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strongitsalifestyle · 1 year

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Hong Kong Adventures

4 days 2011

Day 1July 24 Hong Kong airport

I checked in to the Stanford Hotel situated beside Ladies' Market, located in Kowloon in one of the most colourful and vibrant areas of this lively, cosmopolitan city. Stanford Hotel Hong Kong is well served by public transport. It is just a few minutes' walk to the MTR Station as well as the Mong Kok East MTR Station, which connects to Mainland China. The Hotel offered complimentary scheduled shuttle bus service to Hung Hom MTR Station, Airport Express Kowloon Station, China Hong Kong City Ferry Terminal and Stanford Hillview Hotel.

I decided to take a stroll around the area to checkout my surroundings. I wondered into Kowloon park where I viewed many sculptors.

Right around the block from my hotel was the Ladies Market. This massive Mongkok street market is one of the best spots in the city to pick up a bargain. Find T-shirts, cheongsams, silk pyjamas, chopsticks, handbags, belts, hair accessories, toys, and more.

I found many malls around the area. Def amazing to see international brands in another country. Dinner at the mall!

DAY 2 Shek O Beach and Mainland Hong Kong

I found Breakfast 2 blocks from my hotel and made this my daily breakfast on the go spot!

Hong Kong is very tourist friendly, I was on a mission to find a rock formation that I found in a tourist book. It didn’t have an address or directions on how to get there but I was confident that I would locate this place. The only piece of information I had was the name, Shek O VillageRoad.

To my amazement everyone spoke English. A mother and daughter let me know that they were required to take English I’m school. They directed me to the correct train station.

When I arrived at the station the train workers helped me to figure out the train number to board.

When I got to my destination the bus driver pointed to a path. He said to walk up the path and I would find it. To my amazement I had found a beach! It was hotter than the mainland, I had wish I brought my bathing suit.

Shek O Beach is probably one of the most scenic and popular beaches on Hong Kong Island. It might be on the southeast end of the island, but it’s still relatively easy to access and is often the first beach that anyone new to Hong Kong visits (well at least I did). It’s literally a glimpse into the other side of Hong Kong, the side without skyscrapers.

I then viewed the house I saw in the Tourist Guide book, I had reached my destination!

I continued down the path to see if I could find the rock formation that was pictured in the guide book but to my surprised it was more than that rock image! Definitely was not prepared to see what I was about to see and I was so glad I ventured out to find it!

I took the bus and rail back to the mainland. Next stop The Peak Tram is a funicular railway in Hong Kong, which carries both tourists and residents to the upper levels of Hong Kong Island. The journey takes approximately 8–10 minutes and is a visual experience to remember, as skyscrapers glide past at what appear to be impossible angles while the tram makes its ascent. The Peak Tram passes six stations in order: Garden Road, Kennedy Road, MacDonnell Road, May Road, Barker Road, and the Peak. The lower terminus is at Garden Road in the Central, while the upper one is on the third floor of the Peak Tower on the hillside.

Before I head back down I had lunch at the bubba shrimp co Reaturant & Bar. With many days eating just Asian food I was happy to have a salad. When I got back down I walked over to visit St. Peter’s Cathedral the oldest Catholic Church in Hong Kong. The headed over to the Center.

Stopped at the Madrain Hotel turn off to dinner at Yung Kee (Chinese: 鏞記) is a Chinese restaurant located on Wellington Street in Central, Hong Kong. It is most famous for its roast goose.

Day 3 New Territories, Tap Mun & Big Buddah

Subway MTR to The ferry pier which was located at Science Park and University in between Shatin and Tai Po. Ma Liu Shui is an area in Sha Tin District, in the New Territories, Hong Kong.

www.traway.com.hk

Grass Island or Tap Mun is an island in Hong Kong, located in the northeastern part of the territory.

We found a 400-year-old temple with an altar, and legend has it that it is connected by a hidden tunnel to Tap Mun Cave on the opposite shore of the island but we didn’t see one.

We found a hiking trail with stairs, when we got to the top we were able to take in the views! On the way down we encountered a cow. As we were walking pass it, it ran ran after us. What a scary moment, but we were able to laugh about it later!

Tian Tan Buddha (Big Buddah)

Ngong Ping Lantau Island, in Hong Kong

Set on Lantau Island, the most enjoyable way to reach the Big Buddha is via the Ngong Ping Cable Car from Tung Chung MTR station.

You are also about to take a 2.5 to 3.5 hours hike and the cable car back to the station or catch a bus for the return trip. We decided to take the Cable Car round trip, which was a 30 min ride.

It is totally free to visit the Big Buddha, however, we would recommend making a small contribution to their donation box as a kind gesture, as the Big Buddha Phuket was built entirely from donations.

The Big Buddha, also known as Tian Tan Buddha, is famed as the most iconic attraction of Lantau. Sitting next to the Po Lin Monastery, it is only a 10-minute walk away from Ngong Ping Village. The majestic outdoor bronze Buddha statue sits solemnly atop the peak of Mount Muk Yue.

We climb up 268 steps to reach the three-storey pedestal to visit the Buddha and enjoy the boundless views of Lantau and South China Sea.

Day 4 Victoria Harbour Mainland HK & Stanley Beach

Victoria Harbour is a natural channel separating Hong Kong Island in the south from the Kowloon Peninsula to the north. With a glorious location in the South China Sea, the harbor is one of Hong Kong’s top tourist attractions thanks to its historical significance (it was one of the British Empire’s biggest military and trading ports) and the fact it offers gorgeous views of the Hong Kong skyline.

A prime way of experiencing Victoria Harbor’s allure is by riding the award-winning Hong Kong Star Ferry, which carries passengers between Tsim Sha Tsui on the Kowloon side and Central and Wan Chai on Hong Kong island. The 20-min journey will provide you with the most spectacular views of Hong Kong,

You can also take in the beauty of Victoria Harbor from the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade. This alluring promenade starts at the Star Ferry Terminal, where the historic Star Ferry departs from, linking Tsim Sha Tsui with Central Hong Kong. The ride is considered one of the top things to do in Hong Kong, as it offers the most dramatic views of the city.

We passed by the Floating Restaurant, Tai Pak Sea food. In June 2022, the city's iconic tourist attraction, Jumbo Floating Restaurant, left Hong Kong waters and capsized at sea while on its way to Cambodia for storage – a shocking news.

Stanley Village & Beach

MTR Central Station Exit A / MTR Hong Kong Station Exit B1 to Stanley Village Bus Terminus Stanley has been a fishing village since before the British came to Hong Kong.

Stanley is a village in Hong Kong Island’s Southern District, where many of Hong Kong’s top beaches can be found. Visitors to Stanley will find a well developed beachfront before them, with a gorgeous promenade and a host of western-style bars and restaurants lining the waterfront. The village also has two beaches: Stanley Main Beach and St. Stephen’s beach.

Next stop: Ritz Carlton, Kowloon

Occupying floors 102 to 118 of the International Commerce Centre in Kowloon, The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, is the highest hotel in the world.With spectacular views of Hong Kong skyline; looking out to the Hong Kong city, harbour or Victoria Harbour view at 490 metres above sea level.

LAN Kwai Fong LFK

Lan Kwai Fong is one of Hong Kong's most popular nightlife hot spots and home to over 90 restaurants and bars. The atmosphere ranges from stylish wine pairings to raucous jelly shots and the food on offer is as diverse as the clientele.

Day 5 finally tried the sushi and took my hotek shuttle to the airport!

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dan6085 · 2 years

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Hong Kong is a vibrant and exciting city with a unique blend of East and West, and there is plenty to see and do during a 5-day trip. Here are some suggestions for a 5-day travel plan in Hong Kong:

Day 1:

Arrive in Hong Kong and check into your hotel. Spend the afternoon exploring the city's main attractions, such as the Victoria Peak, the Hong Kong Museum of Art, and the Star Ferry.

In the evening, head to the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront for a stroll along the promenade and some stunning views of the city skyline.

Day 2:

Take a day trip to the nearby island of Lantau, home to the Giant Buddha and the Po Lin Monastery. You can take a cable car up to the peak of the mountain for some breathtaking views of the island, or visit the nearby Tai O fishing village to see the stilt houses and try some local seafood.

In the evening, head back to Hong Kong and enjoy dinner at one of the city's many international restaurants.

Day 3:

Spend the day exploring the vibrant neighborhoods of Hong Kong, such as Causeway Bay, Mongkok, and Central. Each of these areas has its own character and charm, and you can find everything from bustling street markets to trendy shopping malls.

In the evening, head to the Lan Kwai Fong area for dinner at one of the many restaurants and bars in the area.

Day 4:

Take a day trip to the nearby city of Macau, which is known for its casinos and colonial-style architecture. You can visit the Ruins of St. Paul's, the Macau Tower, and the Macau Museum, or simply take a stroll through the old streets and try some of the local Portuguese-style pastries.

In the evening, return to Hong Kong and enjoy dinner at one of the city's many local restaurants or street food stalls.

Day 5:

Spend the day exploring the outdoors in Hong Kong. You can take a hike along one of the many trails in the city, visit the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens, or go beach-hopping on one of the many outlying islands.

In the evening, enjoy your last night in the city with a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

I hope these suggestions help you plan your 5-day trip to Hong Kong. Have a great time exploring this amazing city!

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alexariana846 · 3 years

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Know Top 6 Tourist Places To Visit In Hong Kong By Alex Arrash Ariana | Alex Ariana

In this article, Alex Arrash Ariana will telling you about top six very beautiful tourist attraction places to visit in Hong Kong. Alex Ariana, Alex Arrash Ariana, Briton Alex Arrash Ariana believes you must to know about these information if you finding to know about what is the in Hong Kong for a tourist.

1 - Ocean Park

Ocean Park is positioned in the Southern end of Hong Kong Island. It's one of the top theme premises and has an terrarium in Southeast Asia. They give the stylish of marine education. It covers an area of 170 acres and is one the largest ocean premises in the world. People love to come then with their families and musketeers and have spent a fun filled day.

2 - Victoria Bay

Victoria Bay is the largest harbor in China and comes 3rd in the world. It's positioned between the Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Peninsula. The harbor has been busy with boat, straight from the major Star Ferries to cruise liners, weight vessels, and rustic fishing vessels each along day and night. It's an amazing place for recreation and relaxation.

3 - Disneyland

The Disneyland is located in Lantau Island, Hong Kong. The resort is a must watch as it has special lodestones and a sense of Chinese culture. The visit to this place won't only take your through a magical experience but you can also find the golden history and the planned future. Accompanied by Mickey Mouse and other Disney musketeers you go around an amazing place and stylish enjoyed by your children.

4 - Victoria Peak

Victoria peak is the stylish place from where you can have the stylish of the lights of the Oriental Pearl. Peak Palace has a notorious wok-suchlike armature which stands at the exit of Peak Tram. There's an‘Odditorium’, the instigative Peak Explorer Motion Simulator, with sundecks and caffs are relatively an entertainment. The Madame Tussaud Wax Museum is positioned then. It has waxed statues of celebrities. Also, on the northern hillside of the Peak there's a zoological and botanical theater, which you can visit too.

Continue Watching: Best Tourist Places In Hong Kong by Alex Arrash Ariana

5 - Wong Tai Sin Temple

Wong Tai Sin Temple had been designed following an ancient Chinese palace and the entire innards is rich in Chinese culture. It's the most notorious tabernacle in Hong Kong. Forecasters play an active part. Besides the Wong Tai Sin Temple, another two notorious tabernacles in the megacity are the Man Mo Temple and Po Lin Monastery.

6 - Lan Kwai Fong

The night life of Lan Kwai Fong is amazing which was positioned veritably near to Hong Kong. It revolves around clubs, bars and caffs and people like to enjoy night life. It's a must-have for party creatures to visit these Western- style caffs, clubs, good food and some drinks. The parties are held on the thoroughfares and people dance and have fun.

Want to get more information about best tourist attractions, places, fun, etc so once you can visit on here: - https://alexarrashariana.wordpress.com/

Search Query: -

Alex Ariana, Alex Arrash Ariana, Briton Alex Arrash Ariana

#alex arrash ariana #briton alex arrash ariana #alex ariana

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sadviper · 4 years

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Confessions of a Seducer: Woo Do Hwan Interview with Hong Kong Esquire, July 2018

The time is 9:21 PM. Like any other city, New York is vibrant and teeming with activity after dark. Lights glisten throughout Manhattan. This reporter, Patrick Soon, has an appointment to interview Woo Do Hwan at this time. It feels right to interview him late at night. This year, Woo Do Hwan is still only 25 years old. His drama, “The Great Seducer” is the reason for his recent rise in popularity. In it, he acts as a 2nd generation chaebol who deliberately gets close to an honors student named Eun Tae-hee with the intention to get revenge for his friend. However, he unconsciously becomes attracted to her without realizing it.

Seduction is the theme of this drama series. Woo Do Hwan is its living embodiment.

The night is dark. He arrives on set where the photoshoot is taking place, enveloped with a mysterious aura. The amazing seductive power that he exhibited in the drama is present here, demonstrated to all as he appears in the midst of “Quiet Nights”, a soft jazz melody that permeates the air.

He has a quality that is different from others

We never deviate from the topic of seduction for the purpose of the interview. In Korea, there was a strong reaction to the drama series after it aired. Typically in Korean dramas, the male lead is either entirely warm and loving, or the type of guy who is very strong but is still full of love and righteousness. The type of role that Woo Do Hwan plays in “The Great Seducer” is rare: he’s edgy, defiant, a little bit dangerous, wrapped in an aura that might very well kill you.

This series focuses on the classic kdrama subject matter of upper class angst. Within this structure, he sets new goalposts that redefine the image of a male lead actor--simultaneously cool and fragile, conflicted and gentle.

Following the broadcast of the drama, the positive feedback went far beyond Woo Do Hwan’s expectations. I paid him high compliments, telling him he was the breakout male lead character of the new generation, that this series placed him into the public consciousness of Hong Kong audiences. His expression clearly showed his astonishment.

WDH: “You said that I became an Adonis through this drama. I’m pretty embarrassed--I don’t really know how to respond. Maybe I should just accept your compliments and thank you.”

He humbly smiled and laughed after he said those words. It was like being with two different people; the feeling of someone fresh out of school versus a man with dark powers of attraction.

The drama is full of seduction, danger, and excitement, so I asked Woo Do Hwan if he ever encountered any kind of temptations in his own life. He took the question seriously, and fell deep in thought. Then he replied with a hint of embarrassment, “I have to give it some thought, if you want me to tell you what are the most difficult things to resist. That’s because at different points in your life, different things will tempt you. Lately, the greatest temptation for me is sleep. I was very tired during filming and kept wanting to just pass out. I have to sleep; so more than once, I would skip meals and go straight to bed. I want to perform well, so I try to grab every chance I can get to sleep. That way, I can stay focused and not wander off while filming.”

He likes women who are straight-shooters

In “The Great Seducer”, Woo Do Hwan plays a chaebol heir who at first treats love like a game. But once he starts dating Tae-hee, without realizing it, he becomes deeply attracted to her, only to discover after the fact that he has fallen in love. Not just love; through her, he rediscovers meaning in life.

WDH: “I feel that the character I play is very similar to who I am as a person. When I find my true love, I will give my all for the other’s sake, just like him. I can walk through fire and do anything for her. The most important thing is giving her happiness.”

There is an unspoken rule that women do not like men who are perfect, pure, goody-two-shoes. Woo Do Hwan’s role in the drama, with his aura of mystery and soul-slaying power to captivate, confirms that unspoken rule that men can’t just be normal if they want to appeal to women.

Woo Do Hwan couldn’t help but laugh when I shared my thoughts.

WDH: “Sometimes I wonder whether I’d be attracted to someone mysterious or to someone happy, upbeat, and straight-forward. Personally, if a woman can talk to me about anything and everything under the sun, then I will find her attractive. That’s because heart-to-heart communication is important to me. If she is too mysterious, then I won’t know what to do. She’d give me the feeling of being hard to get close to. So if I were to date, I would definitely choose someone who makes me feel relaxed and comfortable. Any important relationship should have no reservations, pressure, or secrets. There should be no need to hide anything. That’s what I believe.”

Noona romances

Woo Do Hwan’s focus and involvement with only one person is a testimony to how seriously he treats romantic relationships. I listed five qualities that could be used as a new definition for masculinity: Seriousness; the ability to mesmerize; manliness; mystery; and lastly, being easy-going or easy to get close to.

Many kdramas have been using noona romances for their thematic material. As the trend increased in popularity, it caused an upswell in discussions in Korea, opening up a new possibility of redefining masculinity.

WDH: “I also recently found out that noona romances are very popular in both dramas and movies. It’s an interesting phenomena. I don’t think love has anything to do with age. As I previously said, the most important things in any kind of relationship are honesty, communication, and trust. If each party thinks of the other as The One, then age shouldn’t be a factor.”

The father as the role model for your life

Woo Do Hwan’s career is only just starting to rise. He spoke frankly that he didn’t have time for romance at this stage of his life.

There is a movie called “The Divine Fury” that he is about to film. He was cast to play a completely different role from “The Great Seducer”, and will go head-to-head in direct confrontation against Park Seo-joon. In this movie, he plays a Machiavellian character who manipulates and betrays others without hesitation.

WDH: “I’m looking forward to acting this role. I’m so grateful to my family who helped and encouraged me after I entered this career field. My father is the person I admire the most, and my family are the most important people in my life. Since I was young, I already respected my father. Now that I’m an adult, I keep reminding myself to learn from him, and hope that I will become somebody like him.”

The interview is drawing to a close. I said, “You’re absolutely a rising star.” He immediately responded with a humble smile, “If you want to talk about what’s fashionable, let’s talk about local hotspots. If I don’t need to work, I’d ask my friend to join me at the Nanji Hangang Park (a resort area for picnicking and camping near the Han River?). I feel very relaxed in those kinds of places. After camping, then along the way, I’ll visit rooftop bars and cafes in the ___ area (in Cantonese, sounds like “Lee Tai Yuen”). I like to enjoy my coffee or handcrafted beer, and just relax and talk until nightfall. That’s the kind of life that I like.”

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Notes: Not my translation, I just bothered someone to give me the rough idea, and I cleaned up the aftermath, chortling over the endless amounts of “amazing seductive power” that Woo Do Hwan was overwhelming this Patrick Soon guy with. Apparently the interviewer was being excessively roundabout in his writing, so I just...made stuff up since I couldn’t verify accuracy, ahaha. I’m irked that this article isn’t on the HK Esquire website, so this is for internet posterity I guess?

Finally, I seriously hope WDH got paid beaucoup bucks for sitting on dumpster lids and bare doorsteps in NYC, my god. ;__;

#woo do hwan #Chinese translation #Chinese interview #Hong Kong Esquire #The Great Seducer #Tempted #The Divine Fury #touching NYC grunge with bare hands and expensive duds #brave man #it said Manhattan #it feels like Brooklyn #interview

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hong-kong-art-man · 3 years

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Age Appears Best In One Thing: Old Wine To Drink. The History Of Wine Culture In Hong Kong Told By Nigel Fong

About 3,000 years ago, a type of Chinese alcoholic beverage Huangjiu(or Yellow Wine黃酒) was made from grains. More than 1,000 years ago, liquor Baijiu or Shaojiu(白酒或燒酒) was made after a process of distillation.

It has been the tradition in some of my known families to pass the interest in wine through generation to generation. I have great respect for these people. The family tradition helps them define who they are. Nigel Fong(方志基)’s family was in Tai O, one of the oldest fishing village in Hong Kong, 100 years ago. His ancestors sold wine there. Nigel laughed, “Being family is determined more by wine than by blood in my case. I might be born with a wine glass. When I went to the UK to study at 13, I fell in love with Scotch whisky. In 2012, I acquired a winery in Scotland and later took up a very old wine shop called J.L. Gill which has been in Perthshire, Scotland since 1875. I now buy and sell liquors as a business as much as a hobby. I meet my wine buddies regularly. I elect something that I love and can absorb myself in it. I am lucky.”

Nigel remembered, “Westerners stored wine in a barrel. We Chinese kept wine in a jar. In the old days, only the very rich could afford imported foreign wine. Local Hongkongers bought wine from the ‘mom-and-pop’ grocery stores which displayed jars of wine of different tastes. The price charged was calculated by the number of bamboo or coconut ladles of wine given. Customers used rice or soup bowls to contain wine. When I look back, I am filled with a strong sentimental wistful affection for the simple past.” I added, “Bars in those years were not meant for ordinary people. Men drank at home or street food stalls with friends. Tired of Chinese wine, they might switch to beer who was not a kind of expensive drink. The first beer brewery in Hong Kong is San Miguel from the Philippines which was established in Sham Tseng in 1948. Teenagers enjoyed beer mixing cream soda, a sweet soft drink flavoured with vanilla.”

Nigel gave an account of the history, “Whisky used to be more popular than other spirits. Due to massive advertising campaigns, French brandy became overwhelmingly successful in Hong Kong in the 1970s. Brandy is a spirit distilled from fruit and the liked brands were such as Hennessy, Martell, Camus and Courvoisier. XO (extra old) Cognac usually refers to the brandy with a long period of age. Interestingly, the term ‘XO’ then became a social jargon meaning ‘first rank’ or ‘high class’, only understood by people in Hong Kong.”

I challenged, “Can Hong Kong produce great local wine?” He frowned, “Impossible. Hong Kong does not even have natural wells anymore. We do not have high mountains. Can we use tap water or distilled water to make good wine? Our spring water, I guess, has been polluted in one way or another in a big and crowded city like Hong Kong. Good water is critical for good wine.”

Nigel mused like a scholar, “I want to recall and express my respect for a wonderful place called Fenwick Pier(分域碼頭) which was built in Wan Chai in the 19th century. It is gone for good now and will never return. What a pity! It is a non-government pier serving military sailors from the western world. Fenwick Pier was seen as the lighthouse of hospitality, answering questions from visitors about Hong Kong, giving postal service, providing the finest tailoring for custom suits and most importantly, supplying reliable wine and spirits from different countries to the thirsty sea-based men to Hong Kong. The wine shop there was almost like a museum devoted to the display of great alcoholic objects of magnificent interest and value. Fenwick Pier arcade contributed to the intellectual and emotional connections, if not explorations, between people in Hong Kong and the outside wine world.” I added, “Wan Chai used to be a famous area of bars and nightclubs because of Fenwick Pier and the sailors. Remember the world-known film about a bargirl in Wan Chai called The World of Suzie Wong?” I remember the good old days of going to Macau, the nearest Portuguese colony city to Hong Kong, for great European food. At the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal, one could buy Mateus Rose and Port Wine. Outside the Terminal, there was a night market where vendors performed kung fu in order to attract people to buy their ‘3-snake’ wine in low grade bottles.

‘It takes a lot of good beer to make great wine’. It takes a lot of wine to make an expert. Nigel always told me, “I already drank too much out of the work necessity. Life is now too short for me to drink bad wine.” I can certainly see that Nigel knows and loves wine. I am therefore very embarrassed in front of him as I could not tell the difference between Bordeaux and Burgundy.

MLee

Chinese Version 中文版: https://www.patreon.com/posts/jiu-bi-qing-nong-55311855?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copy_to_clipboard&utm_campaign=postshare

Fenwick Pier in the Old Days Acknowledgement-Michael TAM https://youtu.be/ha0AuFziP-4

Wanchai Bar Street Lockhart Road Acknowledgment-港古佬 https://youtu.be/ezgXvybKsug

HK Old Grocery Stores selling Wine Acknowledgement-HKonTV https://youtu.be/_7h6CwpVSuQ

Classic Ad: Old Chinese White Wine 1993 Acknowledgement-TPB HKCM https://youtu.be/6jEdQKWuMfo

Classic Ad: San Miguel Beer 1988 Acknowledgement-hk80adloversinc1990b https://youtu.be/QgrQaJSKwRU

HK Oldest Jazz Wine Bar Acknowledgment-香港衛視 https://youtu.be/mY5G4OrClPw

Song About Wine Acknowledgement-GEM鄧紫棋 https://youtu.be/8Z7xd7rTwiA

#Huangjiu黃酒 #Baijiu白酒 #Shaojiu燒酒 #Scotch Whisky #San Miguel #J.L. Gill #Hennessy Brandy #Martell Brandy #Camus Brandy #Courvoisier Brandy #XO Cognac #Brandy #Bordeaux #Burgundy #Mom-And-Pop Store #Fenwick Pier分域碼頭 #It Takes A Lot Of Good Beer To Make Great Wine

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newstfionline · 4 years

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Sunday, January 24, 2021

Biden Signs Orders to Expand Food Stamps and Raise Wages (NYT) President Biden signed two executive orders on Friday to provide help to struggling families and raise wages for certain workers, turning once again to the power of the executive branch to advance his economic goals as the legislative chances for his broader stimulus package remain uncertain. “The crisis is only deepening,” Mr. Biden said during remarks at the White House, calling the need to help those out of work and unable to afford enough food “an economic imperative.” Mr. Biden’s executive orders are intended to increase the amount of money poor families get for food each month and provide additional meal money for needy students whose schools have been closed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. A second executive order will lay the groundwork for the federal government to require a $15 an hour minimum wage for its employees and contract workers.

Biden is only the second Catholic president, but nearly all have been Christians (Pew Research Center) The U.S. Constitution famously prohibits any religious test or requirement for public office. Still, almost all of the nation’s presidents have been Christians. That includes Joe Biden, a Catholic who often speaks of his religious convictions, quotes the Bible and attends Mass regularly. One-in-five U.S. adults say it is “very important” for the president to have strong religious beliefs, and 14% say it is very important to have a president who shares their own religious beliefs, according to a February 2020 Pew Research Center survey. A far higher share (63%) say it is very important to have a president who personally lives a moral and ethical life. Historically, about a quarter of presidents—including some of the nation’s most famous leaders, such as George Washington, James Madison and Franklin Roosevelt—were members of the Episcopal Church, the American successor to the Church of England. Presbyterians are the next largest group, with eight presidents, including Andrew Jackson and Ronald Reagan. Unitarians and Baptists (the latter including Bill Clinton and Harry Truman) are the groups with the third-largest share of presidents, each with four. There also have been four presidents who identify as Christian without a formal denomination, including Trump and his predecessor, Barack Obama.

Senate agrees to start Trump’s impeachment trial Feb. 9 (Washington Post) The impeachment trial of former president Donald Trump will begin Feb. 9 under a deal reached Friday by top Senate leaders—delaying by two weeks the high-stakes proceedings over whether Trump incited the violent Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. The House on Jan. 13 passed a sole impeachment article, alleging “incitement of insurrection.” House leaders could have forced the Senate to begin the trial immediately by transmitting the papers across the Capitol. But a delay serves the former and current presidents: Trump has struggled to assemble a legal team and muster a defense, and President Biden needs the Senate to confirm most of his Cabinet appointees. Had no accord been reached, the trial would have started Tuesday and run uninterrupted by other Senate business until the Senate rendered its verdict.

Britain to discuss tighter travel restrictions (Reuters) British ministers are to discuss on Monday further tightening travel restrictions, the BBC reported on Saturday, adding that people arriving in the country could be required to quarantine in hotels. Britain’s current restrictions ban most international travel while new rules introduced earlier in January require a negative coronavirus test before departure for most people arriving, as well as a period of quarantine. The government is considering making it mandatory for travellers to spend that 10-day quarantine period in a hotel for which they would have to pay, as a way to enforce the quarantine rules, the BBC said.

Belgium bans leisure travel for a month to combat pandemic (AP) Belgium is banning all leisure travel abroad for its citizens as of next week and until March, in an effort to contain the spread of COVID-19 and its virulent variants. Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said Friday that visitors from Britain, South Africa and South America will have to quarantine for ten days to make sure they don’t bring dangerous variants into Belgium. In Belgium only essential business, family and humanitarian travel will still be allowed from next week until March. Over the past year, Belgium has seen a spike in cases after popular holidays because of returning travelers. February is the traditional month for Belgians to go skiing in the Alps or fly down south for warmth. The EU itself is also preparing measures that should make travel more difficult, including an introduction of new trans-border “dark red zones” where infections rates are particularly high and where all non-essential travel should be discouraged. Travelers from these areas could be required to undergo tests before their departure and be placed in isolation upon arrival in another location.

More than 2,300 arrested across Russia in protests for jailed opposition leader Navalny (Washington Post) More than 2,300 people were arrested Saturday in protests spanning nearly 70 cities and towns across Russia calling for the release of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny — a massive show of defiance against President Vladimir Putin and his widening crackdowns against challenges to his power. Among the detained was Navalny's wife, Yulia, and many heads of Navalny's regional offices. It was the largest number of protesters taken into custody in a day since the Russian rights group OVD-Info began monitoring demonstrations in 2011. The rallies — from Russia’s Far East to central Moscow — came less than a week after Navalny returned from Germany, where he recovered from a nerve agent poisoning in August during a trip to Siberia. Navalny was arrested shortly after stepping off the plane. The wide turnout sent a powerful message to the Kremlin on the reach and resolve of Navalny’s network. The swift crackdowns by authorities underscored the pressure facing Russian authorities who must decide whether to keep Navalny behind bars.

Wuhan returns to normal as world still battling pandemic (AP) A year ago, a notice sent to smartphones in Wuhan at 2 a.m. announced the world’s first coronavirus lockdown, bringing the bustling central Chinese industrial and transport center to a virtual standstill almost overnight. It would last 76 days. Early Saturday morning, however, residents of the city where the virus was first detected were jogging and practicing tai chi in a fog-shrouded park beside the mighty Yangtze River. Life has largely returned to normal in the city of 11 million, even as the rest of the world grapples with the spread of the virus’ more contagious variants. Traffic was light in Wuhan but there was no sign of the barriers that a year ago isolated neighborhoods, prevented movement around the city and confined people to their housing compounds and even apartments. Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, thousands of residents were locked down Saturday in an unprecedented move to contain a worsening outbreak in the city. Hong Kong has been grappling to contain a fresh wave of the coronavirus since November. More than 4,300 cases have been recorded in the last two months, making up nearly 40% of the city’s total.

Taiwan reports large incursion by Chinese air force (Reuters) Eight Chinese bomber planes and four fighter jets entered the southwestern corner of Taiwan’s air defence identification zone on Saturday, and Taiwan’s air force deployed missiles to “monitor” the incursion, the island’s Defence Ministry said. China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, has conducted almost daily flights over the waters between the southern part of Taiwan and the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands in the South China Sea in recent months. However they have generally consisted of just one or two reconnaissance aircraft. The presence of so many Chinese combat aircraft on this mission—Taiwan said it was made up of eight nuclear-capable H-6K bombers and four J-16 fighter jets—is unusual. Beijing has watched with growing concern increasing U.S. support for democratic Taiwan, especially during Donald Trump’s administration which left office on Wednesday.

On ‘Rooftop of Africa,’ Ethiopia’s Troops Hunt Fugitive Former Rulers (NYT) The politicians and generals of Tigray, who ruled Africa’s second-most populous country for much of the past three decades through their political party, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, or T.P.L.F., are now on the run. Since Jan. 7, Ethiopia’s military has killed or captured at least 47 people from a most-wanted list of 167 senior leaders of the T.P.L.F., including four of the party’s nine-member executive committee, according to Ethiopian state media reports. When Mr. Abiy came to power in 2018, his government quickly unseated many of these T.P.L.F. leaders, who over 27 years had overseen impressive economic growth, but ruled Ethiopia with an iron fist. Several were charged with corruption and human rights abuses, and some of them fled or retreated to their home base in Tigray. Fighting has raged across the region in recent weeks, according to U.N. security reports seen by The New York Times.

And now, a reading from an email according to St. Paul (Reuters) If he were alive today, even St. Paul would be texting, Tweeting and firing off emails to get the news out, Pope Francis said on Saturday in his message for the Roman Catholic Church’s World Day of Social Communication. St. Paul, who lived in the first century of the Christian era, spread the new faith into Europe and Asia Minor and is believed to have written a great part of the New Testament. “Every tool has its value, and that great communicator who was Paul of Tarsus would certainly have made use of email and social messaging,” the pope said in the message, titled “Come and See”. Still, Francis said Paul was at his best while preaching in person, saying journalists and other communicators today should do more “hitting the streets ... meeting people face to face to research stories or to verify certain situations first-hand”. “In communications, nothing can ever completely replace seeing things in person,” he said.

#headlines #news

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usamierina · 5 years

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Trip to HONG KONG, February 2020 - Day 1: Drink, more drink

The purpose of this trip was to visit many bars that specialize in "craft gin" in particular. The bar scene in Hong Kong is very progressive, and there are many bars that have been nominated for "World Best Bar". I decided to visit as many as I could and enjoyed a light drink at each bar.

今回の目的は、特に「クラフトジン」に特化したバーにたくさん訪問すること。香港のバーシーンはとても先進的で、「World Best Bar」にノミネートされるバーもたくさんあります。行けるだけ行ってやろうと、それぞれのお店で軽く1��ずつ楽しんできました。

■ ORI-GIN

まずはLKF（蘭桂坊（ランカイフォン）Lan Kwai Fong）エリアにあるORI-GINへ。 https://www.originbar.hk/ ウェブサイトもとてもおしゃれ！

しっかりした皮張りのメニューと、

ポップな店内。カウンターがあるので、もちろん一人でも入りやすいです。（バーのいいところはそこだよね！）

こちらがシグニチャーカクテルの「KGB」！🐥

KGBは“Kyoho Grape Bathtub”の略で、バスタブを模したデザインのグラス（...これ、グラスっていうのかな...w）に入っているマティーニです。お値段130HKDですが、わたしはかなり早い時間に行ったのでハッピーアワーで15%オフ、チャージ入れても1750円くらいでした。

ここのお店で一番売れてるカクテル、とのこと。（だから私もそれ目当てで行ったのです）

レシピは：タンカレージン・コアントロー・巨峰のリキュール・レモンとライムジュース・ブドウジュース・エルダーフラワーシロップ。上に載っている泡は紅茶で作ったもので、中にブドウジュースで作った粒々（いくらみたいなサイズ）が入っています。だからちょっと太めのストローがついてる感じ。

可愛すぎる🐥🛁❤️

もちろん味もとっても美味しいです。ネタにしてデートに誘える、モテるカクテルですな。

■ BEHIND BARS

2018年6月にオープンした「大館 Tai Kwun」、もともと警察署＆刑務所だったエリアにできた博物館＆アートスペース。めちゃめちゃ古き良き建物を残しつつ、広くてリラックスできる場所。

この中にある、ちょっとSPEAKEASYなバーがBehind Barsです。

牢獄を利用したバーなので、暗くてうっそうとした雰囲気に、EDMごりごりのパリピなテンションを掛け合わせてるというおしゃれさ。個室は特に牢獄っぽいw

メニューはこんな感じ。カクテルはボトルドカクテルです。本当はシグニチャーカクテルを飲みたかったんだけど、COVID19の影響もあり全然お客さんがいないので、お店の在庫が全然ないというw

ということで、モクテル（ノンアル）の「NOT GUILTY」をいただきます。

照明が常にチカチカしているという、非常にクラブ的な雰囲気。（そこにお客さんが私しかいないという違和感）

vimeo

レシピはCeder’s Wildと、柑橘オイルコーディアル、トニックウォーター。 Ceder's Wildってなんじゃろと思ったら、南アフリカで作られているめっちゃおしゃれなノンアルコールジンなのね。

https://ceders-alt-gin.com/

パリピなふんいきのところにお客一人、さくっと飲んで移動。

■ Dr.Fern’s Gin Parlour

ジンに特化した、といえばやっぱりここ。行ってみたかったんだよな〜。

ちなみに、ここのお店はLANDMARKという、中環 Centralの駅の近くにあるでかい商業施設の中にあるんですが、入り口がひっそりしすぎ＆フェイクのドアがあるので、またSPEAKEASY感があって厨二心をくすぐります。

イメージは「Dr.Fernというお医者さんの秘密の調合バー」って感じ。

お店の方は、研究所っぽいエ��ロンをしているのですが、COVID19のせいでさらにマスクと青手袋を常��。それで余計に研究所っぽさが増してる。

ここでは、香港のクラフトジン「Perfume Trees Gin」のジントニックをいただきます。お店の方に「トニックウォーターは何がいい？」と聞かれて、おまかせでお願いしたんだけど、たぶん結構高い特殊なやつだったみたいで、いいお値段しました...（苦笑

vimeo

■ craftissimo 上環

定期訪問しているクラフトビールのバー。海外輸入系がメインなので、あまりお土産を買ったりするために行く目的ではないけども、オンタップのビールは香港系ブルワリーのものなので、外のスペースでテイクアウト飲みができるのが魅力。

なんかちっちゃいお客さんいたわw

相変わらず酸っぱいのがいただきたかったので、heroes beer coの「Berried on a Beach」をいただきます。トロピカルフルーツのベルリーナーヴァイセ。

酸っぱくてめちゃうま。

そろそろいい感じに酔ってきたので、ここらで香港島から脱出してホテルのある半島側へ。（とはいえ終電ちょい前くらいまで香港島にいたなw）

■ Tipsy TAP

ホテルへ歩いて帰れる距離にあるビアバーということで、2018年の夏に行った時にプレオープンしてたから、2年くらいかな。ここは香港ローカルのお客さん多め、初心者からマニアまで、って感じ。

...なにかしら酸っぱいやつを飲んだ記憶。

この、つまみのナッツがめちゃめちゃ美味しかった記憶はありますが、ビール何飲んだかは覚えてないな...苦笑

たぶん、このへんで1:00ごろ。

ホテルに戻る前に、よく行ってた深夜までやってる「First Class Massage」に行こうと思って向かったのですが、残念ながらCOVID19の影響による客数減で、営業休止中。そのほかの周りのマッサージも、以前のように深夜まで開けているところはなく、非常に辛い状況。。。

■ 大師傅粥品

散々飲んだ酔っ払い、シメのラーメンならぬお粥だ！！！の勢いにより、空いていたお店で豚肉とピータンのお粥と、油炸鬼（揚げパンみたいなやつ）の腸粉巻きをテイクアウト。

＼深夜のハイカロリー！／

まさに「飲み、そして飲み」な1日目夜でした。

#trip #travel #hongkong2020Feb #bar #craftgin #craftbeer #ori-gin hong kong #behind bars hong kong #craftissimo #tipsy tap

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sablelab · 5 years

Text

Covert Operations - Chapter 91

DISCLAIMER: This is a modern AU crossover story with Outlander and La Femme Nikita. LFN and its characters do not belong to me nor do those from Outlander.

SYNOPSIS: Fergus is making inroads to locating Claire and continues to send a message to Jamie on his PDA. When he finally knows what is on the disk Jamie is livid and vows to find Claire ASAP. He informs Fergus that Karen Yee is implicated someway in Claire’s kidnapping and that he has her in play. He feels that she is the best way of locating his Sassenach.

Previous chapters can be found at … https://sablelab.tumblr.com/covertoperations

I am very grateful for your support of this story and I THANK YOU for reading, the likes and or posting a comment on the last chapter. If you wish to read something else of mine over the Christmas break perhaps you will find a short story, poem or chapter story on my Master List to your liking. xox

https://sablelab.tumblr.com/masterlist

CHAPTER 91

Once he arrived back in Hong Kong James Fraser set the first phase of his plan into action. Needing to know Karen Yee’s whereabouts, he contacted the architect firm that she worked for in the guise of wanting her services for an overhaul of his city apartment. The firm’s secretary informed him that Karen was away on business but would be returning to Hong Kong later that night. Ever polite, Jamie asked her to check the availability for an early appointment. Impressed by the smooth tone of his voice and persuasive manner, the secretary was only too happy to pencil him in for a scheduled time with Karen the following day. Then when he pressed for additional information about her after hours’ agenda that night his persistence was rewarded. She’d confided that Karen was scheduled to meet with a client at Victoria Peak at 9.30pm, but wasn’t sure if the client was picking her up for the dinner meeting or if she was meeting him at the restaurant. Armed with this information, it gave Jamie some breathing space and the leverage he needed to set his contingency plan into action whilst Karen was not around. He quickly made his way over to her apartment to check for any clues that could implicate her in Claire’s kidnapping or give him Intel as to her whereabouts. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Standing on the threshold of Karen Yee’s apartment he knocked then casually looked around. The corridor was deserted. However, just as Jamie was just about to enter her apartment suddenly a neighbour opened their door into the corridor. The young man appeared to be in a hurry and quickly walked past him towards the elevator. Jamie casually acknowledged him with a nod and watched until the man disappeared into the elevator. When all was clear, he opened the door with his U-key, entered Karen’s apartment and closed the door quietly behind him. Meticulously he searched the apartment from head to toe in order to find anything that would help him find Claire, but her apartment was clean. Karen had certainly been thorough. Though when he searched through some papers on the bureau, Jamie found a copy of a receipt for two meals from a Stanley eatery. The receipt confirmed that Karen and someone else ... most likely her boyfriend Andy Ma ... were in Stanley on the same dates as his Sassenach. It was the evidence that he needed but Jamie was unable to find anything that would indicate where the triad was holding Claire captive. Nevertheless, Karen Yee was involved in her kidnapping and, when he found her ... she would lead him to Claire. Putting everything he’d disturbed back in its rightful place; the last thing Jamie did was place listening devices on her phone and in strategic places in and around the apartment. If Karen returned before her dinner date, he would know. Then just as quietly as he’d entered ... he left. Having had no sleep in over 48 hours, Jamie decided that he would take the opportunity to catch up on some much-needed rest before the critical phase of the mission began. He knew that he would need his wits about him over the next few days to be at his best and function on all cylinders. He needed to conserve his energy and replenish his strength as he anticipated that the triad would not give up Claire without a fight ... but he’d be prepared. For him it would be a fight to the death. If even a single hair was touched on her head, he would wreak vengeance like none they had seen. Disappearing from the apartment building as anonymously as a ghost he was ready to plan his next strategy. He would be waiting and prepared for when Karen Yee next made an appearance. Meanwhile back at Section One...

“Fergus has there been any contact from Jamie?” Madeline asked when he was requested to appear in her office.

“No ... not yet.” “I see ... No doubt he is not communicating with Section because of the risk of betraying where he is,” Madeline stated knowing only too well that once Jamie had gone dark, he would not jeopardise anything for the personal mission he was on. “I’ll keep trying ... I’ll change the wording of the communiqué and see if he responds this time.” “Good ... Have you managed to get a location for Claire from the information on the disk?” “I’ve reviewed it several times and have been able to identify the building materials used in the room where she was tortured.” “I see ... and what have you gauged from that?” Was Madeline’s next question. “It appears that the type of masonry used is ancient handmade stonework which dates back to the 17th or early 18th century.” “And ...?” The inflection of her voice indicated that she was intrigued by his statement. “This particular stonework was used in monasteries built on Lantau Island of which there are several.” “Excellent. That’s a good starting point. Anything else?” “I can eliminate the Roman Catholic Trappist Haven Monastery located on the east coast." “Why so?” “The Monastery at Tai Shui Hang is still home to a number of Roman Catholic monks. However, the main reason is because there were lotus crests engraved in the stonework. These are not associated with Catholicism. The flower is a significant iconography of Buddhism as it symbolises the ability of everybody to attain enlightenment.” “Good at least that narrows the field. Can you identify which particular monastery it is then?” “Not yet, but I’m working on the possibility that this is a disused one, most likely in a relatively remote part of Lantau off the beaten track and probably located on the rugged west coast of the island where the trails are not easily defined.” “You have obviously systematically gone through the possibilities Mr Claudel ... but what is your reasoning for this hypothesis?” “There are several monasteries in the Ngong Ping area which are highly popular with tourists particularly near the Tian Tan seated bronze Buddha, therefore that leaves us with a few other options. The west coast is mountainous and most of the population lives along the south coast.” “Hmm ... that makes sense. The triad wouldn’t have a torture chamber near a populated area ... but a monastery?” Fergus looked at Madeline and stated solemnly. “How ironic it would be if a place of worship, turned out to be a place of suffering.” “I’m sure the Rising Dragons would find this quite acceptable ... particularly if the monastery is inaccessible. How far along are you in your theory?” “By a process of elimination, I hope to have something very soon.” Madeline congratulated him on the progress made thus far. “Good work Fergus ... Keep me posted when you find something definite or the minute Jamie calls in.” “Yes Madeline.” Outside Karen Yee’s apartment...

Some hours later Jamie’s black SUV Mercedes–Benz pulled up and parked across the road from Karen Yee’s apartment building. He activated his listening device to see if she had in fact made it home or had gone directly to the restaurant. Confirming that Karen was in her apartment, Jamie rolled down the window and surveyed the area. It was relatively quiet and although a few cars turned onto the road they merely sped off along the street without stopping.

He’d only had the apartment building under surveillance for a short while when Jamie heard the sound of an approaching motor car. Rolling down the window and raising his binoculars he watched as a limousine approached then cruised into the private parking lot reserved for the apartments’ residents. This was obviously Karen Yee’s rich client who had come to pick her up for the appointment. Jamie saw the chauffeur get out of the limousine and open the back door of the vehicle. A male occupant got out of the limo and spoke to the chauffeur. “Wait here Henry ... I’ll be back with Miss Yee in no time.” “Certainly sir.” Jamie observed what was happening for a while then put the car window back up. When the man disappeared into the apartment building, the chauffeur made his way to the newsstand nearby. Seizing the moment Jamie got out of his car. Quietly but quickly, he approached the unattended limousine. He attached a tracking device to the back bumper bar while the chauffeur was preoccupied, then slipping back to where his SUV was parked; he got into the vehicle and waited for further developments. While he waited outside, he listened to events taking place in the apartment building. He heard a knock on Karen Yee’s apartment door, then the man knocked for a second time before the door finally opened and this time voices were heard. “Good evening Miss Yee ... I’m Mr Yi Tien Cho’s assistant Joseph Peng. He has sent me to collect you for dinner.” “One moment ... Just let me just get my jacket.” There was a short pause then Jamie heard the man say, “Are you ready to go now Miss?” “Yes, thank you.” “Good ... this way please. The limousine is parked downstairs.” ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Once again Fergus walked over to his computer. He didn’t even take the time to sit down, he just leant down and quickly keyed in some commands. Although he’d sent a message many times over the last two days, time was now of the essence. This time he had been more explicit in the wording. He was starting to despair as Jamie had still not contacted him. The triad had set a time limit with an ultimatum that Claire would be tortured further if Jamie didn’t show. Since receiving the communiqué, he had been working close to the wire. Time was critical. Section had no idea if the triad would follow through with their threats, but there was obviously a reason for the triad sending it.

Would Claire be tortured again or was the disk just a teaser to show the triad’s power and might?

Before he hit the enter key, Fergus hesitated for a split second, as if mentally preparing himself for another disappointment ... then banishing his doubts to the back of his mind he sent the message.

JAMIE: ARE YOU THERE? ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ As he waited for Karen to appear, it was the incessant beeping of his PDA on the seat beside him that caught Jamie’s attention. He looked down. It was another incoming message from Fergus. He had paged a few times now so Jamie picked up the device. As he did so a different message appeared on his PDA. This time, the communiqué was more explicit and as he read the message blazoned across the screen his brow furrowed in concern. I HAVE CLAIRE’S LOCATION. SHE’S IN DANGER ... PLEASE CONTACT ASAP. Without hesitation he sent an immediate reply back to Fergus. YES. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I HAVE CLAIRE’S LOCATION. SHE’S IN DANGER

The communiqué had shaken Jamie to the core. He felt a gamut of feelings course through his body as the meaning of Fergus’s succinct message finally sank in. Section had Claire’s location. While this was fantastic news, the fact remained that she was still in acute danger and alarm bells rang loud and clear in his head.

Taking a deep breath and quickly reconnecting his comm. set unit he spoke directly to Fergus. “Tell me everything ...” ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Despite being overcome with relief that Jamie had finally got in touch with Section, Fergus dreaded having to tell him about the disk they had received of Claire’s torture. But Jamie needed to know what the Rising Dragons were capable of and what he would be up against in his retrieval attempt. Fergus took some minutes to relay all that they knew of Claire’s kidnapping and whereabouts, then biting the bullet, he finally told him of what they had witnessed on the disk. “Jamie there is one other thing ...”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Closing his eyes James Fraser absorbed the words that Fergus relayed, but it was difficult to hear what he had to say. His heart ached for his Sassenach and what she had endured at the hands of the tyrannical triad. However, the more he listened the more determined he became. He wondered what fate would befall Claire if he didn’t find her soon, but deep down inside he knew that she was still alive ... she just had to be ... if not then there was no purpose left in life for him. He also knew that he couldn't let the heartache and rage overpower him. Summoning all the tenacity he possessed James Fraser’s demeanour quickly changed and the cold face of the menacing Section One operative came to the fore. Claire’s life depended on his cunning and ruthlessness right now. With steely resolve he ordered, “Fergus, I need ye to patch me through all the Intel ye have on Claire straight away.” He paused then added, “... and send a copy of the disk.” “Done.” Knowing that Fergus would have been analysing the disk for any clues to Claire’s whereabouts Jamie asked the inevitable question. “What do ye have on her location?” “I’ve narrowed it down to two monasteries on Lantau Island but I’m still working on it.” “Which two?” “Tsz Hsing Monastery in the south-west and Ling Yan Monastery to the north-west. Both of the monasteries are near the village of Tai O ... but the terrain is difficult and mountainous in this area.” “That won’t be a problem.” Fergus was not surprised by Jamie’s answer. In fact, he expected nothing less for nothing would stop him from finding where Claire was being held.

“Is there anything you want us to do?”

“Keep an open channel. Until then keep working on Claire’s location. Ye’ll have to move quickly ... the triad has already moved her once.” “Will do.” “I want to be notified the second ye receive anything else of significant." “You’ve got it. What about Karen Yee?” Fergus’s off-handed question hit a raw nerve. It was even more important to capture her for Jamie knew she held the key to where he would find Claire.

“She’s triad.” “You were right all along about her then Jamie. But how was she able to avoid detection as a member of the triad?” “I dinna ken yet but I’ll find out one way or the other. I have her in play.” “Looks like she’s your best bet at the moment.” All he needed was for Karen to follow through with her arrangements for tonight and then he would be waiting. Jamie’s eyes hardened with his reply.

“Aye ... Karen will lead us to where the Rising Dragons are holding my Claire.” ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ “Or else ...” Fergus finished under his breath. He released a huge sigh of relief for there was no way of stopping James Fraser now. If anyone could save Claire Beauchamp, Jamie would and now he would have help to do it. “I’ll provide tactical ... Just wait a moment until I set it up.” “Thank ye ... When I’ve detained Karen Yee, I’ll call in.” ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ True to his word Fergus quickly sent the Intel Jamie wanted to his PDA. He viewed the disk that the Rising Dragons had brazenly sent to Section and what they had done to his Claire. Not only had they kidnapped her but they’d done the worst possible thing ... they had tortured her. Jamie was enraged. The more he watched the more he seethed at the callousness of the treatment meted out to her. When he caught up with Claire’s interrogators, they would pay the ultimate price and would suffer for what they had done. He had no qualms about killing each and every one who had hurt his Sassenach. Not only had they tortured Claire, but they also knew about him. It was obvious that their ploy was twofold. They knew that Section One was involved somehow and by sending the disk they’d indicated that they would show no mercy ... well neither would he. Secondly ... if they’d wanted to flush him out knowing that he would come to her rescue then they had succeeded in bringing him out into the open. Despite the triad’s upper hand at the moment it wouldn’t last for long. The one thing they didn’t know was that this James Fraser was a cold Section One operative. He was a man to be feared. Those who had harmed Claire would wish they had died because there was no way they would take another breath when he found them. There would be no forgiveness or clemency. Their days were numbered. He wouldn't think twice about it. It didn't matter what Oversight, Operations or anyone thought. He would make them pay and pay dearly. Having seen enough, Jamie switched off his PDA. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ The sound of movement near the limousine brought him back to the task at hand and when Jamie looked up, he saw the couple had arrived downstairs. From his vehicle, he watched as the chauffeur hurried to open the door for Karen Yee to enter the luxuriously appointed limousine. She clambered in and the escort climbed in after her.

Before closing the door after the couple, the chauffeur proclaimed. “If there is anything you would like Miss Yee, press the button to your left and your message will be conveyed to my cabin.”

“No ... I’m sure there will be nothing I need.”

“Very well then. It will be a short journey until we arrive at our destination.”

With that he closed the door of the limousine and entered into the driver’s cabin that secluded the passengers from the chauffeur by the security partition.

“Fergus ... the limousine is leaving,” Jamie announced so that he would be diligent in tracking its movements back at Section.

As Jamie watched the white limousine cruise out of the car park, he activated the tracking device he’d planted on the bumper of the vehicle. The beeps registered loud and clear and as the limousine moved along, so too did the dots indicating the tracking of its journey on the GPS matrix panel inside his car. Once the limo was a short way away, Jamie pulled away from the curb and followed at a safe distance behind.

“I’m in pursuit.”

“I also have the target in view,”

Fergus replied.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The darkened limousine cruised along the streets of Hong Kong Island as it made its way to the location for dinner. After manoeuvring through the evening traffic for some time the limo soon began to ascend the mountain heading to Tai Ping Shan, the summit of Hong Kong Island and the best place for looking down at the scenery of Victoria Harbour.

“The vehicle is cruising north and seems to be heading to Hong Kong Island’s main residential and picturesque areas of The Peak.”

“Thanks Fergus ... that’s verified.”

The road leading up to the summit looped around the mountain. At various points along the way, Karen could see The Peak Tram defy gravity as it made its way up the extremely steep incline of the mountain. The funicular railway continued up the lush hillside towards The Peak as the limousine cruised smoothly along the road. From the vehicle Karen saw commuters standing upright in the carriage and remembered that the floor of the funicular was angled to accommodate the passengers from losing their balance.

She’d found it difficult to keep her balance on the steep incline the first time she’d ridden the tram too,

she remembered.

Jamie followed behind and soon caught up with the limousine, however as he did, it slowed down. Realising that he may be a little too close he pulled back somewhat and decided to pull into a viewing area where the Peak tram made a stop at the steepest incline at May Road, about 27 degrees to the horizon to avoid any suspicion of tailing them by the driver. As he indicated his intentions to turn into the parking bay, Jamie observed what the limousine did. He watched as it increased its speed and turned out of sight around the bend. His hunch had been right. However, it was of little concern as the tracking device was operative and Fergus had the limousine under surveillance as well. He would know soon enough when the limousine had reached its destination.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The viewing bay was nearly full with sightseers and tourists taking in the dazzling panoramic views of Hong Kong Island, the harbour, Kowloon Peninsula and the hills beyond. Parking his car alongside other vehicles, Jamie waited for a few minutes but he too couldn’t help but admire the view. From this lofty vantage point, gazing over central Hong Kong with its towering office and apartment blocks, the harbour with its trademark white and green ferry boats and the surrounding islands was certainly superlative at night.

His thoughts though were elsewhere.

Somewhere out there the Rising Dragons were holding his Sassenach. But where was she? Where had they hidden her on Lantau Island? Would he be too late to rescue her?

The magnitude of the task was suddenly a little overwhelming but Jamie remained steadfast. He had a target to abduct.

Suddenly Fergus’s voice interrupted his musings.

“Is everything okay?”

he asked as it appeared that the chauffeur had sped off and that Jamie was not in pursuit.

“Aye ... but I had to pull back for a while.”

“Okay.”

“The limousine driver was suspicious that I was following them.”

In an attempt at some humour as well as trying to relieve the tension he could sense in Jamie’s voice, Fergus stated

“You were!”

James Fraser ignored his comment.

Finally, he pulled out of the parking bay after allowing for the limousine to put some distance between them and Jamie proceeded to follow the route the vehicle carrying his prime target Karen Yee had taken. He maintained a steady speed around the meandering road that lead to the summit while the tracker beeps continued to flash inside his car.

Then a short while later Fergus announced,

“Jamie ... The limousine has reached its destination.”

That was good news and James Fraser accelerated knowing that the target would soon be his. Karen Yee would not be able to enjoy her dinner or the view from The Peak this evening ... he had other plans for her.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ to be continued Monday 30th December when Jamie apprehends his target and they make their way to Lantau Island where the triad is holding his Sassenach.

Until next Monday week …

Seasons’ Greetings to all and my very best wishes for a wonderful and enjoyable Christmas. sablelab xox

#jamieandclaireau #Jamieandclairefanfic #jamieandclairecrossover #outlander fanfiction #outlanderfanfic #the lallybroch library #covert operations

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foxestacado · 5 years

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Din Tai Fung in the Westfield Century City mall! I'm a big fan of DTF. I've been to their Hong Kong and Taiwan locations, and their other LA ones. This is my first time here. It FANCY. It has a BAR. . . . . #taiwanesefood #dintaifung #xiaolongbao #beefnoodlesoup #foodporn #foodie #foodphotography (at Din Tai Fung 鼎泰豐) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9Dw4hYleI-/?igshid=1rwphvo2j6gc2

#taiwanesefood #dintaifung #xiaolongbao #beefnoodlesoup #foodporn #foodie #foodphotography

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loftfurniturehk3-blog · 4 years

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Expatriate Spotlight on Hong Kong

Industrial furniture Hong Kong

Expatriate Spotlight on Hong Kong Hk is a semi-autonomous, special admin region involving China, which has a population connected with over several million folks. The weather is really diverse; tropical from the to the south to subarctic inside northern. The terrain is usually hill-rich, with high plateaus, along with deserts in west; transforming to plains, deltas, in addition to hills in east.

Industrial furniture Hong Kong

The required languages are Chinese (mainly Cantonese) and English. One of the most prominent religions are Yoga and Taoism.

The overall economy is definitely characterized by typically the principle of one region, two systems, whereby Hk runs on economic as well as political systems different by the ones from mainland China. That is one of many world's major international economic centers, together with a major capitalist services economy characterized by minimal taxation, free trade and also minimum government intervention beneath the ethos of positive non-interventionism. Inflation is generally lower.

Hong Kong's excellent marketing and sales communications community, favorable strategic regional location, beautifully shaped infrastructure, reduced taxation, secure currency along with free interface status provides helped appeal to significant purchase. It is more and more carrying out business with the China's where you live now, therefore expats who also are smooth in The english language, Cantonese in addition to Mandarin, get an advantage in terms of career.

The expatriate complexes inside Hong Kong are particularly different. British and Us expatriates, mainly in often the financial industry, tend to be able to socialize in the very westernized districts of Lan Kwai Fong and Wan Chai, the two significant enjoyment areas on its' Isle. There is a new significant Japanese neighborhood, several of whom choose the actual high priced hotel bars as well as discotheques as their appointment places. Several large multinationals choose Hk as the particular base for their Asiatische headquarters. As a effect there are many well-off expatriates living in typically the costly mid-levels area previously mentioned Core district.

Living below is risk-free and that is a well structured area. The shopping is actually not seeing that cheap because it used to always be, yet electrical/electronic goods usually are usually great value. Outlets are usually wide open through 10am to 7pm everyday and office several hours tend to be generally from 9am for you to either 5. 30pm or perhaps 6pm on weekdays. Regional attractions include tasting often the stinky bean curd and also shredded jellyfish, experiencing the actual urban center center horse sporting as well as the dawn Tai Chi. Everything you can desire can be found the following, coming from cinemas to style leisure areas, with numerous eating places portion food from most over the World.

Following remaining stable or also slipping in 2009, property costs regarding expatriates went up significantly in fact, and are usually rising again. The location observed rents for chic holiday accommodation surge 22% really. Typically the shortage of land can be a major factor in the particular high home prices, specifically on Hk Island. Health-related is also extremely expensive.

Community transport is trustworthy along with extensive. Many people favor not to have the car and like to count on the public transfer network. The best approach to keep costs lower is always to live as typically the locals carry out. They realize where and how they can find any bargain and avoid often the tourist areas.

Below is often a comparison of Hong Kong and Ny based in a professional expatriate life-style:

Basket Group Cost associated with Living throughout China, Hong Kong

Alcohol and also Cigarettes -11. 46%: Less expensive

Apparel 3. 93%: Higher priced

Connection -3. 29%: Less costly

Education and learning -61. 76%: More affordable

Furnishings & Appliances -28. 16%: Cheaper

Groceries thirteen. 76%: More expensive

Healthcare fifty-five. 86%: More expensive

House 128. 74%: More pricey

Miscellaneous -14. 27%: Inexpensive

Personal Proper care -34. 84%: Cheaper

Fun & Lifestyle -17. 54%: Cheaper

Eating places Meals Out there and Accommodations -24. 85%: Cheaper

Transfer -6. 27%: Cheaper

Often the overall weighted living expenses distinction puts Hong Kong from 29% more expensive when compared with Nyc, primarily due to help the heavier excess weight linked to household accommodation, household goods and healthcare. However, lots of the baskets are in truth significantly less costly compared in order to New York.

Hardship will be the relative difference in good quality of living/lifestyle a particular person and the family are most likely to experience, considered with global terms, while shifting between different places. Difficulty measures the comparative level of quality of living conditions in between locations, and assesses the degree of difficulty that will possibly be experienced within adapting to be able to a new spot.

Fresh York is ranked as being a "minimal hardship" location along with a hardship premium of 10% while Hong Kong will be positioned as a "some hardship" position with some sort of hardship premium regarding twenty percent. The relative big difference inside hardship therefore sets Hong Kong 10% higher in comparison with New york city.

Based on all of the above elements, a new person would require the earnings of 1, 084, 084 Hk Dollars (HKD) in Hk to include the same standard involving living since currently appreciated in The big apple on any salary of a hundred, 000 US Dollars (USD). This specific salary compensates for that total cost of living variation connected with 29%, the difficulty change of 10%, in addition to the trade rate.

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silverfootstepswrites · 6 years

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Northern Lights [9]

title Shards summary Tiptoe softly

Sakura’s feet dangled off the edge of the bed. Even with her eyes closed, she knew exactly where Itachi was and what he was doing. She could smell his aftershave drifting out from the bathroom. The light switch clicked. The fan went silent.

His fingers skimmed over her back, raising goosebumps along her skin. “You’ll catch a cold,” he warned.

“I won’t if you stay to keep me warm,” she replied, her eyes opening. And she could see him thinking with his back turned to her. She never asked him to stay. Which is why she knew that when she did, he noticed.

When Itachi turned to face her, his eyes were so soft. Like warmed whiskey. He sat beside her, his fingers trailing up from her jaw to her cheekbone. Before they pulled through her hair, gently undoing the tangle he found halfway through.

“Any other night, I would. But not tonight, Jing-Mei. This meeting’s important,” he answered. He ran his fingers through her hair again. And from that, she knew who his important meeting was with. Or at least who it was about.

“The Sarutobi-gumi?” Sakura guessed.

"You’ve been keeping up, right?”

“More or less. The old man?”

“He’s dying. For real this time,” Itachi confirmed, running a hand through his hair.

“Finally,” Sakura sighed. Her head flopped back down onto the rumpled sheets. “I’m tired of him.” When Itachi gave her a searching look, she added, “But it wasn’t me.”

Itachi huffed. “I wouldn’t have minded if you were.”

He got off the bed to open up her wardrobe. The plastic hangers clinked together as he rummaged through to find a robe. He pulled one out, silky and blue. He liked the color blue on her, she had noticed.

“His son’s in favor to succeed, right? Asuma?” Sakura asked as Itachi draped the robe over her shoulders. She pulled one arm through it, then the other.

She distinctly remembered the wakagashira of the Sarutobi-gumi. A man with a goatee and a fondness for foreign women. He wasn’t wholly unpleasant to deal with. He was a little too smart for her to deal with him comfortably, though.

“Yes. But Hiruzen’s first son had a kid before he was killed. The kid’s eighteen now,” Itachi told her.

That didn’t surprise her. “Still a kid, though,” she pointed out.

“Not for long. And the kid has a reputation already.”

Sakura didn’t respond as she tied the front of her robe shut. Her eyes followed Itachi as he pulled his shirt on and buttoned it from the top down.

“So what’s my your role in all of this?” asked Sakura. She saw herself in the mirror. And he looked her reflection in the eyes as he fixed the collar of his shirt.

“The younger groups don’t understand. The yakuza aren’t outside of society. If anything, we’re the backbone. Things have to run smoothly in our world for civilians to live peacefully,” Itachi explained. Sakura didn’t disagree. It was the same in Hong Kong.

“Some groups will use this as a time to steal territory or to try to destroy the Sarutobi’s altogether. I prefer the enemy I know,” he then said.

“Which one do you want in charge? Of the Sarutobi-gumi, I mean.”

Itachi’s eyes stayed on hers as he began tying his tie. It was black with a silver check pattern. “The kid,” he decided without hesitation.

“Huh,” Sakura said. She smoothed her hand over the hem of the robe. So that it laid flat over her thigh.

“What does 'huh’ mean?” Itachi grabbed his cufflinks off the vanity.

"Nothing. It just means ‘huh’,” answered Sakura.

“Anyway, that means I’ll have my hands full for the time being,” Itachi declared. He folded the sleeve once. He pushed his cufflink through the slits, rotating the silver clasp into place. When he switched arms, he fumbled with the right side. “I’m meeting with my people to plan tonight. And then we’ll be meeting with other groups over the next few weeks to try to negotiate some....” Itachi trailed off as he tried to find the right words.

“Temporary treaties?” Sakura offered, motioning for him.

“Yes.” Itachi held out his arm to her so that she could slip the second cufflink into place. And she paused as she recognized them. Gleaming rectangles with a small diamond embedded into the center. She straightened his cuffs. Reached up to straighten his tie, too.

“Are you saying you won’t have time for me, leng zai? That’s hurtful,” Sakura then told him.

“You’re flying out to Hong Kong tonight. Don’t act like you’ll be a lonely housewife,” he answered with that easy smile just for her.

“Then maybe I’ll stay. We should just kill everyone so that they won’t interrupt us,” she suggested. Already laughing at the thought.

But she watched Itachi’s eyes sharpen. He glanced out the window as he murmured, “Should we?” His hand rested on top of hers. And when his gaze flickered back to her, she felt a jolt of excitement at what she saw. Something sparkled in his eyes- a little too feral to be him. But undeniably him at the same time.

“I have to go.” Itachi said it more like he was reminding himself than her. His exhale turned shaky as her finger grasped the front of his belt. Tugging playfully. Gritting his teeth, he grabbed her hands. He kissed her- hard at first. Slowly, his lips becoming gentle. Lingering softly over her mouth, her cheek.

“When you get back. We’ll have plenty of time,” he said. And there was finality to his voice that she couldn’t argue against.

“I’m not a very patient person, Kumicho.”

Cupping her cheek in his hand, Itachi kissed her again. “I know,” he sighed.

“Boss is coming back tonight,” Sai remarked. He watched Tenten toss a knife into the air. The blade spun before she caught it. And somehow, she caught it by the handle every time. He had watched her do this for years now. And not once had he seen her grab it by the pointed end.

“Yeah,” she replied.

Sai’s eyes narrowed. “Something happen?” he questioned.

Tenten raised an eyebrow. “Nah.”

“You sure?”

“I’m sure.”

Sai pursed his lips. But he watched the set of Tenten’s face and decided against pushing it that night. “Okay.” He got out of his seat, brushing out the wrinkles in his jacket before he draped it over his arm.

“Before I forget- you know that bar of yours? Right by Sheung Wan Station?” he asked.

Tenten caught the knife. It stayed in her hand this time as she looked at him. “Yeah?”

“Been hearing rumors about the place. Not the good kind. Tell your guys to be more careful,” he warned. He slipped out of the room. Letting the door swing shut behind him with a heavy clang. His footsteps echoing down the concrete stairs.

Tenten’s eyes fell on the group of muscular men sitting in the corner. They had set up a folding table with cards. Their guns sat in the middle, along with their phones.

Clicking her tongue, Tenten flicked the knife in their direction. It landed just beside the pile of cards in the middle. All three men jerked upright, heads swiveling in her direction.

“Shouldn’t you be out checking the night market instead of fooling around?” Tenten demanded.

“Sorry, Boss. Right away,” they muttered as they shoved the cards in a pile and scrambled to grab their things.

“And you heard what Sai said about Blink. Go and talk to Fung about keeping shit quiet. If he gives you trouble...” Tenten didn’t have to finish her statement.

“Mou man tai. We got it, Boss,” one of the other men said. They hurried out of the room too. Their heavy boots clomping down the steps.

Once it was quiet, Tenten leaned back in her seat. Her feet up on the table. This was the back room at an indoor market they had acquired about a year ago. Cops didn’t really think to look for suspicious activity in a place like this. As long as the stalls paid rent on time, it was an easy source of income.

Tenten heaved a sigh when she felt her phone vibrate. It wasn’t a number she had saved. She recognized it anyway. She lifted the phone to her ear.

“Wei?”

“Bad news for you.”

“Fucking great,” Tenten grumbled. Rubbing her palm over her eye, she took a deep breath. “Okay, what?”

“I hear the Dragon Head’s been poking the Russians with a stick.”

“So?”

“So- that’s making the HKPD nervous. They’re planning on sending in someone to snoop around.”

Tenten outright laughed at that. “Great. We’ll send his head to you. You prefer it in a cooler or a block of ice?”

“I’m serious. And it’s not going to be someone you can get rid of so easily.”

That caught her interest. Tapping her fingers against the table, she raised her eyebrows.

“Who is it?” she finally asked.

“Hashirama’s daughter. Tsunade.”

A chuckle left Tenten. But it was filled with disbelief more than amusement. She shook her head.

“Fuck.”

“Yeah.”

It was still winter in Tokyo. But apparently Hong Kong had decided that it was spring already. A wall of humidity greeted her when she stepped off the plane. Zabuza, of course, was there to pick her up. The car sparkled. He had probably taken it to the wash right before arriving.

While Zabuza opened the door, Tenten loaded Sakura’s bags into the trunk.

Sakura shed her jacket as she settled into the backseat. Zabuza closed her door. He slid into the driver’s seat, adjusting the rearview mirror so that he could see her.

“Where to, Boss?” he asked.

As soon as Tenten got in, he pulled away from the curb.

“The studio by Hong Kong Park. I’m tired,” Sakura ordered, kicking her boots off.

“Of course,” Zabuza replied. His eyes returned to the road as he pulled onto the highway.

“Things been okay here?” Sakura then addressed Tenten.

“Pretty quiet, for the most part. Some of the Red Arrow boys butted heads with the Suns over some nonsense. Suigetsu took care of it,” Tenten recalled. She took a moment to think and added, “Councillor Mok was caught with hookers and had to resign in disgrace last week.”

“I saw that on the news,” replied Sakura. She shook her head. “We’ll have to bribe someone else to pull for us on the Legislative Council.”

“Anything else?” Sakura asked.

Tenten considered the question. She looked at her phone in her hand. Recalling the enlightening conversation from earlier that day. Expression unchanging, she shoved her phone back into her pocket. “Mou je, Boss. Nothing else.”

Over the next few days, Sakura was busy meeting with people to resolve the issues that her underlings couldn’t handle on her own. Thankfully, there hadn’t been much trouble in her three week absence.

Sitting in her office overlooking Victoria Harbor, Sakura couldn’t help but notice that Itachi hadn’t called her even once since she had landed in Hong Kong. It bothered her that she even noticed something like that at all. Just as that thought occurred to her, a phone rang. Not her cell. The one that sat on her big, wooden desk. It was the receptionist downstairs.

“Who’s asking for me?” Sakura demanded. She laughed when she heard the name he had given.

“Send him up,” Sakura ordered before hanging up the phone.

It didn’t take long for the elevator to arrive on the top floor. There was a soft knock.

“Come in,” Sakura called.

She pretended to be busy as the door swung open. She picked up one of the documents from the pile, taking a long time to read the fine print that she never normally read.

“I don’t believe we scheduled an appointment,” said Sakura. She took her time dating and signing the form as she heard the door swing shut. The lock clicking into place.

“I apologize.” It was a man’s voice. Cantonese. But with an interesting accent. “I just felt awful about the way our first meeting went. I felt the need to come apologize in person.”

Lowering her pen, Sakura finally lifted her chin to look right at him.

Minato stood in front of her desk, one hand in his pants pocket. His wheat-colored hair slicked back. A gold chain glittering around his neck as he smiled at her.

“You only feel bad about that? Not about the assassins you sent to my hotel room?” she queried, keeping her voice light.

“Well, that was only fair. You did kill one of my dealers,” Minato reminded her. His eyes crinkling at the corners as he chuckled.

‘‘I’m honestly a little insulted that it was only three. Is that all I’m worth in the eyes of a foreigner?” she wondered.

“On the contrary. I sent three and not one because of that reputation. I hear that you’re the one that killed Uchiha Madara,” Minato said.

“I’m flattered that you did your research.”

She examined his expression. There were all sorts of rumors swirling around about Namikaze. Out of all the Russian arms dealers working in Hong Kong, he was the wealthiest. He dealt to everyone, irregardless of alliances or grudges. She had, of course, heard of his exploits. Intercepting shipments meant for international armies was a specialty of his.

“But I’m sure you’re not here just to chat. What can I do for you?” she asked.

Her eyes followed him as he approached her desk. He sat on the edge of it instead of in one of the chairs facing it. Hands still in his pockets, he let his stare rake over her. She had a good idea of what he would say before he opened his mouth. His eyes said it all.

“I just wanted to apologize for my son’s behavior during our first meeting. He’s so hot-headed. Just like his mother was,” Minato stated.

Sakura’s gaze drilled into him. Scrutinizing every inch of his expression. He had made it a point to use past-tense.

“I was frankly surprised by his rudeness. Usually when a man so obviously wants to fuck me, he starts off by playing nice,” she said as casually as possible.

Minato’s eyes widened. HIs shock was genuine. After a beat, he threw his head back and laughed. A full-bellied laugh that made his shoulders move up and down. It wasn’t an unpleasant sound.

Pushing back from her desk, Sakura got out of her seat. She moved toward the window, leaning against it. Gauging the way that Minato’s eyes followed after her.

“It’s rare that someone is so frank about these things,” he stated.

“What’s the point in being coy? Lots of men have wanted to fuck me. I don’t see the point in avoiding the truth,” she pressed. Watching his face.

Minato’s smile didn’t fade as he responded, “That’s true. After all. I do, too.”

“And that’s why you’re here,” she said.

“Yes. Although, if you were to turn me down, I’m also prepared to talk business with you. So either way, we’ll be able to reach some sort of... mutual satisfaction today,” he assured her. That arrogance was a little charming in its own way.

Sakura folded her arms across her chest. “So you think you can just waltz in here and seduce me?”

“Yes.”

She had to admire that sort of confidence.

“My only concern is that your relationship with a certain yakuza might... complicate things,” Minato pointed out.

Sakura’s eyes moved from him to her phone siting on her desk. It reminded her, again, of how there had been no word from Itachi. Four days. Not a text. Not a call.

Minato stood very still as Sakura’s gaze raked over him. And once she had taken in every detail about him, she walked up to him. A sway in her hips. Her red lips smiling as she closed her fingers around his tie.

“It doesn’t,” she replied. Each syllable touching his lower lip.

“Are you sure?” he asked.

“Пожалуйста, прекрати говорить,” Sakura whispered.

Minato chuckled as his arms wrapped around her waist. It was a deep, rich sound. Like dark chocolate. Heavy, sweet, and bitter all at the same time.

#help me #this is literally the busiest time of year #but i can't stop writing what is happening #triad!sakura #Triad!AU #northern lights #writing #itasaku #minasaku

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