So much Gaiety!

What's a gay guy to do in Hong Kong on a late night?

For starters, he can "run the gauntlet," so to speak uphill along D'Aguilar Street, and then turn left into Lan Kwai Fong to have dinner at Post 97.

After which he can proceed to the LKF tower to, quite literally, chill out with a few shots of vodka at the fridge room of the Russian restaurant called Balalaika. To get into the mood for dancing, now.

As soon as he reaches the top of the LKF Tower, he can cross Wyndham Street into The Centrium to make a brief appearance at the swanky Dragon-I. I'm not too sure if it's still as celebrity-packed as it used to be a few years back, though. Well, one must have a look.

From The Centrium, he can head upward to Arbuthnot Road ("ah-bun-noe," which rhymes with "Ivanhoe" I am told) and head up to Chancery Lane. There's a small gallery called 10 Chancery Lane that showcases some gay and lesbian pieces from time to time. Okay, so I by-passed the HK Fringe Club on 2 Lower Albert Road. But everyone knows where the Fringe is.

Cross O'Bailey Street and he enters SoHo. Make a left on Staunton Street and walk all the way to Aberdeen Street and then take a few paces backwards. He will encounter a blue door on the left, covered in drapes without a sign outside. This is the Bohemian mecca: THE FEATHER BOA. It is a must-see. And their Chocolate Martini is one of my favourites. Have that martini and then leave as soon as you're done, because that place can be packed like a can of sardines on weeknights.

Proceed down Aberdeen Street until he reaches Hollywood Road. (Uh-oh, I missed a few other gay spots on Peel Street, but one can always check those places on other nights.) Our lovely man turns left and sees a door with a bright yellow streak on the top. This is VOLUME. Turn up the volume and enjoy the whole night here with MEN AT TEN and its 2-4-1 drinks till midnight. No other deal can get any better than that.

If you're lucky, at 3 am, Volume's dj will take you to Propaganda.

It's raining men--hallelujah!

Where's the Reading Room?

On April 21st, a group of writers from Lantau Island shall be holding a reading marathon at Dymocks Discovery Bay in celebration of International Reading Day. 10% of proceeds shall go to a charity called Room to Read.

Room to Read, just like my friend's HSBC philanthropy award-winning community literacy program in the Philippines, organises literacy events and campaigns all over Asia and in some parts of Africa.

I'm so glad to be a part of this endeavor. My book, A Roomful of Waiting, will be featured at the event.