A Mo Liu entry

If you have time to spend on google + wikipedia, you will be able to learn something new everyday.

去死去死團 + Darwin's Awards

Have you heard of the organization called 去死去死團 before? I certainly haven't, before I accidentally saw it on Yahoo! bidding.

Recently I've started looking at Yahoo! bidding HK, where most online trading in Hong Kong are done. Last week, out of curiosity, I was looking for second hand cars on the site. I saw a bid on a Panda car, which the seller said it was used in 去死去死團. So I googled this organization, and found:
1. wikipedia definition
2. linking capitalism, communism and 去死去死團

Interesting eh? Fortunately it's nothing to do with commit suicides. But it's sooooooo strange.

Then linking from the wikipedia definition for KUSO, it brought me to the Darwin's Award.

See here.

If you have time, please read the examples. Probably because I am a geek, I found those very funny. Sorry, no offense to the deads.


講故事 - 爆鈕

話說，有一天，一位青年駕著汔車，於大概深夜接載家人歸家。在高速公路上，正當夜欄人靜之時，突然而來"啪"的一聲，把正入睡中的弟弟吵醒。雖仍半醒，弟弟驚恐地問兄長：「發生甚麽事？汔車有問題嗎？」哥哥冷靜地、面露無奈地說：「頂！爆鈕呀！」

註：本故事純屬虛構，如與真實生活有任何相似，全屬巧合。唔好咁多心啦…

神秘物體攻佔香港!

特別消息：

近日發現有大量形跡可疑物體，企圖由廣州潛往本港，雖本港海關及警方已增派人手前往各關卡巡邏，當局懷疑已有大量成功湧入。由於情況罕見，政府已促請市民向有關部門提供資料，以便廣大民眾能及時趕往觀賞及購買。

據可靠消息透露，該批物體極有可能會在農曆新年期間出没，市民應於年廿五後到市區如銅鑼灣維多利亞公園搜尋。

如本報有任何該批物體之照片，將會盡快刊登。

2006 review

Last year has been a really eventful year, very eventful. Today of last year, I was working in London as a consultant for a client. Today, I am working for Reuters in Hong Kong, with quite a different job role. I remember that it was sometime in January last year that I decided to move. So far, that decision has proven to be a decent one.

Because of the move, I wanted to travel more before I leave Europe. Perhaps the trip to Prague just before the end of 2005 doesn't count. Also after the move, chances came for me to visit places in Asia.

1. In Easter we had our first road trip to Bath and Cardiff, 2 days;
2. In May, I visited the States for the first time, Boston and NYC, 5 days;
3. In June-July, my parents and I travelled to the Iberia Peninsula - Sevilla, Madrid and Lisbon, 1 week in total;
4. In mid-July, I came HOME!
5. In August just before I started my new job, bobo and I went to Phuket for 5 days.
6. Job started in August, for training and business, I went to Singapore, Beijing, Seoul (in the beginning of 2007 I went to Mumbai :s

The list is not too bad is it?

Going home

Today is the last night of this Mumbai trip. Minor stomachaches happened, but not too serious fortunately. Bear in mind that I've already tried my best to avoid drinking suspicious water, use alcohol wipes to clear utensils before eating, but still...

A few more things that I have noted during this trip:
1. As in rumour, Indians really shake their head for yes. It's really confusing sometimes.

PS.: right at this minute that I am typing, 3 things happened (sorry about all the point forms):
1. somebody played fireworks just outside the hotel! quite pretty and shocking;
2. Charlon is chasing Nottingham Forest in FA Cup by 2-0;
3. my Alfredo Penne has just arrived.

(carry on with previous list)
2. Apparently, according to locals, Mumbai is already the most structured and disciplined place to drive in India. I can't imagine what it's like to other cities.
3. Even the office of the bank we visited (the largest in India), it's dirty!
4. They seem to see China as a big rival in terms of development and economy.

More to follow. Let me have a dinner first.

First Impression

I believe most of you haven't been to India, and also for my own record, I am going to drop down what I've found during my 4 days stay in Mumbai.

Mumbai is the richest city in India. Its estimated population is in the range of 14 to 15 million. Since I arrived at the airport, and during the 50mins airport pickup journey, I couldn't find a single sign of richness, until I arrive at the hotel (ITC Grand Central Sheraton). It's very sensible to compare this country with China, both developing with great speed and have massive populations.

But compare to Beijing, this city doesn't show the development that I've heard. The international airport is a plain dull white building, and the staircase for passengers to leave the plane was even shaky! In the busy road, I even saw a white ox pulling a cart, which I only expect to see in sub-urban or rural area.

The highlight was, when the taxi was stuck in traffic, two little girls spotted me and came to ask for money. One girl was knocking on my door, and I was looking into her eyes just through the glass. That glass window separated her and me, and the two worlds. I am sorry but I have to say, I ignored her, because I know once I got my wallet out, there'll be tens of them. Pleaes forgive me.

There are similarities between Mumbai and Beijing though:
1. the roads are full of cars and motor bikes and pedestrians and tricycle and taxis.
2. all drivers are incredibly good. They can drive next to each other with 1 inch gap comfortably.
3. men like wearing shirts and trousers and leather shoes, whatever they do.

Another interesting sight:
I was in the taxi, on a bridge, clearly a highway ie. 3 lanes with cars driving at 80kph. On the opposite direction, there was a bike at the shoulder, stopped. It wasn't broken down. In fact, the driver and the passenger were peeing! In the middle of the highway!

India is also another stupid country (or region) which drives on the left. The others are UK, Hong Kong and Australia.

Off to India

Mumbai
It's real now, flying tomorrow afternoon to Mumbai. It's the first time I apply for a Visa from a consulate general, it's the first time I worry about Malaria, it's the first time I need to bring 4.5L of water with me in the suitcase.

Furthermore, here are extracts of warnings given by various sources:
1. Don't drink their water, don't even use it to rinse the mouth. Must boil it before rinsing mouth.
2. Don't eat anything. (em.. is it possible?)
3. Only eat cup noodles brought from HK. (em.. ..)
4. Only eat at hotel restaurants. (this is ok)
5. Don't eat at office canteen, and anything in office. (CRAP!)
6. Don't eat if clients invite me to some restaurant. (em.. risking the deal?)
7. Only catch taxi from hotel. (I'm ok as long as company pays)
8. Don't wander around in unfamiliar area. (I'll stick to this)

There are of course more warnings/advices, and thank you all for your care. I'll be careful of every drop of water I drink, every piece of food that I eat, and every step that I walk.

It's weird that India has built such a good reputation for outsourcing, in particular I.T. and call centre (related to currently reading - The World is Flat), but has such a bad reputation for hygiene. Infrastructure is very important in any developing country, in order to attract foreign investments and foreign talents.

Currently reading

Traffic ticket
First time ever, a policeman says to my face:" You are being charged with ......" (我而家告你 ......).

I drove into De Voeux Road (in front of HSBC building) on 30th Dec. Well, now I know it's prohibited. First every ticket, such a bad way to end 2006.

Driving in prohibited zone - $450