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??