Second Day of Beijing Olympics (4 Gold Medals)

China got 4 Gold medals yesterday, August 10^th.

GUO Jingjing (郭晶晶) and WU Minxia (吳敏霞) won the Olympic women’s synchronized 3-m spring board diving gold medal. The Chinese pair made very few mistakes throughout. Guo said that plenty of hard work had been done to perfect their dives.

GUO Wenjun (高文珺) took the Gold medal in the Women’s 10-metre Air-pistol Shooting Game with a new Olympic record (492.3 points).

冼東妹, a Guongdong mother, won a Gold medal in the 52 kg Women’s Judo Game.

LONG Qingguan (龍清泉) won a Gold medal in the 56 kg Weight-lifting Game(having lifted a total of 292 kg), the sixth Gold medal for China.

The total number of Gold Medals China gets is 6.

Sunglasses

The top photo showed Abby wearing her first pair of red rimmed sunglass in May. The dark lens could be turned 180 degrees to cover up the original glass. It was simply a toy at home, not a suitable one for outdoors. She enjoyed wearing it because it was great fun and of her ownership.

On July 17^th, Abby wore her grandma’s sunglasses on her way to City One Bus Terminus to take a bus to Central. Her two dimples on the face showed her satisfaction with the glasses because she could see things comfortably.

Connie bought Abby a trendy pair of sunglasses and she wore it on July 24^th when she joined our tea lunch. Photos were taken to record her smiles with this new pair of glasses.

A recent piece of news came that Abby dropped this pair of beautiful glasses on the day when Connie and Philip took her to the Fishermen’s Wharf at Vancouver. She was sleeping, so her glasses slipped away without noticed. By the time Connie and Philip found this, they rushed back to find that the pair of sunglasses had been cracked to pieces after a certain car ran over it. What a disappointing thing to see! I don’t know if Abby shed any tears at the time when she knew that her glasses had broken to pieces.

First Day of Beijing Olympics ( 2 Gold Medals)

Today is August 9th, 2008, the first day of the Beijing Olympics.

The first Chinese athlete who gets a Gold medal in Beijing 2008 Olympic Games is CHEN Xiexia (陳燮霞) from Guangdong. Today she wins the medal in the 48kg Women weightlifting Game. She lifts 95 kg weight in “Snatch” and 117 kg in “Clean & Jerk” making a total of 212 kg. It is a new Olympic Record in her class. Congratulations to her great success!

Another hot favour, our Chinese athlete, DU Li (杜麗), the Gold medalist in the Women's 10-metre Air-Rifle Shooting Game last time in Greece (2004), loses her Game this year. To her disappointment, she only comes fifth.

The second Chinese Gold medalist is PANG Wei (龐偉). He becomes the champion in the Men's 10-metre Air-Pistol Shooting Game this afternoon.

Beijing 2008 Olympic Games (Opening Ceremony)

The Opening Ceremony of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games started at eight on yesterday evening.

The performances were incredible, grand and spectacular.

These were the highlights of the night:

[1] The ‘Five Rings” of the Olympic Games were slowly raised from the ground and rose to mid-air.

[2] 29 Big Footprints (made by fireworks) as if they were stamped and left by a Giant moved towards the Bird’s Nest in the air.

[3] A “Human” Bird Nest was made in the centre of the field.

[4] Holding the white Olympic flag, eight famous Chinese athletes, young and old. walked round the Stadium once before the flag was hoisted.

[5] Small children brought in the Chinese Flag into the Stadium for hoisting.

[6] A Globe was lifted up from the ground with people walked around it.

[7] A big Scroll of paper was unrolled in the field and the History of Chinese (from ancient to modern) was presented.

[8] The printing from Chinese characters was impressive because hundreds of men were hiding inside rectangular blocks raising their blocks up and down to create letters and wave-like motions.

[9] The Olympic Fire was ignited by the former Chinese gymnast , Li Ning (李寧).

[10] All the athletic teams assembled in the Stadium while fireworks blasted off over their heads.

One World One Dream

The Dream of organizing the First Olympic Games on Chinese soil (The 29^th Olympic Games) will come true tonight at 8’clock inside the Bird’s Nest (The new National Stadium) in Beijing. The Chinese Government has spent a total of 295 billions of RMB on the Games. The presidents or Chiefs of over 80 countries or regions in the world will attend the Opening Ceremony. There will be about 15,000 performers and 90000 spectators.

The Games will last for 19 days and a total of 204 teams will compete for 302 gold medals. The first team of athletes that go into the Stadium will be from Greece. Hong Kong is the 26^th team and China, the host, will be the last team to enter the Stadium.

I hope that the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games will be a successful one!

The photos here show the beautiful logo designs of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

The Bird’s Nest (鳥巢)

The new Beijing Olympic Stadium, the Bird’s Nest, was named by U.S. Times Magazine as one of the Ten Wonders in the World’s Architecture in 2007 (二零零七年世界十大建築奇蹟之一). It was made from 40 thousand tons of very strong steel bars welded together.

It is lighted up by solar energy at night and the temperature inside is moderated in such a way that it is cool in summer, but warm in winter. It occupies an area of 250,000 square metres and provides 100,000 seats for the spectators.

The first photo shows the night view of the stadium.

The second photo shows the fireworks that will blast on the night of the Opening Ceremony.

The third photo shows the interesting food which resembles the Bird’s Nest. It costs HK$138. We can eat it at one of the restaurants in Hong Kong.

An Interesting Advertisement on Nathan Road

The “attraction” of this advertisement comes from the “tongue” of the beautiful girl. There is a British flag at her tongue. It means to me that this girl is able to speak English. I suppose it will be absolutely interesting to see people with such indications on their tongues. When they showed their tongues, we at once know what language we should use to speak to them.

Abby is going to learn more Cantonese as well as English in Canada. Later on when she returns to Hong Kong, I do expect her to speak a lot of “understandable” words or “complete” sentences. Maybe she will speak to me some strange words which I have never heard before. She may have learned some interesting customs which Canadians usually do and show them to me.

I was glad that when we arrived at Australia last time, my niece gave me and wife some advice and told us their customs:

Let us see what she said:

Now that you're in Australia, here are the things I think you need do...

1. Drink tap water (unboiled and unfiltered).

2. Walk around with no shoes on.

3. Eat pizza (because it's very cheap)

4. Eat a soft serve cone from Maccas (same reason)

5. Call McDonald's 'Maccas'

6. Wash dishes without rinsing the detergent off.

7. Continue to mix only with Chinese people and not have Anglo friends.

8. Go to a garage sale on Saturday morning.

Next from my nephew:

and say” G’day Mite!!!!” to every Aussie u see!

I must start to learn something about Canada from now on - its culture, history, customs as well as language, if possible.

A White Sculpture at Shatin

At first glance, this big white sculpture looks like our pelvic girdles (盆骨). The artist who made this must have got his/her idea from a human skeleton.

Bones are horrifying to somebody, but they are actually very useful to us because they support our bodies and protect our internal organs. They can help us walk, run, ride, jump, sit and do all sort of actions such as lifting, pushing, pulling, writing, turning, picking, hitting, throwing, driving and many many.

We sometimes have to admire our agile bodies, being so energetic and with mobility. It is really a perfect design!

如此『風』景

今天風勢在八號風球下特別顯得強勁。 大風夾雜著雨已將先前的熱氣全部趕走了，轉為有些清涼的感覺。雨是不是直落下的, 而是向著身體打過來的。附近的樹木上的樹枝被風吹得左搖右擺, 似吹著冬天的北風.。

Typhoon Kammuri (北冕)

This typhoon has a name which looks Japanese. It is now south of Hong Kong. It is expected to move north-westward towards the coast of Guangdong Province.

Yesterday night the Typhoon signal was 3 and at about five o’clock in the morning, it has been changed to 8 NE.

Thick clouds are moving across the sky and most recently, rain curtains start to appear, so umbrellas are useless in the streets. Only raincoats can protect the body from such side-pour of rain.

I see this beautiful news reporter again in HKTVB today. The morning news is full of announcements of suspensions of ferries, trams, buses and limited services of trains. Well, most people need not go to offices today because our Observatory says that the typhoon will be closest to Hong Kong by noon. Gale-force winds will blow from North-east and later from South-east. Watching TV and using the computer are ideal for me to spend the time this morning while winds and rain are on stage outside!

I believe I can fly

Yesterday night, August 4^th, Abby, Connie and Philip took a Cathay Pacific Plane to Canada.

I worried most of the afternoon whether their luggage, six pieces, mostly big could possibly be put inside my car (just a 5-seater). As if it were a miracle, they could be squeezed into the back compartment (four pieces) and into the trunk (two pieces). Grandma, Tony, Connie and Abby took an air-bus to the airport first. Philip sat next to me in my car. I was the driver, not to mention.

Abby ran about wildly at the airport. Thanked to lots of people – Abby’s grandmas, uncles and aunt, Philip’s colleagues, church friends, in turns, ran after her, otherwise she would get lost in this big airport. I could say, Tony was the main person who kept a close eye at her for most of the time.

It had been a long time since I took planes to United States, Australia and Singapore from this airport. Yesterday I found that the restricted area had been enlarged and came very close to the check-in counters for different airlines. Recently I read from newspaper that renovation is carrying out on this Departure Level of Terminal 1. After renovation, inside the restricted area, passengers will have to pass the security check-points before they go past the Immigration counters. It is logical to do this.

From the photos, Connie walked in front while Philip was pushing Abby in her “extra light” pram from behind before they stepped into the restricted area.

I thought Abby would sing the “Cathay Pacific” song, if she really could, “I believe I can fly. I believe I can touch the sky!......”. The Cathay Pacific plane did make her dream come true and it had arrived safely at its destination after the twelve-hour flight.

I hope the life in Canada suits Abby!

現代版小丸子(Modern Maruko)

七月二十三日Abby站在大門前面, 眼見她穿的背心仔上面繡著『小丸子』, 我立即替她拍了一張照片, 因我覺得她有幾分似『小丸子』.

其實『小丸子』是日本知名的漫畫和動畫主角, 作者是櫻桃子. 作者把自己童年生活(1970年)為藍本寫故事, 其故事很生活化, 甚有人情味.

最近在電視驚見『小丸子』真人版, 劇名叫『小丸子上電視』.『小丸子』角色由甜美可愛的伊藤綺夏飾演.

在電視劇裏面,『小丸子』的家人和同學一齊為她做生日; 『小丸子』學玩魔術;最後, 『小丸子』和父親, 同學玩遊戲和唱歌!

A Red Box in a public place

It is a Red Box in display at the rim of Shatin Central Park. Obviously it is a piece of Art work designed and made by an artist.

These are what I feel about this bright red box:

[1] It is a large box which looks rather like a room.

[2] It looks as if it were a craft made from “Lego” blocks.

[3] It has basically a floor and a ceiling, plus two walls.

[4] Its windows are open, so rain and wind can go in any time. It is not waterproof, but good in ventilation.

[5] The “room” is so designed that there are small platforms which serve as tables for meals or benches to sit.

[6] No bed is available here.

[7] No lights can be seen inside, so the evening meal will be eaten in the dark.

[8] There are holes at the ceiling to enable moonlight to pass through. Limited number of stars can be seen through these holes.

From my observations, this Red Box is just for fun, for temporary rest or meals, but if anyone goes inside, he/she will be asked to go away immediately. Remember, it is just a piece of Art.

Equestrian Games in Hong Kong

To promote the Equestrian Games to be held in Hong Kong for the Olympics, some artists create some crafts (工藝) or sculptures (彫塑) of horses.

You may have different perceptions when you see the following photos which I took yesterday at the edge of the Shatin Central Park.

Photo[1] shows a horse made of aluminium (my guess). I admire the artist who is so creative to turn strips of cold metal strips into a live horse with movements. The strips are like those flat wide noodles (寛條麵) we eat. If I am given such metal strips, I am sure I am not able to make such a horse.

Photo[2] shows two vivid horses running on grass.

Photo[3] shows a horse with beautiful patterns. The patterns on this horse are those on some wrapping papers. It looks much like a “gift” more than a “horse”. At the time I took the photo, I wondered if it was made of paper or cardboard, so I walked to the board of introduction. Well, I was amazed to find that it was made of steel. In that case, the flat surfaces of the horse must have been sprayed with blue paint and patterns added afterwards.

Photo[4] shows a wall-picture in which a flat black horse appears in the centre.

What is your opinion on this collection of horses at Shatin Central Park? Which horse or horses do you like best?

風雲驟變

昨天下午二時半左右, 面前的各建築物在陽光普照下顯得很清澈, 但遠方石門那方向正在建築中的公屋突然變得朦朧起來. 細看下, 這幢樓宇正被一股旋風包圍著, 飛沙走石, 像沙漠中的沙塵暴在作怪, 屬奇景之一! 不過我在担心正在裏面工作的人士的安危, 想想他們是否被旋風轉到暈跎跎呢! 共實我發現前面的消防局屋頂確實有幾個巨型大紙袋在旋轉, 非常好看!

隨後天色漸暗, 不到半個小時, 密集的雨掉下來了, 雷也打了幾個. 先前的攝氏35度的暑氣消減了很多, 謝謝這些風雷雨.

A Postcard from the Arctic Circle

At my request, Betty and Lawman did send us a post card from Santa Claus Office at the Arctic Circle, Finland. According to the post mark, the date of post was July 20^th, 2008. It took five days to reach Hong Kong and the postage was 1 luokka klass.

The photo on the card is full of Christmas “feeling”, having snowy ground, snowmen, sparkling Christmas trees, houses and Fins too. The underside shows the “blessing” Lawman wrote to us, “祝生活愉快!”. Betty wrote our names and address. What interest me most are the post mark and the stamp! The post mark shows a Santa Claus pointing at Finland and the Arctic Circle on the Globe he was holding. It is a bit too early in July to see a Santa Claus riding a sleigh over heavy snowy ground and bringing Christmas presents to people around the world.

I have never received a post card from places of such a high latitude (66° 33' 7" N) where the Arctic Circle is located and the post-office is a Santa Claus Office. Wow, I wonder if there are Santa Clauses chopping envelopes or post cards for the people at the Office.

This post card is filled with “coldness” because it came from a very cold country, but also with “warmth” because it was Betty and Lawman, our close relatives, who sent it to us.

有型有款

Connie 最近在馬鞍山買了一個新款的太陽眼鏡給Abby. 當Abby戴上這副眼鏡後, 臉上充滿笑容, 覺得自己靚了幾十倍似的!

另外一張相見到Abby蠻有神氣的, 擺了一個像攝影模特兒的甫士!

“Is that Clear?”

Some teacher usually asks us, “Is that clear?” after he/she has taught a certain thing in the lesson. That is at school.

At our homes, I believe an HD iDTV set would bring us absolutely clear TV pictures.

Recently, an advertisement in TV shows some black round particles with human dark faces. As the images are zoomed out, we see a housewife shaking some black pepper out of a bottle onto her food on a dish. I like this kind of presentation because I am anxious to see what is going on as the lens zoom out.

The advertisement you see here shows a big piece of meat like a mountain on the right of the picture. Small round green beans and red carrots appeared to be very big because they have been magnified. They look fresh and are in rich colours. The bottle of black pepper is facing down to let go the pepper. Some pepper has already dropped to the plate.

This advertisement shows us that no matter what TV programmes we are watching with such TV sets, we shall enjoy looking at the CLEAR objects, people and their details.