Soon after the death of Robin Gibb, I had the chance to attend the concert of Jacky Cheung, one of the few singers in Hong Kong.
I was lucky to have friends who share similar tastes as mine in music. Thanks CW who did not really mind that we finally had to watch the concert separately. After all, this concert was supposed to be the last one in the tour and the tickets were so scarce. I only had the chance to buy two, but not two that were put together.
The concert could by summarized in one word: fantastic. You cannot believe that Jacky Cheung has already reached his 50 and his voice was still strong and clean. He was often described as a man with a voice that has the classical instruments like violin and that's why he could sing grand music altogether with orchestra. No, they were wrong. He was one of the classical musicians and should have stood the same level with Mozart and Beethoven. He was more than his voice.
He was already happy in his concert, unlike the sentimental George Lam. Yes, he should. Because we were all happy that there is still something great that is still in Hong Kong. I already missed Leslie and Anita, and I don't want to miss anything now.
28 May 2012
27 May 2012
Last
What is your pick, if you have to decide the song for your funeral?
According to a poll previously, many people in the western countries will choose Frank Sinatra's My way. No doubt it is one of the best songs to summarize the life of a person, and his determinations all along in his moment. But it sounds boring if everyone does the same, which I feel, after all, we are not the same when we are living.
What about the Beatles's In my life? Recently there was a poll from NME.com, which listed this song to be one of the most beautiful lyrics ever in these years. Here it goes:
All these places had their moments
With lovers and friends, I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life, I've loved them all
It was also one of my favorite songs.
How about Robin Gibb? Most people would think that his classic I started a joke, which would be high on his list. You know, it was a depressive song talking about somebody who felt himself very different and not accepted in the world.
But then, he said, he wanted How deep is your love to be played. Then I know, yeah, he was a Brother Gibb. He wanted all the joy and peace and love:
...How deep is your love
How deep is your love
I really mean to learn
'Cause we're living in a world of fools
Breakin’ us down
When they all should let us be
We belong to you and me...
According to a poll previously, many people in the western countries will choose Frank Sinatra's My way. No doubt it is one of the best songs to summarize the life of a person, and his determinations all along in his moment. But it sounds boring if everyone does the same, which I feel, after all, we are not the same when we are living.
What about the Beatles's In my life? Recently there was a poll from NME.com, which listed this song to be one of the most beautiful lyrics ever in these years. Here it goes:
All these places had their moments
With lovers and friends, I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life, I've loved them all
It was also one of my favorite songs.
How about Robin Gibb? Most people would think that his classic I started a joke, which would be high on his list. You know, it was a depressive song talking about somebody who felt himself very different and not accepted in the world.
But then, he said, he wanted How deep is your love to be played. Then I know, yeah, he was a Brother Gibb. He wanted all the joy and peace and love:
...How deep is your love
How deep is your love
I really mean to learn
'Cause we're living in a world of fools
Breakin’ us down
When they all should let us be
We belong to you and me...
26 May 2012
Robin
We have seen so many stars falling from the stars. This time, Robin was the one whom we will all miss.
When I was small and I sang some falsetto which I heard somewhere which was known was the Bee Gees's sound, I was given a CD from my friend Edward. "One Night Only" was its name. I went back home and played it. I did not know what the lines mean but I found the disco music exciting and the slow ballad moving. I started to love this group.
At the first I was interested by the voices of Barry, for it usually was of high pitch and easily recognized. The other two brothers did not usually showed up.
But then, I realized that if there was only Barry singing, it was much less beautiful than all three sang together in many songs. This was when Maurice and Robin went into my ears.
It was never easy to sing harmony in a song that you did not follow the main melody. That's why the works of Bee Gees were all wonderful that they could play it without any troubles. Harmony. Harmony. The brothers.
And then we have only Barry to sing on the stage now.
22 May 2012
Avengers
Randomly, I watched Avengers. It was as expected to be boring.
There are many heroes in the movie with different costumes and and body shapes. But that's all-- the story line is straight forward, which you know before you enter the cinema. The make-ups are attractive, but the characters are not. Apparently they do try to be different with each others, but the hollow mindset is seen throughout the movie. I know that superhero comes to the earth to save the world. However, I want to know more about them. How are they apart from being a hero? There is a story behind everyone.
May be superhero is born from a super-stone, and they have no past.
On the contrary, The Batman series is always adorable. Bruce Wayne is not born to be a superhero. He has a story and the story changed his mind and his life. He is always struggled to be a superhero. As a result, he take actions in the dark so no one can see.
And because of his complicated character, Christopher Nolan tried to make 3 movies to but make a draft. The rest of the colour is to only be filled by Christian Bale and also the audience.
It is what Avengers unable to do: the superheroes do not have anything to add. They are simply empty.
There are many heroes in the movie with different costumes and and body shapes. But that's all-- the story line is straight forward, which you know before you enter the cinema. The make-ups are attractive, but the characters are not. Apparently they do try to be different with each others, but the hollow mindset is seen throughout the movie. I know that superhero comes to the earth to save the world. However, I want to know more about them. How are they apart from being a hero? There is a story behind everyone.
May be superhero is born from a super-stone, and they have no past.
On the contrary, The Batman series is always adorable. Bruce Wayne is not born to be a superhero. He has a story and the story changed his mind and his life. He is always struggled to be a superhero. As a result, he take actions in the dark so no one can see.
And because of his complicated character, Christopher Nolan tried to make 3 movies to but make a draft. The rest of the colour is to only be filled by Christian Bale and also the audience.
It is what Avengers unable to do: the superheroes do not have anything to add. They are simply empty.
19 May 2012
Chelsea
Just 12 hours later, the Champion of European League will be decided by a match between the German Bayern Munich and the English Chelsea. But for me, the blue team is the Champion of this year.
I am not actually a supporter of Chelsea FC. A few years ago, it was the biggest opponent of Manchester United in every way. United usually do not play like a good team when confronting the blues, because of the excellent defense at the back led by John Terry and the beast Drogba in the front is also threatening.
But then, the blue giant is aging. The backbone formed by the aboved mentioned players and the midfield key-player Frank Lampard have all reached their prime and they are more than thirties now. At the start of the season, despite the change of a new manager AOB to make some changes, no one feels that London club would take any trophy this year at all.
The prophecy was almost true. They did start the EPL badly, either being scoreless or being defected disappointingly. The Chelsea that we used to see was just not there for almost half a year. Fans could not dare to face the EPL table.
They then decided to stop the change by appointing De Matteo as the new manager. He is the man to put the Chelsea back to track. He re-ignited the old backbone and allowed them to shine, be it the last chance in their career. They put themselves into the final by defeating the invincible Barcelona, and they picked up the FA Cup again this year, winning over Liverpool.
12 hours later, the Champion will be decided. But then, who cares about whether Chelsea win or lose. They fell and they raised up, now a step away from the Champion of the Europe. It was the biggest comeback.
I am not actually a supporter of Chelsea FC. A few years ago, it was the biggest opponent of Manchester United in every way. United usually do not play like a good team when confronting the blues, because of the excellent defense at the back led by John Terry and the beast Drogba in the front is also threatening.
But then, the blue giant is aging. The backbone formed by the aboved mentioned players and the midfield key-player Frank Lampard have all reached their prime and they are more than thirties now. At the start of the season, despite the change of a new manager AOB to make some changes, no one feels that London club would take any trophy this year at all.
The prophecy was almost true. They did start the EPL badly, either being scoreless or being defected disappointingly. The Chelsea that we used to see was just not there for almost half a year. Fans could not dare to face the EPL table.
They then decided to stop the change by appointing De Matteo as the new manager. He is the man to put the Chelsea back to track. He re-ignited the old backbone and allowed them to shine, be it the last chance in their career. They put themselves into the final by defeating the invincible Barcelona, and they picked up the FA Cup again this year, winning over Liverpool.
12 hours later, the Champion will be decided. But then, who cares about whether Chelsea win or lose. They fell and they raised up, now a step away from the Champion of the Europe. It was the biggest comeback.
Expression
There is a memorable line from Leslie Cheung's Passer-by Dragonfly (路過蜻蜓):
哭 我為了感動誰
笑 又為了碰著誰
It just demonstrated the similarity of crying and laughing. It was an expression from mood: when you are sad, you cry; when you are happy, you laugh. However, sometimes you will cry because you are so happy and you laugh because you can't be more sorrowful. What's more, they are external to others.
But then, it rises an interesting question: what is it for, if there is no one out there to hear you cry or laugh? Apparently it sounds silly, if not stupid. But then, it is something we do: hiding ourselves by locking ourselves, and then we burst into tears. No one recognized our sadness. We feel good about it. Therefore, we cry.
So it probably gave an incomplete answer to the line. Cry, because we wanted to move ourselves.
哭 我為了感動誰
笑 又為了碰著誰
It just demonstrated the similarity of crying and laughing. It was an expression from mood: when you are sad, you cry; when you are happy, you laugh. However, sometimes you will cry because you are so happy and you laugh because you can't be more sorrowful. What's more, they are external to others.
But then, it rises an interesting question: what is it for, if there is no one out there to hear you cry or laugh? Apparently it sounds silly, if not stupid. But then, it is something we do: hiding ourselves by locking ourselves, and then we burst into tears. No one recognized our sadness. We feel good about it. Therefore, we cry.
So it probably gave an incomplete answer to the line. Cry, because we wanted to move ourselves.
17 May 2012
Satisfaction
You the frequent visitor must know I always call myself a philosopher. Well, some philosophers do not called themselves like this because they are so humble. Some who are not called themselves philosophers because they overrate themselves.
I think differently. To me, a philosopher is someone who loves wisdom and knowledge. In this situation, I am nothing but a philosopher, particularly these few weeks which I spend most of my time learning.
Some classmates of me keep posting photos on the Facebook. They liked it. They feel that it is a great achievement to spend time on travelling, when the time is for living. I just feel like I am not the same kind of person. I like to work and I like to think. I am not smart but I try my best to understand my field. To me, to know something is very satisfying. They said it is futile. They said it has no end. It is just what they say. It is just what they think. They don't notice the joy.
Someone said one could die if he loves what he is doing. I can die today. Anytime. I feel like it is the life I've ever wanted.
I think differently. To me, a philosopher is someone who loves wisdom and knowledge. In this situation, I am nothing but a philosopher, particularly these few weeks which I spend most of my time learning.
Some classmates of me keep posting photos on the Facebook. They liked it. They feel that it is a great achievement to spend time on travelling, when the time is for living. I just feel like I am not the same kind of person. I like to work and I like to think. I am not smart but I try my best to understand my field. To me, to know something is very satisfying. They said it is futile. They said it has no end. It is just what they say. It is just what they think. They don't notice the joy.
Someone said one could die if he loves what he is doing. I can die today. Anytime. I feel like it is the life I've ever wanted.
13 May 2012
11 May 2012
Nightfood
Feeling that in the daily attachment, I did not really have a touch on the emergency cases, I decided to stay in the hospital in the night and get myself involved in the clinical management.
The Wednesday night was very tiring, as usual. There are full of events in the night, but as a exhausted and burn-out medical student, you can't possibly take over the cases. But still, I managed to take some history from patients, and investigate the problems.
The nurses are very nice to prepare nightfood for the houseman and me. She said, sit down and have the food. It was the custom to have the food, anyway. I felt much better after having the dumping and the soup. Oh. They made soups for us.
One of the nurse showed us her photos with her husband and kids. The boy looked very alike her husband and the girl herself. She said, they were twins, and she delivered them when she was 23.
And then she talked about her life as a scrub nurse in one of the university hospitals. She said, if you want to become a good surgeon, you have to go there. She praised the old surgeons there (and also the iron surgeon there). You never have a life outside, but you eventually know how to do surgery there.
That was the place I never go and perhaps will never go. Far away, so close.
The Wednesday night was very tiring, as usual. There are full of events in the night, but as a exhausted and burn-out medical student, you can't possibly take over the cases. But still, I managed to take some history from patients, and investigate the problems.
The nurses are very nice to prepare nightfood for the houseman and me. She said, sit down and have the food. It was the custom to have the food, anyway. I felt much better after having the dumping and the soup. Oh. They made soups for us.
One of the nurse showed us her photos with her husband and kids. The boy looked very alike her husband and the girl herself. She said, they were twins, and she delivered them when she was 23.
And then she talked about her life as a scrub nurse in one of the university hospitals. She said, if you want to become a good surgeon, you have to go there. She praised the old surgeons there (and also the iron surgeon there). You never have a life outside, but you eventually know how to do surgery there.
That was the place I never go and perhaps will never go. Far away, so close.
6 May 2012
Understanding
People around me these days must have heard me about my plan to have a grad-trip in the end of this month with some of my best friends. I had a good expectation of this trip: what can be better if you have friends with me in a journey?
When I came back from Singapore, I felt that I had to get the planning done. I immediately called them for meals and tried to discuss where exactly to go: we had agreed previously that we would go to Taiwan.
But then, they were cold about it. LC said: I have to go to Taiwan with my girl friend in mid-May. My heart was sunken.
And then I realized that KS was not able to graduate this year, for some reasons.
That means that all my expectation has all gone into vain. Initially I felt like I was cheated and abandoned. Now the best friends would not go for a short trip and they never told me until I come back. But then, I understand and accept.
LC has always put her girlfriend over anyone else. One day they will get married. I can be a good friend of them but I cannot interfere their lives as a couple. I know it for these 10 years. I know it. But I sometimes ignore it for my own purposes.
KS was not good in calculation and now what he needs is support from friends rather than pressure. What I can do now is not making them pressurized. After all, I have got a lot of supports and company with them in my life. I shall treasure what I already have had and not ask for more. They already have given a lot to me.
Plato says: Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.
When I came back from Singapore, I felt that I had to get the planning done. I immediately called them for meals and tried to discuss where exactly to go: we had agreed previously that we would go to Taiwan.
But then, they were cold about it. LC said: I have to go to Taiwan with my girl friend in mid-May. My heart was sunken.
And then I realized that KS was not able to graduate this year, for some reasons.
That means that all my expectation has all gone into vain. Initially I felt like I was cheated and abandoned. Now the best friends would not go for a short trip and they never told me until I come back. But then, I understand and accept.
LC has always put her girlfriend over anyone else. One day they will get married. I can be a good friend of them but I cannot interfere their lives as a couple. I know it for these 10 years. I know it. But I sometimes ignore it for my own purposes.
KS was not good in calculation and now what he needs is support from friends rather than pressure. What I can do now is not making them pressurized. After all, I have got a lot of supports and company with them in my life. I shall treasure what I already have had and not ask for more. They already have given a lot to me.
Plato says: Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.
Cadaver
Singapore is not country of freedom. It holds true even after you leave this mortal world.
During my last two weeks to the liver team of the hospital. The professor, knowing my special interest in liver transplant, told me briefly how did the transplant team work.
The keyword was frequently appeared as answers in many questions. It was multidisciplinary. But this time, the Singapore government played an essential role for the transplant surgery. They have made policies to take the organs from the dead body from the citizens who died in the country, whenever it is useful.
Huh? The people cannot own their own organs? It is true in Singapore. The senior doctors told the juniors that when they are to talk to the relatives of the patients, they should not tell them there is an option of retaining the organs, for it is not an option.
Of course, it has been one of the most important factors that contribute the success of the operations in Singapore: there are two governmental hospitals and one private institution to provide the operations (though the private hospital is not able to get the cadaverous organs from the government, the competitions of the organs from the livings are smaller). With a larger population and similar needs of liver transplant surgery, Hong Kong has only one hospital to provide this curative surgery.
It is very struggling for me to choose which is better. As a student who is interested in clinical research and a doctor-to-be who want to help more living patients, I strongly support the ideas of the Singaporean government. But as a human being, I cannot say that government take the consent for the dying patients to get their organs when they leave the world is justifiable.
Again it is the fight between the individual right and the national need.
During my last two weeks to the liver team of the hospital. The professor, knowing my special interest in liver transplant, told me briefly how did the transplant team work.
The keyword was frequently appeared as answers in many questions. It was multidisciplinary. But this time, the Singapore government played an essential role for the transplant surgery. They have made policies to take the organs from the dead body from the citizens who died in the country, whenever it is useful.
Huh? The people cannot own their own organs? It is true in Singapore. The senior doctors told the juniors that when they are to talk to the relatives of the patients, they should not tell them there is an option of retaining the organs, for it is not an option.
Of course, it has been one of the most important factors that contribute the success of the operations in Singapore: there are two governmental hospitals and one private institution to provide the operations (though the private hospital is not able to get the cadaverous organs from the government, the competitions of the organs from the livings are smaller). With a larger population and similar needs of liver transplant surgery, Hong Kong has only one hospital to provide this curative surgery.
It is very struggling for me to choose which is better. As a student who is interested in clinical research and a doctor-to-be who want to help more living patients, I strongly support the ideas of the Singaporean government. But as a human being, I cannot say that government take the consent for the dying patients to get their organs when they leave the world is justifiable.
Again it is the fight between the individual right and the national need.
5 May 2012
Durian
The most surprising event that I had in Singapore was met my old friend JL, who is now already a banker-in-training.
We had not planned for anything of that day. It was all the instant ideas that directed us. Therefore, soon after we had a breakfast in 11, we went to the eastern part of the country to get a taste of durian.
Though I quite like durian, I did not manage to go to the famous durian street to pick up the king of fruits until that day. We took the MRT to reach the street. Coming out from the station, the strong odour of it rushed into your nose and stimulated your nervous system. For us the lovers of durians, it was a pleasurable experience. But for those who hated it, I am sure they felt like they went into a poorly-cleaned toilets.
The shops along the street was structurally located. They did not appear in a cluster but were situated in the corner of the crossroad. Perhaps it would boost the sales, and at the same time, spread the odour evenly so the lovers and the haters would know where the street is!
The price of the durians really varies. I had expected it would be around $15-$20 per one. I was right--that was the price of the most inferior one. The most expensive one could be in thousands dollars. I wonder if there would be someone who could afford it.
But then JL told me: some freaks really would do it, for they really love it.
Finally he made an analogy. Durians were just like Prostitutes. It was not pleasant to appear in public. Lovers were obsessed of it and could pay generously. Haters could not hold a second and turned away. Essentially, after eating it, the taste could hardly be washed away in days, or months.
Therefore, Singapore was brilliant to put the durian street just next to the street where prostitutes mainly situates.
We had not planned for anything of that day. It was all the instant ideas that directed us. Therefore, soon after we had a breakfast in 11, we went to the eastern part of the country to get a taste of durian.
Though I quite like durian, I did not manage to go to the famous durian street to pick up the king of fruits until that day. We took the MRT to reach the street. Coming out from the station, the strong odour of it rushed into your nose and stimulated your nervous system. For us the lovers of durians, it was a pleasurable experience. But for those who hated it, I am sure they felt like they went into a poorly-cleaned toilets.
The shops along the street was structurally located. They did not appear in a cluster but were situated in the corner of the crossroad. Perhaps it would boost the sales, and at the same time, spread the odour evenly so the lovers and the haters would know where the street is!
The price of the durians really varies. I had expected it would be around $15-$20 per one. I was right--that was the price of the most inferior one. The most expensive one could be in thousands dollars. I wonder if there would be someone who could afford it.
But then JL told me: some freaks really would do it, for they really love it.
Finally he made an analogy. Durians were just like Prostitutes. It was not pleasant to appear in public. Lovers were obsessed of it and could pay generously. Haters could not hold a second and turned away. Essentially, after eating it, the taste could hardly be washed away in days, or months.
Therefore, Singapore was brilliant to put the durian street just next to the street where prostitutes mainly situates.
1 May 2012
Move
After that, a more shocking news come: the family decided to leave this flat and this building.
"The families living here did not care for the building too. We had made a lot of meetings in the past, but few appeared and even few voiced out their opinions. Almost nothing can be done, and the chairman decided to take all the power on his own." Mother said.
"The management here was awful. The chairman has taken a lot of unnecessary actions, which deprive the money we had in the building. For what is important, he did not really care a bit." She went on.
"Look at the Far-east building (where we have an apartment and will live in the future), the management has been very good these years. The made useful changes and adequate repairs and decorations. The building was old but looked new!"
"They must be having an outstanding management!" I did not need to be a Sherlock Holmes to ask the most important question: how did they management the building?
"They asked people to manage them. The fee was affordable, and residents did not have troubles, feeling good!" Mother continued. "I guess it would be a good time for us to go back there as well?"
"When did we leave the apartment there?" I asked. "it was 1996!"
Oh, my friends, can you see the coincidence about my living place with the history of Hong Kong these years.
Neighbour
After a usual 4-hour flight, I came back where I was born, and where I will live. The mood of home-coming has been always mentioned by many writers, but they are not able to describe how I feel, for they do not actually know how I love my home town.
It was also nice to meet the Chan family who was living just opposite to my home. "Hi. Mrs. Chan." I greeted her and her daughter, outside the lift when the Chan family managed to get inside their house. When I first met them, Mrs. Chan had been still looked like what she was, but her kid were all grown up. It was the work of time.
Soon after that I knew it would probably the last time I saw them there. During the dinner, my parents were discussing about the Chan family. "They finally moved out." My mother said. I was puzzled since I just saw them go in the flat. "They came to pick up the rest of their belongings." I checked the door of their flat. Oh, there was nothing but the door: No shoes, No carpets, No Fai-Chun.
I had had a dream. I know that Mr. Chan was a football geek. They played EPL every weekend night in the TV. My family did not purchase the broadcasting of Cable. Therefore, most of the time I had to depend on the scoreboard via internet to know if my favourite team won the matches. As a result, I imagined, it would be fun if I can get into their home and watch match with their family (though it would be only Mr. Chan with me only).
But then, with the advert of internet, we had P2P stream and most of the time, I could watch the match myself. I did not actually have a need to go to watch with Mr. Chan.
Now that they have moved out, I would never be able to realize that ancient dream.
"Human being can step into the surface of the Moon, yet they are not able to get into the flat of the neighbour." Who thought of this? He must be a genius.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)