1/1/11 - Ringing in the New Year!

Time flies fast and it's already another year! Hello 2011! It's hard to beat the view from my buddy Chris's place, so I rang in the new year in HK.

 Before going over to Chris's place, I walked around the Avenue of the Stars, where people were camping out. Lots of people playing with their iPhone 4s (everyone in HK seems to have one...) and playing Uno! I got out before the crowds got crazy.
 What's awesome is being able to walk around in the middle of the streets because the close off most of the roads near the waterfront. Safety and efficientcy... very HK!
 Fireworks!
 A few friends and a view of the IFC tower from the apartment...

Great company, awesome view, fantastic year. I'm excited about 2011! Happy New Year everyone!

Next Adventure... India!

So I lied. This will be my last post for this year. I just bought plane tickets to go to New Delhi, India for the first two weeks of February for Chinese New Year. What am I doing there? What will I see? I have no idea yet. Time to pick up a travel book, get a Visa, book some hostels... Talk about an impulse buy!

Let the travel planning begin!

Housewarming! Last Post of 2010...

So after a few months of settling in (and procrastinating), I finally threw an official housewarming (Christmas themed with a white elephant gift exchange). My place comfortably fit 18 people!

 
What happened this year?

• I traveled to Singapore, Malaysia, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Shanghai, Beijing, Jiuzhaigou.
• I hit up Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, San Diego during my stint in the States for Susan's and Sirena's graduations!
• I bought, tore down, and remodeled my apartment in the city.

It's been another fantastic year. I've learned a ton (with many many mistakes), traveled to some cool places, and met lots of amazing people. Who knows what will happen in 2011!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Dinner at Naples!

Well, I didn't actually go to Naples, but it felt like it! My friends Constantino from Madrid and Paola from Naples had me over for a nice homemade dinner... Spinach and Cheese Rustic Pizza, Eggplant Parmesean, vegetables...

 
 Like my red slippers?
 
 Layers of eggplant... yum!

It's the holidays and I won't be going home. What will I be doing? Not sure quite yet. 3 big holidays are coming up (Christmas, New Year, and Chinese New Year) and this is what I'm thinking:

• For Christmas, I'll be throwing a Housewarming/White Elephant Gift Exchange/Christmas Party. On actual Christmas day... don't know quite yet.
• I'll be ringing in the New Year with by buddy Chris in HK, just like last year.
• For Chinese New Year, I'm still trying to figure it out. Harbin is the current favorite. Thoughts? Anyone want to go on a trip?

I think the next time I'll be back in the States will be August? So... come visit!

Pre Housewarming

My roommate Greg Witmer ('09) just moved in so it was about time to have a mini-housewarming. It's not quite a full house warming yet, since I wasn't sure how many people I could comfortably fit in the apartment. 9 fit quite comfortably on the couch and window sill, so I'm thinking if people hung out in the dining room and the bedrooms, we could maybe fit 20+? We'll see how big the next one will be, or maybe I'll just have housewarmings in a few batches...

 

Other Apartment Pix

 Dining Room

 
Hallway looking out from my room.

 
Office/Study Room

 
Tiny Bedroom

 
View from my bedroom window

 
Apartment floorplan.

Moved In, Finally!

I'm finally moved in and settled in! Feels great to finally be done.

  Living Room. Almost exactly a year ago, I went to Painter's Village with some friends to look for paintings for my rented apartment - here's my blog post: http://danaung.blogspot.com/2009/08/painters-village.html. I said, "If I ever bought a house in Shenzhen, I'd come here to decorate it!" Well, I guess it's about time I make a trip over! Hey, notice the 4 paintings I bought a while back... I guess I liked them so much, I decided to buy a house to put them in!

  Entrance and Kitchen

  Hallway (2 bedrooms on the right, on bath on the left, master bedroom + bath at the end).

  The master bedroom (mine!)...

What's missing... a housewarming! I'm thinking of having it on Sept 24, so pictures from that coming soon.