Chase A. Wolf's

Archive for the ‘China – Hong Kong’ Category

     By Chase A. Wolf

     Chase’s Log 5.5.2010.  For readers of Adventures from Somewhere – it’s now listed on Travel China Guide - and excellent online guide to all things China-travel related.  Adventures From Somewhere is listed on the following page under the “World Travel Guide” section at http://www.travelchinaguide.com/directory/.

     More of my recent travels to be published shortly, starting with three days in the fabled city of Chicago, where by faithful guides showed me the Windy City’s high and low cuisine – who can say no to perfectly grilled Wagyu Beef complimented by a Premier Cru Bordeaux, and  a kraut-smothered Chicago-style Polish Sausage drowned with local beer?  Though I advise not consuming both on the same day. . . . 

     Good reading and good travels.

     By Chase A. Wolf    

The universal greeting

     Chase’s Log 2.16.2010.  After several nail-biting flights – well-chronicled in my earlier posts – I think I’ve finally figured out a way to appease the Gods of Air Travel – for now.  Whether I made the right supplications to the monk in Honk Kong or he was just well-connected, by the time our plane taxied down the runway, the perpetual Hong Kong haze had dissipated, I’d settled into my upgraded to First Class seat in good cheer, and nary a cumulous cloud ruffled the flight to Ho Chi Minh City, a.k.a. “Saigon.” 

     Naturally, Home Office cautioned me against hubris – they think I may have just taken my luck at the front end of the trip, rather than the back end.  I make a vow to appease the Travel Gods of Intestinal Fortitude, you know, just in case Home Office has a point and I bite into something that later bites back – if you get my drift.    

The family scooter

     The taxi got me to the right hotel this time.  I’m staying at the Asiana Saigon, part of the Intercontinental Hotel chain – gorgeous as always.  Even my room was upgraded to one with great views of the city (good luck still holding firm). 

     Eager to explore the city, I drop my bags off and changed some money at the front desk – with my $100 USD right now being worth about 1.9 million Dong, the official currency here – and set out.        

Museum of different times

     To many, the name “Saigon” conjures uncomfortable recollections of a time – not terribly long ago – that the U.S. and the Vietnamese shed many lives in this part of the world in a war many questioned – and many supported.  Evidence of the war lives on, but the Ho Chi Minh City of today is not the Saigon of yesterday.  If you don’t believe me, come visit for yourself – you won’t regret it.  Far from just a political slogan, there really is a feeling of hope – and change – in the air here. Read the rest of this entry »

     By Chase A. Wolf

     Chase’s Log 2.12.2010.  Nice restful day today.  Slept in and wandered into the hotel breakfast around 10 a.m.  Nothing grand, but enough to quell the hunger pangs.  It was pouring rain, so I walked a little but fled back to the hotel when it got really bad.  Did some work and washed the unmentionables – which I just mentioned.

Fresher fish are still in the sea

     My friends Ellen and Peter met me in the lobby around 2 p.m. and we headed out into the deluge.  They took me to a “village” style restaurant for an afternoon of Dim Sum, and, of course, there was more than enough food for ten people let alone three.

     Still raining.  Parted with my friends and walked around, marvelling at all of the small stores.  Even the chain stores are small, except H&M and the department style stores.  Everything is on sale because of the upcoming Chinese New Year on February 14th.

Street market

     The last few days have been mostly business and meeting with agents and manufacturers about Global Shopping Adventures.  Most were very interested in my new concept and I continue to field many questions on the details of my plan.   Although I have confidence that all of the things I’m presenting can be delivered based on my research, the detailed plans will take a lot more time and plenty of money to put in place.  Given the positive responses, Home Office is already slaving away on the details. Read the rest of this entry »

     By Chase A. Wolf

     Chase’s Log 2.08.2010.  Hong Kong – what on Earth can I say about this city that hasn’t already been written about and shown in countless movies?

Downtown Hong Kong

     Being an eager traveler and excited about the next leg of my journey, I awoke early, shooed the roosters off my Taipei hotel’s window ledge, and, in one leap, jumped into all my carefully arranged travel clothes. 

     Hong Kong – here I come!

More Hong Kong Fog - From My Hotel

     Though I’d made proper supplication to the Travel Godsthe night before in hopes that my flight from Taipei to Hong Kong would be relatively uneventful, I stepped out of the One Season’s lobby and smacked my face into a wall of fog.  Again.  Naturally, the day blindness continued until our flight broke through on approach to Hong Kong International Airport – about 100 feet above the pretty blue water.  This time I prayed to Captain Sully – he of the U.S. Airways Flight 1549 fame – and, since I’m writing this, it apparently worked.

Business as Usual in Hong Kong

     My old friend Peter was there to meet me at the airport.  We caught up on a lot of things during the hour drive into the city.  And there it was – Hong Kong – perhaps my favorite city in the world.  It’s hard to describe this amazing city of more than 3 million people nestled between the harbor and the mountains: crowded, noisy, bustling and shuffling – bursting with energy and beauty. Read the rest of this entry »