So I reiterate here, the bill is dead. The story of this great city is about the years before this night. We are free. Hi everyone, it's a new episode of Hong Kong. Sitting here kind of cold with my buddy who is warmer. I am much warmer. I have the jacket on my body, covering the hair on my arms and warmed in my soul. Yeah, that's why I'm cold, because my soul is cold.
Doesn't exist. Yeah, it's very empty in there, Yeah. It's like every song, at some point, every artist has had that song lyric where my soul is cold. That's a rhyme that's going to work. Yeah. So you guarantee some of those. But yeah, so we're over here again enjoying this hotted, than got cold and got humid and got dry. Yes, yeah, yeah. It's, I think it's one of the longer, maybe we say that every year, but one of the longer like cold weather things.
I can say that I think the last time I remember this happening was back in 2015. The reason I say that is because I went to Melbourne for the Comedy Festival my first time and I remember precisely going there and getting there and saying the weather is similar, similar weather. And then? When I came back to Hong Kong in May and I was like, oh, this is Hong Kong humidity, right?
I remember now. So the fact that I didn't remember before going to Melbourne, I was like, yeah, definitely that year had this year's temperature as well, which tells you every time, ten years we're going to have good weather. OK, well, do you consider this good? Now we're recording? Yeah, when it's like still kind of grey and. Cold, well grey and cold is OK as long as you're like all like sweaty and humid. That's true.
Yeah, it's a bit. Overcast today definitely, but I would say I would take overcast days over humid sunny days. That's true. We took the dog to around the Taitam Reservoir area yesterday and yeah, I walked around for like 3 hours. Not a drop of sweat. Yeah, it's really good. Like so yeah, yeah, yeah. It's like no one is like gassing out even like the high end clients and stuff. Yeah, right. Yeah, it's the time for it before maybe by the time this comes out, it's already like over.
It's already like. Warm within the next 24 hours, it's going to be like humid 42°. Yes, we're having like every news articles about like climate change. Oh yeah, people are like wearing sports T-shirts, but somehow it's supposed to be sweat wicking and doesn't Wick any sweat. You know what I mean? It's like it's one of those things where you have those T-shirts where it's supposed to be like, it doesn't show sweat, you know? And then it turns out, yeah, but it's not waterproof. Yes.
So it's actually just soaked. Yeah. So you have. Speaking of T-shirts, I am wearing, coincidentally, a genuine Hugo Boss T-shirt. Really. That it? Yes. Are you serious? Yes. Well, I've had it for. A long time Hugo Boss T-shirt, Yes. What's the What's the inspiration? The inspiration is very simple. During COVID, yeah, the government was giving people handouts and I exclusively started buying dumb shit because I, I just like, I'm like, I
thought it was funny. So I actually bought like a couple of like, yeah, basically luxury items. And also I have Balenciaga shoes that I've never worn because they look so ridiculous, but they're also by thanks to the Hong Kong government handout. I just decided to because I had a job at the time, like the, the coffee job. So I didn't really need the money, like just extra money. So I'm like, I'll just buy dumb shit. So this is a genuine busty this is.
Brand new. Yeah, because I don't wear it a lot, because it's luxury item. I just have it hanging. So you're one of those people that you're like, when you have that really good item, you're like, I'll keep it in sealed. Yes. Are you the type of person that when they have a television screen, they keep that little plastic on the edges? Not on the TV screen, but on the phone. On the phone, on the phone, yeah. Yeah, like with that extra screen protector. I keep that one on the TV
screen. A bit annoying because like you can really see the reflection, the reflection, and also like it just really mutes the colors. Yeah, but on the phone I keep it for a while until it starts like popping out from the side. Yeah. OK. So basically, you know those LED screens that have that little thin layer of plastic? Yes. So that you keep those for small items, Yes, yes. What about then the edge of the TV? In other words, not the TV screen.
Yeah. But you know how, like along the edge of the TV, they have that one little thin plastic strip that you need, like it's a really long set, but this goes up. To be honest, I have not done that for a very long time just because I never I haven't bought a brand new TV. Buy second hand. Yes, yeah, yeah, buy second hand or it's like in the apartment that I rent or whatever. Yeah. So I actually I don't recall buying a brand new TV in the last like since I came to Hong Kong.
So you're are you the type of person that when you buy stuff you will keep the box as well? Yes. So the box, yeah, I have a drawer of box of boxes of like, like phones and like earphones and stuff. Yeah. And my logic is usually like, oh, you go back and like find like the warranty slip or whatever. Yeah, none of this makes sense. It's just junk in your drawer. Yeah.
So I now have like 3 phones ago. Actually what happens is that when the phone dies, yes the go, the phone goes in back in its box and now I have boxes of old phones. So you have the old phone in this box in. This box yes in a can't. Use correct dude that has that would have a lot of retail value. Yeah, probably. Sure. That was not my intention, but I should go back and like probably, yeah, just sell the phone like Shamshui PO with its box. I'm sure, yeah, yeah.
And then people will be like, oh, it's a full collection for people who want to have that kind of. Collection. OK yeah. You mean that collectors and stuff? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like literally, like, you know, 1015 year old phones in their boxes with all of their accessories, like whatever is left, yeah, it's just all there.
It's just like a little coffin. Dude, this is like because I tell you this because like when let's say camera lenses and stuff, when I get second hand market, there's a there's you get like an extra 5 or 10% with the boxes included. Yes, yes, which? I'm the type of guy before not so much because I was like I might myself since I have it one
day. Now I'm like I have limited space in my home and I'm like the moment my item is in being used, yes, the box is gone right, yes, I don't care if you whatever you want to say. I cannot have this paper box in my house potentially collecting bugs. Yes, you know, I'm getting humid in summer. Yeah. I think for the bigger items like we talked about our Dyson's a few weeks ago. Got to go man. Yeah, yeah, that, that Dyson box
is just too big. I like the idea of having it, but there's no chance I can stay in the house. So that's gone. But then the Dyson like little like cover thing that they give you with like I think mine like give you a like a little like there's a couple for the extensions. Oh yeah, like a little ouchy thing. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That one has to stay because it's too nice. Right, so. It's like the stuff that is generally nice. I I keep.
Yeah, but like any box, like big cardboard boxes, I don't know who has space for that in Hong Kong. That's. Well, I mean the good thing is that cardboard boxes is highly attracted by many, many individuals, correct? Yes, with the paper box, cardboard box industry. What is the resale value of these by the way? I think I heard it's like $1.00, one kilo. OK, It's not too bad. Not too bad. Yeah.
What happens? I remember the the process where I was talking to someone, they would say that a lot of the people who collect cover boxes, yeah, they would obviously put some water over it. Yes, add the weights. But yes, like if when you go around town you really do collect them, you can get quite a few kilos of that stuff. Yeah, of course, right. That's. Why you got people with the trucks and everything coming down like they're going all in. Yes, yes, right.
So I think that is the thing. And obviously you have the green station that do the recycling. Yes, the six, The six, yeah, yeah, you are a big fan of that I'm. A big fan of that, yeah. I used to have one in front of my old place in sign point that opened right when I moved out which is really annoying because there was one behind me and I was too lazy. And then I'm like, it's always the excuse of like, I would have recycled if you guys open at the right time. So let me.
But it's your fault. Yeah, right. You can make it convenient. For me exactly. Which is true actually. Like initially when they took away those recycling bins, I was like, I screw this man, you know, if you don't want to help me, I can help you kind of things. Then they got the green stations happening and the best thing that they do is now there's two ways to play the game. One is you go in and you take your stuff, can you put it into the the different compartment
bins. The other ones you line up and you get your points for the weight of your items. Huh. OK, so they actually have a have a little point system and as much as as we mocked and made fun of where I own 2 houses, yes, I will go line up. Yeah. So you can get the points. I get the points and eventually after I don't know how many, maybe you. Get a pack of noodles or something. Literally a pack of noodles, man. Yeah. Like you get like one of those like Shanghai noodles or like
maybe a bottle of oil. I'm like, let me just say the best thing is what they didn't realize is that ball of oil, it has a plastic container, yes, which I can then recycle. And I'm like, this is called compound interest people. OK, I'm reinvesting the plastic while they gave me back to go into the next thing which I can now reinvest and reinvest. I really hope did you ever get recognized in that line. All the time. Do the guys recognize me? All the time, man. Like they know who I am.
Yeah, they know who I am. Did. They not call you out on it. Like, they're like looking. You need to line up. No, you OK? This is the thing you must understand the psychology of someone who does work in those stations is that they are the type of president who wants to save the plant, Right? Yes, of course. So the fact that they see someone like myself lining up, yeah, they're not going to be like, are you cheapskate you or yes, they're like, oh, this guy's legit. Like he's.
Really. Right. You're right, yes. And they're forgetting the fact that I'm trying to get that free ball of oil. And the thing, this guy has a lot of junk he doesn't want to throw away. Yes, and he's trying to recycle. So they're seeing like the good, not the cheapest. That's good, Yeah, because that's what they focused on, right? Yeah.
Is what you focused on anyway. So the best part is that what they don't, at least I don't feel that they give me The Dirty eye and then the weird look of is like, you're back here this week again. Yeah, with this much shit. Yeah, yeah. It's like how much shit do you buy like. What have you done in your life that you got, like this much junk in one week? Yeah. Now remember, I'm on camber, which means we have 3 stations. OK? On a Monday morning, we have it under the escalator.
On a Thursday evening, we have the same thing under the escalator. I love that you know there is scheduled schedule. Dude, yeah. And then on Saturday afternoon, we have another one, like a little far off, but I can walk to it and I can still somehow every week at least hit two of them nice with stuff to give. Yeah. Boy, this is so much. And. And The thing is what? Do you usually just like mostly plastic or just.
Like batteries big with paper like paper is my thing 'cause like I get so much that say mail or or documents on this and I got to do. So you give them even like they like, yeah, if you get like a whatever bullshit advertising and Oh yeah, yeah, like you can recycle that. You just give it to them. Yeah, yeah, wow, that is actually, I imagine it's a lot. Yeah, it's a lot for like the whole household, 2 houses or whatever. That is everything. What do they do with it?
I believe they will like get the pulp out and then like turn it into that pulpy whatever. Yeah, yeah, yeah. OK. But I do, I do feel bad because like, there must be some sort of level of human processing or something where they got to go through all that stuff and find someone messed this one up. Yes, Because I could totally tell someone has definitely not cared. Just chucked everything. Whatever. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah.
Which is probably why they got rid of the street stations, because people are probably doing that, dumping their junk there. At least you get some monitoring, right? The good thing, though, is that you do this and then it gets me excited. Yeah. And I think this is the power of a deadline where you're like, I, man, it's Monday morning. Yeah. And you think we have anything to get rid of, you know? And you're like, oh, this is it. And that's when I get the incentive to.
I have a new item and I'm like, do I want to keep the box or not? I'm like, well, it's now or never, dude, you have to get rid of that box today or wait till Thursday. And that's when I'm like, I screw it, let's go. Yeah, and like. Quickly get processed, take out the little labels, whatever, and I'm like, this has got to get out of here. Yeah, yeah. Oh yeah, man, the how?
Do you, do you not worry? I have have this paranoia of like like I take my name like if I have a delivery from like HKTV mall or. Something cut the label off. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Make sure that your name and phone number or your address is not connected. Yeah. OK. So you do the same. I guess that's normal. Yeah, it's for a lot of people, yeah. I think like the only reason I take it off is simply because I'm like, I don't, I'm not aware of what the QR codes actually
supply. And yes, and I'm like, you know what? It's just like how people have that thing where never take a photo of your boarding pass. Yes, I was just thinking of that. Yeah, Yeah. I told Annie about it and she didn't believe me. And then I looked it up and it's like totally, very true. Like the the news are saying, stop posting photos of your boarding pass with a little QR like that barcode on it because it basically has all your passport information. Pilots, We have a bunch of
pilots watching and listening. You can correct us on this, but I'm pretty sure when I looked it up that was the case And like see did you block the the boarding pass with your finger or something You. Know it's like be like oh, look at my champagne with my passport, but who can see the boarding pass right over there yeah.
So like these kinds of things and I've also learnt how a lot of the receipts you get at restaurants, yes, the ones when they have like little carbon print on it yeah, those, those can be recycled, yes. And those annoy me because I get a shit ton of those. I'm like God damn it. Man, yeah, very annoying. It's like they are like also like quite like, like thin paper, right? It's like it's too weak to recycle. I guess that or maybe that type of paper is just not, no, yeah,
one of those things, but. Yeah, people are asking like because I also it sounded now that I was just bragging about my genuine Hugo Boss T-shirt. There is a point of me saying this. And then we, of course, like started talking about others. Yeah. So the reason I was mentioning it is because I recently I watched a documentary on like, the fake markets in China, which is fascinating. I actually realized that there is a guy in Hong Kong who we are trying to get on the podcast
now, who, whose job? He has a consultancy company and his job is to go. He gets hired by brands and he goes into China, pretends to be like, he's like basically investigative whatever. Yeah. And he gets hired by brands to go into China, pretends to be like a big wholesaler. And he tries to find their their, their factories and then works with the Chinese authorities to shut them down. Whoa. And he's like a big white guy. And he's genuinely like, he goes
like undercover and stuff. He has like, wigs. And it's fascinating. Oh my. God, that's, that's just, that's another level, man. When you're like sitting at home going like, you know, how can I fuck something up, man? Yes. Yeah, you know exactly. One of the cool like I've always thought we have like, and we still do like have some of the coolest jobs ever, the stuff that we do.
But I'm like, that's a job. I would be like, I would trade lives with that guy just to be like put on like a wig and go to China and be like, I am a trader from the Middle East. Dude, show me your facts. Like he has he's like, is it method acting? He has to be like, yeah, he's like looking at mega like. What is this? Yeah. No, no, no, I've done that. I've done that in that mall. No, they'll recognize the voice. What is this? Yeah, I was just like, yeah,
learn like a Russian accent. This works. For like a month to sound like Borat, yeah. Goes in there one, they just become the Donald Trump. I want to know something like that. Yeah. The best thing is that maybe he keeps a whole log of which characters he used in which. Mall has to Yeah, yeah. This is not even like secret information. It's on the documentary that is on Netflix. I can find it and put it in the
description of the episode. But yeah, like I recognize like, like the the he was being interviewed and he was like somewhere in Hong Kong. So I knew right away he was in Hong Kong. And then I looked him up and yeah, he still has a consultancy here. And I'm like, and he's showing his wig collection and stuff. Dude, that is so cool. You know, like playing video games when you make your character, yes, you're like Ding Ding Ding, Ding, Ding, Ding yellow wig.
Yes, exactly. He's like, he's playing his own kind. Yeah, yeah, for a job. It's so cool. Dude, this is this is what I mean. There's always value in everything. On one hand, you're like, this kid likes to cross dress what the hell you're doing. Yeah. On the other hand, this guy gets paid bucks. Yes, to do. Exactly what a lot of people do just for fun for a party. He's like, no, no, no, I don't do that for fun.
You pay me to do. That you guys, you are to this is again not, not any secret information. I just looked up the company because the company's called Panoramic Consulting Consulting Limited and it's he has an office on Devo Road. This is all public information. This is his own website and the guy's name is Theo Cavo Ras Junior and Theodore Cavo Ras Junior. Who knows if it was his real name. But if you guys find the information, e-mail him and tell
him we want you on this podcast. We genuine. We did, you know, get in touch and we're hoping to hear back, but you can put some pressure on TO and get him on our podcast because I would love to talk to that guy. Yeah, wow. The the best thing is I can imagine that the day came when he had to write that letter in school. But like, what do you want to do when you grow older? So I want to be a doctor.
I want to be a fight fighter. This guy's like, I'm going to shut down fake brands so I can help Hugo bosses and all those luxury brands. Yes, exactly which is best thing? Questionable. Right. It's like, it's like you have, let's say this mom and pop shop in, let's say mainland China and they're working hard. They're like, you know what, son? You know, like we couldn't afford education for you. Yeah. But what we can do is that we our hands, our hands are our
skilled. We can use our hands and create stuff. You see that item over there that's so expensive. But with our hands, we can do the sun. Let's do this as a family tradition. The sun's like, Daddy, that makes sense. I'm going to spend the next 10 years of my life trying to use my hands and get mastery over these. They start getting, let's say, Gucci bags, and then they're like, let us mimic this thing and. And out of honor. I mean, after all, what's the word?
Copying is like a flattery. Of like, yeah, yeah, copying is the the highest form of flattery. Yeah, and they're like, we genuinely love you, Hugo Boss. Your stuff is fantastic to the point I want to dedicate my life to just be like you. But you'll never know who I am because I don't have this, this, this is this. So therefore, let me do the best next thing, which is I want to, I want to copy you out of true respect. Yes. And they're doing this.
They're sitting over there. You've got this romantic, this this collage of videos. Where you have the guys like, yeah, yeah, many times, like all the drafts are like getting thrown out. Yeah. Not good enough. No. My dad's like, yeah, cutting to dad at 4:00 AM No. Yeah, start over. And you finally have the one like the the kid over there is falling asleep next to the yes. And the dad like sees him like put the put the blanket over the
head. And finally you cut to the shot where you have the kid fast asleep. And then the dad wakes up the next morning. He brushes his eyes and he walks over to the lamp, the lamp just like right over shining over the little handbag. And he looks at, he's like. Approved. Yeah, he puts it up in the sunlight. He's looking at you like wow, wow. And then and then he looks at his kid and he has a tear. And I think we did it exactly. We finally can Hugo Boss.
We do it. And then this fucking Theodore guy walks up and he's like, hey, today he has to be like, I don't like a New York. Hey, what the hell is this? Yeah, well, he's not even doing that. He's like I buy many of your products. There's a bit, there's that. No, hold on. I'm trying to think like what? What kind of character you need to be this time? OK, so let's so with Hugo Boss. What do you think? It sounds German. I can't do that. Me either.
Get to the get to the chopper. I have no idea. So. You know, just fucking Arnold. He goes there to the shop, he points out the item. They're looking at him and they're like, oh, this is for, let's say 10,000 renminbi. Yes. He's like, ah shit, I don't have the money on me, I better go get something. So you know what? He tells him I'll be back. I'll be back. I would go to Hong Kong, but I will be.
Back exactly he comes back with 10,000 renminbi and and then they look at him like and they're like in switch like I don't know this guy doesn't seem. Germany, right? Whatever, and. Theo realizes like, shit, my cup is going to get blown and everything and out of just pure anxiety and worry of like, I shit, I get to, I get to prove to them I have something, something European. Yeah. He gets the bag and before he runs off he says hasta La Vista
baby. This is probably in a fake market it in on the border of Hong Kong so you can run back exactly so quickly. Yeah, the best thing is that he doesn't have to run back because he has like the new license plates. Yeah, so he can actually hop onto his motor. He definitely has 1. He would have one, yeah. He hops on his motorbike. Yeah, he has his sunglasses on, just driving ahead. And for some reason, electronic toll gate. Yeah, yeah. He goes straight in.
Yeah, yeah. And for some reason, someone that just looks like John Connor sits on his bike as well. He's like, what the fuck? Yeah. And then that all happens and he comes back home. He's like, I could do this for living. Yes, this was too much fun. Yeah, I have to do this for living now. Yeah.
But yeah, crazy, crazy job. One of the crazier jobs I've heard of recently when I was living in Shanghai and all Shanghai hands would know that we used to have a huge market on W Nanjing Rd., which is the biggest, one of the biggest commercial roads in Shanghai. And it was basically we just called it the fake market because that's what it was.
Yeah, it's now it's shut down like a few years ago, before I moved here, the Shanghai authorities started like cleaning up. So there was that big fake market was shut down, but it was one of the main stops for anyone visiting from outside of Shanghai. You take them there. Oh yeah, you have to go take it out. You're like, whoa.
Check it out. So I remember even taking my brother around and you know other whoever was visiting and you can get everything like starting from I remember like back in the day, the good old days 2014 fifteen. You can get a flashlight that is also a proper Taser. Like a legit like you can kill somebody with. Such a mainland Chinese mentality of like let's take 3 items that sell well, combine them and hopefully sell three times the price. Yep, but sell for that one the
same price. Dude, it was, it was a proper weapon. Like it's, it's like a really strong flashlight and it's just like, you know, you switch the button and it goes just like the, the, the, the. You. Can also see it like the movies you're just seeing electric shock on it and it's like how the fuck? And of course I bought 1 and you know, you usually go for like 10% and then what happened is that a couple of years later, like back in Egypt, like the
security was not that great. So I started like I'm. Not going to take it. Out. Well, I tried. So I actually went like, oh, I was just going to buy a bunch of my cousin and my female cousins. They can just all keep them in their pocket. In their purses. Which would be cool. So wait wait, so the the torch doesn't work simultaneously with the Taser as well? You can do both. OK, that's good. Because you want to see your and I mean get tased. Yes. Yeah. OK, I want to make.
Sure. Yeah, just like one of those like generic like flashlight with like like black, Yeah. And then, yeah, you switch the button and now we can also it's. Light and taste. Dude that is so cool. Like to see the expression on the face? Yes, exactly as you're seeing it very clearly. Yeah. So I tried to go back to Egypt one time and it was in my like not even the carry on. It was in the checked luggage. Yeah.
And they, you know how like sometimes they send it back and then like, oh, you have to go see like something is wrong in your in your suitcase. Yeah. And they go out and the security guy just, like, takes it out and he goes, this is a weapon. I'm like, yeah, that's why it's my checked luggage, not. Yeah. Exactly. I'm not stupid enough to take it on the plane. Yeah. And he's like, that is a proper weapon that he cannot fly with. I'm like and then I told them I bought it from.
You security as in which before you board, before you board it, yes, yeah, yeah. How do you get to see? How do they? No. So when you check in some, at least in Shanghai, they send the suitcase to like a little quick scan thing and you have to wait until they clear you and then they give you. I think the reason because I you, you go to your checking counter and your suitcase goes and you walk into the departure.
Yes, yes, but in, in Shanghai, whatever, they have this thing 'cause they're like everyone is fucking buying Tasers. Yeah, exactly. Flying with actual weapons. Yeah, like, like, like we actually have to just immediately check, yes, the suitcase. Yeah 'cause unfortunately, unlike everywhere else in the world where it's unlikely they have Tasers, it seems to be like the likeliness is like, Yep, we have another one. Taser. Exactly.
Oh, wow. And. I actually told them I'm like, I'm, I didn't like push back. I'm like, I know it's a tailor, but also bought it legally in China. I bought it here. I'm not trying to smuggle it. And he goes, no, no, no, no. And he's like, when I push back, I'm like, can I, can you keep it here? And then when I come back, I'll take it. Sometimes you confiscate something, but if it's not illegal, you can keep it at the
airport or whatever. Yeah, But he's like, no, we're going to definitely confiscate this and you're not going to get it back. And if you give us more trouble, we're going to, like, start like a case of like smuggling weapons. I'm like, sorry. All right. Wow. But then part of the cleanup was I went back to the fake market because I really wanted one. Yeah. And then they got rid of it. So I might have started.
The store is gone. The store, not just the store, that particular item, because they used to sell them everywhere. Crazy. Yeah, you could just buy a Taser. A proper Taser. You know what's funny though? Like we're here, we're losing our shit over a Taser. Yes, but like, let's say someone, let's say in the States, so they say like, I can buy a gun, yes. How much Tasers? Jeff Ross has a great bit about how Walmart Mart sells boots until midnight, sells weapons
for 20, sells guns for 24 hours. Yeah, if you want to drink after midnight, you just buy a gun and rob Walmart. It's just like. Right there man, the logic makes sense. Just very tight logic. Yeah. So it also speaks everything about America's complete The fuck Yeah. Yeah, it seems like a priority to complete the wrong man. Oh. God, but yeah, so they used to have these fake markets. Now they're gone.
Now I think they are in on like those are like obviously in Guangzhou and stuff and a closer to the border here. Have you ever bought like something from the fake markets on the Chinese side? Like. I've never done cuz I think I was too young when that was the thing to do. Yeah, I do know a lot of relatives who would frequently go to China claiming they're going just for a meal or business or whatever.
And I'm like, but you have a lot of Gucci bags and I don't really think you can afford that many Gucci bags. Yeah. And you get, there was something off about it. You just like, I don't know, the shimmer just doesn't seem right. Yeah, yeah. Or like sometimes the glue is like showing a little bit. Yeah, I think the one thing though, is that it's that shame in people's eyes when they know that like, this is a fake. Yes, I'm a I'm a fraud like like you can tell that like yeah.
There's a certain day, like, please, please don't look that. That bag's too long. Please don't look at. Oh my God, he's looking at it. Oh, yeah. Whereas somebody has a real thing. We were like, that's right. You look at that bag. Damn straight. I had one at Manila airport that I took a photo of and posted it on my Instagram of I will show this on the screen as well on the edit it will be on the main screen. It's it's YST. It's Eve sent Trudeau. You said Laurel, That's what the
Trudeau's also. Yeah, yes, it's. Just it's supposed to obviously be YSL. Yeah, yeah. And that is like a proper, like a full T That's why I'm like, all right, at least you're not. Really. Yeah, Hiding it. I think that's why clearly one of those loopholes, you know? So instead of Hugo Boss, we call Hugo Boss, Yes. Yeah, there is like we had like when you go to the equivalent of the fake market in like third world countries, you can get like the really, really bad RIP offs.
And we like growing up, I would see someone like wearing like slippers that are like not even like Adibus, but it's like not even close to the. World it just had like 4 stripes like what 4? Stripes, like, the world is completely butchered. Yeah. And I always thought, like, maybe, like Theodore, if he comes on, you can tell us how it works because I'm like, are the fake ones also, like, ripping off each other? That's why you can't have. Oh, yeah, You know what I mean? Like. Oh.
Adibus, and it's like adibus. Yes, Adibus is suing Adibus. That could be it, Yeah. That that that mean? I think, I think that's probably a legal loophole, yes. Or like a great area where like, well, it's not Adidas, it's Adibus. So you saw me. But then the Adibus guys like, hey man, I am Adibus, what the fuck? Yeah. Is that I, I, I have no, no idea. But I think I think definitely if you ask me just purely from instinctive guessing, yes, I would like. No, it's not. I don't copy you.
I have 4 stripes, you have three. You don't own stripes. I saw I saw one that was like a really good North Face RIP off. Unfortunately I don't remember. I think it was like a really good, like let me. Guess the name is North Race. Something like that. It was, I don't remember. No, it's. Not North. Race. But it's something so clever. I'm like, fuck, that's good.
If you if you have seen obviously a lot of China, like people have been around China for a long time have seen like this post like sometimes you take a photo. There is the Shanghai observed Instagram account is a good one for this. But in general people have seen like fake like like jackets and stuff right in If you remember your favorite one, especially with brands that are like a little different. I remember Nick. Nick was called. Nike, yeah, yeah, yeah.
I remember when I was young, it definitely two things. I. There were two incidents I recall right now #1 remember Reebok Pumps? Yes, of course. OK, so I could never afford Reebok Pumps. Depends. Like hell no with that's insane, yes. However, they got me Yamasakis, OK, which were like just made some bullshit brand, whatever, right? The thing I used to do, yeah, is I would go to school. My friends had Reebok Pumps and everything.
Yeah. And the Reebok Pump thing is like on the little tongue area, you got that little pump thing. Yeah. And like, fill up your shoe, right? Yes. So the Yamasakis, Yeah, there's Yamasakis, yeah. The sides of it had some extra padding. So I would tell them, yeah, that if I press the padding on the side, it pumps my shoe just like Reebok Pumps, right.
My friend's like, really? I'm like, yeah, see, it's tighter than like huh, sure and this purely came from me being so ashamed yes that I was like, oh shit, I really have not. It's not even like a fake one that looks like the real one. This is telling you the brand has nothing like it. Yes, that's one. The other one was the I remember ladies market. Yes, before they would have a lot of fake stuff. So that's also a bit cleaned up now. It's cleaned up, yeah.
Yeah, but you do get like those handbaggy things. But I'm guessing you'll see YST, you won't see YSL Yes yes, because you can't sell that kind of fake right. But what I do remember though, is like back in the day, I think when I was listening to corn, that was a time when like the Adidas, you know those those button on pants, the one that the buttons on the side yes, that was a big trend yes.
And I remember watching the NBA and all these NBA players were just like before they get on to court to play yes, just RIP their pants up and again it's going I'm like, Oh my God, I. Need to. Do that when I'm at school and I get to play in the basketball pants. I can't get up and undo my pants. I'm I'm in the court, man. You know, so I remember talking about. It's too easy.
Yeah, like, come on, man. And I remember seeing that and then when I saw, let's say, Corn, Jonathan the the vocalist from Corn, he was wearing that. I'm like, Oh my God, Corns. Oh my God. It's all of your words. Colliding every little colliding on that I need that has to happen. That needs to happen. And I remember my I told my mom and I saw something similar in Ladies Market. We got it. And at that time I wasn't observing enough. I thought, oh, maybe because they don't have a shop.
Yeah, they're cheaper. Yeah, when you actually have in the shop, it's like five times the price. Yeah, they're paying rent or. Yeah, I think that makes sense. You know, I got it and then I remember getting it and then I it was probably like either the stripes were wrong or something like that. And I went to school going like, oh shit, man, yo-yo, call me into the court, do that. And like people were looking. Like all the buttons flying. Yeah, yeah, something weird. What happened?
And I was like, oh shit, this is not the real thing. Yeah, my friend's looking at me like, did you get a fake one? I'm like, no, no, why would I get No, I I got the real deal. They're like, no, so I look at this, I'm like, oh shit, yeah. So that. Explains so much about you now about how your everything you have is authentic. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. Once you start having a little bit of money, you're like, I'm going to buy the new, the good software. Yeah, the good like game.
Absolutely man. Like, I'll tell you this all, half of it also is a the fact that I need things to just work yes. So I'll give you an example. I'm sure all of us done this when we were young. We always got like pirated video games and everything. Of course, that was the thing. It was like the the beginning was the floppy disk copying. In Hong Kong, there were shops that would sell computer Gads and everything.
Yes, yes. And they would have a full booklet of catalogue of. Games and you can just copy it on another flop they copy it for. You yeah, you can actually bring your own floppy disk or they have obvious you can buy and they can do that. I remember playing this game, for example, like when I was young, I played games with by Lucas Arts. If anyone recognized is that my God, you're awesome. And I would play those games And what is the game Lucas Lucas Arts would basically George Lucas.
He had a game company, right? Yeah. And they came out with a bunch of games with these puzzle games. In other words, adventure games. You gotta walk around town, solve problems, right. Very creatively. Yes. And I keep saying, and many people that asked me this, like those games have shaped why I think the way I think. All right, Which is why I'm such a pro, pro gamer guy. As I tell your kids to play games, it's going to shape the way they think. They see the world differently,
everything. Anyway, So I copied all stuff to the point that even the manuals they would photocopy in black and white because back then video games, what they would have, they would have like Lucasart especially would have some of these these codes in the beginning to have to saw to to to play the game. So we know you don't have to pirate a copy, activate, activate JS. Yeah, you know, but it was an actual physical thing that you have to spin a dial or whatever. Yeah, yeah.
What would be like so? I'll give you an example, Right. Monkey Island used to have this little sundial where they would have, let's say, hat the sundial would have on the bottom dial is top of the head, the top dial at the bottom of the head. And they would show a combination of like, monkey head combined with fish head. That's what's interesting. Yes. You know. Yeah. And so you'd actually have to photocopy that dial and cut your own to spin it around. Yes. You know, I did all that stuff.
Yeah. Yeah, yeah. I remember that man. And then there's wait, there's so the shop would sell you. The the photocopy. Photocopy. Yeah, yeah. And then you would go home and cut it up and put it off to punch it all in together so you could spin the Dow. Yeah, right. Similarly to that, like when I would buy like a new computer or whatever, like maybe like 2 when I was like growing up. So the second one comes with like a Windows like, but it's a trial thing.
And then after like 30 days, they're like enter the activation code. So now we have to go online and just like Google, like Windows activation code and you get like so many like like fake pages and stuff. And you have, I think you I must have spent literally weeks. Trying which one? Works Oh yes, yes, one of them and then some of them back then you don't have a credit card as a kid. So I'm like ask you for a credit card and you're like, ah, I don't know what to do.
So you start looking for fake credit card. Numbers. Oh my God, really? I've never done that part, but yeah, wow. As a teenager, you just tried everything. Yeah. Like anything that needed a credit card, then you're stuck. Then you actually go on. Like, what we had then was like chat rooms. Yeah. Of ICU and PAL talk. So ask people, are you familiar with PAL? Talk. No, I see you definitely. Yeah, so pal talk was I guess like third word. Yeah, like chat rooms and stuff. Yeah.
And you know, again, as a kid, this is a weird the tangent, but as a kid, sometimes you walk into the wrong room and it's actual pedophiles. And you're like, Oh, yeah, no, no, no, no, no. No, you go into the rooms where they're like like hackers, but they're like bullshit hackers. It's like, oh, click on this link and get like the credit card number and you click on it and you just go into weird
rabbit hole. And then this is all to try to get a credit card to get the fake windows serial numbers. You can put it on your real windows. Yeah, Oh my God. Ages, yeah, and then maybe one of them would hit eventually. Like holy shit I love like a real Windows. Yeah. Oh my God, no. Idea how much time we wasted Yeah doing this. But then when you're a kid, you're like screwed. I can spend the whole day to save 10 bucks. Yeah, Yeah. I don't have that and. There's no way I can get it.
Yeah. There's no way I can make $10. There's no way. So I can stay all day or I could, you know, get a job. I can't get a job. No. Too young. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So I mean, that's the thing. The software wise, definitely. Nowadays though, there still is, like obviously with the Taurus. So the when Napster came out, yes, with the whole Metallica thing, suiting them and everything, which, OK, I'll be honest with you.
When Napster first came out, on one hand they did kind of what Spotify and all of them are doing now. It's just that no one is getting paid for that, right? However, you can now suddenly have access to all these different music. Like, I've never heard of this. This is awesome. But I'll be honest with you, Napster it when I found a band or a song that I really like, I would actually want to save money to buy the CD. Nice. Because I want to own it.
Yes, yes, yes, yeah. Nowadays, all the end up with Spotify and stuff I'm I don't want to go out and buy the CD yeah because space yeah and also I don't want to see the player yeah and at the same time I'm like well, it's all there it's all there yeah what would I yeah it's more convenient here and well. It goes back also to the Hong Kong space issue, because even if you are to like collect CDs or whatever, you're just like I. Don't know where to put it you.
Don't know where to put it. Yeah, he's a Limewire guy. So Limewire was another thing that you like, go on. And then you like download, like, you know, the new Britney Spears song or whatever. And you're like, but then you're like, oh, it's only one minute. So sometimes you just give you like a little thing. But then at some point also Limewire just gave up on trying to be legit.
And all the music was pirated. And I think that's when they got in real trouble because the artists like the comp, the production companies came for them. But like, all my music was on this is this sounds like such a nostalgic episode because you download them from Limewire, but you don't play it on Limewire, you play it on Winamp. Winamp. Yeah, Winamp. This is something that Lava has asked. Yeah, yeah. And if you're really cool, you can change the Winamp skin. Yeah, and.
Make your own as well if you want to make your. Own Yeah, I wasn't that you were the nerd. Do that. I would do that. Yeah, I would just download skins. I'm like, oh, then you Winamp. So it's like. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I just play with Yeah, yeah, so stupid, yeah. So go back to the fake products between Hong Kong and and and mainland.
The. So according to the documentary, there is still like malls, like right on the Lujo border, Yeah, that you can just go and like get stuff from like because in Hong Kong it's tighter, right? Like the authorities. But then there they say that when you go and you like shut, like the authorities go and shut down the whole street the next week just falls back up. Yeah, yeah. So it's like they're describing it as a game of whack a mole.
Yeah, yeah, this one, yeah. I mean, I mean, I think isn't that like with a lot of listed websites and everything, they try to block it, They're like, yeah, we just go over there. I mean, I mean, now it is obviously the kids know torrents and everything, yes. And with a lot of websites with torrent sites, they they shut it off like you say, torrentsuper.com. Yes, yes, yes. Next week, torrentsuper.net. Yes, yes, torrent super dot XYZ.
Yeah, forget it, dude. Well, as long as yeah, because a lot of these servers are in like Russia and Ukraine, you can't do anything. And sometimes it's actually actually like a almost a state sponsored thing when they like want to fuck with America or whatever. So they're just letting it slide. But for the actual physical products, I also kind of get it sometimes because when you're looking at the luxury items like this and it's like, OK, I like the design or whatever.
I don't remember how much it was, it was not crazy expensive, but it was like maybe 1000 Hong Kong dollars. That's a lot for AT shirt. And then you can go there and you're like, OK, when you're really thinking about it, it's like, oh, am I benefiting Hugo Boss like a crazy company, like big company in Germany or like a factory in China where maybe it's supporting like a few other families? Yeah. And I'm saving like 90% of it.
Yeah. So the the logic or the morality of it is not so clear cut of like I should support. It's like, why also. Yeah, luxury brands are also polluting the planet. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I think that's the thing with a lot of luxury brands, you get to a point where you're like, this is not functional. This is pure just luxury yes so like I'll put it this way. I would not spend a lot of money on let's see a Hugo Boss T-shirt yes, because I'm like it's just
a T-shirt yes. I may spend a lot of money on a Hugo Boss suit. Yeah. That's different the reason why is because the suit has a certain cut a certain this and that yes yeah T-shirt how much you know creativity. Can you go yes, if I'm paying that much money for just a print, I'm like, man, that's not going to do it for me. Yes, right. Reverse it. Like I'm willing to pay more for, let's say Dyson vacuum cleaner, yes versus like another brand that kind of copied the same thing.
Two reasons #1 because I believe that their their, their technology can't really be copied to that level and #2 I'm like, they did come up with this thing, so I want to give it to them as well. Yes And also we are both like creative people. Therefore we're like, yeah, well, you know, I get. To the word that exactly someone like spend so much time. There is also the element of risk when it comes to the appliances. I think I might have shared it here like a few months ago.
I had like a like a second hand like a blender like a cake blender thing and it basically literally just caught fire while I was using it. Part. Of the reason is also I was like the wire was like a little bit cut and I think it touched I just like created like a spark. But then once it did it's like while I was using it, the inside it just started like. Everything like yeah, shit. Everything. That's what I'm like.
Should not buy like a cheap one, yeah, because they're gonna just explode and fucking flow in my eyes. That's. Actually one of the things, well, for me now, yeah, nowadays I'm looking at more from a functional convenience point of view where I'm like, you know what, dude? Saving, let's say $200, yes, potentially having that another problem happened, let's say two weeks down the line unless I I can't do that. I bought 1 going back to the Shanghai fake market.
I bought 1 like a very fake Doctor Dre. Like when they were Monster Beats when they were. Like, Oh yeah, yeah. Yeah, that's a, that's a very popular item. And at least back then in the Chinese fake market. Oh yeah, super popular, all kind of Doctor Dre like headphones and like even the little one.
But then I realized also like how fake it was because I would go to like the what we, what we have back home is called Virgin Megastore. And when they sell the real item, you can see it. So I actually walked in with my fake Doctor Dre. I was like, oh, I'm cool. I'm like one of the my first visits back to Egypt. I'm like, I live in China now I have money and I'm wearing this like clearly fake one, but it looks the same, right. But then they make you like they have it on this place.
You can test it. I took off my fake one and they put on the real one. Yeah. Oh my God. The difference, the feel, the difference. Like it's actually also, like, heavier. Yeah. And of course, the sound blocking even back in the day was amazing and compared it to mine that it's not just that it doesn't block anything. I realized because I put it on my little brother and then I realized that you can hear from outside of it, inside. Yeah, the. Whole neighborhood, yeah. What you're and.
You're walking in there like this guy. Can't even keep the beat up man. Can't keep the beat up. He's out of sync. But clearly no real headphones would like leak that WhatsApp. Yeah, unless they're like what they call the open-ended ones or open ones. But yeah, I know you. Do they actually have that like? Yeah, so, okay, so if you want to get geeked out, basically there are certain headphones that I think I forget what the word is. It's open your whatever, Sure.
The idea is that you actually hear music better because you hear from a space. So it actually is opened up and you listen to that way versus like those ones are compressed into your right now. OK. So if you want to hear like better quality music supposedly where there's open ones. Yeah, OK. I don't think that was on purpose. That was not my, that wasn't the. It just was leaking. It wasn't open. It was leaking. Leaking so much. Then I was like, ah, fuck. All right, Yeah.
It's like saying, you know it's always good to open your window for fresh air. Yes, but when you close the window and the water seeps in, that's not the objective here. No, no, it's better to have fresh air. I'm like, yes, but we're closing the window and we're hoping to keep it closed. Right now we want closed I'm. Trying to think of other fake items that I bought over the years. Are you more of a hardware fake item or like software fake item guy?
I think hardware because you were mostly software. Well, when I was young, because like there was no real hardware I needed or could do anything with anyway, because OK, there's you can't really get like a fake mouse. It's either a mouse or. Sure, right. Yes. Yes. So that stuff, if you wanted that. I mean, you can. It's just like it's got to be. Brand, Yeah, yeah, you get my point. Say that a lot of the hardware wise, I wasn't really big on the
fake one. I would get maybe different brands, not like the top brand, for example, I may not get let's say an HP computer, yes, yes, I may build my own, yes, right. So you save on the brand of HP, you know that kind of thing. I was never into Apple computers. Me neither. I still actually to this day, never owned an Apple product in my life.
Yeah. And in the short stint working for the coffee company, they gave me like a MacBook, but there was like a company laptop and I handed it back, so it still didn't own it. And still to this day, not even a single Apple product. I'm very anti Apple until they approach us and sponsor us, in which case all of this will get deleted. But until then. Yeah, Apple, not a fan. Yeah, I had only 1 Apple laptop
one time because I was. I need to know what's this big deal about every designer this and that. What was your experience like? It was it was OK. It was. I mean, back then Windows wasn't as stable as it is now. So therefore this was oh, everything just works and I enjoy the fact that it has certain animation. When windows would pop up and everything, I was like, Oh my God, it's a full experience. Yes. That's when I learned the
difference. Like Windows back then was just like window do this open do whereas Mac is like here's the window yes we're going to do this now, right, that's happening we're moving take a moment and I was like oh that's the difference that's what people like so much about it but was it like did it make my designs better did it help me No, not at all yeah. So therefore I got one. Well, the. The whole thing for them, as far as I understand, is that they're also supposed to be like we, we
can't get viruses, right? That's. Yeah, that was the whole thing back then. Yeah. Is that still true for like iPhones? Sure. Now I'm not too sure now, because I'm sure. Anyone write in let us know. Does your iPhone get viruses? Is that like I have one of the main selling? Points. I have no clue, you know, now you put it, I'm like, yeah. Then again, I haven't heard about getting viruses in a long time now. That's true. Yeah. I think everything now gets verified or whatever.
Yeah, yeah, By going back to Speaking of Apple, that's another big market in mainland as well, like the fake Apple product. And again, it's a cat and mouse game of like, you know, the bigger cities. Like you can't have like a fake Apple Store in like, Shanghai, but you can definitely have one in, like, a village in, in Guangdong province. Yeah. And then you see, like, you know, the logo upside down and you go there is like everything is like.
Oh. And then, you know, the smaller ones, they try to also because the English usually makes it look more legit. Yeah. But most of the time there's like a typo somewhere. Apple. Apple. Which is ironically how we say Apple back back home because we don't have the peace out. So Apple is actually a perfectly little store. And that store in China that's got the fake Apple is only filled with Egyptian. Exactly. They're like, oh, Apple Store is
here. Yeah, I did. Yeah, even some of the tag lines can be quite ridiculous. Yeah, and they're like, Apple would never say that. Not that way. Yeah, but they'll say some shit like, I guess so. Yeah, of course. Yeah. So many fake brands. One of my favorite ones are also like back in Egypt. They have the RIP off of Puma which is Buma of course. All Egyptians only. It's funny enough, buma in Arabic means an owl. Let me change the the animal. Yeah. Yeah, like a boomer.
OK. I guess we're doing that now, yes. Exactly, I'm like just change the logo as well. Yeah. Oh, man. Well, I mean, I guess in that sense that could be a new adventure for people to go try it. Yes. Like can you spot the fake? Can you find the fake and like make that like one of a tour? Yes, Yeah, the the. The genuine fake tour Yes, the genuine fake tour is actually a good name for a comedy special. Yeah, the genuine fake.
But if now that like travelling is obviously to mainland so easy, even for like people like Hong Kong, people with a card like you can just go whatever. I highly encourage you if you are in China and take a photo of the most ridiculous fake item that you see and send it to us. Funny Vivek the other Muhammad find it find us online and send it to us and we repost it. I would love for this to take off just like the most absurd yeah, like fake products until we get the Theodore on the
podcast go go find. Maybe I should not say that just do it for the goof. Don't actually buy fake items because if they explode, they can. Yeah, bring this as evidence. Yeah, but it don't don't, yeah, don't buy explosion appliances, but maybe it's just like AT shirt or something. That's good enough. Or take a photo. They don't actually like the photos that much as well. They're like, I don't know, no photos. But in Hong Kong, we can't
really find a lot of these like. Not much anymore, at least. Like not obvious. Yeah, they might have like, I'm sure there's like fake Jordans and stuff like that, but you have to probably go take the lift to go up to some building. Yeah, that's one. Of those. Yeah, yeah. So, yeah, the fake like, like sneakers and stuff. Yeah, yeah. So you can still get them, but it's just a bit harder to. OK, well, what genuine item you can buy is comedy show tickets.
They are very hard to fake because we don't have physical tickets. You could just buy it online and it will come straight to us. And unlike the big companies, they come straight to the artist at the venue. But you know, mostly the venue, some for us, but you just come to a comedy show. What do you have coming up? So right now, I'm still getting prepared for my upcoming Australia, New Zealand tour. Hell yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm
getting ready for that. I'll be there for the whole month of April and the beginning of May. Then I come back to Hong Kong. Then I have my LCSD solo Cantonese show in end of June, which should be announced at the end of Feb, which is like this coming week. Yes, yes, yeah. Those are the two main big things that's on my list. And people would find all of this information on your website. Yeah, on my Instagram, funny Vivek website, funnyvivek.com, basically. Yeah, it'll, it'll be announced
over there. Nice, all Cantonese based right now, but who knows, English will come later on. Yeah, yeah. I mean we also have like obviously a lot of locals listening and watching. We at Backstage Comedy have a bunch of stuff coming up this week. We have Anir Bandas Gupta coming from India, headlining on the 1st of March. 8th of March we
have Rizal Van Gaisel coming from Malaysia. 15th of March we have Las Mahesh Manteghani, one of the OG comedian in Hong Kong unfortunately is leaving after so many years and it's going to be his last show. If you have seen Mahesh before, absolutely wonderful guy. Also just super lovely. So come say bye to Mahesh. 22nd I forgot we do.
Oh yeah, 22nd, we have a regular showcase and then in mid-april we have one of our biggest bookings so far is Jogging Summers Coming, the social media sensation coming all the way from LA doing a bunch of shows with us mid-april and that is already on sale. So catch her shows. Those shows well sell out and they are base hall, which for her is not very big. So please get in early. We also have VIP tickets where you can take photos with her
after the show. So yeah, grab your tickets, see Jiao Young Summers. We still have a bunch of other announcements to make. So this year is going to be big.
I am also confirmed to open for my friend Paul Taylor in May Paul, if you are not familiar with him, is the biggest English speaking comedian inside France. He's actually a British comedian, but he he performs mostly in French and he's doing in English and he is coming here in May at the the at the Art Center in Wanchai. And he's a friend of mine. He actually we we chat a little bit. He doesn't usually have an opening act and it's just messages like, hey, can I open it?
Like, absolutely. She just threw me on the show. It's going to be wonderful. So look up Paul Taylor show as well. And I would be opening. So yeah, bunch of cool stuff. Find us online. Thanks for all the support and we will see you at a show. Music.