Farewell 2007

Was starting a post about a Recap of 2007, but got too side-tracked and of course it'd be late now... so, that will be posted under a separate post later. :)

In the meantime, I wish you a safe and fun New Year celebration welcoming a fruitful 2008 for all. :)

Mx reporting from the USA

Regret

It has taken me a long time, but I have finally learned the word "regret" on this trip.

My friend YH said that maybe I just like having drama in my life and having self-pity from time to time. But, whether it's true or not true, I do sincerely feel, that there is much to regret about. I don't know whether making this small trip is the right thing to do, or just a way to feel more sorry about myself. Instead of celebrating a colourful past, I feel sorrow and sadness. Is it the rainy weather? the familiar streets? the people? the season? or everything combined which remind me so much of it.

Life is hard.

American style Christmas, American Life

Reporting on location from the US, so I use English ga la (actually, the problem is I can't find the Chinese input method here...)

Arrived yesterday after a 12-hour flight... after unloading my stuff at home, went nearby to an American diner, and had a true American-style waffle with 2 eggs and sausages... YUM! Sorry, didn't take a picture... but I guarantee you it was really good. Nothing beats warm butter and real maple syrup.

In order to get over jetlag, I tried my best not to sleep during the day... so I drove our family's old Camry that has over 110k miles on it. Still runs perfectly, and in good condition. Do you notice that we don't have any old cars in HK? Of course not counting those classic cars. But it's hard to find many "cheen chut" in HK. Mostly it's because of registration requirements and the inconvenience of having to go through the required smog checks every year after the car turns 7 years old.

Anyway, after breakfast I went to the local gym, the REAL 24-hour fitness. It's a Friday and it's still quite packed during lunch. Like the no-frills style gym, almost looks like it's housed in warehouse. My take is... a gym is a gym. As long as it has adequate equipment in good condition, that's all I need!

Another of my favourite living in the US, is going to the bookstore. Barnes and Noble and Borders are two of my favourites. I like Borders better, because B&N is just getting too big. But anyway, after gym I headed to B&N and browsed through the periodicals sections. Always a good way to spend spare time, looking through gossips magazines, Travel and Leisure, Fitness, Real Estate and stuff. I also like looking through Robb Report Christmas edition, where they showcase the most outrageous Christmas gifts... this year, a Ferrari F1, a 300-carat diamond, million-dollar yachts, etc. Good to dream from time to time.

Went to a movie afterwards... "Enchanted".

Had been looking forward to seeing this movie since seeing its trailer in late Summer, and also reading it on Donald's blog. What a fresh approach to Disney classics. And the characters are so lovable! The little girl Morgan (played by Rachel Covey) is just so adorable. And though I've never been a "Grey's Anatomy" fan, Patrick Dempsey also did quite well, and is very charming,and what's there not to like about his character? Prince Edward (James Marsden)'s character is quite hollow, maybe written to reflect reality in fairy tales? That nothing is ever perfect. Marsden sings quite well though. Amy Adams is just a pleasure to watch, and of course how could you not love a fallen Princess in Sin City?

It's always a favourite thing of mine to catch movies in the US, because they don't get released in HK until months after. I'll probably also do:
The Savages

Charlie Wilson's War

I'm Not There

Elizabeth: The Golden Age

27 Dresses

No Country for An Old Man


Hope I've got enough time :)

2007 bye bye!!!

December is half way over, and as I mentioned back in October, the last 2 months of the year always fly by so quickly.

This is not a "Recap of 2007" post yet, but since I'm just COMPLETELY bored now, I might as well write some random thoughts down.

1. I love old pictures. Last week I bought an old vintage photo (real one, not a reproduction) for a friend's birthday. It's a photo taken in 1950 from Bowrington Road towards Leighton Hill, where he and his wife live now. It's not of anybody's interest unless you are into that sort of stuff, and since the location is so obscure (Leighton Hill was a former Government Staff Quarters site), it has never been published in any of those "Old Hong Kong" books. But I thought it was such a rare find, and my friend liked it much (or so he claimed, haha). The photo of course is quite expensive, but hey, to see that it's money well-spent, THAT's priceless. If you're ever into these old photos, reprints or otherwise, check out Picture This at Prince's Building in Central. This is where I bought that photo. I also found another similar store, but at a lesser known location, at the junction of Old Bailey Street and Hollywood Road. They seem to have a big collection, but not as "packaged" as Picture This. The name of this store just escaped me, but when you stand at that junction, you'll see its entrance at the foot of the steep decline that is Old Bailey.

2. Preservation of King Yin Lei seems to be a hot topic lately. I am for sure all for preservation of these built heritage, because most of our beautiful architecture are gone forever. That is why I like looking at old photos... you'll be amazed of what kind of buildings that once stood in HK. But then, we don't have a comprehensive policy to balance property rights and the need to preserve these places. If you think about it, these property owners, most likely investors, are "penalized" for owning a piece of beautiful architecture. There needs to be a way to create a win-win-win situation for all.

I've included a few of these buildings, still standing or gone forever, for you to check out. :)

3. The end of 2007 signals an end to many things. I really hope 2008 would be as eventful as it has been in 2007. :)

This mansion is now redeveloped into one of the most expensive piece of real estate in the world. You can own one of the 4 houses now stand here for a hefty HK$400m+.

This property, referred to as Kingslere Hotel, stood on Kennedy Road at the turn of the 20th century. I have yet to identify it exact location, but I suspect it to be somewhere near the present-day Monmouth Terrace.

Funny how we have to bring the train back to Tsim Sha Tsui after the demolition of this beautiful train terminus in 1978.

What is this today? Filippino Central: World-Wide House.

And this? You might be surprised. This is HSBC in the 1920s.

The old "Lo Chun Ting" is not the object of my fascination, it's that white humongous apartment building in the bottom right that is interesting. It looks exactly like an apartment block taken from London. This is present-day Peak Galleria.

Still one of the most classical building ever stood in Central. Don't know when exactly it was demolished, but back in my primary school days, it had already become an indistinguishable Government structure with a public car park and post office. Present-day location: part of Cheung Kong Centre where the retail space and the pubic toilet are.

Not far from the above photo, the building on the front left is now the benchmark of Central office rents and sales: No. 9 Queen's Road Central.

The future of this? Who knows?

Planning for Cherry Blossom?

Whoaaaaaaaaa..... (Courtesy of the website quoted below)

A plan discussed long ago, and a trip I've always wanted to make.... Now we finally begin some intial discussions and initial planning.

But seems like seeing cherry blossom in Japan as a group requires some ingenius planning...

1. Only long holiday in March is Easter, which is the 2nd to last weekend of March in 2008.

2. According to A Beginner's Guide to Cherry Blossom Viewing, on average, cherry blossom comes at the end of March/beginning of April for Tokyo/Osaka/Kyoto.



3. When you involve more than 4 people in the planning it'd get VERY messy when it comes to airlines, hotels, or even WHICH city to visit.

Oooooooooooh!

Of course, the actual time of the trees blossoming varies depending on the weather that year. For example, in 2007 and 2006, Tokyo had her cherry blossom on March 20 and 21, respectively. Osaka/Kyoto had about 4-6 days later. So, we still might be just a tad early... and what a disappointment it'd be if we are just too early by a few days!


But anyway, maybe we'll think of another good reason to visit Japan... what about the food, the shopping, the new developments, the hot springs, the ryokans, or just being silly with a bunch of good friends on the streets of Tokyo? All sounds good to me. ;)

Ahhhhhhhh~~~~!

When are you a quitter, and when are you a realist?

Funny...

I had some free time this weekend, and watched some TV at home.... (it's something I don't do much of anymore, but once in a while is fun)


There was America's Next Top Model, and then there was Project Runway. I am NOT the fashion kind, AT ALL, but it's still fun watching these so-called "reality" series.


In this week's episode of ANTM, this gal Ebony decided that she's had enough. Despite her cool looks, slender and tall build, and very bitchy attitude, she decided that modeling is NOT for her. That is after begging Tyra Banks (Exec Producer) to pick her in her audition tape, and doing quite well in previous photo shoots. When she volunteered to be "voted out", Tyra said she "the most unattractive thing in the world is a quitter" (Yes, I just checked it from YouTube to verify), and so Ebony goes.

Of course I'm not providing commentary on this, but it just got me thinking... when is quitting OK because you realize that it's just not gonna work however hard you try? Now of course you can say, for work situations, you just try for a little while longer and in the meantime, look for something better. Which I agree. But what if this is about relationships? You can't do that absolutely!

Can you rationally make a decision that no, it's not gonna work, and break it off? And we all say, oh of course, why waste each others' time? But if you think carefully, wouldn't you try your best to see if it could work because there's already so much invested? Especially when apparently both sides are still into each other?
.......................
The property market has been on a rapid upswing for the last couple of months. But as most other investment tools, stocks, bonds, funds, etc., those so-called "experts" always tell us, we should set a target when to sell and when to cut losses. Does it apply to relationships too? hmmm.... hmmmmm.... hmmm... P-r-o-b-a-b-l-y...

Funny how we resort to songs we love for guidance. Then I think, what do those lyricists know? What make their lyrics a bible to love? Doesn't it belittle relationships because it's just a whole bunch of sappy words that rhyme? That was a joke. :) but honestly, what make these classic love songs reference materials of how we should handle relationships? Isn't that the beauty of human interactions, because everyone is different, so every relationship is different? But it seems not! Because the same issues always seem to come up. Stories you hear from friends, ones that you experience yourself. It is true, it's those sappy love songs on "Repeat" mode.

Here's one of those songs: "At the Brink of Love and Pain" by Faye Wong <愛與痛的邊緣>



A song I was listening to when I worked 'till 4am last week: "Getting Off By Mistake" by Sammi Cheng <落錯車>(that's a funny translation, eh? haha)



One of the newer Sandy favourites of mine: "Poor Communication" <詞不達意>



What we should aim to become? Sandy's "Goodbye Sadness" <再見悲哀>


再見悲哀 - 林憶蓮
作曲：Eric Kwok
填詞：林夕
編曲：Eric Kwok/Ted Lo
監製：Eric Kwok

＊再見悲哀因我不再計較任何結果
　甚麼都可以坦蕩未在乎誰是錯
　我兩眼合上失去甚麼　是與非也掠過
　別固執到問一切為何

　再見傷感因我不易被淚流留住我
　甚麼的境界都愛自自然地渡過
　去到最尾就如與物忘我　回復身心最初
　面對心鏡內一片平和
　鳥聲瞬間閃過　(這麼最好不過)＊

除了心　只有心　可以解心鎖
煩惱多　因我要得多
微似砂　輕似煙　怎會有風波
有惆悵　跌入了恆河

情路太彎　過就過　當是個經過
感動的愛　當做一次砌磋
沿途上遇上甚麼　都欣賞過
投入時便快樂一起過

REPEAT＊

傻也好　痴也好　因你記得多
忘記的　比你記的多

懷念最好　我便會　繼續愛惜我
花瓣飄過　美在不顧結果
人存活在世就似沙粒飛過
誰又曾為了誰褒貶過

REPEAT＊

這麼最好不過　全是一種經過

Have you cast your vote today?

本來都沒有特別留意、亦沒有心去投票。
但始終：投票權是作爲公民的權利，我們應好好運用。
在現有的機制下，這是我們唯一可以參與的民主選舉。所以投那個候選人都好，最緊要是你沒有白費這個不是世上人人都可以擁有的基本權利。

我今早已經投票啦！

2:20am, what's on my mind?

Never thought I was the type that would stay at work until this late, but then, what can you do? When the company is understaffed and people are not delivering as you expected, it either means you have to shift one gear up, or you look for something else.

Well, I'm trying... (which one? haha)

It's actually not as bad as it sounds. 2:25am now, listening to David Tao on my computer... waiting for a draft from a colleague who's sitting 20 feet away... after that I'll need to compile it into the main text and send it out. Why do I bother to tell you all this anyway? I think because I am dead tired and I am not thinking straight....

Oh, it's now one of Jonathan Li Chong Shing's classic "Hard to Stand the Loneliness". Love this song. Not that because I'm lonely or anything... but it perfectly depicts the sentiments of people of our age... 寂寞难耐、时光不再、只有自己为自己悲哀、这一次我的心情不高不低不好不坏。

2:28am, when can I go home?

Was just googling earlier, and found that there's another blog by another C H Mak... he's blog is on Yahoo... seems like he's a father or something, because there's a picture of a dad holding a baby in his arms... Funny, I am coming up in Google searches nowadays... not that there are many instances, but still good to be seen "out there". *sigh* things we do when we are just... wasting time....

2:30am... Miriam is singing "Here Comes the Wolf". Missed her concert last month. Most people who'd seen it said her singing was quite good this time... well... IT'S ABOUT TIME. Like some of her songs... but it seems her songs are very forgettable. The song might be a hit for a year, but when you listen to it again next year you'll find it SO DATED. What could she do now? Stuck in that time in her career when she could either be put on the alter (Sun Toi), or she could open up a new blood path?

2:33am... A-Mei singing "May I Hold You, My Lover?" Yes, please.

2:34am... Was thinking about my travel plans again. It looks like my US plans might be changed. My travel companion is cancelling, but my ticket is non-refundable... so I might still go, but for a shorter period of time. Oh well, will see see. No rush anyway. I'm out of paid leave already, so cutting it short wouldn't mean much to work... I should probably just try to enjoy some time off work.

2:36am... I checked a few blogs everyday... Fun's, Wordy's, and Donald's Movie Blog. Fun's is always fun to read. Not only his writing is funny, people who leave messages on his blog are also funny too. Wordy's always very insightful, and I don't have any friends like him... or so it seems from reading his writing (I don't actually KNOW him). Love it when he writes about his adventures around town at all those yummy Japanese restaurants. Donald's a true movie buff and he's my source for notable upcoming movies... Now I don't have to buy Entertainment Weekly anymore for movie reviews. Donald's quite comprehensive and well-stocked.

2:39am... Now Fong Dai Tung is singing "Love Love Love". Went to a small concert he gave earlier this year at the Arts Centre. This kid is quite amazing, but not sure if he'd ever make it big in the local market. Hong Kong afterall is not a place for those with pure talents. But Khalil is a joy to watch in live performance. Very talented, very comfortable on stage.

2:41am... Sammi sings "Getting Off at the Wrong Stop". She's never been my favorite, but a couple of her songs make it into my "music library". I think it's the melody and lyrics that I love about this song. There is a tragic beauty about getting off at the wrong stop and maybe it's predestined?

Ok, I'll end right here now because if you're not asleep yet, I will be. ;)

Sandy Live '07: 強力回歸

Courtesy of Sandyandme.com

是尾場的關係？當然。

之前九晚鬰左甘耐，尾場一次個釋放出來。

昨晚顯然是fans大聚會。死硬派必然之選。前九晚的問題，其實是憶蓮差不多被逼要收斂。皆因死硬派分散曬，群衆力量未能合二爲一。前幾次的Concert，4場、5場，頭尾場一定是自己人天下，而中間的周末場（星期四、五），都一定大有捧場者。今次就分散左，唯有尾場才能聚首一堂。

沒想到“自制空間”都是一首跳舞個，就是大家個躉已經等左九晚，已經急不及待。

今次之前沒有聼過演唱的，有“早晨”（作爲換衫/中場位，令過程更加順暢）,“再見悲哀”（出奇地沒有忘記歌詞，因歌詞實在kiu口）。

“哭”已經升華至今年Concert的highlight。我覺得憶蓮其實可以再多改旋律的唱法，令歌曲更加耳目一新。

Encore部分是前九晚都沒有的。尾場又怎能缺少？一開始，“詞不達意”，貫徹始終，是國語大碟“呼吸”裏面的一首熱門sidetrack。之後的“為你我受冷風吹”，雖然是熱歌，但經過重新編排，用soft rock配樂，加了一點搖滾味道，更加grunge，顯示歌者的無奈及不忿，與淒麗的原曲有明顯的分別。

一次Encore已經滿足，誰知Sandy再次出場，而期待的“傾斜”再出，熱血沸騰、全場勁唱。跳完再跳，又來多次“逃離鋼筋森林”，以爲一定會完，點知要我們唱“依然”。雖然反應沒比我想象中熱烈，可能背景配樂太大聲？但令到2007年尾場超越1996年“憶蓮盛放”尾場、8號風球全場棒都唔走的情景更熱烈，就是近代經典“沒結果”。其實“沒結果”都唱過不少次。但自1993年“天地野花”之後，勁嗌的尾段都已經刪掉。今次，差不多有1993年那次的勁嗌，但唯缺最後最後最高的一part。但話雖如此，今時今日Sandy的performance，比1993年因嗌而嗌的version有過之而無不及，亦比以往1996及2005年的來的徹底，並以全場沸騰至頂點的氣氛下作Finale。

This is Completeness. 是一個時代的總結，另一個的開始。做過紅館、會展、匯星，連sidetrack再sidetrack都唱埋，仲可以玩什麽？不如重新開始？

Courtesy of Imagezero

Sandy Live '07 Take Three - Incomplete? Complete...

實在太High.
需要時間collect下d thoughts.
原來缺少了的互動，是要一班死硬派fans去做就的。
今次演唱會的intended effects，終於在11月18日尾場完全釋放。。。

Please let me have a private moment with this euphoria....................................

闊別2年，慢左添。。。

上次跑10k，是2005年嚕。上年跑過15k、又玩過兩項（遊水+跑步）、這兩年又試過Ocean Swim。沒時間練更長途（半馬？），唯有再玩10k啦。

天水圍，奈何最近被冠以什麽“悲情xx”（其實，我對標簽比較抗拒。點解要把整個社區定位成一個形容詞呢？做些有建設性的建議罷），自己對他的認識只基於新市鎮規劃、區内樓盤。天水圍的規劃，從一個社區概念(neighbourhood concept)出發。你會發現，圍繞市鎮公園是嘉湖山莊不同期數的住宅群。中間除了有體育場、酒店、商場，還有面積頗大的園林公園。有輕鐵、西鐵，有三號幹綫、西部通道。在平面上，規劃做的不錯。問題出於那？其實新市鎮由初期開始（荃灣、屯門、以及沙田等）都希望做到自給自足的功能。意思是本區生活、本區工作的目標。長途commute，既浪費時間、更不符合可持續發展理念。但是在香港，中環、金鐘、灣仔、尖沙嘴始終是employment centre。連政府都不肯把行政中心遷離市中心。做成Central-Wanchai Bypass一定要建、中區寫字樓租金日日上升（差不多到1994年歷史高位咯）、每天地鐵上班下班時間都逼爆。政府爲何不帶領市場到新的地區，創建一個新的Administrative Node?講是容易，内裏的issues很多很多。

Anyway，呢篇blog的原意是講10k...

沿著天水圍外圍路跑，都使不錯的一條路綫。天色不錯，只是從港島去新界東北，真是很遠。西隧後、長青隧道、再丁九橋、大欖隧道。。。都要40分鐘。

Nike 10k很多人參加，而且大多數是跑的，不像渣兜10k，很多無聊人只掛拍照。

成績退步了一點，唯有在2008渣兜10k新賽道再挑戰自己罷。

AM / FI / MM

(Courtesy of Fun生活)

Sandy Live '07 Take Two - 再度懊惱

Rundown已經定下，根據Sandyandme.com的每天報道，從第六場(14號晚)開始已經沒有什麽變動。

15號，星期四，第七場，陪阿媽去看。她對憶蓮的歌沒甚印象；我知道Sandy唱冷門歌，對媽都應該沒有任何分別。就讓她接觸我其中的一個摯愛罷。

ahem.....

都沒有什麽好講。憶蓮始終是憶蓮。前幾天聼過某網上留言用“不同凡響”來形容2007演唱會。都算非常貼切。作爲忠實粉絲，我只可以說，我是支持Sandy的。不如分享一下一些片斷罷。

給Fun的：“誰像你好”


今次我最愛的一首：“哭”


將成爲繼“微涼”之後的另一首熱冷歌。。。破曉的別曲，有憶蓮自彈自唱：“夢了”


9場"Incomplete"後，尾場（18號）會是完滿的結束嗎？她不在乎，但我是期待。。。

令人懊惱的嘗試

“走在大街的女子”(courtesy of Fun生活)

望到頸到長埋，但小弟終於在昨晚看了Sandy '07 Live。
之前要求Fun閉嘴，自己亦沒有去check其他fans的留言板。。。

其實一路以來都知道今次的演唱會形式不同。沒有快歌之餘，會以歌會友。

新venue，一直在留意floorplan。其實都不會期待什麽華麗製作。我覺得budget是一個問題。雖然貴飛要$680。但場地始終是小，而聽講雖然場地日租比較便宜，但setup cost都不平。而且，打正以歌會友旗號，當然是一切從簡啦。

結果，是一個簡單的白色background、一條像"Truman Show"片尾的一道通往“世外”的樓梯、一條搭上天的木梯、及考考你想象力的“人面或花樽”立體雕塑，就成爲今次的舞臺。

憶蓮在某interview上，早已提過聘請日本的lighting及visual effects大師為她做創作。不能否認，visual的確是一流。尤其是其中一幕用Sandy的一些相片油畫化再morph、另外把NYC的建築變成波波都很有趣。當然“走在大街的女子”的多個憶蓮一起唱的Acapella亦是very visually stunning。至於網上一些留言提及的那片雲及那盆盆栽。。。我就沒有什麽感覺嚕。

令我懊惱的，不是簡單化的舞臺藝術，而是她決絕的零交流。我贊成，紅館的大型舞臺製作、次次都唱的“瘋了”、幾乎是指定的跳舞medley是可以免的。我記得我都曾經想過，如果Sandy可以開一個純音樂爲主的concert, 如她在臺灣試過的Unplugged，或在更小型的nightclub做個更intimate的聚會，就一流。今次我覺得她的idea，是想只focus在音樂上。Venue是適合的。燈光及音響都好。座位只屬ok。但可能令坐在後排的觀衆未能清楚看見。(can't they put the back section on a riser? Maybe not)選歌，很明顯是選了極偏門的“非大路非滄海遺珠”-即比遺珠更偏門的偏門歌。OK，如果要考考真fans的耐力，或一般觀衆對憶蓮“新的舊歌”的接受度，她是大膽。不能不承認，若沒有她當年做“野花”的guts，可以肯定就沒有憶蓮的神話，沒有了中文樂壇的經典。所以她的大膽，是我敬佩的。但爲何她一反常態減少與fans的交流、互動?昨晚她encore的發言，差不多是要我們接受她今次的堅持；而她的淚光，就好像她自己亦經過很多的掙扎才會下這個決定。聼歌，當然音樂爲首，但現場的難得，就是與歌迷的互動。以往每次的光景，除了一首又一首的classic之外，就是Sandy的真情流露。我不能忘記1996年的歲月流金Medley，2002年的“至少還有你”、2004年的“給我等最久的人”2005年的“感情不老”及“細水長流”。每次無論Sandy及歌迷都有多元的互動。我們熱情的反應，源自Sandy的溫暖、溫情。

今次的Concert，it's almost like a piece of Art.。藝術家的構思、他們的見解、想表達的東西，不是每個人可以明白。而concert裏面在background不時都寫了很多虛幻的statement，或藝術家/Sandy的ideals/principles。其實，若Sandy想以一個Art Project來構思這個演唱會，不如就印些場刊，表明曲目（起碼演唱會完了我們都不會奢求encore再encore），並解釋她想表達的意思。我去欣賞一件藝術品，都起碼有個label或一段文字。

我欣賞Sandy的堅持、她的大膽。但我始終懷念她與我們較親切的聚會。But Sandy, what a great accomplishment!

(courtesy of Fun生活)

後記：多首冷門歌中亦有一兩首大路歌。我十分喜歡“哭”的新編曲。除了新的唱法之外，整首歌改頭換面，猶如一首新歌。聼了“Incomplete”之後，想想。。。是暗示這個series未完，有part 2?

Eventful October

“'Twenty'團友，請望鏡頭；有海豹嗎？”

不久前先至話10月會很忙。今日都已經來到10月27號嚕。。。

到現在爲止已經與5個天枰座的friend吃過飯: AM, PL, JH, FI, PC，還有我哥。。。仲欠他一份禮物添。。。不過他已經收到最大的禮物了，一個BB女。 :)

.....

今年應該是驛馬星動。中秋去了澳門1晚。重陽去了臺北4天。前兩個星期六又去了什麽香園圍、蓮麻坑、沙頭角field trip。剛剛又安排了年尾的北美之旅。都覺得幾幸福架。。。呵呵呵。又是時候開始計劃下年的旅程了。其實建議是很多。單單每日同阿Fun發白日夢都已經有十七八個地方話要去。目的地的概念其實真的是有的：

日本：差不多3年沒去了。Midtown都沒去過。京都就更加有成7年沒去嚕。可能終于可以看到春天的櫻花？日本的美食就更加不能放過，尤其是看過Wordy的日本遊記；多羡慕。。。成功機會：40%

加拿大/美國：阿Fun又令我懷念北美的自然風光。以前去過Yosemite、Grand Tetons多次。Whistler，Mount Rainier，Death Valley都去過。其實我很嚮往去住下的Cabin啊，一班人整早餐，去Hiking，圍住個火爐講下故仔、玩下Games。不過同道中人沒多個；仲要撲到阿美利堅gum遠。。。成功機會：少於20%

北京：離香港不遠，而且景點多多。加上2008奧運，究竟會大亂還是不能錯過？數數手指，上一次去都已經。。。很久以前（約9年嚕），要去去走走逛逛看看。。。成功機會：95%

南非洲：一個要好的舊同學去了Zambia工作。當然要把握這個機會去看看咯。除了獅子老虎之外，當然是風土人情啦。但時間與金錢是個很大的concern。要計計條數先。。。成功機會：30%

當然，其他如上海（90%）、曼谷（50%）、星加坡（70%）呢d短綫遊就梗會去既。只要睇下有沒有人發板架姐。

......

最近行山，終于再次衝出港島區（西貢/新界太遠啦吧），並首次登上釣魚翁。雖然當天煙霞好勁，但都不損我們5人的心情。貴為“香港三尖”之一的釣魚翁，其實不難攀。只是南面的山坡非常峻峭，下山比較難。好在我們選擇由那邊登峰，從北面下山。不過都米話，上到山頂都幾嚇人架。。。來緊周日，大老山。

頗峻峭的釣魚翁北面
......

有個要好的朋友有近親過身。黯然覺得有點兒傷感。除了擔心朋友的心情之外，又自我反省有沒有盡做兒子的本分。自己大學時候已經搬往大學住。跟遠在SIN的麥爸爸相見時間就更少。雖然最近幾年他大部分時間都在香港，但都好似沒有特別什麽考順。上年他大壽都是近年唯一特別為他搞的一件事。。。麥媽媽近年都來香港多了，而離緊11月又會見到她了。上年跟他去了一個短trip，都很開心。甘又一年了。。。

.......

有沒有相可以分享先。。。等我看看。。。。

Here they are:

已經吃完的美味排骨

AM極力推介的貓空纜車上俯瞰臺北市

貓空的龍門客棧：自己泡凍頂烏龍都幾好玩

最左邊：入口即溶的Toro

位于台北101， 85樓向外望的景色：上方是松山機場

October 1st

近排都睇左不少戯。比較出乎我意料的是“C+偵探”。一向都唔係Aaron的fans。甚至會對他的作品有點抗拒。不過朋友話要睇，咪陪他咯。
以爲是一般港產警匪片，開場才知到是在泰國取景的Suspense thriller。再睇下，至知道是小弟敬而遠之的鬼片。。。真是孤陋寡聞。
我喜歡的原因，一定與郭富城無關。但他亦算是交足功課；那些爛attitude都夠型夠格。
整套片成功之処，就是引人入勝。故事鋪排由一個無離頭的差事，變成一個越來越怪的連環兇殺案。製作認真，有黃德斌及商天鵝、成奎安、廖啓智。有笑亦有淚。是我近年比較欣賞的港產片（是港產的嗎？）。（“跟蹤”都好，但故事太太太簡單了）。其他有關黑社會、警匪片不是我的一杯羹。
------

中秋後，有兩個長weekend：十一及重陽。Thank heavens。30號去了行山，由跑馬地行上陽明山莊，再去淺水灣。朋友們要上山下水，所以便選了這條。都好，行過無數次，而且不算太易。到了淺水灣，四點幾，太陽已經不太猛，天色奇好，倒是一個末夏的優悠假期。

晚上去探剛搬進將軍澳的表姐。不是她渴望將軍澳的優美環境(!!!)，而是女兒入了附近一所直資小學，便舉家搬進區内的一個新樓盤了。小朋友很開心，因爲Club House有個小朋友天地。唉。。。住客開心就得啦。

1號悠閒地過了一天，下午看了“I Now Pronoune You Chuck and Larry”。ok la。Can't expect too much。看之前與Fun在某Burger joint嘆過下午茶。（註：熱狗不太好食）

晚上在海港城用晚膳並在附近欣賞煙花。尖沙嘴看煙花始終比港島多処優秀。



（怫然閒覺得自己在寫中學時候的週記添）

我看“色戒”

易與王

有Donald及Fun的好評，以及“接收到”的信息，已經對“色戒”有不少的期望。而係甘高的期望之下，我敢衷心的說，“可能有更好的嗎？”雖然套戯完了之後沒有哪些深層的討論或細心的分析，但以一套電影來講，單看劇本、演員表現、配音、背景等（老香港做的很真哦），真是近乎完美。

自己沒有看過張愛玲的原著，對中國近代史亦未有什麽了解。其實本來都沒有心急要早看的，但coincidentally得知皇后戲院將結業，便在星期六加班之後跑落中環，好在又有位，便因“色戒”第一次、亦是最後一次進入皇后了。聽講現在的戲院是以前“變身”前過千的座位的大戲院的超等，所以座椅特別舒服、坐下去之後張凳是會“suet”出來的。

10月1號的皇后戲院

9月29號的戲票

戯來講，聽説劇本與原著很近。劇本節奏適中，前段鋪排得很好，可以感受到王佳芝的半推半就成爲間諜的前科；本身肯為愛人付出一切的王，貫徹始終。對鄺裕民的、對易先生的都是。我給湯唯的演出吸引住，對她的表現十分欣賞；簡直蓋過任何其他演員的光芒。梁朝偉的表現，充分表現易的戒心、用情慾捆綁、完全佔有對方的心理戰。之前是傳媒焦點的勁激床上戯，其實開場很久都未開戰，可能就是令人極度期待的原因之一？

製作認真、每個細節都滿分完成，就是沒有一個地方可以批評罷。。。Easily one of the best films of 2007...

喂，其實若果你對“麥先生、麥太太”的豪宅與“易先生”香港的住所拍攝場地的地點有興趣。。。麥宅是位于寶珊道30號（曾經在2005年以HKD$3億元賣出，但最後沒有完成交易）、建成超過五十年的古老大屋，而易宅就是曾經在王家衛“2046”中作爲“東方酒店”場景的域多利道政府物業（傳聞是以前政府盤問及拘留政治疑犯的地方）。

域多利道政府物業：租庇利炮台的一部分(source: www.hk-place.com)

深秋

一年容易又中秋。
秋天來了，從IFC、中環中心反射下來的斜陽，令整個城市的色彩變得柔和。
天黑的確來早了，在Office工作的傍晚變得心不在焉。
十月將到，很多好朋友都是天秤座，將是一個很忙的月份。
之後很快便是聖誕。2008年來了。
人大了，時間感覺是過得更快。。。是快樂不知時日過，還是虛度時日呢？
還是rewind先。。。
十月，除了很多friends既生日之外，還有已經計劃的臺北之旅。吃喝玩樂，都是值得期待的。
十一月，住在美國的娘親來港一個月，到時都會有點忙。仲有憶蓮的Concert呢。
十二月，年尾當然是很忙的。什麽Party啊，又想返美國兜個轉。都兩年了，係時候去逛逛了。
不過，2007年總算過得不錯。過了3/4，就努力過埋以下的1/4罷。
共勉之。

A Total Eclipse of the Heart

向世界出發 - 現代藝術篇

Kassel的documenta，是每5年一次的現代藝術界盛事。1955年，第一屆的documenta是爲了加快德國在二次世界大戰所作出的創傷得以復原。而由此以後，documenta就成爲現代藝術的大舞臺。但不要誤會，在展會上展出的作品不是只局限于近年創作的藝術。每次documenta的總監都會以他們的眼光，挑選那些可以代表當時現代藝術的典範、演繹當代藝術的尖端作品及藝術家。所以展出的展品雖然大部分都是在這兩年創作，但亦包括從14世紀的一些藝術品。

我呢，沒有什麽對藝術的認識，尤其是Contemporary Art。以往都覺得現代藝術頗造作，什麽都看不明白。越難明，就代表越高深。。。但是，在這麽多的展品當中，當然是可以找到一些令我有Feel的。而現代藝術展的精髓，對我來講，就是可以看到一些超大型的展品，並不局限在油畫、小雕塑之内。

Kassel不是一個非常吸引人的小鎮。據説是德國製造軍隊貨車的基地。若果不是documentaXII，我相信應該不會來這裡罷！

就看看一些藝術品罷（部分文字翻譯自documentaXII的Catalogue）：

到達會場其中一個場地，Friedrichsplatz的廣場前面，是一片Poppy田園。Poppy，除了是一些可愛的小花朵之外，某些品種亦是提煉鴉片的材料。藝術家Sanja Ivekovic想表達的是要關在美國攻打阿富汗後，對種植鴉片Poppy的兩個反應：反抗和自私開發。

在另一個大型場地，Bergpark Wilhelmshohe，的前方，Sakarin Krue-On把一片斜坡變爲一個梯田。藝術家想帶出的信息，是有關土地運用的對比；究竟把土地作爲西方大型博物館，或作爲耕種用途的東方梯田，對盡量發揮土地的囘報率有什麽關係？究竟自然與人造、歷史與文化，那個是合適的代表？

documenta-Halle的裏面，有一個很紅的房。展品叫The Radio，但具體的意思我還未能理解。藝術家Inigo Manglano-Ovalle的構思是與2003年，美國指控伊拉克藏有“大殺傷力武器”有關。收音機的雜音，以及紅色窗口對外面的風景造成的變化應該是營造戰場上的一些觀感。1956年Tanaka Atsuko創作的Electric Dress，為當時建立了一些全新的物料、空間、及時間的靈感。當年她把這幅“畫”穿上身，因爲這是一幅會動的畫，並配合穿者的動作及燈光的形態創造不同的影像。都幾得意架。在Neue Galerie的一閒房，有個射燈射向墻上的一塊牌，上面寫的是：

Du kommst zum Herzen Deutschlands, nur um das Wort Kunst

unter deinem eigenen Schatten zu lesen

創作Eclipsis的藝術家Gonzalo Diaz的意思是，“你來到德國的中央，就是爲了在自己的影子下讀出“藝術”這個字”。“看見”與“閲讀”的關係，是兩者不能同時發生。當你看見時，你不在讀；你在讀時，已不是真正在看。當你的影子令你可以看到那些字，並使你讀出來，那一刻就是動感藝術的體現。

其他還有幾百件展品，未能逐一解説。其實，是很多都不知道想講什麽。。。一下是其他一些展品。有機會再講講罷。

鮮爲人知的憶蓮YouTube

“Whistle Down the Wind”來自一個在2001年表揚Andrew Lloyd Webber，於北京舉行的演唱會。同台演出的包括Elaine Paige及費翔。Her performance was awesome.

Sheena Easton的“Almost Over You”在2004年的港樂演唱會中唱過之後，在2006年星加坡的演唱會再次演唱。這個clip就是來 自星加坡的。港樂演唱會DVD被譽爲近年影音極佳的AV產品。AV發燒友都用來試機。

2005憶蓮夜色無邊演唱會-感人的一段

得閑在家jup屋的時候，往往都播隻憶蓮concert的DVD，1996，2002，2004， 2005，仲要係大大聲的播。一路播、一路唱、一路jup，平時不想做的野，都可以很愉快地渡過。

其實近期最喜歡的應該是2005年，Disc2的中段：由“至少還有你”打落到“多謝”的一part。要感動的有感動、感性的感性；觸動心靈的有“細水長流”、令人落淚的有“感情不老”。四首歌，有早期憶蓮的大熱Ballad，每次都用來多謝fans的“多謝”；中期沒plug的冷門廣東歌，現在成爲代表Sandy感謝fans對她多年來支持的“感情不老”；然後是“後李宗盛/維京”國語年代的大hit歌“至少還有你”。“細水長流”更加是Sandy對林振強先生的悼念。非常感動的一part.

極期待11月憶蓮在Star Hall的演唱會！！



唱“細水長流”的四個晚上，就只有最後的一晚沒有喊（因爲在“感情不老”時已經喊左）



記得2002年的DVD紀錄了Sandy唱“至少還有你”喊得好natural的一次。亦是非常感人的一次。

向世界出發 - 巴黎單車篇

有前輩的鼓勵，我就繼續回顧歐洲之旅啦。

之前去巴黎，都係搭Metro、坐的士、或步行為多。自己是喜歡步行的，在地面，看到的風光最多囉；可以看行人、建築、小販、可以想停就停，轉左又得、轉番右又得。。。得左。。。


Anyway，今次不同的，就是巴黎市長剛剛開始推行一個嶄新的計劃。Velib' 係一個“上班踏單車”計劃。其實不只是上班，計劃是鼓勵巴黎市民減少使用私家車，並舒緩Metro在繁忙時間的擁擠。


Bike Station上有地圖，附近的Station位置

其實巴黎市内的道路及城市規劃，都以行人及單車使用者利益為先。市内大部分的道路都有單車專用的單車道。而且每個大大小小的路口都有交通燈。在市内駕車其實是十分不便的。莫講交通燈好似終日都轉紅的，而且泊車很麻煩。如果不是法國Renault Twingo，或Citroen或Mini，在街上parallel park又唔hai花其他的車，根本就是沒可能。

我剛上單車後的英姿！


所以，巴黎市長提出，以不用納稅人一分錢的原則，在年底前在市内提供超過20,000輛單車給市民使用。計劃現在是在實驗階段，但已經獲得空前成功。我在巴黎的三天，每天都租用起碼一兩次。


其實使用velib'不是免費。在頭30分鐘是免費的。往後就是首31-60分鐘是1Euro，然後次30分鐘是2Euro，如此類推。所以個Charging scheme是希望使用者用velib'作短程的代步工具。你亦可以付出29Euro（三百多元港幣）享有一年内無限次數的使用。

全市内現在約每300米就有一個Biking Station。每個Station可以泊大約30架單車。只要你有一張信用卡，你就可以租用任何一架。Register的時候，自動系統（有英、西班牙、法語）會guide你，信用卡會用來作一個150Euro的deposit。意思是如果往後你不把單車交還，他們可以charge你150Euro咯。


單車只有3個波，所以不可以開的很快。但有車頭車尾燈，而且有一個很有用的籃
在車頭，尚算樣樣俱備。


駕單車經過Paris Plages。前面原本是一條行車的主幹道。



經過Plages之後，就是一條行車隧道。經過隧道之後就差不多到Musee du quai Branly及巴黎鐵塔嚕

配合巴黎夏天在塞納河畔的“沙灘”，駕單車去Musee du quai Branly，Bastille，Marais, Ile de la Cite/Ile St. Louis/Pont Neuf 甚至Champs-Elysees，有綠樹林蔭的單車徑及和暖的陽光，真是一樂也。

一個問題，去到一些Station還車，沒有位！Service Station是可以提供附近Station的資料，幫你找到有空位的Station，並幫你延長免費租車時間。It's the best way to tour Paris!!! 但其實你亦可以以時租及日租租一些供遊客用的單車既。