Friday, March 26, 2010

Interesting Japanese Culture



A few weeks ago, the empty ground of a teared down apartment that lies a few meters from our house started to have its new construction. And the construction company's people came over to pay a visit saying that they will start constructing the area where noises and inconvenience may be caused. And what amazed me most is that they give out this small gifts as an apology!! While my in-laws house is just around the corner, they too got a same set of gift!! This is my first experience. 

In the Hong Kong way thinking: no choice, everyone have the right to construct their area, as long as it is under the instructed time line. But the Japanese are so far way too polite to think that they are making a big inconvenience to the neighbors. Don't you think this is incredible?! I will understand more if it is the owner of the new apartment. To me, it seems to be a wired expense for the construction company!!

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Great Hawker's Food!!


Deep Fried Chinese Bread wrapped with Steam Rice Sheet

Curry Fish Balls & Fish Siu Mai

Fried Rice Noodles

Imitated Shark's Fin Soup with Fish Meat

Thanks to my mistakes. I had 1 day time in Hong Kong 2 weeks ago! Here are the great hawker's foods that I missed so much. Visitors need a great deal of guts to try food along the streets!! But trust me, these are really great!!


Chinese or not?!




Well, this is all my mistake though...

 I was supposed to go to Shanghai for business trip 2 weeks ago. Checked-in at tokyo and flew straight 2.5 hrs. While I tried to get into china with my hong kong passport... I was blocked!!!!!!! This little pass we hongkongese have when we go to china was required! I thought this is just for when we go to china straight from HONG KONG?! Nop, I was wrong... And guess what?! Mine was half year expired...

No negotiation, no optional choice, no discussions, no ground visa... I was send straight back to tokyo! Where I went back to Hong Kong on the very next day to make a speed pass so as to get into china finally...

This is the question... my nationality is 'Chinese' but I can't get into China freely. Just like when we hold the BNO passport before Hong Kong's return to china. We hold an overseas British Passport, but we are not allow to live in england freely. So what are we?! Wonder if Hong Kong will become a country someday?

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Tamotsu Funakoshi




A friend of my husband's parents had held an exhibition at Toutouan. Tamotsu Funakoshi, a ceramic artist. I'm not at all a fan of potteries, but I like his work that is unsymmetry in shape which gives you a very natural mood.

Toutouan is a tradtional japanese restaurant that our family love. Very traditional food and the building is very beautiful filled with spirit!

Friday, March 5, 2010

Changeling - チェンジリング


I didn't really know about the story of this film, not until I finished it last night... Knowing that this was based on a true story, me & my husband was thrilled and shocked. Never knew that justice & truth were so easily bend by powers. The people we trust that we can put our lives to can be so ignorant and cold hearted. When a man with power thought something is right, he can convince others to think the same way and take the same acts... how terrified!! From this film, it reminds me that how cruel man can be, but in the same time, how strong the love of man can be too... whenever I think of this, I recall the sayings of chinese philosophers Xun Zi & Mencius. Where Xun Zi believe that man is born with natural 'waywardness', but in opposite, Mencius believe that man are born to be naturally good. But I think there is both... or maybe man are born with both of these, just that which of them is stronger within you. Once being influence, you can change so much in the way you think and the life you will lead!! Human can be so wise but so weak too, just like diamonds can be so strong yet fragile. 

昨夜見るまで、こんなに重い映画だと思ってなかったです。本当の話だと知って、驚きを隠せない夫と私です。。。なんだかすごく重い気分になり、恐怖を感じました。事実と正義はこう簡単に権力に押し流されるとは思わなかったです。命を預けるほど信用している人たちはこんなに無知で、心が冷たい人間であるなんて、びっくりしました。権力を持つだけで、信じきったことを他人までそう思わせるのは本当に怖いです。この映画で、人間ってこんなに冷酷無残な生き物でありと同時に決して動揺しない愛情を持つ生き物でもあることを感じさせてくれます。こう考える、中国の思想家、荀子孟子の思想を思い出します。荀子は人間が「性本悪」と信じ、孟子は「性本善」と説き、けど両方とも正しいではないでしょうか?ひょっとして、一人の人間に両方の本性を持っているかもしれません。ただ、どっちが強いだけです。教育や影響により、考え方や生き方を変わってしまう本性である。人間ってともて賢明ですが、とても弱い生きものでもあり、ダイヤモンドのように固いけれどとても脆いです。