A Bryson in China

Entrance to One for the Road on Grand Opening Day three years ago!













Bar gets crowded at Grand Opening of OFTR!














Original scene outdoors at OFTR!

Labels: Dongguan, One for the Road

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 9:07 PM Comments: 0

Dongguan Mall News

The South China Mall in Dongguan remains the world's largest mall. The top 10 malls recently recorded as:

1. South China Mall , Dongguan, China - 660,000 sq-m
2. Golden Resources Shopping Mall, Beijing, China - 560,000 sq-m
3. SM City Edsa North, Manila, Philippines - 425,000 sq-m
4. Mall of Asia, Manila, Philippines - 386,000 sq-m
5. Dubai Mall, Dubai, United Arab Emirates - 350,000 sq-m
6. West Edmonton Mall, Alberta, Canada - 350,000 sq-m
7. Cevahir Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey - 348,000 sq-m
8. SM Megal Mall, Manila, Philippines - 332,000 sq-m
9. Berjaya Times Square, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - 320,000 sq-m
10. Beijing Mall, Beijing, China - 320,000 sq-m

The third place mall in the Phillipines just expanded, but it still is only 2/3 the size of the South China Mall. See ABC News feature on the new mall here.

Of course, I still don't think that means that the South China Mall is occupied. When I was last there, it probably wasn't a tenth occupied. The place was mostly a ghost town.

I've even heard from my friends at Dongguan's One for the Road pub, that some entrepeneurs have opened a go kart race inside the Mall. It may be in a parking area, but I'm sure there was plenty of free space. In fact, they track has been so successful they were planning to open a second connect floor. That should make it rather exciting. One for the Road management can give more assistance.

Labels: Dongguan, Guangdong, One for the Road, South China Mall

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 4:40 AM Comments: 0

One Last OFTR Golf & Tepanyaki

It’s been an odd week, as I prepare to return to the US. Leaving a place you have called home for three years is never easy. Having made great friends here and become very attached to this area, I feel a deep loss in my stomach about leaving it.

But there is also some pain in my body. The PKD is taking its toil, and my renal function is worsening. I need to get back to the US and get “active” status on the UNOS wait list. The prognosis is still not very good though. I could soon be on dialysis. My turn on the wait list is probably a couple of years away. It could be a painful couple of years.

I did raise enough strength to play golf with my friends at the One for the Road golf outing yesterday. It was great! Our team even won on my last round with the boys. The camaraderie and friendship there among the guys is greater than any I’ve ever been associated with. I’ll deeply miss the group and the monthly outings.

And we finished the night at the Kingpot Tepanyaki for a wonderful meal. The restaurant is one of the best. Andy is an incredible chef. A night there is like no other. And it’s certainly not like any typical knife-slinging Japanese steakhouse that rustles you in and out like cattle being fed at a trough. No, at the Kingpot a meal takes about 3 hours for the six or seven courses. And each one tops the last in flavor and experience.

It was a good day. I’m just sorry it was one of my last in Dongguan…………. But I will be back.

Chef Andy prepares banana flambé in right photo.

Labels: Dongguan, Kingpot, Life in China, One for the Road, Tepanyaki

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 4:23 PM Comments: 0

New Year's Eve at OFTR in Dongguan

Another New Year, another unforgettable party at One for the Road Pub. And I would like to forget some of it.

Great party as always, with many friends. And the famous OFTR confetti poppers were great……….. for a while. That was, until I got hit by the blast of one to the lip. Those things are pretty strong. Gave me a nice bruise. I know many of you will ask “Who hit you?” It wasn’t that exciting.

But great time as usual. The place got packed at the midnight hour. It is getting rather famous for the poppers, and everyone wanted in on the action.

More photos of friends and the night’s fun by clicking here, or checking the link in the right column.

Labels: Dongguan, Life in China, New Years Celebration, One for the Road

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 5:47 PM Comments: 0