High Maintenance Ivan in HK. March 2011

Talking about HK, every of my friends know that maybe few years ago, I didn't really have positive or negative comment on this city, but after 2009, I grow to dislike this place. Dirty, always with construction on going (I will say everywhere and 24/7, no joking, I actually saw one huge and loud road fixing on 23:00!!!) extremely crowded. Urgh! Don't even make me to talk about the communication problem!! Ever since I travel to HK more and more constantly, I just clearly know that it's not my city. But sadly I have to visit almost 3 times an year. (trip, not for flight transaction)

2011 we decided to go to HK for a business trip. I thought he knows HK better.
But truth is, he doesn't know a thing about her!

Best example.
Day one we went to McDonald to have a cup of coffee and breakfast. I asked him if he is sure about having his first meal in McDonald in HK.
He said, it's McDonald, how far it can go off?

Well, check this out.

He order something similar to macaroni cheese with an egg.
Again I try to tell him that even from the demo picture, it looks very horrible. But Ivan as himself, never take my advise, ordered one macaroni cheese as a first meal, and cup of coffee.

I ate breakfast in McDonald once in a while (in Taipei), their burger with eggs are quite cheering if you had it once in a few months.

But this macaroni cheese, I have to say its a food disaster!!!
Once we open the lid, I tried so hard to hold back my laugh and look at Ivan.

C: Are you going to eat that?
I: I don't know what is this. The picture looks alright!
C: My dear the picture looks horrible itself!
I: Never mind, let me take a picture of it.
C: Aren't you going to eat anything else? Maybe a burger? I can help you order some burger.
I: Ok please order for me, I don't know how to communicate with that lady.
(She apparently does speak different kind of English then our kind, you know, the international kind)

C: Sir, your burger.
I: Ok let me check it.
(checking)
I: Darling can you tell me if it's beef?
C: It's pork.
I: What?! It's supposed to be beef in a hamburger. Don't you think?
C: As far as I understand, all of them are with pork.
I: OK, never mind. I will eat it anyway. I thought it can't be so off, McDonald has standard menu in every country.
C: Well, not anymore... you are in HK.

Of course after one or two bites, we walked out and headed towards to conviction center. Before we left, those ladies sitting next table also complaint about the horrible food to us. (said over heard our complaining conversation and couldn't help to share their feelings to their first meal)

As for my first meal? Maybe I don't know this city too well, but good enough to help myself to find HK type instant noodle which is sold in regular deli right around the corner, and I had it at 8. But that's not for my high maintenance friend Ivan.

Lucky we found a nicer place called Bostonian to kill a bottle of wine, steak and nice risotto for dinner. I finally saw him all smiling. But through out whole trip, finding restaurant is always a huge fiasco to us. Except for one very good Korean Restaurant with very mean owner. Bad service but good Kimchi.

End of this trip, we all decided to go to some where prettier next year. South America?