Valrhona Chocoholics
Thanks, MC...Some choc he bought in Paris during his last trip there. Stan and Rik are gonna be surprised with MC joining in on the plan to take on Europe by the world cup. I wanna do Roma and Amsterdam at least. :-)
Rik is our research analyst. Stan is our planner. MC is our security. And I get to be the glamour. Just kidding. Hehehe. I am the photographer, writer, poet, historian...and the big brother for the gang.
True Colour
AD, your true color is Green!You're green, the color of growth and vigor. Good-hearted and giving, you have a knack for finding and bringing out the best in people. Green is the most down-to-earth color in the spectrum — reliable and trustworthy. People know they can count on you to be around in times of need, since your concern for people is genuine and sincere. You take pride in being a good friend. For you, success is measured in terms of personal achievement and growth, not by status or position. Rare as emeralds, greens are wonderful, natural people. It truly is your color!
Food, drinks, gifts and the whole process of starving to death
Hmm..well not quite what I intended to write about...especially after Firefox crashed again while trying to rearrange the pics..but here goes anyways..This Christmas, I received loads of shower gel, creams from my boss and a dear friend. Thanks! People have finally noticed that I need a wash every now and then and my dead skin is cracking up and peeling like FASHA in Gold Member (Austin Power lovers - this one was for you). Hahaha. Thanks a lot, really appreciate that you notice my endeavours to rejuvenate my looks...though someone would laugh it off because he has good skin...who cares anyways...hahaha.
I also got a FCUK (no you read it wrong the first time:-P) scarf from my best friend who noticed my attempts at finding the right scarf. Thanks for your warm being.
I got a Tomagotchi (YOO HOO, I finally have one) hahaha...I am so happy..now I can play with my own baby and not leave it with someone else who would ignore and thus kill it...:-P. Thanks for the bright smile you brought to my face. hehehe.
I have been a bad boy. I have requested CN to get me some eye gel and perhaps some masks from her Korea trip...which is yet to begin. I have to call her up to remind her.
I am back...after a short post midnight snack..this is the first time in some months that I dared to eat something this late...risking fat (I ate some crisp rice - my favourite Indian snack) formation on the where it hurts most area...But it should be ok because otherwise I am sure I would have got acidity tonight...don't worry, AD, I have cut down on intake and I shall be slimmer and slimmer by the time I join the gym in March...I have to take tips from MC on how to increase my metabolic rate back to same as that when I was in my teens...when I could get away by eating a horse and still look thinner than G suk suk. :-) Lets get back to the topic...
I have been a bad boy in other ways too...I have gone down to CK and picked up a lovely tee and body spray...its so good..I love that smell...fruity yet not very sweet, lingering yet not obnoxious, etc. etc...come on...
My old boss treated us to a fantastic tea (read that as cheese balls, french fries, pizza, onion rings, virgin pina colada) Yummy..fatty food...Thanks!
I was also treated by my dear friend for another reason. We went to a Korean place for the first time - Apgujeong Korean Tent Bar - 1/F Koon Fook Centre, 9 Knutsford Terrace, TST...I had a hot pot of chicken and rice with chilli sauce, washed down with aloe juice...yummy...Thanks, again!
I have been frequenting a 2-storeyed restaurant opposite exit C in CWB (CN will laugh since she is always amazed at my memory of exits) but do not know its name still...so poor. Anyways, last time was a happy time after shopping a ZOO YORK jacket (the bad me again)...with a special someone :-P hahaha.
I have been hunting for a decent shirt and have looked all over the place...after a few steps into each of the following places and seeing their collection there is only one word that escaped my mouth time and again - CRAP!
M&S, Zara, Espirit, Ralph Lauren, Harvey Nichols, Boss, the list just goes on and on...and there is crap after crap after crap...SL suggested I try out the Rise Commercial building in TST...its a pad for local designers that are yet to make it big...well, with his help we did reach the place...and I checked each shop out myself...if that is design then I had better get back to the drawing board...and rekindle my dead desire to be a designer...and redesign my life around it...youngsters have the knack of putting together any crap clothes pieces and call it fashion...its not..because its stupidly idiotic and it hurts the eyes...*sigh* just because I am still recovering from the white shirt syndrome after watching Love Story in Harvard (Korean drama) does not mean that I will buy or wear any crap that comes my way...Same goes for shoes,,,nobody has my size 13...I think I should spend some time in finding out cobblers and getting them made for myself than to rely on any brand...since HK people have small feet I will never ever get my size in the stores...and when I wear the wrong colour people jump to point out...this is all I have to say...if you really care so much, find me a pair...G suk suk has learned it the hard way and so has my best friend :-)) hehehe...now its turn for another...:-P
After the winter is almost over, circle K has risen up to the occasion and come up with shelves and boxes that hold hot and very hot drinks...for people like me...or is it that I noticed really late...anyways...the damage has been done already...
As my iTunes optimizes 10s of 100s of photos before loading them onto my iPod Video,,,I think I should turn in...I don't want any pimples on New Year eve...Please God have mercy...give me some sleep....
HK DISNEYLAND
Yeah, been there. Seen that. The top attractions are Disney Parade, Mickey's 3D magic show (which features Donald!), Space mountain, the fireworks and The Lion King. Food is ok costly, as my twin would say. The staff are very friendly. The toilets are clean!
It was a whole day and evening of walking around in the sun and taking loads of pictures. Here is a clip from the fireworks. Hope you like it.
PS PS - I loved the costumes!
That's Mickey's Behind ;-))Here is some part of the parade.
Please go there with your friends and family and lover and have a good day!
Fa La La la - Merry Christmas!!
Hello, you lovely people.
Merry Christmas to you and your family and lovers and friends. I guess that about covers everybody. May everybody have someone to share this warm occasion with.
Last evening and night were almost perfect. I hung out at Mong Kok until late night after which I shifted base to LKF. We had to let go of ING plans until another wild night. I made a new friend and met an old one. Though I did feel a bit exhausted around 9pm, it was basically a happy happy feeling ;-) Wakakaka.
I did call up a few friends and Chicken Wing has been quite a moral support. God bless her soul. JS and myself have finally realized that we are very good friends :-) now that I can speak whatever little Cantonese I dare to. Yeah, the course is really helping me build my confidence even though the tones I churn out are not among the nine on the official chart. hehehe
JS is shifting home this weekend. What a blessed weekend to that. He has a few friends helping him out. They will probably end up playing mah-jong :-). I like his flat..away from the hustle and bustle and so peacefully decorated. I wonder how he is going to deck up his Christmas tree especially all those boxes that stay unopened after so many years...hehehe...I am Wicked!
My best friend is away (and so is everybody else) spending the night with whoever they could find while I watched TV with my darling Mom. I hope she can use the iTango I bought her for Christmas. If she cannot, I have to go for iZap. :-)I always thought that Dad had taken her to the LA Disneyland. But no!! I learned that today and so I am all excited about going to HK DL in the morning. Wakakaka. Rob may join us with his special person. :-))
So what am I doing up so late? Just worried about my friends falling sick over this lovely period. The weather is just perfect 17-21 deg C and its a shame to see them out of action...especially the young ones. Hahaha...Stan's called a meeting with FW and Rik on Monday...and yeah its going to be a long time since we sat down together to have a chat!! I saw FW at Edwin's wedding but did not have the time to chat...as I was rushing to Stanley.
Cal's out of HK again on holiday!! So is Apples. Everybody is away! I am here with my Mom. I have not spent such a long time with her for a long long time :-)...1995 ad!!!
So we are enjoying each other's company...realizing how much we have changed over the years and how much we have not ;-) I never watch the Kyunkis (Hinglish for Indian tele-serials)..I find them boring. But with Mom, we have a lot of fun together. We even emoted for a person who was kicked out of the SA RE GA MA PA 2005 Indian Challenge. He was not a great singer but he was doing his best and his friends stood by him. It was not that he lost, but the support that he had that made us feel how great life is. You may not achieve what you started off and planned for...but on the path you will find that people who don't even know you, support you...with their good wishes, how can someone feel a loser?
There have been many people who have supported me over the years. My friends, their friends, their parents, my colleagues, my lovers, my family and all my relatives). Though I cannot be with them tonight, I wish them all the best and thank them for their faith in me. Their faith in making me a better human being. Their faith in supporting my goals. Their faith in correcting me when I am wrong.
My wish is so simple. :-) Wish God gives me enough strength to forgive those that have given me the most unkindest of ungrateful cuts for whatever reasons. May God give me will power to achieve my goals. May God always keep my heart open for anybody who needs my help at any time of night or day. May God make me love everybody I meet. May God give me power to heal others'suffering. May God make me more humble and caring than I am. May God give me the courage to be honest to myself and stand up for what I believe in and what I am and what I can be.
Amen!
Superman Returns!!!
Following a mysterious absence of several years, the Man of Steel comes back to Earth in the epic action-adventure Superman Returns, a soaring new chapter in the saga of one of the world's most beloved superheroes. While an old enemy plots to render him powerless once and for all, Superman faces the heartbreaking realization that the woman he loves, Lois Lane, has moved on with her life. Or has she? Superman's bittersweet return challenges him to bridge the distance between them while finding a place in a society that has learned to survive without him. In an attempt to protect the world he loves from cataclysmic destruction, Superman embarks on an epic journey of redemption that takes him from the depths of the ocean to the far reaches of outer space.Here is the trailer
Fun at volunteer work
Come Sunday and it was Dec 18. I had promised 2 months back to participate in this volunteer work. We helped organize a Christmas party for children affected by cancer. It was a noble cause and as usual we were intent on enjoying ourselves while at it. The day started early. Lam Tin. Admiralty. Pok Fu Lam. Cold, windy and hungry. I nibbled on to some bun from DeliFrance..How I miss it these days. ;-)
The hall was completely empty and huge! We began by arranging the furniture according to the detailed map prepared by an expert planner. Soon we were huffing and puffing away. Though MC felt that he was just warming up, I felt pretty cold. :-)) 
Soon people started pouring in. The morning was taken up in decorating the hall. We divided the place into four-five main sections - Santa's Theatre, Santa's Kitchen, Santa's Mail room, Santa's Workshop, etc. I had fun drawing and colouring with both hands :-) 
preparing logs for our fire-place. MC had opted to decorate the entrance but had second thoughts when he realized that the kitchen-work did not involve any cooking. kakakakaa.
So we got busy and did a good job. The whole place looked transformed and ready for action. As usual with all volunteer work lunches, there were fewer number of lunch boxes and we almost ended up sharing. MC would have gone hungry :D with his high metabolic rate.
After MC left for KT (hahaha, that's a joke - so laugh, please), we had rehearsals for face-painting. I was transformed from a stick santa claus to a fat and ugly looking lady and then into a cool purple cat. Some kids got scared but most of them enjoyed it. MH's done a great job with the camera. Thanks to all for making this happen! When is the next time?
Met tomb raider later in the evening at Qi Gong healing. I am happy to see the results of my healing. One of my patients came back to be treated by me. What a compliment!Yeah, that's MC and myself trying to look busy. :-)
The ZZZ count...
With the temperature having dropped down to near 10 deg C - its damn cold. I have had a sore throat for 2 weeks, a bad cold, a bout of food poisoning...more pain...more loneliness...more depression...and again...more work...busy...and INSOMNIA. Its official..I can't sleep during nights anymore..this has happened before...when I had to be on pills for a long time to return to normalcy..but no..not this time..I am not going to take pills...even if I have to die from the lack of sleep. I have found myself dozing off during qi gong practice. My mealtimes are affected...I eat lunch at 11am and dinner at 6pm..and may be another one at 8pm. Who knows...who cares...I read the blog...not so sure whether the message is for me...or someone else...why would a model bother anyways...who am I? A Mr.Nobody. Those flights took us so high and then we had to jump off in mid-flight... :-) There was just one parachute - mine..but I didn't use it and gave it to my partner...partner may be safe...may not be...Chicken wing asked me to call up...I dared a sms...but the reply so business-like,,,what am I supposed to do? the dance is over, the lights are back on..the audience refuses to go away...our favourite kissing fish died of the cold.,.I have switched on the lamp next to the fish tank but I am not so sure all of them can survive...a shark is no more...why am I alive? MC is such a great laugh. Its the few minutes of shopping at SOGO that lifted up my spirits a bit,,,but then nothing lasts forever,...I asked for sickness, I got them. I don't complain..just bear it...and those hours of mindless dancing at discos with complete strangers that turn friends and disappear into the wee hou
rs of the morning...what a life...I survived 9/11. I have to survive this. How can I get my life back on track? I wanna join a gym but all those machines scare me off. I just wanna do what I am born to do..dance. May be I should learn hip hop..or whatever I can pick up...but then you need to get a partner perhaps...and who will dare to keep up with me? 6 hours on the trot with 7 vodkas and no effect...just torn contact lenses that need to be taken out carefully using cotton swabs...need to vacuum the floor and clean the wash and rearrange the playlists on my ipod video...burn snaps onto dvds and clean up space on my iBook.,,then the charity on sunday...I wanna look happy else the kids will be so disappointed...and its the first time I shall try a mass healing...so I do know that I will be exhausted...at least the tomb-raider will turn up in the evening...and am I doing justice to Mom.,,,She gotta get tickets to fly to Singapore and then get the visa..all to be done by mid-week...and then get her ready to fly out,...Peggy said that she needs to stay for 2 weekends at least...so I gotta take care of that...and send her for 2 weeks...hahaha...christmas is for lovers...how lovely...Oh Good morning, mrs..sprightly...what lovely weather...would you like some tea?...Oh yes dear, thanks, with some sugar please...but this is zhonggwok cha...sorry no sinnai...in there...and no sugar please...and my moccachino count has gone up from zero/day to 5/day. I drink more coffee than water else I cannot keep myself up and running like this..this machine is breakable...just dont know when its gonna snap...birds, rivers, and wind...nothing should stop them...why has my life got to stop like this...if you love then dont expect...if you expect then dont love...buddha is everywhere...if you capture him in your mind...well, you cannot..he is everywhere...my dan tian is getting dimmer due to lack of focus...i cannot ...the moment i focus i fall asleep...and yet when I want to sleep I cannot...Its. 4am...and a hectic weekend..i cannot attend all the competitions I want to...I cannot go to cheer as I am no longer welcome
...I cannot wish the participant directly either...I wish my love were a bird, river or wind...then nothing would be able to stop it...love?! you ask..you dare to ask...if you love someone let them go..if they come back they are yours..if they dont..they never were...suddenly it doesnt feel cold anymore...nothing matters...the mind has no control...songs mean more than what meets the eyes...how long can i go on...I think I do need help...but I will not take pills...God take my pain away...but then why do you come back to ME. You never believed in me...Thats not true, I say, I always believed in YOU. its just that I dont think any particular religion is the best way...who decides..and why...but then am I so weak that I need to take YOUR help..is that your ego speaking..mr.D...no...its my self-confidence, SIR. I will stand up. I will rebuild. I will breathe again. And I shall sleep again. Are you sure you wont just open the window and jump out? 10 floors should be enough...actually 8, SIR...I would land on the tennis court at level 1...and I really count the 10/F as one floor...because the height of the window is not that high...but didn't you just say you will not use your parachute...I didnt, SIR...I gave it away...I don't know what happened to my dear friend...but I am about to crash...I wish I did crash...it would get over in a snap...Nay...I am not letting you win that easily..You have to go through much pain and suffering..its from your past life..the Buddha speaketh? Whoever...in this life thou shalt find no love...err..did YOU mean lover?...
Everytime we say goodbye
I die a little
Everytime we say goodbye
I wonder why a little
Why the gods above me
Who must be in the know
Think so little of me
They allow you to go
When you're near
There's such an air
Of spring about it
I can hear a lark somewhere
Begin to sing about it
There's no love song finer
But how strange the change
From major to minor
Everytime we say goodbye
There's no love song finer
But how strange the change
From major to minor
Everytime we say goodbye
I die a little
Everytime we say goodbye
I wonder why a little
Why the gods above me
Who must be in the know
Think so little of me
They allow you to go
When you're near
There's such an air
Of spring about it
I can hear a lark somewhere
Begin to sing about it
There's no love song finer
But how strange the change
From major to minor
Everytime we say goodbye
There's no love song finer
But how strange the change
From major to minor
Everytime we say goodbye
Edwin jumped off the cliff :-))
Edwin took the plunge on Dec 10, 2005. All of us joined in on the fun. Poor Stan was late and had to wait outside until all the fun was over...Take a look.
That was definitely the shortest wedding kiss in the world!!
Take that & shut up!
"
Moment of glory"Sachin's world record 35th test century was a slap on critics' faces especially those who have been complaining for the past few months. He is the best and its time for everybody to shut up and acknowledge if not cheer!
His journey through a slideshow.
Some Chinese fun and wisdom
Here is what an Indian has to say about Chinese wisdom (sorry, not me. Courtesy - Sherman)And here are two Chinese boys that created quite a sensation by lip-sync'ing their way into stardom.
That's how they recharge all the cells at Neway CEO, you know - the ones you use in the mic.
One of my favourite women on the planet.That's the latest Buddhist music album I bought. This one is from Lantau - Big Buddha.
I bought the album just because I liked that one song. For having provided the strength, that's the least I could have done. ;-)
EASON CHAN 陈奕迅 怎么样[港]
I picked up his CD. I am into some of his later Mandarin songs nowadays for the K factor. Still reviewing the songs...let you know when I pick my favourite...EASON CHAN 陈奕迅 怎么样[港]
01. 不能再等待(国)
02. 对不起 谢谢(国)
03. HIPPIE(国)
04. 不然你要我怎么样(国)
05. 不睡(国)06. 一夜销魂(国)
07. 浮城(国)
08. 早开的长途班(国)
09. 听听(粤)
10. 人神斗(粤)
iPod mania
This Aluminium case looks much better than the HK$40 skin I bought last nite. The fitting is not as good on mine. :-((The Tang machine is doing a project on Ipods. He thinks that he should wait for a few more generations to buy his....hmmm
Iops, a Korean company has come out with iPod like designs for its MP3 players. Apple has asked them to stop producing copies but the firm has dared Apple to file an international legal case first.
And then I came across this list of movie file converters. The reviews are quite helpful. I am going to try out some of them soon.
MH has been complaining that I have not put any good videos on mine. It has got a Funnylander and a Mars clipping only.
on Buddha's trail....
I have been thinking about it for a while now. I know I have too much fire inside. I always find myself restless and keep moving...physically, emotionally, in relationships and out of them. If
people come too close they get burnt. And then the electricity on the dance floor where the rhythm builds it up higher and mightier...so I have been thinking about calming myself down. Qi Gong has been helping a lot. But I have an inclination towards learning the good parts of Buddhism. Well, its all good I guess. What I really mean is to learn the virtues without really turning into a monk...read without giving up the dance floor. But again, without pain there is no pleasure and without pleasure there is no pain...so I decided to buy some Buddhi
st music introduced by my Master Yan.I went around the regular book stores as suggested by MP but could not find it. During lunch yesterday, I walked down to the Hong Kong Book Store...and asked them about it. There was a nice lady there who directed me towards a small shop selling Buddhist products.
She said I would get the CD I was looking for over there. She even drew me a map. So resourceful! Thanks, angel. I walked down to the shop and chatted with one of the salesgirls. She was very friendly and I guess was amazed at my ability to recognize languages and rare books. The shop is full of books that contain translations of very old books both religious and spiritual - especially Hinduism, Buddhism and some on Christianity. eg. I came across a copy of F.Max Mueller's translation of the Rig Veda (oldest book in Hinduism). This translatory exercise had created quite an excitement way 
back...read more about his works here.Even though I had read about it as a kid, I had never come across a physical copy of the work. So I bought a Tibetan CD (chanting Om Mani Padme Hong), a phone trinket and a book. She gave me two books free...HOW TO LIVE WITHOUT FEAR & WORRY (by K. Sri Dhammananda) and MINDFULNESS IN PLAIN ENGLISH (by H.Gunaratana Mahatera). The one I bought has 365 Buddhist teachings/sayings. I am going to read and think about one every day of the year. So amazing.
My new iPod video 60G
Yes, darlings. I got it! Yoo hoo! It was delivered during lunch hours at office and I spent a whole night playing with it. In case you don't know what an iPod Video holds - Click here It took me some time to figure out how to convert home digital video files into the acceptable format. Here is the help file or here and this one goes one step further by promoting piracy
The only negative point is that iTunes store doesn't accept HK Credit Cards. All bloggers should unite to request Apple to turn the tap on or people will vote for coke...if you can understand the metaphor....you are a genius...like me :-P
By the way, I got a discount on my iPod - 6% off the online price...So KOOL naa?
