Friday, July 07, 2006
culture shock: part I
interesting facts about Hong Kong:- tipping is not expected in most low-price restaurants. i use the "table-cloth" rule: tip when the table is "clothed", though it doesn't always apply. another good indication is if the bill is brought to you in a leather-covered clipboard, then tipping is likely. the rate is usually around 5% if no special service has been asked for. only at really chic restaurants in expensive downtown areas (where business people and tourists hang out) do people tip higher.
- things don't dry. because of the high humidity, things take a very long time to dry. you cannot use thick face cloths as they can easily develop mould. sweating might seem more severe because the sweat does not evaporate as quickly. i take 2 to 3 showers a day.
- elevators are called "lifts".
- toilets flush with sea water.
- energy cost is expensive. Hong Kong people have the habit of conserving energy whenever possible. i'm still getting used to turning lights and appliances off immediately after use. gasoline currently goes for HKD$14, or around CAD$2, per litre.
.e 11:08 
Edmond O Wong
just day-to-day stuff
Counting...
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code-head.blogspot.com
objectivity-zero.blogspot.com
dot-e.blogspot.com
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roy
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