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Letter from Hong Kong: Hope for the Holidays!
Dear Partner,
The stockings were hung by apartments with care,
In the hope that Santa Claus would soon be there,
The A&K Hong Kong team were in their places
Each with masks worn on all of their faces!
Happy Holidays from Hong Kong – I have used a slightly altered version of the classic Christmas poem (“A Visit from St. Nicholas” by Clement Clarke Moore) to set the tone for this issue of our newsletter.
We are fortunate to work in a wonderful industry that rewards us in many intangible ways: a letter expressing thanks for the trip of a lifetime to the friends from far and wide who have touched our lives. This is the true meaning of travel – colleagues and friends celebrating the incredible diversity of our world.
So with a New Year soon upon us promising effective vaccines, borders reopening, flights resuming and excited travelers ready to go with A&K, I wish you, one and all, a Happy, Healthy, and Hopeful Holiday Season!
Enjoy our Festively Fun newsletter – its full of fun facts about our region, sure to make you smile and think about the wonders of our Asia.
So in the words of the poet:
But I heard him exclaim ere he drove out of sight –
Happy Christmas A&K and travel will resume,
We will see you around the world and hopefully soon!
With best wishes from the team at A&K Northeast Asia!
Kath Fok
Managing Director
Fun Facts about China
Perfect Match: Too busy for romance? In China parents gather in public parks to exchange information about their single sons and daughters – talk about a business proposition; who needs online dating!
Edible Food for Thought on the Great Wall: While you might think of the Great Wall as being made of stone, mud or brick DID you know that it was held together by a paste made of glutinous rice?
Bamboo Bellies: Did you know that a giant panda must consume at least 12 kilos (26 pounds) of bamboo each day just to get sufficient nutrition? In fact, the record amount consumed by one panda is 38 kilos (83 pounds) – talk about your peckish pandas!
Tee Time: We all know about the Chinese love for tea but did you know about TEE TIME – that China is the true home of golf? A scroll painting from 1368 shows a man holding an ancient golf club – this was 100 years before the first recorded golf game in Scotland!
How well do you know Japan?
Deep Diving Mail: Japan has the world’s deepest Post Box – located in Susami Bay, 33 feet below the surface of the sea, the post box receives an average of 1,500 letters each day! Do you think the mailman wears a wetsuit?
No Ending to Vending: With over 5 million vending machines, the greatest number on earth, the Japanese can buy anything from hot soup to hot pants and much more!
White Faces for Places for Geisha: Ever wonder why geisha have such white faces? In ancient times the geisha performed in darkened candle-lit rooms so in order to attract the attention of their patrons they applied a thick white make up (oshiroi) to reflect their beauty in the candlelight.
Cry Baby Sumo: Each April, for over 400 years, Tokyo hosts the Naki Sumo Baby Crying Festival – parents bring their babies to the Sensoji Temple and give the baby to sumo wrestlers who have a contest to see who can make the baby cry first. It is believed the baby who cries first will keep evil away from the family.
Learn about Magical Malaysia!
Game of Thrones: Malaysia has a unique system of monarchy – the sultans of each of the 9 states take a turn being King, rotating the throne every 5 years.
No Movie Magic in the Lights: It is against the law in Kelantan State (West Malaysia) to turn off the lights in cinemas. This is to prevent people from kissing.
Only an Orangutan: The only great ape species in Asia; is the world’s heaviest animal to live in the trees, the only ape in Asia to use “tools” and is the only primate in Asia to eat with both its hands and its feet!
Gold in the Hold: In 1511 the Portuguese ship, “Flora de la Mar” sank off the coast of Malacca – the ship is believed to hold the world’s largest shipment of gold the world has ever known – talk about a treasure trove!
Singapore - A Crazy Rich Asian Country!
Crazy Rich Gum Restrictions!: Chewing gum is banned in Singapore unless for a medical reason.
‘No Problem lah’: Singlish, English with a heavy local accent punctuated by Chinese exclamation words, is Singapore’s “unofficial official language – in fact 27 “Singlish” words are listed in the Oxford Dictionary – remember, “No lepak when having teh tarik!”
Fast on Their Feet!: Singaporeans are the fastest pedestrians in the world, averaging 6.15 kilometres per hour (almost 4 miles per hour!).
Flush with cash!: When in Singapore remember to flush the public loo or you can be fined SGD 150 (US$ 112) – that’s one big splash of cash!
Krazy Korea - The Korean Wind
Metrosexual Men: Approximately 20% of South Korean men regularly use makeup accounting for more than US$ 900 million in annual retail sales – macho men make up!
Write in Red You Could be Dead!: It is taboo to use red ink in South Korea – if you use red ink it means you are either dead or will soon die!
The Island of Working Women: Korea’s Jeju Island is known for its “haenyeo” (sea women) who, for over 1,500 years, have been the main bread (or should we say “seafood”) winners for the family. While the men stay at home to care for the family, the women brave rough seas to dive down to depths of up to 10 metres (33 feet) and hold their breath for up to two minutes harvesting the rich bounty of the ocean.
Say Kimchee!: When taking a photo in South Korea you say, “Kimchee” not “Cheese” – fermented cabbage will get a smile every time!
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