recon

Aw shucks, Thats really bad news. But good news Noel is going to Japan to bring us more goodies. Hope you will be there for the next MW HK Shopathon if there is another. Cheers

Wow Guppy, 8am, thats very early! You didnt manage to get an evening or afternoon flight? Cheers

Hi guys, Okie seeing that you have already made reservations for your accomodation. thats a relief. Any problems in arranging transportation from the airport to your hotel? As i mentioned, never take a taxi from the airport to your hotel, as it cost a bomb..mor likely its cost you a 1/48 valk. There are certain hotels that cater transportation to and fro the airport and hotel on the arrival and departure dates but im not certain which are the ones. Maybe you can check up with the hotel you booked wether they cater such services. Okie now onto the question: When and what date you guys will be arriving in HK? Have you guys thought of a place to meet? For me ill be arriving on the 8th of January 2004, Mid noon. Place of meeting which i feel would be most ideal is Sino Centre entrance. Regards to those staying at Ramada, perhaps you guys can arrange to meet at the hotel lobby at a designated time, before proceeding to Sino Centre. Once all of us have gathered, we maybe can go for breakfast first as the shops dun open that early...need the energy for a hectic day ahead as there will alot of walking and shopping. Dinner? what do you guys intend? Have it together then proceed to a pub to drink and chat abt macross and stuff till we are drunk? 10th of January, Saturday. More shopping? then followed by the routine schedule? 11th of January, Sunday, again more shopping? Boy im bushed. sorry guys im leaving on a flight together with my fiancee in the evening, so i can only join you for the 9th and 10th only. I guess Graham has our iternary planned for the 3 days itself. It will be most defintely an awesome trip for us all. Cheers

Hi Tam, No problems, i understand how you felt. I would have reacted in the same way if i was in a similar situation. Cheers

Please get your facts straight before insulting Kevin and I and the rest of the retailers here. As Kevin mentioned, we should be getting these in about a week or so. Milking the cow? Yeah, that's why we both have DAY JOBS so that we can pay our bills Hi Tam and Kevin, I wasnt hitting at you guys, what i meant was the local retailers in singapore besides RC and Wondershowcase. Maybe i should have added a singapore word into the statement. This is what i meant initially: Just trying to highlight some things to blackjek with regards to the availability of the low vis in the current market in singapore. Sorry for the misunderstanding. My deepest apologies. Of course Kevin, Tam and Rob and other retailers have been doing a splendid job in providing their service to fans of MW as you guys too are Macross fans too cos you breathe, eat and collect macross and other stuff. I do understand that Tam and Kevin as well as Rob hold day jobs besides managing their online business, that alone takes a strain on the mental and physical aspect as you need to juggle both of them. Frankly and honestly saying, you guys have my admiration cos its really difficult to manage a business let alone the fact you have a day job and in some instances maybe a family, it take total dedication and commitment as well as devotion to keep things going. Sorry if i offended you guys as i didnt meant any harm intended. Sorry once again.

Heh, I never actually formally proposed to my wife, which is something she never lets me forget. The story is like this, we had been living together for about 7 years already and talked about marriage, but we were not really in a hurry. Anyway, my parents in UK kept bugging me about getting married, so just to shut them up, I told them we were thinking about it sooni-ish and then all of a sudden just like that, they started arranging everything, booking the church, hotel reception etc. So rather than disappoint them, we just decided to go along with it and got married. I've no regrets and I've been married very happily for six and a half years already now. So I guess the closest I every came to a proposal was: - Me: "so ya' wanna get married in a few years?" My wife: "Err....okay, I guess so." Graham Hey Graham, Thats cool, so you parents arranged everything for ya and you didnt have to break a sweat about it. Whereas me my head is about to burst just on the registration, booking and immigration clearance that i have to do, but i got all that in check now. so just take one step at a time. Would bringing an empty suitcase to HK this January, no it isnt for toys but to act as a spare for her clothes and stuff. Maybe i should just bring her to a quiet corner near the causeway bay and proposed rite? Next is Noel on the list to get hitched, maybe we shall hint hint to his gf. Cheers

Rite on Guppy! Any wife who is able to put up with their mother-inlaws is a good wife. She will be more tolerant to you with regards to spending on toys. Cheers

I bet you will find a LOT of cool stuff to spend your money. Beleive me. Me wants some books, movies, Orgoids, Valks, Models, and whatever cool looking mecha I find. Hummmm... My experience was kinda special. I got this job in China, so I asked her to come with me. She said "Okie, but first buy me a big diamond ring". So I did and we got married on a Saturday night and took a plane to Shanghai on Monday. I was so COOL. Well we where toghether since we had 17 years old, so I guess to get married was nothing but a formality. I dont know much about the two Gs, but I herd some comments... I heard Guppy lied to his wife about his age, first name, second name, Family name, job, hobbies, possetions, financial situation and proyections. Graham lied to his wife about been a weapons dealer and told her he was a Labor pilot. Hahaha Sebastian you shouldn't mentioned such things in the main. Anyway my fiancee has been together in this relationship with me for 3 years, i just wish to bring her over and start taking care of her afterall she has been my pillar of support and encouragement over these 3 years when i was jobless after grad from Uni as well when i was having problems or difficulties. I think if given any gal in SG, they would have left me long ago but she waited for me and believed in me and cared for me even though we were in different continents. Noel also has a gf in HK, we shall see when he gets married, maybe then we could use another excuse to hold another MW HK Shopathon. Hey Sebastian is your wife an asian? Or she was just working in china? With regards to what to buy while in HK, i would see how things go, if i see what i like, i may get it. But my first pirority if they are available are the CM figures and maybe a 1/48 VF-1J or VF-1S Hikaru (Im a MISB freak, one to play, one to keep). Cheers

Sorry Blackjek, i just bought the last piece from Wondershowcase, Noel's shop There is still one available at Action City Parco Bugis, its in C9++ condition with a bit of crease at the corner of the box, retailing at SGD $219.9 (USD $127.1). So hurry down and get it before its gone! Dun get it off ebay or yahoo auctions unless you really need to and abstain buying from some local retailers who offer horrendous price for the 1/48 Low Vis. If you have trouble getting one, im sure Noel will help you source for one at a reasonable price. Cant stand some of the local retailers here, jack up the price like nobody's business (they might as well go and rob), for all you know the 1/48 VF-1J is next as HLJ is low in stock. Okie back to the topic, my opinion, this is what you should get first based on the availability of the 1/48 series: 1) 1/48 Low Vis 2) 1/48 VF-1S Reissue (Noel will bring them in again somewhere in december, so far to my knowledge he is the only retailer who is bring the reissues in. Why? Cos he is a Macross fan i say whereas the rest are interested in milking the cow as much as they could from the toy market) 3) 1/48 VF-1J/Non Fps ( Wait for Yamato to release a 1/48 GPB armor..keke, anyways VF-1J looks better without Fps, easier on your wallet too) 4) 1/48 VF-1S Hikaru 5) Lastly whatever you want after you obtained the above series Point to note if you havent got your 1/48 Fps, get them at RC before they are gone! I would place that ahead of pirority No 2: Cheers

Ok guys, So we more or less settled our accomodation! So the next question, what are you going to get while you are there at the toy shops? Be it Sino Centre, CTMA centre and Animate and so on... I dun even know what i need...frankly saying cos everything is provided here in SG...maybe i will try my luck at getting 1 more 1/48 VF-1S Hikaru or more Fps or maybe even CM figures. Basically my trip to HK is mainly personal..meet my in laws...have a farewell dinner with her friends and parents...bring my fiancee over to SG for registration of marriage. Not to mention...take a good break from work as well as meet the people whom are in MW. I thought of proposing to my fiancee while i was there (I got the ring already)...therefore need your support to boost up my courage and guts.. Frankly saying guys like Graham, Guppy Sebastian and others, how did you guys propose to your wife? In front of a big crowd or in a corner quietly away from others? Cheers

correct places? Beware of the evil grin on sebastian face.

Yaps i received mine a month ago, waiting for Noel to bring in the 2nd batch! It rocks so far...still sore about the uncorrected head seam and fuselage thing even though on mine it isnt that obvious. Cheers

Hey guppy you have been on ebay or other auctions forum too many a times issit? I will be staying at BP international as its close to my in-law's place. No worries for me as MTR is a short walk away and just a few train stops to Mongkok. How and where should we meet on the actual day? and what time too? I shouldn't be having any problem as i have Graham's number to contact in case of miscommunication or emergencies. Hey Noel i presume you are staying at your GF's place rite? Mongkok? near to sino centre or far away? Noel when would you be arriving in HK? want to go together on the same flight? Cheers

That friend of his is clearly his managing partner, even so he claims he is helping her. Cheers

The rooms in BP are quite okie for a room with queen size bed or double decker beds. Judging from the photos in the wonderfestival report, it can be said to be bigger than that in japan. I have stayed there everytime im in HK, to me its the most affordable yet economical yet the surrounding ambience and atmosphere is close to that of a 4 star hotel. So i highly recommend it. By the way, if you are booking airline tickets and hotels together as package or not. Its best to find out wether the travel agency has ties with the local travel agencies in HK. Why? cos most of the travel agencies in HK provide transport to and from the airport to the hotel on the arrival and departure dates. It will be much more convenient and less expensive than you have to make your way to hotel yourself from the airport. You would have to take a bus to somewhere nearby then followed by a cab. Never..i repeat Never take a cab from the airport to the hotel as the rates are exorbitant. Cheers

Hey Guppy its okie..My mistake on my part, of course im joking too. Shucks made the same mistake twice, forgot to put the decimal point. Hey guppy, especially with your good looks, im sure many gals in HK will take a fancy at ya, careful your wife dun pull your ears. Cheers

My wife is also 156cms tall...and she is tagging along during this trip... And I am getting her the t-shirt also...so maybe I was thinking if the wives get too bored with our trip, they could go shopping on their own, and leave us alone for our "shopping, beer, and ...." Guys, don't forget to bring a digital camera for pictures of our awesome group trip... Paulo No digicam..shucks! Im contemplating on getting one though but...the finance for it goes to my purchase of a proposal ring for her which is worth the price of 1/1 DRYL helmet....Nevermind, the sacrifice is well worth it. Cheers

Recon, Guppy is joking with you, because you forgot the decimal point. You should have written either 1.6m or 160cm. Graham Hi guys, yah i know, its okie sometimes in the midst of typing especially when multitasking several tasks at once, one do make mistakes. My fiancee is of course in the height region of 1.56 to 1.58 meters. Im sure our wifes, gfs and fiancees will have a good time together while we make our rounds sightseeing and looking for toys. They will probably say "When will they ever grow up and stop buying toys?" Cheers

Hmm XL...it looks kinda of small. Even though im getting XL which is close to a US large, it still seems to be kinda of small. Maybe i could use a XXL, but then again it seems kinda of big. I also about the same built as Noel but i prefer to wear shirts that a bit bigger like jerseys cos its more comfortable. What should i do? I wear a Adidas Large jersey and also for Nike soccer jerseys. Cheers

Hey guppy, Human skyscraper? Not a very nice thing to say.... I think she is around 158 to 160m but in the asia pacific region, thats not consider very tall but rather on the average or short side. Nevertheless i love her . Hey guppy how tall is your wife, she must be quite tall too rite? Okie back to the topic of lodging. Okie i will be definitely staying at BP international cos it suits my budget as well as expenses (More money to spend on toys...shh dun let my fiancee hear this). We could meet the hotel lobby on the 9th of January at a stipulated and agreed time before proceeding to our first stop, which is Sino Centre. We could either meet first then go for breakfast or have breakfast first then meet the guys. So if any of you guys lodging at BP international, do inform me as i need to know who are staying there and who to meet. I will arrange with Graham on the whereabts to meet on the nite before. Cheers

Opps sorry me bad! Cant remember the correct hotel name. By the way Noel would you be staying at Grand Tower Hotel or somewhere else if you happen to be able to make it for the trip? Cheers

Yah the names sound crazy, but what matters in the end the product really works. When i place them in my cabinet or closets, at the end of of 3 months, i usually get buckets full of water absorbed by them. It prevent moisture as well as fungus buildup and also removes smells due to moldiness of items. Its a cheaper alternative to protect your items especially in a hot and humid country and it cost about USD $2 per bucket. Cheers

Yaps i used "thirsty hippo" too, very effective as it draw alot of moisture from the surroundings. Bear in mind this is effective best in enclosed areas or cabinets. Hey Graham, How much does a dehumidifier cost in HK? I may think of getting one to act as a reinforcement for my portable "thirsty hippo" Must protect my precious and important Macross stuff as well as models. Afterall, they are so costly and expensive. Cheers

Wingcommander, please refer to my last post. Thanks

Ok guys please listen up clearly, i had a talk with Noel this evening. It seems the best hotel that would convenient for you guys to stay and meet would be Grand Royal hotel, which is 20 mins walk away from Mongkok MTR. Sino Centre would be located roughly opposite the hotel along the way. We could meet up at the basement of the hotel at a designated time and maybe head for breakfast first as the shops dun open that early for business. Please do purchase a sim card with a store value if possible and bring your cellphone to remain contactable or in case of emergency you may contact graham. Please do pm Graham for his contact number. I hope this information is helpful to you all. Hope to see you guys soon. Cheers