Two scrub fowl crying out, looking for Guwalilna the calls like women crying, looking for Murrurrnawu the cries returning his mind to the jungles at Mutimutina
oh place Guwalilna, Warradika, Yumayna, m…m
Oh the old man cries, from this drink oh dad Kampa-Djundjuna, home Mayan-naraka bright in his mind oh my two mums, beloved mums, hold Ruypu Milinditj oh my two mums, beloved mums, cry for the sacred spring Burarrapu oh the place Guwalilna, Warradika, Yumayna, m...m
*Djilawurr, the orange footed scrub fowl are family and relatives to the Gumatj Nation
I was born blind, and I don’t know why God knows why, because he loves me so as I grew up, my spirit knew then I learnt to read the world of destruction united we stand, divided we fall together we’ll stand, in solidarity
Narranydja dhuwala Batuman (I am ancestor) Narranydja dhuwala Diarrami (I am ancestor) Narranydja dhuwala Djenarra Narranydja dhuwala Gurrumulna (I am ancestor) m…m
I heard my mama, and my papa crying their hearts in confusion how can I walk? Straight and tall in society please hold my hand trying to bridge and build Yolnu culture I’ve been to New York I’ve been to LA I’ve been to London narranydja Gurrumul
United we stand, divided we fall together we’ll stand in solidarity
Remarks: This article, a long piece, is not well written. It is not insightful and there is no new view offered. But I have to stress that I write it sincerely (not suggesting that I am not serious to the other pieces I have written) and wholeheartedly.
I am very glad that there is no significant development in Nina Wang estate battle today. I can manage to finish work earlier and arrive at Victoria Park at around 9pm. I cannot manage to get inside the Victoria Park. I can only stand in the outer area. I can neither see what's happening inside the park nor hear what the people on stage are talking about. But I am excited, really excited, when I heard Szeto Wah announcing that there are 150,000 people attending the candle light vigil for June 4. I should be glad that I can only manage to get into the outer area because it is an indication that there are really many people showing up. It is a record-breaking turnout. I am just one of the small persons in the large crowd, but the power of this large crowd of small persons can make history and show the world that we have not forgotten even though the government wants us to forget. I am glad that I was among one of them, paying respect to June 4 victims. In Hong Kong.
I keep recalling what has happened to me over the past 20 years these days. I was just a primary school student spending most of my time doing homework and playing video games. Similar to my classmates, I just did not care what was reported in the newspapers and TV. What happened exactly this month two decades ago changed the way I and my classmates behave. We read newspapers and listened to radio news in schools even though the content was complicated and incomprehensible to us. In class, the teachers put aside the textbooks and told students about what was happening in Beijing. Some even broke down to tears before the students. We understood that there were a large group of students living far away from us demanding better changes. Back home, I watched TV news with my family. My brother, who is four years older than me, took to the street. The whole family watched and recorded the marathon concert 民主歌聲獻中華 (Concert for Democracy in China). We always heard of the serious corruption in China. I got an impression that those living on the mainland were poor and backward, which is the reason for my father coming to Hong Kong. Seeing the students on hunger strike, we knew that there were people with true compassions fighting to make the nation a better living place. Hope. We really hoped that the nation would get rid of problems and better respect its people. The hope was growing stronger and stronger. Until it was crushed on June 4.
Throughout these 20 years, there are many changes in the society. My parents have not talked about June 4. My brother, who took to the street two decades ago, even believes that the crackdown is helpful to China’s present development. Our schools do not about June 4. The history textbooks only briefly mention about it. Teachers are reluctant to talk about it. Students are unaware of it. I am more aware that the students’ leaders have made mistakes and I was somehow affected by the negative comments against those who escaped to overseas countries. I was puzzled why some people always took to the street to express what they want and why some people gathered in Victoria Park year after year demanding a vindication of June 4. Yes, it is a tragedy and it is sad that the students died. But what’s the point of the vindication? How can the vindication “benefit” me? Shouldn’t we let bygones be bygones and move “forward”? When I think deeper into it, I understand more. I am not saying that I got a very in-depth understanding of the nation and Hong Kong. I am still not familiar with China’s political and economic system. China’s economic development is amazing. The living standard of many people has improved. China’s rapid growth is increasingly important to the future of Hong Kong. The nation has also made some tremendous developments. The space missions and the Beijing Olympics are among them. However, we should not forget that the nation has impressed many with its problems. Put it sarcastically, we have learned melamine from the contaminated milk and other chemicals from other products scandals. We have learned how the poor people have their interest ignored because of corruption. We have learned that Chinese people are generous and sympathetic to the people in need from last year Sichuan’s earthquake, but we have also learned that how inhumane and uncivilized the government is as parents of children died from sub-standard schools are banned from expressing their grievances and no officials are held accountable for the construction of those schools. And on this special day, we have learned from news that a sister whose brother was killed 20 years ago is banned from paying tribute. And we have the following item that makes me feel ashamed and question whether we really have a civilized history of 5,000 years.
Yes, we have to move forward. But how can we actually move forward if we do not dare to face and settle our past. Yes, China’s economic development is rapid. But that does not mean that we have to support and accept what we believe is immoral and wrong. Yes, the students’ leaders 20 years ago had erred. But this is not a justification for sending troops and tanks against the people. Yes, we have long history and our ancestors have taught us many good lessons that can convince other nations to respect us. But we have to stop all the ridiculous incidents if we want to make people respect not only our economic power. Yes, it is painful recalling the tragedy of June 4. But how can we teach history to our children and ask other people to respect history if we are not courageous enough to face our ugly past. Yes, we have seen corrupt and bad officials being arrested and removed from office. But there will be corrupted officials coming to power if we do not improve our system. Yes, there is no perfect system in the world and all countries have their own problem. But striving for excellence should always be our dream and ideal. Yes, we are benefited from the nation’s development. But we deserve to be respected and have our demands and views listened.
I have watched a public affairs program in TVB on how youngsters think about June 4. A secondary school principal said his school does not touch on the sensitive subject because there is no sufficient data on many things, such as the death toll of June 4, and a responsible educator should not only base on media reports when teaching.
This is such a RIDICULOUS comment. The reason behind the lack of sufficient data is because we do not dare to face our past. Isn't it our job to get the whole picture and collect information from our own sources, especially when officials are reluctant to do that? I am afraid that most historical events, not only June 4, will be forgotten if the officials are not willing to give us the data.
I am glad that I am born in the 1970's. I am glad that I was a primary school student in 1989. Not mature enough to understand what the students in Beijing were doing at that time, but I was able to watch news from media organisations which did not exercise self-censorship as they do today and I was able to know how my primary school teachers felt about the incident.
Last year, we had the successful Olympic Games. We had a massive torch relay in Hong Kong. We had a HKU student staging protest during the torch relay in HK and also demonstrations in overseas countries. A public affairs program by RTHK interviewed some youngsters who are proud of the torch relay. In the eyes of these youngsters, there are only positive developments in the nation.
I do not totally agree with the protesters. But how these youngsters talk worries me. I am glad that I am born in the 1970's and I have a different perspectives from these youngsters.
20 years now. 20 years. Not a short period of time. But I am willing to wait, and we have to wait. We must continue doing that year after year. We are doing that because June 4 MUST NOT BE FORGOTTEN.
I really like this song named 自由花 (The flower of freedom). English translation of the lyrics will come later.
We cannot forget, nor will time wear away our memory; Deep in our heart we always recall that day in that year. We felt the pain, but time has turned it into strength. One bit of truth and one ideal are what we will forever seek.
We continue on a long long journey but we know no fear. We will cut away all hindering thorns, not minding them one bit. People of yesterday went through thick and thin in silence; They didn’t want to hear more reasoning, be it true or unreal.
But there is a dream that will not die - remember. No matter how hard it rains, freedom will still bloom, But there is a dream that will not die – remember. It comes from your heart and mine – remember.
We cannot forget, as has prevailed our undying belief. We deeply trust some day it will finally turn real. This message, depends on you and me, Doing our best, to keep searching for that ideal.
I don’t actually like two former names, An ordinary diary and I want to record, of this blog. Have come up with a new name and changed the layout. I like both black and white colors, and I finally decided to use Black. I cannot explain the reason.
I spent the entire week in the High Court covering the probate trial which will decide who – Chinachem Charitable Foundation or fung shui master Tony Chan – can inherit the estimated HK$100 billion estate of late Asia’s richest woman Nina Wang. When Nina died two years ago, most people thought her estate would be used for charitable purposes based on a will dated 2002. However, to the surprise of Wang’s siblings, Chan – an unknown person before the saga – suddenly came out, claiming himself the sole beneficiary of Wang’s fortune based on a will dated 2006. Chan claimed himself the secret lover of Wang, whose husband Teddy was declared legally dead after being kidnapped in 1990. The court heard that Wang was attracted to Chan because the fung shui master claimed that he could locate Wang’s husband, but Chan denied that his fung shui knowledge is very limited. Fung shui, Chan claimed, is only a smokescreen covering his romantic and intimate relationship with Wang. Chan presented video, audio recordings, Wang trademark pigtail and love letters to the court to prove the relationship. Awaking many reporters who were bored to fall asleep in the court room, Chan’s counsel said one of the videos could prove that Wang wanted to have a baby with Chan. I somehow cannot understand how these rich people think. Wang, a person known for her frugality who treated police or staff helping her with only a simple meal that even the poorest people can afford, spent millions of dollars in fung shui. She asked for the transcript of court document to be prayed on, and the color of the bundles be matched with fung shui advice. She gave Chan HK$700 million over a few years in cash transported by car. HK$700 million in cash in addition to HK$2 billion and fees to other fung shui masters!! I don’t think I can make it in my life. A former legislator, who introduced Chan to Wang, said he gave Chan some HK$750,000 a year for fung shui advice and burned some HK$500,000 real bank notes to get rid of legal problems. The result – he was still sent to jail. If I had HK$500,000, I would quit my job for studying or travelling or taking rest, or use it for investment. I would definitely not burn them. Burning real money is unimaginable and insane. I cannot live without money. Maybe if I am as rich as these people, I will feel more insecure with more money I have.
I know it is late for me to write this, but I really want to say something regarding your remarks about June 4 in the Legislative Council question and answer session on Thursday.
Responding to a question raised by Civic Party legislator Margaret Ng on your stance of June 4, you said you understand Hong Kong people’s feelings about June 4.
But you went on to say that the incident happened many years ago, and the nation’s development has achieved tremendous results and brought economic prosperity to Hong Kong since then. You said you believe Hong Kong people will make an “objective” view of the nation’s development.
Perhaps you can think about this. Can you ask the protesters who march to Japanese consulate in every December to have an “objective” view of Japan’s tremendous economic development over the past decades, which brings benefit to Hong Kong, and forget about Nanjing Massacre?
Well, I have not expected, and will not expect, you will join the pan-democrats in suggesting the need to vindicate the incident. Your response to Ng’s question is what I have expected.
But what touches my nerve is the following statement you have made.
“My view represents the general opinion of Hong Kong people, and the opinion of the public will also affect my view,” you said. “The Hong Kong people I represent is the general Hong Kong people.”
Mr Chief Executive, you come to power after you have been elected by a committee consisting of 800 members. You are not elected by universal suffrage. How can you say that you represent my views? My views are different from yours. I do not share your views. Please just don’t impose your views on me.
You “apologized” after the Q&A session, saying you have used wrong words.
It is not a matter of language. I feel disrespected and offended by you.
例子一 主角A說：「Have you got a job?」主角B回答：「I don’t have one。」 翻譯出來的竟是： 主角A：「你有工作嗎？」主角B回答：「我‧沒‧有‧一。」 例子二 醫生說：「I will be right back。」 翻譯版本是「我剛回來。」 例子三 醫生說：「What’s going on？」 你以為翻譯是「正在發生什麼事？」但字幕顯示的竟然是「正在繼續什麼？」 例子四： But she is not even your baby. 但是她沒有妳的嬰兒。 例子五： You really don’t want to give her away? Do you? 你不想給她活路，對嗎？ 翻譯的意思與原文完全相反。 例子六： We will admit him to the hospital. 我們將承認他。 把admit這個字譯為承認，沒有理解一字多義。 例子七： You make me sounds like some kind of a nuts. 你讓我聽起來像個堅果。Nuts譯為堅果，沒有理解nuts亦指發瘋。 例子八： Would you turn that thing off? 你將為那事情離開嗎？
Changeling, The Class and Milk are the movies I am interested in, and I have planned to see one of them with friends tonight. A phone call in the early morning completely changed everything. My aunt in Macau called me in the morning, when I was about to leave home to report on a court hearing. I had bad feeling before picking up the phone. It is unusual for her to make a call in early morning. Her message is short but tearful. “Grandmother has just passed away in the elderly home peacefully after eating breakfast.” My grandmother was weak when she was still in hospital on Sunday, but her condition remained stable that time. She was discharged and sent back to the elderly home, which service is good I believe. I had already anticipated that my grandmother, a woman of 86, would leave us when I received another phone call from my aunt during the Chinese New Year holiday that her cardiovascular function had suddenly deteriorated. What I had not anticipated was that she would be gone only days after leaving the hospital. Inside the MTR to the court, I kept sending SMS to close friends about this undesirable news.
I want to be alone today, and maybe the following few days, keeping my mind in peace, and perhaps letting my mind be flashed back to the days when I was a kid.
I was born in Hong Kong, but I spent my first few years in Macau before starting my kindergarten education. I would go to Macau whenever there was long vacation, such as summer and Christmas holidays, until secondary two because of various reasons, including a family dispute. I was almost disconnected from her and Macau, except paying a visit in Chinese New Year, until I started my university education, when I had more free time to go to places I like.
I want to, and I need to, jot down how I spent my time in Macau for fearing that I might forget them some day when I get old. My grandfather, died during Chinese New Year more than two decades ago, was a nice man who loved his grandchild. I always begged him to buy toys and even bicycles for me, time after time. He really did that on some occasions. When he decided not to buy the gifts I wanted for not spoiling me, he would not let me down. Instead of just saying a plain “No”, he would pick up a box of matches and give the matches to me one by one. “One match is one dollar. I don't have enough matches for you to buy that.”
My grandmother spent most of her time with me whenever I was in Macau. She would prepare nice food. And as I am the youngest son of my mother, she devoted most of her attention to me. She was almost always on my side when I was in dispute with my brother and sister. I always went to Yum Cha with my aunt and her. She also took me to do morning exercise.
Some major changes happened to her over the past two decades. The family dispute I have mentioned before pushed her to be almost disconnected from one of her sons until recent years. Her other son is addicted to gambling and freed to other country. My aunt is the only person taking care of her.
She could not go to the community center, once her favorite pastime, after a leg injury. My aunt, as an educator, was busy with her school and could not spend too much time taking care of my grandmother who lives alone. My aunt hired several domestic helpers. All of the maids left because my grandmother was not an easy going person for strangers. Luckily, my aunt had arranged a good elderly home for her two years ago, and she seemed happy living there and chatting with roommates.
As a traditional woman, she always wanted her grandsons to get marry. “My birthday wish is that you get married and have a family soon,” she said in her birthday feast few years ago.
She suffered from another leg injury after falling down in last December. Conditions had been deteriorating since then. She was weak and reluctant to speak and move. But she would still smile when seeing me and my siblings.
It is really a sad day. Still, I truly believe that I cannot ask for more as 86 is long enough for a funeral to be called a “laughing funeral” 笑喪. I should be grateful that she left us peacefully without pain.
Thanks to my friends who sent me back encouraging message. Although I want to be alone today, the message really means so much to me.
I have been learning for a year. The language is difficult as it is very different from Chinese and English. There are so many new vocabularies and grammatical rules that are difficult to memorize. But I enjoy and will continue learning it. One of my classmates posted on facebook this web link that allows you to type Arabic. I typed the following message
إسمي تادي. أدرس اللغات العربية في الجمية هونغ كونغ. أنا أحب مشاهدة الأفلام و مطالعة. أنا سافرت إلى سنغابور. أنا كنت في شنزهن مع صديقتي من مليسيا في يوم السبت
Translation: My name is Teddy. I study Arabic language in Hong Kong University. I like watching movies and reading. I travelled to Singapore. I was in Shenzhen with my friend from Malaysia on Saturday.
How to read the Arabic.
إسمي تادي. Ismii (My name) Teddy. أدرس اللغات العربية في الجمية هونغ كونغ. Ad ros (I study) al lo gaat (language) al arabii (Arabic) fii (in) jamiiat (university) Hong Kong. أنا أحب مشاهدة الأفلام و مطالعة. Ana (I) Ohib (I like) moshahada (watching) al aflaam (movies) wa (and) mu taala a(reading). أنا سافرت إلى سنغابور. Ana (I) saa faran (traveled) ii la (to) Singapore. أنا كنت في شنزهن مع صديقتي من مليسيا في يوم السبت Ana (I) Konto (I was) fii (in) Shenzhen ma aa (with) so dii qii (my friend) min (from) Malaysia fii (on) yum al sabt (Saturday)
Although the Arabic sentences are not grammatically correct, I am still very thrilled.
Hope I can understand the language more and find learning easier.
媽媽咪呀Mama Mia 這是一套音樂劇電影。故事發生在希臘一美麗怡人的小島，經營旅館的單身母親當娜，和其獨力撫養至亭亭玉立、即將出嫁的女兒蘇菲一直相依為命。將為人妻的蘇菲期待著婚禮之餘，卻有個未了的心願──挽著父親走到紅地毯的另一端。蘇菲於是偷看了媽媽的日記，發現當年母親的三位舊情人，其中一位可能就是她的生父！蘇菲由是心生一計，瞞著當娜，並擅用她的名義，發請帖給三名素未謀面的「疑似」父親，邀請他們到島上參加婚禮。三位男子都以蘇菲生父的心態應邀。一段惹笑又感人的故事就此展開……。電影的音樂是七八十年代紅透半邊天的ABBA樂隊的歌，當中最出名的是Dancing Queen。
看這電影真的很開心，很惹笑，把煩惱拋開。看得我想站起來跟主角們一起唱歌。
同一月光下Under the Same Moon 9歲的墨西哥男孩卡樂仔擁有令友人羨慕的靚球鞋，但卻有一件事常常叫他不快樂。原來他媽媽為了令家人的日子好過一點，偷渡到美國的洛杉磯打黑工，一別便是4年。唯一能解卡樂仔思念之苦，便是媽媽每週一次從路邊公衆電話亭打來的電話。一天，與他相依為命的婆婆突然猝死，令卡樂仔決定不惜一切偷渡過境尋找媽媽。 卡樂仔隻身踏上匪夷所思的尋親旅程，途中遇上不同的好心人和壞蛋，發生了種種開心、傷心和窩心的事情。雖然前路滿是未知的危險，但每次當他舉頭望向皎潔的晚空，也會想起媽媽說他們雖然分隔千里，但是彼此的愛卻能跨越國界，就正如他們活在同一月亮下… 另一方面，媽媽收到卡樂仔失蹤的消息，心急如焚的她打算回墨西哥尋找愛子。
大學同學與電影友人，最近一如既往，發生了奇特的事。 A. 他開了一張新電話卡，但電話被偷了，歹徒還用這張電話卡不斷下載玲聲，害得友要付2000元電話費。我對友說他常常不見電話，為何不用那些要充值才可使用的電話卡呢？ B. 他打算賣出一批股價快要下跌的股票。下午看股市走勢，慶幸自己已早早把那股票沽出。但細看之下，發覺自己早上按了「買」而不是「賣」的鍵，亦即是說，他增持了那只虧本的股票。
Citizens of Hong Kong were flocking to supermarkets to stock rice after a significant increase of rice price when global production of the agricultural product had dropped. The fear of shortage still existed despite assurance of stable supply by high ranking Chinese and Hong Kong government officials. A housewife surnamed Yu travelled by 45 minutes from her home in Aberdeen to a Wan Chai supermarket to buy rice. “Rice is out of stock in the supermarket near my home. I need to buy a pack of rice, otherwise my family will not have rice to eat,” she said. Another housewife surnamed Chan also expressed similar fear. “Rice will not be available in the future,” she said. Rice production in Southeast Asia has dropped because of global climate change, rice traders said. India and Vietnam, the world’s major rice exporters, have announced measures to reduce rice exports to ensure stable domestic supply and curb inflation. Rice importing countries turned to other suppliers. Thailand has been exporting more than 1 million tons of rice, which is 30 percent more than normal volume, over the past five months. But the price of Thailand rice, which accounted for 90 percent of Hong Kong consumption, has increased from US$420 per ton to US$750 per ton. “There are many speculators stocking rice products for their own personal gains. There are people not involved in the rice business keeping stock in their backyard,” said Thai Rice Exporters Association president Chookiat Ophaswongse in a phone interview. Ophaswongse indicated that Thai government might implement measures to reduce rice exports to ensure supply to meet domestic demand. Chinese premier Wen Jiabao told journalists during his visit to Laos that China had between 40 million and 50 million tons of rice reserve, which enable sufficient supply of rice and other agricultural products to Hong Kong and Macau. Hong Kong Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Frederick Ma also urged the public not to panic. Hong Kong Trade and Industry Department statistics showed that the city had rice reserve of 14,400 tons, which will be sufficient for 15 days of consumption. The department also said 92,400 tons of rice will be imported to Hong Kong between April and June. Supermarkets in Hong Kong attempted to allay fears of rice shortage, saying supply would be sufficient but also added that they were under pressure to increase retail price. Hong Kong Federation of Restaurants and Related Trades president Ng Tak-leung expressed fear that speculators might stock more rice products after witnessing the public panic.
