Saturday 31 May 2008

倒数在五月天

坐在同一个向阳的窗口前,我倒数着五月天。
五月的最后一天,细雨绵绵。
我吸一口灰色的空气,苦涩紧紧的锁在胸前。

这个五月,风吹得太狂野,地球舞动得太猛烈。
他失去了生命,他遗失了家园,他痛苦的眼泪撒满尘世间。

曾经我许愿,世界和平。
但,就算没有枪林弹雨,生命也会消逝。
曾经我盼望,孩子们温饱。
但,就算没有饥饿,他们也会不幸。

有些灾难无法避免,有些遗憾无法改变。
地球的律动反反复复,谁能计算,谁能预见?

我只能束手无策的诚心祷告,
但愿受伤的心灵早日平复,
但愿毁灭的家园早日重建。

Friday 30 May 2008

Down, down, down... these days do come



I thought that I was walking on snow, but I fell right to the bottom as I took my first step.

I thought that mountains are never too high, but now I realise some obstacles are beyond sky's limits.

I am a can of Coke without gas;
I am a coloured balloon running out of air;
I am a withering flower in the middle of summer.

Down, down, down... these days do come.

Thursday 29 May 2008

Contradiction

People who know me will be aware how I contradict myself a lot of times, how I am always having confusing thoughts and perpetually in a dilemma.

I analysed my life, my upbringing and education to determine what made me into a person like this. I finally concluded that it has to do with my parentage.

* MY FATHER *
+Entrepreneurial BUT
- Conservative (this is a nice way of saying "old-fashioned" which is what I really mean)

His entrepreneurial spirit caused him to be away from home for the longest time when I was growing up. His business ventures didn't extend very far beyond the region but was at the most remote places in the neighbouring countries. It was so remote that our family has never visited him at work, except for a trip to Brunei, which I could barely remember now.

Yet he wouldn't allow me to take any risk with my life. It was suffocating to grow up under strict "surveillance" and in the most traditional ways. Where did all the creativity and risk taking spirits go to? Imagine I was just told off recently for having a soft drink at dinner. Hmmm.....


* MY MOTHER *
- Risk adversed BUT
+Free-spirited

She is the pillar of strength in our family, and all those year she stood by her postion and never wavered. Without her dedication and sacrifices, I can never become the person I am today.

She never took big risks in her life, and the same applied as she was showing me the ways to grow up. Her advices to me have been trial and tested; never mind times have changed, the basic logics are always valid. Life can never be so wrong if you follow the rules of thumb.

As risk adversed as a person like my mum, I thought I would get a big lecture when I told her I went up to Taipei 101 on the day when Sichuan had the earthquake. Funny... all she asked was, "how is the view up there?"

And I haven't mention that she told me the roller coaster in Genting wasn't thrilling enough.... after she completed her ride.

As a result, I am who I am. You can see all my parents' contradicting traits in me. My "contradictions" surround my life, even my lunch... Healthy + Not so healthy.


Coke... my spring of life!

Sunday 25 May 2008

Looking at a piece of my past through Gallery

I open my letter box everyday, what I consider far from being my favourite routine. Yet I am always hoping for surprises, that could emerge from the thick stack of bills and unwanted pamphlets.

There are two things I am delighted to receive: the bi-annual progress report from my sponsored child in Sri Lanka and the Gallery.

Gallery, a publication from the "Public Water Closet" company which I am thrilled to read. As I flipped through the pages of this colourful magazine, filled with photographs of some whom I still remember, but mostly of faces of strangers, I am reminded of my "old life"... 7 years of joy, 7 years of pain, 7 years of fulfilment, 7 hectic years.


I am always having mixed feelings when I reflect on those years I have spent with the firm. It is true that I miss the fun and glamour contained in those pages, miss the company of my great friends and colleagues, but I know how I would have to suffer, for all those "fun and glamour" that I miss. Though I have never regretted any minute of these 7 years, and I might even chose the same route if time were to be reversed, it is impossible however to imagine that I would return to embrace all of it now. I guess they are already way pass my limits.

An ex-colleague asked me recently, "How is life out there?". I say it is great. But I have left out the details on how great life can be, when I take a step back and realise how beautiful this world is, when I watch a sunrise and know that it will be another lovely day, when I lie in bed each night, my mind making way only for the sweetest dreams.

So what do I mean by all these? I am truly grateful for my life today, grateful for having friends like you, grateful for being able to travel (Siberia, Tibet, soon London!)... and nothing of these would have been possible without those years that have passed.

Of my past, I savor; Of the present, I cherish; Of my future, I anticipate.

Thursday 22 May 2008

Louise, here is your rainbow



RED is for courage.

May you find courage to stand by what you believe and never give up on your dreams.

May you be brave to battle the odds in life and to overcome all obstacles ahead.



ORANGE is for vitality.

May you have vitality to do everything you love, be it sports, travel or work.

May you retain energy to live life to the fullest and never feel weary.




YELLOW is for happiness.

That's the most important of all... I pray for you to have a rose garden and blessed with many blissful moments in life.


GREEN is for well-being.

May you enjoy good health and be free from sickness and diseases.

This, I wish the same for your family, friends and colleagues.




BLUE is for peace.

For peace of mind, peace in your heart and world peace.


INDIGO is for intuition.

May your intuitions guide you to always make the right decisions.

May you have good sense of directions and never lost your way.


VIOLET is the colour of purpose.

Some spent their whole life searching for a purpose but only in vain.

May you find your purpose and unfold the true meaning of life.




I hope you'll like the rainbow, and not that pot of gold at the end.

Happy Birthday to You!



Monday 19 May 2008

I made it home!

I made it home. Final luggage count: 6.

My check-in baggages were 21.9kg. Lucky no one kicked a fuss about it.



For those privileged ones, please cherish the "food" of my labour.

Sunday 18 May 2008

Tokyo Itinerary

Day 1: Tradition

After catching up with sleep, I began to explore Tokyo in the afternoon. The "theme" for the day is tradition and where else is more appropriate to start than the Sensoji Temple in Asakusa, built in the 7th century.


Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate), the outer gate of the Sensoji Temple.

Unknowingly, I visited the temple on a day when a huge celebration was going on. 17 May 08 was the last day of the Sanja Matsuri (celebration for the founding of the temple) which lasted for 3 days. There were many "portable shrines" (miniature shrines built with wood) or "mikoshi" paraded during the day and the temple was packed full with people. I only just came to realise that this is one of the 3 most important festivals in Tokyo.


One of the proceeding participating in the festival


Nakamise Shopping Street just in front of Sensoji Temple is good for picking up some souvenirs. It's all about tradition.

Leaving Asakusa, I took the subway to Ginza and headed for the Kabuki Theatre.



Kabuki is a form of Japanese theatre which combines singing and dancing, a little bit like Chinese opera. However, the emphasis of Kabuki is really on the make-up, costumes and the gracious movements of the actors versus a lot of singing and music in a traditional Chinese opera. Most of the Kabuki performers are male.

If you are not sure if Kabuki is for you, just do the same as me. Buy ticket for 1 Act (cost 900 Yen), which is approximately 1 hour. Such tickets cannot be reserved in advance and is only on sale half an hour before the show starts. You have to queue for some time to get the ticket and might also need to stand after the seats are filled up. Despite the hardship, it is a good experience worthy of the efforts.

Day 2: Pilgrimage

Pay pilgrimage to the spirit of well respected Meiji Emperor at Meiji Shrine. The Meiji era (meaning Enlightened Rule) between late 19th to early 20th century was a period when Japan went through modernisation.

Under the rule of the Meiji Emperor, a policy of "Japanese Spirits and Western Knowledge" was adopted. This is so appropriately depicted by the arrangement of the wine barrels near the entrance of the shrine.


East meet West, literally. On the left, traditional sakae wine containers. On the right, wooden barrels of French wines.


Some praying ceremony going on. Participants are all in traditional costumes, bowing as they pray.


Must do in the shrine, write down your wish and pray for it to come true... I did so too.

Just opposite the Meiji Shrine is Yoyogi Olympic Stadium. It's glorious days were in 1964 when the Olympics was held in Japan. This was designed by highly acclaimed Japanese architect, Kenzo Tange (who also designed NTU's main campus).


Pay pilgrimage to the late architect, Kenzo Tange. Amazing structure, the concept is somewhat similar to building a camping tent.

The highlight of the day is definitely my visit to the John Lennon Museum.

As the museum is slightly outside Tokyo city, I took the JR line and travelled almost 50 mins before reaching Saitama Shintoshin, where the museum is located.

I cannot describe how I feel, but looking at the old videos can literally bring people to tears. After this visit, I don't just love him for his music and the messages of peace and love that he tried to inculcate but also for his courage to be different from the rest of the world and determination to stand by what he believed.


Calling all Beatles and John Lennon fans: You have to visit this place one time... it's all Déjà Vu, you know?

Breathe;
Listen to the sound of the world turning;
Send a smell to the moon....

And many other interesting messages inside the John Lennon Museum. I will never forget him and never forget this place.

So far, the day has went well with greatness and the respectable. Next, I visited Kabuki-Cho in Shinjuku, the famous red light district in Tokyo.

The name "Kabuki Cho" came about as there were plans to build a Kabuki Theatre there which eventually did not materialise. Instead, restaurants, pubs, pachinko shops, love hotels, sleazy DVD/CD shops, etc can be found. It is an interesting sight as people seem so indifferent to all these.


Instead of calling this a "pilgrimage", let's just say I give it to the Japanese completely for being so explicit in this respect. I have to see it for myself to be convinced.

Travel Q&A: Never use the words "Shrine" and "Temple" loosely when speaking to a Japanese or you will be corrected immediately. "Shrine" refers to a place where holy spirits are honoured, for example, spirits of dead people, mountain, lake, snake, etc. In "Temples" the Buddha can usually be found.

The Riches to Rags story

Tokyo is a city of extravagance. I experienced it for the first time on my last visit in September 07. The comfort and luxury are sometimes so exaggerated that I often feel "disgusted" by them.

Just look at how many little luxuries found in Prince Park Tower Hotel, which I stayed in.


From top right (clockwise): My private in-room coffee machine; Selection of accessories, including hair clips and mask; Signature toiletries; Bath tub with jacuzzi; And my favourite part of the bathroom... I brush my teeth every morning looking out into Tokyo city.


And of course, a view of the magnificent Tokyo Tower!

Unfortunately, fairy tales do come to end. I moved to a cheap hotel for the weekend. The room rate is 50% cheaper than Prince Park, but quality... definitely more than 50% lower. The Hotel Asia Center of Japan.


Sorry the room appears to be messy... no, in fact it is really messy because it's so small that I cannot find anywhere else to hide my stuff when I took this picture.

The hotel is so basic that there is almost no service... cannot even book airport transfer with the hotel. But if you want it cheap, this is the place. Location is pretty central and at the same time not too crowded.

But, let's see if I will say the same after tomorrow. I will be struggling to take a taxi to another hotel to transfer onto an airport bus... with my additional piece of luggage.


Don't ask what this is. I am just in charge of delivery.

Luggage count: 1.Suitcase 2.Laptop bag 3.Camera 4.Box of stuff 5.Brandy cake from Japanese colleagues.

I am seriously contemplating on dropping one of the above before tomorrow morning... I guess the choice is clear... or a close fight between 2 of them?

Saturday 17 May 2008

We will not be defeated


Life is unpredictable as it is and when disaster strikes, it once again reminded us how helpless we can be at times. Not only do I feel helpless for the victims and families of the Sichuan earthquake, but also helpless myself for not being able to do more than just pledging a donation.

I stood on the 28th floor looking far out into the city of Tokyo, a place also troubled by risk of earthequakes. All the high and low buildings and lights released from their windows made the city skylight a unique one; neon signboards, headlights of cars caught in heavy traffic... the whole city was glowing brightly.



Imagine that within seconds, all these turn into rubbles and darkness befalls, when the land beneath is torn apart. Haruki Murakami wrote in one of his books published after the Kobe earthquake in 1995: "I had a nightmare that I was trapped in a refrigerator. I could see faint light seeping through the gaps and the air inside gets thinner and thinner until there was no more, until I could see no light...".

Maybe we will never know how it feels to be buried under rubbles, struggling with one's last breath to keep alive while hopes are vanishing.... but I am sure we can relate to the feeling of being trapped in a refrigerator and the air gets thinner and light slowly fade away. I saw video clips of lifeless bodies with twisted limbs being carried out from the rubbles... gosh how do I imagine the devastation at the scene of the disaster?

"Children died while napping in schools"; "British tourists escaped with helicopter"... how these 2 headline news read in contrast with each other. Life always seems to be harder on the weaker ones. Though it is hard to stay high-spirited in times like these, I believe the Chinese will prove to the world that they are no weak nation. Together, they will stand strong and surive this crisis.



As for me, though I don't share the same land, don't share the same nationality, I share the same blood and the same pain. Though there is little I can do, I will still do what I can. So will you.


Thursday 15 May 2008

Confused? I'm in Tokyo

Are you confused where I am today? I am feeling confused myself.

I have a confusing mix of currencies in my wallet and I just couldn't figure out how much money I have. The time difference in Tokyo makes my body clock confused; it's 3am but felt like 2am. And the weather has gone bizzare too! Weather forecast has been showing 16-21dc, but it was 12dc when we arrived. Darn, no warm clothes... again. That's so typical of people living in the tropics; always packed the wrong clothes, sometimes too much, most times too little.


Tokyo Tower from the hotel room. Lovely!

Wednesday 14 May 2008

How to enhance travelling experience?

We went to the Shilin night market, however was left unimpressed. To introduce some excitment to the boring evening, I suggested eating smelly beancurd. "Enhance our travelling experience" were the exact words I used.

Ahem... the smell that put me off on the streets in Shanghai, the snack that made me frown in Hong Kong, is now back to haunt in Taipei. Smelly beancurd stayed close by my side. I borrowed courage from my HK and Taiwanese colleagues (who assured me that it doesn't taste any bit like it smells... LIARS!) and went ahead with my little culinary adventure.

夺命3步曲:


Step 1: Find a stall that sells smelly beancurd. The more smelly the better. This is the one. See 臭豆腐repeated 4 times!


Step 2: Examine my beancurd in making and try hard not to regret.


Step 3: Eat! It didn't smell a thing when it was served. But, one bite of it was enough to prove that it tastes exactly like it smells. Have you ever smelled sewage? Well, this is exactly it.


Propose a toast with bubble tea to celebrate my success in completing the "smelly beancurd challenge".

Tuesday 13 May 2008

Taipei... The world's highest

Finally arrived in Taipei on Sunday evening after travelling for 8 hours... I was almost dead.

My first impression of Taiwan wasn't great. Firstly, the long flight has worned me out completely. Then, at the airport immigration, I had some troubles with the duty officer as my photo in the passport was accidentally dirtied and I had an extra mold on my face.

But as usual, the warmth of my colleagues melted me down almost immediately.

And I can't wait to go see the world's highest building (at least for now), Taipei 101. Extremely impressive and I love it! A lot of thoughts have been put into building this magnificent structure... will discuss about this later.


101 from Grand Hotel in Yuan Shan


At the 91st storey, looking up at 101 (508 metres) and Damper baby that keeps the building stable.


Breathtaking view from 89 storey.

By the way, in case you are worried, as you can see I have left China and the earthquake in Sichuan hasn't affected my travelling plans at all. When disaster like that happens, I am always grateful that my loved ones are safe and sound. Know what I mean? I am just glad that this did not happen at home.

Say a prayer tonight with me, if you would.

Tomorrow: Tokyo (Final Destination)

Sunday 11 May 2008

Shanghai impression: 3rd attempt

Setting off again, from Shanghai to Taipei. Will be stranded in 3 different countries in the next 8 hours; now I am suffering the consequences of history and war.

I find it hard to believe that I like this city so much and indeed Shanghai surprises me every time I come. The echoes of 80,000 people in Shanghai Stadium, the last sunset of 2007 in Puxi, and fireworks along HPJ on a random saturday evening.... wow, I do not know what to expect on my next visit.





On my first visit to Shanghai last year, I was promised that Jinmao Building will be taken over by another as the highest building in Shanghai the next time I come. Hmm, checking on the progress after my 3rd visit... it still looks like there is a little more to go.



And despite all that have changed, this piece of Shanghai has been well preserved for my return. Never get an overdose, never.

Next Stop: Taipei

Saturday 10 May 2008

It's summer in Shanghai... almost

Shanghai Shoe said that I should start a photo collection of The Bund and Pudong at different times of the year. She was teasing me on how similar my shots tonight were compared to those she has seen previously. And "Aurora", it's impossible not to remember this name.

But this is what I love most about Shanghai, so much that I would visit 外滩 twice in day: once in the morning, once at night, just for the spectacular view along HPJ. Maybe it's the air along the river, the smelly HPJ is simplying intoxicating.



Did I mention before why I love the Oriental Pearl? It is definitely not the most magnificent structure I have ever seen but it is so ridiculous on the contrary that it steals all the limelight. The cityscape of Pudong looks absolutely bizarre with the Oriental Pearl standing amidst the other modern buildings, which are already unsynchronised on their own. With the illuminations at night, I always feel that I am looking at a totally different place out in the galaxy.

So how does this compare to the view of Hong Kong from Tsim Sha Tsui? Pudong still retain first place in my heart. Congratulations! :-P


View from terrace of M on The Bund (No 5. 中山东路-, near广东路)



I like this restaurant, M on the Bund. It is where I would feel really at ease as a foreigner (ha, how not to when 70% of the crowd are ang mohs) and the view is unbeatable. Ok, give some credit to the restaurant, the food are really nice too but rather expensive.

Today, I shall become a "make-shift" tour guide to bring my Austrian colleague around Shanghai. It's her first time in China, and I am thinking what kind of memories I would want her to take away from this first experience. "Culture shock" is what I have planned for her on top of the list.

A foreigner seeing China from the eyes of another foreigner, that's not such a good deal but is as best as she can get. Thank goodness it's only for day!

Thursday 8 May 2008

Birthday wishes delivered by hand... Shanghai Shoe here I come!

It is such a coincidence that I should arrive in Shanghai on 8th May, Shanghai Shoe's birthday! It is unfortunate, however, that we both have got separate engagements tonight and won't be able to meet. Nevetheless, we shall save the big bang birthday bash for Friday.

Shanghai Shoe, you have just ran out of change! Happy Birthday!

This year, I have made Shoe her birthday present. A calendar running from May 08 to Apr 09, personalised with birthdays of family/friends and other important dates. Shoe will never miss a birthday again.

Featuring my star poochie, Cowboy, as model for the calendar. No kidding, he is famous. One of the first things that Shoe's friend in Shanghai asked me when we were introduced was that.... "Are you Cowboy's owner?".







Next Stop: Shanghai