Travelling & Dining: 2D1N Wynn-ing In Macau

Grand prix ready as seen in background
Image from Locky's English Playground

Last Monday, my wife had to travel to Macau for work and so I tagged along for a two-days-one-night "vacation". With baby at Mother-in-law's and laptop with me, I expect I was going to make real progress with my thesis.

Nice sunny day
Image from Locky's English Playground

An hour of ferry and we arrived at the pier. Commuting between hotels and pier is free thanks to the shuttle buses arranged by the casinos/hotels.

Great looking bridge
Image from Locky's English Playground

The ride was kind of funny because 5 minutes ago we hopped onto the shuttle,  5 minutes later we were still circling outside the pier.

Sands Macau
Image from Locky's English Playground

Whether the route has anything to do with the upcoming Grand prix is beyond my knowledge. But what I do know is, once we successfully left the pier, it only took another 5 to arrive at Wynn.

Wynn Macau
Image from Locky's English Playground

At 3:45pm, our room was still being made up, so I went to the gym for some rare workout while my wife went to work for an hour or so until the room was finally ready.

Soy sauce noodles with soup
Image from Locky's English Playground

After we had got our room, we went to grab some street food. At Chu Kee,  I ordered a not-so-impressive soy sauce noodles with soup while my wife ordered their signature fish-skin dumplings.

Fish-skin dumplings with noodles
Image from Locky's English Playground

I had no idea why I didn't follow her order.

Full house!
Image from Locky's English Playground

The lesson is, never order anything that isn't a signature dish.

Me and the bun
Image from Locky's English Playground

Feeling unsatisfied, we bought a famous Tai Lei Loi Kee Macau pork chop bun for $30 at a branch near the Ruins of St. Paul and devoured it in minutes. It was as gorgeous as that from the main branch I used to visit.

Fountain light show every 15 mins
Image from Locky's English Playground

Back at the hotel, I was all ready to go online until we found out that both LAN and Wi-Fi weren't free. How stingy! This has got to be the only hotel in Macau which still charges their customers for broadband. And for MOP160!! Insane! Maybe that's why its stock price has stalled for months. Ended up I couldn't go online at all for the entire day ( and night ).

View from room 1836
Image from Locky's English Playground

The next morning, I went to the gym again for about an hour and half before getting breakfast with my wife at the Café Esplanada at Wynn.

Tom Yum Goong
Image from Locky's English Playground

I ordered for an unorthodox Tom Yum Goong soup with spicy fried beef ho fan for breakfast, totally gastronomically challenging!

Image from Locky's English Playground

While my wife ordered a $200 all day breakfast with very limited choices of food.

All day breakfast for $200+, drink not included
Image from Locky's English Playground

Despite only offering eggs, baked potatoes and dried ham, it didn't stop them from taking 25 minutes in preparation. Incredible service!

The moral of this story is, if you have a choice, don't choose Wynn Macau unless you enjoy digital detox and don't mind paying for expensive food.


Vocabulary:
insane -- (adj) extremely unreasonable or stupid
stall -- (vb) [I] to stop making progress
unorthodox -- (adj) different from what is usual or expected in behaviour, ideas, methods, etc.
gastronomically -- (adv) relating to the preparation and consumption (= eating) of good food
digital detox -- (n)[U] Informal A period of time during which a person refrains from using electronic devices such as smartphones or computers, regarded as an opportunity to reduce stress or focus on social interaction in the physical world


Resources:
Cooking: Locky's Home-made Pork Chop Bun @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.hk/2013/07/cooking-lockys-home-made-pork-chop-bun.html

Travelling & Living: Macau One-Day Trip @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.hk/2013/04/travelling-living-macau-one-day-trip.html

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/insane_1?q=insane+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/stall_5
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/unorthodox?q=unorthodox+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/gastronomic?q=gastronomical
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/digital-detox

Technology & Science: Sapphire iPhone 6 VS Unknown Samsung Note 4 & Mohs Scale feat. Oppo Find 7

Image from androidauthority

It's that time of the year when we all have to start thinking about changing new phones and new phone/data service providers, and that is because the two largest smartphones brands in the world Samsung and Apple are bringing on their latest and smartest inventions this coming September!

First, we have Apple announcing their iPhone 6 on the 9th September. Tonnes of hype for the Sapphire crystal display because it is almost unbreakable and unscratchable!!! A lot of non-Apple fan, including me, are feeling excited about this new phone!

Exactly, how come can the screen be so durable? Here's the science!!

Here's a Wikipedia table of the Mohs hardness of minerals:

Image from Wikipedia

4.7" or 5.5", which one will people flood to get? My guess is, the larger screen is going to be a bigger hit than the smaller one in Hong Kong, because Hongkongers are into TV-drama-binging, but elsewhere, the small ones might be preferred.

Its main competitor Samsung, after knowing the exact big day of Apple, wants to spoil the party by announcing 3rd September as their Samsung Unpacked in Germany, similar to last 2 years, it is roughly one week before Apple's iPhone announcement. The question is, can Samsung surprise us enough to buy their Note 4 before iPhone 6 comes out?

Korean actor and actress from the popular romantic dramedy You Who Came From The Stars
Image from Samsung Hong Kong

You may be able to name these world-class players, but bet you can't name the amount of money their received to do this series of ads for Samsung
Image from Samsung Hong Kong

Despite very buzzy advertising, the improvements on Samsung's phones are pretty weak these 2 years (though Apple iPhones were even weaker). But with the sapphire glass already confirmed, how else can Samsung rise above Apple? This will be the anticipating factor. Will there be even cooler technology than the flexible OLED we have already seen? Will Note 4 come with a camera better than Sony's, a Quad-HD display and rapid charging better than Oppo Find 7's?

Oppo Find 7
Image from Oppo

I doubt it, since both sapphire glass and the Oppo Find 7 is really hard to beat. Frankly speaking, Oppo Find 7 is my next phone on the wishlist.

Will these two highly anticipated smartphones live up to its hype? We shall see that very soon!


Vocabulary:
binge -- (vb)[U] informal an occasion when an activity is done in an extreme way, especially eating, drinking, or spending money:
buzzy -- (adj) making a buzz : filled with a buzz
hype -- (n) [U] informal a situation in which something is advertised and discussed in newspapers, on television, etc. a lot in order to attract everyone's interest:


Resources:
TV & Technology: You Who Came From The Stars (aka YWCFTS) feat. LINE & Didier Dubot @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.hk/2014/02/tv-technology-you-who-came-from-stars.html

Does A Sept. 9 iPhone 6 Announcement Match Up To Apple's Revenue Guidance? @ Forbes
http://www.forbes.com/sites/chuckjones/2014/08/05/does-a-sept-9-iphone-6-announce-match-up-to-apples-revenue-guidance/

iPhone 6 Sapphire Crystal Display! @ YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5R0_FJ4r73s

Sapphire @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapphire

Mohs Scale of Mineral Hardness @  Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohs_scale_of_mineral_hardness

4 or 4.7 or 5.5-inches — What's the perfect iPhone 6 size for you? [Poll] @ iMore
http://www.imore.com/4-or-47-or-55-inches-whats-perfect-iphone-6-size-you

Samsung Unpacked scheduled for September 3rd, the Note 4 is almost here! @ Android Authority
http://www.androidauthority.com/samsung-unpacked-ifa-note-4-413454/

Samsung to Unveil Galaxy Note 4 on September 3 @ TNW
http://thenextweb.com/mobile/2014/08/06/samsung-drops-heavy-hint-galaxy-note-4-will-unveiled-september-3/

Oppo Find 7
http://global.oppo.com/en/products/find7/

Oppo Find 7 First Look and Hands On! @ YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9mY7Px6n4o

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/binge_1?q=binge
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/buzzy

TV: Watch Free Mythbusters Online!!!

Mythbusters
Image from Discovery Channel

Hope we have enjoyed some TV programs from my TV: Watch Free American TV Online post last time. Unfortunately, that Cucirca site does not have Mythbusters, my other favourite program which teaches you not only science but also English, especially idioms.

Be not afraid, I have discovered another very cool website which allows me to watch the show for free, even on your Samsung Smart TV!!

Behold, Watch Series!!!

As always, since these are websites operating on advertisements, Google Chrome plus AdBlock are always recommended.

No Adblock
Image from Watch Series

AdBlocked
Image from Watch Series

All you have to do is choose the episode you want to watch,

No AdBlock
Image from Watch Series

AdBlocked
Image from Watch Series

as for me, I will want to click "Watch This Link!" with the highest percentage of connectivity. As of the example above, videoweed and nowvideo are preferred as the percentages are 92% and 95% respectively.

No AdBlock
Image from Watch Series

 With AdBlock, you will not be led to unwanted websites.

AdBlocked
Image from Watch Series

 Click "Click Here to Play".

No AdBlock
Image from Watch Series

AdBlocked
Image from Watch Series

And then the play button to get ready to enjoy the show!!

Practising listening while learning English idioms can be so entertaining!!!



Resources:
TV: Watch Free American TV Online @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.hk/2014/06/tv-watch-free-american-tv-online.html

TV & Vocabulary: Mythbusters & English Idioms @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.hk/2012/11/tv-vocabulary-mythbusters-english-idioms.html

Technology: How To Watch Free Football Matches On Your Samsung Smart TV? @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.hk/2013/09/technology-how-to-watch-free-football.html

Watch MythBusters Serie Online @ Watch Series
http://watchseries.lt/serie/mythbusters

Technology: Google Chrome with Google Dictionary, Ad Blockers & RSS  @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.hk/2010/12/technology-google-chrome-with-google.html

Food & Dining: Chilli Thai Restaurant @ Tin Hau

Fresh Prawn (Thai Style)
Image from Locky's English Playground

Several times I tried to book Sweet Basil Thai Cuisine at Causeway Bay and every time I was told that it was full. The main reason being is that the restaurant has moved to another floor which is now much smaller. I needed a plan B. I must explore a better location and hopefully with better Thai food.

And after I seeked, I found -- Chilli Thai Restaurant at Tin Hau.

Panorama of the interior
Image from Locky's English Playground

The first thing I like about this restaurant is that the tables can be reserved easily because it is not that busy, but maybe that will change after my post is published.

The restaurant is more spacious then I thought and it can host 40 to 50 diners while maintaining certain level of privacy and noise level.

Pan Fried Thai Noodles with Prawn (Thai Style)
Image from Locky's English Playground

The food arrived quickly at my table as if they know that I would be dying to try out their food and I have to say, the food looked nice, smelled great and tasted excellent! The food arrived so quickly that it basically burned your mouth if you try to eat it at once.

Assorted drinks
Image from Locky's English Playground

Maybe, like all new visitors to this restaurant, you will be looking for a set dinner, unfortunately they only offer lunch and tea sets. However, I do not see why that will bother you considering the price of each dish is actually way lower than expected.

Green Curry Beef
Image from Locky's English Playground

I must say that most of the dishes we ordered that night tasted better than the same dish at Sweet Basil and way much cheaper!

Fried Baby Cabbage
Image from Locky's English Playground

It is the first time I actually do not need to describe the taste of the food in detail because they basically all tasted amazing.

Young Coconut
Image from Locky's English Playground

The food quality is simply "the Kowloon Tong" standard, except that you pay a bit less for the food and a lot less time and money for travelling to Kowloon Tong.

Chicken Wings with Thai Sweet Chili Sauce
Image from Locky's English Playground

At one point, we actually suspected that the chef is actually Thai because our stereotypical minds told us that Hong Kong chef simply cannot relate to quality food. We never got to confirm our theory but it really does not matter. Gorgeous food at reasonable price is all we care!

Assorted Satay Skewers
Image from Locky's English Playground

Some say those purple flowers (orchid) for plate decorations are redundant, but without them, the whole Thai-theme just simply disappears!

Baked Scallops
Image from Locky's English Playground

"Purple" is "Thai".

Roasted Pork Neck
Image from Locky's English Playground

There is a something about this restaurant that makes it special...

Chilli Thai Restaurant
Image from The Hong Kong Partners Meetup Group

... maybe it is the pursuit of quality food at a inexpensive price that distinguishes this Thai restaurant from all others.

I am giving 5-stars to all food shown above and I will surely be back for more!


Resources:
Chilli Thai Restaurant @ Openrice
http://www.openrice.com/english/restaurant/sr2.htm?shopid=23046&tc=sr1

Vocabulary: Word Of The Day By Locky's English Playground

Musking
Image from allmystery.de

Some weeks ago, I started this "Word of the Day" on my blog's Facebook page. I think this is pretty cool to have a mini-wordlog of the words I have come across that day that is worth remembering. No guarantee that I will post one every day but definitely whenever necessary.

Two cars musking beside the Model S
Image from amaraklov

Today, a member from the Tesla Motors Club suggested making a flyer to promote good consideration, specially to educate owners of non-electric vehicles on not occupying the charging spaces of the electric vehicles. The word we are looking at here is musking and we think this is going to become a serious problem in Hong Kong. I hope I am wrong though.

Stickle Bricks
Image from Wikipedia

Yesterday, I came across stickle bricks, a word I can almost guarantee that few adults know in Hong Kong, or more precisely, few parents know. Well, but now you know, and do you miss your childhood?

Backpfeifengesicht????
Image from zcache

Finally, backpfeifengesicht, the best word since a very very long time. If you want to know why, please see Vocabulary: Words Worth Noticing.

This is just a promotional post, so I will not be writing about Word of the Day every week, so if you want to learn some cool words, subscribe to my Facebook and Google+!


Vocabulary:
musking -- (n) blocking an ICE car in, when parked at an electric charging station
stickle brick -- (n)[C] 
backpfeifengesicht -- (n) see Vocabulary: Words Worth Noticing


Resources:
Musking @ Tesla Motors
http://www.teslamotors.com/forum/forums/musking

Stickle Bricks
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stickle_Bricks

Vocabulary: Words Worth Noticing @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.hk/2014/05/vocabulary-words-worth-noticing.html

Auto & News: Hong Kong Tesla Model S First Delivery Event!!!

Let's rock!
Image from Locky's English Playground

Last night was Tesla's Model S First Delivery Event in Hong Kong -- invitation only. A group of Tesla Motors Club Hong Kong members and myself first met up at Telford Starbucks before taking the coach to Kai Tak Cruise Terminal.

Getting a non-alcoholic drink with new friends
Image from Locky's English Playground

Never had I used an internet nickname to make friends online and then eventually got to meet up. The self-introduction as you can guess, involved unveiling our nicknames, which was a pretty intriguing experience.

The Sign and the EV
Image from Locky's English Playground

After some minutes of terribly meandering rides on the coach, we finally arrived at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal and was welcomed by a dark grey Tesla Model S demo car.

Front-facing
Image from Locky's English Playground

To get a better simulation of what it will look like under bright daylight, here's an overexposed photo of it. Possibly due to its variable colour under different lighting, the Transport Department has moved to block any future orders of such grey Model S, so for those who have ordered this colour in Hong Kong, your car has immediately become limited edition.

Selfie of me and demo Model S
Image from Locky's English Playground

Feels good to have my own VIP card
Image from Locky's English Playground

Upon entering the event hall, everyone was asked to provide their registered name and phone number to collect their VIP pass.

Panorama of the event hall
Image from Locky's English Playground

After that, it was mingling time! I took the opportunity to capture some photos, including the panorama above, a panoramic video below,

The stage
Image from Locky's English Playground

a photo of the stage with the silhouette of a car and some early attendees drinking their wine/orange juice and eating finger-food,

Alex Fong, the Hong Kong actor
Image from Locky's English Playground

and a snapshot of Mr. Alex Fong, a renowned Hong Kong actor, who was quite apparently one of the first ten Model S customers in Hong Kong to receive their cars at the event. FYI, he was surrounded by seas of ladies asking for photos all night. There were other celebrities and models judging by their appearance, but I am afraid I do not know any of them.

Group photo, one and only group
Image from Locky's English Playground

There was quite a bit of delay for the event but we wasted no time in entertaining ourselves. And because we have a great leader, we managed to take the only group photo of the night for the entire event!

Soon after that, we were told to leave the hall and out to the open.

There were 3 more Model S and a fake supercharger for attendees to play around with. After that, Tesla's Vice President, World Wide Sales and Service Jerome Guillen gave the opening speech,

followed by a customer called Mr. Dennis Low/ Lo to give a 5-minute (script-reading) speech, and then the first ten customers were presented with their car keys.

Of course, Mr. Alex Fong was again the only one I could recognise. It is worth mentioning that few people actually clapped their hands while these ten customers got their hands on their car keys. The reason is obvious, because everybody else has waited just as long for their cars and we are still waiting. It was kind of hard for us to congratulate them.

First 8 customers to collect their Model S in HK
Image from Locky's English Playground

After all car keys had been presented, and a group photo taken, it was time to see their cars!

Everyone rushed forward to catch a glimpse of the first 8 Model S in Hong Kong, of course, most people went to see the famous actor's.

Alex Fong's Model S, license plate blurred for privacy purpose

Image from Locky's English Playground

Soon the staff told everyone to return to the event hall for the closing,

and as the white Model S was unveiled, all programmes also ended.

White P85+ Model S

Image from Locky's English Playground

How come it sounds so boring? Well because it was in fact quite boring. No laser, no mist, no light show, no fireworks. What was fun about the event was really the interactions with fellow future owners and the chances to play with the cars as much as you like! Great cars and awesome people spiced things up, not the event itself. 

Here's an excellent timelapse by DITB, you can see me at 0:32.

The girls who served food and drinks though, were quite pretty! I doubt that they work for Tesla though.

I posed in front of a fake supercharger and a real Model S
Image from Locky's English Playground

There are some great news after all, and that is the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal superchargers and the Wanchai Hopewell superchargers are both up and running! So a practically empty battery Model S can now be charged up to 80% in 40 minutes and up to 100% in 75 minutes!

Supercharging time
Image from Tesla Motors

What's more, since Tesla EVs get 6 hours free parking at Hopewell, I just need to go yum cha in Wanchai and by the time I pick up my car, the battery will have gone from 0% to 100%, and I need not pay a single dollar!!! Gotta thank Tesla and Hopewell for that!

A photo of the steering wheel and the 17" display
Image from Locky's English Playground

From another angle
Image from Locky's English Playground

Me again, but not my car
Image from Locky's English Playground

By the time we all left the venue, each one of us got a Tesla umbrella as souvenir, which is a very nice touch, but why are cars always related to umbrellas? 

Home sweet home
Image from Locky's English Playground

The post-event activity was an enjoyable dinner with some fellow future owners at California Pizza Kitchen at MegaBox. It is so nice to have made so many new friends in one day! I'm sure we will have more fun together when we all get our hands on our own Model S.

--- Updated on 28th July, 2014 ---

The official video is out and I appeared twice!!!

Resources:
Auto & News: Hong Kong Tesla Model S Official Deliveries!!! @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2014/07/auto-news-hong-kong-tesla-model-s.html

Hong Kong Tesla Model S First Delivery Event -- Part 1 @ YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxbTs1EXukw

Hong Kong Tesla Model S First Delivery Event -- Part 2 @ YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TsXhdKVdWs

Hong Kong Tesla Model S First Delivery Event -- Part 3 @ YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGAvllgqK-U

Hong Kong Tesla Model S First Delivery Event -- Part 4 @ YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEfYgOyI-SA

Hong Kong Tesla Model S First Delivery Event -- Part 5 @ YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyoTyg-8pdk

Hong Kong Tesla Model S First Delivery Event -- Part 6 @ YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmsI43pmzZk

Kai Tak Cruise Terminal Supercharger @ Tesla Motors
http://www.teslamotors.com/supercharger/kaitakcruiseterminal

Hopewell Centre Supercharger @ Tesla Motors
http://www.teslamotors.com/supercharger/hopewellcentre

Tesla Model S First Delivery Event in Hong Kong @ YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGrWeFsf2eo

First Model S Deliveries in Hong Kong @ Tesla Motors
http://www.teslamotors.com/en_HK/blog/first-model-s-deliveries-hong-kong