Number 8 Typhoon Signal

When people in different countries hear the word hurricane or typhoon, fear strikes the hearts of locals alike. Not in Hong Kong. In fact, typhoon is a welcomed word in Hong Kong mainly because of the possibility of the government's hoisting of the Number 8 Typhoon Signal warning, which means that strong devastating winds will hit the city signalling what locals crave for: an immediate seizure of school sessions, financial markets, and most private/public sector operations. Yes, that's right. Once the number 8 signal is hoisted, everyone gets to go home early!

Since the early colonial days, the government has installed a typhoon warning system to warn of locals to take shelter to protect from typhoons formed in the South China Sea. Back in those days, the buildings and infrastructure were not as sturdy to that of today's, therefore, falling debris frequently occurs, causing injuries and sometimes death to pedestrians below.

A numerical system had been installed which help indicate the severity of the winds which was revised several times during its history. The system today uses the 1, 3, 8, 9, 10 signal; the larger the number, the more severe the winds.

In a typical manner, if a typhoon was heading Hong Kong's way, the Hong Kong observatory would usually begin issuing a 1 or 3 signal. These are usually standby warnings to warn people that strong wind and rain will hit the city. At this time, a great anticipation and excitement hits the air, similar to children anticipating opening their Christmas presents on Christmas morning.  

The television monitors will all have this signal at the top corner of the screens no matter what the programming. Lobbies in buildings will put up signs signalling that this number has been hoisted by the Hong Kong observatory. In offices across the city, work productivity and efficiency automatically drops by 50% as everyone's mind is now preoccupied with the million dollar question: "Will they hoist the number 8?" SMS messaging and What's App Messaging spikes up between friends and families. All asking the same questions and sharing the latest news.

As the proximity of the typhoon nears the urban areas in Hong Kong, the observatory would then make the decision of hoisting a larger signal. This decision is made by announcing so and so time, the number 8 will be hoisted. The radio is normally the first to announce this news and, usually, whoever among the colleagues is the first to announce the news to fellow colleagues, that person is usually considered a hero in the office as everyone greets this news with joy. The news then spreads like wild fire through telephone, SMS, What's App messaging. Everyone making plans of when they will leave the office.

 

Sometimes the 8 will be hoisted, but sometimes, if the typhoon weakens or begins to blow into another direction away from Hong Kong, then there would be no need to hoist an 8 or above. In contrary to the above, when this news first hits, a great disappointment sets in. Cursing the government or harsh remarks made towards rich tycoons is often heard at different corners of the office, insinuating that they had somehow played a hand in pressuring the Hong Kong Observatory to keep work going in the city so that business can continue.

Typhoons in Hong Kong really make Hong Kong a unique and special place to be in. There is really not a place in the world where a severe tropical storm is so welcomed in a city. As everyone is always busy in this city that never sleeps, the number 8 typhoon signal provides an opportunity for families to get together in the safety and comfort of their homes and spend time together, watching the latest typhoon update on the news and occasionally looking out the window and remarking "Wow, it's crazy out there!" Typhoons usually last over the night and everything is back to normal the next day. Work and school continues and life goes on. The excitement relinquishes until the next typhoon warning comes again...

It is interesting how eight is used as eight is a lucky number for the Chinese because when spoken, eight rhymes with "fa" which means fortune. Everyone wants to have fortune and in the case of typhoon signals, everyone wants the 8.

Number 8 typhoon signs in lobbies of buildings

Typhoon updates



An Explanation to the Ridiculous State of HK Politics

In other countries, politics is about debating and negotiating, but in Hong Kong, when the Pan-Democrats (the group considered as the de-facto opposition party in Legco) are involved, it is more about protesting and rejecting anything proposed by the Special Administrative Government. For outsiders, this is difficult to comprehend because at the end of the day, nothing is accomplished except for the wasting of time and tax payer's money. 

To understand the current state of affairs in Hong Kong politics, one must have an understanding of the psyche of a segment of the current generation of Hong Kongers whose views are represented by the Pan-Democrats. This current group, mostly in the 40-60s age range, represent a second generation of Hong Kongers whom were born and bred in British Colonial Hong Kong. 

Casting aside the original locals "tudi", who settled in Hong Kong before the British arrived, the majority of first generation Hong Kongers are refugees from mainland China. Most had illegally crossed the border or swam through shark-infested waters to Colonial Hong Kong to look for a better life, and more importantly flee from the reins of the China Communist Party--which at that time was under the rule of Mao Zedong. There is obviously a great disdain for Communist China or "Red China"--as it was referred to in the Days of Mao--if one was to risk their lives or risk imprisonment this way.

 

As historians and documents have emerged over the years, China under Mao had not been a pleasant place to live. Starvation, forced labor camps, false imprisonment, confiscation of property and rights were rampant during that time, and all was exemplified during the Great Leap Forward and climaxed during the Cultural Revolution. These details had not emerged to the outside world until around the past two decades when China began opening up its doors. However, one group of people outside of China were aware of what was going on--the refugees that fled to Hong Kong. It was this group who had experienced and seen for themselves during their time on the mainland, and also continued hearing stories being passed back to them from family and friends when they settled in Hong Kong.

It is this unwavering hatred for Mao China that these refugees hold in their heart and passed on to their children. Everything considered evil is equated to the Chinese Communist Party; the CCP cannot be trusted; the CCP are devils in disguise. 

The children of these refugees, the second generation Hong Kongers whom make up much of society today, grew up in an environment where they were preached day-in and day-out by their parents that the CCP cannot be trusted. The CCP are devils in disguise. It is no wonder that they are unable to slip out of this mentality to this date, even though the CCP is led by a totally different group of leaders whom have totally transformed the social, political, and economical ideology of the party to uproot a country out of starvation and poverty and become the second largest economy in the world in a span of the years from which Mao left power. This impressive accomplishment or what many observers deem "economic miracle" had never been witnessed in the history of the world.

The Chinese Communist Party is only by name. Mao Zedong would probably turn in his grave if he was to see what his party has become in the twenty-first century.

But to this second generation group of Hong Kongers, the CCP's achievements of the past 30 plus years do not mean anything. They are still firm in their belief passed on to them by their parents, that the CCP has not changed. Modern China is still Mao China, and with the unfortunate incident in Tiananmen Square in 1989, they were all too happy to use as proof that what their parents preached to them was the truth, no matter how biased or "westernized" their source had been.

It is a sad state in current Hong Kong politics as the Pan-Democrats hold some power in Legco and therefore, the state of confrontation and hatred towards the CCP will continue to obstruct the progress of Hong Kong society. Making decisions guided by hatred and distrust will never benefit anyone. They have already turned Hong Kong politics into a laughing stock through their continual protests and filibustering and it is under their leadership that, unfortunately, is breeding a third generation of Hong Kong youths, who are guided by hate and distrust leading to actions that are increasingly radical and violent. This group of radical youths blindly believe that they are the future of Hong Kong, but what they don't realize is that the real future of Hong Kong are those that are willing to work with the CCP. Those that embrace the relationship with China.

This group of second and third generation Hong Kongers show that the power of what is learnt in their youths cannot be overlooked. "Brainwash" is a term they conveniently use to attack others that have differing views from them; but one should re-examine who is the group that has been brainwashed? Who is the group that refuses to look at the facts and the present?

Like the youth in the Cultural Revolution, the misguided radical youths that make up some of HK's third generation is already a lost generation. They naively believe that the fight is for "democracy" and "universal suffrage", abstract terms they learnt in school and heard on television. They throw away their future not knowing that they had been used as pawns for the ultimate agenda of eternal struggle and ultimate overthrow of the CCP. They have morphed into a radical group that now, the Pan-Democrats no longer can control.

If we are to transform the state of affairs in Hong Kong politics and lead to a harmonious and progressive society, the key is National Education.

The HKSAR made a huge mistake by shelving the National Education program in Hong Kong and should restart drafting laws to implement it as soon as possible. Every modern country in the world has their own National Education. Hong Kong, being part of China, needs to follow.  




Lost Generation

Anti-Mainland Protests

Fight for "Democracy"

Caged Homes

Some people in Hong Kong say that you can never go wrong with purchasing property. Due to the lack of space in Hong Kong and the ever growing population, eventually, the value of the property will rise.

Hong Kong's richest have made their fortunes from property. With the continual migration of mainlanders coming to Hong Kong each year and the return of many overseas Chinese, Hong Kong has become increasingly over-populated; and land and property will continue to play a dominating role in the Hong Kong economy. Since Hong Kong's tax system is a low income and capital tax rate system, the Hong Kong government's main stream of revenue is selling its most precious commodity, land. The government therefore must make a killing on all their land sales and as a result, only the largest property developers with the deepest pockets will have the resources to purchase land. The land, once developed into residential, office, or retail buildings, are then sold to the market at even higher premiums.

Like many capitalistic societies, the wealth gap between the rich and poor is omnipresent. It is especially prevalent in Hong Kong where only money can buy space. Many middle class families cannot afford a home in Hong Kong, so you can imagine the plight of the poor. Hong Kong has subsidized public housing for the poor, but the queue for them are long; and for those that are still waiting, many have settled living in a caged home.

A caged home is a metal cage the size of a single bed where people sleep in and keep their few belongings in. At night, they would lock themselves in these cages to prevent theft. Caged homes are located at Hong Kong's most impoverished neighborhoods and are often rented to the elderly at sums of around HK$1,500/month. (not a small amount for the amount of space you are actually occupying). There will be several caged homes in a room and the space in the room are shared by all the occupants.

When one enters one of these premises, it is difficult not to be overwhelmed by the depressing notion that these people are living waiting to die, similar to animals in a wet market waiting their turn to be slaughtered and sold.

Hong Kong's Youth

Hong Kong's youth, nowadays, have chosen to take to the streets to protest as a means to gain attention (and a brief moment of fame) upon themselves, rather than rely on brains and hard work through academics, business, or arts.

The most popular issue of protest these days is universal suffrage, but other issues such as high property prices, poverty, pollution are all favorite issues. As long as it can be blamed on the government or big businesses, Hong Kong's youth will show up in protests. 

My problem with this is not that they should not care for these issues, but it is the prevalent attitude in Hong Kong-- to firstly put blame on others rather than choosing to do something more constructive for the betterment of society. It is easy to wave a sign, lie on the streets, and hurl obscenties to officials (the more extreme, the better your chances are those actions will be noticed and shown on the nightly news). It is not so easy to start a business or volunteer your time and money.

The protests gives the youth a sense of importance in society; a sense of accomplishment which they are unable--or too lazy-- to obtain through academics, entrepreneurship, or other laborious achievements.

If you start a business, you actually have to use your brain and rely on yourself and your finances. There is risk and in the event of failure, there is no one to blame but yourself. Hong Kong's youth would rather choose an easier way to gain fame. To blame will get you fame.

Unfortunately, many adults choose to encourage the toddlers to protest; thinking in their own distorted way that it is good for them at an early age to take part in showing concern for society's problems--the earlier the better. Hence, it is not uncommon to see young children who have just learnt to walk to take part in any one of Hong Kong's weekly protests.

Today's youth simply do not have enough life experience to step out and criticize and blame others--many of whom are professionals and experts in that particular issue. The youth should go out and try new things, see more things, read more, and go through more ups and downs of life before they make a judgement on something. If they still feel ungratified, then go out to protest.

Instead, their early lesson in life is that if things don't go their way, they should blame, blame, and blame.

http://youtu.be/iNtwPlIiRro

Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year, the most celebrated holiday for the Chinese and many Asian countries, is all the holidays packed into one. First and foremost, it is a time for family gathering when families gather together for the most important (and most extravagant) meals of the year; a time for gift giving and passing out lucky red pocket money when visiting family and friends; a time for fun and festivities in the form of flower markets, lion dances, and firecrackers; and a time for optimism as a new lunar year begins and people hope for health, luck, and prosperity.

In today's China, Chinese New Year takes on increased importance due to the phenomenon of the migrant worker--a population of China's youth whom have left their rural homes in the countryside and moved to southern and eastern coastal cities in search of work with higher wages. This group of workers are the backbone of China's economic machine as a majority of them work in China's factories that produce exports to the rest of the world and helped propel China's economy in the last thirty plus years to the world's second largest economy.

All year they are separated from their loved ones, and Chinese New Year is the one time where they make the exodus back home to visit family and friends. It is the most joyous time for the migrant workers when they are reunited with parents and/or children and it is also the most joyous time for those left behind as well, as all year long they look forward to the 1-2 weeks where their loved ones return home. It is not surprising that everyone place great importance to this time of year and must make the journey back--regardless of expense and hardships in the form of climate or travelling conditions.

China's economic miracle has come in the expense of breaking a sacred Chinese ideal of family, and Chinese New Year is the glue that reunites families together.

Unlike some holidays where the anticipation build up lasts for months, but the actual holiday comes and pasts after one day; festivities for Chinese New Year lasts for 1-2 weeks after the New Year's day. The days after New Year's day are spent visiting the homes of family and friends, exchanging gifts, worshipping in temples, and of course alot of eating. The holiday is never a let down and always lives up to the billing.

With China's growing importance and overseas Chinese scattered in all corners of the world, perhaps one day we will see Chinese New Year holiday as an official holiday in the west. It is truly a unique part of China's long and rich history and an inherent part of Chinese culture that should be shared to all who values the importance of family, friends, optimism, and thanksgiving.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Worcestershire sauce

I wonder if the two chemists from Worcester, England,  John Wheely Lea and William Henry Perrins (better known as Lea and Perrins) had in mind their famous Worcestershire sauce would be a regular staple in Chinese cuisine.

If you go in any Chinese restaurant or Chinese household in the world, chances are there will be some brand of Worcestershire sauce found in the kitchens. 

In Chinese dim sum, the deep fried spring roll and steamed beef ball are two most notable dishes that are served with a small round plate of Worcestershire sauce. Some people like me cannot imagine eating those two dishes without drowning each with Worcestershire sauce.

I am not sure when and how this practice of dipping spring rolls and beef balls in Worcestershire sauce started; but if I was to guess, it would probably be in Hong Kong or perhaps some Chinatown restaurant overseas where English influence and thus, English products are found. I doubt that it first started in China.

I can imagine it already; some waiter who doesn’t speak a word of English mistaken the bottle of Worcestershire sauce as soy sauce and served it with a plate of beef ball or spring roll. The customer, without a second thought, stabs the beef ball, dips it in the sauce, and shoves it in his already greasy mouth. Expecting a salty taste of the beef ball, his taste buds are instead greeted with a sour, tangy taste of Worcestershire sauce. His initial reaction would have been anger and discontent as if he had been tricked into eating something against his will. Just when he is about to scold the waiter, he takes another second to savor the taste and upon second thought, he concludes the taste to be quite unique. He inquires about the sauce and in due time, he begins to confidently introduce this combination to family and friends as if it was a secret stock tip that would make them a fortune. Quickly, word of this combination spreads to other restaurants in the city and then to Chinatowns all over the world until to this date, every restaurant that serves dim sum is required to stock up on this sauce.

Personally, I love Worcestershire sauce; I find it to be such a versatile sauce—used to spice up meats, pastas, salads, sauces, and cocktails. I really cannot imagine another sauce that is used for so many varieties of food. I myself use it for all of the above as well as anything which I deem needs more flavoring. Rather than pulling out the soy sauce or salt, I always grab the Worcestershire sauce instead.

I really wonder what the reaction of Lea and Perrins would be if you went to their little laboratory in Worcester and told them that the little secret sauce they were testing would be a necessity for Chinese cuisine recipes all over the world. I am pretty sure that the Chinese market was the last market they had in mind when they created this sauce—but thank goodness they did. Who would have thought Chinese spring rolls and Worcestershire sauce would be a match made in heaven.   

                                steamed beefball w/worcestershire sauce

Entrepreneural Spirit

It is sad how the local property market has sapped the entrepreneurial spirit in a city famous for sprouting out businesses. Hong Kong people’s reputation for taking risks and starting business is global.  Every corner of the world, there are Hong Kong businessmen from all eras who set up their own businesses and worked diligently to provide for their families in their newly adopted land. If one is willing to take a risk and work hard, there is nothing that cannot be achieved.

That is why it is such a pity to see that the spirit has been extinguished from these entrepreneurs’ homeland.  Nowadays, everyone shuns the idea of starting your own business. Even if you have a grand idea and manage to make a profit, the majority of that profit will be used to pay the rent of your shop. The rent increase (which will eventually come—the only question is by how much) will dry up all profits that you have and eventually leave you in the red.
Landlords take advantage of your business’s profitability.  If they see that business is good, they will increase you even more to try to play on your reluctance to move because they know you will not quit a profitable business. It is a vicious cycle and at a time where rising costs and inflation is omnipresent, it is a losing battle. Why bother put your life’s savings into something which will ultimately founder.

All businesses require time for its product and reputation to mature. Starting a business is a long term plan, but due to the normal 2 year contract system that is prevalent in the Hong Kong property market, businesses simply do not have the time to develop and mature.  Even if you decide to continue your business after the first rental increase, you may not survive the second or third increase. Some choose to move shop, but again a new location requires time for the business to be developed. Once the new location’s contract is due and a rent increase is looming, business owners are again faced with the decision to close down or relocate.
Buying your own property is out of the question for most aspiring entrepreneurs. The selling costs are astronomical; and even if you have that kind of resource, it would be more prudent to rent out the property rather than use it to start a business. It's just a safer bet.

Businesses that have been established for a long time have the luxury of an established reputation and thus die-hard, loyal customers. Famous local restaurants are a good example. Because of their reputation, customers do not mind paying that extra sum just to say they’ve been to that restaurant and tried their famous dish. As a result, we have fifty dollar wonton noodles or five hundred dollar barbecue goose. These businesses have the luxury of charging more to customers, but new businesses – not a chance.  

I am not a big fan of blaming the government. I don’t believe the government is solely responsible for the high property price problem in Hong Kong; there are many outside factors such as growing mainland wealth and hot money from overseas. However, this problem is the source to almost all Hong Kong’s economic and social problems. It is stifling Hong Kong’s economic growth and depressing the spirit of would-be entrepreneurs. If we can somehow free this spirit once again, Hong Kong will see better days ahead.

 

 

Chopsticks

Growing up in a Chinese household, learning to use chopsticks is equivalent to learning to walk and talk. When you are old enough to eat adult food and do not require being fed anymore, you will need to learn to use this utensil and typically, your elders will teach you the proper way of holding the chopsticks. The technique will be reinforced several times in your childhood and one day, you will bequeath this wisdom to the next generation.

Although you may have seen variant forms of holding chopsticks—and each form may have been sufficient in doing the job—there is actually one de facto form which is acknowledged as the correct form by all. Other versions are improper and those that use different versions will be the first to admit that it is not the correct way to hold them.

From my observations, you can tell a person’s character by how he/she holds their chopsticks—but this only applies to people who grew up using chopsticks, and not foreigners who learnt to use them later on in life.

I find that people who hold their chopsticks incorrectly are often stubborn people. The art of chopstick holding is not rocket science, but it is taught early in age and can be adjusted any time. The majority of people whom I am acquainted to who hold their chopsticks in an unorthodox way are capable of holding them the proper way as well, but those that refuse to correct themselves to the proper form (even though they’ve had a lifetime to change) are often stubborn by nature. These people are often uncompromising people in their ideals and habits in all factions of life. Euphemistically, you can say that they have strong ideals and refuse to appease their critics.

If this sounds like nonsense, just take a family member for example and compare their chopstick holding habits to their character. More often than not, this assessment is quite accurate. I find it to be a useful tool to learn more about someone you are not closely acquainted to.   

Correct form

 

                                                           Stubborn dude


                                                          

East Indian Security Guard

Due to Hong Kong’s history as a British colonial outpost and the ties Britain had with India, there are many East Indians that have settled in Hong Kong.  Some had been successful in setting up businesses, but the majority has settled for blue collar work in Hong Kong society

In many local banks, it is common to see an East Indian security guard armed with a rifle standing at the main entrance of the bank.

I always find myself feeling sorry for the poor fellow having to stand there like a guard dog for hours at end. Out of pity, I usually give them a nod when I enter or leave the bank.

It is apparent that the bank has hired this man with the sole purpose of scaring off potential robbers by dressing him up in a security guard uniform and arming him with a weapon. However, my problem is that this guard is totally for appearance only and if put in the moment of peril, he will not stand a chance of survival. 

The East Indian security guard who I would typically see does not resemble anything like a highly trained specialist in fire arms with expertise in protecting the innocent public. Instead, he is usually an out-of- shape, middle-aged man, who is just trying to make ends meet with this minimum wage paying job.

I get the feeling that the bank’s management feels that just because he is East Indian, your typical Chinese robber will harbor 19^th century xenophobia upon the sight of his larger than average physical size (compared to the average Chinese) and his abundance of facial hair, thus abandon the thought of robbing the bank.

What’s more, the bank’s management has armed this man with a weapon which looks like a hunting rifle which you use to hunt elk. The type of rifle which takes about two minutes to load up for one huge shot—totally unsuitable for use in defending against an armed robbery. If you are to arm him, at least have the decency to arm him with a modern weapon!

He does not have any back-up at the premises working alongside him, nor is he wearing a bullet proof vest. (I am sure of this because you can see their chest hairs sprout out at the top of their buttoned up shirts; and in the summer time, I can see their perspiration through the shirt which frankly, looks more like a bowling shirt with stitched patches on the sides).

If someone was to plan an armed robbery at the bank, I can tell you that this poor East Indian will undoubtedly be the first casualty as he is the only other person with a weapon, thereby, poses the only immediate threat to the robbers’ task on hand.  Afterwards, it is just a matter of settling the unarmed customers and retrieving the money from the staff at a timely manner. (We’ve all seen the typical bank robber movies).

It is safe to say that the East Indian security guard would be a sitting duck. Before he can load up his heavy rifle, he’d be taken out from the start. He is a Rottweiler without teeth.

It would be better not to arm him with a rifle as robbers would not find him such a threat and would not find it so urgent to remove him out of the picture firstly. Regrettably, the bank’s management unabashedly did not give much thought to this man’s post or his prospects of coming out alive should the unfortunate case of a robbery occurs. He is being paid a very low wage, but is in fact putting his life in jeopardy.

Although his job is probably quite simple and stress free 99% of the time, I am saddened to think of the one-time possibility of his needing to fire his rifle. 

 

Diaoyu Islands

The dispute between China and Japan over the Diaoyu Islands, or what the Japanese refer to as the Senkaku Islands, seems a little absurd provided the amount of damage the political tension is doing to China and Japan’s economy.  

No one has really paid attention to these islands until it was discovered a few decades ago that there may be huge oil reserves under the sea near the islands. From that point on, the two sides' quarrel over the islands remained unabated. China, with its growing thirst for oil to feed its economy, and Japan, with its historical need to import oil, both laid claim to this once abandoned child. Taiwan, in the meantime has laid claim as well, but due to the juggernaut statures of these two economic powerhouses, its claim has mostly been ignored as squeals in the background.   

Currently, the islands are administered by Japan due to treaties formed after WW2 in which the United States played a key role in implementing.

As of late, the political climate between the two countries has intensified due to the Japanese government's decision to nationalize the islands.

We hear of news reports of how Japanese companies are scaling back their factory operations in China resulting in a setback to Japanese output as well as Chinese employment. Boycotts of Japanese goods in China and a drop of tourism to Japan from Chinese nationals have dealt a severe blow to the Japanese economy. China has also felt the effects as Japan, after all, is China’s third largest trading partner.

The scene of Chinese fishing boats crashing onto the shores of the islands followed by a Chinese fisherman storming out onto the shores and being chased by Japanese coast guards has been a common site in the nightly news.  The Chinese fisherman will be seen sticking a Chinese flag onto the island only to be instantly tackled by one Japanese guard with another pulling the flag out a few seconds after it had been stuck in. That scene reminds me of how enthusiastic Chinese violently crowd in Buddhist temples on Chinese New Year in order to be the first to stick their incense into the main alter, only to have their incense pulled out by temple staff shortly after it had been stuck in. For someone who is not religious like me, it seemed quite meaningless—not to mention quite hilarious.

Deng Xiao Ping, famous for his pragmatism, had a good suggestion to the Islands’ dispute. He told his counterparts in Japan to let future generations deal with it; their concerns should be at improving present relations.

Seeing that this generation is incapable of resolving the matter, I offer another solution—why not nuke the islands off the face of the earth?

The islands, in retrospect, are useless; it is not like you can build luxury resorts on the islands or build a Disneyland like on Lantau Island in Hong Kong. After all, it is the oil that both countries aspire for. The islands represent the oil; but if there were no islands, there would, in essence, be nothing concrete for each country to quarrel for. The oil is under the sea and will remain there until actual rigging begins.  

If each want to lay claim to the oil, then let each country’s ships sail aimlessly around the waters, waving their country’s flags. The Japanese do not need guards patrolling the island and the adventurous Chinese fishermen do not have a destination to sail to for them to stick their flags in.

It would be a test of wills, and after sailing in loops for a few months or years, perhaps both countries will realize the futility, and come to the table to discuss how to co-operatively excavate the oil from the sea instead.



Chinese fighting to plant their insence on Chinese New Year

Searching for Sugar Man

I saw a segment on 60 Minutes the other day about an Oscar nominated documentary of a Mexican-American musician in Detroit who had struggled all his life in establishing his music career in America, only to find out that he is in fact a music icon, bigger than The Beatles, half way across the world in South Africa. The musician’s name is Rodriguez and the documentary is called “Searching for Sugar Man” (Sugar Man is the name of one of his songs). The director of this film is a young, down-to-earth Swede, Malik Bendjelloul. 

The story of Rodriguez is inspiring in so many fronts. He lived almost all of his life in poverty, working in laborious jobs, yet continued his passion for music throughout his life. His dedication to his art was obviously not in search of riches, but like any artist, he craved for an audience—someone to appreciate the lyrics he has written in his songs, someone to hum along to the tunes he has created. This recognition was never recieved in his homeland, where his records were huge disappointments. Unknowingly, however, his music was an enormous hit in South Africa. A generation of South Africans grew up to his music and all awhile, Rodriguez was unaware of this; until finally - when a ridiculous rumor spread in South Africa that Rodriguez had died burning himself live in a concert - some South African fans took it upon themselves to investigate the truth which brought them to Detroit, where they met the man himself and then revealed to him his celebrity status in South Africa. Still, he remained unknown in America until finally the release of the documentary when at the time, he was at the ripe old age of 70. 

Amidst this fascinating story of Rodriguez, is the story of the director of the documentary and his travails in making this documentary. Bendjelloul was searching for a story to make a film on and came across Rodriquez’s story which was too perfect to pass up. He spent four years of his young life making this documentary and in the words of 60 Minutes, “while making a documentary of a poor man, he himself became a poor man”. He had spent all his money working on his project and desperately needed to find a job to support himself. Consequently, he did not finish his project and had to delay it for some time before finally completing it.

In this day and age, when the only objective to making music or films are for a quick profit, and when anyone on the streets call themselves an artist, Rodriguez’s and Bendjelloul’s stories put those people in shame. Their dedication to their craft stems from their passion for their art, creating something that is special and unique in this world; and to this spirit and dedication, we must applaud. Their stories remind us that true artists are not in search of fame and fortune.

Vincent Van Gogh did not receive much accolade until after his death—it is nice to see that Rodriguez and Bendjelloul’s talents and perseverance did not come unnoticed.

Chinese Dog



Friendly neighborhood Tang gou

In Asia, and in China and Hong Kong in particular, there are a species of dogs that we locals refer to as “Tang gou” (唐狗). Literally, this means Chinese dog. Tang is referring to the Tang Dynasty, a period in imperial China where many historians viewed China to be at its utmost prominence: culturally, economically, and politically. Hence as time passed, "Tang" has become a synonym for Chinese. For example, Chinatown or Chinese people can be literally referred in Chinese as “Tang People Street” or “Tang people”.

When referring to Tang gou or Chinese dogs, I am not referring to the pure bred species of dogs originating from China, such as the Shih Tzu or Chow Chow. On the contrary, the Tang gous are mixed-bred dogs and therefore come in all shapes and sizes.  

The ones found in Hong Kong and south China are usually of short hair as they have evolved to cope with the hot, humid weather in southern China. Unfortunately, these dogs, because of their not-so-beautiful appearance, are neglected in society.  Many are kept as pets, like their purebred counterparts, but will rarely be given the same loving treatment as the purebred species.

Often, the Tang gous in Hong Kong are seen wandering the streets alone or in groups of two or three.  Just like any member in society, the tang gous have done well in integrating into neighborhoods of Hong Kong - adjusting to life in a bustling, urban jungle with crowds of people, cars, and buildings. In fact, the Tang gous in my area are so intelligent that they are capable of reading the pedestrian lights and thus, able to distinguish between when to cross the street and when to wait. They are not granted much attention however, and these impressive animals go on their way looking for food sometimes, or just hanging out.

If you are unsure if a dog is a Tang gou, one of the first signs to tell is that these dogs are on the streets unaccompanied by its owner. Rarely will you ever see a pure bred dog, kept as a beloved pet, wander around independently on its own. Moreover, if you do not recognize what breed of dog it is, chances are, it is some sort of mixed breed Tang gou.
                           
The sad part of Tang gous is that although very smart, they are not as pretty as the pure breeds and therefore are treated very poorly in society. They are viewed as dirty, infested animals and even if an owner keeps one as a pet, they are rarely permitted to enter the home.  Whereas purebreeds enjoy the status as a family member, with two meals a day and occasional trims and baths, the Tang gous are rarely given such treatment. They are fed scraps (for those that have owners) and since they do not enter the home, baths are not a necessity. Many, which do not have a home, are often seen scrounging around garbage bins in search of scraps to fill their bellies.

The plight of the Tang gou extends to them being the source for Chinese cuisine. Although Hong Kong has banned the slaughtering and eating of dog meat, this practice is still common in China and some parts of Asia. When you hear of Dog meat in Chinese cuisine, it is the Tang gous that are being slaughtered for, not your neighbor's friendly Golden Retriever.

In your typical dog slaughterhouse, a group of Tang gous will be rounded up in a caged area and then their brains are mercilessly bashed by men with bats before being shaved and roasted. The scene is extremely cruel and horrifying. 

Like all dogs, Tang gous are smart, loyal, and friendly. They, like the pure breeds, are also man’s best friend, and to be treated in this manner is a travesty. It is time we do more to recognize their suffering and help this group of dogs.

Warning: Below video may be disturbing to some audience

The Dark Knight

He is a mysterious figure who is seldom seen in public. Aside from his closest confidantes, no one really knows exactly what type of man he is and what he does in his idle time; his private life is a mystery, his public life a show. He is a controversial figure—beloved by many—but at the same time seen by his adversaries as a notorious villain. This man is none other than the leader of the hermit state North Korea—Kim Jong-un.

Kim Jong-un gives us the impression of a larger-than-life man; a figure resembling more of a character in the pages of a comic book rather than a leader of a nation in the twenty-first century. His past and present life is obscure to say the least, and he and his people prefer to keep it that way. Everything about him is secretive, much like his government and his country. Hence, he consumes the fascination of the world.

He carefully picks the time and place to be seen. His appearances are always brief, but spectacular; and when he does reveal himself, he is always in his full body black attire—almost costume-like: his slicked jet-black hair, his perfectly tailored black Mao suit, his full length black trench coat, and his black leather gloves. Similar to the impression you get each time you step in the theater to watch the latest installment of the Dark Knight franchise, every time Kim steps out, his appearance is more striking than ever. 

Like the Dark Knight, Kim has been left to inherit an empire. Like the Dark Knight, he’s got an unbelievable amount of resources at his disposal. And Like the Dark Knight, he is constantly trying to develop the most advanced weapons to use on and defeat his enemies.

And above all, like the Dark Knight, he is a character created by others. He is fictitious.

                              Latest image of the Dark Knight

Gui Ling Gao

I live in Tsuen Wan. It’s an area in the New Territories which is considered more affordable than areas in Hong Kong Island or Kowloon. The Hong Kong government decided to develop Tsuen Wan as a new town settlement in the 1960s to relieve the growing population in Hong Kong and Kowloon. Tsuen Wan began as an industrial area consisting of factories, but today has developed into a residential and commercial area similar to Hong Kong Island and Kowloon.

When you go to different areas in Hong Kong, you can expect different prices for similar products due to the location of the shop. The difference in price is mainly attributable to the difference in rent of that area.

I don’t know when this started, but I noticed that the price of coffee at MacDonald’s is different, depending on which area you buy it at. The price of their set meals are usually the same as consumers tend to remember those prices since they are purchased so often. Also, since the signs for the set meals make up most of the signboards, it would be pretty easy for someone to notice the discrepancy between two shops should they list different prices.

A coffee, bought a la carte, is different however. If you buy a coffee from a Tsuen Wan MacDonald’s, it would be a bit cheaper than one that is bought at a MacDonald’s located in Causeway Bay. I am used to purchasing at the Tsuen Wan MacDonald’s price; so of course, I was not pleased when I first discovered that I had to pay more for the exact same product when I purchased it at a different location. The difference is very subtle, but when this discovery dawns upon you, you find yourself shaking your head and thinking, that’s bullshit.  

I am aware that MacDonald’s have different prices for different cities and don’t get me wrong, I am grateful that their prices in Hong Kong are probably one of the cheapest in the world; but to have different prices in the same city, that to me does not seem right. Surely you cannot justify the difference in prices because the level of service and food quality of the Causeway Bay MacDonald’s is better than that of Tsuen Wan’s. It is safe to say that MacDonald’s service and taste is fairly consistent in every corner of the earth.

It is not just MacDonald’s, but some product prices differ enormously when purchased in different areas. One time I went to eat a “Gui Ling Gao” (龜苓膏) in Causeway Bay. For those of you that are wondering what a Gui Ling Gao is, it is a black colored herbal jelly made from the shell of a turtle and a mixture of variant Chinese herbal medicines. In Chinese medicine, the Gui Ling Gao is said to help relieve inner heat from the body. Inner heat is formed when you ingest such foods such as deep fried foods or hot pots. 

The Gui Ling Gao can be purchased at Chinese herbal tea shops.  I am sure most people who have visited Hong Kong have seen one of these shops as they are located everywhere in Hong Kong and stick out like a sore thumb when compared to nearby shops in the neighborhood. Chinese herbal tea shops are usually very old in style. When you set foot in one, you kind of feel like being transported back in time to the Qing Dynasty.  There is a counter at the front of the shop with bowls of black herbal tea, covered by a transparent piece of glass on top, ready to be consumed by people passing by. At the back, are tables for those who wish to sit down and relax while enjoying their teas or Gui Ling Gaos. 

So normally, I would eat a Gui Ling Gao at Tsuen Wan, where the price is around HK$30, but this time since I had just finished a heavy “heat filled” meal at Causeway Bay, I decided to relieve some of that heat by treating myself to the Turtle jelly at a nearby herbal tea shop. I rushed in and without looking at the price ordered a Gui Ling Gao and then started scooping it up upon arrival to my table.

Taking a mere three minutes to finish, I got up, pulled a fifty dollar bill out of my wallet, and handed it over to the staff at the pay counter. She took my fifty dollar bill and for about 3 seconds the two of us was staring at each other like a Mexican standoff, each of us waiting for the other to make a move—I was waiting for her to give me my change and her for me to take out more money.

 

Finally, when she said “Sixty Dollars”, it dawned upon me that I was not in Tsuen Wan anymore. I replied “Oh!” and then embarrassingly pulled out a ten and handed it over to her. I quickly walked out shaking my head, thinking that’s bullshit.

 

                                  Chinese Herbal tea shop

                  $60 Gui Ling Gao, where is this world coming to??  

                                           

Taiwan

I cannot say I know much about Taiwanese people. I do not have any close friends from Taiwan and I’ve only been to Taiwan a few times for vacation.

One time, I was in a quiet hot springs area in Taipei and as my wife and my parents decided to take a rest by visiting an ice cream shop on the side of the road, I decided I would skip the ice cream and take a peek at the teapot shop next door. I did not have any intention to buy anything, but thought I could pass some time and also step away from the scorching Taipei heat and into some air-conditioned facility.  

As I walked in and the cool chill of the air condition greeted my sweaty back, I saw a man in his 60s sitting at the side of a table meticulously painting a teapot using a very fine ink pen. Hearing the rings of the door chimes, he quickly looked my way and gave me a warm, friendly “hello and welcome” while heading towards the radio to turn off the sound.  He walked towards me and warmly told me to feel free to look around. 

Normally if I was in Hong Kong and was greeted this way in a shop, I would begin to feel a slight discomfort as the salesperson would begin to follow you around the shop making comments on each piece of item you are looking at and asking you to try it on should it be a piece of clothing. Most of the time, I would have lost complete interest in the items in the shop and would already be planning my exit strategy by making a quick tour around the shop and then ending with a polite “thank you” while walking out the door. Oh how I wished these so-called salespeople can leave me alone in peace to look at the items of my interest. 

However, after the warm greeting from this Taiwanese man, he surprisingly stepped back a bit and allowed me to wander to every corner of his shop. His shop was made mostly of teapots - half the teapots imported from factories from mainland China and half were pots painted by him and his wife. Along the walls of his quiet shop were photos of him and many foreign tourists who I imagined were his customers or perhaps his students.  

I began commenting on some of the items and he replied me always with a smile. He told me that he and his wife painted most of the pots themselves.  I countered by telling him how talented they were and how beautiful their crafts were.  I spoke more than usual as I wanted to use this opportunity to practice my mandarin and very soon the two of us were talking and laughing like two old friends.

Soon after, the man’s wife came out from the back of the shop and her husband instructed her to go prepare some tea for me. My wife and parents meanwhile finished their ice cream and walked into the shop to find me sitting and chatting away with the couple. I introduced my family to them and his wife quickly served up three more tea cups.

The couple was incredibly hospitable and at no point did they actually try selling something to me, not that there would have been anything wrong with that.  I myself had actually forgotten that I was in this man’s shop and his business is selling tea pots. Gradually as the rest of my family began to participate in the conversation, I took more notice of some of the imported teapots and grabbed a few to show my father. We both took interest in a couple of pots and as the conversations continued, we found ourselves pouring water into the pots and testing how well they poured out.   I finally inquired about the price of the pots and then swiftly told the man that I will purchase them as if it was some kind of huge purchase that would save his business.

Usually I would bargain a little bit when purchasing this type of item, but this time, I did not want to hurt the established friendly atmosphere with talk of money, and besides, my family and I have drank their tea and occupied about 1 hour of their time.

The man then went to the back to look for some boxes to pack the teapots in; his wife also went back to refill some tea to serve us. As the two of them were isolated at the back room, I noticed at that point, the man was giving his wife some instructions in a very serious manner. His wife was equally serious in listening to her husband’s instructions. I could not hear what they were saying, but they were indeed very business-like.

As the two walked back out, the husband with two boxes in hand and the wife with a pot of hot water, their hospitable smiles were once again visible on their faces. The man packed up the teapots and I paid him his money. We finished our tea and my family and I walked out happily from his shop with the couple seeing us off with a hospitable farewell.

As we walked out, my wife turned to me and told me how Taiwanese people sure know how to do business. I was not sure what she was talking about firstly, but then she told me how she noticed how the couple was all business-like when they were at the back of the room.  At that moment, I realized that they probably weren’t as interested in our conversation as I thought they were. I cannot say they were snubbing us by pretending to be interested, but I realized that that was their way of doing business. I must admit this form of sales is quite impressive.

                                                  
                                                The purchase that saved his business

Busy, Busy

When you speak to locals, a majority of the time they will tell you that they are very busy. Sure, Hong Kong is a work-obsessed society and I understand many people work in companies where the culture is to work overtime, but a lot of cases, people who are not actually very busy will still try to give the impression to others that they are. This, to me, is quite annoying. 

I use to have a colleague who sits in the cubicle next to me and all day I would hear him telling others how busy he is. Other colleagues call him on the internal line and he tells them how busy he is today and he’ll get to the matter when he has time. His girlfriend calls his mobile and he tells her how hectic his day is. Each day around 2:05pm right after lunch, he will declare how busy his afternoon is going to be. When I look over, he’s usually just playing with his smartphone.

My wife has a friend who is like this as well. When we bump into her in the streets, the first thing she says is not “how are you?” or “where are you heading off to?” The first thing you hear from her is how busy she is and then she goes off to tell you where she’s been, what she’s going to do, and what she hasn’t done yet. She was recently unemployed, yet her first comment after this revelation is how it’s the first time in 15 years she can rest… she does not have children and her previous job is at the post office...

I am not saying people without children and who work at the post office are not busy, but listening to her, I got the impression that she felt insecure about being unemployed and she wanted to reinforce to us that it was by choice. Afterwards, she found another job and she was back to her same busy self. Whenever my wife calls her, she would say how busy she was and that she will call her back later.

At first, I never really took notice of this behavior.  I would just view it at face value remarking to myself that this person is probably quite busy. But when nine out of ten people do this, I start wondering. I have a full time job; I have responsibilities too, but I always have time to speak on the phone when someone calls me. How come I am never as busy as these people?

After pondering this for a while, I realize it probably isn’t about me, but it’s about them and Hong Kong culture in general. You see to them, being busy equates to being important. If you are busy at work, it means that the company values you. If you have spare time at work, it can mean two things. One, you do not have many responsibilities at the company and therefore can be made redundant; two, there is a chance your boss will give you some work to fill out the time.  You do not want either one.  

So instead, why not just let people know you are busy. Hell, let the whole world know! This means you are an important person at the company and you will not get extra work. Perfect!

This response has become embedded into Hong Kongers’ daily dialogue. It is so natural that Hong Kongers say it without giving it a second thought. Like everything in Hong Kong, it is about money. A perception of importance means job security. Job security means the paychecks keep coming.  

I’m busy. Gotta go…

 

Mini Bus

I was walking with my wife in Tsim Sha Tsui the other day and while we were waiting for the pedestrian light to change, a mainland lady dragging a mid-sized luggage asks me in Mandarin how to get to Mong Kok.  I can tell she was not familiar with Hong Kong as any local or frequent visitors of HK would be able to tell you the various methods of moving between these two local shopping landmarks.  Similar to 99% of people who offer directions, I began to offer her directions to the nearest MTR station. As I began to mutter the first few words of  “di tie” (MTR in mandarin), a middle-aged local woman standing behind us, or what we like to call “see lai” in Cantonese to refer to married middle aged housewives interrupts me and shouts out in Cantonese “Take the Minibus!” My initial reaction was how rude of this lady to interrupt me.  But seeing how this lady was so eager to provide instructions, I decided to let her give the directions while giving my wife a look of annoyance to her rudeness.

For those of you who are not familiar with the mini bus system in Hong Kong, I can tell you it is definitely not a form of transportation for people unfamiliar with Hong Kong. The mini bus is basically exactly what it is, a mini bus that carries around 20 passengers and goes circling around various routes picking up and dropping off passengers along the way. The tricky part of taking the mini bus is that it does not stop at every bus stop along the route. To get picked up, you must stand at a correct stop and wave to the driver signalling you want to get picked up. To get dropped off, you must shout out where you want to get dropped off just prior to arriving to that stop. What’s more, many of the allowed stops are not even your typical bus stop with a sign stating the bus number. The next stop can be the MacDonald’s up front or simply the next corner, but keep in mind, these stops need to be part of the regular stops of the route. You cannot just request to be dropped off anywhere. If it is not part of the regular route, the driver will notify you in an annoyed voice that you cannot stop there or blatantly just ignore you. Also, I have to point out that the mini bus drivers are probably the most impatient people you will ever meet in the world. If you don’t believe me, try to step foot into a Hong Kong mini bus. The second the last passenger steps foot on the bus, the door behind violently swings closed whilst, the driver’s foot is hammered onto the gas pedal.

So getting back to the instructions the see lai was giving the mainland lady. As she began to try to give instructions in her horrid mandarin, I thought to myself how impractical these instructions were.  Firstly, because of the difficulties I have just mentioned and secondly, even if she was able to find the bus stop and get on to the correct bus, she would no doubt receive some annoyed looks or even comments from the driver or some of the fellow passengers about the baggage she would be dragging on the already rushed and crowded bus.  As I continued to overhear the see lai struggle with her half Cantonese, half Mandarin instructions, I could tell she was beginning to realize it was not such an easy task to give directions to someone who has never taken a mini bus. As she continued to speak, I sensed her growing disinterest as the pedestrian light began to change and her focus shifts to continuing on her destination. Once we all reached the other end of the street and began to go our own ways, I noted the conversation between the two ladies had ended.  I am not sure if the mainland lady was going to follow up on the instructions of the local, but I looked back to the mainland lady with a smile, pointed to the right, and said “the nearest MTR station is that way. “

               Your typical mini bus stop... in the middle of nowhere