Archive
Story #2: Silent Nights
Silent night, crowded city.
No one heard her.
“Causeway Bay” by akwan architect
Stories Under 10 Words
Inspired by Hemmingway’s 6-word story “For Sale: baby shoes, never worn”.
More Short Shorts at Stories Under 10 | Six Word Stories
Tokyo Roar: Beautifully Shot & Filmed
Oh damn.
This is an amazingly composed film – from the silent shots to crazy products on the shelf. I love how the Japanese gravitas and silence permeates Tom O’Bedlam’s spoken narrative.
And it shows Japan in a particularly mystical light. One that doesn’t lift with the morning rays of light.
Lovely.
Best watched for those with Tokyo plans – now or future.
Tokyo Roar from Brandon Li on Vimeo.
Phuket: Full Moon BrewWork
In Phuket for a company retreat/value setting session.
The session was so-so. The food rather disappointing – unless I walked out to the street. But for some strange reason, they were far and few in between.
Nevertheless, there’s beer! Not the usual Singha, Chang lagers, but tasty microbrews just a stone’s throw from Bangla Road.
The Beer…
Wild Honey Coffee Stout
Oatmeal smooth with strong chocolate notes. Didn’t taste too much of the honey but I guess that’s the priming sugar uses in making the beer. I’m actually surprised by the “coffeeness” of the stout – for some reason, Thai coffee has never struck me as good.
But this beer, well it works.
Best paired with…
Nham Spare Ribs
Grilled Issan style. Anything done that way is great with beers. The best parts of the spare ribs come from chewing on the crunchy connective tissue (pleural) while swishing a good glug of beer.
Weird? Give it a go first before you pan it. 
Where
Full Moon BrewWork
193 Unit #2110, 2210 Raj-u-thit 200 Pee Road, Patong, Kathu,
Phuket, THAILAND 83150
Hunan Food in Beijing
This is a long overdue food post about Hunan food in Beijing’s Sanlitun district. Hunan food is spicy like Sichuan food except that the spiciness is far more poignant and less slathered in oil.
It’s my first time eating Hunan food. The flavours escape me now, as I try to remember, but hey if I ever make it back into China, I’ll head out for some Hunan street food.
Restaurant interior.
Piss poor appetizer
Cabbages with chillies. The oiliest of the lot.
Lamb with cumin and spices. Only two pieces though.
More lamb with cumin and spices.
Tofu slices.
Scene: Macau…Sin, Almond Biscuits & Painters
“What’s there to do in Macau?
“They come to gamble and to womanise. If you don’t gamble, there are women for you everywhere! A handjob costs $200, anything else – $800 to $1,000. And that’s for one session.
“Since you’re here, you should visit Bai Fong. You know, it’s an old ruined cathedral where only the facade was left standing after a fire. It’s popular amongst the tourists. You should take bus 3, it’ll drop you nearby.
“I have a kid. She’s six years old. The men come to Macau to play with women. It’s just a need that they have. Her father played with women, so I left him and started work. It’s been five years since.
“There are so many Mainland Chinese now! They gamble with so much money! Everywhere I turn, it’s Mainlanders here, there, everywhere! Sometimes a gwailo comes in here, that’s when I charge him $500. But those from China, or Hong Kong, or Macau, it’s just $200.
“So, how about it?”
Images of Macau
Scene: Hong Kong (Cheung Chau)
Cheung Chau is quite possibly Hong Kong teenagers’ most favourite resort island. Like Lamma Island, one can reach it from Central Pier by 45-minute boats that ply the route every half hour. It’s also home to many villagers and fishermen.
Unlike Lamma Island, it’s Chinese-oriented. While the signs are still bilingual and everything’s nicely paved, I was hard-pressed to find a gwailo in the thronging masses of lovey-dovey trishaws,
causal weekenders in the marketplace,
and meandering corridors flanked by close-knit buildings.
Part of Cheung Chau’s charm is its throwback feel to a village stuck in ‘70s where the pace of life is much slower,
where bicycles – not flashy cars – are the main mode of transport,
and sea-wise folk eschew brightly coloured boats for a surfboard and paddles when fishing for seafood.
When night falls, hunger pangs drive us to search for food. There are many stalls along the main stretch. They’re just right to feed a platoon of emaciated soldiers with its mounds of fried rice, heaps of clams and mussels, and tangles of vegetables. Everything fresh, hopefully.
But if you’re just one – like me – then try the stall at the very very end, past the main strip. It’s run by a family where the women deep fry stuffed vegetables, blanch che zhai mian, and bake egg rolls under a canvas awning. Enough for a modest and quiet meal next to the sea.
Regardless, Cheng Chau’s best feature is the sea. A wide expanse of green against grey fog and relentless splashing. Enough to lull a wide-eyed insomniac into slumber.
Images of Cheung Chau
Scene: Hong Kong (Death Edition)
Being made up of mostly Chinese, Hong Kongers have a fascination with death. No doubt they speak of the dear departed in the past, but at the same time, it feels as if they are taking a long hiatus at a holiday chalet.
These tomb plots are considered to be “landed property”,
while urns of ashes in sealed cubicles are akin to Hong Kong’s high-rises.
Paper money, clothes, shoes, cars, a number of credit cards and whatever else is wrapped and lettered with the recipient’s name.
Delivery by fire.
Light a joss swirl and leave your wishes in the temple.
Scene: Hong Kong
I’ve been to Hong Kong many times, and it strikes me as a place where anything can be done. And if you look hard enough, sleaze, love, bling and coolness can be found side by side by side.
The best foods are usually hidden within alleyways and people love to queue up for their wanton mee.
Street scenes
Art in Hong Kong
Graffiti is surprisingly rare in Hong Kong. This one’s a poster advertising some new joint.
But if you walk through Shueng Wan, you’d find plenty of art galleries selling their wares and artists.
Buildings & High Rises
The average Hong Konger lives in a shoebox apartment in one of these high rises.
On any fine day, bamboo sticks appear and clothes get hung out to dry.
Jiaoxi: Spa Central with Great People
What did I like about Jiaoxi?
Nothing much except that I found some of the friendliest folk (and the Taiwanese are quite friendly!) in this spa town.
First off, description: Jiaoxi is a spa town, hence you’ll see block after block of “hot spring” resorts. Prices vary — bargain when during the weekdays or off-season periods.
Geography: Jiaoxi is so small that it’s only an hour to walk around it.
The best part: People. Hotel receptionists gave me great advice and planned my trip from Jiaoxi to Taitung. I met a 72-year old man who spoke Hokkien-accented Mandarin in a little snack shack. We share beers, and he bought me dinner.
Entertainment: Skimpy but past the snack shack was a live music bar. Skip the bottled stuff, go for the microbrews. They’ve got a green beer that’s sweet and hoppy, unlike Reddot’s green beer which tastes like grass.
Scene: Tainan (Temple Edition)
Tainan is Taiwan’s cultural heart. Just look at the number of temples packed into this sleepy city. There are so many of them that wherever I turned, there’ll be a temple dedicated to Matzu or Confucius.
Two students taking photos of relics
She doesn’t like me very much
Wend Right 