Frog Marriage

19 Aug 2010 - The weather has been exceptional this year, with heavy rains in Pakistan and China, and a dry spell in Russia and Bangladesh. Farmers in a district of northern Bangladesh are marrying off frogs in a desperate bid to bring on monsoon rains and protect their crops, local officials said. Bangladesh suffered its driest July month in decades, prompting farmers to turn to the centuries-old rain-making ritual of celebrating frog marriages. At a frog wedding in Ranchandrapur village, 300 villagers dressed in their best clothes attended the festivities, said Tajul Islam, who was at the wedding. "the frog bride and groom are highly decorated with a red streak of color on their foreheads and carried in a special basked to a banana leaf stage.".

Terminus

18 Aug 2010 - A few months ago Hong Kong people marched the streets in protest against the high-speed railway  link between Hong Kong and Guangzhou. The Government pushed through and the preparations for the new link have started on the west Kowloon waterfront. In an attempt to appease the public some artists' impressions of the new terminus have been published, and it seems very attractive indeed. The plan calls for roads that seperate the terminus from the waterfront, like Austin Road, to be put underground. The biggest attraction is an arch for pedestrians that offers fantastic view over Victoria Harbor and the (to be built) cultural district. I am a bit cynical about all the greeneries and all those trees though, because these artists' impressions are usually far-off from the real thing. No matter what, it will still take years before we will be able to walk the arch, as the construction of the high speed terminal will only go up for public tender later this year.

Milk-Tea Champ

18 Aug 2010 - Hong Kong's Law Dak was officially crowned as the world's best cha chaan teng (traditional milk tea) maker. He beat rivals from as far as Canada and Australia to earn his new title. The new champion said he was very excited. He mentioned that he shed some tears after reaching the finals, and that his win was a dream coming true. However, he did not burst down in tears again after being crowned the number one. Maybe he will shed some tears in the coming days, because it appears that job-offers are flowing in. Hopefully he will be able to make some money with his well-earned title. Law Dak says he wants to promote Hong Kong style milk-tea, because nowadays speed is more important than quality. He believes people should take a moment to enjoy his traditional tea, as life in Hong Kong is far too rushed. Maybe we should all introduce our daily milk-tea moment?

Chinese Martyr

17 Aug 2010 - I saw a TV program about martyrs the other day. Being a martyr used to be quite a heroic title, but these days it seems something for freaks and fanatics. But what does one need to do to be declared a martyr in China? Official martyrdom has been awarded to a government employee who accidentally slipped on a wet toilet floor and died last month in Jiangyang district of Chengdu. The honor has stirred heated discussion on the internet fora over whether the employee had died during working hours or not because, officially, he died during the office break (some call this napping time). People believe he was napping in the toilet and slipped when he woke up. Official martyrdom entitles the victims' families to government welfare, but people feel napping on the toilet should not be rewarded. One thing to say is that it is not very glorious to die in the office toilet ....

Keep the Curtains Open

17 Aug 2010 - Better watch out, because criminals and terrorists could be among us! Britain's advertising watchdog banned an anti-terrorism commercial that asked people to watch out for suspicious behavior with their neighbors, including keeping their curtains closed and paying for things in cash. The Advertising Standards Authority said the radio advert could cause "serious offense" to law-abiding citizens. The advert described a man "who likes to keep himself to himself", doesn't have a bank card and keeps his curtains closed, before advertising that "together it could all add up to you having suspicions". The watchdog said listeners with the description could be offended by the implication their behavior was suspicious.

Paul Kagame

16 Aug 2010 - Ever since I worked in Rwanda in 1994, this tiny country in Central Africa has my interest. Last week its influential leader Paul Kagame was re-elected with an absolute majority of more than93%. I do not know what to think of Mr. Kagame, but then again how does one bring a country out of a genocide and move forward? The SCMP profiled Kagame and I just want to quote a few lines: " .. the West lives with the guilty knowledge it was Kagame and his rebel army who stopped the genocide, while everyone else dithered and blundered, and Kagame has been skillful and relentless at using this collective guilt to his advantage. Like so many rebel generals, ... he places a high premium on loyalty and discipline, likes to operate in secrecy, is comfortable using violence and threats of violence against his enemies, and tends to equate criticism with treason."

Bicycle Dudes

16 Aug 2010 - The SCMP had the page-wide headline "Men are dealing with the angst of a midlife crisis by buying racing bikes, a study has found." The article explains that men between the age 35 - 50 show a sudden and unexpected concern with health. It goes on to explain that traditionally men have eased the existential angst that afflicts them by driving sports cares, sitting astride large and throbbing motorbikes, or running off with younger women (men). However, according to the retail analyst Mintel, they are buying top-of-the-range racing bikes instead. Unfortunately, they also go for the tight lycra-stretch shorts, figure-hugging jerseys and weird sport shoes). I would say that if a generation of middle-aged men start living healthier than who cares, and cycling seems a lot better than running off with the secretary?

Kowloon Tong

15 Aug. 2010 - Wow, I just found out that my neighborhood, Kowloon Tong, has its own entry on the Wikipedia website. Maybe that is not so surprising for an area with two Universities and a major shopping mall, but still ... I learned that Kowloon Tong was originally a village close to the Police Sports Association grounds on Boundary Street. Extensive cultivation was possible as waters flowed from Beacon Hill. In the 1920s the (British) Government decided to develop the land east of Kowloon Tong, on the other side of the Kowloon - Canton Railway, and change it into a British model residential area. Over the past years some HK friends have commented that Kowloon Tong is a "European-looking" area, which I always thought laughable, but now I understand their comments a bit better. And in all fairness, the broad tree-lined roads are unique in Hong Kong. Sadly, some trees are being chopped because nervous residents fear they may collapse.

Cyber Clean

15 Aug 2010 - One is never too old to try something new, so I picked up a pack of Cyber Clean while running the weekly errands. Cyber Clean claims to be the only cleaning compound that can reach inside all those difficult areas inside your computer, and remove all nasty and harmful things while cleaning on contact. All one has to do is press and pull. The Cyber Clean website also says that worldwide tests have proven that keyboards have a higher level of dirt than public toilets and often store tremendous amounts of waste. Don't worry - Cyber Clean claims to kill 99,999% (note: NOT 99,998%) germs (the website says there are dirty things living inside my keyboard - lol) , and will leave the surface of any computer clean and fresh smelling. So, I opened the pack and pressed and pulled, but could not help thinking that I was on "Candid Camera"!!? Some nature-phobic Hong Kong people may love this product, but seriously - is there anyone who tried this and liked it? But don't worry, because after using the product my keyboard does not smell.

Great Picture (12)

15 Aug 2010 - A great picture tells a story and this picture by Dutch photographer Marijn Scheeres tells the story how Amsterdam is changing. The picture was taken in Amsterdam-North, and I like the contradiction between the muslima who is doing her shopping, while life goes on for the traditional Amsterdam couple on the right side of the picture. The picture was taken at an early morning hour, and the elderly couple is about to share their first cup of coffee, while the new neighbor has a different daily routine and seems already done with her shopping. She looks a bit lonely though - all alone on the cold street. This is Amsterdam in 2010!

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.