Communication Cut Off

The earthquake in southern Taiwan had damaged an undersea cable off the island's coast, interrupting communications with the mainland, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.
Attempts to browse websites based in US, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan were affected, and even unsuccessful.
I cannot access to Yahoo to check my e-mail and connect to MSN messenger!!!!!!!!!!
I am annoyed when it takes longer time to access to websites.
I am impatient and cannot live without technology.

小情人/ แฟนฉัน

這兩天假期沒有外出，在家休息。
看泰國電影「小情人」﹝My Girl/ Fan Chan/แฟนฉัน﹞。
電影講述兩個小朋友的故事，都是一些你與我都會經歷的小事，但導演及兩位小演員的表現，令人舒服。
那小演員也有份演另一套好看的「鬼書友」﹝Dorm/Dek Hor/ เด็กหอ﹞。
電影的歌曲也不錯聽。想不到竟然有汪阿姐「京華春夢」的泰文版及小朋友聽「天蠶變」打中國功夫。
另外，還看了數年前的「我愛碧咸」﹝Bend it Like Beckham﹞，也好看。

My Girl
Didn’t go out these two days. Taking rest at home.
Watching Thailand movie “My Girl”, or “Fan Chan”, or "แฟนฉัน".
The movie is about the stories of two children, something that we have all experienced during our early childhood. But the director and the young children, especially the handsome young actor, make it comfortable and enjoyable.
The songs of the movie are also good. Surprised to hear a Thai version of a song by Lisa Wang produced in 1970’s or early 1980’s, and Michael Kwan's "Reincarnated", the theme song of an ATV drama with the same title in 1970's.
The boy also played in another good Thai movie “Dorm”, or "My School", or “Dek Hor”,or "เด็กหอ".
Also watched “Bend it Like Beckham”, produced a few years ago. Good movie also.

12月23及24日

出席中七同學輝的喜宴。
見很多久未相聚的同學。
當天男主角樣貌沒有太大轉變。不知是否因為他在紀律部隊工作的關係，整個婚宴都十分有秩序地進行，沒有遊戲環節，更沒布一隊新人被迫飲酒。
又想起一個問題─婚姻是我想要的生活嗎？
12月24日到倫家中作客，交換禮物，也高興。
但因為一個玩笑，以致party開始時氣氛有點緊張。幸而在氣氛緊張時，我剛好外出買東西。否則我可能會發脾氣。

The Desert is Alive

Received the book, published by Arab World Ministries, from D&T in UK. It is a good Christmas gift.
The book is about the Christian missionary world in Arab world, which most people believe in Muslims.
Haven’t finished the book yet.
The stories are short and are not very detail of the Muslims experience, but at least I have got a better idea of what I can pray for. Information about the Arab people, especially relating to Christian believes, is rare in HK. What we know in Hong Kong is the war and conflicts presented in the mass media.And always admire the courage and determination of D&T for introducing Christianity to the Muslims in UK. Bet that UK, and the whole Europe, are more sensitive than HK when dealing with religious issues, particularly conflict and D&T’s task is difficult.

幽門螺旋桿菌 Helicobacter pylori

在4月感了這種相信與胃癌有關的幽門螺旋桿菌(Helicobacter pylori)，吃了一星期的藥。想不到八個月後復發。
醫生說復發是正常事。又問我有否吃魚生之類的食物，即使平常不多吃，只要有一次嘗到受污染的食物便會感染。
我真的很少吃魚生。而且，同事們與我一起吃壽司，為何只得我生病？所以我懷疑是否在其他餐廳及家中感染。
數個月前的飲食戒條又要實行。

1. 少喝最喜愛的咖啡、奶茶及中國茶；
2. 避開太晚吃飯。因工作關係，往往要九時後才回家吃飯。今後要吩咐母親星期一、三及五不用留飯﹝在公司早點用餐﹞，星期二及四盡量早回家吃飯。﹝這可能比較麻煩，要多加解釋，以免母親不高興。退休後，除了參加社區中心活動外，煮飯成為她最大工作。姐年前結婚搬走後，我與爸幾乎是她的唯一捧場客。﹞；
3. 少吃刺激、油膩及未煮熟的食品；
4. 多運動﹝本人喜歡行山及郊遊﹞；
5. 多吃健康食品及蔬果

I was infected with Helicobacter pylori in April, which is believed to be related to stomach cancer. I had taken anti-biotics for a week, and I had not thought that it would be relapsed eight months after.
Doctor said it was common to be infected again and again. He asked me whether I had eaten uncooked fish, and told me that I would be infected by contaminated fish even though I did not often eat uncooked food.
I rarely eat uncooked fish. I am wondering that why am I the only one infected even though I eat the sushi with my colleagues. So I think that I am infected in other restaurants and even at home.
Restrictions on diet set several months ago will have to be re-imposed.
1. Drink less coffee and tea, which are my favourite
2. Try avoiding having dinner too late at night
3. Try less oily, fried and uncooked food
4. More sportsMore vegetable and healthy food
5. More vegetable and healthy food

不勞而獲

早前獲贈一把米奇老鼠的自動伸縮雨傘，友影十分喜歡，竟然提出送一把新的梁蘇記遮給我，以交換米奇老鼠雨傘。

我當然答應啦！梁蘇記是老字號，一把雨傘要二百多元，且人人也說其鋼骨堅硬，可抵擋強風，又有終生保養，鋼骨壞了可以免費更換。

天星碼頭

示威者在阻礙警車前進。

早兩天採訪天星碼頭的新聞。
當局決定清拆有近50年歷史的中環天星碼頭，近日在社會引起不少反對聲音。反對人士說碼頭見證了不少香港歷史，特別是那鐘樓和鐘聲，已成為香港地標，又見證了不少人的浪漫史，如倫敦的大笨鐘。
這幾天示威者都集合在天星碼頭，阻止清拆工程，期間多次與在場警方發生衝撞。
我當日早上九時半開工，穿著皮鞋，在碼頭周圍來回追訪，至晚上七時離開，還要寫稿。一字記之曰累。早知穿波鞋。
我們的政府有點令人失望。星期三當天官員還說會用兩小時考慮是否暫停清拆工程48小時，以便尋求更多專家意見，而官員還去立法會進行有關辯論。但當局在答覆會否暫停清拆前，便叫警員清場，把示威者拖走。
當局真的好像沒有想過要保留舊東西。灣仔太原街，老實說，我不覺得在那兒逛很舒服﹝特別在夏天﹞，但那是個頗有特色的地方呀！為什麼要趕絕那些擺買的小販呢？
我怕將來全香港都是那些一式一樣的商場，只有財才雄厚的公司才可負擔租金，裡面只有名店。
那些小地方其實可以吸引遊客，我想不是每個遊客都想在香港掃名貨。作為遊客，我外遊時很少去百貨公司及大店舖，反而喜歡在小攤擋流連。

嫁入豪門

藝人徐子淇嫁給香港大地產商及曾捲入官商勾結傳聞的恆基大老闆李兆基之子李家誠，成為報章頭條新聞。
友說一入豪門深似海，富家子都是變態的。
我不關心他倆婚姻生活是否愉快。只是在想為何我的老闆不像李兆基，在娶媳婦的日子給每位員工一萬元利是！

衛生間 Public Toilet

上面的照片是印度長久的如廁習慣﹝本人攝﹞，中間及下面的照片是重慶市「新設計」的公共衛生間﹝圖片取自中國日報﹞。
Top: Traditional urinating habit of India (Pix by me). Middle and bottom: "Newly designed" public conveniences of Chongqing.

中國日報在2006年12月09日有關重慶市新公共衛生間的報導。
China Daily had published an article on December 09, 2006 concerning the new public conveniences of Chongqing.

Privies offer little privacy in Chongqing
CHONGQING: Three new outdoor toilets on a busy street in Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality have sparked controversy over their failure to spare the blushes of men desperate to spend a penny.
The controversial conveniences have no wall, with nothing more than a 50-centimetre screen to shield toilet-goers from the gaze of passers by.
Composed of screens made from fibergrass and charcoal ash, the toilets only cost 1,000 yuan (US$128), said their designer Lu Xiaoqing.
"Just pull open the screen. It's easy and convenient and the height suits both men and children," said Lu.
The toilets were installed two months ago but are yet to gain acceptance in the area of the city known as "Foreigners' Street" due to its large number of Western-style bars.
While many local traders are giving the new toilets the cold shoulder, street administrators are making a point of taking a leak there in order to set an example to local people.
While offering a refuge for people bursting to go, the toilets have also become a much-photographed local tourist attraction.
"Even though the toilets hide your private parts, you can still be seen by onlookers. I would be embarrassed," said a middle-aged teacher.
According to local officials, the toilet design originates from the United Kingdom, but this was questioned by visiting Briton Mark Binnersley.
"I have never seen anything like this in the UK. I doubt many people would use them as we're quite a reserved country," he said.
Outdoor toilets for women are expected to be operational at the end of this month, said Yang.
The women's toilets will have a seat and a taller screen, hiding most of the body.

重慶的衛生間，我覺得根本與印度的無異，一樣是隨地小解。
不明白為何內地當局為何可以稱讚這種設計，還在遊客區使用。難道有關人士以為老外習慣在眾目睽睽下小解？
當局指稱設計源於英國。同事開玩笑說，是不是數百年前的產品，祖國使用人家在進步過程中棄用的東西。
數年前去印度，覺得這種衛生間令人匪夷所思，落後又不衛生，想不到祖國會視之為新發明。
There is no difference between the toilets in Chongqing and India. People are urinating in the streets.
Cannot understand why the mainland authority will acclaim such design and install the toilets in tourists district. How can they believe that the foreigners are used to piss when they can be seen by onlookers?
My colleague made fun of the officials remark that the design was originated from UK. He asked whether the design should be dated back centuries ago, and whether China had used the product which were abandoned by others in the modernization process.I was stunned when seeing such toilets in India a few years ago. It is backward and not hygienic. Cannot imagine that China will take it as new design a few years later.

捲煙工人讀報

讀亞洲週刊一篇名為「印度喀拉拉邦扶貧的啟示」的文章﹝刊於2006年10月29日﹞，令人感動的一段。
捲煙工人讀報﹕印度手捲煙行業約六百萬全職和兼職工人，生財工具只要一把剪刀、一個竹盆、靈巧的手、專注的精神，一天可捲六百至二千支煙，入息微薄，捲一千支煙的收入相當於三港元。這是低賤的行業，辛勞的活。但是，一些捲煙工人幾十年來有一個習慣﹕工人分成三十至四十人一組，每組由一人輪流專責朗讀報紙和書本，讓他們一邊工作，一邊聽讀報念書，一邊討論。每天晚上，各人把一些捲煙交給讀報工人，讓他有同等收入。寧可減少百分之三的收入，也要聽讀報。這是「窮人」的選擇。

看展覽

友業餘藝術人JJCrab在土瓜灣牛棚書院與志同道合者舉辦一個展覽。
友展出的題目為「人生使用說明書」(A Life’s Manual)，這題目挺有意思呀！
讓我想起早前一套電影「命運自選台」(Click)，主角做夢想到擁有一部遙控器，把生命中所有不快事情fast forward，但最後後悔莫及。這套電影並不吸引，但當友講起展覽題目時，就想起這電影。
其實，根本沒有可能為人生訂一本說明書吧！
友想收集100人的說明書，然後製成pdf供人下載。
如有興趣，可到http://a-life-manual.blogspot.com/。
要發表說明書，可按右邊的登入login，然後輸入使用者名稱alifesmanual及密碼dontbuyinsurance，再選擇「新文章」。

Exhibition.
My friend JJCrab, an amateur artist, organized an exhibition with his friends in Cattle Depot College in To Kwa Wan.
His exhibition theme is “A Life’s Manual”. I found this theme meaningful.
It reminds me of a movie named Click. The man in the movie is dreaming of having a remote control that can “fast forward” all undesirable happenings, but feel regret at the end. The movie is not attractive at all. But I just think of it when I am heard of my friend’s exhibition.
It is impossible to have a life’s manual, I know.
My friend wants to collect the life’s manual written by 100 people, and then make it a pdf document for downloading.
If you are interested, just go to http://a-life-manual.blogspot.com
For uploading your manual, just click login at the right hand side, then put username alifesmanual and password dontbuyinsurance. Click新文章 (New Article) after that.

Relaxing Night

Having drinks after work in Joyce is Not Here, Central, on Thursday. Ex-colleagues were playing music and singing. It was a relaxing night. The bar is good.