Archive for 'July 2007'
The beauty of a woman
I have just received a chain mail from my sister. It’s the power point picture file of Audrey Hepburn. She knows I like Audrey Hepburn. She is a very beautiful woman in my eyes. I specially like these photos, and those wordings. The meaning of it is really true.
Resting….
They are feeling hot, so am I. Current temperature: 35C, around 90F
Time for rest as it’s easy to get sick under such weather……
Chinese coffee??
Starbuck is totally out of Forbidden City. After years of protests against Starbuck by tramping in Chinese culture, it eventually closed down. The new policy of Forbidden City announced that they are going to have an unique brand name for all kinds of products being sold inside Forbidden City included coffee. They required Starbuck to sell Chinese national brand coffee rather than their own brand coffee if they wanted to remain their store inside the Forbidden City. Of course, Starbuck chose to leave the palace. It was funny that the store is going to be taken place by a national brand store selling national coffee. It’s kind of sarcastic for my understanding. Let says some people want to kick western culture out of the Chinese palace, but they want to sell national brand “western coffee” for national benefit?? Is it contradicting? Coffee is part of the western culture. If Forbidden City needed to remain being very Chinese, then why they need a store selling coffee regardless what brand they are. Coffee is still coffee. Coffee is from the west. Tea is from the east. Why don’t they sell tea? Traditional Chinese tea should be respected, and being introduced completely in a historical palace. Well sure, there must be a tea house somewhere inside the palace, but it seems to be less important in this case.
There is a joke spreading around in big cities of Mainland China.
“If I wasn’t in the office, I must be in Starbuck. If I wasn’t in Starbuck, I must be on my way to Starbuck.”
You can tell how popular of Starbuck is in Mainland China around middle class people and young teenagers. Starbuck is very popular in HK too apart from office people and general public you can see them often; there must be many students around. Students love to sit in Starbuck and Pacific Coffee for hours. They can buy one drink, and sit there, doing their homeworks with laptops on the tables. This is the reason why Starbuck and Pacific Coffee are both so crowdy almost over ten hours a day no matter which one you go. If I didn’t remember it wrong, Starbuck entered in HK market after year of 2000. The first time I visited Starbuck was in Taiwan. Taiwan is a place filled with American and Japanese coffee and restaurant chains, which I don’t think HK will have them at all.
Since I met such congested situation in Starbuck and Pacific Coffee, I found Prets. Prets has less stores compared with Starbuck and Pacific Coffee, and mainly located in HK island side but usually you can find seats easily. People don’t stay long. I hardly see students as the environment is not suitable for them. They can’t connect their laptops with wireless. 
Since I tried the Americano of Prets, I am really addicted to it. I don’t drink coffee much, but I seriously love their Americano. Theirs is actually Italian type. When I finished one, I would just want another cup, and must be the hot one. The feeling is just so good by having it. 
Poor dog
I found a baby dog being dumped in a wooden box full of pins right outside our village entrance. The temperature was 34C today. I can’t imagine how some people can be so cruel to leave a baby dog like that without food and water. I don’t know how many hours it had been there. The baby dog would die easily under such high temperature and strong sunshine without water and food. The dog kept climbing up, and tried to get out of the box, so it’s legs scratched by the pins. It’s legs were bleeding a little. Few people walked pass, and said “poor dog”, but no one wanted it. I stayed with the dog for quite a while. I asked my neighbour to give it some water. I can’t keep it as I have two big dogs and two small cats at home. Keeping animals is not for fun. You have to feed them food everyday. If they were sick, you need to look after them. I certainly won’t make such decision by taking it home without further thinking. If anyone bought animals home without consideration in details, then I would say this is a selfish behaviour.
I waited by the side for any kind hearted person passing by. There was a woman walking towards me with a red umbrella. she was very much interested in the dog. I asked her if she wanted it. If she didn’t want it, I would call SPCA. They will come, and pick it up. The dog is better under their shelter. She told me immediately she wanted it. I am so glad. She told me she has a big garden at home, so she doesn’t have any problems to keep this dog. She took it out from the box, and held it with her arms. The dog looked so peaceful and cheerful in her arms. ^_^
I feel good today as I feel I saved a dog’s life.
Mum’s handbag
I went to a jewellery parts wholesale street for purchasing something related to my work today. I brought this handbag with me, which my mum gave it to me quite a while ago. The buckle was broken. I was thinking to fix it long time ago but didn’t until today I decided to look for a proper bucket for replacing the broken one. I went to a store, which sells all kinds of handbag parts. I asked a girl if she could find a suitable buckle for it. She told me I can’t expect something perfectly matched with the bag, but she would try her best to look for something suitable. She went away to their stock room. Ten minutes later, she came back with my handbag fixed.
Store girl: “you are lucky, I managed to find two tiny screws for you, and only costs you HKD25.00.”
She only fixed the bucket with two new tiny screws without changing the buckle.
Store girl: “Is this handbag very important to you? Why do you have to fix it? If I were you, I would buy a new one as the repair also costs some money”
Me: “This bag my mum gave it to me. She only used it for few times. It looks pretty new, and made of nice textured leather.”
Store girl: “How much would you pay to fix it if I couldn’t find the right screws?”
Me: “I guess something under HKD100.00, I would pay to fix it as it is an invaluable item from my mum’s handbag collection.”
My new light
I like it. It’s filled with vintage feeling. My Dad bought it for me. He said he knows I will like it. Yes, he is right! The previous one was in round shape and different colour, but same style. This one does look much better.
