Driving with the kids

on the way home

Another winter's day.

Winter hike

Gaza shame

A very sad start to the new year indeed. Israel has now killed over 1000 Palestinians, a third of them children. 13 Israelis have lost their lives, mostly soldiers. I heard it expressed it best the other day- If a criminal is holding children hostage, the police do not, and should not shoot the hostages and the criminal.
There can be no justification for the events of this month, and Israel certainly should feel the most shamed.
It is time for the UN to take action, and condemn and initiate punitive sanctions against Israel, and vigorously pursue those guilty of war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
Both the Red Cross and various UN agencies have borne witness to these crimes, and only Israel denies them.
It truly is saddening that the agency, that was formed in part to ensure that the suffering of Jews in World War 2 would never happen again, finds itself appealing to Israel to stop its appalling treatment of innocent civilians. The Israeli government should hang its head in shame. China, Russia, France and Britain must act now through the United Nations, even if the US will not.

New Year's Day

Stupid Bush

The 'misunderestimated' president?

All politicians are prone to make slips of the tongue in the heat of the moment - and President George W Bush has made more than most.

The word "Bushism" has been coined to label his occasional verbal lapses during eight years in office, which come to an end on 20 January.

Here are some of his most memorable pronouncements.

ON HIMSELF

"They misunderestimated me."
Bentonville, Arkansas, 6 November, 2000

"There's an old saying in Tennessee - I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee - that says, fool me once, shame on... shame on you. Fool me - you can't get fooled again."
Nashville, Tennessee, 17 September, 2002

"There's no question that the minute I got elected, the storm clouds on the horizon were getting nearly directly overhead."
Washington DC, 11 May, 2001

"I want to thank my friend, Senator Bill Frist, for joining us today. He married a Texas girl, I want you to know. Karyn is with us. A West Texas girl, just like me."
Nashville, Tennessee, 27 May, 2004

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

"For a century and a half now, America and Japan have formed one of the great and enduring alliances of modern times."
Tokyo, 18 February, 2002

"The war on terror involves Saddam Hussein because of the nature of Saddam Hussein, the history of Saddam Hussein, and his willingness to terrorise himself."
Grand Rapids, Michigan, 29 January, 2003
"I think war is a dangerous place." Washington DC, 7 May, 2003

"The ambassador and the general were briefing me on the - the vast majority of Iraqis want to live in a peaceful, free world. And we will find these people and we will bring them to justice."
Washington DC, 27 October, 2003

"Free societies are hopeful societies. And free societies will be allies against these hateful few who have no conscience, who kill at the whim of a hat."
Washington DC, 17 September, 2004

"You know, one of the hardest parts of my job is to connect Iraq to the war on terror."
CBS News, Washington DC, 6 September, 2006

EDUCATION

"Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?"
Florence, South Carolina, 11 January, 2000

"Reading is the basics for all learning."
Reston, Virginia, 28 March, 2000

"As governor of Texas, I have set high standards for our public schools, and I have met those standards."
CNN, 30 August, 2000

"You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test.''
Townsend, Tennessee, 21 February, 2001

ECONOMICS

"I understand small business growth. I was one."
New York Daily News, 19 February, 2000

"It's clearly a budget. It's got a lot of numbers in it."
Reuters, 5 May, 2000

"I do remain confident in Linda. She'll make a fine Labour Secretary. From what I've read in the press accounts, she's perfectly qualified."
Austin, Texas, 8 January, 2001

"First, let me make it very clear, poor people aren't necessarily killers. Just because you happen to be not rich doesn't mean you're willing to kill."
Washington DC, 19 May, 2003

HEALTHCARE

"I don't think we need to be subliminable about the differences between our views on prescription drugs."
Orlando, Florida, 12 September, 2000

"Too many good docs are getting out of the business. Too many OB/GYN's aren't able to practice their love with women all across the country."
Poplar Bluff, Missouri, 6 September, 2004

TECHNOLOGY

"Will the highways on the internet become more few?"
Concord, New Hampshire, 29 January, 2000

"It would be a mistake for the United States Senate to allow any kind of human cloning to come out of that chamber."
Washington DC, 10 April, 2002

"Information is moving. You know, nightly news is one way, of course, but it's also moving through the blogosphere and through the Internets."
Washington DC, 2 May, 2007

OUT OF LEFT FIELD

"I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully."
Saginaw, Michigan, 29 September, 2000

"Families is where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream."
LaCrosse, Wisconsin, 18 October, 2000

"Those who enter the country illegally violate the law."
Tucson, Arizona, 28 November, 2005

"That's George Washington, the first president, of course. The interesting thing about him is that I read three - three or four books about him last year. Isn't that interesting?"
Speaking to reporter Kai Diekmann, Washington DC, 5 May, 2006

ON GOVERNING

"I have a different vision of leadership. A leadership is someone who brings people together."
Bartlett, Tennessee, 18 August, 2000

"I'm the decider, and I decide what is best."
Washington DC, 18 April, 2006

"And truth of the matter is, a lot of reports in Washington are never read by anybody. To show you how important this one is, I read it, and [Tony Blair] read it."
On the publication of the Baker-Hamilton Report, Washington DC, 7 December, 2006

"All I can tell you is when the governor calls, I answer his phone."
San Diego, California, 25 October, 2007

"I'll be long gone before some smart person ever figures out what happened inside this Oval Office."
Washington DC, 12 May, 2008

BBQ

Lantau to Tai Po via Tsing Ma bridge

Mermaid

Barack Obama is IRISH!

The worst boyfriend in the world- Tycoon Joseph Lau Luen-hung

This was published by the Hong Kong Standard yesterday. it is about one of Hong Kong's richest men-Tycoon Joseph Lau Luen-hung. I hope his girlfriend has the guts to drop him like a stone, and take him to court for every penny he has, to pay for child support(they have one child together). His family should also ostricise him until he starts to behave like a real man.Joseph Lau Luen-hung is my 'wanker of the week'.


Lau chastises `brainless, foolish' girlfriend

Adele Wong

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Tycoon Joseph Lau Luen-hung ridiculed his longtime girlfriend Yvonne Lui Lai- kwan, calling her both "brainless" and "foolish" for issuing a public statement claiming neither she nor Lau knows who the father of his assistant Chan Ho-wan's baby girl is.

There has been feverish speculation since the baby was born at Matilda International Hospital two weeks ago, with numerous reports alleging Lau, 57, to be the father.

Lui issued the statement on Friday, saying the father was unknown, but that both she and Lau would do all they can to help the 28-year-old Chan.

"She has studied so much, but still doesn't have a brain," Lau said in an exclusive interview with Eastweek magazine, a sister publication of The Standard. "But sometimes, those who study a lot don't think about the consequences when they do things."

Lui, 32, a former beauty pageant finalist, holds a doctorate in chemistry.

"She must've thought there wasn't a downside [to doing this]," Lau said. "But in actual fact, the damage caused by this incident cannot be reversed, cannot be salvaged. Even if she were to kneel [and apologize] a hundred times, it would be useless."

Lau said Lui has made him look like a clown in public.

Although Lau did not confirm or deny the paternity of Chan's daughter, he said the child's birth is a private matter. "Whether or not this girl is mine is a personal issue. I do not have to announce it to the public. There is no need in the first place to let people know. What's the big deal?" he asked.

Lau said there is also no need for Lui to discuss private matters in the public arena.

"These things should have been dealt with behind closed doors. Even if they can't be resolved, or even if [Lui] doesn't agree, [she] can leave anytime!"

To add to the drama, Lui was recently spotted at a brand-name shop with all her credit cards canceled.

When prompted by the Eastweek reporter on whether this was his doing, Lau retorted: "As a man, if you were me, would you do the same?"

Lau said he is always wary of women.

"There was a time that I was very sick, in serious condition, and fearing for the worst, I gave the woman [Lui] a large sum of money," Lau confessed.

"Some women itch [to cause trouble] when they have money in their hands. The less money they have, the less itchy they will become."

Nevertheless, Lau has faith that matters between him and Lui will improve and that she has simply listened to the wrong advice.

"After the wind and the rain, the family will be reunited, the moon will be full again," he said.

Lau said he also has reasons to suspect the actions of the media and the way they behave toward him and those around him. There have been two major clashes to date: one when Lau was hit in the face by a reporter's microphone, and another where photographers claimed they were hurt by an unidentified man outside Lui's mother's home.

"Some of [the media] might have been intentionally wanting to make news," he said.

Lau complained his cars have been scratched by photographers who got too close when trying to take his picture.

Yesterday, Lui was spotted by photographers in Lau's plated "I Love U" Mercedes between their home and her mother's residence.

Stanley loves to joke with reporters, claims tycoon

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Casino mogul Stanley Ho Hung-sun must have been joking when he said Joseph Lau Luen-hung was the father of Chan Ho-wan's newborn daughter, Lau said.

"He normally likes to joke. He always has a sense of humor and loves to joke with reporters," Lau said.

This is the reason, Lau believes, Ho said Lau had admitted the baby girl was his.

"I have never admitted it to his face that the baby was mine, nor did I say it wasn't, so I'm very confused why he said the baby was mine," Lau added.

At an Italian restaurant in Causeway Bay on Saturday, Ho and his family bumped into Lau and the casino king congratulated Lau on "getting a precious jewel of a daughter."

After leaving the restaurant, Ho told reporters that Lau had been sitting at a table behind him and he turned around to congratulate the fellow tycoon.

"Lau admitted out of his own mouth, `the girl is mine!"' Ho told reporters without prompting.

Lau has a daughter, born in 2002, with girlfriend Yvonne Lui Lai-kwan.

Chan was a newspaper entertainment reporter before she quit to become Lau's assistant about six years ago.

Goodbye and good riddance

Who would you invite for dinner?





To have a more humane 'real' person at the helm of the most powerful nation, must be a good thing. Miracles don't happen overnight, but let's hope after 4/8 years of Obama, he will be remembered in the same esteem and respect as other great leaders throughout history.Those same leaders that strove to improve the lives of all men, and left a legacy of peace such as..(insert the name of great leaders you admire).

Chinese people are too stupid for democracy!

Chinese people are too stupid for democracy!
Well, that is what the Chinese government says. Here in Hong Kong, according to the basic law that came into effect in 1997, Hong Kong should have a directly elected government.
That is not the case, China said that Hong Kong people ae not mature enough!
Today, the day that we witnessed U.S. democracy at its best, I was approached on the streets of Central, Hong KONG by a French couple. The guy told me that he was a photographer, and that he had a photo of me at the march for universal suffrage 5 years ago.
That march was the biggest in Hong Kong's history. I joined the same march every July 1st, but to no avail!
China believes its people are still too stupid to choose their leaders,and until the people here refuse to accept that, it will continue.
Congratulations to Obama and the U.S.A, but don't forget, we don't all have the right to self determination.

Views of Lantau

Festival in Tai Tei Tong, Mui Wo

Strike me down

Legal case against God dismissed

A US judge has thrown out a case against God, ruling that because the defendant has no address, legal papers cannot be served.

The suit was launched by Nebraska state senator Ernie Chambers, who said he might appeal against the ruling.

He sought a permanent injunction to prevent the "death, destruction and terrorisation" caused by God.

Judge Marlon Polk said in his ruling that a plaintiff must have access to the defendant for a case to proceed.

"Given that this court finds that there can never be service effectuated on the named defendant this action will be dismissed with prejudice," Judge Polk wrote in his ruling.

Mr Chambers cannot refile the suit but may appeal.

'God knows everything'

Mr Chambers sued God last year. He said God had threatened him and the people of Nebraska and had inflicted "widespread death, destruction and terrorisation of millions upon millions of the Earth's inhabitants".

He said he would carefully consider Judge Polk's ruling before deciding whether to appeal.

The court, Mr Chambers said, had acknowledged the existence of God and "a consequence of that acknowledgement is a recognition of God's omniscience".

"Since God knows everything," he reasoned, "God has notice of this lawsuit."

Mr Chambers, a state senator for 38 years, said he filed the suit to make the point that "anyone can sue anyone else, even God".
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/americas/7673591.stm

Review-The Veiled Kingdom

Review of:
The Veiled Kingdom.
Author: Carmen Bin Ladin
By Me

Once again,another interesting book sent by my mother(thanks Mum).
Although the spelling is slightly different, Carmen Bin Ladin is indeed the sister-in-law of Osama Bin Laden. The spelling being different because of Saudi custom. Although the book was written after 9-11, and in reaction to her family being portrayed as guilty through association, the book only briefly dwells on Osama.
He is of course, portrayed as a deeply religious fundamentalist, but is only mentioned in passing.
The real story is about Saudi culture and the restrictions placed on the female population, and on Carmen and her daughters in particular.
Carmen was born in Switzerland to a Swiss father and an Iranian mother.
Her subsequent marriage and life with her Saudi husband in the US, Saudi Arabia, and Switzerland, and her revulsion at the life of women in Saudi form the central theme. It is a deeply personal account of her life and her struggle to fit into 'the veiled kingdom'.
Carmen doesn't attempt to vilify either her husband or Islam, rather shed some light on its practices, and explain her reasons for ultimately rejecting its restrictions-as practised in Saudi Arabia. As far as I can tell she remains a Muslim.

Having three daughters, her reasoning certainly seems understandable, especially as they have all now graduated from US universities and have their own successful lives and careers.
Carmen must be applauded for having the courage to write such a revealing insight into such a closed world, which still must come at a cost to her security.
Each religion has its fundamentalist factions, be it Christian, Jewish, or Muslim. It is not up to us, to judge other faiths, and neither does this book. What it does though, is give us a fascinating insight into an insular alien culture.
Definitely recommended.

Abramovich buys Liverpool History

Don't you want to live in Saudi Arabia?

Saudi cleric favours one-eye veil

A Muslim cleric in Saudi Arabia has called on women to wear a full veil, or niqab, that reveals only one eye.

Sheikh Muhammad al-Habadan said showing both eyes encouraged women to use eye make-up to look seductive.

The question of how much of her face a woman should cover is a controversial topic in many Muslim societies.

The niqab is more common in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf, but women in much of the Muslim Middle East wear a headscarf which covers only their hair.

Sheikh Habadan, an ultra-conservative cleric who is said to have wide influence among religious Saudis, was answering questions on the Muslim satellite channel al-Majd.
Story from BBC NEWS:

romeo and swan lake

swan lake

Balcony

The loss of freedom in Hong Kong

It is a public holiday here in Hong Kong-to celebrate the Communist government of China's takeover of the mainland.

This story has been reported in Hong Kong. An 18 year old has been arrested for making 'malicious' rumours about a local bank.
Whatever happened to freedom of speech?
'The lady doth protest too much me thinks'. If there is truly nothing wrong, why have the govt arrested someone for an opinion? Sticks and stones....!
The idiots who then queued for hours to withdraw their savings even though the govt guaranteed their deposits are to blame.

If I want to say that ABC bank is not safe, I should be able to. It may be my opinion. If I say that I have proof that ABC bank is not safe-I must back up my claims.
I personally believe that all Hong Kong banks are not safe-HSBC, Standard Chartered, Bank Of China, etc. This is of course pure supposition on my behalf, I have no proof.Only the proof that half a dozen banks throughout the world have had to be rescued in the last 10 days.
This man should not be in custody. Arrest the CEO of AIG etc for destroying the economy.




Taken from RTHK in Hong Kong


Man held over malicious internet message

01-10-2008
Police in Hong Kong have arrested an 18-year-old man in connection with the sending of malicious messages over the Internet with criminal or dishonest intent. The suspect was detained by officers of the Commercial Crime Bureau in Kwai Chung. The case concerns an online message which was posted on an internet discussion forum last Thursday, alleging that a Hong Kong financial institution would be closed down. Police were unable to confirm whether the arrest was linked to rumours about bank stability, which led to thousands of depositors withdrawing up to two billion HK dollars in deposits from the Bank of East Asia last week.

Typhoon Higos is coming

More typhoon in Lantau

The perfect storm

Typhoon Hagupit Attacks Lantau - Tai O
Uploaded by witch0

Tram ride, better quality

lazy days

batman

The tram ride

There and back to see how far it is!

Typhoon Nuri

Bands at the beach

more island life

barack

Kill the war criminal

BBC NEWS | World | Europe | Karadzic appears at Hague court

I travelled through Serbia, Slovenia and Croatia in 1992/93, it wasn't pleasant and at times bloody dangerous. As you may have seen from a previous post:
http://letstryeurope.blogspot.com/2008/05/hitler-pol-pot-idi-amingeneral-than.html
I am not keen on war criminals- Please Robert Mugabe next!
Also:http://letstryeurope.blogspot.com/2007/09/great-war-for-civilisation.html

http://letstryeurope.blogspot.com/2007/09/rainy-day.html

http://letstryeurope.blogspot.com/2007/10/atonement.html

to be....

To be, or not to be: that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep;
No more; and by a sleep to say we end
The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks
That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep;
To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub;
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come
When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,
Must give us pause: there's the respect
That makes calamity of so long life;
For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,
The oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely,
The pangs of despised love, the law's delay,
The insolence of office and the spurns
That patient merit of the unworthy takes,
When he himself might his quietus make
With a bare bodkin? who would fardels bear,
To grunt and sweat under a weary life,
But that the dread of something after death,
The undiscover'd country from whose bourn
No traveller returns, puzzles the will
And makes us rather bear those ills we have
Than fly to others that we know not of?
Thus conscience does make cowards of us all;
And thus the native hue of resolution
Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought,
And enterprises of great pith and moment
With this regard their currents turn awry,
And lose the name of action. - Soft you now!
The fair Ophelia! Nymph, in thy orisons
Be all my sins remember'd.

shift

And the opposing view

Teosdee with the boys

Typhoon Frank hits

cycling around Mui Wo

Visit Hong Kong, or stay home where you will not get robbed, put out on the street, and stranded.

The Tatami Hampton Hotel, HONG KONG, a new meaning to 'short stay'

Earlier this year, hundreds of passengers were stranded in Hong Kong when the Hong Kong airline Oasis went bankrupt. The HK govt knew it was going bankrupt, but didn't tell anyone, or help them when they couldn't get back home.
Two months later and 100 hotel guests are turfed out onto the street by a debt ridden hotel. Welcome to Hong Kong!
Here is the story from the Standard today:
50 guests ejected as hotel closes
Diana Lee and Carol Chung

Thursday, June 19, 2008


A three-star Mong Kok hotel suddenly shut its doors last night throwing 50 guests onto the street.

Bailiffs served a closure order on the 108-room Tatami-Hampton Hotel in Changsha Street after the owner lost a court battle with Bank of East Asia, which was granted HK$82 million in damages.

Police were called to keep order as angry guests were forced to leave.

Fifty visitors were affected but by last night only 37 could be contacted.

Most guests booked through the internet.

Many were from the mainland but there were others from Taiwan, Malaysia, Australia, Italy, Singapore and Argentina. One was from Hong Kong.

One mainland visitor, who checked in just hours before he was thrown out, said he was surprised when he could not get into his room when he returned in the evening.

He said he knew no one in Hong Kong and his first concern was to find a place to spend the night.

Two sisters from Shanghai paid HK$3,000 for three nights. One said it was irresponsible of management to accept guests when they were fighting a lawsuit.

The 18-story hotel is close to tourist attractions including Tung Choi Street, Garden Street and Temple Street.

Federation of Hong Kong Hotel Owners executive director Michael Li Hon-shing said the incident underlined deficiencies in hotel grading. A budget establishment with some decoration and very simple facilities inside can easily call itself a hotel it gives tourists a wrong impression that hotels in Hong Kong are like that, he said.

A legal definition of different hotel gradings is important in guaranteeing the type and quality of services and facilities.

He said the only check on hotels is the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance, which only monitors fire prevention in hotels.

But he said the way the hotel closed down is unacceptable and will affect Hong Kongs image.


Here is an update from RTHK:
Govt apologises for 'embarrassing' hotel evictions

2008-06-19 HKT 17:53
The government has apologised for the embarassment caused by the sudden closure of a hotel in Mong Kok. More than 100 guests were ordered to leave the Tatami-Hampton hotel on Wednesday when it was shut on a court order over an unpaid loan of $80 million to the Bank Of East Asia. The Tourism Commissioner, Au King-chi, said the commission was not able to offer timely assistance, as it did not learn about the closure until hours later. She was speaking after an emergency meeting with representatives from the hotel and tourism industry, the Consumer Council, and the Tourism Board.

commuting

my hong kong pics part2

my hong kong pics

McCain girl-very funny

BBC :How offensive is the word 'pikey'?

BBC NEWS | UK | Magazine | How offensivejavascript:void(0)
Publish Post is the word 'pikey'?

bus (pointless)

dragon boat race2

the boat to Discovery Bay

dragon boat race

home sweet

black rain

As I was taking this, Teosdee was being swept away off her bike, by the current overflowing the path.She is back home now, and I recovered her bike a little later.

Chinese Whispers

Chinese Whispers by Hsiao-Hung Pao

(2008)

(Penguin) Isbn 978-0-141-03568-0

Review by Me

My mother sent me a copy of this book from the UK, I don’t think she’d read it, but rather thought I might be interested, living in Hong Kong and all. It has been quite a while since a book has stirred so many conflicting feelings in me. So before I begin, it is definitely worth a look..

On the cover there is a quote/review from Nick Broomfield, a British filmmaker- ‘An incredibly moving book that in turn angers and saddens and above all makes you want to change things’. I took that at face value, which is somewhat naïve of me really, would the publishers actually put a critical quote on the cover?

I was ready to feel angry and ashamed of my home, the UK for despicable acts against vulnerable Mainland Chinese people, especially in view of what I knew about the Morecambe Bay tragedy. That is until after the first few chapters.

The book does begin with a tragic story of a man dying very shortly after he arrives in the UK from what is presented as overwork; he died of a brain haemorrhage.

What is not explained is why his fellow workers were not and did not also drop like flies in the same way, it appears to be an isolated case. His story is indeed sad, but I am afraid probably not linked to his work in the factory making goods for a very large Korean company-Samsung. The conditions he worked under are no worse than most factory work throughout the world. The tragedy was that he didn’t seek help sooner, as he was an illegal worker, an all too familiar story even here-Hong Kong and especially just over the border in Guangdong, where this appears to be the norm.

The author then goes undercover working in a meat processing factory, which surprisingly was not a bed of roses. I have worked processing meat in Sydney, and was the only member of my team not to lose part of my finger. We were paid a pittance (the minimum wage), but sometimes that’s the way life is. The conditions she describes in the factory are really quite normal, but of course the Chinese illegal workers were earning below the minimum wage.

The book then goes on to describe life in every seemingly pitiful detail of working in Chinese restaurants, farms, brothels, and as a domestic helper. What strikes the reader is that most of the wrongs are committed by Chinese ‘gangmasters’ against their own compatriots. These are mainly financial wrongs, but of course, as in everyday life sometimes worse. Here in Hong Kong we are forever surprised and shocked by the depravity of the criminal classes towards their fellow man.

The author also presses the point repeatedly about the coldness and greyness of life in the UK. I have recently spent two years back there, and can appreciate this fully, but am not sure whose fault this is.

The very distressing story about the domestic helper earning £180(hk$2800) a week, and being raped, is a story heard too often here in Hong Kong on an almost daily basis, but I couldn’t help but thinking do they earn that much? I only earned £200 a week as a civil servant, and I still have my payslips to prove it!

Surely you must feel sorry for the prostitutes? I hear you ask.Of course I do, but not that sorry, according to the author they earn over £100 a day! Prostitutes in Hong Kong must be checking their passports and getting ready to move en masse. The conditions sound grim, but how about here in Hong Kong? Never mind China!

The author makes a blithe introduction to that chapter “ Back home in China, prostitution was frowned upon, to say the least” This astounding statement raises a few questions;

1. Is prostitution smiled upon in the UK?
2. Has this woman ever been to China?

She has. She comes from Taiwan, and is the daughter of a prominent politician. Later she again goes undercover picking leeks, but stops after 2 hours because she gets a cut from a leek, whilst her workmates continue. I have a year’s experience picking onions, watermelons, lemons, tomatoes and so on for very little money throughout Europe and Israel (a Moshav not a nice Kibbutz), cuts, verbal abuse, disgusting conditions were par for the course. Unfortunately the author does come through as a person who has never done a decent day’s work in her life. Her tales of hardship appear to most of us, normal.

The point of the book is indeed well intentioned; to get better working conditions for the hidden Chinese workers in the UK. I agree wholeheartedly that regardless of immigration status, everyone must receive the minimum wage and be covered by Health and safety laws, and be allowed access to emergency healthcare without fear from the authorities.

The world we live in though is far from perfect, and regrettably is not likely to change very quickly. It does shame me to think that the UK, where we pride ourselves on worker’s rights should allow this to continue, but when they do stop these companies, the migrants will have to return home.

The examples she uses do seem everyday here(Hong Kong), physical abuse of domestic helpers, dangerous working conditions, below minimum wage-if only we had one, long long working hours, no access to health care, and long absences from family(think domestic helpers from the Phillipines, Indonesia etc). Hong Kong people have the view that if you don’t want to work in a place, you don’t have to, which is why they routinely decrease domestic helpers’ wages. Conditions on the mainland are much worse than the stories in this book. This doesn’t make them right, but also it must be remembered that workers everywhere continue to be abused, local or otherwise.

As I say, this book is definitely worth a look, maybe I have just become hardened after 15 years in the Far East.

3 today

It is now 3 years since this blog came to be-hooray!

pics of the boyz

H.K. traveller given present of weed from Japanese Govt

HK traveler a real high flyer

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

A botched sniffer-dog training exercise at Tokyos Narita airport has left customs officials with faces glowing red from embarrassment.

It began with hiding a package of cannabis in a suitcase belonging to a passenger arriving from Hong Kong on Sunday.

The dogs being trained were then let loose and they sniffed and sniffed to no avail.

The result the dogs and officials lost track not only of the cannabis, but also the luggage, giving the weekend visitor an unusual souvenir from customs.

Tokyo media said that although customs regulations specify that a training suitcase be used for such exercises, passengers suitcases had been used in the past with successful results.

Anyone who finds the package should contact Tokyo customs as soon as possible, a customs spokeswoman said. (ha ha!)

Hitler, Pol pot, Idi amin......General-Than-Shwe

There are much more shocking pictures out there of the incredible suffering and the wilful neglect overseen by this evil man-We can only hope that one day he will be brought to trial for his actions.
Can the world really still not do anything to stop another mad despot, intent on committing horrific crimes against humanity? Have we learnt nothing in the last 60 years?

sovereignty?

Does a government still deserve its own authority and independence, when they purposefully increase the massive suffering of its people,just when the people need it most? This is tantamount to mass murder.Wasn't the UN formed to prevent things such as this. The needs of the many must now come before any issues of sovereignty.The UN, in particular the US and China, need to use their military to get aid to the poor wretched people of Myanmar. The wishes of the Burmese military should be ignored. If China takes a leading role, this would reduce the chance of an actual conflict. This more than the olympics would surely let the world know that China is indeed a leading member of the international community.

a night on the tiles

one of those days

Not the Soutn China Morning Post

http://www.ntscmp.com/

cable car

may day

Gym

Had a day off today, I must first correct my last written entry(Spring to life-below). I didn't, after all change jobs, as when I handed in my notice, my employer made me an offer I couldn't refuse(don't worry no horses heads were used). So I am now staying put, working longer hours-for more money, and being paid to travel etc.
My mum is over at the moment, and I have been testing her new camera-notice the much improved photos below. I took the kids to the beach today,whilst Teosdee and Mum went shopping. I then came home and then went to the gym. It was my first time today, you have to join a training course before they let you loose on your own.This is actually a government gym and is filled with the latest hi-tech stuff,5 mins from my house. It is very cheap-less than 50p per hour and the course was very useful. The local swimming pool has now opened, and once the typhoon heading our way has gone(extremely early-apparently due to La Ninya), I will be trying to improve my swimming.Anyway the pics(not the gym) from today are below-it will be back to my camera next week!

Today at the beach

sons

all you need is....

Spring into life

Spring is going well here, the weather is warmer, tan is coming on well. The swimming pool opens today, and I start at the local gym this month. I will also start a new job as an 'Academic coordinator' - this means very little teaching. I sent my resignation letter to my present company today, and hopefully I'll be able to finish in the coming month. I did enjoy this job, but had to spend 50-60 hrs to complete my supposedly 25 hrs per week. This included at least 2hrs per day travelling between locations during my work day-unpaid!I raised my objections to my employer back in November, and now my patience has run out waiting for an agreement.
It looks as though Teosdee will be able to get back into work in the coming weeks-not sure where yet. It must now be over 2 months since I have been to Wanchai-and I don't miss it. Beer costs just $5 (30p) on the beach, and we usually light a barbie too-it's a hard life. Kids are great-as you can see from the pics and vids below. They love hiking, swimming and hanging out with chums on the beach. It was 27c yesterday-summer is nearly here, so are the mosquitoes, frogs,spiders and snakes .
My mum comes over next week, and apparently quite a few members of my family will come over later this year. Enjoy the spring and summer wherever you are in the world, give me a shout if you're in Hong Kong.