Riccardo Ulpts

What can I say, at the Airport I got picked up from a guy who couldn’t speak english at all. The only word he could say was “Sign here” for the bill he could give my agency that I got picked up and he gets his money.

I got my hotel that night and well it is ok. Its clean! I got a double bed and TV and shower and so. But I’m alone …. I’m used to getting an apartment with people to hang around with. But my agent said the girls would live in an apartment and guys in hotels, apparently because it would cause trouble between girls and guys and most of them are underage…

Well so I got myself a map and went to the see 101 Tower the next day. Metro is easy and convenient. About 20 minutes it took me from my hotel to the 101. From the metro you can take a free Shuttle Bus to the 101 Tower/Mall. Very nice service!

As soon as I arrivedI recognized a fair on the other side of the street. It was the International Coffee and Food Fair in Taipei. Entry was 100 Taiwan Dollar. Looking for my wallet some staff member came and told me it was free for foreigners on weekends, great!

It was nice and you could try heaps of stuff. I got myself some Vital Balance Biscuits, Napolitaner wafes and Ritter Sport Chocolate (Good old german chocolte )

Later then I went to the 101 Mall, many designer and fashion shops, less electronics tho. I only got myself some hair gel and toothpaste in Watsons It was also very windy and rainy outside as its getting winter. I didn’t spent too much time there and went back to the metro.

Walking home I saw a night market where I had a look through. Many eating stands less clothing and stuff. It was nice tho anyway. Check out the pictures I’ve taken. I wouldn’t eat all this

This was my 2nd day in Taipei. Stay tuned there is more to come …

From Guangzhou I took a train directly to Hong Kong which took me about 1.5 hours. That was it!

I arrived in Hong Kong and I had to take a taxi. I was so happy when the taxi driver talked to me in english. No more taxi driver spitting out of the window and not being able to speak any english at all. On the other hand it is very expensive compared to china. For my taxi ride during high traffic taking maybe 30 minutes I paid 100HKD!

BUT! The city is clean, people speak english and yeah since 3 months finally a easy and convenient Metro!

Hong Kong is a very busy city, thousands of people EVERYWHERE! I’ve never seen so many people and shopping centers in my life. The fashion is great… electronics are cheap!

To just name a few nice places to go shopping when you are in Hong Kong. There is Mong Kok with Langham Place and Causeway Bay. Mong Kok you have thousands of electronic, computer and mobile shops…. In Hong Kong you get the latest,best and cheapest electronic in the world!

You also find heaps of good fashion and urban cloth shops. Some really cool shops are “I.T.”, “i.t.” (cheaper version for younger people), “Iso”, “Izzue”, “D-Mop” and many many more.

Special thanks goes to my local guide Crystie, she is a very nice girl showing me around Hong Kong. I met her through the Internet, as she was looking for models for editorials. That time I was located in Guangzhou but nevertheless she came with her whole crew to do a editorial with me there. She and myself didn’t know that time we would meet in Hong Kong again. Thanks Crystie for such a great time and the pants you got me, they fit, perfect !She also made for me some really cool pants. The first day we arrived she was that nice to call me if I was bored and where I could go etc etc. In the evening we went shopping and for dinner too. Your such a sweetheart! Thanks also to her boyfriend who did some nice pictures of me and the skyline in Hong Kong!

Thanks also to Julia who I was doing shopping with. We also went to the “Peak” up in the mountain, you can see the whole city! It is the most incredible view over the whole city of Hong Kong, haven’t seen anything like that before!

On friday night then I went out with my mate Ken from Germany who is with Model Management in Hong Kong too. We went to Dragon I a famous club in Hong Kong. It was ok, in the end too crowded and we ended up in a electro club, great music. Drinks for free

I had a great time, too short!!! But I’ll come back for sure!

Well, what can i say, I left china. I’m happy! I definitely have to say I’m happy to leave Guangzhou. I had a few more nice and not so nice photo shoots. Well let me give you one bad example.

What do you think about a client shooting a girl in fake Gucci Underwear doing some weird porn poses and asking me to take my pants of and stand next to her only wanting to shoot my leg?!?!? HELLO?!?!? This was definitely not professional and I don’t want to be the poor little polish girl seeing her photos one day on a pornographic website.

I can’t deal with clients smoking everywhere and you leave the casting or fitting totally stinky. I even had one guy smoking next to me in the hairdresser!

But the worst is people spitting in front of you every 2 minutes, not even Police Officers behaves any better. Walking every 5 minutes and not holding your breath is almost impossible, IT stinks everywhere…….

They don’t have anything like dividing biological waste, plastic, paper or bottles. It goes allin one bin and in the evening people get it all out and divide it by hand. Even when you walk past empty bins, you will have to hold your breath as cleaning is not everyday procedure there.

BUT I’m also sad, why??? I have made many many friends which I will miss very much indeed. To just name a few people, Dean, Mikee, Samy, Craig, Superman, William, Gustavo who left earlier, Cherry the party Queen from my agency and many many more….

Miss ya guys…