Babes, Rock Stars and Jack

No trip to Shenzhen is complete without a jaunt across the border to Hong Kong. If I'm going to be honest though, Hong Kong would be a lonely place for me were it not for AliveNotDead.com. The truth is, everyone of my friends in HK is a result of AnD. Don't forget, I've never lived there. For me, it all began with Mark Moran, but it has morphed into a great circle of creative and dynamic friends that continues to grow every time I visit.

Will C. explained why Lan Gong Yuen restaurant is a part of Hong Kong's culinary history. Then we went somewhere else to eat.

In the morning, I met up with Will C. for a bite and a walk around TST. We even randomly ran across the new GTOX shop which is worth checking out. Eventually, Patrick Chow woke up and joined us for some dimsum before Patrick and I headed to Causeway Bay to meet up with Raffi and his legion of young models who are at his beck and call to promote the Legend smack down that AnD is involved with. I think Raffi mentioned that Mr. Rottendoubt himself was going to get into the ring this time; or maybe I misunderstood him.  Anyway, Patrick and I have been trying to connect ever since I moved to Beijing and he was studying there for six month. That was over 18 months ago, but we finally met face to face.

Raffi and Patrick try to see things eye to eye.

As you can see, Raffi is dedicated to his work.

Models may be cute, but Patrick knows a real pro when he spots one.

As the ladies began to pass out the fliers for the Legend event, I became aware that there were other pretty young things in CWB trying to promote products. A bevy of amateur photographers also took note. This Santa's helper was showcasing some new Microsoft hardware.

Raffi liked the hardware she was demonstrating. I think they would make an adorable couple. More leggy models demonstrating the latest X-Box offerings. They must have been cold.Even more photographers. Desperate? Well, we did see some handing out business cards, but I'm sure it was for professional opportunities.

Later, Raffi was kind enough to invite me (without much prodding) to the Mavis Fan concert. He did not even mind that I had never heard of Mavis Fan. This was an outdoor concert in Thai Bo or someplace like that. He didn't mind that I had no idea where that was either.

Mavis Fan and her band 100% at an outdoor concert in Tai Po

I've randomly attended four concerts without prior planning while living in China and each time it was for a singer from Taiwan. Without question, this was the best show I have attended and Mavis Fan is clearly my favorite singer from Taiwan. True, I only know of four, but I'm confident she will be better than the next performer from Taiwan who's concert I will no doubt randomly attend in 2010. That the venue was outdoors and so intimate only made the show that much more special. Check out Raffi's more knowledgeable post about the concert here. I even got to chat with one of my favorite HK artists for a bit, Josie Ho.

The lovely and talented Mavis Fan

The next day, after a fantastic Vietnamese lunch with Boon (Boon!), I met up with Spencer Douglass while he was conducting one business meeting after another at a table in Starbucks.

Warning, the next photo is strikingly shocking and may frighten small children, the elderly and the squeamish.

Spencer recently did some hand modeling and they shaved a bit of the back of his hand, making him look rather...odd.

Spencer introduced me to a number of artists including the lovely Hungarian film maker Lilla Ban.

And I finally got to meet Reni, who seemed really relaxed while we hung out.

Specially thanks to Jack for letting me crash his place for a few days. Why I have no photo of him or Boon (Boon!) is a mystery, but it is probably because I never took the camera out while with either of them.

Hopefully the next time I'll be back in Hong Kong will be sooner rather than later.