The Four Fundamental Forces of HK Clubbing

 

The physics that govern our universe are a lot more personal than we think. The forces that dictate the movement of atoms and planets are also manifest on a Friday night out in Hong Kong, in a dark, crowded, cigarette-smoke-and-EDM-music filled club on Lan Kwai Fung, acting upon a field of lonely guys and girls looking for fun, romance or an escape from reality. 

After countless rigorous scientific experiments, I present to you the four fundamental forces of Hong Kong's clubbing scene. Given severe underdevelopment in the field of nightlife physics, any suggested revisions to my theory are more than welcome.

1. Strong Nuclear Force

The strong nuclear force is the strongest of the four forces, but only works at extremely close range. Powerful, primal lust glues a nucleus of male and female together, observable from an act laymen call "dancing" or "grinding." This force is so strong it overpowers any repulsion the male and female would have for each other under normal, more brightly-lit circumstances. However, any attraction is ultimately temporary as once the two subjects move more than 1.5m apart, the strong nuclear force ceases to exist.

2. Weak Nuclear Force

Oh, the weak nuclear force, the most misunderstood and overlooked force of all--even I don't profess to know exactly how it works. I can only say that the magnitude of this force is directly proportional to the number of alcoholic drinks the subject has had at the club. Responsible for radioactive decay, the weak force breaks down a fully functional adult into a sad shell of himself, a lost cellphone and useless energy. This force is the root of all instability, poor life decisions and lost memories, but without it life would be less interesting, I suppose.

Origin of the weak nuclear force

3. Electromagnetic Force

The electromagnetic force is Attraction 101: Opposites attract, likes repel. Made famous in Hollywood romantic movies and Jane Austen novels, this force can be observed in the club as well, when a serious and cynical investment banker buys a drink for a cute and talkative English teacher, or when a successful career woman hits on a starving artist. The electromagnetic force works regardless of distance, but from my observations there are definitely exceptions to the rule.

4. Gravity

Gravity--my favorite and the most mysterious force of all. Irrelevant at close ranges and thus not commonly felt at a club, but on the grand scale of things, this is the force that could change your life. When two people feel a gravitational pull towards each other, their attraction is inevitable, as gravity is always attractive and impossible to stop, rendering the subjects defenseless to its power. As they orbit each other, their masses distort space and time, altering their realities forever. The past and the future, friends and family, all these become specks of cosmic dust and all that matters is the present, the imminent free-fall, the cross over the event horizon into a black hole called destiny (or perhaps even love?) Few escape unscathed, but most come out wiser. While the idea of finding a significant relationship at a club seems ridiculous, once in a blue moon the stars do align to bring two people together.

Wine Tasting in Hong Kong: A Beginner's Guide

I absolutely love wine, but my experiences with it before Hong Kong were usually quite bipolar--either I was shamelessly buying cases of $1 wines at the supermarket, or insecurely sipping some kind of Bordeaux, trying to detect hints of wet wool, shoe polish, and self-worth. Who knew there was a whole other universe of exciting and approachable wines? Contrary to appearances, Hong Kong is a gold mine of casual, affordable, and eclectic wine tastings, and in my quest to learn more about what the hell I was drinking, I've discovered a few great companies that offer fun wine events at very decent prices.

1) The Flying Winemaker

Founded by Eddie Mcdougall (HK born and raised in Australia), The Flying Winemaker has a casual and fun approach to wine tasting and education. Their events are a mix of themed tastings and wine classes, and I always discover unique but value for money wines each time. What I really appreciate most is the intimate, laid back environment and Eddie's democratic approach to wine--you can bet he knows his stuff though, since he actually makes his own wines in Australia...

Absolutely loved this Gewurztraminer! Such a memorable taste of lychees and summer, I bought a bottle and drank it while watching Mexico lose to Netherlands, so I guess it soothed the pain somewhat...

Pairing wines with Cantonese roast meats

Hi Eddie

Some bonus pictures from their annual Rosé Revolution boat trip, free flow rosé with fresh seafood lunch, intended to shine a light on an under-appreciated genre:

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/theflyingwinemaker

2) Amber Wines

Amber Wines specializes in wine consulting, and you can tell from the personalized approach in their events. They aim to host events that are multi-dimensional and often partner with restaurants for food and wine pairings. While they focus on old world wines, the prices are all very affordable for the quality. I went to their "wines and herbs pairing" where we learned about what kind of herbs bring out the aromas of different wines, enjoyed canapes that incorporated each herb (with the chef present to explain his cooking!), and met other wine fans. I would actually say the level of client service is even more dedicated than The Flying Winemaker, since I still get personalized emails (or so I'd like to believe) about upcoming tastings.

Sauvignon Blanc with Thyme

Gewurztraminer with Cinnamon

Syrah with Coriander

Some Bordeaux red with Rosemary

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/amberwinesltd

3) Cellarmaster Wines

Cellarmaster Wines is actually an online wine & spirits shop, but once in a while they have fun events to showcase their inventory. I went to an "Around the World" event which was absolutely dangerous for my sobriety and bank account--unlimited tasting of over 100 wines from around the world for US$25. Granted, their strategy was probably to get you tipsy enough to buy everything on the wine list...which was extremely effective...

WINES

They also sell some rums--these are from a rum distillery in Fiji, sooo yummy and festive with flavors like White Chocolate and Golden Honey

Chef of Ham & Sherry cutting ham...what's not to like...

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/cellarmasterwines


Photos courtesy of: Kenneth Wu, Amber Wines, Cellarmaster Wines

Love, Lust, and Noodles: Lau Sum Kee Noodle Shop

Restaurants, like relationships, come and go in this city. Gleaming lights promising something new, something different, something to surprise our jaded appetites, or just something to fill our void (and memory cards) in the middle of the night. The initial spark, the excitement of the unknown, the spiraling addiction, the desperate desire to believe in the hype....but lust fades and quality speaks for itself. Does anything last forever here? is the most persistent question on my mind as I walk past  another shuttered restaurant that burned too fast and too bright, wondering about the fate of my old haunts the same way I wonder about the boys who never called me back.

"Find a simple guy," my mom told me once, and the same goes for food--at the end of the day, we just crave something simple, dependable and true. In this sense you can't get any simpler than noodle shops in Hong Kong, their low key presence in every street corner at risk of being replaced by the next big restaurant mogul. They are the geek in a romantic comedy, quietly watching you chase the most popular chefs and food trends, comforting you amid your disappointment before you realize that they were the ones who were there for you all along.

Lau Sum Kee in Sham Shui Po is one of these simple guys, albeit one of the more famous ones. But rightly so, as they consistently churn out honest and delicious Hong Kong staples--al dente dry noodles sprinkled with shrimp roe, braised beef brisket and tendon, wonton soup...I basked in its unpretentious and comforting presence, with barely a dent in my wallet. Wrapping up the night with some local desserts around the corner, I was grateful to be reminded that there are still some things that are consistent in this transient city. (The simple and dependable guy part though remains to be seen...)

Lau Sum Kee Noodle
G/F, 48 Kweilin St
Sham Shui Po
2386 3533

Tian Tian Di Dessert House
G/F 120 Fuk Wa St
Sham Shui Po
2398 9499

Conversations at Night (With Whisky)

“I have a very romantic view of the city—sometimes I think we're just billiard balls, moving along our own paths, and once in a while we collide and there’s a spark, there’s a temporary push towards the same direction, but ultimately you hit a wall and separate and go your own way again.”

“...and sometimes you get hit so hard you fall into an abyss?”

“Well the idea is you get to restart the game I guess…”  

An infinite loop of pool playing, that’s really all there is to it. Exhausting, addicting and possibly meaningless—but you have to keep moving, keep colliding, because the alternative is inertia, is solitude, is lying alone at the bottom of the pool table. The alternative of something is nothing and I'd rather have ephemeral warmth than eternal coldness. 

“But don’t you want to believe that people can develop more than a temporary connection?”

“Not in this city, no. There are so many possibilities that you can’t help but want to experience all of them. And too much selfishness—everyone wants to follow their own path in the end.”

“You know, I think you’re imposing this view on relationships because you’re afraid of the alternative—of exposing yourself and making the commitment to understand and love someone. And I get why you prefer this idea of love, I’ve been to the other end before and I know what it’s like to be hurt in a big city, to realize that the city is perfectly capable of moving on without you. It's so much easier to just give up and live for the occasional spark.”

"I don't know...maybe you're right, maybe I've been brainwashed by too many bittersweet romantic movies. But I think it's comforting and beautiful that two people can find refuge in each other, regardless of whether it lasts a few hours or a lifetime. So I wouldn't say that I've given up..."

Mountains and I: Finding serenity on Lantau Island

Where do you go to be alone in this city? I've tried to escape the crowd by foot, by bus, by ferry, by bicycle, by car...but the city remains one step ahead of me, luring me in with mirages of empty alley cafes and untouched nature trails, only to let me down when I discover that these oases are just as flooded with people--weary worker bees like me eager to find a corner of their own, no matter how temporary.

But Hong Kong forgot about me one day in April, when I went on a hike on Lantau Island with a couple of friends. It was supposed to take three hours but ended up lasting six, as we trekked for miles with nobody in sight, enjoyed a quiet picnic at the peak (accompanied by a rock that looked like a vase), stumbled through thorny bushes destroyed by wildfires, slid down treacherous slopes and yelled into the wind that carried our city anxiety away. We got lost for an hour in the mountains, and when you get lost there you really start to understand that nature can never completely be tamed. Google Maps couldn't save us now, but after countless trials we finally made it out and landed--I kid you not--in front of Disneyland. 

This is how I should've grown up, I thought. This is how everyone in this city should've grown up. Limited instructions, no time limits, a will to explore and nature at our feet. 

The few minutes of encountering the absolute unknown and the possibility of being stuck on the same mountain all night made the final step back out onto the highway so much more gratifying. For the Singaporean girl who knew that every test had an answer set and every report had a conclusion, this was more than enough adventure to last me awhile.

At the very least, I now know that in Hong Kong, all roads lead to Disneyland...

 

Sangria by the beach...and the sweet island life

Often I forget that I live on an island (ok, technically I live on a peninsula, but HK Island is just one stop away!). Where are the people abiding by island time, strolling around carefree and greeting strangers? Not that I actively resist trading in my soul for an exciting capitalistic lifestyle, but it's nice to just chill out and hakuna matata the hell out of life sometimes. 

And so we went on a half day pilgrimage to Cheung Sha Wan,  a long stretch of beach on Lantau Island, to indulge in the elusive, F. Scott Fitzgerald approved expat activity--sipping wine and relaxing on a secluded beach. Note: When I say secluded I mean relatively, of course...this is Hong Kong after all. After a forty minute ferry ride to Mui Wo, a twenty minute bus ride to Cheung Sha Wan, and ten minutes of getting lost, we arrived at The Stoep, a South African restaurant by Cheung Sha Beach.

 

What a privilege it was, to be able to eat and drink and talk while burying my toes in the sand and feeling the sea breeze (with the occasional leaf falling into my hair...but let's not dwell on it). Compared to the beaches on the south side of HK Island, Cheung Sha beach is a lot less crowded, which adds to its rustic charm.

A lot of sunburnt expats

Two girls tackle a jug of sangria and lots of bread...

At one point I looked up and saw this ridiculous sight. My thought process went something like this: 1)WTF are those cows doing?? 2) Why does nobody care?? No one else is taking pictures except for me!! 3) Wait, I think that baby is naked...uh good for him 4) Can't wait to show my friends this picture 5) But really...those cows just came out of nowhere...where do they come from, and where do they go??

And the cows (or water buffaloes, as I found out later) continued their leisurely stroll down the beach, while the city girl, so used to a controlled urban environment and everything making sense, gradually realized the futility of questioning the ways of nature and just took it in, naked baby and all. Perhaps that is the core of the island mentality--enjoying life as it comes and going with the flow. I'll have to come back here every time I forget that the world contains so much more than just my understanding of it. Or more likely, whenever I'm craving sangria and a day trip.

This human to space ratio is to die for

Nam Sang Wai: Wetlands Calling

I visited Nam Sang Wai around one year ago and it's still etched in my memory as one of the most romantic spots in Hong Kong. Disclosure: I went with a bunch of elementary school students and volunteers, but any place that can make you feel sentimental and carefree even while surrounded by screaming children is a romantic gem by my standards...

Nam Sang Wai is a wetland area in the New Territories, and the only way to get to the trail is to cross the river through a cheap, slow and ghetto looking boat. It's not a bad way to start a rustic adventure though:

Waiting for the boat (only one!)

On a side note, whenever I think about river crossing for some reason I always think about the Greek myth of some old man ferrying people across the river to the underworld, so maybe that's why this felt quite magical to me, and I really bought the whole "getting transported into a different time and place" narrative (or most likely I'm just a city girl who's too easily impressed). 

One of the landmarks is this beautiful path of eucalyptus trees. This is the stuff of romantic dramas and nostalgic childhood montages. I ran along part of the trail with these kids (think the boys were trying to run away from the girls), but if anyone wants to recreate a cheesy Korean drama scene next time I'm all up for it:

Another breathtaking view--think this spot is very popular for wedding pictures and filming for local Cantonese dramas. But we had a few minutes to ourselves that day:

At the end of the trail is a large field where people picnic, play guitar, fly kites, draw and just hang out. It's great to be reminded of the fact that grass does exist in Hong Kong...even if you really have to look for it and there are probably lots of ants.