Ailie in Wonderland 3

The cold has turned better and besides the running nose and occassional coughes, I can claim myself somewhat fit.

So now I am organising a kayaking trip at Cheung Chau with some friends on coming weekend. Thanks the mentoring of JM, I have a growing interest in kayaking and will spend some more time learning it. Sure in relation I gotta improve my swimming skills, too.

More reports later.

Oh,  I *did* watch the Olympic Games.  Only the weekend matches.  Some gymnastics, some diving, and some atheletics (didn’t I say I like watching people running?).  It’s kind of fun anyway — no matter where it is hosted.  And I hate the excessive and unnecessary “moderation” (I think most of them sounded like a simple blah blah blah) in Chinese channels, so normally I switched the audio to English.

And the last two parts of the closing ceremony reflected exactly how a ‘normal’, Chinese-styled (inter)national show should be.

The GermCarrierPlayingNDSInTrain,

I must put a curse on you, as you passed me passed me some germs with your uncovered sneeze and now makes me sick!

And I cannot sleep well, keep coughing, have a non-stop runny nose, and under herbal tea therapy. Not to talk about my low mood and bad working incentive.

So is my curse: You’ll lose every game you play, and even you manage to escalate, you’ll never reach the final level! And no chance with any girl!

D**n you!

Ms AC, the one who sat right next to you in MTR (call me witch.)

JM came to Hong Kong for a weekend and asked me for suggestions.

“What do you want to do, say, eating, getting around or what.”

“Anywhere with natural things and water. You know, I’m a waterman.”

Then I think about Cheung Chau. It is a popular weekend place for locals, from school summer camp to teenage lovers’ escape. The Windsurfing Queen and revival of Bun Snatching Festival save the island from losing attractions for locals.

So I joined JM at the ferry right after work, and with luck there was an extra fast ferry. After dropping the luggages at the B&B we hung around and finally had seafood dinner, then back to the B&B and watched the USA-China volleyball match, and sure, started drinking. The sweet-sour thing was the US team, under the Chinese vetaran player Lang Ping’s coaching, won over China 3-2.

The other day we started the day at the beach. The good thing about Cheung Chau is it doesn’t take long from the ferry to the Tung Wan beach. The day was hot and sunny, and there were people windsurfing on sea already.

“That’s all?” asked JM.

“I read that there is a water sports center at the next beach. Let’s check it out.”

So we moved on, took a brief look at the St John’s Hospital, passed the Warwick Hotel (I remember I and some highschool friends had a coffee there…), and found the place.

JW decided almost immediately that there was where the day should be spent. After checking the rental price, watching people windsurfing for a while, he started doing by himself. I, as a non-watergirl, just watching all these people around and on the sea. The place is also a nice cafe with very nice staff. And the two PR dogs, Gum Gum and Siu Fook, are friendly too.

Then I saw LAI Gun! The legendary windsurfing guru! He just hung around the place, sometimes went to the beach and gave advices, or started a boat to the sea and picked up the exhausted surfers. He’s not only the mentor of the Olympic medalist, but also a cult figure being featured in the animation My Life as McDull (2001).

JM took a break every hour’s windsurfing. Each time he said, “oh it’s so great,” and after snacks he said, “oh I want another hour.” Undoubtedly he really enjoyed that.

After the 3rd round he just ended. But then he said, “hey how about kayaking?” As lifejackets were provided, I joined him renting a two-seater and headed to the sea. I fell in love with it right away — I was always hesitated contacting the sea, as I am a poor swimmer and keep worrying about drowning. But kayaking is easy and it is a good way to me to experience the sea.

“Going back?” After some 1-2km JM asked.

“How about getting across the sea and back? It’s so cool and I want to go further.”

So we spent around an hour kayaking along the Tung Wan, and watched the sunset and the arrival of a full moon. It’s great to see the end of the day on sea.

After that we joined a BBQ party organised by some club members. Lai Gun said it was time for people introducing each other, having good food, good drink, and be happy. This fitted me well…

So I talked with Lai Gun about drinking (haa haa my favourite topic) and Cheung Chau, and with Robert, who grew up in BT and now works in Hong Kong, about BT, Cheung Chau and kayaking. Someone opened a bottle of good port. JM said, “Those people love winds. They keep talking everything about wind. It’s interesting.”

JM kept going between the party and the water. Finally everybody joined him in the sea. The water was cool and comfortable. “I could spend a whole week here.” JM said.

So he decided to come back before it turns too cold. He knows the way well and the people like him, and next time he will be greeted by many old friends of winds.

I think I should call some friends joining me kayaking.

My trophy: sunburn at the back, many mosquito bites, and some bruises.

I re-discovered this song when packing up my The Beautiful South CDs. The title is already … dramatic.

I sold my heart to junkman

I gave my heart to you, the one that I trusted.
You brought it back to me all broken and busted
I sold my heart to the junkman
and I’ll never fall in love again.

You took my heart because you thought you could use it.
Just like a little toy you battered and bruised it
I sold my heart to the junkman
and I’ll never fall in love again.

Like a melodrama, in a simple manner,
love played the leading part.
We had planned a happy ending.
But I’m left with a broken heart.

I’ll throw my pride aside and say we’ll be friends, dear.
Teardrops I just can’t hide for this is the end, dear.
I sold my heart to the junkman
and I’ll never fall in love again.

I’ll throw my pride aside and say we’ll be friends, dear.
Teardrops I cannot hide for this is the end, dear.
I sold my heart to the junkman
and I’ll never fall in love again.

On Sat I and sisC joined mom to the animal crematorium to farewell FC.

Since in Hong Kong it’s illegal to dispose animal corpses anywhere, one have to send them to those public or licensed sites for disposal. Mom found a private crematorium that provides also pick-up service, and scheduled a farewell (and check the bill) on Sat.

The place is in an industrial building. It’s not unusual, as burning animals (not to talk about burning humans) is still kind of nuisance thing, especially in densely populated places like Hong Kong. The staff showed us FC, defrosted from the cool storage, lying on a metal tray. “Do you have anything - like snacks or clothings - that you want to burning with FC?” “Want to keep some hair?” “Want a last touch?” No, no, and no. At least it’s not my mom’s style. Then we said bye to FC and let the technician sent him for cremation.

After that we returned to the office and found there is a quasi columbarium — in fact it looks more like the showcase wall you may find in some Mongkok mini shopping malls. There people put the urns, photos and other stuffs of the late animals — dogs, cats, rabbits, hampsters. There was a few visitors, but no one ever talk. Yes, it’s looks somewhat hilarious, still it’s a place of sadness. In my childhood no one ever think about paying for a service like this. So it’s clear that the world is changing.

The place reminded me that trip in Manchester in 2003 in search of my grandpa’s rose — in a crematorium. Someone decided to have a 4-year lease of a small piece of land, poured the ash in ground and planted a rose with a name tag there. When we tried to look for that rose, the lease was over and the rose/ nametag is gone. Time won’t wait and there are always regrets.

C’est la vie.

Mom called late last night and said Fei Chai (”the fat kid”) died.

Unlike Lily, FC was never *my* dog. He was the mongrel my mom saved from being beaten by some porters near her office. He came as a little cute puppy, but after a few months his size multiplied and we found that difficult to handle, and had a conflict of interest (i.e. territory) with Lily. And for some reasons FC didn’t like me much, so slowly it was obvious to us that he only listened to my mom.

The only time he really followed me was a day he had a diarrhea, and I happened to be home, so I just brought him downstairs to the toilet. But that was the only time I walked him.

Being adpoted (and spoiled by mom) too young too early, unlike other 2 stray dogs, FC was never a brave man.  Mom said he must stay indoors when there was thunder.  And he could hardly combat with other animals in the wild, namely snakes, and always needed his 2 companies’ help.  I think only me was scared of him.

Slowly both my mom and FC turned old, and sometimes mom complained that it became a hard job to walk him. Last weekend mom called and said the vet suggested FC to undergo some test. The result is no-negative.

But the fact was he’s aging. Mom said he had lost appetite for a while, and last nite FC strolled around the place and stared at her several times. Mom told him that he might leave if he wanted to, and there was no need to worry about her. An hour after he laid on the floor and slowly stopped breathing.

*sigh*

I have used Chop Sui too often, so this time I try something new.

1. Michal, husband of my Pole friend Nicole (who offered me a place to stay during last winter), happened stopping by Hong Kong for a few hours, and therefore we met in SB and as usual, eat and drink. We talked about life, politics in ex-communist countries, religion, relationships, etc. It’s a long time when I talked about almost everything with someone last time. He said next time when possible, he would invite me to take a look at a 300m container vessel. Wow.
2. JM initiated a HK-TPE joint project: we tally our individual alcohol intake everyday (could be from zero to n) for 5 weeks, and after then the one who drinks more (in terms of drinks/weight/day) will have a 3-day alcohol ban. The reason: just found that our conversations always start with “last night I drank how many glasses”, or “drunk”, or “terrible night”, and then labelling each other as alcoholic. So we gotta find a way to see who’s more alcoholic.
3. Many friends got problems with office culture and talk with me about this. I think the key issues are always (mis)understanding and tolerance. Well, our world is running out of time to understand people.
4. After the spicy chicken pie T said this Friday he will make me a Cornish pasty. Cool.
5. It rains again! Halleluja!

Finally I got my pie on Friday night. T said, “It’s with spicy chicken — chicken, chilli pepper, some corianda, some mushrooms (here means champingons), some onions — I hope you like it.”

So I made it my Saturday lunch. I heated it up a bit with microwave, then popped it into the oven so as to make the crust crispy. After 15 minutes a good smell came from the kitchen.

The crust was buttery. And the filling was good. One thing stuck me a bit was the size. I have a small appetite and a 6″ pie is definite beyond my capacity. So I just finished half of it, and left the rest for the other day (and definitely the chicken pieces went dry after 2nd re-heat…) .

yum yum.

At the time I write this post, I am relieved and can finally speak openly about what happened in the past months — which I could only describe them subtly before.

1) Besides depression, for some stupid reasons I and a family member were being charged by a govt dept. The process lasted for 3-4 months, and we are overwhelmed by firstly shock, then anger, then frustration, then desperation, then sadness, then …

2) The aftermath of last winter (i.e. being kicked out and seriously emotionally disturbed) stuck me for a while longer than usual, too. I thought I could have handled it well after returning to Hong Kong but in fact I couldn’t. The life change made me not only losing a bf but also a very good friend (in my own terms, it left me not just one hole but two). It knocked my down together with issue 1). The emotional vaccum kept bugging me until I (somewhat) found some other talking friends (i.e. at least one hole is somewhat filled).

3) I have to thank everyone who concerned and helped throughout the time. I cannot find more words. Not only those who introduced us legal resources and offered help in anykind, and those gave me emotional support, but also those who keep everything in rememberace — silently.

4) The experience in the past months made me understanding myself better. And I know that I need some makeover — in terms of temper, personality, emotions, self-confidence, family, etc.

5) So now I need a break (an escape is def needed), then start my life — again.

Just a song for everyone (don’t laugh — JG becomes the guardian angel in my MP3 player recently):

You are loved (Don’t Give Up)

Don’t give up
It’s just the weight of the world
When your heart’s heavy
I, I, will lift it for you
Don’t give up
Because you want to be heard
If silence keeps you
I, I, will break it for you

Everybody wants to be understood
Well I can hear you
Everybody wants to be loved
Don’t give up
Because you, are loved

Don’t give up
It’s just the hurt that you hide
When you’re lost inside
I, I’ll be there to find you
Don’t give up
Because you want to burn bright
If darkness blinds you
I, I will shine to guide you

Everybody wants to be understood
Well I can hear you
Everybody wants to be loved
Don’t give up
Because you, are loved
You are loved

Don’t give up
It’s just the weight of the world
Don’t give up
Everyone needs to be loved
You are loved

I joined AK this morning and saw Batman: The Dark Knight.

It’s a great movie experience (which I have missed for a while), and I highly recommend it.

I don’t want to write a spoiler but a make few points (that stunned me):

1. The story is great.
2. Joker is great. “He’s dead, unfortunately — I mean Heath Ledger,” said AK. It’s very obvious that he paid a great effort getting into the Joker role. His eyes and his words tell you this.
3. The script is great. You can make several dozen of quotes if you want, about (super)heroes and villains, good and evil, humanity, semiotics, and choices.
4. The movie is well executed. It is packed with lots of actions, while there is still  (enough) time for you to think.
5. You can see a Hong Kong night with high contrast — which is better than you see it in person here (the reality is the night sky is too bright due to excessive lighting). Guaranteed.
6. In Batman Begins I found Chris Bale somewhat boring (hm, compare with my ideal Batman Michael Keaton), but this time I found him pretty appropriate — especially with the role Bruce Wayne (haa haa, when he’s in Armani suit!).
7. Here Batman is not a plain superhero (like that in the TV series, or in the past few movies series) but a human — who struggles, thinks, decides, and loves.

Get a ticket and see it yourself!!!