Ordinary Gweilo

It's not big and it's not clever, it's just a Brit in Hong Kong writing (mainly) about Hong Kong

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Month: Jun 2008

  • The Palazzo – looking as lovely as ever

    A reader has sent me a photograph (left) of my favourite development. You can see Fo Tan Industrial Estate to the left (sadly obscured by shruberry in the official artist's impression). Then there is KCR House, the black building in the foreground that is dwarfed by The Palazzo, which just disappeared from the artist's impression.…

  • Now you can rent DVDs by mail, just when they’re on the way out

    In business, timing is everything.  So, it is somewhat bizarre that Hong Kong finally has a service similar to Netflix just as it seems clear that DVDs are being replaced by downloads (and streaming). The new service (StarMetro) was mentioned in Sunday Post (now, er, officially my favourite magazine in the whole word) and –…

  • Cantopopped, Chinadroll, blogs added and removed

    Observant readers will notice that I have been doing a spring clean of the links on the right-hand side of the page.  One new addition is Cantopopped, which is an amusing enough take on life in Hong Kong from "Mat B" who admits to living in Tai Po.  From the sound of things, he won't…

  • Doing their job

    In yesterday's SCMP, Jake van der Kamp argued that the ICAC is wasting its time investigating fraud in the private sector.  This refers to a recent court case (Ex-Centaline executive admits bribe offers): A former director and general manager of Centaline Property Agency admitted in District Court yesterday he had offered more than HK$1.68 million…

  • Net pickings

    Hongkongers seeking information, like-minded friends or simply to vent their spleen are catered to in abundance online. David Wilson compiles a list of the top 20 local websites. Illustration by Steve Yau. Jun 08, 2008  South China Morning Post In keeping with the buzz on its streets, Hong Kong has a humming presence on the…

  • Top 20 websites in Hong Kong: #8 – fearless, with slapdash grammar

    Imagine my reaction upon reading Post Magazine in yesterday's Sunday Morning Post when I discovered that OrdinaryGweilo.com is one of the top 20 websites in Hong Kong. My delight was somewhat diminished by a couple of things. Firstly, that this list appears to have thrown together without very much research.  One might almost say it…

  • The Palazzo – the view from Piazza Michelangiolo

    Friday's SCMP came with a glossy magazine, and yes there is an advert for The Palazzo (see right). Presumably this is supposed to show the view from what their website describes as 'Piazza Michelangaiolo' (in case you're wondering who he might be, I think he was a renaissance painter during the week and a Formula One…

  • Sense and nonsense

    It’s one of many oddities about the world’s freest economy that taxi drivers here would be breaking the law if they offered discounts to passengers.  However, if passengers ask for a discount, taxi drivers can agree – and of course everyone knows who to call to ask for a discount.  Other taxi drivers are not…

  • The Apprentice – Buying a bowler hat and some jellied eels

    It’s week 3 of The Apprentice on BBC Knowledge. Miriam and Adele return from the boardroom.  They embrace Rachel, who says “well done” and then grimaces.  Presumably because her friend got fired, whilst they survived.  Saira is talking sense, for once: “The dynamics of the group are four loud-mouthed girls.  We will be sitting in…

  • The Palazzo – no more adverts!

    Sadly, the weekend's editions of the SCMP contained not a single advert for The Palazzo. What it did contain was a photograph of the equestrian facilities, the racecourse and the site of The Palazzo, courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club.  This shows quite clearly the position of The Palazzo relative to the racecourse and…