HRC Seoul (1st cafe)

This was my last trip in 2000(5 times in 2000). South Korea is very close to Japan, but this was my first trip for Seoul. Seoul was a big city with 2 faces. There were traditional side & modern side, and they were mixed in some area. Some area of Seoul was so exciting with many stores & people.

What I enjoyed the most was their food like Korean barbecue.

In addition, they have some of historical places including some of world heritage that was really worth to visit. While I was in Seoul, it was snowing, and unfortunately, I was cold then. So I really had hard time to walk around those historical places, but I enjoyed those places.

Photos of Seoul
About HRC Seoul, I think it is one of the worst location in my Hard Rock Life even though the cafe itself was great with friendly staffs, I had to walk for a long time to visit HRC from the closest station at night. I don't know why HRC Seoul has been located in such a strange place. I could buy Halloween 2000, and enjoyed talking with a staff at the bar. Hopefully, I can go to Seoul again when I am healthy.

My HRC Seoul page

HRC Kowloon

In 2000, I did a short trip again. At this time, I visited Hong Kong where had been very famous for people who love shopping. I was really surprised that Hong Kong was so huge, and there were many area in Hong Kong. I stayed at the area of Kowloon, so I could walk to HRC every night.

My HRC Kowloon page

HRC Kowloon was after reopen. I went there every night, and enjoyed their music with good foods. I really think this cafe was located in the best place.

About Hong Kong, it was great!! Hong Kong has everything for tourists. There are many stores for shopping, some of historical temples, and one of the most beautiful view from Victoria Peak. I went to the Peak 3 times, and enjoyed the view from there.

Photos of Hong Kong in 2000

I also made a day trip to Macao where I could go by ship easily. Macao was a small island, so a day was enough for me who was not interested in Gambling.

Macao

There were 2 kinds of HRC(Hong Kong Central & Kowloon) in Hong Kong before. Unfortunately, there was only HRC Kowloon when I visited there, and now HRC Kowloon changed the name to HRC Hong Kong, and another HRC(only merchandise) has been opened at the Victoria Peak. Confused??

- 2nd Visit in 2006

HRC Taipei

I continued traveling around Far East in 2000. At this time, I did a short trip for Taiwan that was very close to Japan. I felt like it was the domestic trip. But the mood was very different. Taipei was huge, and I really had good days there.

Photos of Taiwan

In addition, I changed my plan, and decided to traveled around Taiwan by bus, I visited some cities of Taiwan like Taichung & Tainan. There were so many historical places in each city, and of course, I could also enjoy their local foods.

About HRC, I was lucky that I could visit HRC after reopen.

My HRC Taipei page

After the entrance, there was a long passage to the restaurant, and they put many of great memorabilia on the wall. One of my favorite memorabilia was a guitar from Eric Crapton. This one was so cool.


They had some of good pins like Halloween set 2000. I had lunch here, and talked with some staffs about pins.


Unfortunately. HRC Taipei was closed in 2002.

HRC Singapore

I came back to Singapore after having good days in Kuala Lumpur. A funny thin is that I hardly took photos in Singapore. I just took some photos of HRC, and that's all. The reason is that I didn't find anything that I wanted to take photo. It didn't mean that I didn't enjoy Singapore. I enjoyed shopping at some of huge shopping mall, and saw some movies there. I enjoyed myself in Singapore.

My HRC Singapore page
About HRC, I could get some pins that I liked. Some staff of the merchandise were so friendly, and I enjoyed talking with them.

Now I am thinking why I didn't take photo of Marlion that is the symbol of Singapore. I loved that.

HRC Kuala Lumpur

After Bangkok, the plane took me for Singapore, and then I got on the night bus for Kuala Lumpur from the bus terminal of Singapore. The bus came over the border, and took me to Kuala Lumpur next day. Only thing I know about KL was that there was a huge tower call as Twin Tower that I saw the movie"Entrapment". In fact, the tower really looked cool.

After I enjoyed shopping around there, I visited HRC Kuala Lumpur.

My HRC Kuala Lumpur page
Even though they didn't have many pins for sale, I was satisfied with what they had then.

Kuala Lumpur was bigger than I imagined, and walking around the downtown was so interesting. There were many store outside, and I could enjoyed their local foods everyday.

Photos of Kuala Lumpur

HRC Bangkok

1st visit
In April 2000, I went to Thailand that was my first trip for Far East. Everything around me attracted me. I enjoyed the difference from those countries where I had visited before Thai. My main target in Thai were some of world heritage & to enjoy Muy Thai(Kickboxing).



I also visited Ayutaya heritage that was located in the suburb of Bangkok. That was a great short trip.

About HRC Bangkok, it was located in the area where many shopping stores & restaurant were located. I could get many pins, and took many photos of HRC then.

My HRC Bangkok page

Unfortunately, their staff at the merchandise store was one of the worst in my Hard Rock Life. But I understand there are many kinds of people on our earth.

Photos of Bangkok

2nd visit
In 2003, another HRC was opened in Thai. That was HRC Pattaya, so I decided to visit Thailand again. Before going to Bangkok, I visited two great heritage that were Angkor Wat and Sukhotai.



And then I stayed in Bangkok for 2 days. I met a local collector whom I have traded for a long time. We had lunch at HRC Bangkok, and we did some sightseeing together. I had great time again in Bangkok.

HRC Barcelona

After Madrid, I visited Toledo & Segovia. Those cities were also great.
Photo of Spain

And then I went to Barcelona by the night bus. My main target in Spain was the Sagrada Familia.



This church was so good, and I felt the power from this. I was so impressed, and sat down on the chair near the church for about 30 min. I was so happy that I could see that.

And then I enjoyed walking around Barcelona that was the heaven for people like me who loved art.

Of course, I enjoyed HRC Barcelona.
My HRC Barcelona page
I did exchange my pins with many staffs again, and enjoyed the mood of the Spanish cafe. I hope I could come back to Spain near the future.

-Next visit : in 2006

HRC Madrid

In 2000, after Rome, I visited Paris again for a day, and then I got to the night express train for Madrid. I was so excited to visit Spain where I had never visited.

Madrid was a huge city, and I visited many places like Prado museum, and I enjoyed the concert at night.


Photos of Spain

Of course, I enjoyed HRC Madrid, too.


My HRC Madrid page

I brought some pins from Japan, and showed those to a staff at the bar. And then most staffs came to me, and we exchanged a lot of pins ! I had great time with them. Gracias, amigos! I visited HRC next day, and fortunately, their 5th anniversary was just released then.



- Next visit : in 2006

HRC Rome

After Turkey, I arrived to Rome by plane. Like Paris & London, I was so busy to see many of famous place around Rome. The transportation in Rome was not good, but I really had great days.

Photos of Italy

The memory of HRC Rome became special for my Hard Rock Life. Before leaving Japan, I sent e-mail to the local collector, and we had deal to exchange our pins at HRC Rome then. It was my 1st trade by face to face. There were 3 collectors including UK collector. We showed our pins, and exchanged many pins then. One of them had Pin Bag then, and I was so interested in the bag because I didn't know I could buy Pin Bag from HRC official web. Trading with the local collectors was so interesting, and we could talk about many thing, Thanks!


My HRC Rome page