Where do you stand after getting into the lift (4)

I am normally the first one getting into the lift in yoga studio because everyone is staring at her/his smartphone.  I am the only one staring at the walls, wasting time proudly.  I walked straight into the lift and parked myself at the back, facing the door.  On the side note, I always wonder why people do not do that, I suppose that's the lift etiquette that every city dweller should know?  That gesture gives a group of strangers that are forced to share a tiny box some privacy and personal space.  Anyways, people just want to stare at their phones - scr*w people around me I do not care.

There was the girl stepped into the lift last, who was not holding a smart phone.  The door opened again a floor below, someone tried to get in.  Though there is space behind her, she stared ahead with blank face standing still.  The guy had to maneuver around her to get into the space behind her.  After the door closed, she started to check her eye make up on her reflection on the lift door.  Were I the guy trying to get into the lift, I shall push her in.

Yoga doesn't burn calories!!!

I just learned that yoga practice doesn't help burning more calories - I think it is time to go back to the running machine... 

Frederick Forsyth

Funny I am only starting to read about his work just now.  I started with the day of the Jackal, huh, very good, I started to work on his books, the dogs of war, the forth protocol, the Odessa file, the cobra, the Afghan, Icon, short stories, etc.  I will need to get hold of the rest of his work!

Finally we have some pictures

Scrutinizing

I was reading an article on the Taiwanese web based media - the last name of the person the story was about was printed incorrectly a number of times.  No one ever proof-read the articles before publishing it?  I was so upset that I wrote to the editor right away.

I used to subscribe a famous Taiwanese paper magazine to send to Dad and I can read their articles online.  I happened to be back and picked up an old issue, the magazine is missing pages from 127 to 136!!!  I was furious wanting to call their editor but that's the weekend.  This is so unacceptable.  I didn't renew my subscription. 

Why is it so difficult to be professional and proud of what you do?  Is it because you are short of hands or the company is going through the cost cutting phase?   Either way it is basically telling your readers that you cannot care less about them. 

Suffocating

I spent years living in Tokyo.  My apartment in Tokyo is about 2 kilometers away from Tokyo station.  It was a new and modern building.  I can easily bike to work in the finan cial center of Tokyo, which is Otemachi and Marunochi by Tokyo station.  Just a couple minute walk away is the imperial palace's huge garden.  Running around the imperial palace is still one of the best memories I have in Tokyo - it is exactly 5.92 km for one loop, I think I did it once within 25 minutes (wow, those good old times - I have been pondering to pick up jogging again after 3 years). 
 
I enjoyed my life in Tokyo.  My Japanese is good enough to order food and drink (my knowledge of alcohol and how to pronounce them in Japan amazed my Japanese teacher), can have simple conversations with skating mates.  Pretty much hassle free to live in this big city - dealing with the bank, sending out a post, sorting out tax issues in local ward office, taking taxi (it was fun to chat to taxi driver especially when I was half pissed) were not a big problem.  Tokyo is clean, orderly, safe and comfortable in every aspect.  Japanese had worked together to eliminate uncertainties for centuries.  There are written or unspoken rules which regulate everyone's behavior and life.  They have done it so well by Japanese-nizing immigrants, being xenophobia to foreigners (or things that are not Japanese origin), drawing a clear line between in and out. 

It is an efficient way to eliminate conflicts so people can focus their energy for something else, but the questions are, for what?  Better living?  More fancy gadgets?  What's the purpose of this society and where it is heading?  I wouldn't say Tokyo has achieved the perfect balance, it has problems on its own.  But the staleness and conservative mindset have suffocated any sparks that could possibly lead to changes.  Take the woman status issue as an example, why the women are still hard-done by in today's Japanese society?  Everyone sees it but no one seems to be able to do anything about it.  

Foreigners will have a good life in Tokyo because you are never being scrutinized as a Japanese,  hence, less pressure.  And at the same time, you get to enjoy the convenience of the super city.  Nevertheless, you are never considered to be in, or be part of the community.  I guess the answer to that anxiety (some probably would not agree) is to have more drinks in the foreigner wonderland Roponggi. 

Coo coo coo (1)

Last winter there were a couple of doves (very similar to pigeons but smaller) flew to my tiny balcony and I started to grow affection to these little creatures.  I put out some bird feed that Dad insisted I took back to Hong Kong to treat my little friends on the railing but they were too cautious to take any.  As the results, they had grown into a 3 feet tall sorghum plant which I harvested last December.  I was always excited to see them stopping by, walking along the railing.  Jon always comments "like father like daughter". 

My dad has a pigeon friend who has been hanging around with Dad for more than 15 years.  Some more pigeon stories to come...

Where do you want to stand when getting into the lift (3)

The restaurant staff reached over to collect our plates while we are still chatting to each other and eating our food.  Old grand ma cut in front of us in the taxi queue (being a Brit - Jon firmly stopped her from getting the taxi), people blocking the escalator (although I am not convinced sometimes it is not a bad thing to stand in both side of the escalator).  In some local shops - especially those shops around your neighborhood, it is considered very weird if you are acting too politely.  Welcome to Hong Kong!

Although I do not think people are obnoxious or rude, they are just thinking about what's the most convenient way to get what I want or get to where I want to go.  

Where do you stand after getting into the lift (2)

Chatting to friends who also relocated to Hong Kong a few years back, they have also discovered the mindlessly selfish act in many areas in Hong Kong. 

Door game - you walk toward the door and the person in front of you cannot be bothered to hold the door for you.  Most of them will sneak in quickly before the door shuts.  I think this is because people do not want to touch the door handle, rather than being nasty to people behind you.

Lift door game - your neighbor stares at his/her iPhone and press the "close" button to shut the door while you run towards the closing door.  I think Hong Kong people just do not want to show any affection to their neighbor, that's understandable.

Subway space game - people stuck at the door area refusing to move in.  Ok, I have no explanation for this - I pushed my way through to show them the consequence not to move in and create space for others.

Toilet Revolulation in China

I have double posted comments about toilet - it is so obvious this thing really bothers me.  Statistically speaking (number of nasty bacteria per unit area), the most dirty area in any household, regardless the culture or level of modernization, is the washing clothes.  Toilet seat is relatively clean!  So girls, please wipe clean the public toilet seat and sit down to pee.