Making a De-Tour

7 Oct 2010 - A China Eastern flight from Shanghai is scheduled to land in Hong Kong at 11 am. Shortly before landing in Hong Kong, the pilot announces that the plane needs to make a de-tour to Hainan island due to weather conditions. At 2 pm, the flight heads to Hong Kong again, but as the plane approaches for the second time the pilot announces that they need to return to Shanghai due to bad weather. En route to Shanghai, the plane changes course again and suddenly lands in Fujian. No explanation is given why the plane makes the detour to Fujian  An investigation is started as it is suspected that the pilot has mental problems. China Eastern has "no comment", but please keep this story in mind when you book your next flight.

Grozny

7 Oct 2010 - A few years ago I almost made it to Grozny, the capital of Chechnya, but it was too dangerous and I remained in neighboring Ingushetia, where thousands of Chechen refugees struggled for survival. The story of Chechnya is one of the forgotten stories of the 1990s and early 2000s. The small state was completely devastated by internal conflict and war, and thousands of people lost their lives - often in the most brutal manner. Since a few years Chechnya has stabilized, and Russian photographer Ilya Varlamov obtained rare access to the capital Grozny. His pictures can be seen on the BBC site, but are unfortunately too unsharp to copy and paste here. The city is being rebuilt, and this image shows the Akhmad Kadyrov mosque - named after the Chechen rebel turned President. The President was murdered in 2004, but his son Ramzan is now Chechnya's Russian backed President. Life seems to get back to normal in Chechnya, although it is probably still one of the most dangerous places on the planet.

Stolen Toilet Paper

6 Oct 2010 - Thieving locals are being blamed for a surge in toilet paper use at Beijing's public parks after statistics showed that each visitor appeared to be using an average of three meters a day, the Beijing news reports. During the National Day holiday, 11 Beijing municipal parks began providing nine public services, including drinking water, toilet paper and hand soap. It was reported that more than 2,300 rolls of toilet paper a day had been used in 142 toilets at the parks. Each roll of toiet paper is about 800 meters long and there have been about 652,400 visitors to the parks each day. Local authorities say most of the toilet paper was stolen by nearby residents. Otherwise, we may be confronted with an underreported diarrhoeal outbreak in the capital.

Welcome to Hong Kong

6 Oct 2010 - A lot has been said after the "Bus Auntie" incident - tour guide Li Hau-chun caught on video scolding her mainland tourist group for not shopping enough. But the story does not end there. Last week Taiwanese tourists visited a pharmacy in Tsim Sha Tsui, where they pay for a jar of ointment with a HKD 100 note. When the staff returns HKD 32, they wonder whether they have been conned. The group visits several other pharmacies and discover that the ointment is sold for around HKD 25. Two days later, they return to the pharmacy and ask for a refund. The staff refuses and throws items at them. One of the tourists films the whole saga on video and uploads it to YouTube. It is another bad example of the greedy mentality of Hong Kong folks. The video causes an outrage in Taiwan.

Wharf T&T

5 Oct 2010 - I am trying to close my accounts and utilities, which led to the following discussion with Wharff T&T hotline Customer Services Officer (remember that word) after one month of trying to end my telephone contract:
Me: I like to terminate the contract for my landline telephone number bla-bla-bla
Wharff T&T: One moment please ........
(long silence)
Wharff T&T: That number is already canceled, sir.
Me: I see. But I am using it right now ... it is still functioning ....!??
Wharff T&T: Our records show it is closed, sir.
Me: ... eh .... OK, so how much is the final payment?
Wharff T&T: We will send you the bill by the end of the month.
Me: Unfortunately I will leave 15 OCT to Europe, as communicated one month ago.
Wharff T&T: I see. Can you return from Europe to Hong Kong to collect the bill?
Me: Excuse me, you want me to fly from Europe Hong Kong to make the final payment?
Wharff T&T: Yes please.
Me: Will Wharff T&T pay for my ticket?
Wharff T&T (dead serious): That is not in our company policy, sir.
Me: Then I am afraid it is not not possible for me to return to Hong Kong
Wharff T&T: You will have to make the final payment, sir.
Me: I understand, so how can I do that?
Wharff T&T: Please call our hotline for advice. Good bye! (click & gone)
Me: %^%#$$)&^#!O*__*&*&(**%^%%$#$
I feel I am in a slapstick movie ...........

Lehman Memorabilia

5 Oct 2010 - There was only limited interest to buy Lehman Brothers after it failed two years ago and became the most prominent victim of the 2008 financial tsunami. However, there was an enormous appetite for Lehman memorabilia and its collection of art at a recent auction in London. Bankers came in search of a souvenir, and art lovers saw the opportunity to purchase for a bargain price. The total auction raised USD 2,5 million and many bidders were former Lehman staff. One of the highlights of the auction was selling the large metal nameplate that formerly hung at the London headquarters of the bank. It was sold by an anonymous telephone buyer for HKD 515,596. Other items that did well were an 1870 collection of the works of William Shakespeare and  two etching by Lucian Freud.

Great Picture (21)

5 Oct 2010 - Sometimes a great picture is just that : a great picture. It does not need any further explanation or text, because beauty speaks for itself. I usually like pictures that tell a story - and although this picture is of a different category it still blew me away. I just picked up from the internet .... so sorry, I do not know the photographer. Whomever it is, I salute him/her!

Charlie Brown at 60

4 Oct 2010 - Happy Birthday Charlie Brown! Peanuts, the iconic comic strip that became a favorite of hundreds of millions of people all over the world is celebrating its 60th anniversary. It means that Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus and Lucy also turn 60 this week. The original strip, by Charles Schulz, first ran on 2 October 1950. The cartoon was published until 13 February 2000, the day after Schulz's death at the age of 77. It has appeared in more than 2,000 newspapers in 72 countries in 21 languages. A year long tribute to Schulz and to the Peanuts characters is scheduled for in the USA and around the world. In Hong Kong, a jewelry designer created a 14cm Snoopy crafted of diamonds and rubies, weighing 207 carats. One wonders what Charlie Brown would think of that?

Spend Spend Spend

4 Oct 2010 - It is the National Day "golden week" and mainland tourists flocked to Hong Kong armed with money and shopping bags to shop til they drop. The Hong Kong Tourism Board predicts that up to 760,000 mainland visitors will visit the city trhoughout the week - up 30% from last year. Retailers expect double-digit growth in turnover. Most mainland tourists have done their homework and know exactly where to go and what to go for. Traditionally, Tsim Sha Tsui is a shoppers' paradise, but Central, Causeway Bay and luxury-brands mall Elements are also popular destinations. Many visitors have opted for more expensive tours or are travelling on their own instead of joining the bargain tours. Despite the influx, experts commented that Hong Kong could easily see one million visitors in the coming years as many mainland visitors went to Shanghai to visit the Expo.

Monkey Police

3 Oct 2010 - Today the Commonwealth Games kick off in Delhi, India. After all the bad publicity it is time for a lighter note, and pay tribute to the black-faced langur monkeys, who assist the Delhi police chasing away smaller stray monkeys. Groups of stray monkeys have terrorized the city for years and it seems the langurs are the only primates that can take on the bands of rhesus macaques without fear. The langurs have been thoroughly trained - sometimes for three years - and have been taught not to run away, to listen and to obey certain commands. The langurs bare a large set of strong teeth, known to kill smaller animals in seconds. Delhi residents are happy with the langurs. One person commented: "We need these creatures more than anything else in Delhi. Stray monkeys are such a problem here that it is difficult to step out with children. I have seen the langurs at work at the Presidential estate and I really admire how they take on those trouble-makers.". The langurs are fed with chick peas and fruits.

Girl Bands

3 Oct 2010 - Remember the Spice Girls, the Bangles, Twins and (hey Dutchies!) the Dolly Dots. Well, girl bands are still in fashion. South Korea has seen a recent increase in the number of girls (and boys) bands, which led to concerns among parents and members of Parliament. It is now decided that the South Korean Parliament will launch an inquiry into claims that performances by teenage girl pop groups are too sexually suggestive. A lawmakers' aid working for the Grand National Party said "Some of the popular girl groups are aged 13 to 14 ... we need some legal devices to protect those young performers from possible abuse and exploitation." The older public seems to agree, but teenagers are calling for more, more, more. A new six-girl group just debuted last month, and the promoters tried to calm down sentiments by explaining that the average age of the girls is 15 years old.  

The Fat Prince

2 Oct 2010 - This week the young heir-apparent of the hermit state North Korea, Kim Jong-un, was appointed a four star general by his father and named vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission, the country's most powerful institution. For the first time a picture of the young Kim was published. Analysts say the release of the image - showing a chubby young man in a tight boiler suit - confirms Jong-un's status as successor. The South Korean internet community was buzzing with comments, with one overriding question: how did he get so fat when the country is starving? Most ridiculed the Jong-un, saying he looked like "a fat prince", while another comment referred to the Teletubbies. One comment said: "They look so exactly the same that it is brain-washing". A researcher at the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy agreed: "north Koreans think being fat is good. There is a high possibility Jong-un intentionally gained weight to look like his father."

Midlife Crisis

2 Oct 2010 - Britons in their late 30s and early 40s are unhappier than any other age group in the country. A recent survey also shows that they are suffering from loneliness and depression as work and relationship pressures take their toll. The research, by relationship advice charity Relate, found that a fifth of those aged 35 to 44 wished they had a better relationship with their family. The Chief Executive of Relate commented that there appears to be a shift in sentiments among the generations. Traditionally, the midlife crisis is associated with people in their late 40s and early 50s, but the survey reveals that this period is now reached by people at an earlier age. The good news is that life does not end at 50. If 40 is the new 50, then we can think that 50 is the new 40 - and the wisdom goes that life starts at 40 .. eh ... 50.

New Home

1 Oct 2010 - In a few weeks I will move house. So I am in this phase between packing up and thinking (dreaming) of my new castle. I learned that when looking to move apartment, some of us place too much emphasis on the orientation of the building. However, this is not always necessary. The laws of fung shui teach us that it is important to look at the immediate environment of the building. It should not be the only building in the area, otherwise occupants will feel lonely. It also should not be the tallest building to the extent that it clearly towers over the rest, or else occupants will be vulnerable to mishaps. On the other hand, the building should also not ne dwarfed by the surrounding buildings, otherwise one will find oneself being taken advantage of. Thus, it is best to live in a building that is similar in height to most of the buildings in the immediate vicinity.

One child ...???

30 Sep 2010 - Chinese authorities recently announced that the infamous one-child policy will be maintained. However, at the same time alarming reports about fertility problems came out. For example, an official from the provincial health department in the province of Anhui told a reproductive health forum in Hefei on Monday that more than 10% of couples in the province have fertility problems. This is one of the 'official' highest rates in the mainland, but it is no secret that statistics in China are often polished up. The official went further and said that the problems were caused by infections, pollution and unhealthy lifestyles. The city of Hefei is considering the introduction of an in-vitro fertilisation programme because of increasing demand. One child is a  blessing and the underlying causes for the poor fertility rates may soon become one of the latest taboos in the mainland.

No UN Welcome for ET

30 Sep 2010 - The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA - no joke) dismissed on Tuesday a report which said it had appointed an ambassador as a point of contact for extra-terrestrials as "nonsense". The UNOOSA statement clarified that an article as appeared in the Sunday Times was not true. The Sunday Times article claimed that UNOOSA was to appoint Malaysian astrophysicist Mazlan Othman to be the first contact for aliens. Othman heads UNOOSA, a department of the UN based in Vienna with a staff of 27 whose task is to promote co-operation in the peaceful use of space, but will continue normally with his daily duties and will not be promoted into the special poosition. So, if the men from mars decide to intervene, there will be no warm welcome by UN officials. Maybe that is actually better?

Chinese Philantropy

29 Sep 2010 - The visit of Warren Buffett and Bill Gates to China has created a buzz on the internet about philantropy among the country's new super-rich. Buffet and Gates visit the mainland to discuss charitable giving with the richest of the Chinese rich and have so far received very mixed reactions. Only one tycoon openly committed to make posthumous donations, but others have pointed out that China's system is "not ready" for massive charitable giving. Others do not want to undermine the role of the State. China is home to 64 of the world's 937 richest people, according to the annual list as published by Forbes magazine. The widening gap between the rich and the poor has put pressure on the tycoons to do more for society. Buffett and Gates are careful; not to politicize the debate saying that China's circumstances are unique and so its approach to philantropy will be.  

Smelly Birds

29 Sep 2010 - More news from Down Under. Scientists say they are hoping to develop a deodorant for New Zealand's native birds to stop them falling prey to introduced predators. Canterbury researcher Jim Briskie said it appeared New Zealand birds suffered from body odor, making them an easy target for predators. Briskie said the kiwi bird smelled like mushrooms or ammonia, while the flightless kakapo parrot's odor was like 'musty violin cases".  To be honest, I do not not know what a bird is supposed to smell like but one wonders if the poor birdies will be less vulnerable (and tasty) if they smell after lily-of-the-valleys, green tea or lavender. Some of those introduced predators may have an exotic taste.

Great Picture (20)

28 Sep 2010 - North Korea is in the news, and the SCMP published this great picture from the Photononstop agency. Young female soldiers play tribute to late President Kim Il-sung. Although Kim Il-sung is the one and only Great leader, all eyes are on his little known grandson. The twenty-something year old KIm, who was today promoted to four star genera, and he is expected to replaced his ailing father any time soon. The Kim's survive through a cult of personality with messianic overtones, and the people of North Korea will soon salute their new leader.. 

550 Athletes

28 Sep 2010 - Hong Kong authorities announced that a record 550 athletes and officials in 34 sports will represent the city at the Asia Games in Guangzhou in November. This is the largest ever squad that is sent to a multi-sports games (including the Beijing Olympics), as Hong Kong wants to show its sporty image in preparation for a bid to host the Games in 2023. Authorities stress that it is not just about participation, as all selected athletes are estimated having a realistic chance of being competitive. One official said "We have approved sports where we think we have a chance of being competitive. We are not sending a tour group on a holiday." The Hong Kong delegation will not participate in boxing, roller sports, archery, kabbadi, modern pentathlon, sepak takraw and softball. It leaves me with the question what kabbadi and sepak takraw are?

Border Crossing

28 Sep 2010 - The National Day holiday is around the corner. It is peak season for Hong Kong's Immigration Department as an estimated 5.89 million passengers are expected to pass through immigration checkpoints during the National Day holiday, an increase of 15% over the same period last year. The figure is amazing, considering that only 7 million people live in Hong Kong. The Lo Wu border crossing is the busiest of all. Between September 30 and October 7 the Immigration Department will minimize leave for staff, and post extra officers at control points to cope with the heavy traffic. Inbound traffic is expected to be the busiest on October 3 at the Lo Wu checkpoint when about 178,000 passengers will arrive. Another 174,000 people are expected to leave Hong Kong on Friday. People are advised to travel to and from the mainland during less busy periods.

Possum Throwing

27 Sep 2010 - A New Zealand school has a unique take on what it want to educate its students. Recently, the school organized a possum-throwing contest to entertain the students. The contest came under fire from local animal protection groups for encouraging students in the "morally wrong" practice. The contest, in which students swung possum carcasses over their heads and hurled them across the playground, was unacceptable the New Zealand Royal Society for the Protection of Animals said. RSPCA manager Danny Auger said, "While it is technically not illegal, it is morally wrong to throw a dead animal around." One wonders if it is indeed illegal, but more important it seems that the school maintains an unhealthy set of morals and values. It was not reported what the parents, or children involved, thought of the initiative.

Anaconda scare

27 Sep 2010 - A 73-year old Polish pensioner recently got the shock of her life when visiting the toilet. After she raised the lid of the toilet seat, the lady saw a big snake that wanted to slither out of the toilet bowl. The snake turned out to be a more than two meter long anaconda peering up out of her toilet bowl. The old pensioner was keen enough to immediately slam down the lid and called the local police. Although the Wroclaw police must have thought they were dealing with a hoax, the panic in the voice of the lady probably convinced them something was seriously wrong and they got an employee from the local zoo involved. The zoo employee managed to catch the snake, normally a native of South Africa and somewhat lost in southern Poland. A police spokesman said the reptile must have somehow got into the toilet bowl via the plumbing of the pipes, but none of the neighbors reported a missing anaconda.

Mamma Mia

26 Sep 2010 - ABBA stars Bennie Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaes have threatened to sue the right-wing Danish Peoples' Party (DF) for using their song Mamma Mia during their political rallies. They say the band has never given permission to use the song. The youth movement of the DF had changed the lyrics of the song in honor of the DF leader Pia Kjaersgaard. Bjorn Andersson said he only found out about the usage of the song when he was contacted by a left-wing pressure group who asked whether he supported the DF's policies. Mr. Andersson said the ABBA duo had asked their lawyers to start legal action against the party. "Firstly, you cannot just rewrite songs as you like and secondly, we want to make absolutely clear that we have no interest in supporting their party," Mr. Andersson said. Universal Music later said no legal action would be taken as an agreement to stop using the song had already been reached.

Scary Worms

26 Sep 2010 - John Matthews of Dubuque in Iowa (USA) first noticed two spots obscuring his vision in his left eye last December. he underwent a number of tests before doctors told him a worm had made a nest for itself in his eye. He was rushed into a treatment room at the University of Iowa Hospital where doctors shot a laser into his eye to kill the worm. "I could see it from behind, moving, trying to dodge the laser", Matthews told the Iowa Telegraph Herald. The worm was only killed by the second laser blast but doctors could not remove it from the eye. Matthews body is absorbing the worms' remains and doctors said he has suffered permanent retina damage. "It could have been a hookworm I might have picked up when I was in Mexico or it could have been a raccoon roundworm that I could have got turkey hunting." he told the newspaper.

Quote of the Day (22)

25 Sep 2010 - There is quite a powerful article by columnist Chip Tsao in HK Magazine. His weekly column is called "Politically Incorrect", which is a good title for his sometimes controversial views on the world called 'Hong Kong'  Like this one: "Hong Kong is, following other examples such as Zimbabwe, Ghana and Nigeria, becoming regrettable anthropological testimony  to the grim social reality that after Robinson Crusoe departs, Friday is not sophisticated enough to cope." I share his concerns for the future of Hong Kong.

Obscure Holidays

25 Sep 2010 - Holland tops the the list of 'obscure holidays' as was recently published by Lonely Planet. In fact, Holland is mentioned four (yes, FOUR!) times in the top 10. At number one Lonely Planet lists a night in the orange capsule hotel in The Hague. The capsules were used until 1972 for life-saving operations at sea, and only have a diameter of 4.2. meters. The capsules come with a survival food package and chemical toilet. Other obscure holidays in Holland are staying in the "Crane Hotel" in Harlingen, where one can spent a night at ultimate height in the cabin of a crane, or a peaceful camping experience on a floating raft (no electricity and no toilet available). The rafts are only available by canoe. At number 10 Lonely Planet recommends spending the night in one of the two hotel suites in the Euromast in Rotterdam - the tower standing more than 100 meters tall in the Rotterdam harbor. Reservations for all these 'obscure' locations are essential, as most locations are fully booked months ahead.

Dutch Utopia

24 Sep 2010 - The Dutch Singer Museum in Laren has opened an exhibition called 'Dutch Utopia". The exhibition focuses on the romantic image of Holland as portrayed by American painters like William Merritt Chase, John Singer Sargent, George Hitchcock and Gari Melchers. In the years between 1880 and 1914 these painters traveled with dozens of other American painters to the Dutch villages of Katwijk, Volendam and Laren looking for the idyllic image of tulips, wooden shoes and windmills. In those years the USA industrialized in rapid pace and the painters were looking for a"life that once was". Inspired by the Dutch School and 17th century Dutch Masters they hoped to find a reality of hard-working farmers, high skies, christian values and colorful fields of tulips. Although they did not always find what they were looking for, they painted a romantic image of Holland that remained a myth for decades to come. The exhibition in the Singer Museum how the painters used their creativity to paint images of Holland that were rapidly disappearing or not longer existed at all.

Dog Poo

24 Sep 2010 - The city council of The Hague held a heated debate yesterday about the burning issue if dog poo and pee is harmful for trees or not. The city council had proposed to close an area of 12,000 square meters in a local park for dogs, as it was feared that decades-old oaks in the area were harmed by the acids in the dogs' excrement. The "Party for Animals" - represented in the city council and the Dutch national parliament - felt there is a no scientific proof for this argument and wanted the park to remain open for all. A memorable debate unfolded with delegates debating the quality and impact of .. eh ... dog shit. The Liberal party questioned if there were not more pressing issues that needed to be debated. After a lengthy debate it was decided to keep the park closed, as it concerns only a small part of the area, and 92% of the park remains open for all.  And that include dogs in urgent need.

Buy Local, Eat in Season

24 Sep 2010 - How much longer will we be able to enjoy seafood on the menu? It is a somewhat unsettling but realistic question, also - or some would say in particular - in Hong Kong. Some restaurants have already stopped putting fish on the menu altogether. "Dealing with fish is too risky," says Todd Darling of Posto Pubblico in SoHo, "So many are nearing extinction." However, Hong Kong's appetite for fish and seafood has risen dramatically over the years. Demand has now reached a critical point that threatens the existence of some species. In many areas across the globe, humans are taking fish out of the sea faster than many species can repopulate. Restaurants will hopefully learn to only put sustainable foods on the menu. Customers should put pressure on restaurants they frequent and ask question where the fish was caught. The advice of those in-the-know in the sustainable food movement is "Buy local, eat in season". Buying out-of-season fruits and vegetables, or eat fish that can not be caught in Hong Kong or Guangdong waters means the environment pays a price for these imported goods. 

70 Million

23 Sep 2010 - Nearly 70 million children are not getting an education despite much progress in the last 10 years. The financial crisis has forced poor countries to cut education budgets by USD 4.6 billion a year at a time when more efforts are needed to achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals of ensuring primary school education for every child in the world by the year 2015. Ten countries were listed at the bottom of the education list, all of which but Haiti are in Africa. Named were Somalia, Eritrea, Comoros, Ethiopia, Chad, Burkina Fasso, Central African Republic, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Liberia. The ranking were based on access to basic education, teacher-student ratio and education provision to girls. The UN children's agency UNICEF said spending USD 1 million helping children aged 5 and younger in the most remote and disadvantaged areas would prevent 60% more deaths than the current approach, calling it a "stunning higher return on investment."

Great Picture (19)

23 Sep 2010 - The Dutch Press Agency ANP published this picture of the preparations for the annual 'Prinsjesdag': the day Dutch queen Beatrix reads out the plans of the Dutch Government for the coming year. The Dutch are awaiting the forming of a new leadership (or failure thereof), so reading out the plans of the old establishment seemed a rather meaningless event. Despite the odd moment, thousands came out to cheer on the queen and enjoy the day off in The Hague.

Food Capital

22 Sep 2010 - The Chinese city of Guangzhou is gearing up for the organization of the East Asia Games later this year. Athletes and officials will be in for a treat, Guangzhou has recently been named the mainland's "fine food capital", with he average resident spending RMB 6,000 a year on eating out, the Yangcheng Evening News reports. A panel of experts from the China Cuisine Association and the Wold Association of Chinese Cuisine , who chose Guangzhou, said the residents themselves were the real experts on fine dining. Guangzhou has more than 40,000 restaurants, and last year the city's food and beverage industry make 61 billion RMB, about a quarter of the sector's earnings in Guangdong province. Hopefully the East Asia Games will be a success, but some spectators may flog to the city for the food and not to watch the sports.

Oktoberfest

22 Sep 2010 - In a few more weeks the German state of Bayern will celebrate its traditional Oktoberfest, with many in 'lederhosen' and women in 'dirndl dresses' eat and drink as much as they can to celebrate life. The Bayern region is the top producer of beer in Germany, and Germany is only topped by the Czech Republic in beer consumption per capita. Every year about 6 million people join the Oktoberfest, but the consumption of beer has almost doubled in recent years. A few decades ago people drank 3 million liters, but last in total 6,5 million liters of beer was consumed. People do not only drink they also sing, dance and eat. The Oktoberfest organization committee published the amount of meat that is ordered for consumption this year: 459,356 chickens, 53,736 pork legs, and 104 cows. But overall meat consumption is on the decline: in 1981 people ate 350,000 sausages, but this year only 116,000 were ordered.  

The Mirhbox

21 Sep 2010 - There is money in everything, but people fail to see it. A Paris imam saw his opportunity though. The imam is also a part-time inventor and created a portable mosque to help the faithful concentrate better on their prayers wherever they are. He invented a two meters high structure called the Mirhbox, which takes the form of a mirhab - a niche in the wall of a mosque that indicates the direction of the holy city of Mecca - whenever in use. The Mirhbox may be a bit bulky, but it can easily be carried in an average car. The price is reasonable, as for Euro 450 (HKD 4,450), for a top range model, which includes a built-in loudspeaker, to as little as Euro 69 for a smaller children's model. The imam is working on the portable mosque next.

Panda War

20 Sep 2010 - Tensions between old rivals Japan and China over disputed sea waters are on the rise again. China traditionally uses its panda diplomacy to calm things down, but it may think twice before sending more pandas to Japan. Last week, the death of giant panda Kou Kou in the Oji Zoo in Kobe created a stir. Kou Kou died of cardiac arrest after failing to recover from an anaesthetic. Veterinarians has sedated the 14-year-old male as part of a programme to impregnate his partner. Experts believe Kou Kou may have died from an overdose of sedatives and questioned why the vets were extracting semen outside the animal's mating period. There are only 1600 pandas left in the wild. Nearly 300 others are in captive-breeding programmes. Pandas are notoriously slow at reproducing in captivity.

GayLM

20 Sep 2010 - The KLM is aiming for the pink dollar. The Dutch Royal Airlines have started an advertising campaign in the UK particularly targeting gay customers. A special website is developed to motivate the gay community to fly KLM to the gay capitals of the world (Amsterdam, San Francisco, Berlin). The KLM will soon fly from 15 cities in the UK to Amsterdam, and from there to cities all over the world. Gay people are considered an attractive clientele, because they travel a lot and have good money to spend, as many do not have the responsibility for children. KLM marketing manager Verane Brissaud argues that gays also have more free time to travel, as they do not need to raise the kids. However, he also plays down the extra attention for the gays, as he explains that KLM also has special campaigns for business men and women, golfers, sun-lovers and elderly. KLM's marketing strategy is merely a matter of increased segmentation, which is a worldwide trend. SAS has already responded, they have opened a special flight from Stockholm to New York offering the possibility to gay couples to get married in mid air.

Mooncakes

19 Sep 2010 - It is almost Mid Autumn Festival. Traditionally, People exchange mooncakes for the event., while people hope for a bright full moon on this special night of the year. However, dietitians warn to be careful with the delicacies. Since the Hong Kong Government introduced compulsory labeling of all foods, it is possible to learn the fat and sugar content of the delicacies. And it is not good! Some mooncakes contain almost one-and-a-half times an adult's recommended daily intake of sugar , while for others a single cake could account for a full day's fat consumption. A dietitian warns that a mooncake contains as much energy as three bowls of rice, but people should not worry too much as long as they know when to stop eating. She says that eating a quarter of the mooncake sis totally acceptable. She also recommends to eat less rice during the festival as it will compensate the heavy mooncakes intake.

Australian Anthems

19 Sep 2010 - Melbourne Archbishop Denis Hart issued orders to more than 200 catholic churches that some popular sports anthems and songs as Frank Sinatra's My Way have to be banned from funerals. The Archbishop said sport songs were not appropriate for a service that emphasized the solemn nature of death. The edict follows a study that found the signature song for Australian Rules Football team Collingwood was one of the the top requests at Melbourne funerals, along with My Way and Bette Midler's The Wind Beneath My Wings. Other favorites are Louis Armstrong's Wonderful World and Unforgettable by Nat King Cole. It is not known what music the Archbishop recommends, but he probably fancies hymns, gospels and cantates. It is rather sad that one cannot select one's favorite music for the last moments among near and dear ones.      

The World's First Share

18 Sep 2010 - From time to time we all dream of finding the pot with gold on a treasure hunt. A Dutch history student from the ancient city of Enkhuizen did not dig gold, but unearthed the world's first share as issued by the Dutch East India Company (Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie or VOC) - still an impressive find. The share was locked away in forgotten city archives of Hoorn, where he was doing research for his thesis on company finance during the Dutch Golden Age. The share was made out to a gentleman called Pieter Harmensz, a resident of Enkhuizen who served as an assistant to the city's mayors. The Dutch East India Company was one of the world's largest trading firms in the world in the 17th and 18th centuries, and it was the world's first company to issue stock. The VOC share will be put on exhibition in the West Fries museum in Hoorn from September.

What a Way to Go ...

17 Sep 2010 - Most us aim to have some control over lives, but we rarely can control our death. People die in all kind of extreme circumstances, but the recent death of a Hong Kong cleaner is probably one of the most unfortunate examples in quite some die. The poor man was doing his duties and cleaning the halls of one of Hong Kong's high rise building, but slips when throwing garbage into the refuse chute and tumbles 19 floors down. He is seriously injured, but - as autopsy later shows - survives. However, he looses consciousness and gets buried in the trash. Hidden in the trash, he is loaded onto a rubbish truck and taken to a refuse transfer station, where his body is not noticed. Instead, he is dumped on a landfill site, where he is later found after his employer alarms the police.

Up

17 Sep 2010 - I do not like these long haul flight, but the inflight entertainment system helps. It is a good opportunity to check the movie's that somehow were missed when on show in the cinemas, like Disney's Up. Up is a computer-animated comedy-adventure film (that's a whole mouthful - sorry), which was nominated for the Oscar for best movie. It is only the second-ever animated film to receive such a nomination. The film did not win, but it got the Oscars for Best Original Score and Best Animated Feature. The film also opened the 2009 Cannes Film Festival - the first-ever animated movie to do so. It was produced in the widely successful Pixar Studios, which also made hot movies like Toy Story and Finding Nemo. The film received almost entirely positive reviews - with a 98% score on the Rotten Tomatoes website. All this to say that I greatly enjoyed the movie - too bad I did not see it in the cinema. And of course a great opportunity to place this funny picture!

Great Picture (18)

16 Sep 2010 - One wonders what goes on between these two men. The picture (from Reuters) shows a cheeky moment between a member of the People's Liberation Army honour guard and one of his superiors, and was taken at the arrival of Myanmar General Than Shwe. Than Shwe, famously known as a rather reclusive leader, made only his third ever state visit to China. China is often criticized as one of the most important backers of the military junta in Myanmar. It was reported that a new generation of military leaders was introduced to senior Chinese officials and that a briefing on the upcoming Myanmar election was provided. China is keen to keep friendly relations with its southern neighbor, which it needs to guarantee access to the Indian Ocean, but has concerns over the activities of rebel armies and drug lords on its border. In 2009 35,000 people fled from Myanmar into China after fighting erupted in the Kookang area.

Recycled Uniforms

15. Sep 2010 - You may have missed it, as it a not-so-new variation of good-old KLM blue, but the airline has recently introduced new uniforms for its flight attendants. It leads to the question what to do with the old uniforms. It was company practice to burn the used uniforms to prevent abuse and fraud, but KLM has decided to change its policy and will recycle the old uniform in an effort to contribute to a better, cleaner environment. The old uniforms will be shredded by special machines and the remaining thread will be used to produce new products. Peter Bos from Texterium, the company responsible for the recycling, explains that KLM will have bags and slippers made from the old uniforms. In addition, the process will also create jobs for a few dozens jobs. So, good for KLM!

Quote of the Day (21)

14 Sep 2010 - I have a long quote this time. The quote comes from the book "The New Asian Hemisphere" written by Kishore Mahbubani. The book is a must-read for all Westerners in Asia, and for all other Westerners who want to know about the changing world. I like this quote about China: "The acceptance of poverty is much easier if it is seen as a result of destiny. Gradually, this belief in inevitability of destiny is being corroded by the growing application of Adam's Smith principles and the sense of empowerment they create. When many Westerners look at China, they cannot see beyond the lack of democratic political system. They miss the massive democratization of the human spirit that is taking place in China. ... The real value of the free-market economics is not just in the improvements in economic productivity. It is about how it uplifts the human spirit  and liberate the minds of hundreds of millions of people who now feel they can finally take charge of their destinies. This is why Asia is marching forward." 

Lyndhurst Terrace

14 Sep 2010 - Lyndhurst Terrace in Hong Kong's Central district is one of the most buzzing streets in the Big Lychee. But little is known about the history of the street. It's name is a good example of the history and the culture of the city. The English name reflects the history of the colonial power, as John Lyndhurst was an assistant magistrate in the 19th century. More interesting is the Chinese name, which loosely translates as "Arrange Flowers street". Lyndhurst Terrace used to be lined with upscale brothels and flower shops made good business with men buying a bouquet for their love for the night. Sometimes it is a pity that the English street names do not truely reflect the city's past. And one wonders how long Hong Kong will hold on to some of the colonial street names?

Missing Elderly

13 Sep 2010 - More than 234,000 people listed as alive and at least 100 years old in Japan cannot be found at their registered address - including 884 who would be 150 years or older - according to the Justice Ministry. Japan, famed for its longevity, launched a nationwide survey after a recent string of grisly discoveries - including a mummified man in his bed and an old woman's remains in a backpack - sparked alarm about the fate of many elderly. The cases also triggered soul-searching over elderly people living in isolation, and public outrage at relatives of those missing who have kept their deaths secret in order to keep receiving their pension payments. So maybe the story of eating lots of fresh fish and sushi's for good health and long life are myths too?

Gorgonzola

13 Sep 2010 - I love gorgonzola, but unfortunately it is madly expensive in Hong Kong. The distinctive green-blue veining is characteristic of gorgonzola and other types of blue cheese used to come about naturally as the cheese was aged in damp caves, which had edible penicilium spores floating about in them. Nowadays, the spores are mixed in or injected into the cheese curds. The amount of mould gives an indication of the ripeness of the cheese - as it matures , the veining becomes more prominent. There are two types of gorgonzola: dolce and piccante. The former has a creamy, mild taste, with a soft texture. The Gorgonzola piccante is crumbly, drier and much saltier, sharper and stronger in flavor. The gorgonzola can be used to make a pasta sauce, but I think it is best on a cracker with a glass of red wine.

Baby Hatch

12 Sep 2010 - The first 'baby hatch' in Malaysia was opened last week by a local charity. The baby hatch is a small cot with an alarm that triggers the air-conditioning as soon as the baby is placed in the cot. The baby is safe until found by the caretaker, and the mother will never be known. Most mothers are believed to be single mother who are too ashamed to take care of their babies. The charity hopes that the initiative will safe more unwanted babies. In Malaysia, more than 500 babies were abandoned since 2005. Some were left at prayer halls, others were found at the doorstep or even in rubbish bins - most were found dead. Sexual education in Malaysia mainly focus es on abstination and it is illegal for Muslims to have sex outside their marriage. Critics say the programme will make it too easy for mothers to abandon their babies, encouraging extra-marital sex.

Gai Daan Tsai

12 Sep 2010 - People come from all over the world to enjoy Hong Kong's food delights. Although everything from Lebanese to Dutch is available, the Cantonese kitchen is of course a major attraction. Sadly, Hong Kong's street food stalls are slowly but steadily disappearing. One of the city's street food treat is the gai daan tsai, a golden cake of miniature eggs-shaped balls attached to each other like a piece of oversized bubble wrap. The origins of the gai daan tsai are not clear. Some say the post-war generation created the cake to make up for their eggless diet, but others say street hawkers bought damaged eggs on the cheap to work them into a batter, resulting in the golden color. These Hong Kong waffles look easy to make, but attempts in the home kitchen often turn out to be a disappointment. So better support the street stalls and buy from the experts.

Lane Crawford

12 Sep 2010 - Hong Kong is slowly but steadily moving up on the ladder of international fashion. Luxury store Lane Crawford - with its stores omnipresent in the city - is greatly contributing to the city's new image of style and glamour. When visiting Lane Crawford nowadays it is hard to believe the shop was once nothing more than a humble shed. Lane Crawford has been serving the Hong Kong public for more than 160 years. The brand was founded by Scottish merchants Thomas Ash Lane and Ninian Crawford to provide goods to British crews and their families. It billed itself in the late 1880s as "the place to buy anything from a pin to an anchor". According to the company's website, Lane Crawford's first shop was housed in a makeshift bamboo structure on the waterfront of what is now Des Voeux Road on Hong Kong island. Today the luxury retailer stocks a wide selection of international brands in six stores, and is widely known for an eclectic collection of fashion and design items from around the world.