It’s been an entire summer of not blogging… and to be honest - it’s been a nice break away from the publishing world. It also allowed me some time to rethink what this blog is all about.
Anyhow - the blog is fixed, though I haven’t added new graphics to my template just yet. I still have my new apartment to organize… just moved in yesterday and got boxes to open. So CK’s BACK!!! – or until some smart and savvy newspaper head chief recognize my talent and give me my own column.
So now I’ve been doing some field research, and boy - do I have things to tell you…!
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Let me tell you something that happened most recently.
Like today.
I have one man in Hong Kong that I had done the dirty deed with. I liked him alot at first - we were inseperable for a little while, until I made the mistake of sleeping with him.
After I slept with him - he disappeared. He ignored my calls, he won’t reply my sms till hours or even days later. I thought we had something that started us off… so I slowly realized he’s just too dumb to appreciate me.
So I moved on. I removed him from my facebook list. I did everything a girl would need to do to purge herself of this sorta-boyfriend. I bought myself the Chloe bag that I’ve always wanted (50% discount on warehouse sale, of course).
Then he started sms me again. As though we’re still friends. I missed him enough. I still had good opinions of him. I thought he just didn’t know what he wanted. Besides, I had already moved on.
Until he drunk-dialed me couple of weeks ago. I asked how his friend’s birthday party went, and if they’re continuing on partying for the rest of the night, he said he’ll give me his friend’s number if I really want to his friend.
No, silly - I said to him. I just wanted to see if you guys will be coming around to my neighborhood… afterall, why call in the middle of a saturday night if he didn’t want to meet up?
THREE MINUTES OF SILENCE AND THREE DAYS OF MOURNING…
It’s been one week since the Sichuan Earthquake. The update reported that the earthquake was actually a full 8.0 scale, not 7.8 or 7.9 as believed before. Nearly 7000 schools were destroyed, killing many children which shook the core of the Chinese families who are limited by the one-child policy.
At 2:28pm this afternoon - there has been a 3-minute silence all around - in China and in Hong Kong. Cars blared their horns in symbolic wailing of grief. People are now battling to dig out survivors who are past 140 hours under rubbles. 200 rescue workers are buried in mudslide while in rescue operation.
Disease is next.
In Hong Kong - all entertainment is suspended for three days.
We are paying tribute to this day of mourning.
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An earthquake with massive 7.9 magnitude hit southwestern part of China last Monday on May 12th, 2008. The epicenter was Wenchuan County, Sichuan Province. Xinhua News Agency reported that almost 15,000 people died from the earthquake in Sichuan and neighboring provinces of Shaanxi, Gansu, and Yunnan and the death toll could reach far higher as the search and rescue effort continued. It was the worst natural disaster hitting the region in the last three decades.
Sichuan is fairly close to Hong Kong. Close enough that western Hong Kong residence could feel the tremor of this devastating earthquake that tore through Sichuan.
A local acquaintance here in Hong Kong was from Sichuan - and once he heard of the news, he made an emergency flight back.
Next day he sent a very simple text message - “Both Parents are Gone.”
The death toll is still climbing. Many buildings were built extremely poorly and many schools collapsed during this earthquake - killing children and teachers, and hundreds more trapped under rubbles. More than 130,000 rescuers were desperately working around the clock as the rescue window shrinks by moment.
There had been 58 counties and towns stricken by the massive quake. The Chinese government opened a new road - part of a national highway from Nagqu in Tibet to Chengdu - to ensure faster delivery of disaster relief materials to the epicenter of Wenchuan, since blocked by landslides created by the quake.
The news reported the Beichuan county got hit the hardest. It is encircled by hills 500 to 1,000 meters high, and is renowned for its picturesque scenery - now was virtually ripped apart by the quake. Officials said about 80 percent of the buildings collapsed in the old town area and nearly 60 percent were leveled to the ground in the new town.
This is not the ending either - there are still fire-fighters and medical workers are sent to Sichuan to help the survivors. Currently - with the lack of water supply, the survivors will face another likely devastating state - disease.
I know there are couple of serious Kenb fans out there, so I thought I’ll post about Kenb’s recent (and his FIRST!!) visit to Hong Kong.  Never fear - CK’s here.
As some may know, Kenb had been traveling through asia for a month - and it was quite a list of places that he had visited. Japan (with me!), Thailand, Vietnam, and last but not least Hong Kong.Â
Apparently - he LOVES Vietnam.
While we were in Japan - I handed Kenb a card… it is no ordinary card… It’s an OCTOPUS CARD.Â
ALLOW ME TO ELABORATE ON THE COOLNESS OF THIS CARD:Â
An Octopus card (Baat Daaht Tùngtraditional Chinese: å…«é”通, “eight-arrived pass” means reaching everywhere) is a rechargeable CONTACTLESS smartcard originally used to collect fares for the city’s mass transit system (combining over 5 transit companies in Hong Kong), which includes the fabulous Airport Express (24-minute speed train out of the airport and into Hong Kong Central).
There are logical reasons why there are twice the amount of Octopus Cards issued than there are people living in Hong Kong.
Imagine you’re traveling with Ken:
Arriving in Hong Kong from an airplane, and survive the airport customs… you wheel yourself into the gigantic airport lobby… and there it was - the airport express - a speed rail inside the airport terminal to take you to the city in no time. Â
You waltz to the turntile, and with one hand quickly wave your wallet holding all the cards including your Octopus against the Octopus card reader. Almost immediately you can hear a beep, which simultaneously flashes the amount deducted and the remaining balance of your card before you. Then you walk on by and seat yourself comfortably while the train steadily bring you into the city.
After 24 minutes, you arrived in Central, and walk out of the airport express into IFC mall. Go ahead to the Starbucks to grab a coffee, cause as easily as before - you wave your wallet against the Octopus card reader, and the coffee was paid for.Â
You gotta go next door to Watsons (Hong Kong’s drug mart chain) so you could get yourself a nail clipper, since yours was confiscated at the airport before arriving to Japan (@#$%!! As if you can hold up an airplane with a nail clipper).
Then off to McDonald’s for a Big Mac, and a beer at 7-Eleven. Both paid for with a wave of that card in your wallet. And not once did you have to take your card out, and no loose change or cash.Â
Just make sure you had enough money in the card to start with.Â
And of course - there are several posh apartment buildings and institutions that use Octopus cards for access control in buildings and for school administrative functions.
Did I mention you can get the Octopus card in a wristwatch format or a keychain format?
Yeah - the Octopus card RULES.
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Ken arrived on Monday, and immediately I showed him the best cheap eats in Hong Kong. LKF for a little dining at the rat alley, drinks at LKF, then more food at a local Dai-Pai-Dong in Soho’s Elgin street.
Then Tuesday we were off to the dark side a.k.a. Kowloon for a little more authentic traditional hong kong experience by walking through the ladies’ market, and a little Shanghainese cuisine.Â
Then we jetted back to Causeway Bay for some serious Chinese bar experience via drinking games and kareoke.
Wednesday, I woke up feeling pretty darn beatened up from our previous night of partying. But the party must go on. Ken and I dragged ourselves to Stanley beach area for some pina colada and sun. And there is plenty of sun.Â
We finished off with Ladies’ Night Wednesday at the hot spot in Wanchai –Â Mes Ames.
I didn’t feel any better by Thursday morning. But after I was done teaching, I managed to meet with Ken and others, and drank the night away at the Peak and Causeway Bay.
I gotta catch up on some sleep right about now. Nighty night.
The manager called me again. This time he said he had some time to think over what my situation is, and he’ll be willing to work with my part-time hours and give me an easier transition into the office.
I’ve got an interview next Thursday. We’ll see how it all pans out.
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I got off the plane less than 24 hours ago and turned on my Hong Kong mobile — and my phone beeped with a voicemail. It was from an interior design firm. The manager got my resumè and interested to hire me as full time intern — and become one of the interior designers in a year’s time.
At least that’s what he told me when I returned the call.
We chatted for a little while - I told him I’m now teaching piano full time (per my resumè), and looking at most for a part time position.
It’s funny how everytime I tell people that I’m a piano teacher, people automatically think it’s part-time. I have to reaffirm that no, this is my full-time job, I treat it as my career. I have plans and goals.
Same goes with this manager - he quickly mentioned one of the interior designers is working full-time in his office, and teaching part-time during the weekends. And he asked me to do the same.
“When can you come in for your interview?” He asked. “Can you come in tomorrow?”
Normally, I’d say sure, my portfolio is ready anyhow, and I can see how things go — check out the salary, test my market value, etc.
But something stopped me. I just couldn’t go through with the interview. I asked him to give me sometime and think about it. I asked if he would allow a part-time position as a graphic artist - and his response?
“No. You will be trained to be an interior designer. It would take too long. It’s not efficient. This is YOUR CAREER. You have to make a choice.” He said.
“I need to think about this, then. I’m sorry.” I said. “I don’t want to waste anyone’s time. Let me call you tomorrow.”
Hong Kong is fantastic in many ways - but working like a maniac isn’t one of them. I really really need to rethink this. Cause I can’t afford to lose half my students this time around.
What would you choose? Piano teacher or Interior Designer?
I took my final shinkansen (bullet train) ride from Hiroshima to Tokyo in time for the weekend madness.
TOKYO IS GI-NORMOUS.
By the last day of my travels, I could barely shuffle my feet - my legs were stiff and throbbing. Even the muscles in my feet are strained and crying in protest.
T’was the price for the traveling.
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DAY 6:
After a late arrival on Day 5 at the Sunroute Hotel in Shinjuku (Times Square of Tokyo), Kenb and I explored the trendiest neighborhood of Tokyo — Harajuku, Takeshita, Yoyogi bridge. I just wanted to witness the hardcore teenage costumes and styles.
Harajuku is the trendiest of trendy trends - from girls dressed their school girl uniforms (it’s Sunday) to funky architecture, stylish bars, and hip-hop American second hand clothings.
I also witnessed in a trendy salon where a Japanese cool-guy gets his perm with his “Pinky-the-Brain” dog sitting obediently on his lap.
I came a long way to “Take-A-shita” (pffff — giggle giggle — another shot of shÅchÅ«, please!)
Across the street from Harajuku where taste is exquisite, Takeshita is the bargain hunting ground, offering everything from cheap bargain on cosmetics (inexpensive Shiseido anyone?) to more affordable costumes. More Japanese girls in doll’s dresses and bo peep costumes.
But the real costume-wearing kids hang out on Yoyogi bridge attracting all the tourists who would hound them into taking pictures. Just don’t ask the goths - they’re not seeking attention, apparently.
Thanks to an architect buddy’s girlfriend, she took us to a hidden japanese bar/restaurant for some winding down. (Horse sashimi, anyone?)
Afterwards, Kenb and I made our last stop to the red light district, the Kabukicho… saw some weird stuff and just called it a night. I’ve never seen a japanese cross-dresser until now.
DAY 7:
Monday morning, I sent Ken safely off to his flight to Thailand for his own R and R, and dragged my aching body to the Fish Market in southeast side of downtown Tokyo for some organic coffee, deep-fried egg on a stick, and fried eel on a stick. It was nice.
JAPANESE FOOD IN JAPAN…
… so far hadn’t blown my mind — given I’ve been eating Japanese food forever, and great Japanese food (sushi, sashimi, Teppanyaki) are readily available in any major cities all over the world - plus I didn’t go to visit remote Japanese islands where the fish are freshest. During this visit, I’ve tasted the Hiroshima pizza, japanese curry, horse sashimi (not impressed, even with great salad to complement it), lots of sushis, shÅchÅ« (pronounced “show-choo”, and not impressed either btw — I love my whiskey and cognac, but no lust for shÅchÅ«), and had lots of sake. Coolest food moment was watching some trendy Japanese girls eating fish-and-chips and mussels with their chopsticks.
Trendy Japanese girls eating fish-and-chips & mussels with chopsticks in Brit pub
Back to this fish market — to my delight and excitement, I found something home grown… something I knew I had to smuggle back to Hong Kong.
Fresh Wasabi.
Baby.
Yeah - FRESH Wasabi.
Normal restaurant wasabi is the fake horseradish stuff that’s so spicy it clears your sinuses with one drop — you know what I’m talking about. Well, fresh wasabi has none of the shock, but all the flavors… and creamy. There’s nothing like it. I can’t wait to buy some fresh sashimi and dig in these babies… I’m so excited thinking about it right now.
ANYWAY!!
Have you ever seen a long line up and followed suit? I followed a crowd of old Japanese ladies (in their kimonos) and ended up with two boxes of Japanese strawberries in my possession. I didn’t know what the fuss is about (sure they’re big and red and juicy, enough indication for me to purchase)….. until I left the market to stroll along the Imperial Palace - sat down under an already-bloomed cherry blossom tree and bite into a strawberry. It was an explosion of sugar and strawberry juice. I got it now.
I had requested for a permit weeks ago to go into the Imperial Palace, but kenb and I couldn’t make it upon our first two days of arrival, so I didn’t go in. Besides, I was in so much pain, I don’t think I’ll manage. But I was determined to see as much of Tokyo as I can. I continued onward to mid-town Tokyo Shibuya to witness the awe-some street intersection.
Shibuya lunch time on Monday
With my Starbuck’s Soy Chai in hand, I knew I couldn’t go any further. I was exhausted. So exhausted I slept the moment I got on the plane… the kind of sleep that you jolt awake catching drool from sliding onto your clothes. As much as I enjoyed my trip to Japan - I’m happy to be going home. I can’t wait to sleep for two days… and make an appointment to see my physical therapist.
It’s been an amazing race against the clock. I don’t know how other people do it, but there’s no way I had any time to blog about my trip - LIVE.
Thought I’ll quickly jot down the highlights of my last few days.
DAY 2:
After lunch in Tokyo, we jetted off to Kobe (city near Osaka) which is about 3 hours away on the bullet trainand met up with my friend Malanie for dinner…
I love Japanese food. Mochi, sushi pizza, peach fizzy drinks…
We managed to race back to the bullet train to catch the last train backtracking (eastbound) one stop to Nagoya for the night. And we’re just too happy to have made it… esp when Ken’s friend showed us what he meant by “The Best Scotch Bar in all of Nagoya”. This is the classiest (scotch) bar I’ve ever been to, in the world. Not that I’ve been to a lot…
And we didn’t even have a hangover the next day. It was fiiine.
DAY 3:
We raced to the bullet train again for a quick 45 minute ride to Kyoto, this is the older part of Japan.
The moment I made it to the top of Kiyomizudera (”Pure Water Temple”), I fell in love with Japan — I finally understood what everyone was marveling about.
Pure Water Temple, Kiyomizudera, was founded in 780 is one of the oldest sects within Japanese Buddhism. In 1994, the temple was added to the list of UNESCO world heritage sites. Kiyomizudera stands in the wooded hills of eastern Kyoto and offers a beautiful view over the city.
We even tasted the spring water.
I wish I had spend the entire 7 days in Kyoto. I only managed to see the Gion district and several Geishas on the street. I vow to return to Kyoto another time… hopefully during the cherry blossom period. I can just see it now.
Then off I went deep into the heart of Hiroshima. I made good use of my JR pass. By the time I was in Hiroshima (Thursday) and met up with my girl Jessie, I was out like a light when my head hit the pillow.
DAY 4
Kenb was still in Nagoya when I visited Jessie’s public school in the morning. It’s fascinating to see such peaceful classrooms with uniforms and indoor slippers (!! Seriously, only in Japan would they require students to go to school and change into slippers).
Afterwards we went to Miyajima - which means “shrine island” and celebrated as a sacred island - one of Japan’s three most scenic views. Itsukushima Shrine (photos) is famous for its large wooden torii (gate) which stands in the middle of the water during high tide. It was low tide for me when I visited… wild deer move around the island freely chasing after tourists for food.
During my visit, I get to witness the setup for a Japanese wedding ceremony. I love the kimonos.
Kenb arrived from Nagoya later that afternoon and we visited the Atomic Bomb Dome site.
Afterwards, Jessie and Tobie took Kenb and I for the famous Hiroshima pizza - okonomiyaki… it’s a barely-there thin crust pizza layered with egg, cabbage, moyashi, sliced pork/bacon with fried squid, octopus, cheese, and soba noodles, topped with another layer of egg and a generous dollop of okonomiyaki sauce. The amount of cabbage used is usually 3 - 4 times the amount used in the Osaka style, therefore arguably a healthier version. It starts out piled very high and is generally pushed down as the cabbage cooks.
Now that’s something I’ve never had before. We partied out the night with Kareoke and Ramen… more photos later.
DAY 5
We finally went in to see the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum…
UPDATE!! I was staying at Nagoya with slow internet access, and I was too drunk on scotch to be patient - I am now in Hiroshima but about to go out for a bite to eat. I will blog shortly!! Lots of photos this time.
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I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.
And the strangers in Japan are very kind indeed.
I was sitting next to a Japanese man (in his thirties probably?) on the 1:30am flight to Tokyo. The lack of sleep didn’t faze me any more than the 4am breakfast served by All Nippon. (I must note that All Nippon serve a good-looking almost Bento-like breakfast) I noticed the stranger next to me put wasabi in his japanese noodle soup along with the little shredded seaweed. I was finishing my quiche when I turned to him and inquired about his way of eating the noodles. I asked if it’s a personal choice of his, and he remarked that “It’s very common.”
He gestured that I should try as well - so I added a small dallop of wasabi in my noodles.
And it was DELICIOUS.
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The 4 hour flight is a lot shorter than I expected to fly from Hong Kong to Japan. During this time, I got to know the stranger next to me. He’s a business manager in Tokyo, and was returning from his vacation in Hong Kong and Macau. I asked how he liked Hong Kong, and this was his reply -
“In terms of views, Hong Kong isn’t that great. But I want to live there.” He replied with bright eyes and a small wonderous smile.
“Yes, it’s very convenient.” I replied with a smile.
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The Japanese stranger flipped through my guidebook to Japan, as I was asking him which onsen would be closest for me. I wanted to go to one today before my Canadian friend lands in Tokyo. I’m in no mood to stay in the city.
He flipped to a page of my guidebook, and reached into his breast pocket of his shirt, and wiped out a marking-sticker and marked the page. I was just marveling at how incredibly efficient he is, when he offered to guide me out of the airport and help me exchange my rail pass coupon for the rail pass.
Kindness indeed.
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After 3 hours of transfering public subways, finding my way through the complex Tokyo subway system jam-packed with rush hour crowd with their blood-shot eyes…. plus a bus ride — I made it to Hakone. Read the rest of this entry »
Do you believe we become our ex’s in a new relationship?
I dated a great guy years ago. I was in bad shape then. I was depressed from my father’s death and my grandfather’s death. I just moved back to Toronto starting afresh, working as a temp receptionist my gal pal hooked me up with - I was in transition and feeling really lost.
Just not the best years of my life, you know what I mean?
So when this awesome guy came along — handsome, successful, and he was crazy about me.
I was more than flattered.
I was terrified.
I felt insecure - that I wasn’t good enough, that he was just fucking with my head and no way was he sincere. I felt I wasn’t pretty enough, despite him telling me he thinks I’m beautiful, an angel even. I froze in my deep-rooted fear and negativity, I ignored most of his efforts to connect with me daily. If he couldn’t get a hold of me, it’s too bad for him. I barely made minimal effort to show him how I felt.
And soon, he lost interest - not because he was shallow, but because I had quenched our passion with my negativity.
We finally had a fight about it - he yelled at me. He was angry that I was appearing complacent, that I didn’t reciprocate - and later found out that I just wouldn’t trust him, that I wouldn’t let him in my life.
I know he’s not all wrong. And so I realized the error of my ways.
Sometimes we do things for reasons that is sensible to us privately - but I did forget about his feelings. I didn’t realize it’s hard for boys to initiate romance, every phone call, every date.
After he moved on, and I’m alone again, I began working on being more communicative and open about my feelings in all my subsequent relationships - baby steps toward being more fearless in romance.
I still have this deep rooted fear wherever I go, but finding someone I can connect with outweighs my fear nowadays.
That’s why I admire you girls who have a love in your life.
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Last weekend, I was having drinks with couple of girlfriends when I finally confessed about a certain someone I was interested here in Hong Kong - but for some reason unknown to me, after our fatal kiss, he hadn’t ravaged me with his attention - I hadn’t seen him in weeks… which is infuriatingly frustrating.
Boys should be the one chasing the girls, not the other way around. I’ve been nice, I’ve been communicative, I’ve been keeping to myself, going out with others, giving him space, giving myself things to do.
“That’s because they’re Hong Kong men.” My girlfriend jumped in. “The game here is different. Especially the EXPATS, they think they have lots of options, so they don’t care.”
This sucks royal ass. So much for romance in this city.
I’m feeling like my ex - losing interest and just getting angry and feeling sorry for myself.
I’m so sorry I haven’t blogged in 5 days!!! Oh my God - Time just flew by!
I’ve been:
1. Planning out the most expensive flashpacking travel since Europe
2. Getting the railpass after comparing prices after prices
3. Planning routes all around Japan
4. Meeting up with current schedule - drinking times included
5. Chilling out in Hong Kong watching “Charlie Wilson’s War” in cushy velvet screening room with friend and chocolate popcorn.
6. Running around Hong Kong teaching…
7. and - Oh yeah - I’m enrolled with night school for more computer graphics, which cuts into my working hours, so I have to spread my time pretty thin. Read the rest of this entry »
I’m proud of my heritage and my background. I’m proud that I can identify with a lot of people, whether they are pure-bred or mixed blood (I actually love people who are mixed because I think they’re so interesting and often very attractive — I find them most engaging).
Having spent over half my life in Canada studying, working, dating, living, and before that — growing up in New York City (Queens if you must know), and having baby pictures of myself on the picturesque English grounds — I would think my fellow North American friends would get me and my openness. I’m certainly not one of the cliquey asians who gravitate to their own kind, nor am I one of those “bananas” who refuse to mingle with asians and stand tall and proud as the token asian in their groups. I easily befriend blondes, redheads, brunettes, asians, native americans, and blacks alike. As long as they’re sweet and cool, I can easily love them and call them my friends.
So imagine my surprise when my Canadian friend turned to me and said, “You’re a Hong Kongese.”
“How am I a Hong Kongnese?” I laughed and questioned her. I’ve never denied calling myself a Chinese - ever. But Hong Kong-ese?
“You were born in Hong Kong, aren’t you?” She asked.
“No. I was born in U.K.”
“Oh.” She said.
I let the subject drop and didn’t think about it again until……………..
Months later, I was out having dinner at Habibi with several other friends when the same girl turned to me and said the same thing, “You are a Hong Kongese.”
Then I noticed I was the token Asian in the group. I wasn’t even conscious of this stuff anymore.
“I’m not Hong Kongnese.” I said to her, again.
“But you were born here!” She insisted.
“No. I was born in U.K. This is the SECOND TIME I told you!” (Translation: Why don’t you just get it?)*And it was only moments ago that she turned to her boyfriend and told him that I was living in New York while back.
“Do you speak Cantonese?” Another girl asked.
Me: “Some, yes. And getting better as time goes by.”
The first girl thought for a moment. “Well, your parents are Hong Kongese.”
I felt exasperated and said, “Sure.”
Note: Actually, to tell the truth, even my parents aren’t Hong Kongers. My dad was from Canton in China, though he did spend his childhood in Hong Kong before moving to Italy and study and became a tenor (so what does that make him — Italian-EASE?) My mom was from a town nearby Shanghai before she grew up in Hong Kong and moved to England to study, so what does that make her? A permanent immigrant?
It’s not like we’re five generations Hong Kong based Cantonese, y’know?
This is why I just tell people who gotta learn the source of my blood DNA - “My grandparents are alllll from China.”
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I went to the British consulate this morning to get my U.K. passport renewed. I was sitting around waiting for my number to be called when this scenario replayed itself over and over again in my head.
As the numbers flashed on the monitor and called out one by one in the consulate waiting area - I calculated it takes about average 1 minute per number assigned… I fidgeted in my seat impatiently.
I didn’t think this “Hong Kong-ese” accusation would bug me so much. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. But how the hell did she come up with that anyway? How are you suppose pronounce that?
Hong Kong-EASE? Hong Kong-NESE? Hong Kong-GEESE?
“It’s Hong Kong-ER!!!” A friend of mine later rebuttled when I told her about it. Now she’s the real deal - raised in Hong Kong since she was a baby, but nooo, she doesn’t speak Cantonese - so no one ever questioned her Hong Kong-ness. Not that there’s anything wrong with it.
This label demanded a truly annoying nasal sound.
Even more annoying how quickly she would dismiss my entire life and birth rights because when I was a child, I paid attention to the literature that my mother (who’s an interpretor BTW) taught me… everything she knows as a woman - both in English and Chinese…
So since I can utter some French, and briefly lived in Nice — does that make me a Nice-EASE?
Part 2: 100 Things I have TO DO countdown — #80 to #61
I haven’t forgotten my previous list of 100 Things I have TO DO… it’s definitely something else to list things I wanna do and from things I gotta do. FYI, I’m going from the bottom of the list upwards, which means the further up I go, the more important of things I gotta do. So here’s list of #61 to 80. Read the rest of this entry »
The rain quickly gave into humid heat over here in Hong Kong. It’s 28c at at 2pm.
The 32nd HKIFF - like last year - has been an eye-opener. I had 3 more movies left from the 32nd annual HKIFF marathon… and I have indeed ventured to a very dark place.
It’s been raining - you know what I’ve been doing.
I’ve been walking, and spacing out inside my big beach umbrella. Too distracted to think-blog on a regular basis. It’s not like I don’t have enough materials to blog about - I was just feeling super lethargic.
I’ve been zipping through the rain from theatre to cinema.
(1) I saw “The PillowMan” written by Academy-Award-winning writer Martin McDonagh. This play made its Hong Kong debut at the Fringe Club last weekend - and its stomach churning contents made it… err… unforgettable. It was a complete opposite of my joyous noodle-salad tap-dancing broadway tune belting musical from only weeks ago.
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(2) After the stage, I switched to films. I started off my Hong Kong International Film Festival marathon with “A Permanent Part-timer’s Distress” which documented one year in the life of a Japanese permanent part-timer who was a university graduate striving to be closer to the glamour of Tokyo and hopelessly stuck in low-pay soul-crushing spirit-depleting no-benefits part-time jobs.
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(3) Then my spirit went up again when I screened the documentary on Philip Glass also known for his work Koyaanisqatsi (1982). To celebrate his 70th anniversary, Director Scott Hicks brilliantly presented “Glass: A Portrait of Philip in 12 parts“. His close encounter to Philip Glass’ everyday life and showed us Glass in 12 parts — with the legend himself talking about his experiences studying under the world revered piano teacher Nadia Boulanger; to the multitude of Glass’ working ethics; to his spiritual, romantic, familial, physical, and intellectual pursuits - as well as his collaborations with filmmakers such as Woody Allen, Chuck Close, Ravi Shankar and Martin Scorsese; and Glass’ advant garde opera while making pizza… (like it was normal everyday thing to be writing an opera.)
My favorite moment was when Glass spaced out mid-conversation working out a musical solution in his head.
This was very comforting for me. I know a lot of people don’t really get me, but I never meant to be rude when I space out - it actually means I’m comfortable enough to be myself around them…
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(4) Again, after going high on spirits and music — I was then brought down by an arthouse french film “Beneath the Rooftop of Paris” (Sous les toits de Paris). It was utterly the most devastating torture depicting the director’s terror of aging. The story speaks of an elderly man’s declination in his grey top-floor apartment in the heart of Paris with his only son barely acknowledges his existence. The only thing that was likeable with this film was the beautiful Parisian horizon and clever use of music.
The moment I stepped out of the french arthouse, I called my mom to see if she’s ok. I bought some chinese dumplings to bring home. I promised myself I’ll take mom to Singapore soon for a much needed mother-daughter vacation. I also now more determined than ever to make money and sustain myself before old age.
It was so depressing - even I’m afraid of growing old.
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So I’m not short on stuff to blog about. Just couldn’t bring myself up to blogging and catch up on everyone’s blogs. I’m trying… but in the meantime I’m wondering — can I sustain blogging while I’m in Japan?
P.S. I’m quitting beer. post-down moments. Wine only for me these days. Beer is the culprit to my down time. Party marathons only remind me my physical age. Gah.
I love the fact that Google blacked out too for the hour.
The Earth Hour was spectacular over in Sydney. In Hong Kong it wasn’t much to look at… they don’t really know about the earth hour anyhow - hong kongnese don’t really care enough, but I managed to drink wine for an hour in the dark. Afterwards I met up with a sweetheart of a girlfriend for dinner and hot chocolate.
What did you do?
CuriosityKiller Is Teal Green
You are a one of a kind, original person. There’s no one even close to being like you. Expressive and creative, you have a knack for making the impossible possible. While you are a bit offbeat, you don’t scare people away with your quirks. Your warm personality nicely counteracts and strange habits you may have.
Mmm’kay — actually, I do scare people off with my “quirkiness”, but anyway — What Color Green Are You?
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I rarely do the msn/google chat things. I innately HATE those messengers — I find them the most annoying, easily misunderstanding, conflict building ball-and-chain in our world of technological convenience. If I’m “online” but don’t respond to a message, the other person would be offended. And vice versa - I hate it when I leave a message, but the person doesn’t respond. I think it’s soooo rude! Let’s not even mention unexpected hour long conversations when you can’t afford that kind of time. I hate it even more that I have to stay on the computer and wait for a response.
But once in a while, like today, I go ahead and connect with my global friends and signed on my google chat — within minutes, a full blown conversation popped up in a small little window……
They came to Hong Kong as part of their world tour.
They are currently featured on my music player.
This Love of music made a huge commercial success.They’re also amazing LIVE. With every song, it gets harder to breath, especially when the red hot lead singer/guitarist sings he won’t go home without me. It was his birthday the day before this Hong Kong show.
And once during interview, he said, “During the time between our record deals, I spent a lot of time in New York where I was exposed to an urban and hip-hop culture in a way that had never happened to me in L.A. It turned me on to an entirely new genre of music which has had a profound impact on my songwriting.”
Maybe I should mention (not to show off or anything), I saw their show for FREE!?
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Beatriz tagged me on THE 7 THINGS ABOUT ME meme - and I’ve been avoiding this one forever and ever… I was tagged for this meme, like, probably 7 times now. I’ve been totally procrastinating on this because I have to state 7 facts about myself that you guys don’t already know about me. I mean, what don’t you know??
Yet there are a few things:
7. I’ve fired a rifle… more than once.
6. I have a pretty good aim if I do say so myself.
5. My favorite flowers are tulips, roses, and gerbera daisies.
4. I work very hard to gain basic skills of reading maps — $50,000 worth of tuition actually. To this days, I’m still bad with directions.
3. I dyed my hair blonde when I was living in France.
2. I dyed my hair fire-engine red when I returned to U.K..
1. There was a time in my life that my unhappiness was constant and never had a breaking moment. It got so heavy and null and deep and alienating that I was at the crossroad to choose Depression or myself. The emotions of unhappiness remains, but I managed a better life because I slowly started focusing on the good moments - and learned how to recreate them for myself. Little things like flowers, being around children, navel oranges, hugs, chocolate, completing small tasks, and some things money can buy.
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And since I’m in the mood for memes again - plus I saw this yummy meme at Hilly. I’m throwing it in to complete this feast.
Here’s how it works:
1. Go to www.photobucket.com
2. Type in your answer to the question in the “search†box
3. Use only the first page
4. Insert the picture into your Blog
1.) What is your relationship status?
2.) What is your current mood?
3.) Who is your favorite band/artist?
4.) What is your favorite movie?
5.) What kind of pet do you have?
6.) Where do you live?
7.) Where do you work?
8.) What do you look like?
9.) What do you drive?
10.) What did you do last night?
11.) What is your favorite TV show?
12.) Describe yourself.
13.) What are you doing today?
14.) What is your name?
15.) What is your favorite candy?
I’m off to party out rest of this long weekend. Enjoy your Easter weekend, everyone!
I’ve been trying to leave comments on my favorite blogs all day and noticed not ONE went through. This has been recurring… My comments just dissipated after I pressed the button “leave comment” for WTF reasons. Things got better when I changed my browser from my Firefox to Safari. Just so you know, I still love you… Communication via comments just got cut off somehow. Blame Firefox.
Anyway - just in case my facebook friends are wondering - CuriosityKiller facebook account was deleted - it was too much maintenance. Instead I’ve been adding my favorite bloggers on my personal account… some of y’all won’t recognize me. It’s been a clash of blogworld meets reality lately.
Speaking of Facebook…
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My fortune cookie says - “Being loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone gives you courage.â€
I know there are thoughts on Facebook as the mighty evil force commoditizing friendships - turning human beings into collectors’ items, not to mention privacy issues and all… but I still cherish my visible list of my peeps. When I look at my facebook profile, I have a mental hierarchy of my real loves — friends who will help me bury a body, friends to borrow money from, solid party friends who will hold my hair back if I hug the toilet… I separate them from the rest of my acquaintances.
But for my birthday, all’s fair in my arena. I cherish every thoughtfulness and kindness by every click of the keyboard buttons - every little comment, little emails, messages short, long, sweet, thoughtful, funny, heart-felt poems, or flashy e-cards…. had collectively added drops of joy, delight, giggles, and grins to my weekend.
And this, indeed, has been a fa-ta-bulous kodak moment of my life. And I didn’t even take any pictures.
Thank you, everyone.
Adding more oommphs and ahhhs to my birthday, I had a surge of phonecalls from friends showing me love from across the globe. I got a call from an old university friend who told me he’s now in Japan doing architecture. Guess what?? I screeched on the phone - I’m going to Tokyo in April!!
God, I love globalization.
The best part of my weekend is obviously the hanging out with my favorite people in Hong Kong. I partied like I was 23 again.
Life doesn’t get better than this.
FYI on more joints in Hong Kong:
1. The food at Sahara was faaaantastic, the Moroccan decor is beautiful, and the apple shisha was satisfying… (Thanks Tof)
2. Mandarin Oriental Cake shop makes a darn good chocolate truffle cake - their strawberry fruit cake is pretty too (I ate alot of cake).
My phone beeped. It was a txt message from a friend on this side of the globe.
Her message reads: It’s Midnight!! Happy Birthday!!! Woohoo!!!
So I’m now another year older.
I don’t feel OLD, actually. Hell, I don’t look old, and life sure is young around me (little kids and music and all). I actually feel pretty good to be in my thirties. I was a bit nervous about getting to a certain age staying single… but to be honest - I’m pretty happy. I feel more secure in my own skin, if that makes perfect sense to you. And I feel a lot more in control too.
I actually feel like I have more as I get (ahem) older.
Life is more defined… makes more sense… and more stable. I feel my life is more fulfilling as I get older… Life is gets better and better with every year…Â know what I mean?
It’s 2am right now, I’m ready to conk out. I have to teach all day tomorrow and probably be partying all night (ground me when I come home later, k?)
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Even though I’ve visited more blogs than I can remember, I didn’t name my desired prize from the ultimate blog party… because I wasn’t in it for the gifts. I just blog-hopping for fun.
So I’m out. Hopefully I’ll still be in one piece by tomorrow.
If you’re new to my blog via the ULTIMATE BLOG PARTY — thanks for coming! Allow me to introduce myself - I’m C.K. - short for CuriosityKiller, and you’ve arrived at my little dot COM. Please leave me your link so I can visit you!
If you’re an old pal, stay and hang out!!
So… HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT OF ALL THE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO BEFORE… y’know — the INEVITABLE END of life as we know it?
I do. All the time. Just because there are always something I wanna do….
I remember reading from The Buried Life (co-authored by 4 guys) wanting to complete a list of 100 Things To-Do Before You Die — also the MightyGirl did her list of 100 things before She Goes… I decided to put together my mighty things I GOTTA DO in my lifetime… thought it’ll be nice to share this wishlist with you all, and super interested to hear what kind of things YOU would like to. I’m most certain there are a lot of things YOU’ve already done that I haven’t!!
As some of you already know — I’ve traveled a bit and enjoy traveling very much. I’ve lived in 3 different continents for more than 3 years in each. I was born in United Kingdom but it’s been ages since I’ve LIVED there (I only visited once back in 1999)… so for my #100, no matter how tricky or ambitious… I would LOVE to eventually….
100. Live in Europe for a couple of years. (hey, let’s start off my list with a dream, why not? It’s in the bottom of my list anyway!)
99. Learn to drive stick shift.
98. Because I want to know what it’s like to Drive a Jaguar, at least once (I can always rent a Jaguar)
97. Donate to Women’s Shelter
96. Donate a huge lump sum to Children’s Wish Foundation
95. Watch “The Lion King” musical in NYC
94. Watch “Stomp” in NYC
93. Experience every Cirque du Soleil show on earth.
92. Wear a kimono/yukada in Japan
91. Walk through a Cherry Blossom promenade
90. See the Safari in South Africa
89. Speak fluent intermediate French (let’s get basic French first - take one step at a time)
88. Speak fluent intermediate Mandarin
86. Take my mom to visit her hometown nearby Shanghai
85. Take my mom and sister to go shopping in France and Italy
84. Buy a piece of real estate for my mom
83. Have my own eco-sustainable home built
86. Visit the Four Seasons in Chiang Mai
85. Visit Taj Mahal in India
84. Go to a Bollywood Party
83. Actively help save the environment, somehow.
82. See a naturally wild salmon stream
81. Go squid-fishing
That’s all for this week’s Thursday… let me know if any of the above is something you want to do as well! Where would you want to live if money’s no object?
Hello hello ~ come on in! Glad you dropped by! It is so nice to meet you! I just love meeting new people! This is so exciting! If you’re here because you followed me from a comment I left you, thanks for coming! Please me your link so I can visit you! If you’re an old pal, just stay and hang out!!
I’m not a workaholic, I’m merely fashionably late for the ULTIMATE BLOG PARTY. Let me catch up with you guys by welcoming you to my Blog Party. You have arrived at the CuriosityKiller.COM. I’m C.K. and I hope you enjoy your stay here. Turn up the music, and uncork that champagne! My birthday is this March 15th so this is a great week for a party around here.
Let your hair down, kick off your shoes, relax and listen to some hot jazz. Can I get you anything? How do you like your coffee? With a drop of orange cointreau? Or just a beer and some Lay’s chips? I can make a really good cosmopolitan. Or would you just prefer champagne?
How about…..
A Flaming Lamborghini!!
Ingredients:
1 shot of Bailey Irish Cream
2 shots of Galliano
1 shot of Blue Curacao
1 shot of Sambuca
1.5 shot of Bacardi 15
1 seperate glass of brandy for pouring
In my humble party experience, Lamborghini’s the strongest drink I know in history of clubbers. PLEASE drink with caution!!!
Directions: Mix the Baileys, Blue Curacao, Sambuca, Bacardi shots in the brandy snifter, pour the Galliano into the Cocktail glass, and contents of the shots goes into the Galliano. Then light the brandy, while it is burning pour it over the upside down shotglass (you can’t see the flames galore in photo, but it’s there), and watch the pretty fire spread into the martini glass. Insert the straw and sip it up.
ME? Well… I work as a piano teacher and work-from-home graphic artist for an interior design firm. Work is the place where I’m discreet and calm. But with you here, let’s PARTY!! I just got back from attending a musical theatre last Saturday… I’m still thinking of the can-can!! I enjoy traveling… and I’ve traveled quite a bit. I’ve moved from the Big Apple to North Hollywood a.k.a. Toronto, and then flew over the Atlantic ocean to work here in Speedy Hong Kong. It’s been non-stop Go Go GO… so forgive me if I rant on too much.
I’m in the mood for chinkling of the glass and laughter. Don’t you just love this blog party?
If you can only meet 3 of my blog buddies tonight, you mustgo over to Fabricated Goddess - she interviewed me and please THANK HER for me. I’ll totally comment love you back! And don’t forget my other awesome blog buddies Karen, and Stacey who are both party-participants!
Help yourself to some of my blog roll (Mind you, some of them can be obscene and graphic, do not over feed).
Hope you enjoy dropping by - do come by again! I can’t wait to visit your blog soon!
I’ve been completely wrapped up with work - I got more students now… and have been trying to stay on top of schedules and administrative stuff. I’m also talking to a music school, they want me to develop and teach their multiple student classes… gotta keep juggling. I think I can give up my graphics projects and stay focused on my music-education business… this is my business afterall. The fun part for me these days is planning for my trip to Japan in April… and a 3 or 4 day visit to Thailand in May…
Oh, and my birthday dinner party this Saturday. Yes, I’m getting older, again. (Thanks for reminding me, Mitchell.)
As much as I enjoy making money doing what I do, and getting to make my own schedules, there are downfalls to running this little home business of mine.
1. I work non-stop. When I’m not teaching, I’m doing administrations or make phonecalls. When I’m not doing courtesy work, I think about my work 24-7-365. My brain is always locked onto everything related to my work.
2. Income can be unstable and fluctuates wildly around holidays (kids going on vacation, and I’m left broke in the city scraping to make ends meet - Chinese New Year was pretty rough for me).
3. I can stay locked in my apartment and not step foot outside for days on end. Often most of my hours are locked in front of my computer adjusting schedules and balancing the book.
4. My home/office is not as impressively presentable as I wish:
(a) despite my daily attempts to clean, clean, and clean. We downsized from the last bigger apartment and don’t have room for a lot of the stuff that we own. It’s been a battle every day shoving shoes in the kitchen and covering my door-less kitchen with a silk curtain, etc.
(b) The building is old - compensates with a spacious flat, but I haven’t invested any money on chic furnitures, and still using hand-me-downs from my dad and my sister. And don’t even get me started with the suffocating waterhole that we call the bathroom.
My mum was an editor for economics page for a newspaper years ago. She’s no-nonsense when it comes to incomes. Oh yes, let’s not forget she’s Chinese, the old school way. Bless her heart, she wants my life to be comfortable and perfect to her standards and tried on numerous occasions to convince me to get a job job. Her reasons are:
1. I don’t get any insurance coverage.
2. My income is unpredictable and unstable.
3. I’m not investing any part of my earnings into any retirement fundings.
I’m missing out on the social occasions and techno-gadgets that companies provide.
I rebuttled. In monetary terms, I get paid a ton more by the hour. I don’t have to put up with a devilish boss. I can buy my own med insurance. I will choose to put my money into assets, so much that I won’t need retirement funds. I can have 2 hour lunch with my friends now that I don’t have to rush back to the office to make face time.
What moves you about your job? How do you base your career decisions on?
More money (higher monthly salary) would get more of you?
Fixed or Flexible hours? Do you care?
Work from home or a fancy office space?
More Vacation days?
Better childcare, gym membership, free food?
Techno goodies? swanky cellphones? Blackberry?
Good thing I don’t work on Sundays, cause I’m really hungover right now - I feel like I’m back in high school.
Last night, thanks to a piano student of mine taking me to an amateur (a.k.a. artists who work for free) production of the musical “Anything Goes”. Those who don’t love musicals are merely ignorants of a GOOD one done properly (it’s so easy to caricaturize a musical and ruin it all). Musical Theatre is my noodle salads and Sunday picnics, light-hearted stories with belt-out showtunes, the tappity tap-dance, the 1930s hairdo, and the sailors’ outfits. “Anything Goes” is running till Tuesday if you happen to be in Hong Kong, tickets are currently sold for HK$250 each (US$32) — all proceeds go directly to the orchestra.
I have to say, for amateurs - this production is “Pretty Good”. With exception of a boring and complacent leading actress, the rest of cast was adorably dedicated to a passionate level with a good dose of choreography and lively stage design. I particularly enjoy their decision to move the orchestra up onto the stage instead of the traditional way where they hide below the stage. It was an intelligent solution to lack of space, and as a result, the band added class and life to the platform. It was a very realistic scene as well since most of the story took place in a transatlantic ship where the musicians are part of the crew.
The group tap dancing could use more rehearsals and some can use more one-on-one instructions, but the dynamic duo tappers had raised the bar for Hong Kong Broadway musicals. The choice of the musical was fitting - with talents from all walks making silly jokes and contagious dancing and happy ending. I was surprised at the racial (Chinese) jokes they made thorough the show, but hey - silly is as silly does.
The show makes me wanna booze and dance and party like the 1930s.
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So for rest of the night, I boozed and danced and partied the 2008 way.
After the show, we went to a nearby jazz bar with the cast. When I walked into the bar, I completely forgot I was in Hong Kong. It reminds me of those smoky nightclubs up in west-end Manhattan with all the fixings - pretty gay boys with big blue eyes who wear makeup better than I do, gorgeous latino man with his gelled up curly hair sparkling in the dim light, sultry women straight from the cover of 1920’s Vogue laughing and smiling, atmosphered by talented jazz musicians you’ll only get to hear them perform by chance.
After my first couple of drinks, off I cabbed to Causeway Bay and joined a spray-painting farewell party. (I’d show you the pictures of these graffitis, but it wouldn’t be legal.) Then we zipped back to Central and hit the Gecko bar - a very popular hole in the wall hang out in Soho.
Even as my feet are dancing to the techno-tunes - I still have the show tune running in my head - “A-NY-THING GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOES~!”
Tony Award winning performance of the great and fabulous Patti Lupone with the revival cast doing their big number in Lincoln Center’s 1987 production.
It’s gorgeous day out. I meant to go out for a stroll but ended up spring-cleaning my apartment… I took a huge bundle to the dry cleaners, couple of bags to the laundromat, stuffed my suitcases with my winter coats and blankets.
Note to self: Bill Lil Sis for her Wedding dresses (3 of them, one wedding gown, one evening gown, and a Chinese qi-pao) for dry-cleaning. They are darn expensive.
Now all I need is a brand new thick white heavy curtains to brighten up the apartment, and a brand new bathroom.
Since I was cleaning, I briefly cleaned out the fridge - and pulled out a big bar of Cadbury’s Milk Chocolate. I always keep couple of plain chocolate bars in the fridge in case I feel like having my usual chocolate-covered strawberries (when they’re in season, of course). Then I remembered I bought a bag of dried strawberries the other week from City Super…
Remembering the decadent Harry and David milk-chocolate covered dried strawberries, I threw the bar of milk chocolate into the double boiler and melted it. I ended up dipping all the dried strawberries, plus some lemon cookies my students gave me for Chinese New Year.
I keep forgetting, I prefer dark chocolate because I find milk chocolate way too sweet.
Good thing the lemon cookies weren’t very sweet to begin with. Maybe I should make my own lemon cookies super tart, chewy, and hand-dipped with milk chocolate to balance it out. That could work.
Note to self: Make Chewy lemon cookies and dip with milk-chocolate - test the market, name it Killer Cookies, package them and sell asap.
So while I’m thinking of dessert recipes… next thing I know - I felt like cooking again.
Wednesdays are a big travel day for me - not for fun. I go around Hong Kong Island to different neighborhoods so little children can have their piano lessons at the comfort of their homes. Last couple of weeks, I’ve been grabbing greasy sandwiches and pastries to eat on the go. The chinese pastries here are delicious - but I realized they’re made with lard. No wonder I feel so ugh.
So I’m gonna make myself something nice today.
I love english muffins, esp when they’re toasted, with a little butter… oh yum. Besides, sliced bread go soggy quickly. I’ve got eggs, a nice small wheel of camembert in the fridge, and some white mushrooms fresh from the supermarket yesterday.
Normally I’d go for the poached eggs when it’s a relaxing weekend brunch, but no — this one’s gotta be on-the-go, so I’m opting for scrambled eggs. Pack myself a little baby carrots on the side, and I think I’m good.
And since it’s been awhile since I’ve posted any recipes on my blog… here’s the little recipe for Egg Muffin with Mushroom Camembert:
Grill or toast the english muffin slices lightly first, a mushroom each, then lay the camembert slices on top. Put in the oven. Quickly scramble the eggs and fry them up in a lightly oiled pan… when the cheese is melting, take the muffins out of the oven, and place scrambled eggs on top of the toasts. Finish off with the muffin tops. Pack a few sticks of baby carrots and a bottle of water.
Now if I could only just find a little garden to sit and eat in peace.
Neil had summoned up the greatest interview idea - I was one of the first 75 bloggers (out of 400! 500 bloggers now!!) to start up the party. I’m very, very fortunate to have gotten Michelle a.k.a. Fabricated Goddess to interview me. She’s incredibly lovely, thoughtful, and (lucky for me) a very talented writer. She asked the most inquisitive questions that rocks my world (and you all know that doesn’t happen very often.)
So grateful that I waited patiently for over 2 weeks for her to recover from her pneumonia (poor thing!) and caring for her entire family of sick people (where’s the greatest mom trophy again?) before she’s fit to okay the interview and finally… it’s a GO!! Her questions are in bold.
******** Michelle: So, as a single girl, living in Hong Kong, I’d imagine you could have a lot of fun and get in a lot of ‘trouble’….what kinds of things do you like to do? Is Hong Kong a good place to be a hip young blogger chick? Give all of us un-hip types a taste of what it’s like to be you.
CK: Who? Me? Hip? HA HA HA HA HA HA!! - (wipe tears from eyes) Nah… I’m new to the Hong Kong dating scene - I’ve been working like a maniac having a meltdown, moving for the 3rd time in two years, traveling, and settling down… Dating totally took the backseat in my life for a while there. Besides, I haven’t been enthusiastic because most men I’ve met are suits. They are really, really nice guys, but I haven’t made any connections. So there hasn’t been any fireworks.
I’ll love to travel with someone. Even just walk around the city and see new things - going to see new shows, poetry reading, new bar, anything. A long walk in a big park can be fun with the right person. I imagine it’ll be really romantic to go camping and look at the stars. The trouble is Hong Kong’s a small global village in a massive gossip city. I have history here that I don’t know about - I’m connected to my dad’s old network (we’re both classical musicians — he taught here, and now I’m doing similar) so there are a lot of people who know about me but I don’t know about them. That’s why I have to play very carefully, so my “fun life” is suffering.
Blogworld Darling Hilly had mentioned I should just keep blogging, and the boyfriend will show up — and I’d love that, but I wonder if it’s possible… I mean, I love North American men, but I’m (physically) in Hong Kong. I’ve given up on having a long distance relationship a while back - it’s tough enough for people who live cities apart, let alone separated by an ocean.
But who knows? I’m dorkishly hopeful when it comes to love. Everyone wants to believe in love.
Michelle: You had recent post about the at myth that all Asian girls are skinny and how there is a lot of pressure to be size zero. You walked out of a diet clinic (and let me say that by the stats you give, you are NOT FAT!) because you refused to accept their opinion of you and your body. I love that you did that! As someone who has struggled in the past with body image I was cheering you on as I read that. How do you remain positive about your healthy body image in such a negative body image culture? And even though it’s clear that you totally embrace the body you have, do you ever give in to the pressure?
CK: Thanks, Michelle! (Sniff!) I love you! “Fat” has such a powerfully derogatory meaning, doesn’t it?
Singing is really good for you. Music is my outlet to release the stress. I can see this stereotype and family pressure happening to a lot of asian girls, which explains a high percentile of asian teenage girls with bulimia and anorexia due to this body image issue. A lot of them are trained since infancy, and having people treat you a certain way can really kill a girl. It’s a vicious cycle. Thankfully I’ve never developed bulimia nor anorexia.
I have bad days (which got me feeling like I just got beaten up and left to die), I remind myself “Sexiness is half what you got, and half attitude” and try to walk a little firmer. I also have a great shoe collection - stilettos do wonders to a woman’s body . Fashion can be very powerful if you know how to utilize it.
I (also) have great friends. I hang out with women who actua
Then we jetted back to Causeway Bay for some serious Chinese bar experience via drinking games and kareoke.
We finished off with Ladies’ Night Wednesday at the hot spot in Wanchai –Â 
