Teaching China to Drive on the Right Side of the Road

This is the first step to allowing China mainlanders to drive into Hong Kong.

In March, HK drivers without Mainland China licences will get special permits for one day trips into China, called “自駕遊” (traveling by driving yourself, zi gaa yau). It is the first stage to allow drivers from both sides of the border to cross freely. Does anyone see a problem with this?! I see no mention of supplementary driving education or test to verify drivers understand the regulations on the other side. Speaking of the other side, Hong Kong and China drive on opposite sides of the road!

Now to put it into a social and current context, visitors without cars are already blamed for the tension between the mainland and the special administrative region (link to my previous post). And more blame on pregnant mothers being parasites to the Hong Kong welfare system. Tourists on foot loiter in random areas on Hong Kong’s narrow sidewalks. What will you get with drivers in petrol-fueled machines who usually drive on the opposite side of the road, who are not used to Hong Kong’s narrow roads and relatively stricter regulations? It also poses a higher challenge for border staff to filter out pregnant mothers and deny access, which was the solution proposed by the government and York Chow (Health department). Henry Tang, which mainland Chinese merchants are you pleasing by signing this? I didn’t need more convincing to not vote for you, now I’m registering just to vote against you. (Disclaimer: this is not a political endorsement.)

So, About that video of a Chinese Professor calling Hong Kongers “Dogs” and “Bastards”…

The year of the Rabbit has not brought a gentle mood to Hong Kong. Blow after blow of incidents heightened the tension between Mainland China and Hong Kong. Here are recent news stories and personal experiences that happened recently:

-         Mainland pregnant women exploit Hong Kong’s overloaded emergency rooms and delivery wards just so they can birth a child into Hong Kong residence status. They cross the border during the final moments of pregnancy, putting themselves and their children in danger and straining Hong Kong’s under resourced hospitals. <SCMP>

-         On Jan 5^th, a staff from the D&G store at Tsim Sha Tsui’s Canton Road denied Hong Kongers from photographing the store but allowed mainlanders to, subsequently leading to a protest outside the store:  <Yahoo news>

-         Over the weekend I watched the film A Beautiful Life (不再讓你孤單), a stereotype of Hong Kong vs China characters.

-         Today, a video has gone viral on Facebook amongst Hong Kongers, showing a Mandarin television talk show of a Professor calling Hong Kongers dogs and bastards

The video that has gone viral: Mainland Chinese Televsion: Hongkonger are dogs 中國電視台: 香港人係狗 (Mandarin with English subtitles)

A Romantic Rant against Technology

Language has become vulgar. Romance is rare. Courting has evolved to one night stands.

One thing to blame is the advance of technology and how it reduced waiting time. Super markets, text messaging, contraception are all products and enablers of instantaneous materialistic, communicative, and sexual satisfaction.They have provided convenience but challenged a balanced and sustained lifestyle. Preserved and over seasoned produce vs. fresh goods from the local butcher. Unconsciously typed messages (you know you can multitask) vs. carefully selected words and tidy calligraphy. I am not discrediting the skills required in the modern alternatives, but don’t you miss the times when a pursuer can’t read about all your likes and history on one page, and they make an effort to find out what you liked? Or making plans to have a nice dinner a week in advance instead of meeting up wherever convenient through Whatsapp?

Tom Ford, when reflecting on the present, said:

Graphic Dream

It was at night when a blonde girl resembling Sofia Coppola meets a young guy, in a neighbourhood recreation park with more concrete than green. Only distant streetlights revealed their profiles. They were walking calmly and casually discussing which of the humans standing motionless with their backs to them and facing the park management building, now rotting corpses with the characteristic monochromatic tone, will “change”. When a corpse changes, it becomes a fanged zombie with vicious temper and rages to bite.
They didn’t have a term to label these beings. They weren’t called vampires nor were they zombies, but they have become a common sighting. Oddly this girl and guy only step out at night.

I watch them chat idly and smiling at these corpses like children pointing at pigeons in the park. Then, the field of vision draws to a closeup of her fine blonde hair, shoulder length wisps carried by the breeze, translucent with fluorescent light against the concrete wall. She turns her head. And she is gray. She has the monochromatic tone and hollow face, feral eyes, rotting skin, and gaping, fanged mouth.

Lazy Sunday at Lazy Al Molo

How should I begin? On Sunday afternoon, I returned with friends to Al Molo after opening night for a full serving of veal ravioli. Alas, it is only served during dinner :( This pouty face occured several more times during our meal.

Well, fret not, for I am at the restaurant of the king of pasta and there is an abundance of pasta dishes to choose from. Actually only 5-6 pasta dishes, and my friend complained about the limited menu. I disagree; I believe shorter menus allow quality over quantity. A long menu tries too hard to please too many people and sacrifices quality. The wine and drink lists, on the other hand… I don’t know about their quality but there were sure a lot to choose from!

Firstly, we ordered an appetizer to share – yellowtail sashimi. I believe it is served with

Al Molo – Reference for Revisit

Al Molo launched at Harbour City, Hong Kong, serving Italian cuisine by New York restauranteur and king of pasta Michael White, on the ground level next to BLT Steak. I went with a friend and we had a good time at the Al Molo launch. Can’t say no to free food and making new friends :)

This is just a quick note to my own friends of what I’ve tried for reference when we revisit, and also a glimpse of the menu for anyone who wasn’t able to get food through crowds. It was ridiculous: women bearing talon like nails snatched pizza in handfuls losing all composure despite their diamonds and pearls, and the lines covered most of the walls of the spacious restaurant as if there was a famine going on. If it weren’t for my starving friend’s fervor, I wouldn’t have been motivated to fight for food.

Would you like some Scones?: An Ode, Scene 2

Continued from Scene 1

Next came the egg whites, beaten till they’re stiff,