Kong Hong
by dcgleason
So my internet is becoming more and more spotty. I did actuallywrite a post about the weekend in HK last night but it wouldn’t let me post it. I think the internet is working now. Here is is.
And I’m back. Hong Kong was unbelievable. Turns out Frasier’s dad got us this super nice hotel, so we were living in the lap of luxury all weekend. Our room was on the 43rd floor of the hotel, called The Comrade, and it had a gorgeous view of Hong Kong / Kawloon. If I ever had any need for a western fix, that need has been met. Hong Kong knows how to do it all. We ate everything from roasted goose to “chicago style” burgers and milkshakes. Again, if I ever get to internet that is fast enough, I will upload some pictures. We also hung out with a couple of guys that Frasier hopes to work for in Hong Kong (the trip was technically a networking trip for Frasier), but these guys were great–total big shots in this company called South Co. There were two old guys, one of the guy’s son, Frasier, me, and this private jet pilot we met along the way named Frank. He tagged a long too. Frank was somethin else. Besides feeling that he was following us around a bit (he was in HK by himself), he had some unbelievable stories about his travels. Because of the recession, he has the year off. I guess billionaire businessmen have had to scale back on their weekend trips to Nantucket via their private jet, poor guys. However, not poor Frank. With his time off, which is really more of a forced, mini retirement, he travelled to every place I have ever heard of and more. With all of his pilot buddies and special pilot discounts, he told us he had been on 19 different trips this year so far. In fact, he was only in HK to kill time before he could fly back to London from beijing. The guy is a globe trotter if I have ever met one.
Anyway, so the gang all went to a jazz bar called Ned Kelly’s Saturday night. To give you a sense of the place, most of the staff and players were wearing shirts that said “Ned Kelly’s: Jazz, Blues, and Booze.” I loved it. Every member of the band was over 60 and they were phenomenal, hadn’t lost it. The most amazing thing is that they could play amazingly and drink simultaneously. The leader of the group, Colin, was buds with one of the big shot South Co. guys named Rob and the two of them kept taking shots together during the set. Very impressive. Colin played and sang amazingly. Lot of old jazz classics. Then there was the trumpet player, Pepe, who had a round imprint on his lips from the mouthpiece of the trumpet. The best was after his solo’s when we would cheer so loud he would smile and flash a huge gap between his teeth. The guy also wore 70’s-style, tinted, round glasses. What I am trying to say is that Pepe is the man. The rest of the band was great too.
So this big shot who was taking shots with Colin, his name is Rob. Going into this bar with Rob was like being with the President of Hong Kong. He knew everybody, and everyone loved him. It was really amazing to see how he just owned the freakin place. He had been going there for 20 years. It was his spot.
After the Ned Kelly’s Brook (the son), Frasier, Frank and I hit up the biggest block party I have every seen. These HK streets are transformed at around midnight on weekends, the “bewitching hour” Rob called it in his half drunken state. We got there at midnight, and it was such a fun scene. People just take over the street. Bars and clubs blast music outside. I actually met a couple from Watertown, Mass! We also ended up hanging out with these girls who were teaching english in Hong Kong. One was from Manchester and the rest were from Nova Scotia. It’s crazy how diverse HK is.
Grandpa, you will be glad to know that I got back home to my apartment safely. Looking forward to our next skype time!
Hope everyone is doing well back home. I’ve been seeing some pics from the football games, can’t believe I’m missing all that. I already can’t wait to see everyone in January.
