My Ode to Hong Kong

2014 the umbrella movement,
I told kids to go home get an education,
But 2016 was the disappointment,
Bookstore owners gone with no justification.

2019 say what? Extradition?
The people took the streets and told where they stand,
But the government, they didn't understand.
So yea, there was an escalation,
A great confusion.
Lennon walls started appearing round the streets,
Beautiful post-its talking about peace.
But on the night of July the twenty first,
pedestrians cried because triads burst,
attacked the press,
attacked the elderly,
attacked a pregnant woman,
Where was the policemen?

I didn't think this day would come,
but living here feels like being in a prison,

The people are tired,
the people are sad,
but above all the people are mad,
Mad because once upon a time
Some of us defended the governemnt's crimes,
But today we see
very clearly,
Who is right , who is wrong,
While they try to stop us,
We will stay strong,
Seek for justice,
And this will not be the end of any of it.

Crazy Rich Asians movie review *mild spoiler alert*

To say I was anticipating the movie is an underestimation. After reading all three of the delectable books, jumping up high when I heard of the adaptation, announcement of the cast, following Constance Wu's every Instagram move and down to the very last minute of the premiere, I have been waiting and waiting. This not only consolidates the success of Kevin Kwan's genius writing, but is a huge inspiration for Asian writers out there. It is an exciting time to see Asian representation from writing all the way to directing and acting. Anyhow, let's get into it:

Given all the details and subplots in the original book, the movie was well paced. It retained the dramatic opening scene in London, quickly breezed through the news of Nick going back to Singapore and also developed the subplot of Astrid's marriage. I love the humor that was instilled into the movie by Ken and Akwafina.

Some scenes that were not in the movie but still very appropriately dealt with was the majong scene. Though arguable a copycat of "Joy Luck Club" was still appropriate and touching (truth be told I cried). Omg the proposal scene was absolutely different but still very cute.

Let's talk music. My gosh, I loved how they rendered old Shanghai tunes but also mixed it up with a Mandarin version of Coldplay's Yellow- an obvious reference to the ethnographic depiction.

I was not quite happy with how they left Astrid's story the way they did. They spent more time on developing Bernard and Kitty than they could have with Astrid in which I think was an important storyline. I don't even know how they will continue that in the next movie.

But in general I liked the adaptation. It made me laugh, it made me cry, and more importantly, it made me think and reflect on the love God has blessed me with in this life time.

Hong Kong: The Land of Paradoxes

My recent 33rd birthday reflection as well as a recent conversation with my family comparing living in Scandinavian, Australian and Canadian cities allowed me to reorganize my thoughts on the city I now reside in: Hong Kong. How I locate myself on this canvas. What I have found out is that we HK residents live in a land of paradoxes.

Before the handover in 1997, Hong Kong was already one of the most densely populated cities in the world. Now that the city has been forced to open up to it's biological mother China, it has now entered the inevitable stage of being a (what I like to think) rebellious teenager with an identity crisis. For those who want to jump and criticize me for insulting HK residents like that, let me just preempt that I have no intentions of doing so but quite the contrary. Bear with me.

HK residents ever since the 60s and 70s has developed a great work ethic of diligence. Working their supposedly 9-5 job way over time. The abbreviation O.T. (standing for over time) is widely used and understood even by my grandma who knows negligible English. This work ethic was inherited by the next generation of millennials (ahem, moi) the only difference is that we are the living, breathing anthem of "Work hard, play hard." Unlike our parents who never indulged in designer brands, fine dining and traveling to save money for an apartment, we millennials are lucky enough to have a family that is in no dire financial abyss and hence can live life a bit more than the last generation. HK residents literally coined the Cantonese short hand for the weekend routine of "shop, movie, dine". In recent years, some has dove into the alternative of wellness, spending time at the gym, doing yoga, hiking or cycling. 

And here is my first observed paradox: HK residents would gladly give into a job they most probably loath and grind at for most of the week, and then at the end of the week, do an absolute 180 and just let loose. What is the meaning of life for the many bankers and office workers who either hate their tedious jobs or the ethically questionable institution they loath? What is the meaning of life for the many people who is complacent at their government jobs yet spends the holidays protesting against their boss? Why not work in something you feel passionately for most of the week so you do not have to force a weekend of  "let's make myself happy"? 

The next paradox is derived from that very last question but perhaps a more quantified question: Is the hefty price tag of indulgence that important that we give up our choice of how we make a living?

A parallel paradox is that we work tirelessly for months so that we can go traveling. Why not build a home we do not need to escape from? This question after some thought is the result of the system we unfortunately can't change too much. There are more mainland Chinese flooding into our city whether, some just tourists or some evolving into residents taking up not only space but even resources. And I understand that this frustration is often what drives us to travel. But wouldn't it be nice that we can live in a city, working at a job we love, so we needn't have to escape all the time?

Another paradox comes in the form of health and lifestyle: (and I am by no means an exception from this) we live in a society that salivates on the gluttony of Instagram worthy food yet after that then again take a 180 turn and torture ourselves in the gym. Why not stay disciplined when consuming food in the first place? Why not exercise because we enjoy it, not to detox?

Last paradox: we spend so much time at work multi-tasking, when we don't we need apps to remind us to breathe, to stand up and walk around, drink, to do basic things we used to do on our own. Our minds are so preoccupied that we need time to meditate and unwind from that. And sometimes we aren't even good at doing that. 

What I have come to conclude (at least for me) is that life is a gift of constantly being in the present. If I wake up everyday knowing I love the work that I do, that I enjoy nurturing the next generation about literature, that I feel a humbling sense of work flow when I write, I do not have to force a weekend of "make up for the fives days I just spent in hell" nor do I have to escape when I travel around the world. That my traveling is instead wanderlust driven. 

Family and the Holidays

In a previous post I have talked about how family and relatives want to dictate the way you live. And I may have sounded all liberal and grand, but after a wedding and a winter solstice dinner, I have reflected...is it me? Am I the problem? Am I the bratty little one? Have I taken for granted the love that they as the last generation of Chinese disguise as nagging me? Or is my gut feeling of being genuine about my feelings on this blog right? Is my instinct of moving out at the age of 31, being closer to my day job so I have more time and privacy to do my night job--writing wrong? I still haven't figured out yet but I do think I should reevaluate the way I feel like my relatives are nagging and think of it as their way of caring. I mean if they didn't care they could have easily said nothing. But they said something, which takes effort and the risk of me being annoyed.

But one thing is for sure is that I really like family gatherings. However small they are. The people you don't get to see until the holidays and you catch up as if you just last saw them yesterday, is kind of really nice. I hope we keep up with that somehow.

This Christmas I am very much thankful for the many great things that happened that also gives hope to the future. So if you are feeling upset, let me tell you I have been there, but it is the holiday season, stop moping and pick yourself up and be grateful. Cause I sure am. Happy Holidays!

Life At This Point

As the semester and also 2016 comes to an end, I am left here sitting in my new home grading essays as well as pondering what goals should I aim for 2017. For most of my twenties I have loved to travel and yearned to travel even more. But as I have built a career and home I don't need to escape from, as well as my wanderlust satisfied for the past decade or so...I find my mind wandering and wondering about what else can I achieve? What other places can my career bring me? And for many years even before I started writing the manuscript of my novel I simply wished to be a published writer. That was the goal. But somehow that shifted recently. I still want to be published but I want it to be published in my way, a very socially corporate responsible way, and so I want to start my own publishing company. I want to adapt the model of:
1. Every time you buy a book, a book will go to a child who needs one
2. If you send in a second hand book, you can get a half price discount, that book again will go to a child who needs one.
Selling 3 manuscripts (novel, nonfiction and my short story and poems collection) as well as this business model is almost hard to achieve at all, much to say in the short future) so why shouldn't I start my own publishing company? With this business I also want to help the many writers who keep feeling rejected by the major publishing houses because their writing is not "commercial" enough. I want to create a publishing house that is not just printing money but printing heartfelt pages.

At this point in my life I also don't need to broaden my network at mixers because I know that if I really go through with this business model, I know the trusty friends I have whom I can contract as editor, designer, IT, tax advisor and legal advisor. I have been reading up whether LLC or S-corp will be a better business model, costs of publishing paper books and ebooks. I have even been fiddling with names for my publishing house. I think the more serious I get with this project, the more it would come true. It's like the self fulfilling prophecy I had for my novel. Telling myself I could do it, while I kept doing it made it come true.

Life at this point is about taking care of myself, my family, and giving back to the community that blessed me with their help. Life right now...is still going to be challenging (I wouldn't ask for any less of it). And life right now...is pretty damn good...=)

#GivingTuesday (It still is Tuesday on the other side of the globe)

Balancing Expectations and Hopefulness

Despite aplenty who think I look a decade younger than 30, there is not one breathing second I am not aware that I am 30 going on 31. My job reminds me that everyday. People around me remind me that everyday. Whether it is high school classmates, college friends, colleagues or strangers I meet on the street, I am constantly reminded I am 30 and single. Sometimes the look I see in kids and parents can jerk tears. And every time I get my hopes up for a certain guy, I am more than often disappointed.

While learning not to have expectations I am tugged between being hopeful that something will turn up. While learning to accept that I may live the rest of my life alone, I loath the idea that I am throwing in the towel on love, that I am giving in, giving up. While guy after guy, time after time, I learn that men just aren't as romantic and committing than a decade ago let alone Jane Austen's time, I am torn between the many couples I know that attest love still exists.

In the name of love, how do we balance between not having expectations and being hopeful that it will eventually happen?

This is the one moment I loath being an optimist. I can be an optimist about my career because it is somehow in my hands. But being an optimist in love is tiring when time after time you are wrestled down and you feel you have no control over it...

And what if I don't have expectations for love? I never had a back-up plan for when I don't find love...I can have a back-up plan if this job doesn't work and hop onto another career, but there is no back-up plan for this...it's either spinsterhood all the way or adopting, which is nothing compared to the real deal. And is what I want really that much to ask for? Waking up to find your love by your side and going to bed knowing that the same person will be there, is that a lot to ask for? What happened to men of the 21st century?

As much as I know this is part of growing up, when is it going to end? This tunnel feels everlasting...

The Souls of Windows

Coming back to Hong Kong, the concrete jungle of Asia, I am reminded of the closeness we are with each other. Every time I look out into the building across my bedroom and glimpse into the lives in every window, I wonder what lives are being lived in them. Every flickering TV, glowing room, human walking around, people working at dimly lit desks, even the dark rooms in which you see nothing makes me wonder what is going on in those apartments. Is the next Einstein or Shakespeare in there studying or watching TV, getting inspiration? Is a couple making sweet love, creating the next Barack Obama? And when I hear piano tunes delivered to my apartment from either upstairs or downstairs, I think to myself, is that the next Chopin or Bach? Or are these people just ordinary people going on with their extraordinary lives? Are they the ones who make this kaleidoscope of human specimens so utterly beautiful? I don't know...and maybe I don't want to know...the beauty of it also lies in the mystery of it...But it is always intriguing to just sit down in my bedroom and "window gaze".

Asians in Hollywood

From Jacky Chan and Jet Li continuing Bruce Lee's footsteps but yet to play the real Romeo, to Lucy Liu and Jamie Chung playing the wingwomen in major works, and now Maggie Q having her own TV show; Chinese or Asians have fought hard and came quite far. But it just got started.

Earlier this year I started to watch Fresh Off The Boat, and I loved how us Chinese got to be the center of the stage, with our very own story. There are so many relateable things from that show, how you assimilate to a culture but also retain your roots in the all too stellar 90s.


Earlier this month I found out about the new TV show Into the Badlands, a production directed and starred familiar Hong Kong celebrities Daniel Wu and Stephen Fung. And as I read the transcript and videos of the interviews of the conception of the movie, I am amazed how they were able to take a Chinese traditional myth and mold it into something so relateable in the 21st century yet still highlight a lot of oriental roots. This show does have a lot of amazing martial arts scene but the beauty of the show is also the complexity of the plot and the character development; the many layers of strategic decisions made with every detail, from the setting and costume design to sound effects and music. This is a show that is really pushing Chinese in mainstream TV to a new peak.

And now here I am watching Indian and Chinese writers, Aziz Ansari and Alan Yang's creation of Master of None, a story about Asian millennials trying to survive in the 21st century New York City. Again it delights me to see Asians not only playing trivial support roles but being at the center stage. It also shows that we Asians are diverse too. We are not cookie-cut-out doctors and lawyers, nor do we only just know martial arts. Today, Asians are a variety of things, we are fun, we are funny, we are punny, we are artistic. And because we know how hard it is to break through those stereotypes, we respect diversity too.

Korean actor Ki Hong Lee is now starring in the major blockbuster The Maze Runner, and a really inspiring anecdote he shared in an interview is that he asked his mom if he can change his name to be more western for his acting career, and his mom gave the best answer. "You think Dostoevsky is an easy name to pronounce? But if you are good enough, people will want to learn how to pronounce your name. Make them learn." And that became his motivation to strive in the industry.

As of last night I heard Philip Ng is casted as Bruce Lee in an upcoming Hollywood blockbuster. Asians gaining recognition in Hollywood only just got started. Discussions just started to stir. And our role in these conversations should not only that we support them, but we also acknowledge we are all different and we should have that same support for the next Coco Lee, Amy Tan or Olivia Chow. This morning I received news from my friend Alex Chao who is a Cornell educated engineer took a leap of faith and with his friends started an acapella quartet called the Six Feet Barbershop.This is what pushes us to new heights. Taking a chance in what you believe.

However while we are different, we still celebrate similar values, such as being family-oriented, such as our beautiful language and thousands of years of history on literature, art, hell we have Confucius on our side. The goal now is to transcend our roots to be relevant in the 21st century arena. And I have a strong feeling we will be able to do this.

#notyourasiansidekick

Walk the Talk

Inspired by a colleagues speech on another coworker leaving, i was of course not surprised he praised this colleagues ability to talk the talk and walk the walk, but today i realized something about walking.

Ever since high school, I would keep my timetable busy because it made me feel a. Accomplished and b. I didnt waste time. Lunch usually was 20 min actual eating, 40 min studying, or on other days it could be 40 mins thinking about choreography and debating. My form 6 (year 12) Saturdays looked like this: 9-12 french class in Jordan, 1:30-2:30 dance class in Yau Ma Tei, and then I'd go back to Taipo to tutor a form 4 family friend Englsih from 4-5. Occasionally going to universitiy fairs. Mind you my parents never drove in Hong Kong so basically I did that all by myself. I'm not gonna throw in the yoga and jogs but you get the gist. This was maintained for a year before I went to form 7 (year 13). And by this time I have mastered the art of "standing and studying" on the mtr as well "walking and studying", in which I'll try now finally to get to my point...

Ever since I started the school year 2013-2014, I had a few goals for myself: a. Establish a reputation at Island School whether it's within the Special Needs department or with the debate team b. Get into grad school, so studying for my test, writing my essay and getting all the references and documents c. Save up money for grad sch. And to do that I used up a whole lot of time and energy and saw myself saying more and more to my students, let's "walk and talk" (about a debate or public speech that we've just talked about for the past hour and 45 mins after school, so we can catch the bus). Today getting off my part time editorial work, I bought Mcdonalds from Queens Road Central and "walked and ate" by the time I got to the pier I finished a whole meal. Did it feel great? Physically, no, Mcdonalds itself is bad enough for dinner but eating and walking is worse. But mentally it felt great.Because it felt like I ticked off dinner and walking to the pier at the same time, giving me the time to blog this epiphany on the bus home.

I used to often wonder "Do I just the talk about not giving into the money world of Hong Kong, how I love literature and would do anything to teach lit or be a published author? All the shit I talk about pursuing my dream? Or not settling for a certain type of guy? That I don't walk the walk?" 

Today I just realized i have metaphorically and literally "Talked the talk and walked the walk" I talk about and believe in my dreams. And I will "walk and study", "walk and talk about debates" and "walk and eat my dinner."

Life is like a walk in the park, everyone knows that clichè. But I guess I'm that person who walks and does, I multitask till i suceed. And I love being that tenacious person. Do random people blog their epiphanies on the hour long bus ride home at 8:30? Skimming the upper deck probably not. There are either people dozing off or people playing candy crush. Sometimes I wonder if they feel like zombies but sometimes I wonder am i just wired differently? Don't get me wrong, I watch Jimmy Kimmel and Ellen Degeneres quite religiously and shamefully on youtube during some rides, but when I hit a moment of truth, I am desperate to write it down.

I just want to say, I love what I'm doing, even though no one really reads my blogs. I'm glad I have achieved my goals and on top of that found myself two and a half summer jobs, the editorial which I am very delighted to get back into, teaching the summer English camps with ESF and some private tutoring. I will keep being the tenacious talk-and-walk-and-talker that I am wired to be quite proudly, yet cautiously of my health.

Don't get me wrong, I think it's normal to doze off or candy crush on the bus, but I just hope the story behind  them are more than office jobs they dread everyday for moments of vanity.

I Don't Ask for Anything, but Should I?

When I start seeing someone, I don't really ask for anything too much... someone who can hold up a conversation, as well as being semi-sensually stimulating; I don't ask for fancy candlelit dinners or bouquets. I just want to be with someone I can feel comfortable with, someone who can tell me I'm perfect for him even though I'm flawed, but brings the best out of me. I don't ask for Tiffany bracelets or Chanel bags. I just want someone to treat me with love, patience and respect. I don't need trips to Seychelles or Maldives. I don't need diamond rings or fancy weddings. I just need four letters, L.O.V.E. three words "I love you", I just need two synchronized hearts and one monogamous relationship.

Is that a lot to ask for? Should I be asking for more? Am I not worthy of that? Or am I just giving that out too much or in the wrong way? They also say "The greatest thing about life is to love and be loved in return." What if you just love, but never get it in return? I hate it when they say "Don't hate the game, hate the player." But aren't the players part of the game? And why is love a game?

Sometimes I get confused who was proud and who was prejudiced, in Jane Austen's finest work. Elizabeth Bennet or Mr. Darcy? In modern age, how do we tell the difference between George Wickham and the almost extincted Mr. Darcy?

Hypocrisy disturbs me...

While I am ambivalent about leaving Hong Kong for grad school in University of Waterloo (Ontario, Canada) this September...I am relieved about the hypocrisy I will be leaving behind, as well as ecstatic to return to somewhere more laid back and at the same time intellectual. Hong Kong has served me well enough time to teach me my Chinese roots, the language, the history, the literature, the traditions, the culture. But a metropolitan like this isn't made for someone as sentimental as me, at least...not for now...

So while I bid my adieu here, I open my arms with the curiosity of a child, not only to take in more knowledge, but also a heart to understand life and what I want to pursue, how I chase after it, and who I want to do that with.

Wish me luck!=)

Trams

I have recently gained fondness for trams. Not just because of its vintage, touristy or even party vibe, not just coz its cheap...but because of how the whole system works. Pretty much all of HK's public transport is the opposite of the trams "commute before you pay" kind of system. And I always feel great about getting the opportuntiy of saying thanks to the driver on my way off the tram, whereas on big double decker buses you dont always get that opportunity.

Relationships should be like that too. Take that special person on a ride, give a little, love a little, allow yourself to fall for that person a little before they start giving and falling for you.

Love at First Read (lyrics rewrote) (Shiga 說一句)

I rewrote these lyrics from Shiga's canto song a while ago, but the new setting and audio on my channel is horrible, so this is just a sneak peek of the lyrics, I'll try to do a better take 2 later on.

the instrumental version(not by me obviously lol): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOT_bfnuPr0
Insta: allyheung
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AirlieMariaHeung
twitter: @airlieheungkong

Lyrics:
From the very first email,
To the very last goodbye,
I gave, I gave all of my heart,
And revealed all of my secrets.
You trusted me, so I trusted you.
But it turned out I was just a fool.
As I pushed you away, I lost my muse and pen
To convey these mixed emotions...

Chorus:
I was surprised myself, when I fell for you,
It was love at first read and I knew
You were the man that was not just a suit
But you had passion for life and it was written down too.
It felt like you were the one I was looking for
And it didn't even take one single kiss or touch
Endearing notes trembled my heart,
And the funny thing is, that it was love at first read.

I hate myself, you did nothing wrong
Because it's you who helped me grow
You helped me shed light on life's clarity
But then things started to shatter...

Chorus:
I was surprised myself, when I fell for you,
It was love at first read and I knew
You were the man that was not just a suit
But you had passion for life and it was written down too.
It felt like you were the one I was looking for
And it didn't even take one single kiss or touch
Endearing notes trembled my heart,
And the funny thing is, that it was love at first read.

But when you did not love me
My sentiments were not reciprocated
Life lose clarity

Chorus:
I was surprised myself, when I fell for you,
It was love at first read and I knew,
You were the man that was not just a suit
But you had passion for life and it was written down too.
It felt like you were the one I was looking for
And it didn't even take one single kiss or touch
Endearing notes trembled my heart,
And the funny thing is, that it was love at first read.

Philippines and Rio De Janero

So I was reading the Sunday Examiner about the Manila incident as well as their deteriorating ecosystem; and the Rio delegation. I then had two goals one short term and one long term in mind:

1. Plan on going to the Philippines in November during Chung Yeung Festival to understand how the Philos think about the incident, what the Philo as well as HK government and citizens should do to harmonize the situation. As well as going to check out the ecosystem and how we can prevent another touch wood tsunami from happening. The sad part is everyone worries about me going, because it's the Philippines and there will be no insurance cover hence no one is going to chaperon me and hence I once again feel that I am confined by the so-called love and institutions, and bounded to bi- by-bit make this world a better place. My parents can laugh at the nowadays "helicopter parents" but what about themselves? Since when was being adventurous a crime? Since when was taking risks and following my heart the wrong thing to do? And when will they let go of this 28-year-old? Recently I heard someone say, "parents give everything they can to their children, except who they want to be" As a daughter and teacher I find that highly ironic and perplexing. Somehow confusing as well. Anyhow my next relatively long term goal is: 
2. Sign up to samba dance perform at the Rio De Janero either opening or closing, or even anything trivial just to learn the Rio culture and Portuguese language in a fun playful and of course memorable way. Unfortunately signups are not opened yet but I have signed up for the newsletter!=)

Despite everything I thank God everyday I'm still alive and walking this park of life. Right now all I can do is blog, vlog, teach and love myself. I am still learning to love myself more but its hard when there are so many different people giving their different opinion and philosophies, while i wanna respect and hear what they say, all I really need now is some alone time, or well something that right now I don't have but let's fingers crossed I will have... whom is a man that is not just a friends-with-benefits, not just a soul mate but both... love takes time...

adieu

Anything Aesthetic

Plugging my sister's awesome blog called Anything Aesthetics!! quite self explanatory, anything pretty!! fashion, photography, interior designs. She has flair and impeccable taste!! You would love her humor as well!! A picture is worth a thousand words they say?! Go check it out!!! What are you waiting for?????

anythingaesthetic.blogspot.com

Bon appetit!!!

Engaged

We were in a tent waiting for dawn to fall on us, and when the sunrised, he serendaded me with a song he wrote, and said a brief speech that made me teary eyed, pulled out a ring and asked me to marry him... 

I wish...

When ever people say "engage" they automatically think of a pretty diamond ring and a beautiful bouquet of flowers and the promise to a wedding and marriage. Think about the ordeal of planning the perfect wedding, whether it be an elaborate event-of-the-year or an intimate get-together. How many think of the deeper semantics of the word "engage"?

"Engage", as I interpret, is a commitment and devotion to something. Engage in a the love of your spouse, your family, your friends, engage in a meaningful career, volunteer work, soul searching, engage in a healthy lifestyle, in arts, engage in the pursuit of scientific or medical discoveries. Be committed and devoted to the things you love and are meaningful to you, and cherish it as if your life depends on it. 

When you are engaged in a fulfilling life, it doesn't really matter if you have that diamond ring. Sharing a tent with a soul mate watching the sunrise can still be accompanied with pretty wildflowers and joy. Add in nice music, good food and a nice conversation and voila! Carpe diem!!! The love and joy of life!!

Let's get Engaged!!!

Please check out me guest blogging as well: Dance your Love

http://leadtolove.wordpress.com/2013/07/30/dance-your-love/

Passion vs credentials 衝上雲霄

Although you might have read my post about not detesting being a teacher as much as I used to a couple months ago, but I haven't been able to shake the feeling and the fear that I'm stealing someone else's dream... someone who probably has less credentials but more passion than I have... someone whose more suitable to be a teacher than I am... I feel bad every time I lament about being a teacher because someone out there probably really wants it and would probably work ten times harder than I do now...

And vice versa, I might not be a very talented writer, I didn't do a journalism degree and I didn't get a first honors in my English degree, but without those credentials, does it really mean I shouldn't keep trying?

This brings me to a question regarding education: when we screen students for certain high schools or certain university programs, should we prioritize how smart they are based on their grades, or how passionate and diligent they are and how much improvement they make? Similarly, should employers screen candidate solely based on their credentials or their passion?

This was interestingly brought up in a recent TVB series called Triumph in the Skies II 衝上雲霄 II when the Pre-pilot program panel had to screen candidates and it was between the protagonist Holiday or a smartie pants.

Regardless, how much I struggle in being a credited writer... I still view it as my lifelong dream, something I'll keep pursuing no matter what obstacles I encounter. Cheers to dreams!!

Spoken word poem video feat lyrics

I'm not scared of concrete,
I'm not scared of jungles,
But the two put together,
Creates so much struggles.
Surviving this city,
In two thousand thirteen,
One degree is not enough,
You have to have three,
By the time you have three,
At the age of thirty,
You make thirty grand a month,
And spend thirteen on rent,
On a three hundred square feet apartment,
That resembles a Canadian basement.

Surviving this city,

In two thousand thirteen, 
There's always protests
There's always contests,
Not enough empathy,
not enough sympathy. 
So much tension,
But a lack of creation. 
Literature was long gone,
All we have are pop songs. 

Capitalism, consumerism,
Wrapped in Louis and Givenchy.
Laced with Mercedes and Audis,
Topped with a tint of greed. 

We wave no at charities that solicit monthly help,
Is it because we don't have enough wealth?
Fifty cents per bag as a wakeup call,
Something we should have known ever since we were small.

As a teacher I always bear in mind:
Always be gracious and always be kind!
Always be tenacious and never be blind...
That there are people around us who need tender love and care,
Not because they are pretty not because they are rare. 

I hate cliches but this I must say:
What defines us is not how much we have or save,
Its about what we offer and if we are brave,
Not how pretty we are, 
how many acquaintances we make.
Let's keep that in mind every step we take.

Surviving this city, 

In two thousand thirteen,

Its a treacherous road to write for a living,
But that will not stop me as much as giving...
Giving to charities giving my words...
Whatever form it takes its far from absurd.

Is Hong Kong the ideal place to reside?
Maybe yes maybe no,
Let's take time to decide.
However dear comrades let's not give in!
There must be more than this bubble we live in!
We are blessed with no terrorists
Nor natural disasters,
No wars no floods maybe just a blister. 
With passion and vision and a ton of conviction,
I'm sure we'll create a new Chinese sensation!
One we will be proud of and have our thumbs up.
I will stop rambling and now wrap it up. 
Will it be hard to survive this city?
I'm sure it will be,
But nothing should stop me, no one but me. 

Descending down the cobbled staircase in Soho one night,

Masquerades and drinks mock my maudlin sorrows under. 

Then I start to ask if I'm nebbish,

Am I doomed for life

Consolation in the form of beer is not what I asked for.

**I miss the graffiti down in Sauga, 

Miss how they seemed to understand me.

Here I am just another fellow clubber,

Who never seems to feel right.

And then I conjure up the greatest alley I've been before,

A place I can evade, 

A place I like to call Grace Alley.

I miss the mural that was painted outside my high school wall,

All the innocence, 

All the songs,

And all the laughter.

Now we're all grown up 

There are no more murals just cheap wine

Is it because its all washed up by reality

I paint my own mural with my two eyes,

See all the colors dance on the wall

Then I am drifted to my own paradise

You don't have to wake me. 

And then I conjure up the greatest alley I've been before,

A place I can embrace

A place I like to call Grace Alley.

*This is not a hallucination

I am just imaging

A mosaic sanctuary

I paint my own mural with my two eyes,

See all the colors dance on the wall

Then I am drifted to my own paradise

You don't have to wake me. 

And then I conjure up the greatest alley I've been before,

A place I can evade, a place I can embrace.

I go down the stairs and then stay grounded

Push out the dreams and say I'm alright 

Put on a smile and remind myself that tomorrow is a new day

The sun will come out

And I will stride these steps with full positivity

Steadfastly knowing I will always have Grace Alley

Wherever I go...

Collective restaurant review

I don't always do restaurant reviews because sometimes I feel the restaurant I go to is not new and prolly has tons of reviews about them anyway, and sometimes when I am eating with friends I try not to focus my time on picture taking but rather the good time with them. But I thought to myself what the hell, a small collective one wouldn't hurt, prolly help you guys find or avoid certain restaurants or dishes. So let's start!!

In late June I was at SML in Times Square to meet up a dear friend I haven't seen in a while and it was my first visit to this concept restaurant. If you haven't heard before basically their dishes come in sizes: small medium and large to cater your various portion needs. I walked in to our reservation around 6 and the summer sun was just about to call it a day, but i still got a peek of the chilled alfresco area behind the bar before i sat down towards the end. I can't remember the drink i ordered but it was rather refreshing (or maybe i was just scorching earlier and needed it lol) anyway i ordered a small salmon tar tar and a small seafood paella. 

The salmon tar tar looked very dainty with several condiments to try out. I didn't put in the quail egg as I have high cholesterol (don't ask me why lol) But I remember putting in the lemon in that shooter glass and it was quite a nice combination. Was it the best tar tar I've had? No. But was it okay? Yes. The seafood paella on the other hand was rather disappointing, it was honestly nothing special, not particularly delicious or anything. The portion for someone as petite as me was just right and I can sample the food out with my friend without damaging our wallets too much. Small however really is small so maybe as an appetizer for us adults or something for kids. For men or if you are in a bigger group you would need at at least medium or large.I wasn't exactly full when I left but figured I could get dessert...somewhere else lol. Price wise I don't think it was worth it as it really came down to about HK$200 each for a meal I wasn't blown away by nor was full. Will I come again? Prolly not for dining, but a chilled drink on the patio would be okay. Note: there were actually a number of ill-etiquetted mainlanders around, I guess it's part of the Causeway Bay invasion, but yea. 

Next stop: Caffe Habitu! I've had coffee and cakes there many times but never really sat down for dinner, but after a long day at work my colleague and I were hunting for comfort food around Festival Walk. It was a hundred-table wait at Itamae and Kushiyaki and a super long line at Simplylife so we decided to give Habitu a try and I was surprised at the quality of food because after all it is just a cafe. We ordered chicken quesadillas, a truffle pizza and a salad I can't seem to remember to share. Everything tasted great, even the rosemary potato sides were superb!!(we cleared all of them) The salsa and guacamole dip for the quesadillas were so good! And the truffle pizza's aroma kept luring me as I was still eating my quesadillas. And the aroma was no false advertisement, it was sooo rich when it entered my mouth! I was like "O yeah!!" lol Quite simply put our mouths were too busy and our brains were indecisive everytime we stopped for our next bite, as everything was great! The bill came down to I recall HK$180 which we happily paid up. I will come again for dinner!

Tsui Wah itself of course is nothing new to me but it was the first time I tried its "truffle prawn risotto" and to be honest it was as authentic as HK$70 can get lol  

I was hanging with some friends watching Despicable Me 2 one night, I went even though I was sick and still recovering as the tickets were booked and i already wasted my MU tickets the day before. Anyhow, we went to a Korean place called Jang in L Place in Central for dinner afterwards. They feasted out to authentic Korean cuisine like beef bourguignon while I lamely stuck with a hot veggie soup served with rice...which was quite salty. That was the only thing I tried out as my stomach was quite fragile and I didn't wanna upset it, but I can see why the place was rather quiet on a Saturday night. The bill came down to about HK$175 each. Will I go again? Prolly not. 

Next stop: Grappas!! I have had dinner at the Grappas in Central before but it was the first time having lunch at the TST Kimberly branch. We opted for the buffet appetizer and dessert plus a main and drink deal. We were so full!!!! The buffet selection was not bad. Salmon and salami bruschettas, pasta salad, potato salad, and greens you can pick out yourself as well as hot mushroom soup. The pasta salad was not well cooked and a bit on the hard end, which was the same for my dad's pasta main. But the potato salad, bruschettas and soup were very good! My main, the grilled chicken breast in tomato sauce with yellow zucchinis and roasted potatoes was quite nice! The dessert buffet had cheese cake and tiramisu as well as an array of fruits. The cheese cake texture was a bit too soft for me, but the tiramisu more than made up for it! the coffee aroma won me over! My fresh grapefruit juice was very refreshing was well. The staff was very very attentive and nice. I was surprised it wasn't too busy that day. Although it was daddy's treat I kinda did the calculation in my head and it was prolly about $200 each. But for the portion, ambience and service, it was worth it. 

Later that night I hit up this middle eastern/mediterranean restaurant called RA in Tsim Sha Tsui near Mody Road with a friend. We walked in around 7:30 and there were already people shishaing up. We sat down and ordered drinks and a platter to start with but the platter was so fulfilling it became our main and we just ordered an extra Moroccan soup to end things. The shrimps and sauage were very yummy and I think the key was the condiments like hummus in the middle. The left hand side condiment was nice as well but the one on the right was too nutty for our palate. The four cheesy rolls were the culprit of making us full, I wasn't even able to try a samosa. The food was a little bit spicy though so be aware if you can't take spicy. It was quite quiet though and we were the only table with actual food. The belly dancing added a bit of amusement to the night though, and resembled K11's Al Pasha. Good times.

Your body belongs to...

There is a Chinese saying that "Your body belongs to your parents, and therefore you must not ruin it" ( 身體髮膚受諸父母, 不可以毀傷). Of course I concur but I would like to add a spin-off to it: Your body also belongs to your children as well. Because how you maintain your body will affect the genes of your children. If you have bad choices like excessive drinking, smoking, doing drugs, that will affect your children. If you choose to eat unhealthily or not exercise, your children will have a bigger chance of being obese.  Making healthy habits isn't just about yourself or your parents, it's about your future generations and the legacy you choose to leave behind. Be healthy!=)

Paying your way to your kids education?

It was only a while ago English Schools Foundation (ESF), organizer of 19 international schools in HK announced that they will be raising the tuition fees again, and today local elite school Saint Stephen's Girls' College (SSGC) announced that they plan to switch to direct subsidy.


ESF is making the increment because the government is phasing out the subvention to support them and they wish to maintain the quality education provided. While SSGC justifies their change as a way to preserve their heritage and ethos.

The question I would like to pose here is: Why has,does and will our education system support the seclusion of poor diligent students to allow rich brats to a better education and easier route to success? If we are to leverage HK's education system to international standards, we should start thinking about questions like this. Which raises the ancient question of why students are allocated into schools based on where they live (how well-off they are).

There is on average only 18% of local high school graduates(from elite schools) that are accepted into a local subsidized university. Are the remaining 82% not as hardworking as the elite or international school kids who are ensured of a quality tertiary education? Most definitely not. But it is the flawed system that dooms the future of the 88% remainders. And now they are saying the price tag of this shortcut to success is even heftier? That the fairy tale of pursuing one's dream and passion is even more treacherous? That says a lot about the so-called educators at ESF and SSGC as well as the government. But then again why wouldn't they? They are preserving their own breed.

In all fairness, not all elite or international school kids are brats, I have met aplenty that are not. But would I say the majority is brattier the remaining kids? Probably yes. Is it the kids fault? Definitely not. Is it the system's fault? I would say yes. How then could we rectify this? Well, I have at least done my part of reiterating this age old problem. The rest is really up to the people at the top to have a conscience.
And as teachers and parents, we should educate our kids to never stop dreaming and to fight the system, because I have seen cases, of the less privileged making their way in the world, because they have the perserverance and faith it takes.