Thursday, May 29, 2008

中国游记 - 上海

2001年入秋,父母和我到了中国江南旅游。事隔8年,我们同大姨又于511日至24日(两个星期)以同旅行团一星期,自己游一星期的方式旧地重返。因为北京奥运的到来,中国已经不是我们从前想象的邋遢、落后了。以前,大家对在中国旅游的印象是:风景很美,但是厕所让人不敢恭维。现在,呵呵,我到过最肮脏的厕所都比本地的油站厕所干净。谁说东西不会进步?

我这次打算将游记写在部落格上,介绍一些很特别的地方和东西,也可以随时恢复自己衰老的记忆。我看,必须分很多次来写吧,不然网页拉得长长的,很难看,自己要一口气写完,也会吐血。

话说当天,5点早上就要爬起床(前晚还失眠,3点多才睡着= =),到KLIA8:45am的飞机。托恐怖分子的福,所有液体都不能放在手提袋拿上飞机、行李检查比原本的更严、人们还要过两次的金属侦查器,就只欠脱完衣服检查有没有炸弹绑在身上。

到上海浦东机场要5个小时左右。让我最兴奋的是每位乘客都有自己的荧幕,可以选自己爱看的电影、爱听的音乐、或爱玩的游戏(Bookworm Deluxe, Bejeweled等等),以及飞机餐。是的,我是少有的那几位喜欢吃飞机餐的怪胎。

飞机着陆、办完入境手续,都已经3点多了。告诉你,我一下机的第一反应是,好多华人啊。哈哈!一时不习惯一扫眼,入帘的尽是炎黄子孙的感觉。当时天气晴朗,而且持续晴朗直到第二个星期我们与团友讲掰掰的第二天才下了一小场雨。气温18度摄氏,非常舒服。

我们的领队名叫Alice,上海和杭州的地陪叫Jason,是个风趣,而且爱梳头的男人。他说梳头好,可以按摩穴位,还介绍我们买谭木匠的牛角梳。一把人民币100元,不便宜啊,但是很精美,终究还是买了一把哈哈。谭木匠的口号是“我善治木”,木梳木镜木盒子都是让人很想买的精美。

我先大约介绍上海的格局。黄浦江把上海分成两块,浦东和浦西。黄浦江形状像S,因此上海地图类似阴阳图。旧时人们只顾发展浦西,浦东只是一个小渔村。风水说,东为阳,西为阴。这样下去,两边发展不平衡,会造成阴盛阳衰,对整体不好。1990年,中共中央和国务院决策开发浦东,因此现在浦东是最繁华的地区。

百度说:

沪(上海市的简称,因境内的吴松江下流古称"沪渎"而得名。

上海之称始于宋代,当时上海已成为我国的一个新兴贸易港口,那时的上海地区有十八大浦,其中一条叫上海浦,它的西岸设有上海镇。1292年,上海改镇为县。这是上海这一名称的由来。1949年,上海设为直辖市。


古时,上海地区的渔民发明了一种竹编的捕鱼工具,当时还没有上海这一地名,因此,这一带被称为沪渎,故上海简称。春秋战国时上海是楚春申君黄歇封邑的一部分,故上海别称

再看上海市地图,高速公路形成一个“申”字(橙色线)。

几层高,错综复杂的上海高速公路:

刚才说到下了机场,往浦西走,最快的方法是乘搭磁浮列车。磁浮列车最高速为431公里每小时,比日本的子弹火车的360公里每小时来得更快。窗外景观更奇特,当列车转弯时,速度快到外面的景观是一边高一边低的。全车颇长,但两列车迎面擦过时间不到1秒,坐在里面还会感到微微的震动。这样的速度是我们能在7分钟就到了浦西,可怜我们的阿昌师傅(中国人都把司机称为师傅)驾着旅巴走20分钟的高速公路。

来到上海,城隍庙是必参观的景点。4pm,当天刚好是星期天,又是母亲节,原本就很热闹的城隍庙现在更是水泄不通。

上海著名的小笼包餐馆--南翔馒头店,可以在这里找到。据知,我们的Pavilion商场也新开了一间。我们看到游客排队排到长长,就为了吃几粒小笼包。我们没有耐性的,才不排。问我有没有觉得可惜,本人是没有觉得啦。我们之后到上海新天地的鼎泰丰吃的小笼包,却是非常非常好吃,总算有口福。上海小笼包,外皮薄薄的,里面包有肉馅,还有好多好多的汤汁。吃时要先咬一小口,把汤汁吸完,才把整粒往嘴里送。天哪,我现在写着,口里竟然流口水。还好,Pavilion里面也有鼎泰丰,呵呵,随时可以再吃。(Pavilion什么都有 = =

后记:嘎!! 原来鼎泰丰在Midvalley the Gardens,南翔是在Pavilion,但还没开 ><

小笼包没吃到,倒是吃到这里的也是很出名的另一样东西,叫宁波汤圆。名声很大,但是我们吃起来,觉得和这里的红豆汤圆没什么两样 ,最多就是放了些糖,而且汤水还是没味儿的 = =

城隍庙的建筑物都是翻新过的,虽然这里有好久的历史了。现在这里是旅游景点,什么各地特产都有:

连这些“特产”也有:

旁边有些旧旧的建筑,我猜是豫园。豫园我8年前到过,是上海旧时一户非常富有的家。现在也是旅游景点之一。但这次旅程没有包括在内。

5:30pm,晚餐时间。是的,他们是那么早吃晚餐的。8年前入秋,日短夜长,5点吃饭我们只当是平常事。现在入夏,日长夜短,他们还是习惯5点吃饭。只能说他们非常健康……我们的晚餐,只有两个字:难吃。过后,几位团友向导游投诉。苦了导游,接下来的每一餐都非常尽心尽力,每一餐都问我们好不好吃(报告导游,接下来都非常好吃),还婉转的说来到异地,要入乡随俗,才能算好好旅游。我们都赞成,只是那第一餐真的不好吃咧,没骗你。咸的咸过头,淡的没味道,油的让姑娘阿姨们看得心惊胆跳。地陪解释,中国以前吃苦头,没饭吃,现在终于有些油水,所以吃东西都多盐多油。

吃完了晚餐,巴士转个头,就到了当天最后一个景点杂技表演。7:30pm开始,全场坐满了各地国内国外游客。表演的项目都是我们熟悉的转碟、扯铃、软骨、魔术、叠椅子高高然后在上面做惊险活动等,压轴戏还是6辆摩多车在铁球笼内同时快速行驶,简直在玩命。表演的人却年纪轻轻,小的可能只有4岁,大的可能20岁。中国人杂技了得,运动会上健操项目屡得金牌,全凭华人的坚韧不拔精神,小小就开始魔鬼般的训练。台上三分钟,台下十年功。这些年纪都小过我的娃娃(中国人称孩子)们,到底是怎样过日子的?要知道,中国很多都是穷人,没法上学,表演或许就是他们最好的出入了。但是看他们玩命似的,就为了博得我们的掌声(和门票费),心里除了替他们涅一把冷汗,也希望他们早点退休,因为实在是太危险了。不过娃娃们太可爱了,很懂得制造气氛,会吸引大家时常来个掌声,不至于冷场。

相机不够好,只拍了一张不清不楚的:

9:00pm,大家都累了,也终于结束了第一天的行程。我们这里称酒店,他们称饭店。中国饭店很行,牙刷牙膏梳子浴袍拖鞋鞋刷样样齐,比本地来得更周到体贴。睡个好觉,还有很长的旅途。

Friday, May 9, 2008

Sharing - The Owl and the Pussycat

By Edward Lear

The Owl and the Pussycat went to sea
In a beautiful pea-green boat,
They took some honey, and plenty of money,
Wrapped up in a five pound note.
The Owl looked up to the stars above,
And sang to a small guitar,
"O lovely Pussy! O Pussy, my love,
What a beautiful Pussy you are, you are, you are,
What a beautiful Pussy you are."
Pussy said to the Owl "You elegant fowl,
How charmingly sweet you sing.
O let us be married, too long we have tarried;
But what shall we do for a ring?"
They sailed away, for a year and a day,
To the land where the Bong-tree grows,
And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood
With a ring at the end of his nose, his nose, his nose,
With a ring at the end of his nose.
"Dear Pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling your ring?"
Said the Piggy, "I will"
So they took it away, and were married next day
By the Turkey who lives on the hill.
They dined on mince, and slices of quince,
Which they ate with a runcible spoon.
And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand.
They danced by the light of the moon, the moon, the moon,
They danced by the light of the moon.

Thursday, May 8, 2008

And You Thought They Were Nursery Rhymes...

Jack and Jill went up a hill,
to fetch a pail of water.
Jack fell down and broke his crown,
and Jill came tumbling after.

Pretty innocent, ain't it, once you get past the idea that Jack probably would get a concussion from his fall? If this is the most violence you think you'll bump into in a nursery rhyme, well you're wrong. It is actually the washed-down version of King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette's public beheading by a guillotine.

Ooh! How delighted I am to discover a secret, bloodied history behind some of the best known nursery rhymes. Scouring through the Internet, here's what I gleefully dug up:

Ladybug ladybug fly away home,
Your house in on fire and your children are gone,
All except one and that's little Ann,
For she crept under the frying pan.

'The English word ladybird is a derivative of the Catholic term " Our Lady". The tradition of calling this rhyme was believed to have been used as a seemingly innocent warning cry to Catholic (recusants) who refused to attend Protestant services as required by the Act of Uniformity (1559 & 1662). This law forbade priests to say Mass and forbade communicants to attend it. Consequently Mass was held secretly in the open fields. Laymen were subject to jail and heavy fines and priests to execution. Many priests were executed by the terrible death of being burnt alive at the stake or, even worse, being hung, drawn and quartered.'

Copied straight from this website, I know. I tried to summarize them though.

Little Jack Horner sat in the corner
Eating his Christmas pie,
He put in his thumb and pulled out a plum
And said "What a good boy am I!"

'Little Jack Horner was reputed to have been the Steward to Richard Whiting (1461 - 1539) the Bishop of Glastonbury. The Steward had an important role and was responsible for managing the household, collecting taxes and keeping accounts.

Between 1536 and 1540, after breaking away from the Catholic Church, King Henry VIII and his chief minister Thomas Cromwell set about the systematic Dissolution of all of the Monasteries in England. The reason for was to loot the monasteries of their gold and silver and seize the monastic lands. By 1539 Glastonbury was the only religious house left in Somerset and it was only at matter of time before Glastonbury Abbey was also seized.

It is rumoured that the Bishop tried to bribe the King. He sent his Steward, Richard Whiting, with a gift of twelve title deeds to various English manorial estates. The deeds were said to have been secreted in a pie (valuables were often hidden in this bizarre fashion to thwart thieves). Whiting ( Little Jack Horner) realised that the bribe would do no good and was said to have stolen the deeds to the manor of Mells (it being the real 'plum' of the twelve manors).

The remaining eleven manors were given to the crown but to no avail. The old Bishop was convicted of treason for remaining loyal to Rome. The jury included his treacherous steward Horner who found Bishop Whiting guilty and sent the old man to a terrible death of being hung, drawn and quartered on Glastonbury Tor. The Abbey was destroyed. Following the destruction of the abbey the steward, Horner moved into the Manor of Mells. Whether Horner actually stole the deeds to the Manor or was rewarded with them for helping to convict the Bishop of Glastonbury is not known but the Manor of Mells became the property of the Horner family who lived there until the 20th century.'

Evil, evil man. And yes, I know this description is quite lengthy but I don't know how to shorten it. Please forgive me.

Mary Mary quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells and cockle shells
And pretty maids all in a row.

'The Mary alluded to in this traditional English nursery rhyme is reputed to be Mary Tudor, or Bloody Mary, who was the daughter of King Henry VIII. Queen Mary was a staunch Catholic and the garden referred to is an allusion to graveyards which were increasing in size with those who dared to continue to adhere to the Protestant faith - Protestant martyrs.

The silver bells and cockle shells referred to in the Nursery Rhyme were colloquialisms for instruments of torture. The 'silver bells' were thumbscrews which crushed the thumb between two hard surfaces by the tightening of a screw. The 'cockleshells' were believed to be instruments of torture which were attached to the genitals!

The 'maids' were a device to behead people called the Maiden. (author's note: something like an early guillotine)'

Three blind mice, three blind mice,
See how they run, see how they run,
They all ran after the farmer's wife,
Who cut off their tails with a carving knife,
Did you ever see such a thing in your life,
As three blind mice?

Another rhyme about Queen Mary. She was quite the famous person in her time, wasn't she?

'The origin of the words to the Three blind mice rhyme are based in English history. The 'farmer's wife' refers to the daughter of King Henry VIII, Queen Mary I. Mary was a staunch Catholic and her violent persecution of Protestants led to the nickname of 'Bloody Mary'. The reference to 'farmer's wife' in Three blind mice refers to the massive estates which she, and her husband King Philip of Spain, possessed. The 'three blind mice' were three noblemen who adhered to the Protestant faith who were convicted of plotting against the Queen - she did not have them dismembered and blinded as inferred in Three blind mice - but she did have them burnt at the stake!'

Remember remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder, treason
Should ever be forgot...

If you've watched 'V for Vendetta' before, you should know this.

'Words of "Remember Remember" refer to Guy Fawkes with origins in 17th century English history. On the 5th November 1605 Guy Fawkes was caught in the cellars of the Houses of Parliament with several dozen barrels of gunpowder. Guy Fawkes was subsequently tried as a traitor with his co-conspirators for plotting against the government. He was tried by Judge Popham who came to London specifically for the trial from his country manor Littlecote House in Hungerford, Gloucestershire. Fawkes was sentenced to death and the form of the execution was one of the most horrendous ever practised (hung ,drawn and quartered) which reflected the serious nature of the crime of treason.'

Ring-a-Ring o'Rosies
A Pocket full of Posies
"A-tishoo! A-tishoo!"
We all fall Down!

And as much as I would like to believe that this is a poem depicting the Black Plague which hit Europe in the 14th century and subsequently killed a third of its population, it is actually a simple song that children sing in ring-games. No bloodied mystery behind this rhyme, sadly. But still people connect it with the Plague, because it has become so famous, even Snopes's got an article on it. I guess when it comes to suffering and blood, people still secretly are drawn to it.

Thank you, Nursery Rhymes lyrics, origins and history. I'd introduce this website to anyone who's interested in literature and history.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Sharing - We Are Seven

We Are Seven
By William Wordsworth

A simple Child,
That lightly draws its breath,
And feels its life in every limb,
What should it know of death?

I met a little cottage Girl:
She was eight years old, she said;
Her hair was thick with many a curl
That clustered round her head.

She had a rustic, woodland air,
And she was wildly clad;
Her eyes were fair, and very fair;
- Her beauty made me glad.

'Sisters and brothers, little Maid,
How many may you be?'
'How many? Seven in all,' she said,
And wondering look'd at me.

'And where are they? I pray you tell.'
She answered, 'Seven are we;
And two of us at Conway dwell,
And two are gone to sea.

'Two of us in the churchyard lie,
My sister and my brother;
And in the churchyard cottage I
Dwell near them with my mother.'

'You say that two at Conway dwell,
And two are gone to sea,
Yet ye are seven! - I pray you tell,
Sweet Maid, how this may be?'

Then did the little Maid reply,
'Seven boys and girls are we;
Two of us in the churchyard lie,
Beneath the churchyard tree.'

'You run about, my little Maid,
Your limbs they are alive;
If two are in the churchyard laid,
Then ye are only five?'

'Their graves are green, they may be seen,'
The little Maid replied;
'Twelve steps or more from my mother's door,
And they are side by side.

'My stockings there I often knit,
My kerchief there I hem;
And there upon the ground I sit,
And sing a song to them.

'And often after sunset, Sir,
When it is light and fair,
I take my little porringer,
And eat my supper there.

'The first that died was sister Jane;
In bed she moaning lay,
Till God released her of her pain;
And then she went away.

'So in the churchyard she was laid;
And when the grass was dry,
Together round her grave we play'd,
My brother John and I.

'And when the ground was white with snow,
And I could run and slide,
My brother John was forced to go,
And he lies by her side.'

'How many are you, then,' said I,
'If they two are in heaven?'
Quick was the little Maid's reply,
'O Master! We are seven.'

'But they are dead; those two are dead!
Their spirits are in heaven!'
The little Maid would have her will,
And said, 'Nay, we are seven!'

Monday, May 5, 2008

DongTaiDu动态度!!!


I had a serious case of tinnitus, my leg tendons felt like snapping from standing for 7 hours, and my neck almost wanted to break off from my body. Why was I subjecting myself to these afflictions, happily? 'Cause I went to DongTaiDu music fest!



It was held on 3rd May, Saturday at Central Market Annexe, from 1pm till 8pm. Beforehand I didn't have any idea what kinds of songs I would be hearing (I love surprises), but I happily agreed to go since I was invited by best pal in Dasein (college), Mei Lee.



We entered before it started, and were immediately attracted by stalls and stalls selling things from books to handmade dolls, from key chains to badges. Every item sold was of top quality, totally worth the price tag. I myself forked out a lot of my moolah to buy a lot of stuff because I simply couldn't resist! They have good business sense too, almost everyone of them have their own blogs to promote their goods online. I'm gonna insert their websites here:

Ugly Duck Workshop
Evangelione's Handmade
DearBear 3 Handmade
This is my juniors' final project:
Meet The Clients Project


Ooh man, when the music started, that was when the temperature hit sky high. I fancy that's what people call heavy metal. I can't be sure. Maybe I'll interview my friend someday. He's part of the show that day, belting out strong vocals that I never heard him sing before. "He's got singing practice, don't you know?" Mei Lee explained. Yeah, I guess so. My initial memory of him singing was amateurish. Now it's simply electrifying.


Anyway, a lot of bands were involved in the performance that day, each band given time for around 3 songs. Not every band performed heavy metal, there were techno (my absolute favorite), rap, and a dreamy kind of genre. Was it alternative? Again, my limited knowledge fails me. They were all wonderful to listen and head bang to, except one or two bands which I failed to see their power. All I heard was a very noisy, distorted banging of drums and guitar chords. And a screeching/moaning vocal which I think sounded like punk rock bands on sugar high.

Maybe I'm too critical. Maybe I'm a newbie to this genre. But I've heard great music of like style (and there were plenty that day), and those couple of bands just fell flat.



But seriously, I had a great time that day. The music was loud and gratifying, and the performances solid. I was careful not to close my eyes because I almost slipped into ecstasy while listening to some of the songs if I did. Which I probably should do and join the hardcore fans and performers banging it out in front of the stage, which looks totally wicked and fun!

From an onlooker's point of view, they looked possessed, hitting and running in circles. But we knew what was the deal. They were in the zone. They totally got the music, and were showing their love for the music through action. It might have looked scary, but I got this feeling that everyone present that day knew for a fact they're very safe, and were having the time of their lives. Some onlookers showed shock, but quickly accepted the behaviour. Some looked as though they wanted to join in the fun (I know I did, but I couldn't, since I would easily be crushed by their blows, this fragile body of mine). I thought it was really nice of them to have several workers stand between the hardcore fans and us shy and timid fans, shielding us from any accident harm.

Oh what a blast we all had! And to think hardcore heavy metal-lers are among the most courteous and nicest people you'll meet. I'm not kidding. Even their looks belie the music they play. Hide a couple of them in crowds of college students and you would take forever to identify them all. From what I observed, they fancy t-shirts and bermuda shorts with sneakers. Some have very cool hairstyles, while others prefer plain cuts. They normally don't smoke, though some drink beers. What you normally see of metal players on TV are commercialised, meaning they are doing it mostly for the $$ instead of their love for the music. Which is why commercialised players tend to fall under negative views.


I'll always have DongTaiDu's link in my favorite links. Have I mentioned they are great graphic designers too? I could learn a thing or two from their blog. Anyways, when's the next music fest?

Meet the official stamp

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Introducing - Rooster Teeth

Rooster Teeth

My favorite website of this time. It has the funniest web comic I've come across and great and funny machinimas. In fact, the group is famous for its Halo machinimas, which fans from over the world are begging for more constantly. I found Sims 2 machinimas too, which I think is pretty hilarious.

What is machinima you ask? According to the famous online "encyclopedia", Wikipedia:
'Machinima (pronounced /məˈʃiːnəmə/ or /məˈʃɪnəmə/), a Portmanteau of machine cinema, is a collection of associated production techniques whereby computer-generated imagery (CGI) is rendered using real-time, interactive 3-D engines, such as those of games, instead of professional 3D animation software. Engines from first-person shooter and role-playing simulation video games are typically used. Consequently, the rendering can be done in real-time using PCs (either using the computer of the creator or the viewer), rather than with complex 3D engines using huge render farms. Usually, machinima productions are produced using the tools (demo recording, camera angle, level editor, script editor, etc.) and resources (backgrounds, levels, characters, skins, etc.) available in a game.'

A heck lot of words. Well in my words, they can simply be translated as:
A movie clip made from manipulating the characters in a game into a story. There.

If you have the time, mosey over there for a bite :)