Tuesday, June 22, 2004
I reached TP on the first day and saw many students crowded around the bustop and spilling into every part of TP looking lost and forlorn in this unfamiliar new environment. Just like how i felt when I was in the first year. Ah..too much harry potter over the week. I could see my imaginary self shifting uncomfortably in my seat on my first few days in school, looking at seniors going about their business. We were escorted into LTs and brief about our lessons, helping us to slowly adjust to a new system. I use to feel the canteens were battle grounds for no reason. I didn't feel very comfortable with so many people and i had to handle my own lunch by myself as I hadn't make any acquaintance yet. But things turn for the better as acquaintances become good friends whom I share similiar dreams,passions and train of thought. All I ever need was time...
Dreams never come true
11:19 pm |
Didn't realize it was Fathers' Day on Sunday. Only reminded of it when the television told a touching story of a girl who had her father to thank for, saving her life by donating part of his kidney. It dawned on me that I didn't got anything or say anything to express my gratitute to my father on this day. I don't really know why......its as if my enthusiastic spirit had wean over years. I fondly remember I would make a kiddish Fathers' Day card for my father as he smiled at my kind gesture. Its those innocence that brought a smile upon those lips. As we come to a age, there are some things that we stop doing and feel weird expressing. Is this strange?
Dreams never come true
11:00 pm |
Sunday, June 20, 2004
Streets of HK
Streets of HK
Streets of HK
Famous Wife's Biscuit
Famous chinese sausages
Wing Wah,Famous for chinese sausages and mooncakes
竹笙北菇小唐菜,狗子鸭煲,Sesame chicken
Police Van
In front of Golden Bauhinia
Near HK Convention and Exhibition, the place oftened featured in TVB dramas
Temple near Repulse Bay
Temple near Repulse Bay
Temple near Repulse Bay
Fortune Deity
Jumbo Restaurant
Jumbo Restaurant
Jumbo Restaurant
Vegetarian lunch at Po Lin Monastery
Big Buddha in Po Lin Monastery
Sholin monk from China
Big Buddha in Po Lin Monastery
Dreams never come true
9:05 pm |
Saturday, June 19, 2004
Sorry about the delay of my HK account, been writing drafts for some time….Here is the long waited account…Use Unicode(UTF-8) to view
HK trip is nearing but was not least excited till my heart was racing or maybe that was a week ago and not the day before. I started packing my clothes and necessities into the pink Qoo luggage I bought during the Qoo road show. There was lots of displeasure over this luggage with my parents. I feel really like a small girl having to report to them about my every movement and purchase ands it’s exasperating. I know they are concern and do not want me to get hurt and what ever they say is for our own good. Blah blah blah…I just can’t help feeling annoyed at times and whenever you state your point and they say you’re rude and do not respect the elders. What is this? Argh.. Why did I mention all this? I just want to get out all my frustrations. I shouldn’t be dwelling on unhappy incidents, so let’s go back to the HK trip.
21/5/04
I pulled Qoo companion while waited for my aunt at Changi Airport Terminal 1 check in counter 8. My luggage was really light and the counter staff was “envious” and commented my luggage being pretty. This trip to HK by Cathy Pacific came at a steal as its S$445(included airport tax) for hotel stay and air tickets together with a free half day city tour included. I was on CX710 flight to HK at 8.05 am and expected arrival of 12pm. Around 4h plane flight to occupy, I look forward at the tiny screen for amusement. After much choosing, I selected Cold Mountain starring Nicole Kidman because its 1 of Oscar nominated shows. Halfway down the show, naked ladies can be seen and was surprised it’s not censored. It could be too used to censored movies by stringent censorship board, the king of snips in Singapore, haha.. But there’s nothing to gawk as fat ladies appear only in a scene and it’s rated as R. My first RA movie at 19 onboard a flight…haha…next one will be the one I bought from HK…lolz.. The story was quite heart warming as the woman starring Nicole Kidman brace all dangers and obstacles to wait for the return of a young soldier send out for war. The soldier (starring Jude Law) also suffered but perseveres to return to his beloved. For in depth synopsis, go to http://www.coldmountainmovie.com/story/story.html. Even though this movie had no fantastic computer graphics to boost, story telling is earnest and heart wrenching.
After the plane landed on HK International airport around 1pm, the first thing I bought was TVB Weekly and Monday before we hurtled towards the tour buses to check into our respective hotels. There were about 30 people in each of the 3 buses. The tour guide clearly states the hotels they are heading and 3 aunties can get on the wrong coach. By the time they alight, the other 2 coaches had left leaving them stranded at the airport. I can’t imagine how they are going to solve their problem. Hmm, better care for our own first. It was a long bus ride to Kowloon to drop off passengers at 2 hotels. Next stop was Empire Hotel, HK on HK Island. We were 1 of the first to get down and roll our luggage towards the check in counter and my aunt register for a safe to keep our passports as well as some money. By the time we finished, there was a long queue of people who were with us on the bus. I was enlighten at the way my aunt does things quick and efficient. This is understandable as my aunt has worked in HK for a period of time before.
We dropped off our entire luggage and went to complete some errands in Central. We filled our bellies with “ha gao” kway teow and fishball kway teow along with a plate of China lettuce with oyster sauce at a place call 皇面. The place was bustling with lots of activity, with this, my aunt dropped me another tip that eateries with no customers meant the food served are probably not palatable. There are lots of neon coloured cards pasted on the walls depicting their specialties. It took some effort to figure out some but scratched my head at others. The “ha gao” (prawn dumplings) are “mo ta ding”! Later we went to General Post Office to play for first day cover subscription and bought 2 first day covers, 1 featuring HK attractions and the other commemorating the new HK$10 plastic note designed by Chinese I suppose which my aunt commented it as too complicated and look like hell money. =.=’’ Plus we went to the only UOB bank in HK to change currency. WE walked through 2 streets of street peddlers selling wares from clothes to cds’. After all that walking, the time stretched to 6.30pm and headed back to the hotel by tram. The tram was unique to HK which runs on electricity. Its double decker tram that runs on the tracks in the middle of the road. We stood in a tram shelter along Hennessy Road, space enough for 1 line of passengers. For a distance, tram heading Hennessy Road stopped in front of us and we boarded the tram from behind and squeezed in with every else on board. There were 2 rows of seats and small passageway for 1 to 2 enough to block the way. There are many types of transport that can be differentiated between the HK and Singapore immediately. Spotting trams, air conditioned buses, mini vans, MTR which is our version of MRT and red top taxis. The roads are congested with lots of vehicles and can watch them driving precariously on the road, fearing for my safety but locals nonchalantly jay walk. The roads cross over each other and 1 minute on the highway and the next on the main roads of HK. I find it confusing and lost as to compare to our roads. I was glad we got off pretty soon as it was really cramped during peak hours. Before alighting, I dropped a flat price off HK$2 into the cash box. It’s so cheap at only 45 cents. We walked a few streets to reach our Empire Hotel to wait for my aunt’s HK friend at 7pm.
My aunt introduces me to Uncle Patrick and he brought us to buy HK’s famous confectionary like Wife biscuits, moon cakes and almond cookies. He took us to a nearby branch call Hang Heung along 174 Hennessy Road, famous for its wife’s biscuits. I helped sj buy 2 boxes of 6 cakes. Besides wife’s biscuits, the place offers other cakes like husband cake, lotus seed paste cakes etc. Next stop was Wing Wah at No.1 Steward Road, Wan Chai, selling my mom’s favourite duck liver sausages plus mooncakes that sold all year round unlike in Singapore where its available only during mooncake festival. After all that evening shopping, dinner came next of course. We had no particular place when we happen to walk past a building when immediately 2 ladies in different uniforms came forward and persuade us to follow them up to their respective restaurants located up in this building. One managed to sway us by giving us 10% discount if we dine so we followed her up in a daze to level 4 restaurant that officially open two weeks ago. The name is Louie and Lui Seafood Restaurant located at 4F, Kwan Chart Tower,6 Tonnochy Road, Wan Chai, HK. Since HK’s vegetables available are based on season, the waiter rattled on a list of vegetables in Cantonese which I can’t seem to comprehend. They graciously brought out all the vegetables for me to choose much to the amusement of my aunt. After much selection, I choose 小白菜 with garlic, 青菜菜远 and some chef’s recommendations like sesame chicken, 狗子鸭煲 and 竹笙北菇小唐菜. There was a joke about 狗子鸭煲 dish as duck is cooked and marinated similarly to how they prepare dog’s meat. Patrick joked that duck is used instead of dog because there are less dogs on HK streets. Haha…nervous laughter… Vegetable dishes came out earlier than the meat dishes and they tasted sweet and crunchy. I especially love the sesame chicken as the skin is crispy while the meat is tender, a perfect combination that aren’t easy to accomplish. The duck claypot dish wasn’t to my liking but overall had a filling dinner as I can feel my jeans tighten at the waist. This holiday has been sinful, too much food is consumed. I set my golden spoon and took sips of Chinese tea to help digestion. Service was commendable as the waitresses change new clean plates for us which normally occur most often during wedding dinners. All the time I saw a man dressing rather casually in shirt and pants sitting at the next table resting. I thought he was a worker taking a break and a shock awaits me. He is actually the boss of the restaurant! What a surprise! He came over to gain feedback on the quality of the food and was modest at his accomplishments. A young man who own a restaurant serving quality food! Bravo!
After dinner, we took a taxi to Victoria Peak to absorb the night scenery of HK. Along the way, glaring neon lights protrude in many streets; vehicles zooming pass the streets rather quickly as if rushing for time as what the taxi is doing. Just a five minute ride, we reached the mouth of the Peak. We raced into the ticket counter and managed to catch the leaving tram. The ride was quite smooth but there was a force of gravity as we ascend. We headed out to the viewing platform and admire the night scenery as well as enjoy the cool breeze that blew in our direction. I couldn’t help snapping many pictures though I felt my skill still needs lots of improvement. I saw a building that turns red and blue at intervals, that is the building they talked about in the last episode of TVB drama The Trust Of A Lifetime! I can’t help smiling. The weather turned bad slightly when raindrops start pelting us and we hurried indoors. There are some shops selling souvenirs and food which my aunt commented that they have improved since the old days. There was a souvenir shop that attracted my attention, they sold a mini mahjong set with table and quickly snapped it up. How can a tourist go without postcards and photographs hence I bought some. Then I chance upon a machine that churns out souvenir coins that highlight the peak tram and without hesitation inserted HK$10 coins. After my satisfied buy we went back to ground level and boarded an open air double decker bus, from the 2nd level I can see lots of buildings lighted in many colours. It’s a beautiful sight that I’m sure seldom seen in our shores. Before going back to the hotel, we drop off near a street that illegal peddlers call “tak ku” appear at the dead of night. My aunt narrated how these illegal peddlers prowl the streets with their wares. Whenever inspectors came, they quickly cover their wares and ran together with their carts to a remote alley or cover with dust bins or cardboard. By the narration, I can’t stop imagining in my mind their actions. Little did I know that I would be disappointed as three inspectors stood along the street, There wasn’t any choice left but to leave and sat in a 16 seater mini bus. It was an eye opener. My aunt wanted to enquire whether this bus travels along Flectwick Road which is where out hotel is located. The driver retort by saying if we wanted to board his bus, if not, don’t block the entrance aka as preventing him from doing business. After much conversation, the driver replied back yes. We boarded the bus and waited for more passengers to board. From inside the bus, I caught sight of a shuai ge in green with silver tinted shades! Wah…didn’t know policeman can be as shuai as those TVB acors..chuckles. Before long, the bus closes the doors and zooms past the streets like lightning. Sometimes I wonder how they got their license. There isn’t any bell to press but just shout out the street name or some distinct landmark and driver will stop. There’s no proper bus stop for these private mini buses or vans. After such a long day, we finally slept at 2am.
We were entitled to a half city tour in our free and easy package. First stop was at Hoi Tin Harbour Restaurant for dim sum. Dishes include carrot cake, chee cheong fun, crispy dim sum containing meat, shrimp dumpling, cha siew bao and siew mai. Overall it’s satisfactory as some dishes are delicious while others are palatable. According to the tour guide a good dim sum chef must be able to master 3 dishes, shrimp dumpling, cha siew pau and siew mai. It’s no wonder they are the better ones among the rest.
After breakfast, we visited the Golden Bauhinia situated in front of HK Convention and Exhibition Centre. This was the place where HK was officially handed over to China from the previous British colony. As typical tourists, many pictures are captured and we were shooed into our tour bus to our next destination, Repulse Bay. Along this bay is a beach for people to enjoy. Past this beach is a temple that we were going. It’s rumoured that whoever touches the Fortune Deity on the head, hand and money bag with the right hand will experience riches! Wow! I can’t help trying my luck. The temple faces the sea and I’m certain it ensures the safety of the fishermen that dwell the seas.
We were next taken to Aberdeen for a junk ride which my aunt avoided taking by bringing me to take a free ferry ride to Jumbo, one of the swankiest restaurants owned by Macau gambling tycoon’s son. A 3min ride over and a waitress at the reception await us at the entrance, “May I know how many people?” My aunt coolly replied, “We are looking for a friend.” We were allowed through and I thought of looking at the grandeur of the place but unfortunately the place was under renovation. If not the place would be glittering with gold dragons and phoenixes that adorned the pillars and line the walkway. We made out way up the restaurant and towards the emperor’s imperial chair, located at the very end of the restaurant. I hasten my actions and observe the elaborate carvings and become a model beside. Lolz..After the brief photographic opportunity, a wedding couple made their way up to the chair for their wedding photo. We quietly slipped from the place, amused at our rendezvous. Haha..
After so much excitement, we headed towards Po Lin Monastery by taking MTR on the Tung Chung Line to Tung Chung station on Lantau Island. If you are lucky, at certain parts of the journey, backlit displays featuring commercials outside the window can be seen flashing and it looks like 3D. At every stop, the name of the station is announced in 3 languages clearly, Cantonese, mandarin and English as well as lighted blips on the train map to highlight stations you are at and approaching to prevent yourself from getting lost. This is much lacking in Singapore trains. It’s a 30 min ride from Central and bit boring with nothing to do but to stare at the auntie opposite that happens to look back occasionally while my aunt dozed off. We finally reached and quickly make our way to the bus terminal to board a bus that can bring us to the monastery. HK$16 for 1 way which little did I expected it to be a long hour zooming on the road. When we reached the sacred place, it was decorated with many colourful flags in time for the celebration of Buddha’s birthday in the next few days. Not to be missed was to pose at the front of the steps that lead to the Big Buddha! Before we make the ascend up to the 26m Big Buddha, not to be missed was to have vegetarian lunch at a sub temple building. HK$55 per person, accompanied with 3 dishes and 1 soup. 三菜一汤 together with rice. A vegetable soup of carrots, 小白菜 with mushroom, tofu with beans and corns and last of all crispy turnip. It’s a delectable lunch not to be forgotten. After lunch, we made our climb up 200 over steps. The scenery was beautiful at the top as well as a cool breeze blowing towards us due to a valley. As we were enjoying the breeze, sholin monks from China were touring the area too and my aunt coerced one of them to pose for us! Inside the Big Buddha was an exhibition of the life story of Buddha before gaining enlightenment, depicted in graphics. It was an eye opener. Unknowingly, we spend 2 hours at the grounds and time to head back to HK Island.
Without wasting more time, we went to Mongkok, Kowloon, Tung Choi Street where Ladies Market is situated. Teenagers dressing there have their very own style and able to be different from others. And right now in fashion are jeans that have checkered prints sewed at the bum area. The area was packed with shoppers and its no wonder some roads were cordoned off. There were many shops selling sports shoes and sneakers that are my favourite but can’t purchase due to limited funds!! Sad… Some more they have unique Nike shoes with clashing colours. So disappointing….But HK is a shoe haven as every corner along that street has a least a few shoe shops. Then I chanced upon a shop selling coke collectibles as well as Qoo drinks imported from Japan. Plus my all time favourite of collecting food figurines! Can’t help grabbing them! At the Ladies Market, there were large assortments of stalls selling different wares that pile up as high as 2 to 3m and protected by blue canvas sheets. Items that range from women clothing, handbags, scarves, watches, vcds etc. I helped friends to buy shawl, watches and handbags. A good bargaining prowess is needed to slash the cut throat marked up prices. There was much haggling over the price and during which I can’t stop admiring the words exchanged. There was an incident where my aunt caught an eye on a black/white rose shaped necklace and my aunt asked, “How much?” Salesgirl replied, “Missy, you state the price.” My aunt repeated her question. “Missy, you state the price. This necklace is very beautiful and matches any outfit.” Salesgirl dodging the main question. After 5 to 10 mins battle and attempting to walk away she replied, “I give you best price of 180 from 250. very good price and you can’t find else where.” My aunt was still not satisfied and went on haggling further and final price drop to 110. In the end my aunt ends up not buying. After a fierce diplomatic battle for words, my aunt decided not to buy.=.=’ I was puzzled as to why. Later she told me that when the salesgirl can even offer 50% off the marked price, means the cost price of the necklace is not worth a lot! And she didn’t want to pay 110 no matter how alluring the deal is, knowing that they make quite a fair bit at 110. What an insight! This means their items or wares are dirt cheap and they raise the prices by 2 to 3 folds! There was another interesting shopping for imitation branded bags. We came upon a stall displaying pictures of branded handbags like Christian Dior, LV and watches like Rolex, Omega. My friend requested a CD pink bag with white flowers and I took out the picture she passed me and showed it to the people. Immediately, a girl hastens us to follow her to a shophouse nearby. We went up 3 levels and admitted us into an apartment and close the door. She opens another door inside after locking the main door. The room inside is filled with all the branded bags on racks that reach as high as the ceiling. Whole rack of LV bags of various sizes on the right, assorted bags right in front and branded watches. On the left were the latest CD handbags. They picked out the bag that is similar to the picture. According to my friend, this bag design came out not too long ago and so fast in the market. Paid HK$380 for it, a steal compared to the original. My aunt got attracted by the design too and got herself one. But I don’t appreciate these…Lolz..It was a clever way of operating though it’s not full proof. When the police came to confiscate, they cannot seize the goods directly which are hidden somewhere else in a private apartment building unless they plant some “customers”. It lowers possibility of getting caught. Smart! I bought HK dramas too! 3 sets of dramas, Triumph In the Skies, Lady Fan and Square Pegs. Totally delighted. Actual price of HK$388 went down to as low to HK$165 per set. From the packaging, the vcds were meant for mainland china market. So I expected the dialogue to be in mandarin and was confirmed when I watched them back home. What a bummer! I prefer Cantonese…haiz…Another thing that saddens me was that Triumph in the Skies is the second half of the series, not complete set! Ahhh! So sad..By the time we finished the street, its 12 midnight. The streets were still bustling with activity, it’s like nobody sleeps in HK. Next we encounter those illegal vcd and dvd hawkers with carts. As I leaned forward to have a closer look, next minute a short siren sounded and a police van drove pass. The young fella quickly covered the disc with a cloth and was ready to push away. When the police van was not insight, he unfolded the cloth and customers crowded round. The whole process took less than a min. It was a spectacle for me. Lolz. Finally rested for the day at 2am again.
Next morning, we headed for the jade market but still didn’t open yet. Only 2-3 shops were open but couldn’t find the red jade I wanted. Then went mac for breakfast and went back again. A few more open for business and luckily 1 stall sold those blood red jade that looks similar to Chi Xue’s jade pendent! Wee!! Actually its call agate or 玛瑙. The seller was quite nice and gave some discount as after chatting, we found out her daughter-in-law is a Singaporean. After this trip, went back to hotel and waited for the bus to take us to the airport. Back to Changi Airport, my parents and 1st aunt came to welcome us! Such warmth…Overall this trip was fun and enriching. Hope to visit HK again but my bargaining prowess is weak, sure gonna slaughtered..haiz…Now welcome New Zealand!!!
Weeeweeet!! Read from newspaper can travel around the world for S$5000….wahahhaha…air tickets to the 3 areas, USA,Canada 1 area, Europe, Middle East, Africa 2nd area and Asia-Pacific including Australia and New Zealand. Can jet around these areas!! So cool!! I want to try this one day!! May the day come!!!Let’s welcome its arrival!
Dreams never come true
1:04 am |
Friday, June 18, 2004
Dreams never come true
10:17 pm |
Tuesday, June 08, 2004
Excellent site about witchcraft trails in Salem....
http://school.discovery.com/schooladventures/salemwitchtrials
Sudden interest in it because am reading a book about it by Megan Chance, her book Susannah Morrow about a luminous story of love and fear in Salem. People falsely accused for being witches due to many factors like envy,jealousy or being social outcasts in this conservative christian village bound by their righteous beliefs in their religion. Accusers were mainly teenagers who were restless and had pleasure in having people believe in the nonsense, that they claimed to be attacked by spectrals. Superstition can really kill a man......
Dreams never come true
3:33 pm |
Monday, June 07, 2004
4 June was the last day of Lotr Motion Picture Trilogy The Exhibition. I end up going alone because either my friends are not going or had already been. Armed with a bus guide and road directory, i got information bus 197 passes by Science Centre. I kill 30 minute ride with my Nomad MuVo NX mp3 player by my side. When i reached the Science Centre main building, there were lots of screaming children running around. I was lucky they didn't bump into me. The Lotr exhibition was held at the Annex, a building next to Science Centre main building. When i enter, I saw a make shift area where all the Lotr collectibles were sold. I saw many different gold rings that are signature icons of Lotr and well as Arwen's Evenstar being sold between S$140-160. There were many books, figurines, games, sword replicas and many others on sale. I was at first attracted to a 24k gold ring that glows under UV light which is S$70 but dismissed the idea after much consideration. I bought a cheaper alternative at S$15 that came with a box and mini ring besides the replica ring with carvings. Next i came to a glass display that have bookmarks,first day covers and postcards. I can't help buying a set of six postage paid maximum cards with postage stamps for S$20 featuring Frodo,Legolas,Merry and Pippin,Aragon,Gundulf and Gollum.NZ sells this set for NZ$12 and exchange rate is about the same as Australia. Earn my money....ok nevermind I carefully opened the packet at home and to my irritation there are only 5 cards inside and not 6!! Cheated my money!! So angry Gundulf postcard is missing!!! Now i have to hunt down stores to complete the set.....hurphm... Let's forget about this and focus on the exhibition. Strictly no cameras,sketching,video recording are allowed inside. So can only gawd at the beautiful displys. There were many weapons,clothing,armour on display. There were many tv screens at almost every exhibit that allows the public to view for more information during the making as well as insight of the movie. They explained how they make Frodo appear smaller and shorter than Gundulf through false prospective due to the sizes and distances of the subjects/objects from the camera thus fooling the camera or audience. They make several identical weaponary for filming and fighting sequences. Those make from steel appear during the film only not for use while actors use the lighter aluminium weaponry for fighting. I was able to touch and feel some of the swords! There were lots of armour and chainmails of the different races. And of course the clothing of the fellowship as well!! I especially observed Legolas costume far longer than the others and found his belt rather unique and hope i can find a eqivalent soon...haha..not forgetting his bow,arrow and pair of knives. All the costumes in the show were well crafted and individual designs. All praise for the costume design people. Such perfection in the costume that they make their own chainmail that look like medival times by cutting hollow pipes into many rings and linking up as many as 12 million rings individually!! From the narrations of the director and his company of people, lots of work and dedication were put into it and we get to view their wonderful illustration of this whole movie. Its incredible! So for those who had missed it, its such a shame...
Dreams never come true
4:07 pm |
