Report from Hong Kong

[Mikeyy]

ohoh reminds me of the good ole time in Melbourne. I was on a 512k 1gig per month with optus and just the windows vista updates did the bandwidth allowance in a week. But that was back in 2003.

Now I'm on 10Meg, unlimited bandwidth, unlimited TV and unlimited international calls for about 30?/month. Internet was probably the major downside of living in Australia.

Geeez Man Get on SKYPE and talk for free. It even sounds better. I have spent the last hour talking to a friend Kobe. It didn't cost a dime.

 

[effisk]

Geeez Man Get on SKYPE and talk for free. It even sounds better. I have spent the last hour talking to a friend Kobe. It didn't cost a dime.

I use skype at work all day. Using the regular phone makes me feel on holiday And skypeout is not free; some of my contacts live in those remote places where bandwidth is capped

 

[Mikeyy]

I use skype at work all day. Using the regular phone makes me feel on holiday And skypeout is not free; some of my contacts live in those remote places where bandwidth is capped

Gotcha! Wearing a headset is a little strange. You ought to see California with all the bluetooth people. Its like Star Trek out here. They made it illegal recently to talk and drive without a hands free device. People are the funniest thing on the planet. Without doubt. They all think they are so important that they can't be out of touch. Even in the outhouse.

 

[waimeamomi]

I'd respond to that, but I have to take a call.

 

[Nerida]

Effisk - that is a much more civilised plan than anything that exists down here. I dream of that type of bandwidth at that price... and as for my sons (who really should just grow up, move out, and get their own deals) - well, that would make them live at home forever!!

Mikeyy - haven't been able to use a phone in a car here without some type of handsfree device for years... just don't get why everything is quite that important though that you would wear one of those bluetoothy thingos.

 

[Mikeyy]

Effisk - that is a much more civilised plan than anything that exists down here. I dream of that type of bandwidth at that price... and as for my sons (who really should just grow up, move out, and get their own deals) - well, that would make them live at home forever!!

Mikeyy - haven't been able to use a phone in a car here without some type of handsfree device for years... just don't get why everything is quite that important though that you would wear one of those bluetoothy thingos.

Well we are pretty important here in SoCal. I'm gonna get two teeth just to impress my nieghbors. I'll wear one on each ear and go around talking to myself. Nite all. Must get more beauty sleep. The last bit wore off.

 

[pearlescence]

I totally agree about the phone in the ear people. How important do they think they are?
We are totally banned from use of mobile phones in cars while driving here - they are as dangerous if not more so than being a drunk driver. Even hands free is risky really as a distraction though not unlawful.
still see people using phones though, it is a big fine and a licence endorsement and your car insurance will rocket as the insurance companies do not like it (because it makes you a big risk)

 

[effisk]

Gotcha! Wearing a headset is a little strange.

here's what I use:

It's not strange, it's very handy! I'm mostly using at my desk, and because it's bluetooth you'll never catch me more than 10m from there.

 

[Nerida]

But effisk, they are very strange when you see people wandering around the supermarket still with their little earpieces etc... come now, the French are much too stylish to be seen committing such a crime! At your desk - no problems!

 

[Carlie]

Mike, are you going to that tahitian pearl auction? I'd love to hear how the auction went. It is the first one since all the news about the GIE and the export tax and it would be interesting to see how buyers react.

Effisk,

When and where is the Tahiti pearl auction?
Would love to drop-by.

 

[Amrita]

Sorry Amrita and others - we haven't been reporting very seriously, have we? I do have photos of pearls now, but sadly my kids decided to overuse our enormous bandwidth allowance whilst I was away and so my provider has decided to cut speeds to something ridiculously inadequate for the remainder of the month. So, no photos, almost nothing at all until October.

Nerida, actually I really enjoyed yours and Mikkey's reports.....thank you so much. We do have a lot of information from you about the HK expo and HK in general too - in addition to the wonderful friendly leg-pulling that was great fun to read. I am still smiling as I type this post, thinking of all the jokes that were shared and the "secrets" that were threatened to be let out!
Some photos would of course be welcome! Sorry about your bandwidth cut - we can wait until October!

 

[Amrita]

As far as reporting on Hong Kong I thought we did OK. That was all the news that was fit to print. Getting in to the show requires a business card and a passport. Thats all. It runs from about 10 a.m. until about 6:30 P.M. The convention center is huge and expanding even larger as construction was underway. There are about 5 restaurants inside. So even if you get lost you won't starve. Everything is separated by floor level and hall number. So you get your directory and follow the signs. It is free. And transportation is simple. Its crowded with people from all four corners of the globe. If you go to http://www.hktdc.com/ you can register for any of the shows. They will send you a packet with your badge and even train passes. They usually also offer rates at hotels for convention visitors. I have never found them to be all that good. You can do that better on your own. The fair is big and the days are long. So I suggest you have some sort of game plan that you can follow. Know what you want and focus on that. After you get the hard work done then you can check out the rest of the show.
Is that a little better reporting?

Thank you very much, Mikeyy! As I already said in reply to Nerida's post, your reporting has been quite good and hugely entertaining! Thanks for bringing such a nice spirit of camaraderie to P-G - it is a precious pearl valued by us all!

 

[Nerida]

Thanks Amrita - it was fun, and I can't wait to go again next year. I did just go and organize some temporary extra bandwidth, which means those photos.... but of course, SOME things in this thread were slightly exaggerated!

 

[pattye]

It has been great fun following this thread--------

you see people wandering around the supermarket still with their little earpieces etc.

It's the worst when I think they are making small talk to me--and I answer them, and later see the earpiece--------------

 

[Mikeyy]

It has been great fun following this thread--------



It's the worst when I think they are making small talk to me--and I answer them, and later see the earpiece--------------

I just start talking to them as if they were. What are they going to do? Hang up on me?

 

[effisk]

But effisk, they are very strange when you see people wandering around the supermarket still with their little earpieces etc... come now, the French are much too stylish to be seen committing such a crime! At your desk - no problems!

hehe I have commited the crime a couple of times. ok here's my confession: last time I did I was in the yogurt alley, calling my wife "salut ch?rie" right next to a young lady. She looked at me reprobatively and walked away without realizing I was on the phone (I was wearing the earpiece on the opposite side). I didn't run after her and try to explain That was the last time and that was about 2 years ago. Embarrassing.

 

[effisk]

Effisk,

When and where is the Tahiti pearl auction?
Would love to drop-by.

That was during the show. http://www.2r.com.hk/

 

[Hanaleimom]

Thanks for one of the most entertaining threads ever!



Nerida - I have to add this joke which I use to try to get my husband to pronounce French correctly:

Q: How do you say "Easter is a good idea" in French?
A: C'est une bunny day**!
(**bonne idee)

Sadly he doesn't laugh quite as much as I do...French speakers? Are you laughing?? Please say yes!

Ok, Heidi. I laughed.

 

[Raisondetre]

Just bumping up the thread a little. I know they mostly deal in cash, but what currency do they take? USD, RMB or HKD?

 

[Amrita]

I think the answer to that is "any of the above"!