Yokohama Hakkejima Aquarium

The polar bear in the aquarium. I cannot help but think they are all suffering from some sort of mental disease. The sea elepants/fishes/squid/sharks/turtles move around the water in a fixed pattern, going from one end to another, back and forth, as if they are meditating, or trying to perfect the movement like gymnasts. They must be bored as hell, serving the life sentence for unknown reasons.

I feel very sorry that I like to go to aquarium so much.

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Walking about Tokyo is a very nice thing to do. People are all very well dressed from head to toes (shoes). Girls all have very agreeable skin. Many thanks to the advanced technology. The high art of putting on make up is so that you don't feel she has applied anything to her face. But you do see some fake tan that is very pronounced, with the light brown hair and bright blue eye-shadow, one of my Tokyo colleague calls them "Orange Girl".

I also feel the pressure to make myself presentable but am really too lazy to find out which type of powder would do the best for my eczma attacked face.

Funny Translation

XiaoHo was having a fever on and off last weekend, the doctor in the first clinic simply prescribed some anti-biotics. My mom insisted to get the second doctor's opinion. And they found out XiaoHo's ear was seriously infected. Another battle won.

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The standard Mandarin was consider the standard, official and civilised language in Modern China. However, many local dialets preserves the sounds and tones of the ancient Chinese. Take the Chinese poems for example, the choice of characters and arrange of tones are formatted so that they can be read out loud beautifully. But Mandarin pronounciation has blended the "Ze" tone into the 1, 2, 3 or 4 tone. The "Ze" tone is short and quick, as if you narrow the air passage and stop the sound-making in a haste.

Mandarin also rips off those creative and interesting phrases. For example, in some dialet, butterfly is called "拍翼", which means clapping wings. In Mandarin, butterfly is a none, means butterfly. Don't you think "clapping wings" almost has slapped the moving insect in the visual comprehension area of your brain?

Different regions develop their own way of describing things. The phrases might be different but they can still be understood by Chinese because we can connect the individual Chinese character's meaning together and reach the concludion. Take the disposable culinaries for example, in Taiwan, chopsticks, spoon or knife are prefixed by "wash-free". However, in China, the prefix is "use only one time"(一次性). But I am sure people from both sides of Taiwan Straight know what you are refering to either way.

However, in some cities of China, the English translation of disposible chopsticks is "one-time sex chopstick". The character, "性", could mean the nature of an item/thing/event or sex.

Drainage

I came back from Kuala Lumpur one day early to hunt for a flat on Friday evening because I have to move out of my flat on the next day. I have done a bit of research before leaving for KL 2 weeks ago and understood the type of flat I am going to get for my budget. I think the estate agent is very clever, she showed me one flat in a very crappy condition and then a slightly better one with higher price. I almost decided on the spot.

It is very dangerous to be trapped into so-called new development in Beijing, where half of the buildings are still under contruction. Your neighbours on all directions are also renovating. The communal areas are filled with tiles and workers wheel in tons of sands. All this is for the previliage of sitting on a brand new toilet bow. Suppose not the new buildings, then the local Beijing housing. They are very depressing. They are mostly 6 story high (to avoid complaints if higher?) without lifts. The hall ways s eternally lit by 40W light bulb, I think they do it on purpose so that you don't see the sinister stainon the wall. The interior are usually ill-lit and cheap furniture-filled. The saddest thing is the bathroom. What is the issue with seperating the wet and dry area? The shower was installed right next to the wash machine and toilet. Wouldn't it be nice to step onto a dry, clean bathroom mat after a long and hot shower? How do people put on pants if the whole floor was wet and slippery?

My flat was not all that better. It is a good size studio without doors to the toilet and kitchen. Amatuer home developer's work. However, the wooden carboard and throughout slate-like tiles make it look quite modern. The best thing is that the bathroom is very very well-lit, however, the drainage gives out the funny odor. I pour some bleach into the drain and then boiling hot water to clean it, however, the smell persists.

I was always wondering why the 2 pieces of drainange pipe were bent into the a rollercoaster loop under the bathroom sink. I just realised that is to let the water flow through but prevent the funny odor from flying freely between the main drainage pipe to your bathroom. I can only shut the sink stop and brush my teeth in the kitchen.

Good Bye WeiVoon

I think the work-related social events I attend in my company is farewell lunch/dinner/drink. This is WeiVoon's farewell dinner, you get only a card from your colleagues if you only stay with us for less than 2 years.




But if you are joining our clients' work force, you can get a small present.

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I don't know if you have similar experience about irritating strange/colleague/friend's smell. Body order is of course getting on my nerves, however, they are more bearable comparing to what I am going to talk about.

The garlic breath and strong perfume (the not very expensive one) has the power of destroying my mood (I become so irritate and ready to kill). Smell is really very powerful. For those you don't want to see, you simply concentrate on your monitor. For those you don't want to hear, put on the headset. But smell has legs, it finds its way to your nastrils with ease (sometimes it attacks my eyes, especially the garlic breath).

In Beijing, I find you sorted of meet with the garlic breath more often than the south. I don't understand because I think southern Chinese cook with garlic generously. But one time I walked into the meeting room, which filled with people just came back from lunch, oh the air... I could barely open my eyes.

I just encountered another smell disaster this week. The lady I worked with in the bank wears this very strong perfume. So thick that you can smell it 3 feet away. I don't know if that's not so expensive perfume or not, but I think it is quite not adequet to wear such thick scent in workplace (in fact, anywhere). The unpleasant smell stabbed my nerve during the whole time sitting next to her. I just pretended that I had a running nose or I am thinking deeply so to cover my nose with my hand while talking to her.

Women are keepers of sex and men keeper of romance

I was reading a book written by 2 bartenders in New York, about the art of picking up gals/guys in pub. Well, they kept claiming that if you can train yourself so that you are not timid when walking into a social situation, you can walk into a job interview, in-laws eye sights, public bath house with the same confidence.

Hey, aren't you talking about picking up a stranger from the pub? These 2 bartenders are so trying hard to sell the book.

Goddness of Parametric VaR

It is very interesting to recall the Value at Risk (VaR) knowleges I read in various papers, documents about 5 years ago. In the past week, I pull off the training session for a bank on this subject I didn't have much preparation for. Back in those time, the theoretical stuff didn't make much sense then (it could be that my brain wire circuits have not been completed yet). I simply chew and swollow the facts and theories without connecting them together. Now I think it was a miracle that I have survived. Perhaps it just takes time to let the raw knowledge sit and brew into something useful.

I am Not Nice

As growing older, I found myself more and more impatient. I cannot stand those who are slow and unobservant. I give up explaining nicely, I usually take more aggresive measure to show my unsatisfaction.

I breakfast in the hotel restaurant this morning. Leisurely browsing my newspaper and wait for my first cup of coffee. I had noticed there are a couple of manager-like persons standing around the corner of the loundge, one of the slicky looking manager walked pass my table every 5 minute, I guess that's his routine walk. He didn't notice that no one has served me coffee or tea. Fine, I waited again. Couple of the waitresses passed by my table to clean up the table next to me or collecting finished plates, still no one came and asked me "tea or coffee". I am getting impatient but decided to wait for another 5 minutes. Nothing has happened after the manager passed my table the 3rd time.

I am getting annoyed. So I stood up, walked across the dining hall to the coffee and tea counter with my coffee cup. I said to another manager politely, if I can have a cup of coffee. She said, you meant you want to have another cup of coffee? I said I have never had coffee ever since I sat down. She apologised and promised to bring me fresh brew coffee in no time.

This incident can be resolved by waving the waitress to my table and explaining my demand. But I do prefer to embarrass the managers by showing how incompetent the staff is. Why shouldn't I show my anger?

My Mom's Strict Sense of Rightdoings

The thing started with the location of my aunt and uncle's hotel booking. It was located in the west end of Taipei city, used to be the most prosperous area in the 70s, however, the glory had faded with the development of of east side of Taipei. The area is very close to the Taipei central station. Streets are narrow, many of the buildings are old were built in the Japanese colonial time. The composit of inhabitants are more complex. People came from the village found their first foot hole here.

My mom's first reaction to the address is that's a area filled with prostitutes. She always draws the line between good and evil women very strictly. In her mind, those women who work in pubs, nightclubes are all classified as prostitutes, regardless whether she is the manager, janitor, or hostess. They should be all condemned for making money by selling their bodies.

That's very harsh generalisation. I think this area can better present Taipei's past and present comparing to the multi-national hotel chain. Not to confront my mother, I told my aunt and uncle that the area has a lot of historical buildings, many nice eataries with stories and Taiwanese flavor. Indeed, there are hostess bars and pubs around, but if not hanging out too late at night, I think you are safe.

We all make our living one way or another, there is no clear cut of what type of job is superior than the other. If there is demand, supply follows. Actually, I even admire those who can survive in this tough environment. I don't quit understand why is she so hostile toward this industry, is it threatening her life at one time? It shouldn't be now.

My Brother's Wedding

My sister-in-law's dress was the typical Cantonese (or rather Hong Kong) style. Quite a different taste to the western white dress. This picture was taken in the registration hall in Taipei.

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I'd never imagine how exhausted it is to have a full set of Chinese wedding. My brother's wedding is already simplified, mind you. The ceremonies and procedures of getting Carol, my sister-in-law, into Liao's family started at night of December 28th. In the afternoon, Grace and I went to arrange the decoration for the black Mercedeze and flower bouquat. And then My brother and I picked up our first guest, Jessica, from Singapore and sent her to the hotel. My brother rehearsed the procedures the next day.

On 29th, Carol is going to go to have the bridal make up session by 6am and she is going to farewell her parents. Carol needed to be accompanied by a young, unmarried female friend, which is Jessica, during the whole day.

After getting home before midnight, we realised that the black Mecedeze was not washed because Grace and my mom had taken XiaoHo to the Dentist and missed the Car Wash appointment. Grace, Mankit and I then started to wash the car in the dark, raining cold night until 2am.

My brother was painstakingly detailed person, he has outlined the script-like schedule, who is going to do what at what time, items needed, etc. For example, Carol and Mankit were going to knee in front of Carol's parents, officially breaking the tie with her family. In returns, Carol's parents would make a short speech and give the couple 2 red envelopes. So, the items needed during the morning are, pillows (so to cushion the couple's knees), tea cups, trays and red envelopes.

The funny bit is that no one seems to know exactly what are the correct customs. Carol's family is Taiwan based, they have some ideas about how things should be conducted (such as Carol's brother has to pour a bucket of water after the car while they drive off to our home, to symbolise a married daughter just like water poured cannot be recovered). My mom has some ideas from her region, such as getting a well-off middle age woman (a woman with hudsband, kids, parents on both sides) to umbrella Carol to the car to shelt off the evil spirit.

When in doubt, my brother would call Grace's mother, who is almost 70 something. Such as, "do you know what the bride has to bring home 3 days after the marriage? The sweet rice balls soup? How many bows are needed?". Grace's mom would then call all her friends to gather information and give Mankit a summary like "Oh, nowaday people think it is very inconvenient to bring home liquid soup in car, you can substitue it with 12 round apples. Round shape has the same meaning as completeness and apples are sweet". Ah... that's how custom has evolved over generations.

Anyhow, my name only appeared in the script at page 3. My only task is to avoid seeing Carol until she is in Liao's family. My mother's explanation is so that you two can get alone with each other. Fine, I was then sent to run the errands while the whole ceremonies happening, Carol and Mankit kneed again in front of my parents after coming home and so on. But I have a important task to do is to buy Bento boxes for lunch (only then, I am allowed to see everyone, sigh).

I was instructed to buy the lunch boxes from a shop, which I couldn't find. I was not very familiar with my neighborhood. Painicking of being late, I drove to 7-11 and bought all their cheapo lunch boxes (7-11 has branded it as citizen lunch box). When I turned up at my door step, everyone is cracking up because my brother had predicted what I am going to bring home.

Fine then... After a whole half day of hassle, we finally got Carol.

As my mom, Grace, XiaoHo, Carol, Mankit and I were having the leisure breakfast in our little community coffee shop the next morning, XiaoHo looked at Carol and then turned to Grace "Today she is not pretty". This little brat, he likes woman with heavy make up and false lashes.