if i were mary poppins

It might have been wishful thinking to hope that people would realize there are sharp points on the edges of their umbrellas and if not careful, those points may hit people's eyes. I was an angry pedestrian for most of today, not because I had no umbrella, not because I was getting wet. I just felt the whole time I had to dodge umbrellas, and I was so afraid that people would get hurt by these pointy objects.

I have said this before, and I can't quite explain this sentiment. It upsets me when Hong Kong people behave inconsiderately. It doesn't upset me as much if they aren't Hong Kong people.

did i hear

someone telling me I'm getting published?

What more can possibly happen on a 25th of July?

and that has made all the difference

Cheers to Betty as well, on this evening. 14 years ago this day, we met, and from then on, I have chosen the path that I am taking today, and "that has made all the difference" (quoting Frost)

I wonder if we will ever meet again.

Below are some photos of my recent happenings.



Now, this is a real and raw concert, the best indie rock show I've seen in Hong Kong so far, Wing Lo and friends. I root for this guy. Sure there are guys who play the guitar better, sing better, look better, and all that. But what I like about him is he actually goes out, gets it done, and makes it happen. This is Hong Kong. We make do with what we have, and with what we have, we do some spectacular shit.



Now, here's a concert I might pay $380 to see. They do look handsomer here than 20 some years ago, and for once, Tamaki Koji isn't standing in the middle.



This section of Tsimshatsui, the Harbour City / Canton Rd area has lost a lot of character. Now it's all just a white bland interior with designer brands all over. Harbour City, the setting of a chunk of my childhood memories... I don't identify with Harbour City anymore. I even detest it, going there on a Saturday afternoon. This is not Hong Kong.




The actual image of the bamboos (do we say 'bamboos')?



A reflection from the marble floor of the place where I met my writing group this early afternoon.

autumn leaves

tears and autumn leaves, her bitter
mix of youth and sorrow
as leaves wither, I am alone
whirling, seeking where to belong

leaves in the wind, much like
how we try to find each other
to break this barrier
in our passive ways

leaves have fallen, autumn
paints a sorrow scene still
rustling, trampling, I hurry, only to hear
her calling after me weakened by the wind

as I turn around
I am stunned to see
her beauty scarred by yesterday's tears
her brows and lashes twist my heart's tail end

what of joy, of bitterness, but
a backdrop rooted in fixed episodes
if autumn and spring are fleeting as they are
not one is warmer than the other

sorrow, like withered leaves
shed from our soul when we least expect
as light as a trace of a smile, is
as grand as a glimpse of a new
beginning

落葉季節

鄭國江詞 (This version is inaccurate)


葉已悄悄落 淚也悄悄落 青春的她心裡寂寞
葉已片片落 又似我失落 風中飄飄找到著落
情如風裡葉 彼此的心也是無作 怎(麼)不衝過心中隔膜

伴我悄悄踱 伴我悄悄踱 (失失裝瘋)添上寂寞
________ ________ 風中的她淒怨落寞
回頭一再望 今天的她美麗如作 可惜心態始終冷漠

愉快是配樂 恨怨是配樂 歡欣悲哀仍亦有段落
春天秋天的美 不應分厚薄
愁如枯葉輕輕心中脫落難自覺 只想跟你衝開隔膜

愁如枯葉輕輕心中脫落難自覺
輕輕一笑衝開隔膜 抓緊快樂 抓緊快樂

Desperado

written by The Eagles


Desperado, why don't you come to your senses
You've been out ridin' fences,
for so long - now.
Ohh you're a hard one.
I know that you've got your reasons.
These things that are pleasin'you
Can hurt you somehow.

Don't you draw the queen of diamonds boy
She'll beat you if she's able.
You know the queen of hearts is always your best bet.
Now it seems to me, some fine things
Have been laid upon your table.
But you only want the ones
That you can't get.

Desperado,
Ohhhh you aint getting no younger.
Your pain and your hunger,
They're driving you home.
And freedom, ohh freedom.
Well that's just some people talking.
Your prison is walking through this world all alone.

Don't your feet get cold in the winter time?
The sky won't snow and the sun won't shine.
It's hard to tell the night time from the day.
And you're losing all your highs and lows
aint it funny how the feeling goes
away...

Desperado,
Why don't you come to your senses?
come down from your fences, open the gate.
It may be rainin', but there's a rainbow above you.
You better let somebody love you.
(let sombody love you)
You better let somebody love you...ohhh..hooo
before it's too..oooo.. late.

rainbow paradox

Found a rainbow on the floor of the shopping mall.



The view outside from where I write.



Spent all day writing at home. Found a rainbow on my wall.

unthinking evening

The ideal evening is to close out the night with two hours left before bedtime, and in the two hours I would plan my writing, scribble in my diary, read excerpts from books I need to catch up on. More ideal would be if I'd be clean without having to take a shower and if nutritious food would await me when I'm hungry.

the city is happening

Friday night. Was teaching my evening classes. Had so much fun I took a picture of these pictures I drew on the board. I was ready for the weekend even before I left the classroom. Not that I was going to go to the beach or anything. I was looking forward to the last two days of the Literature Festival.

On Saturday I met 劉以鬯先生. Here he is signing books. He said he came to Hong Kong because this is a place that allows you to do what you want to do as long as you are willing and ready to do it. This is why I am here.



Blue skies from the window of the Delifrance cafe. So here I am, how I've been here in HK for eight months now, still trying to map out the topography of the local literature scene. I have been away for 20 years. I cannot expect to make up for 20 years in eight months. Blue skies...





Above is a random picture taken on the way to the Film Archives. I once lived in Fukuoka.



A Taiwanese style eatery in the Sai Wan Ho wet market where I had supper. It's not the cleanest place and the kitchen is awfully small. So I wondered where the food came from. Then I tried not to think about it.

Next day...

On Sunday afternoon, I decided I was sick of Delifrance lunches, so I went out of the library, crossed the bridge, passed through Victoria Park, and found myself inside Windsor House. This is the building where I found my first job ever in Hong Kong. While I was working here, the building was under renovation, and now it had transformed into a more spacious shopping mall. A shopping mall will always be just a shopping mall though these purplish glowing beams are pretty to look at.



Crossing the bridge and walking back to the library. The tram was moving further and further away from me.



After attending the final event of the Literary Festival, I went to the Film Archives again. Tonight, I saw 不脫襪的人. I had seen this film back when I was 16 or 15 or even earlier. I didn't understand the movie at the time, but I remembered random scenes and random lines, but most vividly was the final scene when the main characters reunite to the tune of "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes". A nostalgic revisit like this one always makes me wonder what had happened and what I had done in all these years. I thoroughly enjoyed the film.



Before the movie. Here I was making my way up these steps to get to the cinema...



After the movie. Here I was catching a reflection of myself as I made my way down the steps from the cinema. These shots are painfully lonely to look at.





I knew that my alma mater, Munsang College, has a school on Hong Kong Island, but I didn't know it was right around the corner from the film archives. It was dark, so one cannot see anything but darkness and spots of lights in the picture.



For the second night in row, I went back to the same eatery at the Sai Wan Ho wet market. I usually don't purposely shoot people when they aren't looking. I had only taken this to capture the vibe. Now that I look at this picture, I notice a couple at the next table with bubble teas on their table and the girl at the top left corner looks to have just finished her tea. Is she in deep thoughts or falling asleep or none of the above?



At the other end of the platform, a couple waits for the train.

Tender is the night.

I have two hours before the start of the World Cup.

I have little interest in the competition now that my German team has played all their matches.

I have little to say here now that I have typed so much here and cut and paste so much there.

If I were to cap it in one line

The city is happening, and so are we.

blue and white glimpses

Bought myself half a watermelon after work, brought it home, and was devouring it with a silver spoon while catching up on my documentary shows.



And it occurred to me that I was beginning to reflect on the idea of democracy and universal suffrage and why we are fighting for these things and why the younger population in our society is so passionate about attaining democracy. Earlier I had posted my questioning of whether it was worthwhile to be fighting for a right to choose a leader to lead us when we are each more than capable of leading ourselves. We say we are fighting for democracy, but really, it is something deeper that we want. It is more than just a right to choose a leader. I think it's more about attaining a fairer way of treating all people; it's about bridging the rich-and-poor gap; it's about cultivating our sensitivity for the needs of the weaker bodies in our society; it's about reconnecting with our sense of community... To bring about a kind of awareness, that's all. Democracy is just an abstract term. It's supposed to be something not at all political. It's supposed to be human.



Often I ride the train and I look outside and I see so many windows in so many buildings and it blows my mind to imagine how many bodies are making it work everyday given the little spaces and little opportunities they have.



These days I've been flying so high. I rave about my job and spend my weekends at literary events and theatres and imitating Tony Leung while sitting in bookstore cafes. Surely, to produce resounding work, some calmness is helpful.



When I'm at peace with myself I hope that others are too. There are many bodies in situations many times more uncomfortable than mine and are finding even more peace in their daily many moments. They are my teachers.

a writer's day and night

It was a bright day when I started my meal in Delifrance right by the Central Library. I was there for a talk that was part of the Literature Festival. By the time I got to sit down here in this cafe, my legs were tired from reading and copying from the wealth of information I found on the displays in the exhibit. There were the chronologies of upper-level book shops in Hong Kong, of books by writers who wrote about the pre-and-post-colonial eras, of the development of local literary publications, of the movement toward cross-media publications, and more...



I finished my meal. Then I wrote and wrote and wrote because I had to meet a deadline. When I came out of the cafe, it was night. There was a slight breeze and kids were playing football under lights outside. I took a short walk before taking the subway home.



Tonight I finished writing a story set at the Royal Garden Hotel. Below is a photo I took from the 16th floor corridor of the hotel. What you see here is a floor-plan view of the restaurant-cafe. My friends and I plan to have tea here some time soon.

o deutschland

Before the match, I had to stand for an hour just to get a spot so I can see the TV. And for this one hour I had to watch monkeys talk trash and play stupid games on the stage.



I got to lift my arms and celebrate on four German goals. Germany won, and the night was more than worthwhile.



After all, football is for sharing, so if we all shift over more tightly we could make room for more people to be able to see the TV, right?

Oh German football. What a beautiful day in Deutschland. So proud of this team.