tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64434697243489345242024-02-07T16:46:27.616+08:00ShatinUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443469724348934524.post-12685819008590960262008-05-21T07:34:00.000+08:002008-05-22T22:37:57.342+08:00The end of the line....<p>I am currently sitting in Hong Kong International Airport, Terminal 1, Gate 27...awaiting the long journey towards my first home. It has been quite a ride from the start of 2008 till now. I actually finished packing everything I owned (well...almost everything. I donated a lot of clothes, books, and various items to the school) pretty early - 2am. Waiting for the taxi was unnerving. I wasn't sure if the taxi driver actually knew where he was going - but this morning was the true and final test to how much Cantonese I learned this semester. The taxi driver ended up not knowing where he was going and I had to give him directions. Who knew that I had good enough Canto to actually do that? In retrospect, when I first arrived in Hong Kong, I knew very little Cantonese (and what I did know, I barely used because I was uncomfortable speaking it). It took awhile, but in the end, I had to learn to overcome this uncomfortable feeling. I now understand what my father, mother, and any other person whose first language is not English went through to learn the language fluently. I, too, had my fair share of being poked fun at because I said words differently, or with a different accent. But if you want to learn any new language, just let go of your pride and take it - language only gets better with practice.</p> <p>FORTUNATELY, I found out I worried over my luggage weight for no reason at all. I was actually wayyyy under the amount of 32 kg maximum that I could bring. My first luggage was 21 kg and my second luggage was 26 kg. I guess I should have kept some more stuff ^.^ I would also like to take this time to say "I told you so" to my father - I know what I'm doing! </p> <p>Last night was my last dinner with my mother's friend Hazel. I will surely miss her and her motherly ways - but sometimes I get the feeling that she thinks I am a little girl and cannot travel on my own. I've lived in Hong Kong for 6 months, yet she still insisted on walking me to the MTR station. I suppose this is how it always will be with adults ^.^ I am thankful for being able to meet my mom's friends - and even more thankful that I could get in touch with a part of mom's past that she never speaks of. Who knew my mother was a wild one ;-) haha...I'm kidding...or not ^.^</p> <p>This will be the last entry about my experience in Hong Kong. What lies ahead is beyond my knowledge. The people that I have met along the way till this very moment have had more of a profound influence than they would ever imagine. I've made life-long friendships and only hope to grow and mature in the future. I have definitely learned more about my own culture more than anyone, even my parents, could ever teach me. I feel as if I have finally experienced, not just lived, life - and it's the best feeling in the world. I definitely have, what some would say, "the travel bug." I do wish to see the world and what it has to offer. I hope that whoever reads this blog has enjoyed reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it. And I hope that, through this blog, you have at least some sense of Hong Kong culture and what its people are like - and learned to surpass the stereotypes that often plague the Asian race (no, we do not eat dogs!).</p> <p>I truly believe that traveling is the best way to cross cultural boundaries, encourage tolerance and conquer ignorance. I hope that I have enlightened at least one person through my shared experiences - creating one less ignorant person in the world.</p> <p>El Fin.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443469724348934524.post-411682557972472432008-05-20T01:52:00.002+08:002008-05-20T01:59:27.129+08:00A time to mourn...and help.This is an email I received from CUHK. Please take the time to read. CUHK students and university students from all eight HK universities are holding relief efforts of themselves for victims of the earthquake last week. Follow the link at the bottom for more information of how Hong Kong is helping the Sichuan province, as well as how you can help in the relief efforts.<br /><br /> Dear Council Members, Colleagues, Alumni and Students, <p align="center"><strong>A time to mourn</strong></p> <p>Over the past week all of us have been struck dumb with horror and grief by the immense loss of life and destruction caused by the earthquake in Wenchuan, Sichuan. The catastrophe has to date claimed over 30,000 lives. Over 220,000 have been injured. Millions are awaiting disaster relief. The China Earthquake Administration has revised the magnitude of the earthquake to 8.0 on the Richter scale. The extent of the devastation has surpassed that of the 1976 Tangshan earthquake.</p> <p>We share the sorrow and grief of our mainland compatriots. At the same time we are heartened by the tremendous outpour of sympathy, help and support for the victims from people all over the country. Massive rescue and disaster relief efforts have been conducted efficiently. Tens of thousands have responded to calls for donations to help the survivors. The response to the University’s fund-raising campaign for relief has been most encouraging. Let me remind you once again that the University has set up an earthquake relief fund account at the Hang Seng Bank (account number 293-005005-022). Please give generously.</p> <p>The State Council announced yesterday that the country would observe three days of mourning from 19 to 21 May. Flags of all PRC government organizations on the mainland and overseas will be flying at half-mast. At 14:28 today, the exact time when the earthquake struck a week ago, a three-minute silence was observed across the nation. Many members of the University halted their activities in remembrance of the earthquake victims. Throughout these three days, all major university ceremonies and activities will also be preceded by a mourning vigil. To be respectful of the dead and as a gesture of support for the survivors, let us be plain in speech and attire during the mourning period. </p> <p>Rescue efforts are continuing. Reconstruction will be a long journey. I believe that like millions of Chinese all over the world, members of the University will continue to offer their spiritual and material support to the victims of the earthquake. Let us turn our grief into strength, to help all those who are in need of our help.<br /></p> <p>Lawrence J. Lau<br />President and Vice-Chancellor </p> <p>19 May 2008</p><br /><p><br /></p>News article:<br />http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-05/14/content_8172610.htm<br /><br />How you can help:<br /><a href="http://www.redcross.org.hk/home.cfm?langId=2&Ver=G" target="_blank">http://www.redcross.org.hk/home.cfm?langId=2&Ver=G</a><br /><a href="http://www.worldvision.org.hk/appeal/Sichuan/emer_frame.html" target="_blank">http://www.worldvision.org.hk/appeal...mer_frame.html</a><br /><a href="http://www.oxfam.org.hk/public/contents/news?ha=&wc=0&hb=&hc=&revision%5fid=76057&item%5fid=75959" target="_blank">http://www.oxfam.org.hk/public/c ... 057&item%5fid=75959</a><br /><a href="http://www.tungwah.org.hk/?structure=&content=173&articleid=159&language=CH" target="_blank">http://www.tungwah.org.hk/?structure...59&language=CH</a><br /><a href="http://www.salvation.org.hk/Chinese/index.htm" target="_blank">http://www.salvation.org.hk/Chinese/index.htm</a><br /><br />These organizations are legitimate and are taken from this news forum (words cannot even describe the pictures posted):<br /><br />http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=626045Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443469724348934524.post-11634615279589177262008-05-10T14:01:00.002+08:002008-05-11T03:43:58.203+08:00And to think it was over...<p>I left for Thailand with the intention of coming back to Hong Kong with a tan and nothing more. Naively, I left for Thailand with no other expectations - I just wanted mere fun in the sun...BUT I came back from Thailand with a much broader sense of reality and, most importantly, a different angle on experiencing life.</p> <p>I will not attempt to bore you with the minute by minute details of my 7 day trip in southern Thailand. There are not enough words in English to describe my time in Thailand - and even if I do attempt it, those words would not do this wonderful country justice. It is one thing to read about my experience in Thailand, but why read it when you can experience it for yourself and create your own memories? Beyond the superficial stereotypes of lady-boys, prostitutes, seedy go-go bars, and cabaret shows, lies the inner essence of Thailand - its beautiful landscape, gorgeous emerald-green water teeming with colorful coral and fishes, and, above all, the Thai people.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/wongcw1/SCXjYJ11lUI/AAAAAAAAAVs/2Fl_QNhyOw0/s1600-h/IMG_7038%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-width: 0px;" alt="IMG_7038" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/wongcw1/SCXjZZ11lVI/AAAAAAAAAV0/uEFLt8I2nUc/IMG_7038_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" height="310" width="408" /></a> </p> <p>Maya Beach - where the film "The Beach" was filmed (Leonardo Dicaprio)</p> <p> </p> <p>Of all the islands that I visited in Thailand, Phi Phi Island (pronounced Pee Pee Island) is by far my favorite. It is truly a paradise. This tiny island is beautiful in everything from beaches to its people that inhabit this island. Phi Phi has definitely rebounded from the wake of destruction brought on by the 2004 tsunami. It was hit hard by a 10-meter wave that fateful day, but no one would have known it by just walking through Phi Phi today. Koh Phi Phi is a testament to the work ethic of the Thai people and reflects Thailand's heavy reliance on tourism (90% of Thailand's economy is sustained by tourism). Everyone should make a trip to this island at least once in their lifetime - I guarantee you will fall in love with it and its people the minute you step onto the pier.</p> <p>The best aspect of Phi Phi Island is the genuine smiles and expert service you receive from the Thai people. Of all the Thais that I have met, two locals will always be remembered. Their conviction and work ethic are immeasurable. We, as Americans, often believe that there is nothing a 3rd world country, stricken by poverty, will be able to offer us. But meeting Yuth and Puntal will surely change this belief. Both are very young, yet they work more than 10 hours a day on this tiny island to earn and save money to one day continue their education. Living in the States where the opportunity for higher-level education is available to everyone, it is often easy to overlook this luxury. Taking the time to listen to Puntal speak about his hopes and dreams to continue his education, to one day travel to India to complete a degree in Theology, and to talk about his passion for philosophy, I came to better understand myself as a person. Puntal taught me that, with even the greatest circumstances against you, conviction and perseverance will help you achieve your dreams. And I have no doubt that when I return to Thailand, Puntal will have achieved all his hopes and dreams, if not more.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/wongcw1/SCXjaZ11lWI/AAAAAAAAAV8/utkIGlhvWQc/s1600-h/IMG_6993%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-width: 0px;" alt="IMG_6993" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/wongcw1/SCXjbZ11lXI/AAAAAAAAAWE/EIfyMOV1AWs/IMG_6993_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" height="324" width="424" /></a></p> <p>One of the local houses on Ko Phi Phi </p> <p> </p> <p>In a country stricken with poverty, it is extraordinary to see genuine happiness among its population. Although Thailand is not necessarily the poorest of the poorest 3rd world countries, it is still underdeveloped. Meeting Yuth on Phi Phi Island was perhaps a chance meeting; he happened to work at the "hotel" we were staying in and knew another traveler we had just met earlier that day. Through mutual contacts, I met someone who, even after working in the sweltering heat pushing and pulling tourists' baggage from the pier to the hotel for hours, still possesses a fervor for enjoying and experiencing life. Even after working on the island for one year, and meeting tourists who have the money to spend and enjoy a vacation in Thailand, he held no bitterness towards his lifestyle or anyone else's. Yuth's work ethic is incomparable, and his spirit for life is what I hope to possess.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/wongcw1/SCXjsp11lYI/AAAAAAAAAWM/TrVRMGi8VmQ/s1600-h/IMG_6990%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-width: 0px;" alt="IMG_6990" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/wongcw1/SCXjt511lZI/AAAAAAAAAWU/wxZ1vz3tDk8/IMG_6990_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" height="332" width="433" /></a> The Viewpoint - an overview of Kho Phi Phi where the tsunami struck.</p> <p> </p> <p>The memories I have made in Thailand will never be forgotten - from snorkeling and pushing my limits, kayaking and capsizing, losing the snorkeling mask that costs 1500 Baht (roughly 50 USD) only to have it recovered from the ocean floor by a Thai, drowning my camera, riding an elephant, feeding a baby tiger, hugging a full-grown tiger...the list goes on. </p> <p>Before this semester, and definitely before Thailand, traveling used to be about seeing a new place of marvelous beauty and architecture, taking a few pictures here and there, and then repeating the process. But after what seemed like an innocent vacation, I've had the best time of my life, did a little soul-searching, and found that traveling is more than just seeing the sights. It is about submerging yourself in a culture so different from what you know. It is about trying new foods, talking with the local people, and not just living, but experiencing life, making the most of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. </p> <p>If you learn nothing from my own traveling experiences, learn this one thing:</p> <blockquote> <p>There is much more to see in the world than what you know, so open your mind to new cultures, ideas, and beliefs. You'll be surprised by what you learn not only of others, but of yourself.</p></blockquote> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/wongcw1/SCX0KZ11laI/AAAAAAAAAWc/zc4_2tGNg74/s1600-h/DSC02561%5B5%5D.jpg"><br /></a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443469724348934524.post-21089977793312085472008-05-01T14:07:00.003+08:002008-05-01T14:27:02.154+08:00Farewell Hong Kong....<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_20tdXdcZNYg/SBlh9yMu-BI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/FtZoUCVYBOs/s1600-h/IMG_6882.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_20tdXdcZNYg/SBlh9yMu-BI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/FtZoUCVYBOs/s320/IMG_6882.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195291359223674898" border="0" /></a><br />Because we're HongKonger's now.... :-)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2fuL9D5RInr-oqFMrX6lTYBsDIjveGqYTAM8dJXDuwjLZbWMPiQ2uyXbpW9494cQxzyKt3J_QsJN1gekX9MSPl1FMscTkIl4Vk_x2R7mco0LFIQu-U4t4TIPxoeV-WRjkCXsaShGp0LVZ/s1600-h/IMG_6900.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2fuL9D5RInr-oqFMrX6lTYBsDIjveGqYTAM8dJXDuwjLZbWMPiQ2uyXbpW9494cQxzyKt3J_QsJN1gekX9MSPl1FMscTkIl4Vk_x2R7mco0LFIQu-U4t4TIPxoeV-WRjkCXsaShGp0LVZ/s320/IMG_6900.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195291367813609506" border="0" /></a><br />Late night Dim Sum - at 11:30pm!!!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrMlE9W51DeEuyStnu_qn0Na8-juBACLdDlJi5OOxEU7Sxe_XT5jpDUU4uj5IJ8QLPFqfI2BZFtH9LqV287YkfnIG6cvWnXm9NNUDKkA4R3alpBb9sJxn7BkYTIvfrEKnZh26WiVIy1nwR/s1600-h/n1409481_33439503_2787.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrMlE9W51DeEuyStnu_qn0Na8-juBACLdDlJi5OOxEU7Sxe_XT5jpDUU4uj5IJ8QLPFqfI2BZFtH9LqV287YkfnIG6cvWnXm9NNUDKkA4R3alpBb9sJxn7BkYTIvfrEKnZh26WiVIy1nwR/s320/n1409481_33439503_2787.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195291376403544114" border="0" /></a><br />Macau - one of those times.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkdh4QD_TUrisPB5nvwP4W3_M6YY3IJIv5GdJW3mjZUPtmoUNr22PzdU454o_2YyfhIKDNd4KEQI4T7tmBlTPvsN3kRivKCk9LdVlI5M4vdfXy2yYO-bGX3RwmpetqFEIrGqmsZPUw44T/s1600-h/n3217208_37719317_7670.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkdh4QD_TUrisPB5nvwP4W3_M6YY3IJIv5GdJW3mjZUPtmoUNr22PzdU454o_2YyfhIKDNd4KEQI4T7tmBlTPvsN3kRivKCk9LdVlI5M4vdfXy2yYO-bGX3RwmpetqFEIrGqmsZPUw44T/s320/n3217208_37719317_7670.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195291376403544130" border="0" /></a><br />Subway photo-op!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwhrC0rIG9qHxwkLt31yUAKOa7MGIP5UuU7Ld2NNfbryi4boNApqhl_UcoRcSa4cQNvV4GYqRybkU1xQVucnr_seNvEuE4VyjYVQEgCoJ1wdXMTs0qysR7lG-SBeNxUdhHcMi3x0870Svs/s1600-h/n3217208_37719352_945.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwhrC0rIG9qHxwkLt31yUAKOa7MGIP5UuU7Ld2NNfbryi4boNApqhl_UcoRcSa4cQNvV4GYqRybkU1xQVucnr_seNvEuE4VyjYVQEgCoJ1wdXMTs0qysR7lG-SBeNxUdhHcMi3x0870Svs/s320/n3217208_37719352_945.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195291380698511442" border="0" /></a>i will miss them all....<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCV6wSx_MDRVCVmRv4pw_ySSAa5u0Wmpin9PTkafqX9Meww40ZB8AlYWbNS1MeO3Fwg9nh7FTk129A8dvaH4nLcLNn3sHV1AwFleC_3kFcfpQWMKxxkK2jRZyce4-aVcKeSwixhziFBV1G/s1600-h/n3217208_37968729_4997.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCV6wSx_MDRVCVmRv4pw_ySSAa5u0Wmpin9PTkafqX9Meww40ZB8AlYWbNS1MeO3Fwg9nh7FTk129A8dvaH4nLcLNn3sHV1AwFleC_3kFcfpQWMKxxkK2jRZyce4-aVcKeSwixhziFBV1G/s320/n3217208_37968729_4997.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195290221057341378" border="0" /></a><br />Ventiuno Celebracion!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7BEGCGjGCwQT0rM3F5xRrNRIxdVvU6zfJCKE-LOOpbxaPTRoa9bCNztfh969MPijKTmU4xo4ZTK5ny5WSX89QXzq8lq2fLAsKnUio8KeE1WDTUmSMLYEtU4t58whRhyphenhyphen_nYPRhV7dMknyr/s1600-h/New+asia+fantasia+night+%284%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7BEGCGjGCwQT0rM3F5xRrNRIxdVvU6zfJCKE-LOOpbxaPTRoa9bCNztfh969MPijKTmU4xo4ZTK5ny5WSX89QXzq8lq2fLAsKnUio8KeE1WDTUmSMLYEtU4t58whRhyphenhyphen_nYPRhV7dMknyr/s320/New+asia+fantasia+night+%284%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195290229647275986" border="0" /></a><br />Fantasia Night at New Asia<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjBFb3bcUKaZQXKcmOW5aS4R0V01s1g6X4nOBHY4OgS8X-IkiFdw9Q8SdLiNEVKkYUkiBcL5JBuVRcviTLNyqySvjO0jTeal0N2wpdQQqVpswHDZ6I6X-dbEd5o85otx9eMIFXOtu62Sfp/s1600-h/che+kung+mui.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjBFb3bcUKaZQXKcmOW5aS4R0V01s1g6X4nOBHY4OgS8X-IkiFdw9Q8SdLiNEVKkYUkiBcL5JBuVRcviTLNyqySvjO0jTeal0N2wpdQQqVpswHDZ6I6X-dbEd5o85otx9eMIFXOtu62Sfp/s320/che+kung+mui.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195290242532177890" border="0" /></a>Chinese New Years....seems so long ago!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_20tdXdcZNYg/SBlg8yMu9_I/AAAAAAAAAUA/-M2Ivb-M7yc/s1600-h/IMG_6863.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_20tdXdcZNYg/SBlg8yMu9_I/AAAAAAAAAUA/-M2Ivb-M7yc/s320/IMG_6863.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195290242532177906" border="0" /></a><br />Snoopy's World (teehee)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_20tdXdcZNYg/SBlg9SMu-AI/AAAAAAAAAUI/G_OF36VMgmA/s1600-h/IMG_6888.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_20tdXdcZNYg/SBlg9SMu-AI/AAAAAAAAAUI/G_OF36VMgmA/s320/IMG_6888.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195290251122112514" border="0" /></a><br />Carmen (not me) doesn't know how to do anything but smile...but thats why i heart her!<br /><br /><br /></div>I'm writing my goodbye letter to the wonderful city of HK since I don't know when the last time I will be writing this blog! I am leaving for the country of pingpong shows, ladyboys, and beaches (ie: Thailand) on May 4th. I have yet to start packing...I've only thrown away about 3 bags of trash that have accumulated over the course of the semester. It is quite unbelievable that 5 months have flown by so quickly. My junior year is over and I could not have asked of a better way to end it!<br /><br />I'm looking around my hostel room and I find that I have quite alot of crap. Clothes, wine, books, shoes, more clothes. It is quite endless and I don't think I will be heading to Laos (:-(!!!) because I have to tie some loose ends before I leave HK. that, and I should pack....I think I will have to ship off some winter clothes back home to leave room for other things in my checked luggage!<br /><br />There's not much else to say about HK except that I've had a life-changing experience, met the coolest people from all over the world, made some, what I hope to be, life-long friendships, and saw a different side of the world that most have yet to even imagine. Thanks HK for the damage you've done to my lungs (2nd hand smoke...), the damage you've done to my liver, and most of all, the hefty damage you've done to my wallet! Adios Hong Kong!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443469724348934524.post-19274733626435027722008-04-21T22:39:00.001+08:002008-04-21T22:41:16.192+08:00yet again....<p _extended="true">Good thing I was there BEFORE this....<br /></p><p _extended="true">The Olympic Torch comes through Hong Kong May 2nd. I'm debating if I want to go out and see it :-)<b _extended="true"><br /></b></p><p _extended="true"><b _extended="true"><br /></b></p><p _extended="true"><b _extended="true">KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (CNN)</b> -- Hundreds of flag-waving Chinese students gathered at the starting and ending points of the Olympic torch relay in Kuala Lumpur Monday, far outnumbering the handful of people who carried pro-Tibet signs.</p><!--startclickprintexclude--> <div id="imageChanger1" _extended="true"><!-- PURGE: /2008/WORLD/asiapcf/04/21/malaysia.torch/art.kl.relay.ap.jpg --><!-- KEEP --> <div class="cnnStoryPhotoBox" _extended="true"> <div class="cnnImgChngr" id="cnnImgChngr" _extended="true"> <div id="cnnImgChngrNested"><img alt="art.kl.relay.ap.jpg" src="http://i.l.cnn.net/cnn/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/04/21/malaysia.torch/art.kl.relay.ap.jpg" height="219" hspace="0" width="292" /> <div class="cnnStoryPhotoCaptionBox"> <div class="cnn3pxTB9pxLRPad"> <p>Malaysia Olympic Council President Imran Jaafar kicks off the Malaysian leg of the torch relay.</p></div></div></div> <div class="cnnWireBoxFooter"><br />Heavy security was in place to protect the 80 runners carrying the Olympic torch along a 10-mile (16 km) route through the Malaysian capital, ending at the Petronas Twin Towers.</div></div></div><!-- /PURGE: /2008/WORLD/asiapcf/04/21/malaysia.torch/art.kl.relay.ap.jpg --></div> <script type="text/javascript" _extended="true"> var CNN_ArticleChanger = new CNN_imageChanger('cnnImgChngr','/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/04/21/malaysia.torch/imgChng/p1-0.init.exclude.html',1,1); //CNN.imageChanger.load('cnnImgChngr','imgChng/p1-0.exclude.html'); </script> <!--endclickprintexclude--> <p _extended="true">About 500 Chinese students attended the relay, carrying pro-China signs and heckling the few people taking a pro-Tibet stand.</p> <p _extended="true">The Chinese students wore identical shirts with the slogan "One Dream, One Nation," and many of them had Chinese flags painted on their faces, according to witnesses.</p> <p _extended="true">An Olympics organizer said the Chinese Embassy arranged for the students to be there. Several of the students told CNN that the Chinese government provided their transportation to the event and gave them the flags and shirts.</p> <p _extended="true">Witnesses said the Chinese students overwhelmed a woman wearing a "Free Tibet" shirt and holding a pro-Tibet sign, hitting her with small Chinese flags before she was carried away unhurt by a photographer.</p><!--startclickprintexclude--> <div class="cnnStoryElementBox" _extended="true"> <h4 _extended="true">Don't Miss</h4> <ul class="cnnRelated" _extended="true"><!-- PURGE:/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/03/20/oly.torchrelay/index.html--><li _extended="true">Map: <a href="/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/03/20/oly.torchrelay/index.html" _extended="true">Follow the torch relay</a> <!-- /PURGE:/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/03/20/oly.torchrelay/index.html--> </li><li _extended="true">Special report: <a href="/SPECIALS/2008/news/olympics/" _extended="true">Olympics: Countdown 2008</a> </li><li _extended="true"><b class="wool" _extended="true">iReport.com: </b><a href="http://www.ireport.com/ir-topic-stories.jspa?topicId=5797" _extended="true">Share your Olympic torch news and images</a> </li></ul></div><!--endclickprintexclude--> <p _extended="true">"As soon as spectators saw what she was doing, they immediately mobbed her, hitting her with flags," said Brad Kesler, an American tourist who was there to watch the start of the relay.</p> <p _extended="true">Kesler said the woman was holding the sign and not yelling.</p> <p _extended="true">At least two other people carrying pro-Tibet signs were carried away by police. It was not clear if they were detained because of a disruption or if they were removed for their own safety.</p> <p _extended="true">About 1,500 people attended the relay's start in Independence Square, according to witness estimates. Few of them appeared to be local residents -- a member of the Malaysian Olympics council explained it was a work day. <span class="cnnEmbeddedMosLnk" _extended="true"><img alt="Video" src="http://i.l.cnn.net/cnn/.element/img/2.0/mosaic/tabs/video.gif" _extended="true" border="0" height="14" width="16" /> <a onclick="CNN_changeMosaicTab('cnnVideoCmpnt','videos.html',true,'/video/world/2008/04/20/rivers.malaysia.torch.preview.cnn');" href="#cnnSTCVideo" _extended="true">Watch the torch arrive in Malaysia »</a></span></p> <p _extended="true">Malaysian actress Marina Mahathir, one of the 80 torchbearers, said she was "very excited and very proud to be carrying the torch." She said she did not expect any of the violence that disrupted the relay in several other cities.</p><!--startclickprintexclude--> <!--endclickprintexclude--> <p _extended="true">Earlier torch relay stops in London, England; Paris, France; and San Francisco, California attracted tens of thousands of demonstrators. Some protesters in those cities tried to disrupt the relay, and police made dozens of arrests.</p> <p _extended="true">The flame will arrive in Jakarta, Indonesia late Monday for a torch relay there on Tuesday.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443469724348934524.post-40974741006777930002008-04-19T02:29:00.003+08:002008-04-19T02:33:56.304+08:00Formulate your own opinions....Sent to me by a mainland student:<br /><br /><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/x9QNKB34cJo&hl=en"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/x9QNKB34cJo&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />Nationalistic? Immature?<br /><br />or perhaps....<br /><br />Compelling?<br /><br />What do you think?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443469724348934524.post-2462689190282312792008-04-19T02:05:00.007+08:002008-04-19T02:26:42.763+08:00Politicizing the Olympics?All randomness and frivolity aside...<br /><br />Today I found myself in the midst of a heated conversation between local students about the recent international protests against China concerning Tibet. I often read CNN and New York Times to try to keep up with foreign media news outlets. I even try to read South China Morning Post to see what's happening in China and locally in Hong Kong. Having lived in the United States, I often read about international affairs from the States' point of view; but now that I am living in Hong Kong, it's an interesting perspective to view from China's point of view.<br /><br />I asked my HK friend if he thought foreign media was politicizing the Olympics and what he thought the media's effect on the Tibet and China issue was among foreigners, to which he replied:<br /><br /><ul style="color: rgb(255, 255, 51);"><li style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:MS Shell Dlg;">"No the media did not say anything intending to politicize the games. But the effect makes foreigners to politicize it"</span></span></span></li><li style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:MS Shell Dlg;">The media's effect --> "bias: they just kept reporting how angry Tibetans were. But on the opposite side of the street, there were actually a large group of Chinese supporting China and performing the Dragon Dance"</span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:MS Shell Dlg;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Chinese government has actually not been all that bad for Tibet; for example, the government helps build and rebuild its infrastructure</span><br /></span></span></span></li></ul>Perhaps it is nationalism that drives this point of view. But what I find most interesting is that most students here (at least those who are not apathetic to politics) hold moderate views, not from one extreme or the other. Here is a friend of mine, Jesse Davis, who sums it up quite nicely:<br /><br /><br /><h3 class="post-title entry-title"> <span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://reportingfromasia.blogspot.com/2008/04/chinese-voices-of-moderation-on-tibet.html">Chinese voices of moderation on Tibet</a></span> </h3><span style="font-size:85%;"> Conversation bounced around the table, a mix of Mandrin, Cantonese and English at Jashan, an Indian restaurant on Hong Kong Island in SoHo.<br /><br />Over rounds of mango lassi, a yogurt drink with mango juice, the Chinese mainland students all around me were speaking excitedly in Chinese.<br /><br />I watched their faces trying to figure out what they were talking about. Then one of the students turned to me and asked,<br /><br />"Have you heard about the 'heart' China name changes on MSN?"</span><br /><br />***Read more at http://reportingfromasia.blogspot.com/Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443469724348934524.post-38187610114652303182008-04-16T23:34:00.004+08:002008-04-17T20:56:03.246+08:00RandomnessI actually just realized that I never put up pictures of local HK friends :-) Here are a few taken today by Keisha!! I <3><div>They're on Central Campus at CUHK. pretty campus don't you think?</div><div>Random pictures ^^</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLEtfu4G5IthZN7U8iw9jXMzUnupZZxvghat4dlzPl-5JNOiTGsHPn-rAppgKGoEn5uWCRWfE_MfVip_TUEVuj2FhEnSEZJcpptAW-ggrULMe2AVEqKr0kwRqUKBn809GrLYhFPR2YWcVZ/s1600-h/n503999988_763305_7732.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLEtfu4G5IthZN7U8iw9jXMzUnupZZxvghat4dlzPl-5JNOiTGsHPn-rAppgKGoEn5uWCRWfE_MfVip_TUEVuj2FhEnSEZJcpptAW-ggrULMe2AVEqKr0kwRqUKBn809GrLYhFPR2YWcVZ/s320/n503999988_763305_7732.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189867716740720946" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGvL-Tu0u_vJgU6mKaeb79bGcIQY7YgtJ3bFr2a5nSZ3dPWEt7ZvHlUv5QqCISOCLs_mkebsbZtKH_oyhtDQFeBbJbYJeyvb2su5PnnIIzEqPWCrm2yv78gSL2OPtDHE5MiFGSBPxpV5Xd/s1600-h/n503999988_763304_7054.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGvL-Tu0u_vJgU6mKaeb79bGcIQY7YgtJ3bFr2a5nSZ3dPWEt7ZvHlUv5QqCISOCLs_mkebsbZtKH_oyhtDQFeBbJbYJeyvb2su5PnnIIzEqPWCrm2yv78gSL2OPtDHE5MiFGSBPxpV5Xd/s320/n503999988_763304_7054.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189867725330655570" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">the normal one ><</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_20tdXdcZNYg/SAYdMveZKWI/AAAAAAAAATY/kwA2eK8Gkko/s1600-h/Picture+005.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_20tdXdcZNYg/SAYdMveZKWI/AAAAAAAAATY/kwA2eK8Gkko/s320/Picture+005.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189867725330655586" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">playing with my webcam.... LoL</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixIORF8i9AmJaupKSzl_RWe9yEXSp0sbnu15xg-u4kmOuE1ieqKoHAaU2Z_0qNnrwfCU0Av9a3A5-OfSAOPKVkc07pji2YKURllZ4gyWCma_Vrze2vTTj22_0mkepEUf8ZIAjR1geNgcmy/s1600-h/night+out+after+farewell+party.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixIORF8i9AmJaupKSzl_RWe9yEXSp0sbnu15xg-u4kmOuE1ieqKoHAaU2Z_0qNnrwfCU0Av9a3A5-OfSAOPKVkc07pji2YKURllZ4gyWCma_Vrze2vTTj22_0mkepEUf8ZIAjR1geNgcmy/s320/night+out+after+farewell+party.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189867729625622898" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">in the girls bathroom - night out with the ladies :-)</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443469724348934524.post-35330291996073773282008-04-15T21:25:00.000+08:002008-04-15T21:33:10.110+08:00PS.....congrats to my sister for her engagement :-) The ring is gorgeous! Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443469724348934524.post-89563935282564430742008-04-15T19:19:00.006+08:002008-04-15T19:53:00.481+08:00places seen and to be seen<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I do not believe that I put up pictures of Malaysia or Singapore! I think during that time, I was too tired to even bother. I won't reiterate how fun Kuala Lumpur and Singapore were - I'll just emphasize how much I'd love to go back again :-) </span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjT8fAtzs4OGT4jUENKnExnqzWcuvV4XBMKiPuKRtWn4ZBHyMxiS6C4YY_tEbMLhXy1rrqLq9Mnm9-In9XuXIqr96gd7Uytwpv3qVek3e6RjxwQwmhzjB46twfuYgbtldlNB8C9_jwJXaY/s1600-h/IMG_6370.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjT8fAtzs4OGT4jUENKnExnqzWcuvV4XBMKiPuKRtWn4ZBHyMxiS6C4YY_tEbMLhXy1rrqLq9Mnm9-In9XuXIqr96gd7Uytwpv3qVek3e6RjxwQwmhzjB46twfuYgbtldlNB8C9_jwJXaY/s320/IMG_6370.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189435943678453986" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Hindu Temple in Chinatown in Kuala Lumpur. There are Chinatown's everywhere....<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9y_9TD6FOrXF8Rho06-Gpb06H83bBcq3XSEolsV1UMT6bUsYX04S0jtrYxl4TV7zMSZeHIFdEBkobHf5wIEPqXMhhBrfV4jcZe46bhDOTI8c1GOklxfWAxspoUYBop-Vd405va3X4-ncC/s1600-h/IMG_6492.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9y_9TD6FOrXF8Rho06-Gpb06H83bBcq3XSEolsV1UMT6bUsYX04S0jtrYxl4TV7zMSZeHIFdEBkobHf5wIEPqXMhhBrfV4jcZe46bhDOTI8c1GOklxfWAxspoUYBop-Vd405va3X4-ncC/s320/IMG_6492.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189435952268388594" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Vishnu! Batu Caves in Malaysia. only a 45min bus ride! <br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFxrPlFDLqeeoylMWsPhSPpexI0LsA1IgyByKrswyu59DcxOoLSG-BlyeRLaLBxKPUTK2zTsJAFRvtDc7CmLEXWzYhhy1xTLRBblqIHlkprKTzsGWTc9MAft5PQqLMe2ksHcBCUl5vtgXc/s1600-h/IMG_6456.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFxrPlFDLqeeoylMWsPhSPpexI0LsA1IgyByKrswyu59DcxOoLSG-BlyeRLaLBxKPUTK2zTsJAFRvtDc7CmLEXWzYhhy1xTLRBblqIHlkprKTzsGWTc9MAft5PQqLMe2ksHcBCUl5vtgXc/s320/IMG_6456.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189435956563355906" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Mercado Square in KL. Everything is basically within walking distance. But taxi fares can be negotiated and is rather cheap!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIesGnaf9t2u4JMYMnQmH4AqoaltCb2RvNowfDNPncgCuz28glK6aocIcfIzAH1PLXnItPSehFsHwRoZFDHSIEFnQKrGjil0V5PEqeq-_clrSzfsCKcURPkZe1TDJWFbXx0uWIToi8kt1A/s1600-h/IMG_6503.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIesGnaf9t2u4JMYMnQmH4AqoaltCb2RvNowfDNPncgCuz28glK6aocIcfIzAH1PLXnItPSehFsHwRoZFDHSIEFnQKrGjil0V5PEqeq-_clrSzfsCKcURPkZe1TDJWFbXx0uWIToi8kt1A/s320/IMG_6503.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189435960858323218" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Wild monkeys at Batu Caves. When I started digging in my bag to look for my camera, they automatically thought I was giving them food...<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8J9-v8spM0eqafXIGBlYSwuaOtzxk0jhvjpSqqL7gYKLMH-GP6ozlud2yX2Yb_TZZ77gXvAsKbtbm07TMrP5811IXs3rm4JEK-sbPxRhvGqYRwIjG2hyphenhyphenFHibEgSji9M3FDSLe1lqnyQL/s1600-h/IMG_6413.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8J9-v8spM0eqafXIGBlYSwuaOtzxk0jhvjpSqqL7gYKLMH-GP6ozlud2yX2Yb_TZZ77gXvAsKbtbm07TMrP5811IXs3rm4JEK-sbPxRhvGqYRwIjG2hyphenhyphenFHibEgSji9M3FDSLe1lqnyQL/s320/IMG_6413.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189435965153290530" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Patronas Towers (Twin Towers) in KL. supposedly the tallest until the one in Taipei, Taiwan was built!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8dxVBsjgX-3FhjQQs0bycl4aROPl5KRMbPWO-_G_CUD6zfkbSgtBUx60dn0s1ku1YexjvVXR4EtIXWfP4av5twUlAHu8IXM-sSqU1R9l66MUWL1-iKnECb12Akmwt5ekDdoKlpDD77Hap/s1600-h/IMGP2281.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8dxVBsjgX-3FhjQQs0bycl4aROPl5KRMbPWO-_G_CUD6zfkbSgtBUx60dn0s1ku1YexjvVXR4EtIXWfP4av5twUlAHu8IXM-sSqU1R9l66MUWL1-iKnECb12Akmwt5ekDdoKlpDD77Hap/s320/IMGP2281.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189433852029380754" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Children fascinated by the cat in a Buddhist temple in Tai O (Hong Kong)</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSHcdnFKk61_1ELl-XFip8dTnIa033-xUDYMGNuEYZ4FjhnkMrhFV3DEWu32RL0A7BvMzaFT27oopcEX5ng9m8og6SeQX1xdLfnFda-SNg7f4dJ3uhkWfcC1NyZuop9ptGzl-12Pkj-ri9/s1600-h/IMGP2318.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSHcdnFKk61_1ELl-XFip8dTnIa033-xUDYMGNuEYZ4FjhnkMrhFV3DEWu32RL0A7BvMzaFT27oopcEX5ng9m8og6SeQX1xdLfnFda-SNg7f4dJ3uhkWfcC1NyZuop9ptGzl-12Pkj-ri9/s320/IMGP2318.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189433869209249970" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Went to the Big Buddha again just to see one of Buddha's relics (it's inside the statue - the Big Buddha is actually hollow!)</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjun_7ZgbIshW08Xu98dHXi7hguaBK4gtRGhIjpIfNkwrjGqFOXmBksukgoDp57m4103k7WUfSOLYqZmIzwGOylkvHorTI958dv2MS8u2VeQC0QT4cXAZz_6ppqWdhrfl3XVXjiceB1BLbR/s1600-h/IMG_6342.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjun_7ZgbIshW08Xu98dHXi7hguaBK4gtRGhIjpIfNkwrjGqFOXmBksukgoDp57m4103k7WUfSOLYqZmIzwGOylkvHorTI958dv2MS8u2VeQC0QT4cXAZz_6ppqWdhrfl3XVXjiceB1BLbR/s320/IMG_6342.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189433869209249986" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The theatre looks like durians! (fruit that smell really really bad....and they don't taste all the great either)</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYL0feidmR2r-N7e5lln5RZkKUsJdOXb-6HzURM78esQ8hr6vW2DI-O5p_KfovIJYnKfpDpFCdV4NgoDB4_YQpNXIn2miTfdhyrr4zyyO7siIRA1wcW1XdUxB6CiJdoGOeiVKHTYRKLD5A/s1600-h/IMG_6546.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYL0feidmR2r-N7e5lln5RZkKUsJdOXb-6HzURM78esQ8hr6vW2DI-O5p_KfovIJYnKfpDpFCdV4NgoDB4_YQpNXIn2miTfdhyrr4zyyO7siIRA1wcW1XdUxB6CiJdoGOeiVKHTYRKLD5A/s320/IMG_6546.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189433873504217298" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Indian Bazaar in KL (Nasjik India)</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_20tdXdcZNYg/SASREveZKEI/AAAAAAAAARI/dA531mKsAoQ/s1600-h/IMG_6696.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_20tdXdcZNYg/SASREveZKEI/AAAAAAAAARI/dA531mKsAoQ/s320/IMG_6696.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189432181287102530" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Farewell party hosted by OAL (Office of Academic Links/International Asian Studies Programme)</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_20tdXdcZNYg/SASREveZKFI/AAAAAAAAARQ/Z1twNClzhVQ/s1600-h/IMG_6675.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_20tdXdcZNYg/SASREveZKFI/AAAAAAAAARQ/Z1twNClzhVQ/s320/IMG_6675.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189432181287102546" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Aww so snazzzy<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_20tdXdcZNYg/SASRE_eZKGI/AAAAAAAAARY/teWMW7vmxkY/s1600-h/IMG_6700.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_20tdXdcZNYg/SASRE_eZKGI/AAAAAAAAARY/teWMW7vmxkY/s320/IMG_6700.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189432185582069858" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Jamie's fork is in the way!! I dont' remember what this was....<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_20tdXdcZNYg/SASRFveZKII/AAAAAAAAARo/Qvjwh1FJGNo/s1600-h/IMGP2250.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_20tdXdcZNYg/SASRFveZKII/AAAAAAAAARo/Qvjwh1FJGNo/s320/IMGP2250.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189432198466971778" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">On the cable car up to Big Buddha - newly built but highly unreliable...Good thing we didn't crash!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_20tdXdcZNYg/SASP9veZJ_I/AAAAAAAAAQg/00vgBfz28AM/s1600-h/canto+class.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_20tdXdcZNYg/SASP9veZJ_I/AAAAAAAAAQg/00vgBfz28AM/s320/canto+class.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189430961516390386" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">My cantonese classmates :-)</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59wT8xsmGia31bCiHpISVI44YOIJ4mfzi5vviswo244TPDDwBf_fvdHpnuP5iZQ9ledRBVHxhQJDAHrYpPmpAWXFVhDDQizjXvP7YakPFLB8vNJQCl9g18TSItiwVCz_fzEkSwVyXHExv/s1600-h/IMG_6709.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59wT8xsmGia31bCiHpISVI44YOIJ4mfzi5vviswo244TPDDwBf_fvdHpnuP5iZQ9ledRBVHxhQJDAHrYpPmpAWXFVhDDQizjXvP7YakPFLB8vNJQCl9g18TSItiwVCz_fzEkSwVyXHExv/s320/IMG_6709.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189430961516390402" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Lulu - so cute! she's chinese, lives in japan, and knows how to speak putunghua</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUkfW31lJvWQS_X7gk8pIBHGNTzXY6fMe7Bh1QRbvL9PeKiQljxYywuBdqmgGZ9_KAcGnn4Kj7l1IigLQTR4cplZo3-J23byCHLj0ML7Hi0ZhvijUfBC1roIx6aIPLVPdQK2ZGEMp3LS24/s1600-h/IMG_6693.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUkfW31lJvWQS_X7gk8pIBHGNTzXY6fMe7Bh1QRbvL9PeKiQljxYywuBdqmgGZ9_KAcGnn4Kj7l1IigLQTR4cplZo3-J23byCHLj0ML7Hi0ZhvijUfBC1roIx6aIPLVPdQK2ZGEMp3LS24/s320/IMG_6693.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189430965811357714" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Mr. model Colin Chow - he's one of the advisors that works in OAL. super funny and nice to talk to!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjanNjIafj2zkd8YQLLo_D47GxWzJdQiVKwlcwqgfEaRT7ovNCetccsiVXbqYYdPUuWO_lb2R5WeMThGUgxoZyO6Ifu0zXRF1yrI959Kk1_AYUiIx1dzKr_uKbNxrKBD-m42tHTgMbHfuHY/s1600-h/IMG_6671.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjanNjIafj2zkd8YQLLo_D47GxWzJdQiVKwlcwqgfEaRT7ovNCetccsiVXbqYYdPUuWO_lb2R5WeMThGUgxoZyO6Ifu0zXRF1yrI959Kk1_AYUiIx1dzKr_uKbNxrKBD-m42tHTgMbHfuHY/s320/IMG_6671.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189430965811357730" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Jamie and Minsi. so pretty :-)<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_20tdXdcZNYg/SASP-PeZKDI/AAAAAAAAARA/Nrgghtx06x4/s1600-h/IMG_6673.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_20tdXdcZNYg/SASP-PeZKDI/AAAAAAAAARA/Nrgghtx06x4/s320/IMG_6673.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189430970106325042" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The girls at lucky number 18.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443469724348934524.post-12558047128327483512008-04-12T18:41:00.001+08:002008-04-12T18:43:13.751+08:00so itchy!!!!!!16 mosquito bites and counting.....<br /><br />they are vicious little creatures here. they may be small, but they sure cling on to you!<br />ugh. i feel like i have the chicken pox...and I keep forgetting to buy Tiger Balm and Mopeko.<br /><br />make it stop!!!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443469724348934524.post-54876129545993485162008-04-10T18:19:00.001+08:002008-04-10T18:24:45.907+08:00Gā wai hohksāang, gāmyaht ngóh tàih muhk haih ngóh....<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre;">Today I finished my presentation in Cantonese! YAY! 10 minutes is a long time to be talking about my life in the States. But I give special thanks to DAN for recording Peanut's tricks :-) </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre;">Not much to say but....</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre;">Tomorrow is the farewell dinner for International Students. SO SAD. I can't believe that my semester here is almost over! </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre;">Perhaps I will extend my visa and stay longer ^^ hehe</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443469724348934524.post-26880909771260843962008-04-07T00:08:00.007+08:002008-04-07T00:31:05.385+08:00The world as it is.<span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">It's quite sad that everything that happens in the world can be tied to political advancement. The Olympics is a sporting event, where athletes can represent their own nationality with pride. But, as always, human nature has turned it into a political issue. The Olympics have been stripped away of the very essence of sportsmanship and national pride - it is now, and perhaps has always been, a mere tool and scapegoat for international pressure.</span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I'm really just procrastinating. I actually do have tons to do. Honestly. On Wednesday, I have a Genetics Presentation on DNA Sequencing. We get marked (ie: graded) by graduate and post-graduate researchers who work/do research at CU. It can be quite nerve-racking since we are expected to know the ins and outs of our topic, and be able to present it professionally and at a graduate level. This class is supposed to be a Freshman class...yet, we are supposed to be able to present graduate level work? Doesn't make sense to me. But I feel that I have an advantage in that I am fluent in English, whereas the local students in my class are not as fluent (or so they say, but in all actuality, they are quite fluent in English!). </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I asked my group today if they ever taught the sciences in Cantonese. I find it hard to translate "insulin" into Cantonese! But actually, they do have classes in Cantonese but it is only in Hong Kong that English is used to teach the sciences (or humanities too). Only if you are learning Chinese medicine, or Chinese history, then professors would teach in Cantonese. But if you were in mainland China, everything is taught in Chinese - which is probably why it's so hard for mainland students to study here in Hong Kong. I asked Step if she could translate "Citric acid" in Cantonese....she said she doesn't even know it. She did tell me what "DNA" was in Cantonese...but I already forgot it. It's definitely longer than saying 'deoxyribonucleic acid.' That I know for sure!</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I'd thought I would gaaisiuh (introduce) my Cantonese Romanization...which is quite difficult. See if you can fáanyìhk (translate) ^^</span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Ng</span></span></span></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">ó</span></span></span></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">h jìhnghaih yáuh yāt yuht géi hái Hēunggóng jē! Ng</span></span></span></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">ó</span></span></span></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">h séung làuhdāi haih Hēunggóng yānwaih </span></span></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Ng</span></span></span></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">ó</span></span></span></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">h</span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> gokdāk Hēunggóng hóu wáan. Hái Hēunggóng, ng</span></span></span></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">ó</span></span></span></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">h sùhkjó hóudóu sān Hēunggóng pàhngyáuh, tùhngmaih kéuihdeih hóu siu. Ng</span></span></span></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">ó</span></span></span></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">h mjīdou yùhgwó ng</span></span></span></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">ó</span></span></span></span></span><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">h jáuh gójahnsìh wúih haam, bātgwo ngóh yātdihng wúih hóu sāmsēung!!!</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></p></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">:-)</span></span></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443469724348934524.post-75226375637202873652008-03-31T23:52:00.003+08:002008-03-31T23:57:05.098+08:00This is what Asians do instead of studying....http://www.xanga.com/kawai_junes<br /><br />CCBA - Chung Chi Business Administration<br />NABA - New Asia Business Administration<br /><br />It's that time of the year where students of CU and their respective colleges vote for their favorite guy or girl. It's similar to a pageant. But there are candidates for every college at CU (if you're confused...read about my previous post considering how CU is divided into colleges).<br /><br />The link above is what a friend of mine sent me. I will try and find my college's candidates :-)<br />These Asians have way too much time on their hands ^^Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443469724348934524.post-2295744548785150042008-03-29T17:01:00.002+08:002008-03-29T17:21:21.538+08:00Easter BreakI actually don't have the time to be writing this...but I'm procrastinating as usual. I have a biology presentation, Cantonese presentation, two papers, and another biology presentation all due within the next week and half. They're big on presentations here....<br /><br />April sucks!! The semester will be over in 3 weeks - so fast! Then it's party time in Southeast Asia :-)<br /><br />Easter break was super fantastically fun! I had a great time in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. I tried some new food, and definitely saw a lot more of the culture of different areas. AND I learned how to travel on my own :-) With a Lonely Planet in hand, I can navigate anywhere! LoL ^^<br /><br />KL is quite cheap. Even though it's only 1 USD for every 3 RM (ringgits), you can pretty much bargain for anything (except food that is). No one in KL uses the meter on the taxis. The average price for a taxi ride was 5 RM - and that was for a 20 minute ride. Food runs on average 7 RM if you get a drink too. I wish HK was that cheap in terms of food.<br /><br />There are plenty of Hindu and Muslim mosques in the area to feast your eyes on. I went inside the oldest mosque in Malaysia (it recently had its 100 year anniversary). I really do feel for Muslim women who have to wear headdresses. It is extremely hot in KL and yet, they have to wear scarves to cover their hair. I definitely perspired ALOT in those 10 minutes. <br /><br />I also went to the Hindu temple in Chinatown. I could have bought garlands for prayer for Vishnu, but I felt it was unnecessary since I am in no way a practitioner of Hinduism. But I did pay my respects inside. I felt it was disrespectful to take pictures since it was a holy place - even though some other tourists were taking them. The only place I did take pictures was the Batu Caves because it was quite a touristy area and very few worshipers were there...In my opinion, the tourism takes away from sacredness of the caves.<br /><br />Singapore was fun. Reminds me of Canada in that no one really ever bothers with Singapore. LoL The Merlion was quite neat - kinda cute. There's really not much to say about Singapore, only that it is quite clean (cleaner than HK, that's for sure)....and it's sort of like suburbia. It was nice and relaxing. But the Singapore government spends so much money on the streets - there's even a road tax. <br /><br />I suppose I should finish my Sacred Geography of India paper. Oh finals...fun times.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443469724348934524.post-70278623005528406992008-03-23T01:07:00.001+08:002008-03-26T19:26:15.504+08:00Greetings from KL!Hostel internet is quite slow...but I am attempting to update nonetheless. Greetings from Kuala Lumpur! In the short time that I have been here (I only arrived just this afternoon), I have noticed quite a lot of things about KL. Here are 10:<br /><br /><ol><li>KL is a Muslim population with 80% of Indian ancestry...but the ethnic Chinese hold control 80% of the economy!</li><li>Toilets are quite filthy, with bidets on the side and no toilet paper or soap (just water)<br /></li><li>Malays do not use knives, only fork and spoon. But most eat with their hands</li><li>KL is quite small - and their trains run very slow and come less frequently</li><li>Malays treat tourists nicer than Hong Kongers<br /></li><li>Even though the population is supposed to know English, the ones I have spoken to speak very little English.</li><li>Malay language is quite easy to pick up, or at least recognize the meaning of words</li><li>Everything you eat is spicy</li><li>The Chinatown in KL is very dirty - but big nonetheless</li><li>It rains here...a lot. Tropical weather :-) And when it rains, it pours and streets flood (kinda like Richmond......) --> umbrellas are worthless</li></ol>Ok..that's all for now. I am quite tired. me = bedtimeUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443469724348934524.post-50234029768624358042008-03-17T23:32:00.003+08:002008-03-17T23:41:13.313+08:00Is the government hiding something?So...I'm not quite sure if there has been news in the United States about this, but there have been recent developments with the flu virus in Hong Kong. As of now, 5 school-aged children have died and the Teaching in Hong Kong program (with CU/IAS) has been suspended for now. Could it be the government is downplaying the health issue?<br /><br />This past Sunday, China Daily has reported that the Guangdong province in Southern China (The Canton province in Mainland) has had an outbreak of the bird flu (29 cases in China, 19 fatal). Quite scary, huh?<br /><br />Not to mention what's happening in Tibet right now. The U.S. Embassy has issued a travel alert. Good thing I'm not studying in Tibet...or planning to travel there any time soon.<br /><br />Perhaps there will be a travel alert on Hong Kong....Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443469724348934524.post-66860432688568560972008-03-11T12:06:00.000+08:002008-03-11T12:00:07.221+08:00Shenzhen - Windows of the WorldShenzhen - a walk across the border from Hong Kong. It's actually quite a hassle to get to the other side since it's technically in Mainland China. I used my first mainland China visa visit to visit this city of fake goods. Apparently, you can even get fake eggs! Ann and I ventured to guess that maybe they replaced the real eggs with egg-shaped potatoes...Who knows.<br /><br />Shenzhen is quite a sketch city. A friend of mine (whose actually in HK for more than a year!) got robbed - you'd think of all people, he would know not to put his wallet in his back pocket. Silly. I suppose it's a lesson learned.<br /><br />Everybody you meet in Shenzhen speaks Putonghua...I found that out the hard way. And they hardly speak English...except when they want you to buy a DVD. They just say "DVD, DVD" repeatedly like a tape recorder. I was with my German and American friend looking for a nice tailor to get their suits made. It was like walking through actual mainland China where vendors bombard you with fliers and comments. But apparently, it wasn't as bad because they were with me (since I'm Asian?) than if they were by themselves. <br /><br />It's worth a visit to Shenzhen. But just one. It's actually a boring city. But who would have known that 20 years ago, it was all rural? It's a different atmosphere from Hong Kong...and they drive on the right side of the road :-)<br /><br />Here are some highlights from "Windows of the World," where they build miniature versions of popular/famous tourist attractions from all over the world.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprj41NUmNafWFeM3HzzA4GZz6SUXHpjaMiSBvEEdHlGUI3jptEnguy7614fSugQpw4dKHrBiwCKM5gMCdrD7rbUYYayFAzOC9Phvy4MacNfSfveShePIiDhzWMo8GI39e22ugnu0hArwW/s1600-h/IMG_6271.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprj41NUmNafWFeM3HzzA4GZz6SUXHpjaMiSBvEEdHlGUI3jptEnguy7614fSugQpw4dKHrBiwCKM5gMCdrD7rbUYYayFAzOC9Phvy4MacNfSfveShePIiDhzWMo8GI39e22ugnu0hArwW/s320/IMG_6271.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176326973202086546" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_20tdXdcZNYg/R9YB9u77uqI/AAAAAAAAAPw/fUnVNTp_6vs/s1600-h/russia.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_20tdXdcZNYg/R9YB9u77uqI/AAAAAAAAAPw/fUnVNTp_6vs/s320/russia.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176326981792021154" border="0" /></a>I found Russia!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBzbMhrO8GqA3YB2OLrHU2RcecnVZz_Zd3MeZMJUfEu9uhezLxO_RjsosT0NnOVRW5-Pc1lhJ6vo6hX5Q6Cr0_mmoeSktjBQ9BYpyVSTA5pLe7GJLrzKr1hzD6Mmm2U_i0zY-xHCnX6Y6D/s1600-h/IMG_6296.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBzbMhrO8GqA3YB2OLrHU2RcecnVZz_Zd3MeZMJUfEu9uhezLxO_RjsosT0NnOVRW5-Pc1lhJ6vo6hX5Q6Cr0_mmoeSktjBQ9BYpyVSTA5pLe7GJLrzKr1hzD6Mmm2U_i0zY-xHCnX6Y6D/s320/IMG_6296.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176326990381955762" border="0" /></a><br />It's like a child's playground!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYJ4wW3IWAtZk8fcpU1rltXuKpw7FZ6My3qWbT7FUkAUO2vkFwaNAnMPVH6IA_iwEMFB59AEQKOpCVMngh2-BVjDnt7yTtiWipAqct_SdqvDQGCEtUbTEJ5HDP5QDCbBSCCcBy0ReRtxY_/s1600-h/IMG_6308.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYJ4wW3IWAtZk8fcpU1rltXuKpw7FZ6My3qWbT7FUkAUO2vkFwaNAnMPVH6IA_iwEMFB59AEQKOpCVMngh2-BVjDnt7yTtiWipAqct_SdqvDQGCEtUbTEJ5HDP5QDCbBSCCcBy0ReRtxY_/s320/IMG_6308.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176327003266857666" border="0" /></a><br />From the view of the Eiffel Tower<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoHgcgvF7VrTIilD5mHxmIOsexNR-p3bvmEsSlmBKYtBROv4NkiL53vXPHGT8F8Tnbvnztey1dEb-iNsN0vUBljhJuw6tPJZ-FiaNmaf-aiWtVGZ6Bpt_0wZKhH7L7vQCzRMGAFTcRF9cf/s1600-h/IMG_6272.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoHgcgvF7VrTIilD5mHxmIOsexNR-p3bvmEsSlmBKYtBROv4NkiL53vXPHGT8F8Tnbvnztey1dEb-iNsN0vUBljhJuw6tPJZ-FiaNmaf-aiWtVGZ6Bpt_0wZKhH7L7vQCzRMGAFTcRF9cf/s320/IMG_6272.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176327007561824978" border="0" /></a>This is how they have fun in Shenzhen....<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_20tdXdcZNYg/R9YBZu77ulI/AAAAAAAAAPI/i3nv0GY7qy0/s1600-h/buckinghampalace.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_20tdXdcZNYg/R9YBZu77ulI/AAAAAAAAAPI/i3nv0GY7qy0/s320/buckinghampalace.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176326363316730450" border="0" /></a>I hopped the fence and almost yelled at....but it was worth it :-)<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMPzEg82DCGJU_NckZhiXyx8cbPh5cxFscKbT308J9YmIXRsxa9KX8dOC4Pil1wk6Pgdemv7XZFMD9NGOz-xy5Ts5oJrYz_jfS8beIdo_eZqXc3TyoGtIlUc4lnshDbMTd3jhyBhbXhUAs/s1600-h/windows+of+the+world2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMPzEg82DCGJU_NckZhiXyx8cbPh5cxFscKbT308J9YmIXRsxa9KX8dOC4Pil1wk6Pgdemv7XZFMD9NGOz-xy5Ts5oJrYz_jfS8beIdo_eZqXc3TyoGtIlUc4lnshDbMTd3jhyBhbXhUAs/s320/windows+of+the+world2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176326371906665058" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZv83DV6IqKQYxBjf62y03LACEzHDbm3P_m9BEw598MarQVzWKlPKxac7K71A9uDtLT0BF3efnG3LxVAHEXjUc3B8d6urwKNZaJecf7gsJJXfYySJw2SRLo5ngTM2_MiRR-ElC3XC-hyxs/s1600-h/britain.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZv83DV6IqKQYxBjf62y03LACEzHDbm3P_m9BEw598MarQVzWKlPKxac7K71A9uDtLT0BF3efnG3LxVAHEXjUc3B8d6urwKNZaJecf7gsJJXfYySJw2SRLo5ngTM2_MiRR-ElC3XC-hyxs/s320/britain.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176326371906665074" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443469724348934524.post-64030978080620643172008-03-10T14:37:00.002+08:002008-03-10T14:50:55.781+08:00Enjoy!<object width="425" height="373"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/pze16Z4I9GY&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f&border=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/pze16Z4I9GY&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="373"></embed></object><br /><br />"McDull" - popular kids cartoon in Hong Kong; translated into French too ^^Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443469724348934524.post-8690798078001385372008-03-05T04:17:00.000+08:002008-03-04T12:14:50.320+08:00Oh Brother! BSB and Macau X2!I cannot believe it is already MARCH! What a fast 2 months...and I only have another 2 months before I have to back home :-( My brother came into town on Tuesday (feb 26) and he is leaving today (Tuesday 4 March). It's been great finally seeing some immediate family! I wish I didn't have midterms so I could have hung out with him more...but oh well. And yes, I still study! He did most of the sightseeing that I had already done - so he traveled with his friends to do that. In terms of going out...well, I took him to Macau and to see the nightlife in HK. I also took him to Honeymoon Desserts (a really good place for HK desserts and fusion desserts). I tried durian for the first time; it tastes like an onion...bad aftertaste...and the smell sticks to you (it smells like someone farted. ^^) I hope my brother had fun - I just wanted to show him a good time :-) <br /><br />So...the Backstreet Boys came to Hong Kong! How weird is that? We went to the Asia-World Expo, a newly built arena (only a few years old). It's quite huge and it also is quite far away from CU! We took a bus that curves and winds and curves some more...we almost got sick just going around in circles and winding through HK's back-alley ways. But after an hour, we finally made it. The show started at 8pm....we got there at 5:00pm and there was still a line! It was standing only so we wanted to get a good spot. Can you guess how close we were able to get?<br /><br />Here are some highlights from Friday/Saturday :-) Enjoy.<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_20tdXdcZNYg/R8zIca3oBCI/AAAAAAAAANA/tSOiszN5VOA/s1600-h/IMG_6067.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_20tdXdcZNYg/R8zIca3oBCI/AAAAAAAAANA/tSOiszN5VOA/s320/IMG_6067.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173730462516380706" border="0" /></a>Asia-World Expo...only the East wing I believe.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_20tdXdcZNYg/R8zIdK3oBDI/AAAAAAAAANI/yE9gIeUqkBg/s1600-h/IMG_6155.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_20tdXdcZNYg/R8zIdK3oBDI/AAAAAAAAANI/yE9gIeUqkBg/s320/IMG_6155.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173730475401282610" border="0" /></a><br />We stole this poster on the way out...after the concert! The security guard caught us...but I just asked him to give it to us since they were going to throw it away anyway (in Cantonese of course). He said....hurry and get out of here before they see you. :-)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_20tdXdcZNYg/R8zIdq3oBEI/AAAAAAAAANQ/3FryS3TN5Js/s1600-h/IMG_6073.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_20tdXdcZNYg/R8zIdq3oBEI/AAAAAAAAANQ/3FryS3TN5Js/s320/IMG_6073.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173730483991217218" border="0" /></a>The line for BSB - Zone A!<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_20tdXdcZNYg/R8zId63oBFI/AAAAAAAAANY/0FGetxVert0/s1600-h/IMG_6108.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_20tdXdcZNYg/R8zId63oBFI/AAAAAAAAANY/0FGetxVert0/s320/IMG_6108.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173730488286184530" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The show :-) I couldn't get any clear pictures because Asians like to push. And fanatic Asians for BSB especially LOVE to push. I got jabbed in my back for most of the concert - which at one point I yelled at the girl to stop pushing me. BTW - i HATE standing only/General Admission. Oh...we were in the wayyyy front :-)<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_20tdXdcZNYg/R8zIea3oBGI/AAAAAAAAANg/gxstzH37UDk/s1600-h/IMG_6151.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_20tdXdcZNYg/R8zIea3oBGI/AAAAAAAAANg/gxstzH37UDk/s320/IMG_6151.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173730496876119138" border="0" /></a><br />Post-concert. There were two others but they had to pee! So we just got a security guard to take it for us :-)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisvv14qJLgdRR1rukY83UM4KYDc8M0MnDhyphenhyphensl94FuoUrHZypl6O6bEl5mrrAmj2Erm-vxNUoLo3xSqBe1PHTz-1W8t4cYbOkHvt5jLspWRiigcoK6KkLZlyPGagA3pB2-xd687KGnfTCNC/s1600-h/IMG_6162.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisvv14qJLgdRR1rukY83UM4KYDc8M0MnDhyphenhyphensl94FuoUrHZypl6O6bEl5mrrAmj2Erm-vxNUoLo3xSqBe1PHTz-1W8t4cYbOkHvt5jLspWRiigcoK6KkLZlyPGagA3pB2-xd687KGnfTCNC/s320/IMG_6162.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173728727349593042" border="0" /></a>Macua: Round 2<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQOJ6tTCx8yvHsrkCUF9U_N0pWegLWf0ebplVYtcYxDTkmbHZ3qTC5EFNNdbRSNX_Mt5IbrYK0KIK6fh_2ttUVpkTmurHLQYK9QsSCnDc8iPpgHcaycPCr0phGOSudNK0VQSkFY1hWBzl_/s1600-h/IMG_6164.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQOJ6tTCx8yvHsrkCUF9U_N0pWegLWf0ebplVYtcYxDTkmbHZ3qTC5EFNNdbRSNX_Mt5IbrYK0KIK6fh_2ttUVpkTmurHLQYK9QsSCnDc8iPpgHcaycPCr0phGOSudNK0VQSkFY1hWBzl_/s320/IMG_6164.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173728735939527650" border="0" /></a><br />Inside a church. It was quite beautiful.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOBhZtzV6k18YUnGt2tW6xLvN4OsQTGNEL_9LnSv5N3jDvgjPdry46UrEk2DID3ie8iYbQE3H9zhvDEz-0ydR405jt9q__o_2j9D8zuJ2q5Hldw4FKXciOPqW7IEBHo3kCo0IaWUJZDA-Y/s1600-h/IMG_6175.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOBhZtzV6k18YUnGt2tW6xLvN4OsQTGNEL_9LnSv5N3jDvgjPdry46UrEk2DID3ie8iYbQE3H9zhvDEz-0ydR405jt9q__o_2j9D8zuJ2q5Hldw4FKXciOPqW7IEBHo3kCo0IaWUJZDA-Y/s320/IMG_6175.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173728744529462258" border="0" /></a>Can you find Kenny? @ Ruins of St. Paul<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjngSfCEQyXhL0z2_mQb59f_jWk8JSlLazN_6dlGre0J_q2nT4CNR2oA0rBsvhVjJ5y2f5lNAw5bpV_tvt18Z_Dhzb2Y0R5wATey5m76f1n69cXjiNkWFe5G-Jr23pZjmrfopAOyObFbUu3/s1600-h/IMG_6195.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjngSfCEQyXhL0z2_mQb59f_jWk8JSlLazN_6dlGre0J_q2nT4CNR2oA0rBsvhVjJ5y2f5lNAw5bpV_tvt18Z_Dhzb2Y0R5wATey5m76f1n69cXjiNkWFe5G-Jr23pZjmrfopAOyObFbUu3/s320/IMG_6195.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173728757414364162" border="0" /></a>Kenny and his friend Mike are exercising in a park. Macau is so health-conscious! They have this park with this exercise equipment - free to use!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsGqZ7tVyNaJx2BQmTDGrDFFV8MwV91DJk-dOwGI-e2L5RxM5akx9khT_54-lBmj3ziVU-3grETaSs9qmdZrmaGBrvZfO8EyYgdsSvjsfrANjuKt3-8VMGCFZjYXUSVG6_EmlaZCHDGHDU/s1600-h/IMG_6204.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsGqZ7tVyNaJx2BQmTDGrDFFV8MwV91DJk-dOwGI-e2L5RxM5akx9khT_54-lBmj3ziVU-3grETaSs9qmdZrmaGBrvZfO8EyYgdsSvjsfrANjuKt3-8VMGCFZjYXUSVG6_EmlaZCHDGHDU/s320/IMG_6204.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173728770299266066" border="0" /></a>Kenny resting after hiking up a hill - the tallest point in Macau? It was quite anti-climatic and it took us FOREVER to get to there (Guia Hill).<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443469724348934524.post-83393883899599063432008-02-26T05:00:00.000+08:002008-02-25T12:48:03.700+08:00MisadventuresI find that physically looking Asian makes life a lot easier here in Hong Kong. A few of my Western friends (whether they be from America or Europe) that are not of Asian ancestry must deal with specific stereotypes that I usually don't deal with here, mainly because I look Asian. For example, there have been quite a number of stories that I have heard from my white friends that they have had to pay a higher price than locals (I guess you could call it the "western price"). Whereas a normal cab fare from the central area to CU would be 180 HKD, some of my friends have been asked to pay as much as 210 HKD. Or perhaps a ferry ride will cost less than 20 HK dollars for locals, but will be priced much more for westerners - merely because they cannot speak the language to bring the price down. I think it stems from the stereotype that, because you are from the US or Europe, you must be wealthy. I have always experienced Asian stereotypes from living in a predominantly white area, but I have never witnessed other ethnicities stereotyping Americans or Europeans. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfAM2s0BEtHeyeCqrnwTu6E7BwhX_392mJwK4_Lfn9OHhliA6x5YpIyFLXNy6bvf6_hY_VFO-wgovY4gGfPaXCQusYeVKg0H71EXKIjBAHxOZoSp04p2fiRZvn4JP_Vy5hPQb621AAMr4D/s1600-h/at+hung+hom.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfAM2s0BEtHeyeCqrnwTu6E7BwhX_392mJwK4_Lfn9OHhliA6x5YpIyFLXNy6bvf6_hY_VFO-wgovY4gGfPaXCQusYeVKg0H71EXKIjBAHxOZoSp04p2fiRZvn4JP_Vy5hPQb621AAMr4D/s320/at+hung+hom.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170771713132669826" border="0" /></a><br />My new friend. I really don't know what it is...except that it is a character from Japan. Yet another example of Japanese influence in China. This was a Hung Hum subway station.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQqxfnv7Cmiol7KJkjy2fa5P_VMy9fGxdq8iS89r1G-jmudqt4biZY9x611aklUZK0-5QvjxcbIptmCyZyR7yNAp2RztQ62gaCU-oTGDdaUeq9L-OLF9as7XyZvIN2sdFyfdPo7L-hN8hF/s1600-h/at+tai+wei+area+chicken+congee+%281%29.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQqxfnv7Cmiol7KJkjy2fa5P_VMy9fGxdq8iS89r1G-jmudqt4biZY9x611aklUZK0-5QvjxcbIptmCyZyR7yNAp2RztQ62gaCU-oTGDdaUeq9L-OLF9as7XyZvIN2sdFyfdPo7L-hN8hF/s320/at+tai+wei+area+chicken+congee+%281%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170771721722604434" border="0" /></a><br />Chicken Congee in Tai Wei. Very tasty.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Aw9Cu4e3p97gdZ6LUk8RYaBd1heLcf9SVDhWQzaHHbqj7iJ9W9HxfoufGCLt1TkvkTuXaH0cdrIR9VhaHMQM_qe6FXpvxM6ds38Fok74oytPjeeZ5bULShME7NDrPDAnd-npWDZ3fA8u/s1600-h/IMG_5986.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Aw9Cu4e3p97gdZ6LUk8RYaBd1heLcf9SVDhWQzaHHbqj7iJ9W9HxfoufGCLt1TkvkTuXaH0cdrIR9VhaHMQM_qe6FXpvxM6ds38Fok74oytPjeeZ5bULShME7NDrPDAnd-npWDZ3fA8u/s320/IMG_5986.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170771726017571746" border="0" /></a><br />Lantern Festival/Chinese Valentine's Day. Free palm reading available as well!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEGCGh0CExuD7WLyir7ufn2jZu8gBMIjicgogv_NGaBKycuOvjoXELcH4rIPUZIiQYVjAoQonZZXLmcaJw-db2KneuNlVbnrJTYJQTtRi2xVw4QTFNBjviIEc8tnE88atIEm8PmuqUjDNl/s1600-h/IMG_5967.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEGCGh0CExuD7WLyir7ufn2jZu8gBMIjicgogv_NGaBKycuOvjoXELcH4rIPUZIiQYVjAoQonZZXLmcaJw-db2KneuNlVbnrJTYJQTtRi2xVw4QTFNBjviIEc8tnE88atIEm8PmuqUjDNl/s320/IMG_5967.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170771730312539058" border="0" /></a><br />Typical BBQ - Asian style. This was at a public park. I went with one friend and my dad's cousin/family. <br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3TaUDgeSg6OuieyGjPhI7Cdi_UBAc76GDZ_WFsBhMAUZ5HMCPqAjCVS-zm0n3vPmVC4NDZXTb7kSPrsP_8_ImuDb4PBYBdm4-2bO6yH0b7o_8OSflVvja_HSwxlGu6P1uxF-tGZCtfuAD/s1600-h/IMG_5903.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3TaUDgeSg6OuieyGjPhI7Cdi_UBAc76GDZ_WFsBhMAUZ5HMCPqAjCVS-zm0n3vPmVC4NDZXTb7kSPrsP_8_ImuDb4PBYBdm4-2bO6yH0b7o_8OSflVvja_HSwxlGu6P1uxF-tGZCtfuAD/s320/IMG_5903.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170771734607506370" border="0" /></a><br />Teaching English with HK kids in rural schools. This is a traditional Chinese New Year meal - we had a lot of pig skin in ours! They are quite rowdy kids :-)<br /></div><br />Happy Birthday to my brother :-) He's probably on his way to HK by now.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443469724348934524.post-11976270003488176532008-02-21T17:07:00.000+08:002008-02-20T01:04:09.592+08:0073 days...I was counting the days till I have to leave....73 days till the end of the semester. Time has really flown by since I've been here. I feel like I have learned so much, but at the same time, I have yet to see everything that Hong Kong has to offer. I have been here for so long and it's quite astonishing to see the confluence of three cultures merging together in one city - Chinese, Western, and Japanese culture. The local students mix their Cantonese and English all the time; it actually reminds me of back home, where I would say sentences in Chinese but add an English word in there when I didn't know the Chinese equivalent. Who knew I was meant to be a HK person after all?<br /><br />Today I went to an English table held at one of the colleges on campus (Chung Chi college). It's a gathering of exchange and local students who want to practice their English, and dinner is free. Dinner was served traditional Cantonese style. Bowls of food were placed in the center of a spinning dish, and people can choose what they want to eat amongst the bowls. We had sweet and sour pineapple chicken, vegetables of sorts, soup, dessert soup (literally 'sugar water' in Cantonese), rice, tofu, and beef with vegetables. Yummy.<br /><br />The highlight of the English table was the fact that I got to meet some local HK students who wished to practice their English. Which was great because they wanted to help me practice my Cantonese. I have been trying to find local HK students willing to talk to exchange students. I find that there is this aura of Chinese pride amongst not only local students, but the Chinese in general. People tend to gather with others of the same common background, so needless to say, local students gather with local students and exchange students gather with others from their own country. It is subconsciously done, but it is still frustrating when you want to break out of that stigma. Regardless, I am quite happy I took Kenji's invitation and joined him at the English Table tonight. I had a delicious dinner and met some new friends, which is always a positive. I even went on a pseudo-date....let me explain :-)<br /><br />It's actually a part of the English table. The topic tonight was Love and Dating because of this past St. Valentine's Day and this upcoming Chinese Valentine's Day on Thursday. We played the dating game; it was just a fun icebreaker game to get students talking. The person that I was paired up with is actually quite the romantic; his girlfriend should be pleased! Who wouldn't want a guy that loves to watch Romance movies? ^_^<br /><br />I might add that, for a conservative culture, there is quite a lot of PDA in the libraries and elevators. More than just hand-holding! It really surprised me seeing this in Hong Kong and even in China. Although public displays of affection are not uncommon in the United States, I would not expect to see such copious public displays of affection in an Asian society. I am definitely reminded of how my previous perspectives and ideas about Asian culture and society are somewhat skewed.<br /><br />What a learning experience this semester is....Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443469724348934524.post-608239964158490082008-02-15T08:30:00.000+08:002008-02-14T19:04:18.062+08:00BRRRRR...it's cold!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBBUVjavl-2Ol5TmK8aZ4Rsl7xgyd-xHcUZXkGMy_KYuCRcyPvU69YrxiVPx419u9nqwg4p6clQlkmEnYVFF4bBBPgkHvSY5JenRMvcho42zXFZBForMTF9qOJ-R6vFBgWhCnrWfSPN9bo/s1600-h/IMG_5837.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBBUVjavl-2Ol5TmK8aZ4Rsl7xgyd-xHcUZXkGMy_KYuCRcyPvU69YrxiVPx419u9nqwg4p6clQlkmEnYVFF4bBBPgkHvSY5JenRMvcho42zXFZBForMTF9qOJ-R6vFBgWhCnrWfSPN9bo/s320/IMG_5837.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5166743012334185314" border="0" /></a><br />Flower Market at Victoria Park (held every year; called the New Year's Fair, and you buy flowers (among other things like food, balloons, stuffed animals, etc) to bring to relatives' houses<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeO7OgXP4Nn6g7GYFrWx1fFFttIYtevUB-otcZ0DvRWchLuVcooax4vmxx3dQRgUc10hmvYSsITNI1ROtfiSEYeClK9lUWYOI1WGJwNvPZAh3clCOYAs5-apr89Mp4vD1a0Cud14P6a-XL/s1600-h/IMG_5872.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeO7OgXP4Nn6g7GYFrWx1fFFttIYtevUB-otcZ0DvRWchLuVcooax4vmxx3dQRgUc10hmvYSsITNI1ROtfiSEYeClK9lUWYOI1WGJwNvPZAh3clCOYAs5-apr89Mp4vD1a0Cud14P6a-XL/s320/IMG_5872.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5166743016629152626" border="0" /></a><br />Fireworks show! Only one every year...they did alot of "8"s in the sky...8 is a lucky number. notice why the Olympics in Beijing are in 08/08/2008 :-p<br /></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkItQE0YLjp0dF6yIZP8O3J9Ebye2SpwILMMCYYLlXmZspcK1IdleD00rgVmY9YTc2Rc3i-7sIQvzkkKSTjWLAiIG4hbUHuMXSS6J16Qqf4u_r8e9MXrk2KoO_GjQ5fhc0vtriL7caiDT/s1600-h/IMG_5834.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkItQE0YLjp0dF6yIZP8O3J9Ebye2SpwILMMCYYLlXmZspcK1IdleD00rgVmY9YTc2Rc3i-7sIQvzkkKSTjWLAiIG4hbUHuMXSS6J16Qqf4u_r8e9MXrk2KoO_GjQ5fhc0vtriL7caiDT/s320/IMG_5834.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5166742681621703506" border="0" /></a></span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" > Break is over :-( and it's still cold. Nothing much has happened since the last time...although there have been new developments on the sex scandal amongst HK's stars (if you don't know what I'm talking about...just Google Edison Chen, Cecilia Cheung....among others). Quite silly. but it has exploded in China and Hong Kong - even sparked a protest in HK!<br /><br />Anyway, I got 1 week off to spend Chinese New Years. While (practically) everyone I know went traveling, I did the Hong Kong thing for New Years! So how did I spend my Chinese New Year's break? Let me count the ways... </span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" ><br /><br />nihn s</span><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >āah m</span><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >áhn (New Year's Eve) - hotpot with family, spent the entire night up to 3:30am playing the Wii with my relatives' daughter...lots and lots of games :-)<br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">nihn chō yāt (1st lunar day)</span> - parade (f</span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >ā che - literally, "flower car" in Cantonese)</span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" > </span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" ><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">nihn chō yìh (2nd lunar day) </span>- fireworks! (yin </span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >f</span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >ā - literally, "smoke flower"); out and about</span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >nihn chō s</span><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">āam (3rd lunar day) </span>- lounged around; I was supposed to go to the horseraces, but I woke up too late. THAT, and you're technically not supposed to do anything but watch tv and be lazy (seriously!)<br /><br />you're supposed to "he" (pronounced h</span><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >éh - with a rising tone), which means to kill time. You can do that a variety of ways...but I spent it watching drama series (</span><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Bou yaht kehk - bou as in to stew (like when making congee or soup) and yaht</span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" > </span><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" >kehk = TV/DVD drama series. it's to describe an activity in which you constantly watched episode after episode :-)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Chinese New Year's superstitions:<br /></span><span>you're not supposed to cut your hair or take a shower until after the 3rd lunar day because you'll either cut your luck away for the new year, or you'll wash away your luck and good fortune. Same idea towards not cleaning your house too.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span>Other superstitions include food! Eat lots of chicken and shrimp. When said with a different tone, 'chicken' in cantonese sounds like the word for 'family' in cantonese (gah). Also, shrimp will make you laugh more for the new year, because shrimp is like 'ha' (as in laughter too). Eating Pistachios will give you more luck in having a son (so, ladies, eat up!). the idea behind that is the canto for pistachios (gwa ji) is similar to the canto for son (jai).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Traditions and Mythology:<br /><br />The idea behind the dragon dance (</span></span><span style=";font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;" ><span style="line-height: 115%;">Móuh lùhng móuh sī ) - every new year there is a monster that eats all the children in China, so to scare off the monster, people created the dragon costume. That's why these celebrations are always loud and colorful. Also, not only is the color red a symbol of luck and prosperity, it is also because red is the color that the child-eating monster is afraid of. You learn something new everyday :-)<br /><br />of course, there's always laihsi (money that you get in red envelopes).... Asians (especially the Chinese) are very practical. so rather than getting a present you don't want, they give you money so you can buy something you do need. On traditional red envelopes, the character for "fook" (roughly speaking, everything good) is upside down because it's like luck is coming to you so from your perspective, you see it upside down.<br /><br />There are two gods especially important on New Years that Chinese people "pray" to (baih-san)<br /></span></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Jou gwān – kitchen god (watches over you so you don't set a fire)<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Tóu déi – house god (protects the home) - literally means ground</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Things to say when you receive lucky money!</span> (besides the usual Gung heih faat choy)<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Hohk yihp jeun bouh – do well in school</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Lùhng máh jīng sàhn – be energetic</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Maahn sih yùh yi – all the best</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Chèuhng mehng baak seui – one life of 100 years</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Bouh bouh gōu sīng – every year a promotion</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:130%;">saang yi hingluhng - keep your beauty (something like that...) say it to the ladies!<br /></span></p> <span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:times new roman;font-size:11;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:130%;">mk...i actually have to study now. Oh, I forgot to mention, on the 7th day of lunar year (which happens to be yesterday - yahn yat - literally means "person day"), it's everyone's birthday! The story goes: a chinese god turned human that day. So...happy belated birthday!<br /><br />oh and happy valentines' day too :-)</span><br /></span><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443469724348934524.post-23739541000766134652008-02-05T18:00:00.000+08:002008-02-05T02:49:52.864+08:00Happy Chinese New Years!<div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.shatinhongkong.shutterfly.com/"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >Not much has happened since the last time I posted. I guess I can finally say I'm settled? Who knows. But there were some trips made to Lamma Island and Po Toi Island. you can just take a ferry but I'm not sure if it's free - I went with the International Students Office at CUHK. Here are some highlights, in no particular order!</span></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOa-BWJHrCYdYZfnph9copSQX9j5jUrbFaJUr2K0LFEy4SsXYXdRoIkAUWK_syY2mspp6Lry7SdA7ZqtNTbqO90S1tYIPGbEHzAWPOAWpJj9k4iRVrqjoAuHfFqs-nqS7OcThbrwvfRnc/s1600-h/IMG_5715.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOa-BWJHrCYdYZfnph9copSQX9j5jUrbFaJUr2K0LFEy4SsXYXdRoIkAUWK_syY2mspp6Lry7SdA7ZqtNTbqO90S1tYIPGbEHzAWPOAWpJj9k4iRVrqjoAuHfFqs-nqS7OcThbrwvfRnc/s320/IMG_5715.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163181518283708498" border="0" /></a>They're so big!!!! at Lamma Island<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIu3ZN3XpeuAZesWEu5L26h213Zk0P-6vTTb1NXhuWnq3iVq_HiEwRUV1xq0x4PpLwQ1abs6wcIQBshdcjsYS013JnsmeCdk0B6Sj5Rv9ruANPiA7F89ZDxhGruvinsWgdfThos6hgEl0h/s1600-h/n18104868_31948328_6277.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIu3ZN3XpeuAZesWEu5L26h213Zk0P-6vTTb1NXhuWnq3iVq_HiEwRUV1xq0x4PpLwQ1abs6wcIQBshdcjsYS013JnsmeCdk0B6Sj5Rv9ruANPiA7F89ZDxhGruvinsWgdfThos6hgEl0h/s320/n18104868_31948328_6277.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163181522578675810" border="0" /></a><br />We like to eat.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGS8QgCG8y1eQu4cMScWi3knAq6dJhA2xY_rXliZPJl89tKnz0clchxSQSCZ3bHim_CxCaoxLV23WvpH2MX91yYMG3myIepj1Ysom8yW9cv_DA25wByOf_th4sJ_kQLio-Fruecr322c7r/s1600-h/IMG_5720.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGS8QgCG8y1eQu4cMScWi3knAq6dJhA2xY_rXliZPJl89tKnz0clchxSQSCZ3bHim_CxCaoxLV23WvpH2MX91yYMG3myIepj1Ysom8yW9cv_DA25wByOf_th4sJ_kQLio-Fruecr322c7r/s320/IMG_5720.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163181531168610418" border="0" /></a>Temple at Lamma Island.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxK_miiDg06t2JpQXOYHVwQNRerBtaLS49S1kr63Qx3_WIRjs5piQZtTckC4bIgBEteT4ql95Y3gT2GWDwS2SpmNZrskq93xeT0nNwRRr1FPitNjT1rF4Q4O9ZkiGRDoEeqh16Vw_5WRIi/s1600-h/IMG_5719.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxK_miiDg06t2JpQXOYHVwQNRerBtaLS49S1kr63Qx3_WIRjs5piQZtTckC4bIgBEteT4ql95Y3gT2GWDwS2SpmNZrskq93xeT0nNwRRr1FPitNjT1rF4Q4O9ZkiGRDoEeqh16Vw_5WRIi/s320/IMG_5719.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163181539758545026" border="0" /></a>She protects the entrance. It's actually a cub under her paw.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjslvlJolcXPjzbX-2FaiQCXvKQMFsR_PEdFhZIVc9eGnMjmqNtyNeLu1_R80HH2UfjR3Io15XEdvOUXwdgOVXJjYSKreMkrzUPr8nVKG10SoSCG62w3yBc5Be1mqT0VFmv2DXa5-qwQk2H/s1600-h/IMG_5726.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjslvlJolcXPjzbX-2FaiQCXvKQMFsR_PEdFhZIVc9eGnMjmqNtyNeLu1_R80HH2UfjR3Io15XEdvOUXwdgOVXJjYSKreMkrzUPr8nVKG10SoSCG62w3yBc5Be1mqT0VFmv2DXa5-qwQk2H/s320/IMG_5726.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163181544053512338" border="0" /></a>Typical cemetery in China. This was at Lamma Island. We didn't know we were heading towards a cemetery - but we kept seeing those pieces of paper that they burn when someone dies. I paid my respects :-)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">On a side note, people in China never order exactly 7 dishes when eating. 7 dishes is the number you have when someone in your family dies, so when going out to eat, always order less than or greater than 7.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYiO06HW_iTEf89UeT_GA05EN3wg1nHkgvdWQ4Ep2IKGZQVtqsz-W8Gr8G3d5-m3fCKyvsMV3kQ2F1TwDFHxKwZIhx5dEWnYm31YCdRBNSyi-d12es6DUXP9gLah1pt77mT4RU_8okGNT/s1600-h/IMG_5655.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYiO06HW_iTEf89UeT_GA05EN3wg1nHkgvdWQ4Ep2IKGZQVtqsz-W8Gr8G3d5-m3fCKyvsMV3kQ2F1TwDFHxKwZIhx5dEWnYm31YCdRBNSyi-d12es6DUXP9gLah1pt77mT4RU_8okGNT/s320/IMG_5655.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163180234088486914" border="0" /></a>Our transportation to Lamma Island and Po Toi Island...there are over 1000 islands that are a part of Hong Kong.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxY3kgsN0IeWFiUCvXOUTiEQakJIjEg3rqDASmQczuvrm2N8qyzTWZJzNvncYjcPT7_E8wyCgIP5fysq1ODxjgynVDaqPAeGkzT5ZWqpxUqFgmaitl9kHmFpi1UhYUIfchtFLKxAv3peG/s1600-h/n18104868_31948322_4132.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxY3kgsN0IeWFiUCvXOUTiEQakJIjEg3rqDASmQczuvrm2N8qyzTWZJzNvncYjcPT7_E8wyCgIP5fysq1ODxjgynVDaqPAeGkzT5ZWqpxUqFgmaitl9kHmFpi1UhYUIfchtFLKxAv3peG/s320/n18104868_31948322_4132.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163180238383454226" border="0" /></a>On Po Toi Island. me being stupid hehe<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIvgYse1gW7KVsBVM_tJ526CLdU6gIRE70JAqTWpJqLa-D1n9qGUXMLaOIc8R8AEU4w0EhaND2iGXmH2Y28pJTqfCiqak7WbyOMy9IfXU-WOYGQ8oKjZWcnr0_Z81vzBjBH3BPObUC_VXy/s1600-h/n18104868_31948339_57.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIvgYse1gW7KVsBVM_tJ526CLdU6gIRE70JAqTWpJqLa-D1n9qGUXMLaOIc8R8AEU4w0EhaND2iGXmH2Y28pJTqfCiqak7WbyOMy9IfXU-WOYGQ8oKjZWcnr0_Z81vzBjBH3BPObUC_VXy/s320/n18104868_31948339_57.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163180242678421538" border="0" /></a>Daai pai dong (Canto for food market). "Tofu fa" is the greatest...especially on a cold day. It's a Chinese dessert, and can be served hot or cold. This was at Lamma Island.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdqodptJxYbZlNzo1oLj6-bCf1fSdG0qM65RUVvxx47EW_256oo80bU6D670TLiF7dJX2mn_VKr7sIEJ00dLlrsNgccncLH7fgE_9EZFjoa2o-YgEaPC-AuU_MDPazRE_ZKAkTOyd37dRA/s1600-h/IMG_5703.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdqodptJxYbZlNzo1oLj6-bCf1fSdG0qM65RUVvxx47EW_256oo80bU6D670TLiF7dJX2mn_VKr7sIEJ00dLlrsNgccncLH7fgE_9EZFjoa2o-YgEaPC-AuU_MDPazRE_ZKAkTOyd37dRA/s320/IMG_5703.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163180246973388850" border="0" /></a>Po Toi Island. Can you see a sea turtle?<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBthzAp-BxxBqVdW21ktiO27rDJE6iuDTDZ9bLUQb9wt3iDdRd4RwsEKTgrEHYoAO2VZHtNM1JTc83KSl6GRHqj8TGDkKZZ8xYq1yfhLaEjOlcsVdma-3xtXyMCq8IAvr19DCdCuySDEoe/s1600-h/IMG_5712.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBthzAp-BxxBqVdW21ktiO27rDJE6iuDTDZ9bLUQb9wt3iDdRd4RwsEKTgrEHYoAO2VZHtNM1JTc83KSl6GRHqj8TGDkKZZ8xYq1yfhLaEjOlcsVdma-3xtXyMCq8IAvr19DCdCuySDEoe/s320/IMG_5712.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163180251268356162" border="0" /></a>Squat toilets - public bathrooms in China. Don't fall in! You'll find more of these in mainland rather than HK. But this one was at Po Toi Island<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3GKPUJ1dYihJQiTCX9Fj1hXrOwOe9VWUYcGKGGcpEziEcYs2ZybC9UYf0X5_Dwm-XhWKsgAoWEtJ5QFzJAwi4u-DJ_vEfpx8bmzjfA0oRo9ZO_FrZ8v0mhleJubTkacBljh_S7KDUl51f/s1600-h/ME.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3GKPUJ1dYihJQiTCX9Fj1hXrOwOe9VWUYcGKGGcpEziEcYs2ZybC9UYf0X5_Dwm-XhWKsgAoWEtJ5QFzJAwi4u-DJ_vEfpx8bmzjfA0oRo9ZO_FrZ8v0mhleJubTkacBljh_S7KDUl51f/s320/ME.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163179147461760946" border="0" /></a>One of the Beijing Olympic mascots. cute :-)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOBAOosavlrlZSv6YZ13JflYbmze7hETTJXzdgAsdZgqW5nlqwercBc1tYKZltSsTZWTcRqOviLxl_ph0IOgZBcmRXDCrgxfmANUf0wMSZTLCk726g9li9qWhgub5Gr6ucK22YPA6Lkq4/s1600-h/n16318892_33402329_3427.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOBAOosavlrlZSv6YZ13JflYbmze7hETTJXzdgAsdZgqW5nlqwercBc1tYKZltSsTZWTcRqOviLxl_ph0IOgZBcmRXDCrgxfmANUf0wMSZTLCk726g9li9qWhgub5Gr6ucK22YPA6Lkq4/s320/n16318892_33402329_3427.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163179151756728258" border="0" /></a>it's the Year of the Rat starting Feb 7. say cheeeese! This was at Causeway Bay<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWNBMKxtKCc96QmkxWzvD4QByh5Zuqd4WYfV6DayxK4EaLJj94B-3wfLTQ7CSMz0PZy7d-XiUFxGay6cGO_ENH5sJywYWsT29imIGBIQGxaC5rXv5HYJY9s2Rd7l3SaMGzZlU4bVV_0Ufe/s1600-h/IMG_5768.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWNBMKxtKCc96QmkxWzvD4QByh5Zuqd4WYfV6DayxK4EaLJj94B-3wfLTQ7CSMz0PZy7d-XiUFxGay6cGO_ENH5sJywYWsT29imIGBIQGxaC5rXv5HYJY9s2Rd7l3SaMGzZlU4bVV_0Ufe/s320/IMG_5768.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163179168936597458" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Chinese New Year's decorations at Tsim Sha Tsui<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6F01K3gzdbho2al6pIkAGcHgtuHWclesYHICuy7vKtmtsgejroWmLG3mWBM59rF4ClHLlb23s7nF4gudaEz2RMedgON5N8fQbrW-cDsPgg_d-4uF46MhXaOO-7EgB8ICuhzQqn_yahIm/s1600-h/IMG_5765.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP6F01K3gzdbho2al6pIkAGcHgtuHWclesYHICuy7vKtmtsgejroWmLG3mWBM59rF4ClHLlb23s7nF4gudaEz2RMedgON5N8fQbrW-cDsPgg_d-4uF46MhXaOO-7EgB8ICuhzQqn_yahIm/s320/IMG_5765.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163179186116466658" border="0" /></a>More decorations. China goes all out!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi05bY3JYHIVYSBbZFblDyOSlRRkckZu9JcnMPR6OS2xpZvXiY018eNZog_JBkm_JxwIGAAo4sM2f_LG7j-uMDF390J_HPIFoFNM3EU7DWJZQI044MJvs85QUAY0YtdOJ9-uVYoXRPUK0og/s1600-h/IMG_5767.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi05bY3JYHIVYSBbZFblDyOSlRRkckZu9JcnMPR6OS2xpZvXiY018eNZog_JBkm_JxwIGAAo4sM2f_LG7j-uMDF390J_HPIFoFNM3EU7DWJZQI044MJvs85QUAY0YtdOJ9-uVYoXRPUK0og/s320/IMG_5767.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163179199001368562" border="0" /></a>Happy Chinese New Year!!! Gung hei faat choy<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">On a side note, here's a great Taiwanese drama, very popular in China, to enjoy: <a href="http://wiki.d-addicts.com/It_Started_With_A_Kiss" title="It Started With A Kiss">It Started With A Kiss</a>(惡作劇之吻)<br /><br />It's based on the Japanese manga, Itazura na Kiss. It moves slow at times, but it's still a nice chickflick drama :-) It's cheesy at times, but....yeah.<br /><br />I really like one of the songs that's in the drama. it's called Kao Jin Yi Dian Dian - Lara (靠近一點點 - 南拳媽媽) which means, roughly, "Come near, a little closer"<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://wiki.d-addicts.com/It_Started_With_A_Kiss" title="It Started With A Kiss"></a><br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6443469724348934524.post-61200616834946336112008-01-25T06:30:00.000+08:002008-01-24T15:54:06.891+08:00Cantonese 101 (or rather...201)So last week I decided that Cantonese 101 was too easy for me...and it was boring me. That, and the sinsaang (teacher) convinced me to go to intermediate bc they needed students.<br /><br />So I was sitting in class and I asked Cream (she likes icecream, so she picked her English name to be Cream) how to say what I want when it comes to getting a haircut:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">layered: </span>seui keuih (colloquial term)/chahng chi (more formal term)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">uneven bangs:</span> seui yam<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">sideburns (for the guys):</span> dik seui<br /><br />AND, I learned some colloquial Canto:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">yauh gon seui:</span> play mahjong <-- the literal translation means "swim <span style="font-size:85%;">(yauh)</span> dry <span style="font-size:85%;">(gon)</span> water <span style="font-size:85%;">(seui)</span>" -- bc when you play mahjong, to "shuffle" the tiles, you make a motion like you're swimming<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">sik gai daan: </span>get a zero (on an assignment) <-- literal translation means "eat <span style="font-size:85%;">(sik)</span> chicken <span style="font-size:85%;">(gai)</span> egg<span style="font-size:85%;"> (daan)</span>" but it means to get a zero on a HW assignment...bc the shape of an egg looks like a zero :-p<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">fai lou:</span> to fail <-- literal translation means "fat <span style="font-size:85%;">(fai)</span> man <span style="font-size:85%;">(lou)</span>" but it means to fail a class; get an F<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">jyu pah: </span>ugly girl <- in referring to food in Cantonese, it means porkchop (jyu means pig) but if you're talking about a girl and you think she's ugly, you call her a porkchop :-p <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />ngauh pah:</span> ugly guy <- same as jyu pah but it refers to an ugly guy (ngauh means cow/beef) <br /><br /><br /><br />IDIOMS: Chinese people love idioms (or proverbs). Here are a couple: <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />sin fu hauh tihm </span>- means first you experience something horrible when doing it but after doing it, you feel better. "fu" means bitter and "tihm" means sweet. and "hauh" means something like after<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">EX:</span> you don't like to study (or the act of studying is so horrible/bitter) but after doing it, you feel better that you got work done (a "sweet" feeling)<br /><br />The other way around works too:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">sin tihm hauh fu -</span> means that you get what you want, but after getting it, you don't feel so good about yourself<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">jo yih yahp yauh yih cheut</span> - literal translation means "left <span style="font-size:85%;">(jo) </span>ear<span style="font-size:85%;"> (yih)</span> enter <span style="font-size:85%;">(yahp) </span>right <span style="font-size:85%;">(yauh)</span> ear <span style="font-size:85%;">(yih)</span> exit <span style="font-size:85%;">(cheut)</span>"; it's like saying "in one ear, out the other" - like you never listen<br />***My dad says that one to me alot :-)<br /><br /><br />Romanization is hard. I haven't yet figured out how to put the accent marks using the computer....OH, and Cantonese used to have 9 tones, but there are only 6 taught now<br /><br /><br />I was researching stuff for my imaginary travel paper to India (for one of my classes). I got distracted by the news @ www.chinadaily.com.cn<br /><br />http://english.cri.cn/2946/2008/01/24/189@317176.htm (hits close to "home")<br />http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2008-01/24/content_6417023.htm<br />http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/olympics/2008-01/24/content_6417048.htm (**btw, the Olympic mascots are adorable! I took a picture with one hehe)<br />http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-01/24/content_6418454.htmUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1