Mankinis and pimp suits
Given its a Friday afternoon in the shadow of a public holiday here's what I've mostly been up to recently...
It may seem crazy to travel for about 6 hours just for a weekend’s trip but if the destination in Ubud in Bali I strongly recommend it. I headed out there to help celebrate a mate’s 30th and have to say the place is nice, very nice. In the short time we had we managed to find time for the prerequisite massage, to take bikes out around the local rice paddies (that can be build on surprisingly steep hills), to eat some great sea food and to visit some ancient temple reported to be of both Hindu and Buddhist descent.
We also managed half a day on the beach. Unfortunately Bali sits pretty much right on the equator so having had a brief swim in the sea I retreated to the shade where I stayed while my travelling companions (French, Italian and Kiwi) all slowly roasted themselves. Oh for foreign skin, it would appear not applying sun cream after swimming even if you stay in the shade is a bad plan.
And the best bit, a restaurant called Mosaic. Now it may sound a bit daft to go all the way to Indonesia and eat at a European restaurant, but when the chef has Michelin stars (when in Europe, apparently they don't travel as far into the wilds as Ubud) you really have to, the food was amazing and although expensive for Bali was virtually free (ish), you really must go there.
Back in HK I've been trying to make the most of what the city has to offer and there have been some pretty funky highlights, not least a Duran Duran concert (what can I say, not many bands come here and they did sing James Bond’s "a view to a kill") and a mighty fine comedy night at the Viceroy. Tonight I’m going all sophisticated and heading to the theatre to see Macbeth however tomorrow will be less so as HK are playing Kazakhstan at rugby. We’re planning on starting early and I’ve been promised a Borat style mankini streak by one of my mates!
Talking of high fashion items, having turned 31 back in March I've now decided I'm old enough to own a brown suit, so my tailor in Shenzhen (with just a little help form Bev) has made me a rather fine copy of a Prada number with bright blue lining. Even if I do say so myself I look like the best dressed pimp to escape the 70s!
Although the season is over as my ribs appear to be completely better I managed to find one more rugby match to play in. One of my regular bars has an invitational touring team called the Pot Bellied Pigs with probably the least fashionable kit in the world (based on the design of shopping bags common across Asia) so when the call came I really couldn't say no. Miracle of miracles we won, beating a team over for the UK by 4 tries to 3. I can't really claim it was all me but was a good game and the court session (back at the local) was very as entertaining.
On less good news Oasis, the budget airline that flies between London and HK has gone under - surprise surprise! This wouldn't have been too bad but for the fact Hannah had tickets to fly out here for this weekend, d'oh!
And that about fills you in. I actually have rather sensational news about June but unfortunately I can't share that for another week or so but watch this space...
Laters
JP
It may seem crazy to travel for about 6 hours just for a weekend’s trip but if the destination in Ubud in Bali I strongly recommend it. I headed out there to help celebrate a mate’s 30th and have to say the place is nice, very nice. In the short time we had we managed to find time for the prerequisite massage, to take bikes out around the local rice paddies (that can be build on surprisingly steep hills), to eat some great sea food and to visit some ancient temple reported to be of both Hindu and Buddhist descent.
We also managed half a day on the beach. Unfortunately Bali sits pretty much right on the equator so having had a brief swim in the sea I retreated to the shade where I stayed while my travelling companions (French, Italian and Kiwi) all slowly roasted themselves. Oh for foreign skin, it would appear not applying sun cream after swimming even if you stay in the shade is a bad plan.
And the best bit, a restaurant called Mosaic. Now it may sound a bit daft to go all the way to Indonesia and eat at a European restaurant, but when the chef has Michelin stars (when in Europe, apparently they don't travel as far into the wilds as Ubud) you really have to, the food was amazing and although expensive for Bali was virtually free (ish), you really must go there.
Back in HK I've been trying to make the most of what the city has to offer and there have been some pretty funky highlights, not least a Duran Duran concert (what can I say, not many bands come here and they did sing James Bond’s "a view to a kill") and a mighty fine comedy night at the Viceroy. Tonight I’m going all sophisticated and heading to the theatre to see Macbeth however tomorrow will be less so as HK are playing Kazakhstan at rugby. We’re planning on starting early and I’ve been promised a Borat style mankini streak by one of my mates!
Talking of high fashion items, having turned 31 back in March I've now decided I'm old enough to own a brown suit, so my tailor in Shenzhen (with just a little help form Bev) has made me a rather fine copy of a Prada number with bright blue lining. Even if I do say so myself I look like the best dressed pimp to escape the 70s!
Although the season is over as my ribs appear to be completely better I managed to find one more rugby match to play in. One of my regular bars has an invitational touring team called the Pot Bellied Pigs with probably the least fashionable kit in the world (based on the design of shopping bags common across Asia) so when the call came I really couldn't say no. Miracle of miracles we won, beating a team over for the UK by 4 tries to 3. I can't really claim it was all me but was a good game and the court session (back at the local) was very as entertaining.
On less good news Oasis, the budget airline that flies between London and HK has gone under - surprise surprise! This wouldn't have been too bad but for the fact Hannah had tickets to fly out here for this weekend, d'oh!
And that about fills you in. I actually have rather sensational news about June but unfortunately I can't share that for another week or so but watch this space...
Laters
JP
posted by JP at 5:30 pm
