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July 04 談論主題 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' Exclusive Clip: "Escape at Azkaban"
引述 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' Exclusive Clip: "Escape at Azkaban" August 15 Malaysian tourRebecca and I took our summer trip at the beginning of August. This time was Malaysia. It was a pending tour, since last time we wanted to take it but was cancelled! (so that time we went to the Philippines!)
We followed Wing On - this time is my fourth time! (previously: Korea-Philippines-Egypt). The tour was quite much what we expected, tight schedules, long bus trips and many places to visit. The schedule was like as follows:
1st day - Early flight with Cathay Pacific - At the Avillion Village Resort at Dickson Port in Negeri Sembilan (south Selangor where Kuala Lumpur is). Rustically designed along the theme of a traditional Malay Fishing Village. We spent the whole day there, the swimming pool was fun
2nd day - Malacca (Melaka) at the Historic central district where there is still remains of the heritage left by the Dutch and Portuguese during colonial times. The weather was the best that day :)
3rd day - The Batu Caves: an ancient Hindu Shrine. There are more than 200 steps before arriving into the sacred cave in the middle of the mountain.
Bread with curry chicken, chicken cooked in curry with a covering of bread. Found in the town of Kampar. Very delicious! :P
Kuala Lumpur - Government House and buildings, History Museum, Aquaria (many sharks around! but still HK's Ocean Park is much fun :P) - Petronas Tower: The second tallest building in the world
4th day - The Menara tower - The Sunway Lagoon WaterPark, it has the world longest suspension bridge! The hanging platform is made of wood but as you get next to the middle, it becomes a transparent metal grid that creates a terrible vertigo to anyone who looks down!!!!!! Ritz Carlton Hotel (great hotel and the best offered in the tour!)
5th day - Chocolate with Durian!!!! delicious! hhmmm!!!!!! - Lunch by tour agent: too cheap and not good!
A day before we returned there was a strong windy typhoon around HK, and the airport closed one day! So in the day we returned, the whole airport was full of delayed airplanes and passengers. We had to wait to be able to land in HK, get a bus to the airport since we taxed far from the gates and airport building and receive our luggages! We managed to get home around 2:00am, but we were supposed to get back to HK at 11:00pm (almost 2 hours delay)!
May 24 Coldplay in HKColdplay is coming to Hk! They will be performing in the Asia World arena, date 13 July 2006 at 8:00pm! (thanks to Karen Chung for the reminder! :P)
Just to warm up here I broadcast: DON'T PANIC from http://www.alwaysontherun.net/coldplay.htm
Don't Panic
Bones, sinking like stones, And we live in a beautiful world, Bones, sinking like stones, And we live in a beautiful world, Here we go, here we go And we live in a beautiful world, Oh, all that I know, On the moveWow! It's been ages since I don't write something here! Life in HK has become too much of a rush lately and mainly because of the workload from the office. I just wonder if it worth it and whether it should be time to move away from my office (almost 2.5 years... much long for HK standards!). Well, i've manage to reappear here to drop a couple of lines...
So how is life lately? Well, it's time to move since our rental contract is almost over and prices has gone quite high lately in the whole real estate market! We have done our homework and after a long process (almost 3 weeks) we found a place that suited well in terms of price and space requirement. On Saturday and Sunday, we already had the place cleaned and already started moving the scattered stuff: from electrical appliances to bags of clothes that even I didn't know I still had! hahahaha... I suppose that if I lost half of my wardrobe, I wouldn't notice it! hahaha... Unluckily this time of the year is not the best one to move since it's rainy
The new place is not bad - Everwin Building, even though it is not as new as the one we used to live and is located close to King's road (noisy and polluted main road of North Point). The area is much more generous (2 rooms) and it even has view of the Victoria Harbour! (very unlikely being 3 blocks away from the waterfront). So let's hope that the good vibrations and fungshui may affect us positvely at least as a psichological effect.
We'll complete the move on Sunday with the heavy stuff. William is coming to help and Rebecca's parents too. I hope everything goes fine then. I still have to move out wine bottles and my huge collection of books and documentation. My back hurts already of just thinking of it! Around my friends and coworkers are in the mood of changes, my panamenian friend William seems to break free from his long time trading company very much for good and Tony is already in search of better oppotunities. Ken managed to get into the Chinese University and is the next missing piece in my office (I wonder if they will manage to find new stuff soon since we are already overloaded with tons of work and different projects to deal per person!).
Well, I suppose I must stay in focus and handle the short term plans first, so let's move and see how we go during June! May 21 The wounded heartIf only the heart was right
we could give so much more
But alas, the heart is often empty.
It is often cold and unwelcoming.
It is often hard and unyielding.
It is often weighed down with worry.
It is often sad and lonely.
It is often in darkness.
It is often wounded.
And it is sometimes broken.
We have to heal the wounds of the heart
in order to be able to love.
Lord touch our hearts and heal them,
so that we may be able to bear the fruits of love.
Amen March 26 Bottoms up! :)How To Avoid The Flu
Eat right! Make sure you get your daily dose of fruits and veggies. Take your vitamins and bump up your vitamin C. Get plenty of exercise because exercise helps build your immune system. Walk for at least an hour a day, go for a swim, take the stairs instead of the elevator, etc. Wash your hands often. If you can't wash them, keep a bottle of antibacterial stuff around. Get lots of fresh air.Open doors & windows whenever possible. Try to eliminate as much stress from your life as you can. Get plenty of rest. OR Take the doctor's approach! Think about it... When you go for a shot, what do they do first? They Clean your arm with alcohol... Why? Because Alcohol KILLS GERMS. So....... I walk to the liquor store. (exercise) I put lime in my Corona...(fruit) Celery in my Bloody Mary (veggies) Drink outdoors on the bar patio..(fresh air) Tell jokes, laugh....(eliminate stress) Then pass out. (rest) The way I see it... If you keep your alcohol levels up, flu germs can't get you! My grandmother always said, "A shot in the glass is better than one in the ass!" Live Well - Laugh Often - Love Much Have a fab day.... March 07 Rushing February, Peruvian Navy ship in HK and the oscarsWow! February passed in a blink! Well, so many things has happened, my friends from Malaysia came to HK to enjoy their vacations, Valentine's at TST, Munich (the movie), CNY's dinner with the company and the visit of a Peruvian Navy ship to HK!
By the end of Febraury a Navy Ship from Peru passed by HK. They came for diplomatic and military relationships with China after many years, they went to Shanghai first, and coming back they stopped by HK. We went for a cocktail reception. It was a very nice evening, the cadets and captain received everyone in uniform , and then we were directed to the exhibition hall downstairs and we had cocktails drinks (algarrobina, pisco sour and Inca Kola!). Rebecca liked "Inca Kola" that is like Schwepes Cream Soda ( i is also yellow). We had a toast of welcoming after the consul words and then there was a performance of "Marinera" (The dance of the sea: because the movement of the dancers and winding skirt of the lady resembles the movement of the saves of the sea). After that, we had a mini-buffet and party with orchestra and nice music to dance the whole night.
Yesterday it was the oscars night! Now that it has passed, I just noticed that the only winner of an oscar I've seen, is King Kong and Narnia! hahaha.... We saw Munich last month (that was nominated too) but it didn't win anything. Reading in the net, the oscar's host Jon Stewart joked on what may come for jews, since it seems that it may become a trilogy after the Schindler's list and Munich. In think this movie was too crude on the way it showedthe reality of this world of hatred, pride and sadness. At the end the taste is like having a world without hope and that the whole process is just never ending and a vicious circle.
For animated movie, we saw "Howl's moving castle" (from Studio Ghibili - Hayao Miyasaki) but it didn't win too. I liked this one, but it seems that the topic of war and romance, is becoming a common topic for their style, like in "City in the Sky" or "Valley of the winds".
Now, in HK they are many movies being shown for the Oscars season, so there are many options such as: Pride and Prejudice, Capote and Brokeback mountain. The latter is being quite well promoted here in the media (radio and TV) specially because of Ang Lee, that has become the pride of chinese people, after winning the oscar for acievement in directing. He has become a hero, with lots of interviews of people around him like relatives in Taiwan, I suppose later we will have reports from his primary school, secondary schools, etc... hahaha! it's just the rush of the moment for the media here... February 06 051203-04 Camp at StanleyAt the beginning of December, we had our camp at the Maryknoll Fathers' House at Stanley. It was organized by the Catholic Marriage Advisory council, and provided a course on family planning and tips for marriage life. They also provides some experience sharing from volunteer married couples. It was quite fun, and also quite touching since we had time to talk about some topics people find difficult and giving tips on the importance of nurturing the shared life with lvoe and care for each other. It is quite true that relationships are like plants. If you don't take care of it everyday it may get sick or even die! So if we treasure our other half and our life together we need to put some effort in improving our married life.
I'm really thankful with my wife Rebecca to go through this experience together. We had fun and gave teh opportunity to talk about some topics related to our relationship that sometimes we take for granted but need to be cared of. New Lunar Year of the Dog 2006Well, the holidays are gone... this year we stayed at HK during the Lunar New Year and celebrated as regular locals visiting friends receiving relatives at home and throwing away "lai see" red pockets. This year, my grandmom didn't go back to the hometown in Sanxiang since her health is not too good lately. In the first day of New year, we had lunch with Rebecca's family and dinner with grandmom. My cousins (Sandy and Bryan) came for dinner on the 2nd day and on the third we spent the day away visiting friends.
I can't believe how much money people spend with the red pockets even though the money given away is just a "symbolic" one! This time we used more than 1K even though we don't know too many people! :P That's why the advertisements sometimes shows parodies of people saving money for the red pockets!
Last saturday we had a "vegetarian banquet" with Rebecca's family, her parents invited us to their Buddhist association in Kowloon Tong where they celebrated the 7th day of the new year (the day of everyone's Birthday). The food was fine and there was lots of it. We even have some whisky and brandy (good for the cold night).
That night we also met my net-friend Carmen and her husband Eric. They are from Malaysia and came here to spend their vacations around. We met them at Soho in a bar there (it's been long time we didn't go around the bars at Central). I hope they enjoy their trip around. Today we went out to have our last visit to my aunt at Tsing Yi but we didn't make it to my Kupo, she was away today, so we visited my grandmom instead, to see her and check on her health, luckily she was better after seeing the doctor yesterday.
I hope everyone have a great new Lunar Year of the dog! I heard I have to be careful of "romantic triangles January 10 Thoughts on the net - FriendshipRead Each One Carefully and Think About It a Second or Two:
1. I love you not because of who you are, but because of who I am when I am with you.
2. No man or woman is worth your tears, and the one who is, won't make you cry.
3. Just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to, doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have. 4. A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart. 5. The worst way to miss someone is to be sitting right beside them knowing you can't have them. 6. Never frown, even when you are sad, because you never know who is falling in love with your smile.
7. To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.
8. Don't waste your time on a man/woman, who isn't willing to waste their time on you.
9. Maybe God wants us to meet a few wrong people before meeting the right one, so that when we finally meet the person, we will know how to be grateful.
10. Don't cry because it is over, smile because it happened.
11. There's always going to be people that hurt you so what you have to do is keep on trusting and just be more careful about who you tr ust next time around.
12. Make yourself a better person and know who you are before you try and know someone else and expect them to know you. 13. Don't try so hard, the best things come when you least expect them to. REMEMBER: WHATEVER HAPPENS, HAPPENS FOR A REASON. True friends: How many people actually have 8 true friends? Hardly anyone I know ! But some of us have all right friends and good friends!!!
January 02 Merry Xmas!This Year's Winter Celebrations were quite a fun even though I still feel a bit uncomfortable on how fast things go lately (too much work?, getting old? I don't know but I suppose I need to re-analysis myself someday soon)...Celebrations started with the Chinese Winter festival. This year we went to my aunt's home for dinner, but my grandmom didn't dare to come out since the weather was quite cold during those days. It was good to catch up with them since they opened thier new shop we've got less opportunity to meet each other. Rebecca brought some presents to my younger cousin, but it seems that as "Jenny" grows up, she becomes more unsocial.
I had a Xmas Party at the office, it was the first time we exchanged gifts there (we even played some games!). After that I met rebecca and went to update my HKID and then go to APM shopping center to take a look. On Christmas Eve, we went to Jae's home (Opus Dei's center/house at Wanchai) for a special celebration there. We had a mass, a cocktail party and ended singing Christmas Carols over midnight! For Rebecca was a new experience, (a bit high class as she calls it), to meet so many new people and get used to a new enviroment (social manners in the chinese world is less formal than western). For me was an opportunity to show to her more of my environment and my social circle.
On the 25th, we went to Ocean Park! It's been almost 6 years since my first time there (how fast time goes!) and it was also with Rebecca
These days we have ate a lot! To many dinners
December 14 Xmas Music in my page- Navidad (Toribianitos from Hong Kong!) :DThis month I will broadcast a song from my home country (Peru). It is a Christmas song by the "Toribianitos"=a choir of children quite famous in Peru. This song is is called: "Navidad" (Nativity). I like this song not only because it's a nice and happy song for the season but also it also make remember my childhood happy years and the way it used to be played by the morning news program of the TV. 0511 Busy NovemberWell, another stolen month, I dont know how it passed so fast but November came as a blink and it is almost Xmas now! Well, many things happened since then. On the 7th, it was my wife's (Rebecca) graduation of her Bachelor degree in Early Childhood education at HKBaptist University
During this month,
By the 20th, we went with Rebecca's friends to Po Toi O at the south of Sai kung. We took a short walk (we also found the society of remote-con airplane omodelers in the way) and revisited the top of hill over the Tin Hau temple near the Golf Club there. Then we went down to the fishing village of Po Toi O for dinner. We had some nice seafood together. mmm... October 28 New Order- Regret (Finally got some music here) :P
October 20 Running through Braemar Hill and Mount ParkerRunning and hiking are good way to keep fit. Every time I have time and I'm in the mood of some extra exercise I may jump on the hills!
One of the good things of living in North Point is to have the nearby hills behind. I'm talking about Braemar Hill and Mount Parker (to the east, just over Quarry Bay). Apart of being the home of the "mid-levels" (=most expensive apartments) of the North Poitn area, it hides behind over it a network of routes and spots quite enjoyable for anyone who wants to re-encounter with nature just near the urban area. Between the known trails and routes here we have "Sir Cecil's Ride" that connects Happy Valley to North Point and the Wilson Trail that goes to the south towards Stanley!
The vegetation is quite mature and sometimes it hids some interesting "ancient" remains of the past, like in the Sai Wu Park that keeps one of the old Pipe system that the old Taikoo refinery used when they had their huge plant of sugar there in Taikoo in the first half of the XX century. Or the old red house, that the old engineer of the plant used enjoy with a commanding view of the Quarry Bay on Mount Parker!
The fauna in the hills amaze you with different species maybe unexpected like little beavers, nice birds and butterflies and even Snakes! 051018-Latin Festival in Hong Kong (Opening)Last Tuesday we went to the opening of the Latin Festival at the Lumiere at IFC (courtesy of the Peruvian Consulate in Hong Kong). It's a very nice bar(just opened) at the bottom of the current biggest tower of HK. We had opening with all the consulates involved and the head of the Leisure & Cultural Service Department of HK (who even tried to speak some spanish!) and then an interesting TANGO demonstration.
Later on, many apetizers and drinks were served. The best is that we have some nice "spoons" of CEVICHE (marinated fish) and "ARROZ CON LECHE" (rice pudding) that I like very much in my country. The music was fine, mainly classic latin songs including the "Cha Cha Cha" and others.
Many old good friend of our Peruvian association in HK were there. They also provided photo taking and "inmediate" printing for us to keep the nice memory of the evening too. October 17 Trip to Tung lung IslandTrip to Tung Lung Island
last sunday we escaped to Tung Lung Island at the east of HK Island (just south of Sai Kung). It was a great experience specially since Rebecca is not really a freind of the nature, hiking and the burning sun!
So we started our trip going to the Sai Wan Ho Ferry Pier, but that was a mistake because there are no longer any boat from there to Tung Lugn Island!!!!
So OUR RECOMMENDATION is just: To Take the MTR to "Yau Tong" and wlak some minutes downhill towards the Lei Yue Mum village at the San Ka Tsuen Ferry pier and take it there! (it should be not longer than 15 minutes from there)
We had to get the boat from SWH to Lei Yue mun and then go to Tung Lung island. We are taken to Pier next to the fishing village there are many little shops there and restaurants. We walked east towards the Camping area near the Historic Tung Lung Fort!. At the east there is another pier, usually taken by tourists (specially elderly people) and some little shops
The government has done some good work trying to fix the place for visitors, providing facilties like toilets, the camping area is quite ample and easily you can get nice views of Sai Kung at the other side of the Harbour at the north and inmensity of the sea at the east
The hills are as high as 200 and a bit more meters above the level of the sea, easily to climb and with a nice weather, you can easily enjoy of the whole experience. You can spot
We went back by 3:30pm quite tired and bit burned by the sun
Leon 2005/10/14 ConcertLast friday we went to Leon's Concert at the Hung Hom Colisseum
Rebecca , of course, enjoyed it very much and I have the opportunity to know more of his greatest songs. In the between sections (when he changed his clothes) we had interesting mini-acrobatic shows and performances of dancing kind of circus or theatric, maybe inspired by the "Cirque du Soleil" shows! Quite nice to see! October 03 BEPI just heard the latest cd from The Black Eyed Peas, "Monkey Business" and is very good. The previous one, Elephunkwas very stomping and exploded my ears last year. This one is easie to listen, you may say they have become quite mainstream and commercial but I think they have a very well developed style and they are just getting better!
Between my favorite ones:
Request Line
Where is the Love?
Hey Mama
Don't Lie
Beautiful people
Their web has been updated, got improved and even got a blog of their own for their growing fan community!
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