Shanghai Love

14 Aug 2010 - It is almost Chinese Valentine (16 AUG) and love is on peoples' minds. However, in recent years it has become increasingly difficult for Chinese youngsters to find their match. In Shanghai they developed the A-B-C-D system. Everybody wants to be an A, because they offer the complete package: a good background and education, a solid career and the right (for women read child-bearing) age. But the perfect As are difficult to find, so many As end up looking for Bs, those with a regular job and a bachelors degree. Of course the Bs are very happy to marry an A and move up, so Bs increasingly refuse to marry their fellow Bs. This is where the Cs - and possibly even the Ds - come in, but many parents will refuse their B children to marry a C or a lower. The Cs can of course marry their fellow Cs (or Ds), but why wouldn't they be more ambitious and aim for a B? So the credo is not to marry your C today, but wait for Mr. or Mrs. B, who may knock on the door tomorrow. And what about the Ds? Well, nobody wants to marry a D. Does this sound confusing? Well, let's just conclude something is seriously wrong when love becomes like mathematics.

Black Leggings

14. Aug 2010 - Health authorities in Thailand are urging young women not to wear fashionable black leggings to avoid attracting unwanted attention from mosquitoes carrying dengue fever. Dengue fever is endemic in Southeast Asia and a chronic problem during the rainy season, when stagnant water and unsanitary urban environment s provide breeding grounds for carrier mosquitoes. Thailand has recorded 43 deaths and more than 45,000 cases of dengue in the first seven months of the year, an increase of about 40% compared with last year. Twenty-six people killed by dengue this year were between the age of 10 and 24 years, prompting the warning about the hazards of dark leggings. A Health Ministry spokesperson advised to wear thick clothes likes jeans during this period, noting that mosquitoes can only bite through thin clothing. However, it is not sure if this fashion advice will be followed up in tropical Thailand.

Watersports

13 Aug 2010 - Most people will think of shopping malls, banks and dim sum when they think of Hong Kong. However, those views are somewhat limited as Hong Kong has lots of other possibilities to explore. How about watersports? Hong Kong has an extensive coastline and many islands to enjoy, so it seems the perfect way to take it one peddle stroke at a time and go for the kayak. The area of Sai Kung is perfect with its sandy beaches and little islands. Don;t like  kayaking? Hong Kong is not exactly a windsurfing paradise, but there are some good places to go, for example in Stanley. After all, Hong Kong athlete Lee Lai Shan won an Olympic gold medal in the sport in 1996. Big Wave Bay is the popular surfing beach, where one can rent all the equipment and even surfing schools. Wakeboarding and wake surfing are also getting very popular. And if all of this is a bit too much after the long working week then there are plenty of cool beaches, where it is perfect to unwind from the daily stress.

Inflated Expo?

13 Aug 2010 - In the last weeks I have not reported on Shanghai's World Expo, but the event is back in the news. Shanghai's top Communist Party official has responded for the first time to allegations that visitor numbers at the Expo are being artificially inflated. The six-month long fair - the largest and most expensive Expo ever - drew far smaller crowds than expexted in its opening month of May. In June figures picked up, and the fair is now on course to reach its target audience of 70 million visitors. However, there is a widely held belief among Expo staff that the government has been ferrying large groups of retirees and students into the park to make up numbers - or simply faking official attendance statistics. Conspiracy theorists were given a boost when it was announced on 1st August that 35 million visitors have visited the Expo so far - exactly half the projected attendance rate the day after the halfway point ........

Chinese becomes Japanese

12 Aug 2010 - For decades Chinese restaurants in Holland served the Dutch community with exotic foods, ranging from Fu Yung Hai to Tsap Choy. But now it is reported that many Chinese restaurants in the country are changing their menu into Japanese, as the Dutch prefer Japanese over Chinese food. Japanese is in particular popular among the younger generations, as they like healthier food. The concept is simple: pay a fixed amount and eat as many sushis as you can. A representative from the restaurant sector said that in the last year at least 50 Chinese restaurants turned Japanese. Other Chinese restaurants turned into "deep fried (wok) food" restaurants, but most Dutch people quickly get bored with a choice between fried chicken, fried pork or fried beef. It was reported that about 90% of all Japanese restaurants in Holland are now managed by Chinese.

All for the Ducks

12 Aug 2010 - Two Germans set out on an usual summer holiday last week, beginning a 500 kilometer swim from central Germany to the North Sea with their seven pet ducks. Starting from the town of Kassel, the couple and their feathered companions will swim down the Fulda and Weser rivers, hoping to reach the port of Bremerhaven by mid September. The pair said the journey is about self-fulfillment, like other people go on a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostella. They aim to swim 10 to 15 kilometers per day, and order too tall for their beloved ducks, which will swim for only about 20 minutes per day, following by car or boat when exhaustion kicks in. All I could say is that the story would be even more remarkable if we dealt with seven dwarfs. Maybe the German couple could consider this variation for next year?

Capital Gate

11 Aug. 2010 - Capital Gate in Abu Dhabi has been officially certified by Guinness Book of Records as the 'World's Furthest Leaning Manmade Tower'. The 160 meters, 35 stories tower has been built to lean 18 degrees westwards. When fully completed by the end of the year, the tower will house 'Hyatt Capital Gate', as well as exclusive office space. Recently, the UAE are making a name for themselves as all its latest buildings seem to qualify for 'the highest, biggest, tallest, most expensive' superlative attached to it. British based international architecture firm RMJM designed Capital Gate, which is adjacent to the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center. The famous leaning tower in Pisa only leans 4 degrees. Eat your heart out, Pisa!

Obama the Hawaiian

10 Aug 2010 - Some people believe in Santa, and others believe in $$$$. But it turned out that 27% of Americans who were interviewed in a recent CNN survey doubt that their President Barack Obama was born in the US State of Hawaii. It was not explained why they have difficulties to "believe", but there is a persistent rumor, heavily promoted by conservative right-wing activists, that Obama was born outside of the USA. Barack Obama's father was a Kenyan, and people do not believe that his birth certificate is telling the truth. On the other hand, 42 % (so less than half) said they had "absolutely" no doubt that he was indeed born in Hawaii. The 29% in doubt, responded that he "probably" was born in Hawaii. It is probably positive that people do not believe everything they hear or read, but sometimes it is also reassuring to simply "believe".

Mr. Hong Kong

9 Aug 2010 - Hong Kong people are always busy. But despite the packed agendas some people still find the time and energy to protest against the upcoming Mr. Hong Kong contest. The show is an annual event with a group of Hong Kong hunks parading in front of a screaming all female audience and panel of jurors. The guys also parade in tight swimwear with a "wet look". A group of protesters is claiming that the show is discriminatory, because there is an all female audience. They demand that male judges are added, that the risque tone of the show is toned down and that it is aired an hour later. The organizers took the complaints into consideration, but no agreement was reached. The protesters will now approach the Equal Opportunity Commission. Hong Kong people are very busy indeed, as they have to deal with many important issues. Don't these protesters have more important priorities in life?

Floral print and lipstick

9 Aug 2010 - The mayor of Reykjavik opened Iceland's annual gay pride festival in drag. Jon Gnarr, a top comedian who became Reykjavik's mayor in June, appeared on stage in a floral print dress, blonde wig and bright red lipstick. "The mayor unfortunately could not attend himself", he told the crowd. Mr. Gnarr won the elections on an agenda that included free towels in swimming pools and a polar bear for the local zoo, while Tina Tuner's "Simply The Best" was chosen as the campaign song. At the opening of gay pride, Mr Gnurr's alter ego's explained that the mayor could not be there because "he was too busy". Those few words are also very popular in Hong Kong, but I cannot imagine that the cities' Chief Executive Donald Tsang will send his alter ego wearing pumps and pearls, when he is too busy.

Great Picture (12)

9 Aug 2010 - This picture was published by the SCMP and comes from EPA. It showes a visitor to the National Aquatics Center, better known as the Beijing Olympics' Water Cube, in Beijing. The Center opened on Sunday, two years after the opening ceremony of the Olympics, and is Asia's largest indoor water park.

The Price of Being Single

9.Aug 2010 - A recent study showed that living single costs a whopping HKD 3 million more over a life time compared to couples. Singles have to carry the full burden of the mortgage, bills and holiday costs. The researchers felt that singles pay a hefty price for their singledom, and concluded that the idea that a single life is 'one non-stop party' is a myth. People simply cannot afford the party routine, they said. Expensive hotel rooms in particular add up, but it was also argued that cooking dinner for one is always more expensive than dinner for two, because it is difficult to buy most ingredients in small portions. However, a note was made that some felt that single life cannot be compared to a life in a relationship as choices, and hence expenses, are totally different. However, it seemed there was clear scientific proof that life is cheaper as a couple. Maybe that is true, but it leaves me with the question what the price of freedom is?

Turkish Airlines

8 Aug 2010 - Turkish Airlines made a major coup when they became one of the main sponsors of FC Barcelona, one of the most prominent football clubs in the world. The club has followers all over the world, including in Hong Kong (like me). But it seems the sporty image of the airline goes beyond a marketing stunt. The airline has just announced that it grounded 28 overweight flight attendants and given them 6 months to slim down or face reassignment. The employees, 13 of whom are women, are put on unpaid leave until they lose weight. An airline official was quoted saying " Weight and height are important factors at all airlines. These criteria are important both in terms of appearance and the ability to move around." I wonder if this can be considered discriminatory against overweight people?

Vulgar and Kitsch!!!

8 Aug 2010 - China's Minister for Culture Cai Wu has lashed out to the mainland's broadcasters and publishers, saying that most of their productions were "vulgar and kitsch". Mr. Wu went on and said that most products are only full of gossip, money-worship and consumerism. He asked how many of the annually produced books could compare with famous scripts from China's ancestors or how many TV dramas would be recognized as classics. His comments follow comments along similar lines by President Hu Jiantao a few weeks ago. Mr. Wu blamed the changes on China's move to a market economy. China is now the second economy in the world and recently China's leaders have turned their attention to the country's culture development and influence. Instead of importing vulgar trash, the idea seems to be to produce - and possibly export - quality. But I am not sure people choose quality over trash?

Karaoke

8 Aug 2010 - Besides instant noodles and Hello Kitty, karaoke probably has had the biggest cultural impact on Hong Kong of any Japanese inventions. Periodic large-scale karaoke competitions have been held in the city in 1993, 1995, 1999 and 2005,  but letting the contest series die a quiet death was probably a good idea. However, the organizers think differently, because the competition is back. The joint Japanese - Hong Kong karaoke competition has just been announced by the Japanese consulate, the Japanese Club and Japanese Universities Alumni Society of Hong Kong. As set by tradition, Hong Kong contestants must sing Japanese songs, while their Japanese counterparts will do Canto-pop and putonghua hits. According to experts, the results have been likened to the Rocky Horror Picture Show.