2	2009, year-end report

End of year stories often feature the best and worst, the most memorable and most forgettable events of the year. As a custom I have started recently (and not yet ready to give up), here’s the most popular blog entries of Living in Hong Kong in 2009.

10. Hong Kong vs Singapore: Singapore Sucks?
There is somehow this lingering comparison between Hong Kong and Singapore. Who gets to pay more? Who has better facilities? Who has better lifestyle? Apparently, as the title implies, the blog contains signs you are a frustrated human being in Singapore and make you think Singapore sucks.

9. Langham Hotel’s Big Deal Promotion Makes Street Food Undesirable
Arguably one of the biggest gaffes in promoting hotel business using Hong Kong’s budding social media sphere. Not only did it fail, but it also created hesitation more than encouragement for business to join the bandwagon.

8. Things to do Before You Leave Hong Kong
As you would notice, many articles about Hong Kong talk about newcomers (what to do, when to visit, where to go). My blog post takes another angle: by looking into the eyes of long time residents planning to leave the city. Takes a look at things that may have been taken for granted or simply those not often mentioned elsewhere.

7. Hong Kong Book Fair and Pseudo Models
Middle of the year marks summer vacation from school. Therefore, it’s a good time to hold a book fair and launch of books for school children as the move to the next level. But not all books sold are intended for school children; adults also read, correction, watch photos of teenage models who have made their presence felt by launching their own paperbacks.

6. Jill Vidal, Kelvin Kwan Arrested in Tokyo
Just how silly some might think that just because a celebrity is endorsing a “Say No To Drugs” campaigns, teenagers are quick to heed his/her plead. In this case, Kelvin Kwan was that celebrity hired by the government to do shows and promote clean lifestyle. Look who’s talking, Kwan and rumored girlfriend Jill Vidal, a Filipino-Chinese-Korean R&B singer was nabbed in Tokyo for possession of illegal drugs.

5. Jacque Bermejo: The Latest Pinoy Punching Bag Online
Talk about social media again. To avoid reprisals, be sure to be aware when posting photos, videos and messages online, particularly Facebook. She posted a message saying she’s happy to be in Dubai so she could avoid the terrible Typhoon Ondoy. (She could have just stopped there). She went on to say that there are so many sinners who deserved the flooding. The last few words caused her too much trouble. As a second lesson from this incident, at least she could have made her password more secure.

4. Shopping at Bossini and Giordano
Hong Kong is known for shopping, so it is not surprising that I write something to address questions from visitors and first timers hoping to join the shopping spree.

3. Andy Lau Wedding
Andy Lau is an endearing figure to Hong Kong locals. From concerts to endorsements and films, everyone seems to follow him. So when the news broke out that he is going to get married after all these years, a sure blockbuster news was expected.

2. Tsunami Hoax on July 2009 Solar Eclipse
As Asia approaches the fifth anniversary (just last Saturday) there is more apprehension about a déjà vu. No wonder it’s better to be safe than sorry. The issue in this case is that the solar eclipse which took place last July is not strong enough to trigger another tsunami. Thankfully.

1. Shopping Blog: Citygate Outlet Malls in Tung Chung
Another evidence that people often associate Hong Kong with shopping. With that phenomenon, the page dedicated to the only outlet mall in the city is getting the most traffic even when it was published in August of ‘08.

This year marks Living in Hong Kong’s introduction to Asian Correspondent, a progressive collection bloggers from Asia Pacific. I’d like to wish a Happy New Year to fellow correspondents and all readers. All the best for 2010 and beyond.

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuckincustoms