Hong Kong Day Nine // A Day On The Boat

Hong Kong Day Nine -

Pain. OMG. Why did I drink so much. Well it was one hell of a party after all.. but still.. OMG, my head!!! I went back to sleep and awoke at 1:30 to Danny and Jay telling me to get my ass over to The Hong Kong Golf Club so we could hop on Danny's yacht for a day of relaxing in the sun. It was amazing. So chill on the water. At first we were docked next to another boat of hot young models partyn with us, but after a while we decided to find our own water. We docked close to the beach and chatted for hours. We even had pizza delivered to the pier and I took the speed boat over to pick it up. Danny and Nolan and I got a tour around the south side of Hong Kong, pushing the speed boat to it's breaking point and getting airborn as we hit the waves. Around 5 we headed back to the harbor and went out separate ways to get ready for another evening out in Hong Kong's Lan Fai Kwon. After cleaning up I decided it was time for a meal. Believe it or not I was still feeling the effects of last night so I decided I needed something greasy. Something utterly terrible for me. Something who's taste and smell had been engineered in a New Jersey factory to remind me of my childhood. Just as I was about to reach my favorite blogging spot Starbucks I spotted it.. beckoned by the Golden Arches.. I headed in. Mr. Crispy with Tomatoes. Much better than in the US, no doubt.

After some delishiousness I headed back to Starbucks, blogged for an hour and went to drop my stuff back off at the hotel. I was tired, but it was time for another long night of partying. I started at LeDoux for a meeting with some fellow members of aSmallWorld (www.asmallworld.net). After a few drinks and some good conversation, I headed over for some hookah with Danny and Jay at Beruit and then off to Dragon-I. We closed out the night at 4am at Volar, and I was in bed by 5am. Brilliant! :) This time I was sure to drink plenty of water.

Posted by Josh Gray-Emmer on Saturday, March 15, 2008

Posted 16th March 2008 by Josh Gray-Emmer

Hong Kong Day Eight // Louis Vuitton Night

After the day before, I decided I needed to make Day Eight a productive one. I started making lists of all my friends sizes and who would get what gifts so I could be more efficient when I returned to China. Then I got directions to the Central Exchange (massive bus station) and hopped on the MTR. Once again I was impressed with the cost and efficiency of the Hong Kong public transit system. An hour later I was getting off on the south side of the island at Stanley Beach, home to the famous Stanley Market.

This maze of shops winds its way around the beach selling souvenirs and trinkets to tourists and locals alike. One of the things that fascinated me were the carved stamps with words or names on them. Customizable, affordable and distinctly chinese... jackpot, many of you are getting these as gifts FYI. After I tired of shopping I decided to walk along the beach, sat on the pier for a few hours finishing my book before heading back to Central.

When I got back to my hotel room I was a bit frustrated. I had been texting Jason and Danny all day about wether or not they would be able to get me into the huge store opening and party for Louis Vuitton. It had been the talk of the town all week and at this point I was determined to go. As of this point I had heard nothing. I got a text from Danny saying he was still trying MUCH earlier, but no answer after that. Thats when I discovered that my cell had run out of Hong Kong minutes. I was soo mad. I used the lobby phone to call Jason, and he said Danny had a ticket for me.. score!

I recharged up the minutes on my phone and went back up stairs. There I chatted for a bit with a French Canadian model Krystopher, that I had met online (we have mutual friends in LA) and he decided to come over and keep me company before it was time to go to the party. SUPER cute and we had a blast. We then hopped in a cab and headed to the party. Once there, I was shit out of luck. No word from the boys, they had already left, I was screwed. I walked up to the nearest publicist and bullshitted my way into getting the very valuable, all powerful invisible LV stamp. That was my access into the event!!! Krys, also managed to get in with some models he knew... I could tell this was gonna be an awesome night.

When we arrived (via private vans) There was a huge building that had been made to look like a LV bag. (see pics). Passed the red carpet and inside the friends awaited. So of course did a spectacular, several million dollar event. Complete with shimmering LV decorations everywhere and an amazing light show, all capped off by a performance by Kanye West. They even had an inside/outside party environment showcasing a scripted neon Louis Vuitton sign framed by the Hong Kong skyline. I met a bunch of Krys' friends and a ton more of Danny and Jay's if that's even possible. The champagne flowed and we all got very very toasty. Finally around 1:30ish we headed to the after-party at Volar, then back to Dragon-I of course (seems like no night is complete without a trip to DI) and then back to Volar. Sometime around 3 I ended up dancing at propaganda... I do remember running into Jay and Lexi on the street before getting into a cab, but not much else. So far, one of the best days in Hong Kong, hands down.

Posted by Josh Gray-Emmer on Saturday, March 15, 2008

Posted 15th March 2008 by Josh Gray-Emmer

Hong Kong Day Six

The day started early, I got up and boarded the train across the harbor to the Peninsula Hotel. One of Hong Kong's oldest and most incredible establishments. There I was escorted upstairs to the kitchen of the Felix Reasturant. I was served breakfast while I met and chatted with the other guests as we waited to the executive chef to come out and spend the next 3 hours teaching us the secrets of the Peninsula's kitchen! As you can see from the pictures I learned a TON and had a really really good time.

After classes we had a 4 course lunch at the Peninsula's Veranda Restaurant and I spent the next several hours conversing with some really interesting people from all over the world. 5 hours after I had arrived I said farewell to The Kowloon side of Hong Kong and headed back to the island for a cup of coffee and some blogging at my favorite Starbucks.

Since there were no races (they were being held too far away), I decided to go to Artwalk, but unfortunately, it was sold out, so I made plans to run back to the hotel, change and meet up with Danny and friends at the Country Club for dinner before an evening of debauchery. We went back to Danny's for a quick sec and I got to ride in his VERY stylish vintage vet (see photo). Eyes all over Wan Chai were on us, it was HOT HOT HOT.

We started at Minx for a drink with Danny, then off to Dragon-I for another and to meet up with some friends (Danny walks in, and says hi to at least one person at all 7 of the top tables in the place - PLAYA). Then off to the opening of Qube + followed by a trip back to Dragon-I. Around midnight Danny called in (he's got work in the morning) and I hung for a bit before heading back to Beruit for a drink with Jay and Alexis. The off to Propaganda for some dancing (but it was dead)... Once again, another great day in Hong Kong!!

Posted by Josh Gray-Emmer on Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Posted 12th March 2008 by Josh Gray-Emmer

Mainland China Day One // Hong Kong Day Five

So today I got up early, made sure I had my passport and headed on the train for Lo Wo, the checkpoint to Mainland China's city of Shinzen. The train was really quick and easy of course, and since I had gotten an Chinese visa in advance, getting across the border only took about 30 minutes.

When I arrived I was swarmed by locals trying to get me to their shops to buy fake watches, and shadow factory goods (shadow factories make clothing or other items from the original templates and are usually owned by the same companies resulting in perfect counterfeits). Once inside the 7 story monstrosity it really was quite overwhelming.

THOUSANDS of shops selling everything from jeans to shirts, suits, jewelry, shoes, watches, literally EVERYTHING you could ever want, stolen or fake. I bought some D&G stuff, and some gifts (took me 4 hours). By the end of the 4 hours I was really starting to get cranky, everything ewas overwhelming SOOO many things to look at and most importaintly, I had yet to eat anything at all that day. I needed to find a bank (I had Hong Kong Dollars but I needed Won here in China), something that seemed to be on every corner of HK and no where to be found in China. After 30 minutes of walking around I could feel the frustration level rising. My kingdom for a fucking bank!!! Finally I went back to the train station and used an money exchange booth (getting ripped off but i soo didn't care at that point). I walked back out and straight to the nearest noodle house. Had some lunch and headed home. I definatelly messed up by not knowing what I wanted, I plan on going back for sure, so if you're reading my blog email your sizes to producer17@gmail.com with some favorite brands and I'll pick you up some stuff!!! Be sure to do it soon though!! :)

When I got back to Hong Kong, I promptly headed back to Happy Foot for another $20 hour long massage. Then I spent about an hour hunting around The Central District for an open gay bar for a drink. Upon finding that two suggesting in the guidebook no longer existed and the other two were closed I called it a day and headed back to my hotel to drop off my shopping and wash up for dinner.

I had a few beers and ate some Thai curry at a nearby establishment and at midnight decided to call it a night.. tomorrow cooking classes at 9:45am at the world famous Peninsula Hotel Hong Kong!!

Posted by Josh Gray-Emmer on Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Posted 12th March 2008 by Josh Gray-Emmer

Hong Kong Day Two

Hong Kong Day Two

Mar 8, 2008 by Josh Gray-Emmer

Limited

I woke up late after a long night of partying, and headed over to City Hall for what is widely regarded as the best Dim Sum in Hong Kong. The place was packed. After a 45 minute wait I took my seat in the monstrous dining hall. Chinese women screamed out the names of dishes as they pushed steaming carts between the tables. The view over HK Harbor was fantastic and the food was amazing.. the perfect cure for a hang over.

After lunch I wandered around Hong Kong, exploring the Central District some more till I got a call from Jay, it was time to go to The Country Club! The place was really nice. We relaxed and had snacks, I read my guidebook while Jason played tennis. A few hours later we headed out to get ready for another night on the town.

Tonight's festivities started at Zuma, a high end sushi bar atop the Landmark Mandarin Hotel. Then off to Beirut for some hookah and then back to Dragon-I for drinks. Yet another fantastic Hong Kong night!!

Posted by Josh Gray-Emmer on Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Posted 

8th March 2008

 by Josh Gray-Emmer