better (Grouse Grind, my ass). Just don’t wear a dress and sandals like I did.
• Going up the wall is so much easier than going down. Hella steep with uneven and worn-down steps + my weak knees = not a good combination. It took me double the time to go down and I was secretly racing an old man but he beat me.
• I also want to come back to spend more time in the Summer Palace; so beautiful there.
• I already knew this but holy shit, Air China really sucks ass.

Great Wall of China

Hong Kong:

• Hong Kong = food heaven!! There are so many restaurants and bakeries here it’s not even funny— and they are always full.
• But then I don’t think I can survive here because there are way too many people. Not as many as China but still to many.
• The first week we were here, I dragged Boyfriend out and we literally shopped till we dropped every single day …well he just held my bags. It didn’t help that public benches are practically non-exist in HK so we always came home exhausted (and I consider never shopping again), get a really good sleep but then do it all over again the next day.
• He loved it when I went into shoe stores where he can sit and bask in air-conditioned glory— those were the only times he encouraged me to take my time and shop.
• I hate it when “dirty water” drips on me.
• I hate that I have to dress so conservatively while the weather is so hot and humid or else the locals will stare and make you feel like an idiot. I won’t care in Vancouver but I do here even though I’ll never see them again.  The bitches in Vancouver need to take stare-down lessons from the old Chinese ladies here.

60+ DELICIOUS skewers (chicken, beef, gizzards, chicken hearts, lamb, squid) + 8 beers + 1 bottle of nasty but super strong alochol = less than $20CDN. The only catch is that it was from a probably really dirty food stall but then we didn`t get sick so who cares.. I want more!!

Misc:

• I will never take Vancouver weather for granted ever again!! *complains about the shitty weather when I get off the plane*
• I miss clean and smog free air.
• I hope Vancouver bans the use of air conditioners that sucks hot air back outside. It’d be so sad if Vancouver becomes so gross and humid like HK.
• I was standing in the aisle of a supermarket today feeling so bad for myself for living in North America because our [junk food] choices are so boring. Asia has all of it PLUS MORE.
• I like how breakfast at hotels here always have congee.
• I’m so sad that we didn’t get to eat creepy crawlies in Phuket or Beijing but we have one more visa entry to China so hopefully we still can.
• You guys were right, I lost 5lbs from the heat and all the walking but I’m pretty sure I gained like 10% body fat. I don’t know what’s worse.
• We are getting so awesome. AT BARGAINING! But bargaining just for $0.30CAD is sooo ridiculous and tiring even though you do it anyway… because you’re in Asia and will feel like you’re getting ripped off if you don’t.
• I can’t wait to be in Korea for the World Cup. I know I can only hope, but obviously I’m routing for an Asian team and it doesn’t get any crazier than in Korea!
• The country never sleeps!
• I complain a lot but I still love Asia!! Complaining is more interesting than praising.

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Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Tuesdays are the new Mondays.

Food, Rants

• When people think ko0ty means “cutie.” It does not and I hate being called cute.
• People who say they are on a “zero-carb” diet and I’m watching them pig out on fruit.
• When we go for Chinese fine-dining and someone wants to order Sweet and Sour Pork.
• When we have “Chinese” days on the menu and it’s always the same 3 things: Sweet and Sour Pork, Kung Pao Chicken and Beef Stir-fry. Most Chinese people I know would never eat that stuff… it’s like our equivalent of Big Macs and cheeseburgers.
• When they charge $7 for a tiny ass bowl of Pho at the cafeteria that’s not even authentic Pho.
• People who don’t eat vegetables.
• I said this a billion times but I’d love to say it again: people who don’t take off their shoes in their house… and then lies on [or rolls around] the floor. Eg. the Kardashians— just watch their show! Just because you live in L.A. where you rarely get rain and snow doesn’t mean you don’t have dog shit, caked cat pee and e-coli under your shoes. And did you know that walking around barefoot [around your house] is the easiest way to keep your feet muscles strong?
• That my belly ring is crooked.
• When girls brag about starving themselves. Is that something to be proud of? If you actually did some research, you can eat all the things you love and still be slim. *points and laughs*
• When you can’t decide what color to dye your hair.
• When Youtube beauty gurus babble on too much in their videos. GET TO THE FREAKING POINT!! I don’t care what you had for breakfast today.
• Don’t understand: the point in making VIDEOS of “what’s in your purse” or your hauls when you can just take a picture of it. I’m nosey but I’d rather take a 30 second glance than watch a 10 minute video of boring babbling.
• With that being said, I hate it when excitedly open a link and it turns out to be a VIDEO or a SLIDESHOW (damn you FitSugar for your endless and annoying slideshows!!).

Edit— Check out this article: Look What I Bought (or Got Free)

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Friday, April 9, 2010

Fat America

Health, Rants

I wish for everyone to help create a strong, sustainable movement to educate every child about food, inspire families to cook again and empower people everywhere to fight obesity. - Jamie Oliver

I finally got around to watching Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution and it’s truly an intense and inspirational show. Jamie is basically trying to start a food revolution in the unhealthiest city in America, according to statistics, by challenging the city and the school system to make changes in what they eat. I never really liked him nor any of his other shows but this one caught my eye because the situation is just fucking disgusting. Even though it’s only on the fourth episode, but I can’t wait to see if Jamie can REALLY make a difference. Schools obviously aren’t the root of the problem but it’ll be interesting to see where this will lead.

The first episode is a real eye-opener. Your screen is filled with loads of processed foods, disgusting fats, prideful adults who seem to have given up any hope of changing their obesity-ridden community and won’t accept someone trying to make a difference, indifferent lunch ladies serving pizza to kids for breakfast, kids not knowing the names of basic vegetables and Jamie almost in tears from the horror of it all. Then as the show progresses, you start to see changes in small steps; people finally opening their eyes and slowly starting to embrace Jamie’s philosophy … but how far will it go?

…any judge in whole world would look at the statistics and the evidence and they would find any government of old, guilty of child-abuse.

A while ago, I read a fitness trainer’s blog who thought that people who hates vegetables weren’t raised properly (or they’re parents just don’t know how to cook) and I couldn’t agree more. Parents and teachers are suppose to be role models and should be teaching kids what to eat at a young age so they can develop healthy habits for life.

Let’s be honest, I’m not a total health nut and I won’t give up processed foods entirely (dude, I had a poutine last weekend) but moderation is the key. It wasn’t always like this but I slowly made the change and even though I do splurge, I eat fresh and healthy most of the time and am conscious of what is going in my body. I didn’t grow up in a totally healthy home free of processed junk but my parents made sure we ate our vegetables (and being Asian, we’d get smacked with a stick if we didn’t) and only got treats when we deserved it which of course, made it a lot easier for us as we got older.

I do remember my dad taking us to McDonald’s every [other] Friday after school, where’d I get a Super-Sized Big Mac meal (my scrawny 10-year-old self ate 2 Big Macs + super-size fries/coke once) but luckily I was blessed with skinny genes (I wish someone would tell me what the hell happened to them now though!!). At least we were never “exposed” to it more than once or twice a week. Now that I think about it, it’s kind of ironic because my dad has always been extremely fit and always nags us to get off our lazy-asses and go exercise but I guess McD’s was a special treat? Oh those days of carefree eating (a.k.a. 1.5 years ago)… I kind of miss them but then I’m glad I made a change.

You can watch Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution online at CTV (Canada) or ABC (USA).

If you haven’t already, you should also watch the documentary, Food Inc. It’ll seriously gross you out and alternate your thoughts on food. [email me for link].

The quotes above were from Jamie’s inspirational Ted Award speech (22 minutes).

Have you seen Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution OR Food Inc.? What do you think?

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Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Gym Etiquette #1

Health, Rants

DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT. DEODORANT.

USE IT!!!

My biggest pet peeve at the gym is when you have to end a great cardio session early because you can’t stand that raunchy smell coming from the dude beside you… and you can’t move to another machine further down or you’ll risk offending them and you shan’t do that at a company gym. What’s yours?

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Monday, November 16, 2009

Usability Preferences

Design & Inspiration, Rants, Technology & Gaming

I was talking to a co-worker and I realized one thing: I hate clicks.

As in mouse clicks. I surf the web like a bullet train and I want everything right there in front of me and want to do as little as possible (you can call me lazy). If I had it my way, there wouldn’t be anymore “continue reading” links or thumbnails and everything would be laid out right in front of you. And they call me an interface designer. Hah. But of course that can’t happen or imagine the size of websites and not everyone properly saves their images for web!

• Pictures: I prefer seeing pictures resized and laid out nicely in front of me. I HATE clicking on thumbnails— in fact, 95% of the time I don’t. I’d rather wait for big images load which usually isn’t a problem nowadays as long as they were properly exported. Just for the record, my Flickr bar up there is just for aesthetics. I have an online photo album and all the pictures are all laid out vertically (for my viewing pleasure, not yours).
  

  But some thumbnails are okay as long as they are big so I can see what I'm about to click and only open the ones I want to see.

  

  Left/Right navigation arrows makes it a little better, although I still think there are too many clicks. It's also harder to compare images.

  

  Perfect. Everything laid out, simple, clean and all I need to do is scroll. Of course, there is the debate about portfolios needing more 'creativity' but that's for another entry.

• Annoying pagination. Eg: Listing each point of a blog entry on different pages and it’s the worse when the page takes forever to load. WHY? Are you trying to build suspense?! FAIL. AND let’s not forget multiple-paged blog entries.
• Lightbox — It looks good but I can’t stand sites that use it. Is it just me or is it EXTREMELY slow …or the loading icon just makes it seem like it’s taking FOREVER to load?
• Loading Icons. Functional and works aesthetically but I don’t need to be reminded that your page is taking forever to load and it’s ONLY at 19%. I swear, loading bars makes loading seem longer than it actually is.
• STFU I don’t want to “hit the jump.” If a blog has a “continue reading” link, chances are I won’t continue unless it’s an informational post. Sometimes the link is so useless and obnoxious… is your content THAT good for someone to want to see it that bad? And what’s the point of it if there is nothing but one sentence after I “hit the jump?” I applaud you for saving a whole 20px of vertical scrolling though.
• I never use the “back” button on my browser; I’d rather have a billion tabs open. It’s a pretty bad habit because sometimes I’d accidently close a page if I forget to open it in a new tab and I’ll forget which site I was on.

You know how much shit is online and how little time there is?!

What do you prefer in terms of UI?

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