Quote of the Day (15)

29 May 2010 - Wiilem de Kooning, the famous Dutch-born American painter said "The trouble of being poor is that it takes up all of your time." I guess he was talking from experience and started making beautiful paintings.

Anaconda Bridge

29 May 2010 - Those who know me a bit better know that I like bridges (see my blog about Hong Kong's Stonecutters Bridge). In Amsterdam, we have lots of beautiful bridges too. One of my favorites are the two red bridges connecting the peninsulas of Borneo and Sporenburg in the Eastern Docklands. The bridges are only accessible for pedestrians and cyclists (very Dutch) and span a total of more than 93 meters. The bridges are real works of art with their spectacular shape and bending railings. It looks a bit like snake wrestling in the sky - so some locals call it the Anaconda Bridge..

Gold or Orange?

28 May 2010 - Back in Holland it is impossible to escape the upcoming World Cup. Although the fans traditionally take a "wait & see" approach (Dutch fans had their hearts broken too many times and are traumatized by penalty shoot-outs), one could feel the excitement building up. There is a lot of orange in the streets, in the window shops and in peoples' hearts. The strange thing is that there is a common wish that it could happen for the boys in orange this year, but people do not really, really , really believe in it. It is like the nation is holding the team back. However, coach Van Marwijk is confident, the players say they go for gold, so what would happen if the fans think a bit more positively?

Plain food

28 May 2010 - I am not sure if it is appropriate or not to complain about plane food, but I am just going to talk about it anyway. One of the highlights of the intercontinental flight is the moment that the passengers are ... eh ... fed. Trolley dolly's serve cat-food from the oven - although the meal is seldomly really hot. If you are a lucky there is a choice, like today when I was offered the choice between 'chicken (with rice)' or 'chicken (with noodles)'. Great! The passengers should not be too demanding though, like when I once asked what kind of fish was served and the stewardess replied that "she did not catch the fish herself". KLM is now testing the possibility to offer a choice of four menu's on their flights. Sounds good, but one has to pay the price of EUR 15 to order a meal of choice. Hmmmppfff, what's next? I heard that Ryan Air already charges passengers for a visit to the toilet ....

I AMsterdam

28 May 2010 - I am in my second home: Amsterdam. I could complain about the grey weather (7 degreees on arrival!), the grumpy faces, the dirty streets or the poor service in the shops, but the truth is that I am happy to be here. This weekend the annual Art Amsterdam Fair is organized. The fair promotes affordable art, and I would love to have a look, as it has become one of the main "art events" in Europe (other fairs are organized in Basel, Brussels and Cologne). The success of the event has tremendously improved since the organization changed to the "small is beautiful" concept and banned all pottery, jewelry, glass and etno-graphics from the fair. Last year 24,000 visitors came to see the 130 represented galleries. Despite financial crisis, the low euro and the  struggling economy records it is expected that the visitors' record will be broken this year. However, I read that last year only 25% of the visitors paid the entry fee of EUR 20. All others got in on free tickets through their connections. Who said "guangxi" is only a Chinese concept?

Melting Pot

27 May 2010 - Associated Press reports that the growth of interracial marriages is slowing down among US-born Asians. Recent influxes of immigrants give them more ethnically similar partners to choose from, according to demographers. About 8% of US marriages are mixed race. Broken down by race, about 40% of US-born Asians now marry whites. The numbers reflect in part an internal struggle that Asians say they feel navigating two cultural worlds - the US and their parents' homeland. "My parents have prejudice, but they have accepted my (white) husband," says Hai Nguyen. I wonder if there are any similar figures available for Hong Kong. Who knows?

Clouds

27 May 2010 - The good thing about flying is that you can be with your head (and the rest of it) in the clouds. I love the moment when the plane surfaces from the clouds. It is always stunning to look down on the white woolen carpet of millions frozen crystals below. The sky is always blue, blue, blue and the sun is so much closer. I remember flying in a small plane in Sudan (the pilot said is was the former plane of the Tanzanian President or the plane of the former Tanzanian President - I forget), when we did a hurdle race from cloud to cloud. I felt like being in Star Wars chasing clouds. Maybe that was the moment when I lost my fear of flying, because I realized one can actually steer the plane. But I still don't like it when the plane flies through higher clouds and the plane rocks me like a baby in the cradle.

Brazil vs. Argentina

27 May 2010 - The World Cup Football will start in South Africa in a few weeks. So how about this piece of news? The Daily Telegraph reported that tough battles were fought between heavily armed Brazil and Argentina football fans, leaving 30 people injured. But the fights did not erupts in Rio or Buenos Aires, but in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Police were forced to fire a volley of shots to control rioters after two neighboring villages clashed over their passion for the South American football rivals. Six policemen were also injured in the incident. I wonder what will happen if the two teams draw each other in South Africa.

Disco Bay

27 May 2010 - OK, here we go. One of the weirdest places in Hong Kong is Discovery Bay (or DB or Disco Bay). It is this artificial haven of tranquility on Lantau island, where people drive around in golf course buggies and the first morning sherry is consumed before 10h30 am. It is like The Truman Show (remember that movie?), but then worse. So, to be clear: I dont like Disco Bay. However, coming Sunday Disco Bay will host the city's biggest independent arts-and-crafts market to date. The more than 50 vendors will come from Hong Kong's creative community selling fine jewelry, ceramics, eco-friendly stationary, artwork, vintage collectables, organic jams and more. I will miss the feast, but those of you interested to break the lazy Sunday, please visit www.handmadehongkong.com for details.

Matter of Trust

26 May 2010 - Most will follow the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. A San Fancisco based non profit organization Matter of Trust started a campaign to collect human hair and pet fur, as they understood hair was used to stop the oil. In response, hundreds of beauticians and barbershops all over the US swept the floors of their salons, wrapped the hair in plastic bags and shipped them off to warehouses in the affected area. However, BP and the US coastguard have now issued a statement saying they are not using hair to sop up the oil., and do not plan to do so. Matter of Trust said the hair was there if it was needed, but it was asking new participants to wait for alerts before sending more hair to the Gulf. Bottom-line, never trust an organziation calling itself Matter of Trust?

Playground

26 May 2010 - London has opened its first exercise playground for older people, with specially designed equipment to help the city's ageing baby-boomers stay fit. Organizers say people lined up at central London's Hyde park to use the equipment, which includes a sit-up bench, a cross trainer, and a stationary bicycle. The playground is aimed at people over 60, although the gentle exercise also helps patients recovering from operations. Interestingly, this was news in London, but in Hong Kong there are lots of elderly doing their exercises in the parks every morning - year after year. Nothing new about it.

Not for Santa

26 May 2010 - The local Government of the Japanese town of Isesaki has banned its male employees from growing beards. "We have decided  to ban our workers from growing a beard as we have received complaints saying they are unpleasant.", said a Government official. This civil facial hair ban is believed to be the first of its kind in Japan. It seems that a lot of women have recently applied for government jobs in Isesaki. And Santa is also reported to skip the place.

Boycott Iphone!

25 May 2010 - A planned worldwide campaign to boycott Apple's newest Iphone begins in Hong Kong today amid anger over working conditions at mainland factories where parts of the sought after gadget is produced. A protest will be staged outside the office of Foxconn, a Taiwanese contract manufacturer for Apple. Eight Chinese Foxconn workers committed suicide in recent months. The firm says the suicides have nothing to do with working conditions, but questions remain about the way the firm runs its workers dormitory - which are compared to a military camp. Protests are also aimed at another Taiwan-owned Apple supplier, United Win in Suzhou. Workers told the China Daily that people were dying from long-term exposure to a toxic chemical used in the factory to clean the panels.

Frogs and Ducks

24 May 2010 - This may be something to consider. According to some Fung Shui masters, placing a pair of crystal ducks in the southwest of your house will guarantee that a suitable partner will show up within a matter of weeks. Alternatively, placing a frog with a coin protruding from its mouth at your front door will ensure a sudden and marked improvement in your financial status. Common sense tells me this is not traditional Fung Shui, but hey ... who cares. However, the same Fung Shui masters also say that Fung Shui is only one of three influences over our lives. The other two being destiny (or luck) and effort. So nothing for nothing.

Hawaii in Hong Kong

24 May 2010 - I received an invitation for a fancy-dress party: Hawaii style. To come straight to the point: I really don't like fancy-dress parties. They are only suitable for ten years' olds or for the mentally retarded. I really wonder why people have to wear an outfit that looks ridiculous on them, and they would normally not be seen dead in. Once at the party venue, it may be nice to see everybody has made an effort, and it may lead to some hopeless hysterical laughs, but in the end I will just feel miserable. And the worse thing is that my picture in funny dress may end up on Facebook or another social media network. The good news is that I will be out of town on the party-date. Honestly!

Sarkozy Effect

24 May 2010 - There is a rumor going around that French President Nicolas Sarkozy went for some nip/tuck work before his marriage to former supermodel Carla Bruni. The simple aim was to look better and to narrow the age gap of 13 years.While there no evidence to confirm the rumor, it did spark an increase an increase in middle-aged French men going for plastic surgery. And in the USA swimming legend Mark Spitz advertised Botox, while actor Michael Douglas admitted to a facelift. So should we be pleased with this drinking from the Fountain of Youth? I think I am more a traditionalist and feel it is a challenge to age gracefully. Nobody is perfect. But the image of the rough and tough guy who does not shower or shave for a week is no longer in vogue.

Glacier Express

24 May 2010 - I saw this picture and it looked really exciting. This train, called The Glacier Express, is a 170 miles line between Zermatt, just a few miles from the Matterhorn, to St. Moritz, all through the Swiss Oberland region. Panoramic windows allow a spectacular view on the glaciers and snowy mountains, as well as the valleys, forests and moutain streams in the lower elevations. Also, the lines has 291 bridges and 91 tunnels. So, I guess I will have to go to Switzerland soon...

Cashing In

24 May 2010 - Hong Kongers are cashing in on weaker foreign currencies and an improving economy at home. It is expected that many people will make the trip to Europe this summer. And with no worries about swine flu, travel agents say more parents are sending their children abroad for summer courses or planning to have an overseas family holiday. A rise of 8 - 12% is expected in long-haul trips, which will be welcomed by European airliners. Now all we need is an Icelandic  vulcano to go to sleep.

Quote of the Day (14)

24 May 2010 - "We wrote out an alphabet with some children, and they associated the letter K with AK-47." says Lourdes Almada, head of a community organization that works with children in the Mexican border town of Ciudad Juarez, where drug violence has claimed the lives of thousands.  

Generation Y (again)

24 May 2010 - Ever since the recent protests against funding for the express rail link to Guangzhou, there has been a popular notion that Hong Kong's young people are becoming increasingly radical and discontented. A University of Hong Kong study has now shown that this is not true. In fact, the survey shows that young people are no more discontented than their seniors over social and political conditions or the Government's performance. One of the surveyors commented that young peoples' actions have drawn media attention, because of some eye-catching actions taken. I wonder if the Government believes this is good or bad news?

Venom

24 May 2010 - A 16 years old Hong Kong boy was bitten by his pet snake, but he was unaware that the animal is the extremely venomous short-tailed mamushi, whose venom can kill a person within an hour. Instead of going to the hospital immediately, the teen puts some ointment on the wound. After 12 hours, the wound is badly swollen and the boy's mother calls for an ambulance to send him to hospital. He survives only because his snake is young, and therefore less snake. The story does not say if the snake survived this encounter, but something tells me it may have ended in the soup.

Bun Scramble

23 May 2010 - Last Friday the annual bun scramble took place on Cheung Chau island. The bun festival is held to appease the spirits of the islanders who died in a plague in 1894. Contestants snatch as many buns as possible from the tower within three minutes. The event was won by firefigther Jason Kwok who also triumphed three years ago. Kwok is a Cheung Chau native and commented that he hoped his win would bring glory for the Cheung Chau people. For the first time the competition had a separate award for female contestants and Wong Ka-yan became the city's first Bun Queen. Not sure if she will put that on her CV though .

Quote of the Day (13)

23 May 2010 - A good headline in the SCMP today "Take some advice before you choose an adviser". I times of financial turmoil the line is given as a lot of us know little about finance, yet we need to manage our money. The main themes are: be suspicious of very high returns, and be careful of any swapping into foreign exchange..

IKEA Wedding

23 May 2010 - The crown princess of Sweden has upset church leaders by announcing she wants to be given away by her father when she marries next month. Swedes consider the practice sexist. Traditionally, the bride and groom walk down the isle together, as symbol of the future spouses equality. The archbishop of the Swedish Church has taken the unusual step of issuing a public statement expressing his disapproval of the princess' choice.I would think in a progressive State like Sweden people would be allowed to decide for themselves how they want to get married, but obviously the church has other views.

Education in Texas

23 May 2010 - We often hear about censorship in China. Well, how about this news? The Texas Board of Education adopted a conservative-leaning social studies and history curriculum that amends or waters down the teaching of the civil rights movement, religious freedoms, and America's relationship with the UN. The Board's vote dictates how political events and figures will be taught. Educators have blasted the new curriculum proposals for politicising education. Isn't Texas the State where George Bush received his education?

Noisy Birds

23 May 2010 - In Hong Kong we are used to noise. So one would expect people to welcome bird song. Well, apparently not. The Hong Kong Bird Watching Society says it has received more calls from people complaining about noisy birds keeping them awake than in the whole of last year. The Indian Cuckoo is the biggest culprit, and the Asian Koel is another offender. The Society is pleading with people to accept the noise or, as they call it, the "sound of nature". But I am afraid this call may fall on deaf ears : most Hong Kong do not like nature, and it was reportedly that an increasing  number of children is nature-phobe.