Contradiction

it kills me that hk chinese people have NO issue with running into you, sitting on top of you when in a seat next to you, pushing you in the lift or on the subway yet the minute it serves a purpose, they go mental, like youve just slashed their face.

ive seen it before when the haggis' mum came to visit christmas of 2011.  we were at a show and some woman was recording the entire show through her massive phone/mini tablet device.  mrs. haggis asked her to lower it as we had to watch the show through her device versus the actual show.  this woman went CRAZY because mrs. haggis touched her arm.  the chinese lady started shouting, "dont touch me.  dont touch me!  i am calling the attendant.  ATTENDANT."  it was quite a scene which ended only when haggis and my younger brother stepped in.

which brings us to today.  i went to buy a sandwich for lunch and this young guy and i were waiting for the cashier.  this woman comes barging in with her items and literally stands in front of me (like she didnt see me).  i said, "excuse me".  nothing.  she walks up to the cashier that just opened and i put my hand on her upper arm.  i told her we were waiting and she just cut us both.  she starts ranting, "you should have said something.  how dare you touch me.  youre rude!!!!!"  i told her, "i said excuse me, you didnt hear me."  she keeps on ranting and raving the same line of how dare i invade her personal space blah blah blah bitch bitch moan whinge whine blah blah.  i ignored her for a time but finally got sick of it and turned to her to say, "chill out.  youre being ridiculous.  get over it" and walked away in the middle of her still going on.

i got satisfaction out of telling her off.  i see so much bad behaviour and have made it a point to call it because i normally am so shocked, i dont say anything.  in turn that just makes me frustrated with hong kong and its inhabitants.  and yes, in all honesty, it was one of my new years resolutions.

however, it dawned on me that, generally, these oh-so-mannerly chinese will sit on your thigh on the bus despite all the open seats - they will choose the one next to you and talk soooo loudly on the phone cackling in your ear.  or they will shove on top of you to get into the lift/cab/subway despite the fact that youre not yet out.  and they will push you in a queue like cattle.  none of this is productive, i find.  yet, when it serves a purpose to invade ones space, they act like youve committed such a crime worthy of arrest.  the contradiction is beyond me.

Oh, How She Moves Me

back from korea - great trip for lunar new year but will write about that when my photos are ready to go.  in the meantime, please listen to this:



at minute 16, it is an explosion that makes me want to dance and smile and cry from its sheer power and beauty.  enjoy the love of music on this valentines day.

Year of the Snake

soon it will be lunar new year.  in aisa, koreans, chinese, singaporean and malays celebrate lunar new year.  it is the year of the snake.  unsure what that means other than we get time off work.  and what are we doing with time off work?  we are going to korea!  headed to seoul and pusan, the weather is frighteningly cold at -10 degrees celsius which is like 14 degrees fahrenheit.  planning on packing up the ski gear just to walk around the cities!

we are going to go skiing but i was told not to due to the holiday.  the mountains in korea can be by membership - meaning those who have membership get to skip the queue - and it is a bit of a nightmare.

so, instead we are going to be city tourists and check out shops, restaurants and some sights.

anyway, off on friday and very much so looking forward to a little break.  until then, this "earth goat" says "kung hei fat choi"!!!!