I had an eventful time even b4 landing in China!

Flight connecting time between Singapore – Hong Kong and Hong Kong – Beijing was supposed to be a perfect one hour. I was eagerly waiting at the boarding gate at 2.30pm for the 3pm flight. Then came the announcement – flight delay. Come back at 4pm for the next announcement. Extremely bad weather in Beijing. So I went shopping, net surfing and back to the gate. “Please come back at 5pm for the next announcement”. I was so hungry, I had to ask for food voucher which I thought should automatically be given out to passengers when we went back to make enquiries. So I went eating, net surfing, contacted my friend I was supposed to meet for dinner and postponed that to supper, and back to the gate. “Please come back at 6pm for the next announcement”. Yes! Boarding at 6pm! When we were all settled down, the captain made an announcement – Apologies for the delay due to thunderstorm in Beijing and airspace control. Good news is, we’re second in the queue to take of which is I guess is at about at 8pm…” called my friend again to wish her good night and would meet her directly at the hotel.

I thought my kay-poh-ness/friendliness saved my day. I started talking to the uncle next to me to find out where he’s from cuz he’s definitely no China Chinese. And he really is my neighbour – Malaysian. Upon landing in Beijing at 11.30pm, health officials including 2 astronaut-looking guys dressed in space suits came onboard to take everyone’s temperature. 3 people on the flight were running a fever, and one, an Indonesian was sitting 3 seats away in another block! So the 3 rows side, front and back had to put on mask and had the items we used on onboard discarded. After the chickens tried to question the duck about his illness, the Malaysian finally stepped in to help with the translation.


By the time we got off, it was 12.30am. And if the Malaysian uncle hadn’t showed me the fastest way to get out of the airport and given me a lift, my next plan was to watch flag-raising at tiananmen square. The taxi driver was equally important cuz he provided the dose of humour I so needed after such an eventful day! He said the weather that afternoon was so bad it was like the end of the world. My hotel was located in a secluded (?) hutong and he couldn’t find it. 你这酒店儿订得可真好啊！So we called the hotel to ask for directions and I think the receptionist mumbled. 他说话怎么象小鸡一样儿!

I flew on cathay pacific/dragon air. Why did I not take SQ and went on cathay pacific and dragon air instead? Not b’cuz I’m going to dragon land, but I “gian” the Cantonese shows on cathay, and shopping n food in HK airport. My screen was flickering for the full 3.5hours on flight from sg to hk. And the only next available seat was right at end by the window, outside the toilet. So no go. No inflight entertainment on dragon air. Only HK and majority china cabin crew. But I will still take the airline when possible cuz I really love the Cantonese programmes!

Of Chicken and Pork/Pigs

Hello!

How does Kenny rogers’ honey glazed spring chicken and drumstick for dinner sound? Actually, these were leftovers from lunch cuz portion too big we didn’t even touch them, so don’t know how they TASTE, or supposed to taste. We only finished the PORK ribs. So I tar pau-ed them home. My mum was too lazy to bring out the mini oven, and instead heated the chicken in a wok. Upon prolonged (over) cooking, I think the coats of honey melted and the ‘homely’ taste? It was the usual roasted chicken mom buys from the market on Sunday mornings and heats them up in the evening. My sister asked why there was no dip. I had to repeat that this was Kenny rogers.

In any case, my mom always asks me how long it takes to steam a fish, fry a chicken etc… she attributes her lousy skills to her mom for not imparting her any. So my standard reply is - my mom doesn’t teach me any either. But she says I watch tv and read magazines, so should have learned something. We watch similar programmes and read the same magazines actually.

I’m so glad that the movie I’ve been waiting for, will finally be showing after a 2-year delay! Not Transformers, Harry Potter or Terminator but 《武当。麦兜》 (name now changed to 《麦兜响当当》)! I can’t tell you how elated I am cuz wudang has been with me for more than half a year, bumming around not doing anything and started going on holidays with me this year. He just came back from China and IS angry with me for forgetting to snap a picture of him on the great all, cuz that was what he really was on this trip for. No evidence to prove that he’s a 好汉. But he needs to know that he really is as popular as anyone out there!

Anyway, back to the movie. I won’t be catching it in the cinemas however, cuz:
1) No Cantonese version, so not 原汁原味
2) I need to watch it with the McDulls at home, can’t possibly everyone including the stickers and pins, there
3) Good to watch on dvd and keep a copy. MUST!
4) If it’s really showing Singapore

Dim dim, dumb dumb

“illuminate” means to give out light. illumnia however, which is opposite bugis junction, is an absolute waste of electricity, totally environmentally unfriendly. With all the lightings on the exterior, I had expected it to look like a jewel glowing in the darker surroundings. Instead, it looks like one of those nearby night clubs. With so many individual lights hanging on the exterior wall, maintenance must be expensive and tedious!!!

Check out the interior! The hollow and spooky building is pathetically dim inside. No useful/substantial shops among its sparse tenants, and the eateries on the top floor are no saving grace. I heard the cinema sucks too, and the seats are worse than our buses.

Oh yes, even my friend who is managing the building agreed with me, wholeheartedly. We have decided that this project is not going into her resume.

Ok lah, one positive thing about the building – it acts as a covered walkway between bugis junction and queen street.

It’s a small world

Recently, I’m hooked on this weekly variety show called << 国际交易所>>. A group of ang mohs from Romania, Israel, US, Brazil etc, as well as foreigners from Hong Kong, Korea and Japan, gather to share their experience on different topics from their own countries and in Singapore, all in MANDARIN. I think the hongkonger is the most entertaining of all. He hardly speaks but when he does, he’s really funny cuz no one knows what he’s talking about – like he asked for more “jip” (汁) at the restaurant; how he tried to drive a “chey” (车)up a “chey” (斜) road.

And the host of the show? - Mark Lee. Ok, he’s averagely entertaining but for someone to laugh at and correct another’s mandarin, his grasp of that “yi wen” (language) (let’s lower that standard to just spoken) should at least be reasonably good, if not superb. He actually booted out someone during a word game when that someone said ”典当” cuz he said it’s invalid. So, Mark, ”典当” means pawn. You may also take it as “prawn” (your 侠) or something, but the words are definitely valid.

Anyway, I really enjoy the show though it’s a copycat of some Taiwanese variety show! The participants are really funny! I prefer “jip” to “yi wen” anytime!

Oh, and the bashful Brazilian guy(Fabio) is CUTE! Every Tuesday 8pm on channel 8!

In Chinese

老牛吃嫩草
老牛吃嫩草没什么不好，我也爱吃乳猪。



*****

向赌神迈进
同事告诉我们他很爱打牌。起初，我还半信半疑，但看了他的婚纱照，我终于心服口服。照片的pose灵感来自《赌神》。