Macau

Macau today was amazing. Not quite Vegas in feeling, but getting there. Back in the states tomorrow,bye Asia.

HK Skyline

The HK skyline is incredibly impressive. Each building is littered with lights; the goal being to outdo it's neighboring skyscraper. As they compete for attention in the night the end result is an awesome display of collaborated color. We were told the best place to view the 8pm light show that the buildings put on was in the lounge at the Intercontinental hotel. Sipping my $95 HKD gin and tonic kept the experience classy and worldly.

Then we went out and guess who we meet also partying in HK? Ron Artest!! We shared a drink and deep thoughts before he thanked his therapist and continued about his nighttime antics. Strangely enough, he predicted that a local HK basketball team, and NOT the Lakers, would win the NBA championship next year. I told him I didn't think that is possible but at the time, to be polite and in order to follow the graces of social etiquette, I indulged his prophecy and gave him a high-five to remember. Ali snapped a pic with him and we let him go.

Monastery

Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

From: Josh Malter <malter.josh@gmail.com>
Date: September 8, 2010 7:40:29 PM PDT
To: Dad Cell <michael.malter@gmail.com>, Sue <suemalter@gmail.com>
Subject: Monastry

Big Buddha

To fully embrace the culture, as did rocky, colt and tum tum in 3 ninjas, ali and I bought masks and saw the big Buddha.

We also saw the monastery at it's base and walked the "wisdom path." I already feel the wisdom kicking in. Well, it's either the wisdom or the dim sum we ate last night at some sketchy place.

Hong kong is amazing and I want to move here. We have been learning mandarin Chinese in the book that ali brought and found out that not only is it the wrong dialect (Cantonese here), but the people of HK despise the Chinese. Whatever, I still have a rad mask.

Lan Kwai Fong

Here is a pic of the Lan Kwai Fong area. So insane. Shout out to Brett Maurer for telling me to hit this up as soon as I got here.

Around 1 am people were dancing in the streets and challenging taxis to dance offs. Seriously. Funniest thing ever. And yes, both ali and I participated in the taxi cab dance dance revolution challenge.

Nee ha ma

In Hong kong with ali. This city is absolutely amazing. Everything is opposite on this side of the world as the local drivers are fantastic! Haha. Ali here Is enjoying a chocolate shake, goyoza, and some egg covered pasta. I don't understand it but I love it and can most likely forsee a stomach ache.

Climbed Victoria peak yesterday, saw hong kong park, and went out in LAN Kwai fong. The night scene is unreal and we had a killer time. We met a million expats and only 2 locals. The local we did meet, this flamboyantly suave gent named George, made up for all those we didn't. He was a self proclaimed Asian Austin Powers. Had the glasses to match. I rocked a mustache because I could. The beard I grew in order to blend in with the local Philippinos to avoid being kidnapped is no more. New city, new me.

Heading to the Big Buddha today which is on some island to, well, I guess, admire an oversized buddha? Good enough reason for me. Here we come you large jovial luck filled wish-granter. I want a pony and a flash based myspace background!

Manila, it's been real. I swear I'll call...

So the Philippines part of my journey is nearing a conclusion. The sights, people, adventures, and smells will all be a ghost of the past. Actually, the smells will haunt me for years to come. Everytime I smell Pepto I'll think of you, manila meat and fish market in the humid 90 degree weather. Everytime there is a 2 for 1 sale on deodorant I will purchase that extra stick of freshness while thinking of you, homeless psycho who went on a purposeless tirade through the 7 eleven and had to be forcefully escorted out. Whenever I hear the word "sir" "boss" or "friend" I will think of you, entire nation consistently trying to sell me worthless shit that no possible person in this world could ever NEED.

So much to recall that it is nearly impossible. Luckily, between me, rom, and stew we had 7 devices (excessive? Definitely) to record our voyage. As we speak stew is hard at work in the lab on final cut making a travel vid to remember. He says, based on the raw footage, it has a chance to make Sundance.

On our last morning here all of the Chinese tourists we befriended in the various casinos decided to throw us a surprise going away instant coffee party. I wore my finest, aka only, clean shirt and Rom rocked his Lake show throwback. He kept it real until the very end. They all told me I could stay with them in Hong Kong but I gratefully refused because I can only handle so much living room karaoke.

I meet APM at 5am tomorrow and we will begin the HK adventure.

'Till then I bid you good 'morrow

O

Sent from my iPhone

Fish Dinners Like Whoa

Being a fish must suck. While floating underwater is admittedly a great time, you have no limbs to do cool activities with, such as karate moves. We rented out a snorkel boat yesterday and lived with the fishies for several hours. It was... Inspiring. If you thought they couldn't set up a tourist trap in the middle of a snorkel reef you clearly under estimated the creativity of the Filipino. They did. No sir, thank you kindly but I don't think I need a shitty bracelet with my name sewn on it right now. I am looking at fish.

Anyway, each night an impromptu fish market opens on the sand and you get to pick the fish you want to eat, the style it is prepared with, and how many beers you want to enjoy it with. Eat like king triton (I do understand the cannibalistic implications of Triton eating fish but go with it) for under $10. It is awesome. You get to play god and pick the fish who will later end up in your digestive system. Since I am not a fish I cannot empathize with them, and since they are so tasty I refuse to sympathize.

The Last pic shows how funny their advertising is. In the US we use subliminal messaging hoping to entice the subconscious. Here, they just tell you what they want you to think. Hahaha.

"my post was interesting"

>

Sebang

Took a pontoon boat to Sebang, puerto gallera, and White Beach. A little touristy but very nice. There is a ridiculous amount of people trying to scam tourists here in some very clever ways. Me and stew ordered a pizza and they came and put 2 extra large pizzas on our table and then told us they didn't understand English when we tried to tell them we didn't order that. Shady people, beautiful land.

Headed to Sebang today and then Batangas on Sat. Suppose to be crazy in Sebang so we are pumped. You just say "Justin bieber" here and everyone laughs and embraces you. Then I forgive them for their sketchiness, and let them comb my hair.

Tiny Volcano

This is a tiny ass volcano called Taal. It's right next to Jeremy's
right elbow. Clearly it is very impressive. The view was great but
it's always insanely hot so we were sorta miserable. Luckily Jeremy
and I were fortunate enough to bump into the only authorized raybans
dealer on the streets of Manila. I used the negotiation skills I
obtained in law school, and 5 minutes later, we both got a fresh pair
of new Wayfarer shades for 150 pesos or $2.50. This kept our eyes
protected and our style ultra-fly while battling the heat.

Everywhere we go we hear Bieber and lady gaga. American pop culture is
clearly parasitic. They did a whole report on the Emmys here. Why
would anyone here care? We don't even care while living in the
states. I fly thousands of miles away and can't escape Starbuks even
in a 3rd world country. The cost of a frappacino here could feed a
family for a week.

When we get drunk at night the street food we eat usually are bacon
wrapped hot dogs. Here, they get drunk and eat eggs with duck embryo's
inside. Insane. I don't even like lettuce, no way I'm eating an
aborted duck.