It's the end of the world as we know it...

So, I am still in Shitzhen having an actually fairly decent time. I have to say the town has surprised me this time around. We have eaten at a few decent restaurants and even hit up a Haagen Dazs store the other night.

So, last night I realized the world was coming to an end...how you may ask? Well, we hit a very local place for dinner (I don't think I have to point out that the restaurant served Chinese food) last night and as I was eating my rice I noticed something was just not right. It took a few moments for me to figure out what was wrong...and then it hit me...the music. Now, I am the first to admit that music is universal...but, when you are at a very local restaurant in Shenzhen, China of all places and Jack Johnson is the ambient music of choice...something is wrong. Taylor, is just not a song one would expect to listen too while working your chop sticks.

Congratulations Jack, you've made it big and you know you have when you are the music of choice at a local restaurant in China where no one speaks English. Perhaps, music is indeed the universal language and I thought it was English all along.

Your Body Will Thank You...

A few complimentary warnings from Shenzhen, courtesy of yours truly. All of those who know me will vouch that I am an adventurous eater and will try anything at least once. If you dare me to eat something I will be all over it. I love all sorts of food and have tried things that would never ever make it onto Fear Factor. I can’t even describe some of the stuff I ate in Iraq. As far as Asian food goes…I love it. I have eaten at some absolutely wonderful restaurants (nice and not so nice) in China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Japan, Philippines, etc. However, the last two meals I have had for lunch (Wednesday and Thursday) in Shenzhen, China have been absolutely some of the poorest food that I have ever had the pleasure or displeasure to taste. We ate at a restaurant (Jasmine’s) yesterday for lunch and even our local staff (Hong Kong) decried the quality of the food. Most of us accept the fact that we will have to lower our food standards when in Shenzhen; however yesterday’s meal made us reset those low standards even lower. I can’t even describe the food…bad…would be putting it mildly. Let’s put it this way…I once ate the warm brains of a dead goat (as in warm because it was just killed in front of me) and I would gladly munch on some of that rather than repeat yesterday’s meal. Now, when you usually hit a low you can only come up, right? Wrong (just ask the Memphis Grizzlies, 14-39), today’s meal ranked right up there with stuff I have vowed to never place in my mouth again. Today we ate at a place (Ming Tien) that was supposed to be a Hong Kong Café style restaurant. Well, I have eaten at a lot of Hong Kong Café restaurants over the last 12 months and I’ll just say they missed the target on this one the only thing they got right was the tacky décor. They missed the target like Citibank’s latest earnings. So, when traveling to Shenzhen avoid Jasmine’s and Ming Tien if you value your lower intestines…they will thank you for it.

Shenzhen...Again...

Well, it is that time again...Shenzhen time. For those of you who have not had the pleasure to cross the border (in Hong Kong) and travel over to the PRC's closest city...I will give you a rundown on what Shenzhen is and is not. Shenzhen is a bustling city...it is relatively new as a lot of business and commerce has exploded in the last few years. You can probably get anything and everything manufactured here and you can probably buy anything that you want (real or fake). It is definitely an eclectic city as it is a migratory city with tons of "workers" from the rest of the country working in the thousands of factories that dot Shenzhen and the surrounding cities. If it is made in China...a safe bet is that part of it was made in Shenzhen. What it is not is a vacation destination or a relaxing place. This is the home of hustle and bustle. This is the one place where a local "driver" can actually get lost...can you imagine that. Can you imagine me directing a local Chinese person in China...it has happened. Shenzhen is also a place where you can see the transformation of an economy and the beginning of a middle class. If you think China you probably are not thinking of Mercedes and Lexus cars filling the roads. Well, come to Shenzhen and that is what you will see...here China's newly rich are not afraid to spend. You can head to the luxury stores...Zegna, Dunhill, etc. and get the latest designer offerings. You can also head to one of the many "fake goods markets" and get nearly the identical thing at a fraction of the price...I myself am not a large fan of fake goods...but...to each their own. So, we are here on a project for the next few weeks; which means that I have to travel across the border a few times a week...also an interesting experience. The contrast between Hong Kong and China is apparent as you cross the border. I do have to say though Shenzhen is not a bad place. The Intercontinental Hotel is a great hotel and I have to say it ranks up there. Shenzhen...not a bad place to spend a week but...not a great place either.