Yet another batch of links to published writings

A wild bird gazing into
the murky waters of Victoria Harbour
-- and, if it thought like a human,
wishing that the water was cleaner and clearer

Come Sunday, November 18, it will be Harbour Day over here in Hong Kong. To help commemorate this event, the plan had been to come out with a special Harbour Day-themed issue of bc magazine. The way things turned out, however, there is less coverage of this day in the magazine than the powers that be would have liked. And I guess that I had something to do with this since the following are the non-Harbour Day-themed pieces that I wrote for this issue:-

i) Milkyway's Latest Star -- feature article on Andy On (one of the stars of Milkyway Image's latest film, Mad Detective)

ii) The Wide World of Zhengs -- feature article on the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra's upcoming World of Zhengs concert along with its featured artist, the charming Luo Jing

iii) Australian A Cappella -- feature article on Antipodean a cappella quartet The Idea of North

iv) Review of Anna & Anna and an interview with its director cum co-scriptwriter, Aubrey Lam

v) Review of Tokyo Tower: Mom & Me, and Sometimes Dad

vi) The Editor's Diary for November 15 to 30 (and a bit beyond)

vii) The Live Music section

For all this though, here's stating for the record that I, too, am definitely in favor of Victoria Harbour being made cleaner than it currently is. (And very much ditto with regards to the air that we breathe.)

On a different note: For those who wonder, yes, there are 'hard'/paper copy versions of bc magazine. Also, yes, I've spotted a few typos in the on-line edition and will try to see that they get remedied... maybe before some of you check the relevant pages out! ;S

Flexible (This week's Photo Hunt theme)

Living in what one Hong Kong newspaper has referred to as Bamboo City, it's really hard to go beyond the flexible bamboo when thinking of what to feature in this week's Photo Hunt entry. And why, I hear those of you who've never been to Hong Kong -- and don't have the time or inclination to check out the linked article from The Standard -- and can't quite figure out the photos in this blog post ask, is the Fragrant Harbour also referred to as Bamboo City?

Short answer: Because pretty much at any time of the day or year, the observer out for a stroll in the built-up areas of Hong Kong will easily come across buildings in the process of being built or renovated that are effectively encased in bamboo scaffolding (like the ones in the top two photos). Also, while it can look really insane (to wit: the bottom two photos, one of which shows the bottom of the scaffolding not being rooted in the ground...), there really is a logic and method to the supposed madness, as the following excerpts from the above referenced article show:-

Bamboo scaffolding is an example of natural materials put to ingenious use. Steel scaffolding may have advantages in strength and standardised quality but bamboo wins out in other ways...

Bamboo is more flexible than steel. It can be slightly bent to fit building contours... [Additionally, b]ecause of its properties bamboo is not rigid, so weaknesses can be detected before actually collapsing. Also bamboo is about eight times lighter than steel and it floats. Well-kept scaffolding can be used over and over again for about two years but then has to be disposed of... Bamboo scaffolding isn't necessarily dangerous... It is a cost-effective traditional craft that should be preserved and improved.

Tung Chung to Tai O Part Two (Photo-essay)

This afternoon (a few hours after I went and added two Hello Kitty figurines to my collection), I went on another hike with the same trio of friends who I had walked from Tung Chung to Tai O with a couple of weeks ago. So, having told them that I'd be putting up quite a few of the photos I took along the way up on my blog, I figure that I had better make good on my promise. Thus, here are eight more photos from that long but leisurely walk that, hopefully, more than just they and myself will be able to enjoy checking out:-

Before we get to the scenic nature shots,
first here's a colorful close-up... ;)

At times during the hike,
including this section around Sham Wat Wan,
we were more or less at sea-level
and near the sea itself

But soon afterwards,
the trail began heading up to higher ground

And it's from higher ground
(albeit that which still was close to the coast),
that we got to drink in views like this...

Is it just me or do some parts of Hong Kong
resemble some portions of the English countryside?

Although this photo makes it look
like it was not the case, there really still was
quite a bit of sunlight left in the day at this point

Believe it or not:
This picture was actually taken
later in the hike then the one above it!

As we neared Tai O and our journey's end,
we got near to sea-level
as well as the sea once more

And hmmmm, it looks like there'll have to be a third Tung Chung to Tai O photo-essay since I think it'd be remiss of me to not put up any of my photos of Tai O and its environs at some point in the near future... ;S

Two more MTR Hello Kitty Heroes! :)

Look away now, Hello Kittyphobes! ;b

They're baaaack! Or, more accurately: As of today, November 4th, there are two more additions to the MTR Hello Kitty Heroes Collection that was first launched back on July 16th. Like the other six MTR Hello Kittys that I was given by the good folks over at Muse's Network, these plastic figurines are around 5 inches tall, dressed in MTR uniforms and -- to my mind -- very cute.

Unsurprisingly, I felt greatly compelled to get my hands on them. Worried by the possibility that the MTR would run out of stock before I could get my hands on a set of these new Hello Kittys, I actually woke up earlier than usual this Sunday and, before I even had breakfast, headed to the nearest MTR station in search of these kawaii -- and, anti-pink Hello Kitty detractors please note, distinctly un-pink -- feline figurines.

Maybe it was because I was there sufficiently early but as it turned out, there was no queue in sight, forget the kind of mad stampede for Hello Kitty items that is not unheard of (but which I very fortunately have never personally experienced). Indeed, it was a breeze to come out of the MTR station with my own set of two new MTR Hello Kitty Heroes (see above photo) along with another for my fellow Hello Kitty fan mother... (Note to those planning on getting their own: There is a two set limit per person for these items!) :))

Classic (This week's Photo Hunt theme)

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The subject of my Photo Hunt entry this week is a classic mode of public transportation over here in Hong Kong that is regarded as on the slow side these days but, nonetheless, remains quite popular -- in large part because it is the most economical option at just HK$2 (~26 US cents or 0.18 Euros) a ride -- and can be safely regarded as having withstood the test of time.

Trams have been operating in Hong Kong since 1904. Early on, their route was along what was the north coast of Hong Kong Island. Over the years, so much land reclamation has taken place that, more often than not, the Hong Kong Tramways no longer can provide passengers with views of Victoria Harbour. Consequently, they cannot claim to provide scenic views to rival that of the more glamorous -- and more expensive -- cousin, the Peak Tram. But, to my mind, they make up for it by regularly treating passengers to interesting "slice of life" peeks at everyday Hong Kong as they travel from as far west as Kennedy Town to as far east as the former fishing village of Shau Kei Wan (and vice versa).

On top of all this, there's a romantic aura attached to the tram for this Hong Kong filmophile courtesy of it having appeared in so many Hong Kong movies over the years. In particular, I think of the part it has played in courting scenes in Tempting Heart (1999), Last Ghost Standing (also 1999) and The Odd One Dies (1998), the opening scene and more in Eye in the Sky (2007), and that sizzling sex scene in Nomad (1982). Then there's also that scene in The Longest Summer (1998) in which Sam Lee's character experienced a case of "tram rage" that prompted him to hurl at least one of his fellow tram passengers out of a window from the upper deck of the tram...! ;b

A word on the physical appearance of the trams before I end this entry: These days, it's rare to see a tram whose exterior is not covered by advertisements. Rather than besmirch a classic, however, I think that the often very imaginatively illustrated ads actually are pretty cool to check out. Now that you've had the opportunity to view a few of them (courtesy of my photos), what do you think?

Tung Chung to Tai O (Photo-essay)

Two Fridays ago was one of Hong Kong's seventeen public holidays. Even better was it being one of the twelve designated statutory holidays. Traditionally, Chung Yeung is the day in autumn when Hong Kongers go and visit the graves of their ancestors. These days, however, it's not only that but a very popular day for hiking. So... guess what I did on that day?

This time around, I opted to go hiking with an international group of friends (one each from Hong Kong, Germany and Singapore) along the northwest coast of Hong Kong's largest island, Lantau. At a little bit more than 5 hours, this excursion turned out to be the longest I've been on on foot in Hong Kong. At the same time though, it was by no means the most exhausting as Tung Chung to Tai O turned out to be more of a leisurely walk -- along relatively flat as well as largely paved trails -- than a hike.

Still, as can be seen below, it's not as though I didn't get many opportunities to 'exercise' my camera along the way. So I was happy. And this especially as there was good food at the end of the hike over in the village of Tai O and good company to enjoy throughout the day... :)

The walking trail officially started
near this Hau Wong Temple in Tung Chung

I took advantage of the Taoist temple
being among the few in Hong Kong
whose exterior I was freely allowed to photograph

Part of the walk brings one directly under
the path of the currently stationary
Ngong Ping 360 cable car service

Old, abandoned village houses in the foreground
and a partial view of what looks to have been
its direct replacement in the background

View across the bay
to a reclaimed portion of Lantau
on which Hong Kong International Airport sits

See how easy (and popular) this walk is? :b

Still, it's not like we were entirely
far from nature and greenery though!

Ending this photo-essay midway through the hike
-- and on a cultural note --
with another photo of a small Taoist temple
(this one dedicated to the three emperors of the mountains)

Beginning of November writings

A photo taken inside of a Hindu temple
in Penang some months back

Has another month passed by already? As the proverbial "they" say, "time flies when you're having fun". Too which I'd add that it's even more so if you're busy, busy, busy! And, also, that my definite impression after six months -- yes, it's been six months now! -- in Hong Kong is that folks in "Asia's World City" most definitely are into working but also playing hard. :)

Getting to the work part of my Hong Kong life: The latest issue of bc magazine is out on the streets and available on-line as of today, with a cover story -- not written by moi actually! -- about Diwali (AKA Deepavali), the fast approaching Hindu festival of lights. Hence my choice of photo for this entry.

Moving on to those portions of the magazine that I wrote -- this time around, they are:-

i) Sufi Sema -- a feature article on Istanbul's whirling dervishes who will be coming to town later this month (and who I saw performing their Sema ritual when I visited that enchanting Turkish city back in September 2003)

ii) Dulce et Decorum Est -- an arts feature piece on an upcoming staging of World War One play Journey's End later this month

iii) When Adam Met Anjo -- an interview with director cum scriptwriter Adam Wong

iv) Magic Boy -- review of Adam Wong's latest movie

v) Summer's Tail -- review of the Taiwanese movie (but also on the same page is an interview with its director Cheng Wen-Tang and female star, songwriter cum co-scriptwriter, Enno (the latter of whom, more than incidentally, has just been nominated for a Golden Horse award in the Best Newcomer category))

vi) Blind Mountain -- review of director Li Yang's follow-up film after Blind Shaft

vii) Silk -- review of a movie that annoyed me so what that it 'inspired' me to write a lengthier than usual review for the magazine!

viii) Editor's Diary -- ten events to check out over the upcoming fortnight... if you were/are in Hong Kong ;b

ix) Live Music -- a section that I'm gradually becoming more comfortable writing...

And although I didn't write it, I have a feeling that more than one reader of this blog will find this review of Triangle to be of interest (plus be able to recognize the name of its author). :)