lester left...but i dont think i really detoxed...
The quaalude, or lude, as it is commonly referred to, was first synthesized in 1951 by an Indian doctor, that's dots, not feathers, as a sedative and was prescribed to stressed out housewives with sleep disorders. But pretty soon someone figured out that if you resisted the urge to sleep for just fifteen minutes, you got a pretty kick-ass high from it. Didn't take long for people to start abusing ludes of course. And in 1982 the U.S. Government Schedule one'd them, along with the rest of the world. Which meant there was only a finite amount of these things left. No shit, you can't even buy 'em anymore. You people are all shit out of luck. - jordan belfort
i went a month without drinking. and then went on a binge for a solid 2 weeks. i knew i needed a detox but that definitely wasn't happening with lester around. or with me plus any reason around. original plans got delayed so we ended up flying out friday with me booking both the hotel and flights the same day. to which lester said to me. "now i know why you don't have a gf". china is china. china has never sat well with me. i'd almost rather choose south east asia rather than china. i feel like im in no control of anything there...and it's not just the hustle but it's the survival mentality everyone is constantly in that bothers me. pollution plus a blatant monetization of everything. there's a price if you're willing to pay it. or move on.
it was good to see becky. it was good to see michelle. it was good to see kevin. and it was good to see my aunt. it was on the other hand an ordeal to see mike. i guess if u're going to make it rain...now is the most sensible time to do it. even if people at first don't understand it. u've had your marriage. you've had your kids. u've been responsible and your career is stable and only getting better. so with nothing to stop you...now is the most responsible time to make it rain...barring health...
i was so glad to be back home after a month of travel. regardless of the fact that home still involves living out of a suitcase. we came back for one meeting. one weekend. and that weekend turned into a week. and a week turned into going to kingdom every night of the week. and ktv...and ktv...and ktv...rachel must love us...
this time i stayed in HK to get my china visa. as an american citizen, applying for a china visa in the US...costed me 150 USD for a multiple entry one year validity china visa. in singapore as a tourist, i am only allowed a single entry visa for 230 USD. 330 USD rush service. in HK, they gave me a 6 month validity multiple entry visa for 390 USD with rush service. that's 2 day service. i eventually stayed 4 nights. but there's a heavy hotel and eating and drinking expense in HK. i don't wanna think about it...
my canto is getting better due to just being in HK all the time. i've explored that tiny city like a local. making every meal a food tour and ending the night with ktv ktv and more ktv. lkf has lost it's luster as the only people i hang with in HK don't go out anymore. gah. Singapore was voted most expensive city in the world. and i agree it's quite expensive. but hawker centers still offer very very cheap local food. HK on the other hand...has no cheap option. even the local wonton noodles end up being a 30 USD meal. combine that with that unthinkable tab at the bar...it's ridiculous.
here are some must eats...
...and the thing with side projects...is that it's up to how you value your efforts and time. i generally have a higher threshold to entertain randomness....and i generally have more patience to wait and see how things develop. because my business takes time to develop. big bulk, high risk...takes time to develop that trust and relationship...on top of market conditions. and then there are those instances where you enter new markets....knowing nothing...and try to work with bright eyed too smart for their own good kids...smarts and eagerness is no match for the real world. manage those expectations buddy...and make sure you do your due diligence.
oh yea...and then there's the cookie spread...is it even worth the money????
why do you have to travel so much?? cuz things happen when you're on the road. things present themselves to you if you place yourself in the right places at the right times. it's just a gamble really. and if u're going to be there anyway...why not entertain an extra lunch...=)
last year i had a very important meeting with my uncles and his club of "government officials" all crooked china men if you ask me. but they're rich. they're in power. and they handle a lot of important stuff that run the country. manufacturing, import customs, construction certificates etc. tangible high status high net worth individuals who when introduced to my friend cng...just treat us american kids (even in our 30s) as little people. but little do they know...in todays era...the things that make the most money are web related nothings. over valued marketing tools that are worth more than the entire table combined times 10. it's a different era.
this different era...is already on stage two or stage three. pioneers that have crossed over to capitalize on their marketing prowess into mainstream cyber world has made musicians richer with alcohol branding and water branding than their musical careers. diddy did ciroc. fifty did vitamin water. can i do Awater??
i bought them a new bike for their birthday =)
i don't know how it happened. but i wasn't even supposed to go to singapore this trip. i booked my flight last minute was originally going to stay for 4 days. and it ended up being a month. i still can't believe i used to live there. it's an easy life actually. it's a sterile life. it's a hot and humid life. it's well compensated...and it's designed for a family. or it's designed to perpetuate relaxed tropical singaporean life. talk cock sing song....play mah jong.
malaysian air was the cheapest flight. and post mh370...u'd think this would be the safest time to ride malaysian air...until you read about the flight to seoul redirected to hk. so i took garuda and lester picked me up. he introduced his fiance??? where did this come from? i hadn't spoken to him in a year. i kind of dropped off the face of the earth post janet. so lester is getting married. farida is getting married....i found out will was about to have his second baby. then i open up an office/warehouse in singapore. and get business cards printed. i stay for a month before finally heading back north.
lester picked me up...but honey had me for the weekend. and it was as if the whole world knew i detoxed for too long in indonesia. no drinking and sleeping early. cuz i landed and went to happy hour. then i dont think i made it home all weekend. going from drinks to brunch drinks to korean bbq drinks...to dinner drinks and drinks at home. oh man....by sunday i was a shell of myself. it felt great.
"what do you want to do??" lets go watch a movie...cuz thats what you do in singapore on sundays. u watch movies. and i never go to the theater otherwise. and after the movie. we go get coffee. we sit and they smoke cigarrettes. i get a soursop juice and just let the humidity cool off into the night. it's a relaxed life.
and on occasion you can't help yourself. so you turn business meetings into an excuse to drink. and then on other nights u sneak out after lester puts the gf to sleep. and go for an absolute doozy. ordering bottles and leaving before the girls can come to our table. 雕花場 is a phenomenon that will only work in south east asia. this thai style disco can get quite pricey...
i haven't gone to the gym in quite some time since not really having a home base to subscribe to a full time gym. so i've gotten better at random home workouts tho muscle isolation exercise has suffered and its quite evident in my physique. i still manage to run in random countries. i've added a burpee workout that you can do anywhere...i bike when i see one....(derek happened to have 2) and swimming is an all around sport...(which is a big reason why i can't adapt to cold weather as well i used to). and so when i saw sue...we did aqua robotics in the pool...along with a stint at pure fitness....
did i mention i learned how to make laksa and nasi lemak this trip too??
what the eff was i doing in singapore anyways??? if only i had more time to get a suit made from karrot =)
