閒想

近兩個禮拜好像變得忙了點。可能是去向明朗化，工作可以暫時放在一邊，花點時間決定放假去那裏。。。但問了老爸想去哪兒，轉個頭來又所有要由頭安排。。。印度？黃山？東北？泰國？還是新加坡？離出發只有兩個星期時間，什麽都未定。。。唉，以爲可以安心放假，但好像未能作出任何定案。。。
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上個星期看了兩個演唱會。對劉美君的歌不熟，雖然坐山頂位置，但她演出的投入及壓場的能力都很令整件事效果一流。關淑怡concert，座位不錯，但可能是weeknight，所以有點兒睏；但舞臺及燈光設計不錯，而Shirley的表現就OK，只是太依賴熒光幕的歌詞罷。兩場都與一大班朋友一起、而又踫到不少朋友，是一個不錯的另類聚會。。。
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周末在一個朋友籌款晚會上幫手，遇上一大班中學生。一些妹妹來問我貴庚，我叫他們猜，
他們說：“二十七罷”
我說：“差不多啦”
其中一個接著說：“你不是三張幾吖”

我即時“打左個突”，沒回答。但心想，真是就快“三張幾”咯。。。

。。。。。

甘又點？

那幾天認識了三個二十二、三嵗的人。雖然我敢說論外表我一定不比他們差，但十年就是十年咯。我好像還沒有把心態由"26-30" 這個bracket轉到 "31-35"裏面。我跟其中一個二十二嵗的說，可能我心態還是年輕罷，但是否等於我心智發展未成熟？哈哈。

(事緣剛巧最近又收到一個“無聊”的電郵話我不成熟，而最終令我寫了之前的一個Entry)

我想，不是不成熟。那個“無聊”comment完全因爲是來自一個非常自私自我中心的人，所以不需要理會；但當然會讓我自己反思。心態來講，我想。。。最近是開朗了些，所以可能沒有了以前的多愁善感。
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最近一個月用心準備一件“個人差事”，真的很用心去籌備。。。又勤力、出錢又出力、還特別改變私人時間表去作準備。。。本來預先把明天撥出來做這件事，可惜，今天晚上9時才接到通知整個項目要取消。。。我不禁，嘆了口大氣。不過，雖然事與願違，能夠享受過程及現在的成果，倒算是令我開心的。
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今晚又有一個大飯局。很開心。見到要好的朋友玩得開心，真的好像已經放假一樣。過兩天又是假期，何來有心情去上班工作？ :))))

Interesting data from HK Property Review 2008

Got some time today to catch up on some work-related matters, and flipped through the latest Hong Kong Property Review 2008 released by Rating and Valuation Department.

Of course I wouldn't bore you with the price/rental trends, completion and vacancy data, etc. (in fact you can read that in today's newspaper), but below are a few interesting facts I picked up:

1. 2007 Completion of Private Domestic Units (PDUs) is at a 10-year low at 10,471 units. This compares to 31,052 in 2002, and 35,322 in 1999 (including village houses) ~ remnant effect from poor economic times in early 2000s and a change in land sale policy



2. In 2007, there are NO PDUs completed on Hong Kong Island and in the New Territories with a usable area of less than 20 sq m (about 215 sq ft) ~ market demand for units so small is weak, and profits from such small units are also low
   
   
3. In 2007, there are no PDUs of >160 sqm (about1,720 sq ft) completed in the Eastern District, Sham Shui Po, Wong Tai Sin, Kwun Tong, Kwai Tsing, Tuen Mun and Tai Po ~ A little bit surprising for Tai Po and Eastern District



4. There is ONE Private Domestic House located in the whole Eastern District and ONE in Wong Tai Sin, and THREE in Kwai Tsing. Of all the districts, only Kwun Tong does not have even one House ~ would be fun to find out the Houses in Eastern District and Wong Tai Sin



5. Which District has the most number of Houses (as at the end of 2007)? Yuen Long (7,394), Tai Po (2,236), Sai Kung (1,923), and Southern (1,659) ~ wanna be one of the owners of the 16,501 houses in all of Hong Kong?



6. Of 108 units of less than 39.9 sq m (about 430 sq ft) completed in 2007 on Hong Kong Island, 85.2% of those units of are rented out, meaning only 14.8% of those are owner occupied ~ asset appreciation, good yields... have you seen the rents they're asking for these days around Soho and Kennedy Town?



7. Between 1999 and 2007 (based on 1999 prices, same as below), rental prices of small-medium units (less than 100 sqm) have remained almost the same, while that of large units have risen 18% ~ the influx of senior management expats, and expats in general
   
   
8. If compared with 2003 levels, they have risen by 37% and 50%, respectively ~ the rich gets richer



9. Between 1999 and 2007, sale prices of small-medium units have risen by 1.3%, while that of larger units have risen by 43.7% ~ I guess small-medium units prices rose more in the 1997 peak relative to larger units



10. If compared with 2003 levels, they have risen by 66% and 100%, respectively ~ the rich gets even richer

I remember since 2003, I have heard people telling me that if we were to go through something like SARS again (Oh God please don't), they'd be bold and buy up alot of properties... of course easy to say that now ("Cannon after Horse", I hate that)...

Places I think with good investment potential:

Ho Man Tin - with new rail planned and the slow transformation of a traditionally quiet neighbourhood, there is very good potential here. There are a few pockets with some of the most expensive properties in Kowloon... Ho Man Tin Hill, King's Park, Kadoorie Hill. And future focus: Cheung Kong's Tin Kwong Road development, Ex-Village Road Estate site, etc.

Kowloon Station - West Kowloon Cultural District, ICC, MTR Southern Link (linking East and West Rail, Regional Express Line (Hong Kong - Guangzhou). This is what I call "Sky is the limit".

Hung Hom - Self-sustained community, new rail link, ample housing stock with many choices.

Western District (Sai Ying Pun - Kennedy Town) - Probably the most promising area on Hong Kong Island. New rail link, many redevelopment projects and proximity to Central. Can't beat that.

Getting on my nerves

AM and I probably just saw something that's getting on our nerves?!!

You know how sometimes you just see something and it just reminds you of something that gets on your nerves completely?!

Well, just happened to me, after a wonderful dinner with some of my best friends.

Anyway, life is too short to be bothered by... ahem... passerbys, especially those who are too focused in their little worlds and little lives to think about others.

People always ask... oh what have you learned from this what have you learned from that...

I think, at least, I just can't stand people who just look out for themselves. There is a bit of sadness in that, I mean those who don't feel for others, because they're too busy simply feeling for themselves. And those asking for "CLOSURE" because THEY need closure for themselves, to serve their purpose. Not for anybody else.

It's all there, I mean. People's actions reflect their selfishness. Who am I to say I am not selfish, everybody IS selfish. But, the degree to which you are less selfish by being sensitive to others, not always putting your priorities over others, is an aspect of our personality and behaviour that do not seem to be shared by many. I'm not saying that I'm necessary "better" or "nicer" than anybody else, just that I cannot stand people who are just focused on themselves.

Selfish people.... BANISHED, BANISHED, BANISHED. hahaha

Now I looked REALLY bothered.... (well I was sick, remember?)

Kyoto: I had been there, but where?

I'd been to Kyoto once before this trip, and that was in... was it 1998 or 1999?

It was a memorable trip, but somehow I don't consciously remember the sights I visited.

Problem 1: I've lost all the pictures

Problem 2: There were some memories that were blocked for a few years and now with my "old age" it's difficult to remember them, haha.

Well, it was definitely more sight-seeing than this time, because I remember staying at a supposedly world famous traditional Ryokan, Tawaraya (I just remember the room looks out to a garden, and then the lady comes in early every morning to wake us up with breakfast) ; 銀閣寺(Ginkaku-ji), which is lesser known than 金閣寺 (Kinkaku-ji) (which I also visited), but with better gardens; 二条城 (Nijo-jo), the Imperial Palace, etc. We also went to Nara, fed the deers, visited 東大寺 (Todai-ji) and another UNESCO temple complex of more than 1,000 years old. I remember praying at Todai-ji and writing something on a tile... probably wishing for "World Peace" or something, haha. I also remember a meal at a soba noodle specialist in Kyoto. Don't ask me how to get there. I was "taken" there by a local guide. It was very good. I also remember one meal, not a kaiseki, but with many courses of fresh yummy seafood; then there was the other meal that's mainly tempura.

Seems such a distant past... images now flash in front of me, and I just remember it being very cold (it was in deep winter... around Christmas time). I remember taking the Hikari from Tokyo to Kyoto. I remember looking at Mt. Fuji and feeling an earthquake after checking into a hotel room which was situated 40+ floors above ground. What else... I remember taking a stroll in Roppongi before that was Roppongi Hills and Tokyo Midtown. It was a funky place; the HMV, the Hard Rock Cafe, and that Takashimaya on the main drag. I wonder if they're still there.

Anyway, that was then.

2008, what did we do?

Stayed near the Train Station, which was not there when I visited back then. Not as impressive as I had imagined, but still a good gateway into the cultural capital. We went to 鴨川 (Kamogawa?) looking for restaurants (oh so many choices, just not enough guts to go into them, or full-house already). Went to 祇園 (Gion) and looked at the small cute buildings and ran into some geisha getting ready for the night. Went to 高台寺 (Kodaiji) to look at a beautiful blooming cherry tree on a chilly night. Went to 清水寺 (Kiyomizu-dera) to look at the famous stage (also did this back then). What else... oh, took a tourist train to 磋峨野、嵐山 (Sagano/Arashiyama) and actually had a wonderful relaxing time next to the river (I even took a 30-min nap?!) The train track was lined with numerous cherry trees, but well, we were just one week early. ;p

We had desserts here, desserts there. The 10,000-yen gigantic ice-cream/cookies/biscuits/cream/fruits CUP was simply eye-opening. Green tea here green tea there. We've had green tea ice-cream, cakes, biscuits, cream puffs? Everything's green tea.

As with other trips, especially my US trip back during Christmas, visiting these old "haunts" brought back lots of memories. Funny I didn't even know where that Tawaraya Ryokan I stayed at is located (not because I forgot, but I just didn't have to find it on my own then)... and I was trying to find it in Gion to reminisce the old times... coincidentally, I was just a block from it on our last morning in Kyoto when we were walking around town near 寺町通 (Teramachi-dori). But no, no time to walk by to see it. If it's been there for over 300 years, it'd still be there next time I visit Kyoto.

Our trip back to HKG was uneventful, except for the bento boxes we got for the train ride from Kyoto to KIX.

Bento boxes on Japanese trains, can't get more authentic than that.

Now some pictures:

My best friend liked this picture taken at Kiyomizu-dera alot. It's quite an accident how this picture was taken. My camera was out of battery and this is one of the last shots taken that afternoon.

One of the few cherry blossom we saw. This is a night time visit to Kodaiji.

Walking down from Kodaiji without a proper map, I used my 6th Sense (being the official Map King of the trip), and we safely arrived back at Gion at 八坂神社 (Yasaka-jinja). It's quite a beautiful scene.

On one of the many nights when we had to walk around town to agree on a restaurant to dine at, we passed by 白川 and looked at those restaurants across the little stream. We also spotted a blossoming cherry tree, and a geisha taking a stroll with her Client on this beautiful misty night.

Various shots of our time in Kyoto

Boring landscape on the train from Kyoto to KIX

By the way, for a "Play-by-Play" on our "Cherry Blossom Trip Without Seeing Any Cherry Blossom" please also visit our infamous local Hong Kong Web Landmark: Fun生活. It's a really really good place to be ;))

Yes, I'm serious

Anybody wants to make a trip in early-mid May?

HKIFF 2008, a Recap

Didn't see that many movies this year, mainly because I was away for a good chunk of it, and also just didn't want to flood my schedule being indoors on holidays.

Somehow, I didn't see many good ones this year. That's a bit disappointing, because in previous years I was usually quite happy and proud to have picked some "winners". But this year was a little... ahem... distracted as well. There were other factors to pay attention to when I picked the movies, and I think that probably had an effect on the final selection as well.

Dunno if it was because a few of the movies were screened after work, but I did fall asleep during some of them. So, this year I've devised this "Sleepability Index" to show you how interested I was in the movies. It'll be out of a score of 10, with 10 being the most "sleepable". haha.




My 2008 opener "Fine, Totally Fine".

Quite a weirdo film. The chubby guy, is quite a character, who's into scaring people. If you don't pay attention to the underlying message, you'd think it's just a slap-stick comedy about 3 lowly characters getting on with their bored lives doing mundane things. But actually, it's a profile on how people approach love, ways we should our interest, the extra mile that we go, disappointments and tolerance. Ok, maybe the film didn't really show all that, but I find it quite a different way of displaying the vast array of what people do to pursue dreams and love.

Sleepability Index (out of 10): 2




I was supposed to see this movie called "A Decade of Love" on this night... have already forgot the synopsis, but I think it was some reflection movie of HK's 10th Anniversary return to China. Instead, they decide to replace it with this English-Japanese movie called "Sukiyaki Western Django". I had no idea what the movie is about, and actually, I would have no interest in seeing it just by reading the synopsis either... but, I paid for the tix, and somebody was going with me, so, what the heck. WEIRD movie. And the the "good" weird type. In fact, I can't provide much comments on the movie, because I just don't get it. It's a Japanese cowboy movie, with all (but 2) Japanese actors speaking in English. ... sorry, that's all I could say, because:

Sleepability Index: 8 (I was asleep probably through half of the movie)




"In Love We Trust" (左、右)

Once I read the synopsis, I couldn't miss this one. It has many elements of a great piece of work. The conflicts, the hot issues, China, middle-class, children, terminal illness. And though the plot is a bit idealized, the story is still compelling. Seeing a child fallen ill and parents scrambling to find ways to help her is heart-wrenching. This is the kind of movie which makes you think, and evaluate what life means to you, or how far you would go to save a life. If it was you, would you have done the same? Is it not a bit... 荒唐？ As the characters described the actions?

Sleepability: 0



"Yasukuni"

Having just returned from Japan, seeing this film actually made me a bit uneasy. How should we treat history? For us living in the 21st century, how do we reconcile with the bad deeds from generations ago? This documentary gives us a view into a sword maker, officials, protesters, Japanese shrine-worshippers at Yasukuni, and why this place conjures up so much controversy. The part about Taiwanese merchant soldiers being worshipped here against the wishes of their families was not known by me and I find that to be quite fascinating.

Sleepability Index: 1




"Love of Siam"

Not your feel good movie of HKIFF, though the movie poster could have fooled you. Instead, it's a teenage drama about love, death, coming of age, family duties, and life-long friendships. Seems like the Festival's few "labelled" movies, but it's actually not about homosexuality, but family issues. The songs are sweet and innocent, which I love. Characters are also quite well-developed and likeable. Alot of the audience asked when Tong decided he can't be with Mew.... and I wonder the same. A friend said family comes first, especially in Thai culture. I don't know, it didn't seem very convincing. But it's also said that that movie was originally over 5 hours long, with a lengthy part devoted to the band manager Tang, which is supposed to make sense of the whole movie. Well, haven't seen that, but at 2.5 hours long, it's quite adequate already.

Sleepability Index: 3




"The Counterfeiters"

Probably the best I'd seen at the festival. Winner of this year's Best Foreign Picture Oscar, "Die Falscher" tells a gripping true story of a few selected Jews in Nazi Germany during WWII whose task is to counterfeit the British Pound and American Dollar. Always intense, and many times heavy (things that happen in concentration camps), your thoughts are pull among self-preservation, higher moral grounds, death of loved ones, loyalty and commadarie. We are so lucky now not living in those dark times in history.

Sleepability Index: 0





"I'm Not There"

The movie which I had looked forward to, but turned out to be a bit of a dud. The fault is mine, as I don't know enough about Bob Dylan. So, as perfect as Ledger, Blanchett, Bale, et al. were playing various roles inspired by Dylan's life, I really had no idea what they represent. And thus:

Sleepability Index: 5





"Shall We Kiss?"

Also quite looked forward to this movie, mainly because I had good company to go with. And funny how it turned out, that the movie was... no spectacular... far from it. A typical French blah blah blah movie, and it circled around a couple that's.... not likeable... from their action, to their shitty plots, and even their looks. You do wonder how, or why people would go that far, and it seems it's just too far-fetched. The sub-plot in Nantes was ok, but you also wonder if things could really happen so rationally... but we'll never know, because the movie ends right there.

Sleepability Index: 3

"Coffee, or Tea?" (咖啡、或茶？)

The official Closing Movie of HKIFF 2008, must be a good one, right? WRONG.

I must say, movie making is a very difficult tasks, and for a 2nd year student at HKAPA to pull it off and complete a full feature, it's quite a feat. But that achievement doesn't give any excuse for the movie to be just poorly written and acted. It suffers from the common problem with many recent HK films, which are nicely filmed, with beautiful long shots and good lights, but those are good elements for an MTV, or a travel show, not a drama film. The climax of the film, with the three principles seeing each other eye-to-eye at the demolished orphanage was just a complete failure. And although Shu Qi (Dean of APA Film School and one of the Directors of the movie, alongside 2nd year student Mandrew Kwan) had said at the opening that the movie is still in post-production, and soundtrack is not complete, they should really be slapped for the simply awful background score and soundtrack. It's just COMPLETELY wrong for this movie. Maybe they are really tight in time and had no time to do the music, but it was just awful. Are my words too harsh, well, it's because I had too much expectation for the Closing Film of the Festival. I do see talent and great craft, but to be given the task to produce a Closing Film might be too big for the student.

Sleepability Index: 8 (but didn't' sleep as it was a Sunday and it was shown at 6pm, too early to fall asleep) I found my Festival really ended on a sour note.

But that's the thing with Film Festivals. You pick movies out of nicely-written synopsis, which are usually highly polished. You really have to rely on your instincts to see if you end up falling asleep, or maybe lucky enough to catch movie magic.

吻下來 豁出去 這吻別似覆水

用這首歌詞作Title不是因爲昨天看過一套法國片(original title: "Un Baiser S'il Vous Plait", English Title: "Shall We Kiss?")，其中文片名譯作 "吻下來，豁出去"，而是因爲對這首“小城大事”的這兩句特別有感覺。

看看這首歌的詞，我真的不是他在講什麽。。。

有人失憶？
有人瞞騙？

跪在教堂說願意？
從前多麼登對？

是否這些就是小城中的大事一篇篇？
仿佛首歌裏面的詞每句都有點意思，但放在一起之後就好像沒什麽關係。

Paco講得對，“吻下來　豁出去　這吻別似覆水”一句的背景音樂，是電影《大城小事》（2004）中最“出”的一處。當時都頗出奇地覺得爲什麽Leon未有自己用這段音樂作主題曲。

整首歌的靈魂就是那個由笛子帶出來得主Melody；然後再加上鋼琴（在這個Live版就是二胡、古箏跟琵琶）的陪襯，那凄美的感覺就如此滲出。特別選個Karaoke版，因爲其實Melody比千嬅的歌聲更好。

。。。。。。

今晚心情不太好，想聼首悲歌。。。

。。。。。。

《小城大事》

作曲：雷頌德
填詞：林夕
編曲：杜自持
監製：歐丁玉
主唱︰楊千嬅

青春彷彿因我愛你開始　
但卻令我看破愛這個字
自你患上失憶　便是我扭轉命數的事

只因當失憶症發作加深　
沒記住我但卻另有更新蜜運
像狐狸精般　並未允許我步近

無回憶的餘生　忘掉往日情人　
卻又記住移情別愛的命運
無回憶的男人　就當偷呃與瞞騙　
抱抱我不過份

＊吻下來　豁出去　這吻別似覆水
　再來也許要天上團聚
　再回頭　你不許　如曾經不登對
　你何以雙眼好像流淚

彼此追憶不怕愛要終止　
但我大概上世做過太多壞事
能從頭開始　跪在教堂說願意

娛樂行的人影　還在繼續繁榮　
我在算著甜言蜜語的壽命
人造的蠢衛星　沒探測出我們已　
已再見不再認

Repeat＊

我下來　你出去　講再會也心虛　
我還記得到天上團聚
吻下來　豁出去　從前多麼登對
你何以雙眼好像流淚
每年這天記得再流淚

Sick but "Hea" times....

As posted previously, being sick as my vacation started really dampened my spirits. But seeing Fun and AM having so much fun, I really didn't want to be a party-pooper.

So I did try to join them on some of their outings.

As I said, my moving radius for the first few days was confined to a 1km distance. What's within 1km? Quite a bit. The last time I actually toured Osaka was actually.... geeez, about 25 years ago, when I was quite small. I remember it was my first trip abroad. My brother and I flew ALONE to Tokyo through Taipei. My mother must have been crazy (hahaha) to let two primary school students (I think I was in P1?) to fly alone?! But anyhow, I just remember being "interrogated" when we were transiting through TPE (probably asking what on earth could two kids be traveling alone, hahaha). Anyhow, I have no recollection of that trip, except that we went to the Expo Park in Osaka, where they held the World Expo in 1970. I vaguely remember that structure with the face of a Sun with an arched body and two "wings" extended.

So, this is practically a new City for me to explore. Osaka always seemed to be an ugly sister of Tokyo. My impression was that it's mainly industrial and business, without the exciting neighbourhoods and destinations in Tokyo. Most of that, is still true, I think; but Osaka holds its own with cool shopping streets and areas to spend a good 3 days. And the scale of the City seems to be less overwhelming that Tokyo.

Didn't do any "homework" before heading there, so when it comes to things to do, I left it to Fun. But it turns out, I'm the Map King, so it was up to me to tell them where to go and what to see with our 3 guidebooks. But due to my condition, we did walk down the wrong direction a few times (sorry guys).

I think the reason I love Japan, is because I love their cuisine. Love fish, love tofu, love soba, love their presentation, love specialized restaurants, love local eats, love dessert... just love them. But in order to really have a good time, I think you also need to be willing to splurge a little. It's difficult to be thrifty in Japan, at least no in dining. I'm not saying we can't have cheap local food, but for a few times on the trip, you really need to just forget about your wallet and just splurge... (just like Fun at HG) But, oh well, I was sick anyway, so didn't get to try anything spectacular on this trip. Though I really would have loved to.

Let's go to some pictures...

A local landmark: Namba Hips, an entertainment building (with pachinko, games arcade and restaurants) with a Free Fall ride on the outside. Not the sort of gaming place that excites us, but our dear Fun did, somehow, won a Darth Vader mask from one of those "doll picking" machines. But Fun refused to bring it back to HK with him wor.....

According to our 日本通, the Fat Lady who's performing at the Shin Kabukiza is somebody well-known. I just know that alot of elderly and retired were lining up to get in for the 11am "matinee" show....

I could only watch in amusement... See those shopping queens...

The main drag in Namba: Dotonbori

Our favourite pastime: dessert, dessert, and more dessert

This place is located at the basement of the Daimaru on Midosuji in Shinsaibashi. Nothing special, but I first visited one of their shops on a road trip from Paris to Normandy last Summer. (I think it's in one of my older posts) Oh how time flies...

The person behind you

We are fine living our own lives
Working hard,
Playing hard,
Eating alone,
Hanging with friends,
Spending time on our favourites past times.

Of course we can only tackle our obstacles on our own, why? Because we are supposed to be tough and strong and not having to rely on others.

Everybody can do that, really.
Or else alot of us would have committed suicide every week.

Still, sometimes
The idea of having somebody standing behind you
Giving you words of reassurance,
Solid support on your decisions,
Sharing happiness and sorrows
Is such a priceless reward
That I still seek.

Even a little SMS greeting,
Could be magic.

Is that really much to ask for?