As we humans became more civilized, we fulfilled our basic needs easier. We now have easy access to food and shelter. Once they were fulfilled, we went on to higher goals: family trees, making money, having power over others.
Attaining higher goals, we forgot the subtler needs. We binge on cheap food, allowing the genetic modification, chemical pesticides, and chemical fertilizers as long as there are no immediate harms. We stifle our sexual differences, ignoring the good in our masculinity and femininity. We exhaust ourselves 9 hours a day, 5 days a week for 40 years and use the remainder to recover through sleep, television, alcohol, and retirement, rather than living each and every second of our lives.
“We have no Great War, no Great Depression. Our great war is a spiritual war. Our great depression is our lives.” – Tyler Durden, Fight Club
Today a whole bunch of us went to Shenzhen for massages. First we went to dinner. The restaurant looked like a banquet hall, it was huge! Before we could order, though, the power went out for a few minutes. I momentarily suspected that we were going to get robbed. My relatives joked that we should have arrived earlier so we could bail during the blackout. The power came back on soon enough and we had a good meal.
Three hour massages for 88 RMB, about $12! I apparently had many muscle knots at my neck and lower back. Especially my lower back. I can usually deal with pain, but it actually hurt so much to massage the knots out of my lower back I couldn’t relax my muscles, which I think is necessary for the massage to work. I want to continue fixing up my muscles in LA but I can’t afford it. Oh well.
After massages we slept at Ling’s place. I played mahjong with my mom and aunts. I only lost $50. I’ve gotten pretty good the past few days.
Today we went to Guangzhou. We visited one of my cousins, who owns a shop and has access to buying stuff at wholesale prices. Naturally my dad wanted to show me around and have me buy some stuff. It’s like he’s taking me to the toy shop to make me happy.
I was very picky, though, and only managed to get a tie clip, a shirt, and a backpack. The shoes I kinda wanted they didn’t have. No big deal.
After three hours of walking around we went for shabu-shabu. I didn’t eat much, I just ate a lot of fruit. I showed my face to a whole lot of relatives. I forget the comments they made about me, but they weren’t bad.
Then we drove back to Shenzhen and went back to Hong Kong. My flight is tomorrow night, and staying in Guangzhou would have been cutting it too close. It would have been nice to get to know my relatives in China. Maybe next time.
I woke up to go visit my maternal grandma once more before I leave. I didn’t do my hair because every time she sees my hair down she has a big smile on her face. As usual she was beaming when she saw me. She said she didn’t want to see me go so soon. Oh well. Maybe I will go back to Hong Kong soon.
We went back to my paternal grandma’s place and I ate more dragon fruit. I love dragon fruit. I’m going to miss it when I get back to the states.
Today we do some earlier activities. My Boy, Yvonne, and I go see a lot of historical architecture built in the 1930s. The banks at the Bund were built by Westerners and look like buildings from the Financial District in NYC. Xin Tin Di is a pretty hip place with architecture that looks straight out of old Chinese movies. And I found wheatgrass juice here, at the Yogo Juice! And not just the frozen, bagged wheatgrass, actual an actual wheatgrass lawn! I was so happy.
We went for fried xiaolongbao (little basket buns). Unlike normal xiaolongbao, which are dumplings with a lump of meat with soup within the skin and very delicious, fried xiaolongbao are obviously fried, but only on the bottom. Having them prepared fresh made them extra delicious.
We took a break and walked around another area, mostly to enjoy the air conditioning.
We went to a fancy fusion restaurant. The restaurant was interesting: the wall has nine lighted holes arranged in a square, and to enter you have to put your hands in the right holes. Additionally, the bathrooms had door knobs on the same side as the door hinge, so to go in you have to push the door on the other side. I wonder if it has caused any accidents yet. Unfortunately I didn’t get to figure out the bathroom thing on my own, since I walked in on Yvonne coming out.
The food was good, and it only cost about 320 RMB, or about $45 USD. I like Shanghai. According to My Boy, a good place should run about 1000 to 2000 RMB, which is about $150 to $300 USD a month. Including the low cost of living here, I’m very tempted to move to Shanghai and experience the culture here. Too bad there aren’t too many hot girls here.
My Boy called it a night while Yvonne and I explored Shanghai on our own a little. First we went to the Oriental Pearl Tower, the tallest building in Asia. The sight was alright at the top, but once we got to the lower level of the top ball, we could look straight down through the glass floor, over 250 meters. At first the sight was interesting, but after a few minutes I couldn’t step on the glass floor for more than a second without imagining it breaking and dropping me into oblivion.
I wanted to go for a massage next, but by the time we arrived, it was closed. Oh well. Yvonne told me that in Shenzhen they give three-hour massages for 90 RMB. Holy shit! Okay I gave up on Shanghai massages.
We went back to Xin Tin Di, which looks much nicer at night. We went to the Yogo Juice again for smoothies because it’s so hot and for internet to check into our flight. Unfortunately the juicer was off so no wheatgrass. Oh well.
We woke up and had lunch with My Boy. The place was more to my taste, a vegetarian restaurant. He probably felt bad that I had to eat all this oily stuff the past few days. Lunch was alright, lots of fake meat and fake seafood.
Then we explored the blistering heat for a few hours. I couldn’t take the heat and passed out at a tea place with the air conditioner flowing at me. I woke up an hour later and we took a cab straight to the airport.
Finally we arrived back in Hong Kong and I passed out again.
Went out with My Boy again. Since I got back at 10 a.m., we missed breakfast at the hotel. My Boy had work today so he called me at 6 p.m. to wake me up. Yvonne and I got into a cab, My Boy gave the cabbie directions from my phone, and off we went. We arrived at a party where he set up the sound system. Ah, so this is what he does!
The place was pretty nice. It was an office, but the tables were set up to look like a catwalk. Since we were walking on their workspace, we were required to either take off our shoes or put on shoe socks. I put on shoe socks.
The music was pretty good, progressive house I believe it was. I didn’t want to approach because of the language issue, and my friends were here, and I’m a big sloppy pussy.
My Boy points out this old white guy who supposedly always has really hot women around him. I see him cold approach a hot Shanghai chick, but the body language shows that he’s just following the chick around. He does have value, though, because he seems to know other people. Eventually they separate.
My Boy is introduced to some Shanghai girl, who he brings over to me. I ask if she’s a Shanghai person, then say that I hear Shanghai girls are big trouble. She denies it, or acts confused. I don’t push it much, and she’s not giving me anything back. Eventually My Boy and her are engaged in conversation so I leave her with him.
My Boy is dead tired so we go home after. But first we get hand-made beef ramen. Two delicious large bowls, one medium bowl, and a side of cold marinated beef: 20 RMB, approximately $3 USD. My stomach hurts a little after, but more from being full than from eating poison. And it was worth it.
Yvonne and I arrive in Shanghai around noon. We take the maglev train, which makes the cars driving parallel to us look like they’re driving in reverse at 60 MPH. Seriously fast.
We take the subway toward our hotel, then take a cab the rest of the way. In retrospect I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this without Yvonne, I would have just taken the taxi. It’s nice having someone who actually plans stuff.
The air conditioning is definitely lacking compared to Hong Kong. We arrive at the hotel sweaty and tired, since we woke up at 7. We pass out until 6 p.m., when My Boy called.
We meet up for dinner with his friends, two guys and one of the guys’ sister. I start smoking again. We had some pretty good food, but everything was soaked in oil and definitely cooked. I refrain from gaming the sister during dinner.
Yvonne goes back to the hotel to sleep because she’s not a nightlife person and therefore lame.
My Boy and I arrive at the club he’s DJing at. He introduces me to a bunch of people and I do my best to socialize with everyone. The brother and sister from dinner are at the club. I game her lightly once her brother leaves, stage 1 kino, drink in face story, talk about snowboarding and language issues. I get her e-mail for snowboarding if I go to Germany, where she lives. I chat some more and later get her number in case we can hang out during the day while I’m in Shanghai. I try to set up a date by weakly asking what she’s doing tomorrow but she’s busy. Should have handled setting up the date better and kinoed more. Her brother calls or texts her or something, so she leaves. I text her later but it turns out I can’t text her because of my phone or hers. I don’t realize the text didn’t get sent until a few days later. Oh well e-mail it is.
I get staredowns by a hot girl but I use the excuse that she’s My Boy’s friend’s girl to not touch her.
I attempt to game a chick but she doesn’t understand English. She understands Cantonese but I don’t understand Mandarin, so when I tell her stuff in Cantonese and she answers in Mandarin, it’s all fucked up. Stage 1 kino. A few toasts and she’s gone.
I dance to My Boy’s mix.
My Boy introduces me to his girl and a bunch of other people. One girl is pretty cute and understands some English but I’m retarded and don’t game her too hard. Well, that, and her boyfriend’s right there it turns out. But I practiced giving her the “I’m thinking of fucking you right now” eye. She responded well to that, but I threw away a lot of opportunities. For example, she actually spoke some English. I should have used some material instead of chatting AFC crap. She asked me about my zodiac sign, Chinese zodiac, and blood type. I should have challenged her more instead of giving it all up so easily. Anyway I thought I would be able to game her more another day but I never saw her again. Oh well.
We go to some place for drinks and everyone’s speaking Mandarin and Shanghainese. I’m left out in the cold. If I decide to move here I’m definitely going to need to learn Mandarin. Or be picking up tourists and other non-Asian folk out here.
My Boy and his girl get into some fight over him not telling her about a police raid at a club. They make up and everyone agrees to get married on the same date. I inform them that I don’t plan on getting married, which shocks everyone, haha.
We all go to the cute girl’s place. She has a giant dog and a nice car. My Boy tells me that her boyfriend paid for everything. That’s how Shanghai girls work. I’m disgusted but intrigued. I want to fuck some Shanghainese girls and leave without paying the bill.
Went solo to Causeway Bay. Walked around a lot but didn’t approach because of language anxiety. I tried to do the social freedom exercises but I couldn’t even ask for the time.
Went to Lan Kwai Fong, since it’s more English-friendly. A girl asks me for directions. I tell her I have no idea where that place is. I immediately realize I should have teased her for trying to talk to me because I’m hot. *sigh*
Finally I rack up the nerve to ask for the time. She doesn’t give it to me.
I’m too anxious about hitting on girls in Chinese to even try, so I should keep going to LKF. I didn’t warm up tonight due to anxiety taking over and rustiness making me forget my usual routines (not scripts). Gotta get back in the game!
Watched a Chinese movie about a rich player who woos four girls throughout the movie. His seduction techniques are: supplication, pretending to be a shrink to listen to her problems, pretending to be blind to get pity friendship, and more supplication. Definitely a good movie to watch if you’re a sugar mama looking for a hot guy like me.
Finally went out tonight. Only had less than an hour, but I of course didn’t make the best of it. I walked around Tsim Sha Tsui, feeling out the area. There weren’t really any girls I wanted to approach, but of course that’s creative avoidance. I went into a bar with a live band. I stood next to an empty chair, getting comfortable. A girl walks toward me. I move out of the way and she sits in the chair. Approach invitation, anyone? Of course I don’t talk to her. Anyway, I listen for a few minutes and it’s time to go home before the trains are closed. Zero approaches, yay.
Though I didn’t make an approach, my presence is still attracting girls here. Next time I need to go out earlier so I can have time to warm up!
Friday I went out with Yvonne. We talked about how Phoebe has been pressuring me to make my parents happy, but she and her sister don’t think there’s anything wrong with what I’m doing, and want me to continue, full steam ahead. She’s like the devil on my shoulder, it’s great. I drank several beers with her, then horse girled a few girls in my drunken state. One Asian girl’s reply: “I don’t speak English.” Stupid Asians. I got back to Yvonne’s place and slept on the floor.
Saturday Yvonne’s mom woke me up at 11 a.m. I brushed my teeth and went to Jessica’s place. I was supposed to go to Long Island with Jessica and her friends, but there was a number 3 signal typhoon was announced so we stayed in and chatted all day. It’s unbelievable how much that girl can talk. We worked on life goals and other stuff. Phoebe came home and reiterated that I should listen to my parents. Jessica defended me. It’s odd to see the sisters argue about my actions, but I mostly listened to their views and tried to form my own. I slept at their place.
Sunday I woke up to buy my brother’s jeans. We had sushi. Phoebe paid. It was yummy. I had taro cakes. They were yummy. Then I had a stomach ache. That was not fun. Damn this yummy food. We got back to my grandmother’s place and lighted some incense for her. We had dinner.
The past few days I’ve been thinking of going to Shanghai to meet up with Pat. I kept relying on my dad to set everything up but I realized I had to make things happen myself. I am going to be here for two more weeks, so next weekend is the best time for me to go. I called Pat to figure out where I should stay. My parents and family are all terrified of Shanghai and don’t know who this “Pat” person is, and are all worried for my well-being. I’ll be cautious.
This blog sure has gotten boring for anyone looking for my pickup adventures.
My grandma was buried on the 4th of July. Her service was on the 3rd. There were crazy pyrotechnics. It was hard not to laugh at some of the acrobatics the guy was doing. Luckily I was warned by my cousins.
When we buried grandma it was pouring. Rest in peace.
I’ve been guilt tripped by my cousins into caring more about my family, specifically my parents’ feelings about me moving out. Also into thinking about my financial future. One of my cousins is a mother, and taught me a lot about Chinese culture and how hurt a mother can feel when she has no idea whether her son is lost, hurt, or safe. I learned that, to deal with this, I can try to provide more information to my mom to relieve her, such as where I’m going, when I’m coming back, who will I be with, et cetera. It sounds like overkill, but if that’s what I have to do to ease my mom then that’s what I’ll do. I just hope it’s not going to be forever.
My writing is going down the shitter, but at least I’m keeping a lot of my adventures. I hope everyone can still follow along.
My Hong Kong trip has made me think of my goals. Here they are: 1. Finance – figure out an source of income that I can be happy with. 2. Family – keep bonds strong with family. Try to make them understand my choices, improve communication. Let my parents know what I’m doing, and find out more about my brother. Keep in contact with family around the world. 3. Pickup – identity scripts – talk more about myself. Find out more about the girl. 4. Aggression – push push push. Call the damn girls. Don’t eject. Physically escalate. Push the interaction forward. Stop worrying about losing the girl.
I’m surprised I actually like Hong Kong. Well, not that surprised. It’s like New York, but… not. Some disadvantages: humidity, language barrier, and lack of hot girls. The humidity is actually the biggest drawback. I feel like I’m sweating glue every minute I’m not in a shower or air conditioned space.
The language barrier isn’t that bad. I could probably learn how to eat and travel well enough.
The lack of hot girls is probably just ignorance on my part. I haven’t spent much time gaming, there are probably hot girls hidden somewhere. I’ve seen them around, just not in high quantity. I need to go to the mall more often.