Friends in Dongguan China

On the left Brazilian barbecue at the Royal Lagoon. This hotel is truely one of the finest resort hotels in the area. Although I prefer the Silver World or Dong Chen, this is where some of my other colleagues insist on staying when here on business.....
Meet Alan Lien, my friend from Taiwan. Alan is our JV partner in Dongguan China, along with his brother Yule. As I mentioned before, Alan gave me the idea for this blog. Alan is known as lao ban or boss. I joke with him that in my next life, I want to be a Taiwanese lao ban and enjoy all the benefits of being a successfull business owner in China. The picture at the right is Alan with his friend Dylan Lo, president of Korlead Industry Co, our material supplier in Taiwan. Dylan treated us to a big and expensive dinner at the Royal Lagoon hotel in Dongguan. Brazilian barbecue!

Now I have to tell you that I am just learning to use Google's blog tool, so not everything might line up as planned.

I also mentioned that Alan and I first discussed this blog during a Sunday brunch at the Silver World hotel in Dongguan. Here is the first photo I took. Two pleasant waitresses. I don't recall their names or their hometowns. Like so many young Chinese, these two young ladies are migrant workers from other provinces of China. They come to the large eastern cities to work in factories, hotels, restaurants and other establishments to earn money for their families back at home. I am interested in their stories and hope to share more in the future.

I just checked my notes. Candy (Liu Xing Jiao) is from Guang Dong province. Xie Rong is from Hunan.

Another character I need to mention is Jacky Wang.

He is our entertainment coordinator at our factory. Also Taiwanese, Jacky is very knowledgable of entertainment opportunities in Dongguan. Whether its KTV (china version of Karoake), foot or body massage, or lap dance, he knows the landscape.

Along with Jacky there is also Eric, the Hong Kong accountant that comes to the mainland every weekend for relaxation. He usually hangs out with Alan, Jackie and some other important characters that I'll mention in future entries. Below is me, Jacky, and Eric at KTV trying to sing.

KTV china style is an interesting experience. Of course not all KTV is the same. More of this subject will follow in future postings.
Jacky is proud of his Honda Fit. He says english is not his language so he uses other means to get the message across. Like Alan he splits his time between Taiwan and Dongguan China.

The week this picture was taken he was pretty wore out. He entertained, or should I say facilitated the entertainment of our customer all week. Always available to negotiate with the locals, translate text messages from local women, or make coffee, he calls me his brother. Actually I would be is ge ge (older brother).

Over on the right is Alan as we figure out where we will have lunch and how we will get their. Always cheerful, I was fortunate

to spend some time with him last week. Often when I come to China he is off visting his family in Taiwan. I like telling him of my

travels and experiences roaming China's countryside looking for business.