the roads are getting nearer
<body><script type="text/javascript"> function setAttributeOnload(object, attribute, val) { if(window.addEventListener) { window.addEventListener('load', function(){ object[attribute] = val; }, false); } else { window.attachEvent('onload', function(){ object[attribute] = val; }); } } </script> <div id="navbar-iframe-container"></div> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://apis.google.com/js/platform.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> gapi.load("gapi.iframes:gapi.iframes.style.bubble", function() { if (gapi.iframes && gapi.iframes.getContext) { gapi.iframes.getContext().openChild({ url: 'https://www.blogger.com/navbar.g?targetBlogID\x3d11303592\x26blogName\x3dThe+sPuTneeK+Chronicles\x26publishMode\x3dPUBLISH_MODE_BLOGSPOT\x26navbarType\x3dSILVER\x26layoutType\x3dCLASSIC\x26searchRoot\x3dhttps://sputneek.blogspot.com/search\x26blogLocale\x3den_GB\x26v\x3d2\x26homepageUrl\x3dhttp://sputneek.blogspot.com/\x26vt\x3d-5210627144213087421', where: document.getElementById("navbar-iframe-container"), id: "navbar-iframe", messageHandlersFilter: gapi.iframes.CROSS_ORIGIN_IFRAMES_FILTER, messageHandlers: { 'blogger-ping': function() {} } }); } }); </script>
Thursday, May 19, 2005
` Thursday, May 19, 2005
Caution! Another one of those condemned entries of relentless boredom. When will it end........

This is my fourth day in Hong Kong and it feels like eternity trying to count down to the end of a working day. The weather's been bizarrely similar to Singapore, with (queue: CNA presenter-speak) "moderate showers and temperatures ranging from a low of 26 degrees to a high of 32 degrees."

I can't really complain, as right below my office is a massive shopping mall called Cityplaza in Tai Koo. I was trawling aimlessly through the mall during lunch-time on Tuesday and the surprise reaction was: boredom. Maybe I've over-shopped in my three years of reckless spending while on business travel.

One thing I've come to notice about the spending habits here is the element of "conspicuous consumption". Perhaps this statement was made in a fleeting impression of the sheer number of designer shops found in a supposed suburban mall surrounded by private housing. This was further exacerbated by the fact that the Pacific Place shopping centre just next to my hotel had contained possibly all of the essential branded names under one roof, each with service staff suited in jacket-and-tie ensemble (!!!!!) waiting to open the door for customers. Being a cheapskate mass-market shopper who'd find it painful to part with >$100 for any item of desire, imagine the faint grimace of embarassment I had to suppress while trudging to dinner in my $33 Birkie rip-offs and $50 H&M cargo pants in the mall. So much for a "casual" shopping experience.

The thing is, I'm seldom as conscious of my dressing as I am currently in this country. Which gives me a fantastic reason (or excuse) to do something I really thoroughly enjoy: shopping this weekend! Can't wait....

Comments: Post a Comment
Whose Rantings Are These?

You're reading sPuTneeK's blog.

Need Prozac? Carry on reading for an alternative cure.

I've Been..

Satisfying the wanderlust fascination.
Slacking.
Sleeping.
Shopping (wayyyyyyyyyyy too much).
Reading NW, Famous and 8 Days voraciously.
Chillin' with a pint of good beer or latte.
Indulging in purposeful conversation.
Otherwise, I'm happy for you to leave me alone.

Blogus Alumnus

Whiskeysprite
Vieee
Missy Nomad
Lammmie
Danny
Abacaxi
Sweet Sorbet

Give Me The Passport Stamp!

  • Siem Reap
  • Hawaii
  • Iceland
  • Maldives
  • Bhutan
  • Barcelona
  • Uluru
  • Hokkaido
  • Dubai
  • The Greek Islands
  • Santiago
  • Cape Town
  • Morocco

    • Always Happy to Return

  • Tokyo
  • Melbourne
  • Bangkok
  • Bali
  • Koh Samui
  • Sydney


    • Much Better Than Travel Guides

  • TripAdvisor - reliable hotel and travel reviews
  • Sky Scanner - excellent European budget flight search engine
  • Smart Travel Asia - quirky travelogues
  • Seat Guru - advice on good airplane seats
  • Need It Now - last-minute Pacific driving and hotel deals

    • Mention-Worthy Hotels

  • Sydney: Shangri-La
  • Hong Kong: Conrad
  • Tokyo: Conrad
  • Shanghai: JW Marriott Tomorrow Square
  • Bangkok: Bangkok Marriott Resort & Spa
  • Phuket: Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa
  • Goa: Park Hyatt
  • London: The Waldorf Hilton
  • Vancouver: Renaissance
  • Bali: Conrad
  • Manila: Makati Shangri-La
  • Cairns: Mantra Trilogy
  • Taipei: Far Eastern Plaza Shangri-La
  • Seoul: JW Marriott
  • Melbourne: Grand Hyatt
  • Kuala Lumpur: JW Marriott
  • Koh Samui: Central Samui Village
  • Jakarta: JW Marriott
  • Hanoi: Sol Melia
  • Chiangmai: Mandarin Dhara Devi
  • Prague: Ramada Grand Symphony
  • Mallorca: HM Jaime III
  • New York: Millenium Hilton
  • Washington: The River Inn
  • Dublin: Trinity Capital
  • Langkawi: Sheraton Perdana


    • Earlier Waxings of Lyrical Non-Purposes

    xx March 2005xx April 2005xx May 2005xx June 2005xx July 2005xx August 2005xx September 2005xx October 2005xx November 2005xx December 2005xx January 2006xx February 2006xx March 2006xx April 2006xx May 2006xx June 2006xx July 2006xx August 2006xx September 2006xx October 2006xx November 2006xx December 2006xx January 2007xx February 2007xx March 2007