Star Ferry

26 June 2010 - By now I have written more than 200 blogs, but I have never written about the Star Ferry. That is close to impossible, because Star Ferry is a true icon of Hong Kong. More important, I love this slow boat to Hong Kong island (or Kowloon - depends how you look at it) and frequently take the ferry after work to relax and get the work stress out of my body and mind. Star Ferry operates four routes across Victoria Harbor, and carries about 70,000 passengers per day, or 26 million per year. The Kowloon Ferry Company was founded in 1888, and until the opening of the Cross Harbor Tunnel the Ferry was the main mode of transport between Hong Kong and Kowloon. Many Hong Kong people can tell you how they traveled the ferry as a child - they still remember the excitement of this great journey to an unknown, yet so close, world. The sea breeze always blows through the open-plan boats and the beautiful views on the Hong Kong skyline are always a treat, but in particular during sunset. It must be among the cheapest - and best - tourist attractions in the world.

Maori Tattoos

26 June 2010 - In recent years the culture of New Zealand's indigenous Maori people has seen a revival. In particular the Maori tattoos are very popular. In fact, the word 'tattoo' comes from the Tahitian word 'tattau' and captain James Cook used the word 'tattow' when he witnessed tattooing for the first time in 1769. The visibility of these tattoos on some of the big arms of members of the Kiwi All Black rugby team has helped to promote the culture further. In the earlier days, facial tattoos on Maori men recognized their high births and success on the battlefield. Women often had small tattoos carved on their chins. Once a tattoo is applied, it tells a story about the identity of the person wearing it: their genealogy, their ancestors, their life. UK singer Robbie Williams and boxing heavy-weight Mike Tyson were among the first Westerners to show Maori tattoos - allegedly much to the annoyance of many Maori themselves.

Sugar Artist

26 June 2010 - Ask a child what he wants to become, and he will answer fireman, pilot or doctor. But how about becoming a sugar artist? Sugar artistry began in France and was at the height of its popularity during the reign of Louis XVI. Sugar artists use blown and pulled sugar. Practice and patience are the keys to mastering this art form. I saw a documentary about a young Chinese man who made sugar artistry his profession. He will probably not get very rich, but he seemed very fulfilled and happy. Children told him their Chinese star sign, and a few moments later our Chinese hero had blown and pulled a dragon, monkey or tiger. The children responded like they had just seen the most magical trick on earth. They were rudely brought back into reality by their somewhat intimidating and loud parents, demanding a discount from the hard-working artist. One day these parents will see that the happiness of their child is priceless.

Orange Car

25 June 2010 - We hear a lot of complaints about the Hong Kong police force these days, but how about the police force in other parts of the world?  A man in the Dutch city of Hoogezand was fined with a penalty of EUR 60 by the local police, because he drove around in an orange car. The man had painted his car bright orange in support of the Dutch football team, who are playing in the World Cup in South Africa. A police spokesperson argued that the relevant documents for the car indicated that the car was a different color, but not orange. The poor football supporter had to pay, but went to the local media with his story and sentiments turned against the police. So, after mediation the Dutch police gave in and allowed the car-owner two weeks to either paint his car back in the original color, or to report "orange" as the color of his car.

Market Fever

25 June 2010 - I read a story that a 68-years old Hong Kong man went to some of the local wet markets to run some errands. Unfortunately, he scratched his leg to one of the bamboo baskets. It seemed not more than a little innocent scratch, but a few weeks later the man developed a fever. The fever got worse and after two days the poor guy was hospitalized in Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where it was discovered that he was infected with a rare flesh-eating bacteria. Long story short: he had to undergo a below-knee amputation to prevent the bacteria from spreading further and affect other parts of his body. I feel sorry for the guy, but if this was the USA it would be an interesting legal question who is to blame? In Hong Kong the story ends differently though, as the guy simply has to live with his new reality.

Avatar Skypark

24 June 2010 - Please have a good look at this artist's impression of the new Singapore Skypark (200 meters above the ground), that tops the Marina Bay Sands casino resort. The plan is that the casino resort will draw up to 150,000 visitors per day once things are in full swing. The world's second-most expensive gambling complex (after MGM Resorts' City Center in Las Vegas) was formally opened this week. The Singapore Government has imposed a hefty SGD 100 entry fee for each Singaporean national visiting the complex, while all other nationalities can enter free of charge. Sands said that Singaporeans account for about one-third of all daily visitors. The resort, resembling a giant surfboard perched on three columns at the mouth of the Singapore River, is still far from being finished, but has already a stark resemblance with scenes from planet Avatar. Only blue people are missing, but people might spontaneously turn blue when losing at the gambling tables. Great building!

R.I.P.

24 June 2010 - Hong Kong is a buzzing, crowded place. There is limited space for practically everything, and recently the Government has been grappling with the limited space for graveyards. However, some creative people may have found the solution by going online. A new website was set up to post online memorials for their deceased loved ones. It may be the first Government sanctioned online-memorial site in the world. The site seems to be an immediate hit too - in the first days after the launch thousands of people registered an account and memorial pages were popping up like mushrooms. Of course the site has also drawn ridicule and satire, in particular because most of the memorials are full with cliches and cheap cheesy lines. However, I do not think the site is a bad idea; the bottom line seems that no harm is done and if it helps family and friends in the mourning process - why not? See for yourself on www.memorial.gov.hk.

Coffee Crush

24 June 2010 - I am addicted to coffee. It sounds like a negative statement, but the first cup of coffee in the morning is always one of my favorite moments of the day. It is not easy to make a good cup of coffee, as there are so many ways to do it. Obviously, the best way to make coffee is the way you like it, but one of the most critical steps is the measuring process. Trial and error is part of the learning process, but keep in mind that you can always add water if the coffee turns out too strong. I was once told that two tablespoons per cup is a good indicator, but with a greater variety of types of coffee available in the shops, it is no longer a rule of thumb. To be honest, I cannot differentiate between Latin-American, African and Asian coffee, as I usually gulp the coffee down. However, I blindly pick up the differences in strength, and I can immediately taste it when instant coffee is used. Also, please stay away from coffee flavored with chicory. There is no point for coffee to taste like vanilla or caramel. Coffee must taste like coffee.

Sumo

23 June 2010 - Sumo is a Japanese style of wrestling that is tremendously popular in the country. The Japanese simply love this centuries old sport-slash-tradition. The basic rules of Sumo are simple: the wrestler who first touches the ground with anything but the soles of his feet, or who steps out of the ring before his opponent, loses. There are no weight restrictions or classes in Sumo, so wrestlers can easily find themselves wrestling an athlete many times their own size or skills. Fights take place on an elevated arena, called the "dohyo", which is made of clay and covered with sand. Most fights only take a few seconds - or maximum a minute. At the top of the Sumo wrestlers hierarchy stands the yokozuna (grand champion). A wrestler can never lose this yokozuna status, but he is expected to retire when his performance worsens. Most elite wrestlers are highly trained and live together in what are called "stables". That may sound somewhat disrespectful for everybody non-Japanese, but the Sumo wrestlers are adored like half-Gods. Stabled half-Gods.

Great Picture (2)

23 June 2010 - The SCMP published this picture of police in riot gear during riots in 1967, when some Hong Kong leftists waved Mao's little red book into the faces of the British oppressors. We still have demonstrations and mayhem in Hong Kong, but the outfits of the police have definitely changed. These poor guys look more like the Bermuda beach police, while today the riot police seem to have walked off the set from Robocop III.

Reform Now!

23 June 2010 - It is a big day for Hong Kong today, as the Legislative Council votes on the Government's Election Reform proposal. The Government have made increasingly desperate attempts to win the Hong Kong public over and Chief Executive took the initiative to invite Civic Party Leader Audrey Eu for a  live televised debate,. She won hands down. The initiative was probably frowned upon by Tsang's masters in Beijing, who understand that the outcome of a debate cannot be controlled, hence may negatively influence Tsang's authority. Commentator Chip Tsao also felt the debate was a mistake. He wrote that "China is an ancient civilization, but not particularly known for producing an eloquent breed of orators. Chinese had generations of eunuchs and concubines kowtowing to the emperors instead of honing bold speaking skills. Being silver-tongued means possessing a fluency in expressing one's own thinking - an offense punishable by death in China." Any outspoken Chinese voices who want to respond to that?

Barricade Ourselves

22 June 2010 - I am now for seven years in Hong Kong, and over a drink the question came up what has changed in the city. Seven years ago 500,000+ people marched the streets to express their dissatisfaction with the Tung Chee-hwa Government. These days, many people feel frustrated and angry how the Donald Tsang cabinet governs the city. So far not much new. But one thing that has changed is that the city seems to be full with heavy metal barricades to prevent protests get out of order. The mainland office in Sai Ying Pun is almost permanently barricaded and at key locations in Central, such as the LegCo building, Chater Garden, the Government Offices and the Court of Final Appeal the barricades are also stacked around. One wonders how many barricades the police have in stock, because many more may be needed tomorrow when the Legislative Council will vote on political reform. It will be a busy day.

Blessing or Curse?

22 June 2010 - The Dutch newspaper Parool reports that the center of Amsterdam will soon be declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. The newspaper quotes UNESCO Director Kishore Rao who said that the official announcement will be made in July. People in Amsterdam responded with mixed reactions. Some were surprised because they thought the city was already on the UNESCO list, while others were pleased as the seedy  image of "sex, drugs & rock n roll" would be replaced by a prettier image of "culture, museums & channels". Others were afraid that the status would only bring more tourists to the city and that the price of real estate would rise even further. One person expressed concern that the city would become an open-air museum, and no longer a place for people to live, love and die in. He said that the city should focus on the future and that the UNESCO declaration is something of the past. I am also not totally clear about the advantages of UNESCO declaration: blessing or curse?

The 1974 World Cup Final

22 June 2010 - The Dutch are still traumatized by the World Cup Final of 1974, when the country was beaten with 2 -1 by the (West) Germans. Most Dutch of certain age will be able to tell you exactly what they did on the day of The Final, how they felt and what it meant to them. It is not a happy story. The Germans were led by master libero Franz Beckenbauer, but we had the magical wizzard Johan Cruijff, one of the best football players ever. It was also the first time the Dutch played their dazzling Total Football - invented by coach Rinus Michels - , while the Germans had struggled from match to match. It was not meant to be: Total Football lost from Total Dedication, and the Dutch will be forever haunted by the thought that they had one of the best teams ever, but still did not win the Cup. It is the ultimate lost opportunity. But it seemed the Dutch have learned something, because so far they have not dazzled the spectators during the South African World Cup, but they did win both their matches. Efficiency rules - the Dutch are becoming like Germans?

Quote of the Day (20)

22 June 2010 - One of my favorite bloggers is the Big White Guy in Hong Kong (www.bigwhiteguy.com); I could even call him an inspiration. This recent blog is funny and deals with another reality of living in the City of Buzz: "Cockroaches may be able to survive nuclear war, but they don't do so well in the washing machine. After picking out bits of roach from the tub and prying the head of a towel, I had to wash the load all over again.".

Street Art

21 June 2010 - I always like to think of Hong Kong as a good place for Street Art, but unfortunately there are not many places where it can be enjoyed. Street Art is different from Graffiti, because the latter would merely spray paint and pay much attention to text and typeface. Street artists have different styles of working, and the nature of the work is less temporary. The streets are used to create art in a different way - although sometimes still illegal, which adds to the attraction. Space is limited in Hong Kong, but in the small gaps on the walls Hong Kong artists display their quirky sense of humor or their modern twist to traditional patterns. Probably most Hong Kong people will frown upon street art as "pollution of the walls", but I feel it should be stimulated to lighten the place up. Street art can be enjoyed in the city, but one has to go to the galleries in and around Hollywood road to see. And pay high price for it.

Diamonds are a Chinese Best Friend

21 June 2010 - China is among the world's leading consumers of platinum, gold and diamonds. But professionals say its jewelry design remains characterized by dowdy butterfly brooches and unbiquitous pendants bearing Chinese characters for long life and other symbolism. It seems Chinese designers are still searching for their new groove and Chinese consumers are still dreaming of luxury products from Europe and the USA. What's more, Chinese people see buying gems as an investment. Experts have come to China to train apprentice jewellers in technical aspects of the trade. They will learn scientific analysis of gems, how to calculate the weight of a cut diamond from the uncut stone, which angles best catch the light. The experts will also teach the aspiring jewellers about the "four Cs"" carat, color, clarity and cut. If all goes well they can add a fifth and sixth C: Chinese cash.

Flying Heads

21 June 2010 - How about this? A staff member of American airliner Southwest Airlines got the shock of her life, when she found 40 - 60 human heads loosely packed and labelled on board of one of the company's planes. The box was addressed to a medical center in Forth Worth. A spokesperson for Southwest Airlines shrugged the incident off and said that the company is aware there is a black market for human body parts, and that body parts are more frequently transported by commercial airliners. So please keep this in mind when you smell something funny during your next air travel.

Cheap Euro

20 June 2010 - The Euro has dropped considerably in recent months, and - with the strong Renminbi in hand - many mainland Chinese can suddenly afford themselves a trip to Europe. Its like a dream come true! The Euro has slid more than 16% since December 31 and it is expected to drop further. Travel agents in the mainland report that bookings for Europe have doubled and magazines promote trips from Bavaria to Barcelona. People argue that although prices of airline tickets have remained the same, hotels, meals and shopping on the continent are paid for in Euros and cost much less than before. Some people even take the opportunity to speed up their marriage plans, because the golden opportunity to have their honeymoon in romantic Paris or Tuscany may not last forever.

Great Picture (1)

20 June 2010 - I am now well underway in writing this blog, and I found my rhytm writing the (almost) daily contributions. I enjoy it! However, often I find funny, striking or simply beautiful pictures, who (I feel) need to be shared but have not been widely shared. So far, I decided not to publish pictures only, but I decided to change after I saw this intense picture of Ivory Coast defender Guy Demell and Portugese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. Both men received the yellow card, and the Portugese appeal against Rinaldo's card was denied by FIFA. I do not know who the photographer is, but the picture was published by Reuters.

14h15 Toilet Time

20 June 2010 - Yesterday, at 14h15 (CET) the water companies in Holland had to manage a sudden but to-be-foreseen peak in the consumption of water. It was half time in the Holland - Japan football match in Durban, and water consumption increased with about 70% within a few seconds. People went to the toilet, made some tea or coffee, or washed their hands. Telephone companies also reported steep fluctuations during the match - after every goal there was an enormous increase in text messages and calls. Before the match the supermarkets made extra hours. Before the Holland - Denmark match the supermarkets had an increase in turnover of EUR 17 million, mainly because of hyper chips, beer and coca-cola sales. Holland won ..., so the bars, cafes and pubs had a very profitable Saturday afternoon, if not evening. Football is big business, and we are all consumers.

Snack Attack

20 June 2010 - At a time when football supporters live on beer and crisps, the Hong Kong Consumer Council published a report saying that 32 out of 32 tested samples of crisps, cheeseballs and crackers are too salty or too fatty. Great - thanks for spoiling the fun. Although the outcome of the report is hardly a surprise, the Consumer Council found that none of the samples met the WHO standards for salt and fat levels. A stern warning followed: "The findings are a timely reminder that crispy chips in combination with World Cup soccer matches are potentially a health hazard for football fans". A dietitian commented that there are snacks that are crispy but have less fat than chips, such as breakfast cereals. So next time you may want to have your cornflakes with you beer ... But be careful you don't die of a heart attack while watching the thrilling matches.