Lesley in Hong Kong

The Future - what happened to it?

Space 1999

In the lead up to the year 2000, I was extremely disappointed that the shiny future I felt I'd been promised would not be ready.   There would be no flying cars or silver catsuits.  There would still be food, as opposed to nutrition-packed pills.   My formative years were filled with images on TV showing me the fabulous futuristic future.  The Jetsons and Space 1999 have a lot to answer for!

 

The year 2000 came and went - still no flying cars or silver catsuits.  I still had to peel carrots and wash-up. 

What will 2020 be like?

2020 will soon be here - I know, I'm shocked too -  That futuristic dream of how science and technology would be so advanced it would be mundane, even domestic, is in tatters.    I dreamt that by the time I reached 2020 (fingers crossed)we would all be living in a peacefully perfect world where all conflicts had been forgotten.  I truly thought that the concept of working from home would be embraced by most people while the amount of leisure time would have been increased.  All folk would have terrifically stimulating hobbies that meant they bonded with others in a warm and comradery way.  No one would need to make the tea because a robot would deal with that, oh and everyone would fly around in their flying car or, even better, use The Transporter from Star Trek. 

In my imagined future, everyone would be warm enough or cool enough and technology would be able to supply all energy for free as that is just a human right.  If we want to keep the world populated then heat and light is a given.  Surely no one needs to profit from that? 

We have spoilt it

But it seems that we have spoilt the future for ourselves in an attempt to make convenience king.  The convenience of buying fresh food has become a multimillion-dollar industry involving factory farming and air transportation for lettuce.  The fast-food industry has fueled our craving for instant gratification so we can now walk around eating and drinking, then dump the plastic containers on the street.  There is now more plastic in the ocean than fish and more landfills than forest.  

Inconvenience should be king

Right now there is a riot going on in my neighbourhood and the conflict seems to have no resolution.  That is tragic enough.  But the most important issue is the unsustainability of our lifestyle.  The future I used to think was possible, those flying cars and silver catsuits, is as far away as the concept of peace in our time because the reality of the future, the air we breathe and the water we drink is filled with pollution created by the craving for convenience we thought we wanted.  

Our future is not one where science and technology make everything convenient.  If we do have a planet to live on, we will have to get used living a much simpler life where inconvenience is king because it is the only sustainable way to keep the population going.  Instead of that flying car, I imagine if I can't get anywhere by walking then I won't be going.  I still fancy that silver cat-suit though... 

 

Hong Kong has a monumental waste problem. (BBC Future)

Dialogue in the Dark

http://www.dialogue-experience.com.hk/web/subpage.php?mid=6

 

Address: Shop 215, 2/F, Nob Hill Square, 8 King Lai Path, Mei Foo, Kowloon
Telephone: 2310 0833 (General) / 2891 0438 (Group Booking) / 2310 8610 (Birthday in the Dark / Special event)

 

Mei Foo MTR Exit C - 5 -7 minutes walk

 

Online Booking

I pre booked an experiential tour in the dark for 22 people.  Their website booking system was a little too restricting for my dates and times but after some very helpful email exchanges I managed to book what I really wanted.

 

This is a very unique experience for adults and children alike.  You'll be outside of your comfort zone and that is something we should all do from time to time.   The basic point of the tour is to experience what it's like to navigate yourself around a busy city (Hong Kong) and all the challenges that involves as a visually impaired person using a white stick.

 

90 Minutes in the Dark

After some instruction about how to hold a white stick, in small groups of eight, we were lead by our visually impaired guide for 90 minutes in complete darkness.  When I say dark, I mean complete and utter blackness for the whole time.  There was no time that my eyes made an adjustment to the environment.  There was no time that I had any idea what the environment looked like or where my guide was.  Although I knew I was with seven other people, there was no time I knew how many where in front or behind me. However, our guide used his voice in the most comforting way.  He gave clear instructions about which direction to walk and when.  

 

The Route

The route took us through various places which we had to feel with our feet, hands and stick as we walked slowly, with trepidation, through the space.    Within the dark dark space a recreation of a wooded area with leaves to feel and a gravel floor to a street scene and even boarding a ferry has been constructed to give sighted people the disarming experience of beginning to know what it's like to be without the sense of sight.   I say beginning to know, because I feel sure that living without sight has many more restrictions than the 90 minutes can ever tell us, but at the same time gave our group an appreciation of the skills required.   It also gave us an idea that our guide was much much more perceptive in the dark than any of us.  He was so aware of us and where we were, remembering our names and guiding, directing and giving us confidence to know where to go, we began to think he was actually wearing night vision goggles.   HE WASN'T.  

 

Back in the Light

Once we were back out into the light and our white sticks returned is when we could see our guide for the first time.   He has been visually impaired since birth.  It was most humbling to meet him and have the opportunity of having a Q&A session with him.  We also had a go at writing braille and using a special plastic device to work out which bank note is which.   There are many gadgets and techniques to help visually impaired people to cope in many different areas of life.

 

Dialogue in the Dark offers many options where, if you are brave enough, you can celebrate your  birthday with  a party in the dark and musical concerts in the dark.   Instruction can be in English or Cantonese. 

 

 

 

 

Hamlet - National Theatre - The One, TST, Hong Kong

http://ntlive.nationaltheatre.org.uk/productions/ntlout10-hamlet

 

                                                                      Set at The Barbican 

People of Hong Kong!

 

I implore you to check the schedules of our movie theatres and look out for the National Theatre, London, productions which are now being screened regularly.

https://www.britishcouncil.hk/en/programmes/arts/national-theatre-live

 

There's a bar

They really are very like an actual theatre experience and a most enjoyable evening out.  There is usually a 20 minute interval, just like an actual performance, where everyone can make use of the bar, have a leg stretch and a toilet break.

Costumes

The most recent one I attended was last weekend at The One, 100 Nathan Road, when I saw the marvellous Benedict Cumberbatch as Hamlet.  It was spectacular.  He was spectacular.   The staging was spectacular.  I was particularly taken with the costumes which were, for the most part, 1940s style apart from Hamlet, Horacio and Ophelia who wore modern casual clothes, hoodies and jeans.  After the 'play with-in the play' scene Cumberbatch wore a long military tail coat with the words 'KING' crudely painted across his back which was quite amusing and under the coat a Ziggy Stardust t-shirt.   I doubt it had any significance to the recent and shocking death of David Bowie as it would have been recorded months ago in London, but it did make me think  - why Ziggy? 

 

Jekyll & Hyde - Jonathan Holloway's

Chung Ying Theatre Company

1 - 10 May 2015

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Amphitheatre,  HKAPA

Wan Chai

Hong Kong

 

We are all aware of Robert Louis Stevenson's story, Dr Jekyll experiments with a substance and turns into a hideous monster at night.  In Jonathan Holloway's version Dr. Jekyll is a woman.  

The setting is still Victorian London with a magnificent stage set reflecting the fact that it is being performed in Hong Kong.  Stunning red silk lanterns were hung above the gothic room. The cast, a mixture of Chinese and English actors, and if I say everyone had a hint of Helena Bonham Carter and Tim Burton on Halloween I'm sure you'll understand the general vibe.

Performed in English with Chinese and English subtitles, I always find that slightly distracting but I understand their reasons, with dialogue packed with euphemisms  about sex.  Are all euphemisms about sex?  "Would you like to open the petals of my purple orchid?" "Will your stamen enter my flower while still lubricated by another?"  I may not have those quotes completely accurate but that was the gist of the lines.   There were rather a lot of references to sex in the whole production, while not explicit, we couldn't have that in conservative Hong Kong now could we (we were in Wan Chai!).

In this version we see Dr. Jekyll as a woman, yet a scientist, the ONLY woman doctor in London at that time struggling to break the stereotype placed upon her gender, rebelling against conformity of marriage and family life, choosing to experiment alone in her explorations of substances and what-do-you-know she is quite the temptress.  We see shadowy scenes through the opaque bathroom door of two bodies together, items of clothes being removed and illicit pleasure being had.

And so when 'she' becomes Hyde she becomes a man.  In this persona, which isn't revealed until much later in the play, she is a lout, a violent rapist and we have to presume a transexual because of the comments about his/her ability to rape.  Olivia Winteringham who plays Jekyll and Hyde is a slight woman and when she appears as the man, Hyde, she has blood stained bandages around her chest area eluding to her having sliced off her breasts?  Well this is what you get with gothic literature.

I do question the power of this play to shock though, we already know the story and to put a woman as Jekyll as a tool to twist the plot seemed not enough of a shock in our 21st Century transgender sexual equality world.  Perhaps a man dressed as a woman playing a woman as a man and then turning into a man played by a woman as a man would have made us think more.  Oh hang on, Shakespeare has already done that!

 

 

 

 

Sweet and Sour Productions Ltd - Macbeth

The Fringe Club is an excellent and intimate venue for a production of Shakespeare's most intriguing tragedy.  Affording the audience a closeness to the emotion with selected key scenes to move the plot swiftly on, Sweet and Sour Productions, directed by Candice Moore from Edinburgh, opened with those Weird Sisters (Jacqueline Gourlay Grant, Hamish Campbell and Vicki Rummun).   They cast their manipulative spell over our hero, Macbeth (Nicholas Atkinson), and then dominated the play with their constant presence and the notion that it is their magic, their bubbling concoctions and their will that infects Macbeth with his ambition to become King of Scotland and subsequent downfall.   That's why it's called a tragedy, he dies!  It's not a plot spoiler, I don't feel I have to avoid giving away the ending.  We don't go to see Macbeth to find out what happens, we already know (don't we?) we go to see how it's done.  In this production there is a focus on the three witches who lurk in every corner seen and unseen and play Macbeth like a puppet.  It's wonderful. 

I loved the costumes which had an Alexander MacQueen/Vivienne Westwood tartan vibe going on and, unless a Scottish person disagrees with me, I couldn't fault the Scottish accents.

Lady Macbeth (Muriel Hoffman) was hateful, as she must be, and I was particularly impressed with the fight scene between Macbeth and Macduff (Henry Coombs) which was expertly choreographed and executed (pun intended).

Sweet and Sour Productions Ltd are an adaptable and talented lot who are not to be missed.  I shall certainly be looking out for their next production.  

 

Beards, they're just wrong.

I have to say it.

 Even George doesn't look good with one.

I am compelled to say it.

 Clean shaven is best, here is proof.

I really dislike beards.  I don't like them at all, not even a little bit.  Not even stubble and not even, actually, especially, moustaches.  I spent November in a state of constant-mild-shudder as I saw so many men sporting that unshaven, unkempt look.  Facial hair eeeuuww.

 

 

I find beards repellant.  I find them ugly and unclean.  When I see a man with a beard I jump to conclusions about his general hygiene levels.  I have nightmarish thoughts rushing through my head about the state of his sheets and his bathroom and wonder just how wild is other body hair is.  I know you will jump back at me with how wrong I possibly am and that there are grooming products regarding the general upkeep and oiling and waxing of facial hair.  But that is not what I see.

Other parts of the body

There is now an expectation to trim body hair.  In fact, let's get right to the point here.  On some body parts it has become the norm to remove that hair completely. Arm pits, legs, chest back and pubic.  There I said it!  There are products and services all over the place claiming to remove superfluous hair and leave the skin smooth and rash free.  It is a booming business.

History 

Yes, ALL body parts.

 

Hair Removal

We are all expected to have smooth, hairless bodies otherwise we are not grooming properly and just not taking care of ourselves.  That is the message pushed out there in the media and, my word, it has been taken to heart with so many salons, products and devices to remove unwanted hair in places we deem unacceptable.  I could get into the porn star -v- real life argument here, but I think I'll save that for another blog.

Skin good, body hair bad.

Fashion?

But for some baffling reason the fashion to grow the hair on male chins has begun to take over the world.  It is linked with the tweed jacket and check-shirt wearing hipster look where a massive bushy beard is an accessory.  
But dear oh dear it is getting out of control.  It's not funny or even ironic any more. I see the trend has moved on from having two day stubble into a wild, bushy woodland growth on the face.  

Slightly more than 5 0 clock shadow Justin

Just plain lazy   JUST STOP IT!

There is nothing attractive about a beard.  Here is proof.  Good looking men with beards become unattractive.  This is a fact.

Unattractive Brad.

Unattractive David

Unattractive Ryan

 

I hereby officially request that all men who have grown beards in the name of fashion or plain laziness (I suspect that is the real reason) to get back in the bathroom in the mornings and shave.  Present yourself with a smooth chin and face the world with a fresh clean-shaven confidence.  Go on!  It'll make me happy and what could be more important than that? 

 

Ray Lewis The Release Effect TRE

Ray Lewis is visiting Hong Kong from 17th April 2015 for two weeks and can be contacted on   9748 7538.

 

A few years ago I met Ray Lewis on a plane.  We had a very interesting conversation about his job which he told me was 'helping people'.  He explained a little about how he did this and it was so compelling that I followed up his suggestion of reading his website once I was home.  

 

The Release Effect     Take a little time to explore his method if you are interested.

 

 

I pursued his ideas and went ahead and did some, he recommends five,  sessions with him where he asked me questions and then asked me to sit quietly and listen to him.  I cannot really explain what happened after that apart from to say that I was aware of what was happening and could hear his voice.  It was calming and easy.

 

Afterwards, not immediately afterwards, and I can't really be precise about the timing of how my negative feelings were alleviated, but I had a complete change of feeling.  I felt lighter and no longer afraid.  The same old crap was going on but I felt Teflon coated after the sessions and it just didn't bother me in the same way.  I had more strength to live my life.

 

The Release Effect    Ray Lewis

 

Ray in visiting Hong Kong again and will be doing an informative free talk on 20th April at Reflections for all who are interested.   All the details are below from Ruby of Reflections.  

 

 

Reflections - TRE 20th April 2015

 

Ray Lewis spent most of his adult life (more than 20 years) battling severe  manic/depression or bi-polar as it has come to be known, and during that  time he spent thousands of hours and many more thousands of dollars trying  to get "the monkeys off his back".   He was addicted to therapies and would try anything to get relief from the nightmare of his own mind that he was trapped in.  He'd tried different types of therapies, attended umpteen different types of weekend seminar and read hundreds of self help books that inspired him, and according to Ray, they all worked, and provided some relief, but unfortunately, eventually the negative feelings would always come back again.
 

Fifteen years ago through a chance conversation, Ray stumbled across the missing link in the puzzle of the nightmare he found  himself in.  The answer came in the knowledge of a small part of the brain that was relatively unknown until the famous neuro-science professor Joseph  La Doux, (NYU) discovered aspects of a little part of the brain called the Amygdala in the Limbic System, which led to the development of The Release Effect.  

 

The Amygdala can store memories as a feeling memory even before our first conscious memories which usually start around the ages of 2-5.  For example, a baby left alone too long could feel abandoned, which to a baby would feel like a life threatening situation, and then in the future, anything even remotely similar to being alone can trigger the same fight/flight response that the Amygdala remembered from all those years before.  Even though the current situation is not logically relevant to that feeling memory.  The Release Effect does not require a memory of the original event that created the feelings, it does not use analysis of the past.

 

 

 

The Release Effect evolved and in the last ten years, Ray has successfully treated  nearly two thousand people with this technique, to help them get rid of their "monkeys" as well, and finally find that elusive peace of mind. 

 

Ray has been free of his depression and feelings of worthlessness, helplessness, failure, fear of poverty, unappreciated and unloved etc for over 20 years and has devoted most of his time to travelling to take this new approach to people all around the world.  He finds people in Hong Kong to be very open-minded and looks forward to meeting you at an almost free talk on April 20 evening, where you can learn more about The Release Effect.

  Love Offering :     HK$77

 

To join the evening talk on April 20 with Ray, call Reflections on 2504 1333. 

 

 

Related articles

Ray Lewis The Release Effect TRE

Phallus Shrine, Swissotel Nai Lert Hotel, 2 Wireless Road, Lumpin, Bangkok

Huge

 I set off to find this lesser known shrine situated in the grounds of the Swissotel, 2 Wireless Road.  From the Sky Train, Chit Lom, I headed up Wireless Road which is the land of Embassies.  If you want to find an Embassy this is the road for you.  After passing the very tranquil and lush grounds of the United States of America Embassy I realised I was heading in the wrong direction...

I turned on my heel and eventually found the Swissotel Nai Lert Hotel.  It was hot, I was red in the face and very very sweaty but I waltzed in through the main lobby and was greeted by the Concierge.   I returned the greeting and kept walking, as bold as brass, into the garden and pool area and started to explore the small paths towards to the back of the pool area.  Towards the fence, next to a tree there is was.  Phallus Shrine.

.

revealed

 Chao Mae, Tuptim, Goddess Tuptim Shrine is it's real name and its obscure origins are linked to the spirit of Nai Lert which lies at the base of large Sai (Ficus) tree.  It is said that over the years people began to bring phallic like objects to this tree and it has been concluded that this is the shrine to fertility. 

A basket full of penis

 On my visit I found five workmen digging up the area.  They digging a rather large hole and  putting the smaller stone phallic objects in plastic baskets.   They were moving the large, nay huge, wooden ones and seemed to be generally giving the whole shrine a bit of a tidy up.  A spring clean if you will.

Wood

 I am unsure what the shrine usually looks like but the day I was there it was quite messy with a big pile of freshly dug earth in the middle.  The workmen didn't seem to mind me climbing over the dirt to get a better view and take some photographs.  In fact they helpfully got out of the way until I had finished clicking.  I think the pictures speak for themselves. 

Double bonded

 

What is average?

We are all connected?

In my down-to-earth-women-from-the-north way, I go about my day to day, week to week, month to month 'stuff' that needs doing in a straightforward manner.  I believe that people who make a drama about the mundane are just attention seekers in an attempt to make their lives appear a little bit more interesting than yours (or mine).

And in my straight forward, let's call a spade a spade northerness, I find wild and weird talk of spirituality, meditation, mindfulness a tricky topic.  Although if I was assessed I would probably get a 'satisfactory progress' rather than a 'must try harder' on my report card these days.  

The past merely exists in our imagination.  We only have the now.  The future has not happened yet and so there is no need to worry about it.  And if you don't like the now then it will soon be in the past anyway. 

As much as this notion can take the pressure off my tendency to worry about the future, I do find it a flippant way to live life because it infers that no planning for the future is necessary and of course we all need to plan ahead to some extent. We'd run out milk too often for that to be fun.  A little forward planning is surely necessary?  I mean, insurance men would be out of a job wouldn't they?

I have indulged in meditation recently.  I have Ommmed and Hummmmed and thought about my third eye while concentrating on a candle flame.  I am at peace during these times but now I'm beginning to think that such indulgence cannot be of any benefit unless the world joins in. 

It seems that the rest of the world is not cooperating in such Ommmmness or Zenness and is actually on a mission to cause me complications to add  drama to my life which I simply do not want!

My solution is that all employees of NOW TV all sit down and think about just what they are doing to help the mental health of Hong Kong.  I know the answer is zilch.  In fact I strongly suspect that they go out of their way to cause mental health issues with unsuspecting customers by promising outrageous things like a faster service and interesting channels.  They could make a start by having staff who answer the phone who can actually answer questions and staff who come to my house who actually have solutions to problems instead of finding my situation of paying more money for an even worse service funny and openly laughing.

A further solution is to extend Zenness to the Government Motor Vehicle Inspection Centres and help them to understand that an appointment three weeks after my road tax runs out is not in the spirit of calmness or mindfulness and is just plain inefficiency on their part.  I feel sure that a little bit of candle staring will help them to bring my appointment forward enabling me to drive my car again.

Then there is BUPA Claims Department.  I feel certain that a little bit of humming in a darkened room with their eyes closed will really assist them is assessing my recent claim.  After such a calming session they will then fully understand that my aged doctor didn't mean to write Groft (with a G)  and that I am the person he saw that day and so process my claim.  They will stop being pernickety, pedantic and downright bloody awkward.   Unless of course there is a Lesley Groft who lives quite nearby and by pure coincidence has the same BUPA Membership number as me, lives at the same address and consulted the same doctor on the same day with the same symptoms?

An extra special session of mindfulness needs to be arranged for my Landlord who, after being asked to think about his inner critical voice, will be moved to withdraw his latest random 20% rent increase and to look at the level of inflation in Hong Kong (on average 4.58%).  In his new serene brain he will then also arrange to have any repairs done with a huge grateful smile on his face given that I am such an excellent tenant.

 

Clockenflap 2014

In its seventh year (although my first).

A virgin to music festivals because of their association with wellies and mud I have avoided such events.  The beauty of Hong Kong's Clockenflap is the ease of getting to the venue and, even better, being able to go home with no necessity to camp in a field.

Kowloon Station MTR and then walk, follow the signs that say CLOCKENFLAP

It is three days of music at ten different stages of various sizes.  As well as all that lots of places to buy food and drink and believe it or not the toilets were of a civilized standard with fast queues and no drama.

Clockenflap site

Their website is easy to negotiate.  You can buy your choice of  ticket and print it off seamlessly, and if you are more organised and decisive than me you you could have bought a weekend ticket months ago at an early bird discount.  Next year I will remember this.  I must mention their tone, they write their information in such a friendly way I found it a refreshing change from other Hong Kong events.  For instance one of their FAQ says ;

Q. Can I bring outside food or drink?

 

Whereas the usual response in Hong Kong is 'cannot', their answer is this;

 

A. No, sorry, but plenty of caterers will be serving delicious food and drinks at the venue. However, we will make exceptions on food and drink intended for babies.

See!  They sound like a jolly nice bunch of people to me.  

The Actual Music

 

Sultan Ali and The Red Stripes

There were loads of bands playing at various stages throughout the day and so unless you have super powers you can't see them all.  I set myself a realistic target of general milling and checking out the stalls and the art, buying beer and getting something to eat until the serious business of watching Sultan Ali and the Red Stripes at 4.30 on the Replay stage.  The Red Stripes are a Hong Kong band and Sultan, having flown in specially for Clockenflap, is from Jamaica.  He was a charismatic, experienced crowd pleaser and they had the crowd jumping from the first note.  They are a very slick band with their special guest and well worth seeing without him too. 

Then I skipped across to the Harbourflap stage for OZOMATLI from the States who were cool as.  A multi-genre, multicultural and multi Grammy winning band who were fabulous.  

Kool and the Gang

The excitement was building for Kool and the Gang, obviously.  When they said "Let's take you back to the 70s" I did have a quick scan of the audience to see if there was anyone around me who was alive at that time and soon came to the conclusion that it was just me.  It was no matter and I made a point of pushing my way to front to get the whole full on Kool experience and had a close up view of the brass section as well as the fantastic sparkly shirts they all wore.  They still have the moves.   They still have the showmanship. They still have the voices and we all obliged by singing all the words to the Ladies Night and Ceeeeelabration time COME ON!  

1970's

 

2014

Travis

Travis were the headline band on the Harbourflap stage to finish off Saturday night.  

 

 

and were well received by the crowd with lots of joining in, photo taking (some times with a selfie stick held high to eliminate the backs of heads) appreciative applause and a general bonhomie.  Who says Hong Kong audiences don't know how to enjoy themselves?  

Movember 

It is plain to see the lead singer off of Travis has facial hair.  But does he have to have THAT much of it.   It's wild.  I wondered if he was sporting a beard for Movember because every other male attending Clockenflap seemed to be.  Even the provision of a proper barbers chair didn't seem to make any difference in the amount of unshaveness.  I find it ironically unfair that the fashion for removing hair from nearly every place on the human body has been embraced while it is a tragic fashion fad to grow a beard where we all have to look at it.  At least the pubic region is covered most of the time.  Come on boys it's December soon, lets go for a nice clean shaven look for Christmas and well into the New Year.  What da ya say?

Lumbersexual is a new word to me but it was apparant that many of the audience were actually walking talking lumbersexuals.  I spotted quite of lot of lumberjack shirts and boots and of course the unkempt beard to complete the whole vibe.  Although the urban dictionary defines the word as a man with 'groomed' beard who wants to maintain a rugged look.  Something is just not right.

 

Island Yoga, Koh Yao Noi Island, Phuket

 

Island Yoga, Phuket

 

 

My bungalow

 

I spent a week at Island Yoga at the beginning of July and had a most wonderful time.  I am slightly hesitant to even write about it just incase people start flocking to Koh Yao Noi and spoil the tranquility.  

Their website is easy to use and I booked myself in for six nights.  Once this was done communication came through email and instructions on how to pay the initial deposit with PayPal were simple and clear.  

They are also very flexible {pun is intended}  so there is no specific 'course' or set period of time that you have to fit into.  You can arrange the dates to suit your own schedule and join the classes upon arrival because they are always different, challenging and interesting.  

How to Get There

Koh Yoe Noi Island is situated to the east of Phuket Island.  I took a taxi from the airport to Bang Rong Peir which took about half an hour and sat and waited peacefully, with a few Thai's and a monkey, for the small speed boat to take me on the 200 Baht trip to the Island.  There were a few tuk tuks waiting at the pier and they knew exactly where Island Yoga was.   Last boat each day is 5.30pm.

 

 

On the speed boat

 

Koh Yoe Noi

This small island does have some lovely places to stay including Sixth Sense Koh Yoe and Koyao Island Resort , is unspoilt and very quiet.  It has one circular road so it's impossible to get lost.  The local population is mostly muslim.  It was Ramadan when I was there and perhaps that made it even quieter, I'm not sure, but I liked it.  If you are familiar with the heady markets and bar world of Thailand this is the complete opposite.  It is an unspoilt place with no one pushing their wares at you. The locals were very friendly and would even stop and offer a lift just to be nice.  There are a few basic shops, 7/11 and one or two ATMs. The roads are empty so hiring a scooter or even a bike is relatively safe.  

Just as an example of how friendly it is, the  chain on my bike popped off. Once my fingers were covered in black oil and I realized I had no idea how to put it back on, I pushed it to a sleepy massage place and asked them if they could get me a tuk tuk to take me back to Island Yoga.  They quickly found a tool and fixed the chain for me and happily waved me on my way.

(Secretly, I wanted to ride in the tuk tuk)

 

Accommodation

Within Island Yoga there are a few options.  Some basic bungalows, meaning just a fan.  You can opt to share or you can stay in another location on the island and do pop-in classes to suit yourself.  I went for my own bungalow with air con.  I'm too used to air con to not have it!  I loved my bungalow, it had a comfortable bed with mosquito net, plenty of cupboard space for hanging clothes, a very nice hammock on the little deck for relaxing after a hard morning in the sala.

Food

After the first yoga session of the morning, which finished at 9.30am, breakfast was waiting for us.  A delicious spread of cereal, yoghurt, fruit as well as Thai vegetarian dishes.   This is included in the package.  If you want food at other times the wonderful Ning and her Thai family, who run the catering side, can russle up meals or snacks and this is added to your bill at check-out.

 

Me after yoga and breakfast.

 

Yoga - Two Classes Each Day

There are two classes per day.  The morning one is 90 minutes and starts at 7.30am.  This was a really excellent energising start to the day and each day the class was different.  One day we were out on the beach, one day we did laughing yoga, one morning we all were taught the secret of the netty pot and one session involved absoltuely no downward dogs at all.  The second session at 4.30pm for an hour, was Yin Yoga which involved a much more 'cushioned' variety where poses were held for longer periods of time.  

The instructors (I had Heather and Kierra) were highly knowledgable and committed to their practice.  They were bursting with creativity and filled everyone with the confidence to be strong and really enjoy each pose.  Afterall if you don't like something it'll soon be over and in the past anyway!

Yoga Sala

End of class relaxation

psssst  - So just between you and me and the gate post, sssshhhhh this place is fantastic.  I want to go back but don't tell anyone, ok!
 

 

 

Dunsinane - Auditorium, Kwai Tsing Theatre

 

A production by the National Theatre of Scotland and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

2nd - 4th May this prestigious production was performed in Kwai Tsing Theatre.  The nearest MTR station, Kwai Fong, exit B to be precise.  

 The Venue

I really cannot stress enough just how smart this theatre is.  I assumed that because I was going to Kwai Fong in the New Territories on a Saturday night it would be something of a sub standard forgotten building.   How wrong I was.  Kwai Tsing Theatre is beautiful, modern, clean with an excellent sound system.  The toilets were great, plenty of them and all well stocked, and most importantly the temperature was just right.  There was no freezing arctic moments to contend with.  What more could one want from a night out at the theatre?  Oh yes, now I remember.  A bar. 

Everyone expects a glass of wine at the intermission, don’t they?

 

Dunsinane is set in 1054 Scotland, written by David Greig in 2010. It is a dramatic sequel to MacBeth.  Just exactly what does happen to Scotland after the death of brave MacBeth?  Is MacDuff king?  Do Malcom's sons return to claim their right to the thrown?  These and more questions will be answered in Dunsinane.  

 Cheeky Sequel

Is it cheeky to write a sequel to a great Shakespeare work?  

It certainly is, and that's why it is so wonderful.  As we all know sequels can be bad.  Part 2’s can be awful,  with the exception of Toy Story 3 obviously.  Perhaps because hundreds of years have passed since the original work, it can be described as cheeky to take liberties; such as keeping Lady MacBeth alive and kicking, not particularly as bonkers as she was the last time we heard her scream and then go silent as she jumped from a balcony.  I suppose if Bobby Ewing can wake up and it all be a dream and Jean Rhys can rename Bertha, the mad woman in the attic in Jane Eyre, Antoinette, then Lady MacBeth, henceforth known as Gruach, can be alive. 

It is an excellent play and I suspect even more well received in Scotland prior to the coming referendum.  Keep those English out! 

 

Remember when we spoke on the telephone?

When I was 11 I had a birthday party at my house.  I know this because I have photographic evidence of all the girls in my class sitting our settee.

When I was 16 I had a party at my house when all the girls and boys came.  I have no photographic evidence of this but it did happen.  It had all the elements of bad behaviour like any good 16th birthday celebration should.  The next day there were a few tears and voices raised in anger but I'm secretly proud that the neighbours were disturbed, the tropical fish had to suffer cider in their tank, some guests were in rooms they really shouldn't have been in and there was ash and spillages associated with under age drinking.

When I was 18 I had a bus load of people visit The Beer Keller in Newcastle (won the fancy knicker competition and was offered a job as a go-go dancer) who all paid towards the bus, had a good time at The Beer Keller, got back on the bus at the agreed departure time and all came home again. There is photographic evidence of this but it's not for general release.

The way that these parties were organised was through speaking to the people I wanted to invite. Those people were the people I wanted to come.  A fairly simple yet effective method with no agenda other than to have fun.  It went a bit like this "I'm having a party on  (insert date and time) do you want to come?" and the answer went a bit like this "Yes".  And then, here is best bit, they came to the party and had a good time.  In the run up to the party there was little to no communication necessary and on the day of the party people turned up at the right time at the designated place.  

 If I could not speak to them face to face then the alternative method of communication was over the telephone when a telephone number, which I had written in an address book or I had memorized, was dialed at an appropriate time when I estimated that person to be at home.  The message was conveyed and the response was immediate.

I don't remember a time when someone was doing something more interesting or didn't have time?

Obviously the people I was interacting with were teenagers without the burden of employment or the responsibility of babies or spouses but it seemed a very simple process.  Whereas in this age of smart phones and Facebook the process of inviting someone to anything seems to result in a cornucopia of flakiness and people who are so busy they cannot even reply with a cohesive answer or worst of all remain silent because they want to give the impression they are too busy.  The other message about the the 'silent' part is that it means a rejection but you have to guess that part yourself. 

Before the texting facility there wasn't any need to inform any one that you were on your way a number of times before you arrived , were lost, were running late or had a better offer and were not actually going to turn up as you had originally said.   This was also mostly impossible because once you left your own house you had no access to a phone unless you found a phone box, had the right change and knew the phone number of the person who was having the party.  If the party was not at a place where a phone could be answered none of the progress reports were possible and no one cared any way. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiLaukbxQMs

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFR4PPxp2z8

 

A Facebook event is also a cornucopia for misunderstanding as well as the presumption, by some, that because you have ticked the box indicating that you can't go, you feel the need to write a few sentences about just how much more exciting and interesting your life is that you can't go  to a planned event that someone has spent time planning and taken the time to appreciate you and invite you.

It goes a bit like this

Friend has invited you to an event - Party (date, time place)  

Going   Not Going  May Be

And you need to tick a box.  That is it.  What you are not asked to do is announce to the other invited guests that you can't go because:-

Sorry can't come because we'll be in The Maldives {or any other named luxury holiday destination which will evoke feelings of jealousy} having our best holiday ever in our lives. (sub text - having a better time than we would at your party)

Would love to come but we are so busy right now, you know what it's like?  (sub text  - going to work, coming home, eating and dealing with other stuff that life brings along just like every one else but frankly I can't be arsed and don't like you very much) 

Can I let you know next week? (sub text - I might have a better offer by then so I'm keeping my options open when I can outrageously reject your invitation in favour of someone else's but if their invitation doesn't seem all that good then I'll come to you)

Sorry can't come I have family gathering that day. (sub text  - I always have family stuff to do but I'm telling you this to make you understand that you are lowly on my scale of priorities).

 

In this new texting world some etiquette needs to be followed.  In the same way as good manners were taught to us when we were children, we all need some proper rules and guidelines to follow in the world of cyber communication. We can then teach these to our children who will then be able to operate in the 21st century in the right and proper way.  

Oh hang on!  By the time they grow up and enter the world of work there will be some other new way of communication that we hadn't even thought about and we'll be no further forward....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shakespeare in the Port - Taming of the Shrew

Festival of Shakespeare,

The Podium,

Cyberport,

Hong Kong

 

http://www.cyberport.hk/campaign/cyberlink/vol024/detail_page_4.html

 

20^th April 2014   Easter Sunday.

 

http://www.ticketflap.com/en/events/174/

 

 

I don’t go and see Shakespeare for the plot. I go and see how it is done.  The stage direction is truly up to the director and any form of creativity can be used.  This is the interesting aspect.  So going to an outdoor stage on a Sunday afternoon was intriguing.  Staging this play in an outside open arena, which relied on the voice projection of the cast with no microphones, back drop, curtains or lighting was a major challenge for most of the actors.  The Podium at Cyberport is an area suitable for 2,000 people and with some more creative seating ideas the few who were watching this play could have had a much better experience instead of the scattered and informal arrangement on Sunday.

 

I do really commend the organizers for this event and the very fact that it will continue until 4^th May is wonderful.  Bringing Shakespeare to the masses in an informal manner is an attempt to make it accessible to all. Encouraging the presence of young children is also good.  It was unfortunate that on Easter Sunday not many people came along.  The organizers attempts at having a family fun day in the open, sterile atmosphere of The Podium left us feeling lost in a shadeless space on a very hot day.  There was definitely not enough to keep us there for more than one play.   There seemed to be lots of staff but no one really knew what to do.  Perhaps on the days when the tickets are $150 and not $300 would equal more people?

 

I counted 50 people towards the closing act of Taming of the Shrew on Sunday.  This number drifted in and out throughout and was not consistent.  During the performance children played or became restless and had to be distracted in other ways towards the building at the back.  That resulted in more distracting noise, as well as the helicopter flying overhead and the ships in the port.   The slightly sloping arena with a low step and grass area was uncomfortable and undefined. The usual reverence offered to a drama was missing and, therefore, the hushed silence as the ‘curtain’ is drawn and the lights come on was lost. 

 

The actors valiantly played on.  Kate and Petruchio were outstanding.  I admired their energy tremendously and as it should be I did laugh at the comedic moments.  This is what Shakespeare wanted his audience to do and it did not pass me by that the original production would have been to a rowdy sweaty crowd in the day time with no electrics to enhance the sound.  And it could have rained, but it didn’t, so that was positive!

 

 

Macbeth by William Shakespeare - Hong Kong Players Ltd. April 2014

Macbeth by William Shakespeare

Production by Hong Kong Players Ltd

Hong Kong Arts Centre, Mcaulay Studio

2nd - 5th April, 2014

David Mersault - Macbeth, Thane of Glamis

 

Macbeth is one of the most performed Shakespearean tragedies, so I put it to you that going to see it is not about the plot or who dunnit or what happens at the end.  It is about how it is performed.  There is no need to alert any one about a plot spoiler because, well, you know who dies.

The Mcaulay Studio is small, seating only 76, if you all squash up cozy. Being so close to the actors, who are at floor level, the same as the first row, is intimate and a little scary, in a good way.  Perhaps not that good for latecomers who find themselves having to almost say 'Excuse me' to the actors as they attempt to be invisible and find a seat after it has started.  I hope those late comers get their act together in future and manage to be on time like the rest of us!

The set

A completely black minimalist set, with the throne at the centre for the whole performance, two swords hanging at the back and a black box to stand on to show power were the only items on stage.  All entrances and exits were simple with an interesting freeze of action to cross cut to another time and place.  This was an extremely effective technique which moved the plot along without the necessity for physical scene changes.

 

Costume

All characters were dressed in contemporary clothes of black or white with a subtle flash of red to represent all those things that temptress colour can symbolise. Passion, death, blood, anger, danger, war... Their weapons were guns and knives of various sizes.

 

Weird Sisters

The opening scene gave us those three weird sisters who we all love to hate and their presence on stage for much of the performance was wonderful.  Two young ones and one lady of a certain age who played the Punk Witch,  a terrific touch.  They each carried a large pole which they 'banged' on the floor at crutial points.  This was just one of many powerful moments of the performance.  Yes, it made us all jump.   The witches were involved in the death scenes, delivery of letters and phone calls bringing bad news and lead us to believe it was their prophecy and their meddling that made poor old Macbeth do the 'deed' which then brought him enough guilt to fill his mind with those scorpions he speaks of.  Their role stressed the importance of magic and witchcraft making us believe it was their prophecy and spells that made everything go so horribly wrong.

Macbeth

David Mersaultis a talented actor who made us believe it was only him who could see Duncan or Banquo as ghosts.  His portrayal of Macbeth was truly excellent.  The passion between him and Lady Macbeth was evident as well as his weakness and guilt as he deteriorates into a defeated man.  We need to see more of him in the future. 

That bitch (plot spoiler alert)

I like the idea of blaming the witches because I've always felt Lady Macbeth (that bitch) pushed her husband into brutally killing the King while he was asleep in his bed and then, pretended he had no idea how it had happened and then, because he wasn't sleeping too well at night, took it upon himself to arrange for the death of his best friend Banquo and then the wife and young children of Macduff.  While the whole incident filled Mr and Mrs Macbeth with incredible guilt, enough for her to top herself, Macbeth continued, as best he could, in his new King role believing that no man not born of women existed or Burnham Wood could get up and walk.  

Oh how wrong he was!

The young MacDuff and his death scene must get that young man an A* is whatever drama course he is on?

Music and Lights and even smoke 

There was smoke, there was the music of Nick Cave, there was a multi media video showing red blood and skulls.  This all added to the experience and a very unique production of Macbeth.  I did find that the music wasn't faded enough at certain points so the delivery of some crucial lines was lost.  This is a minor point and I do applaud Adam Harris for his dedication and commitment to theatre in Hong Kong.  This was a truly powerful production, full of witchcraft, fight scenes, murder, violence and lots of blood.  Isn't it marvellous that Shakespeare wrote this for an audience in 1606 and those themes and exploration are still a full-on family favourite today.

 

 

 

Abigail's Party - Hong Kong Players

Hong Kong Players Limited

Abigail's Party

by Mike Leigh

Directied by Jodi Gilchrist

McAulay Studio, Hong Kong Arts Centre, February 26th - March 1st, 2014

 1977 BBC Play for Today  

 

It did exactly what it said on the tin.  It was indeed a painful 100 minutes of British comedy.  I squirmed and cringed my way through the crass awkwardness feeling like an intruder, furtively peeking in through the net curtains at a party I wasn't invited to, but a party I desperately wanted to be part of.  

The scene is a chink of 1970s suburban life played out to the soundtrack of Donna Summer's Love to Love you Baby and Jose Feliciano's Come on Baby Light my Fire with a back drop of Novamura wallpaper.   

I wanted to look away, but at the same time I was compelled to see it out so I could be privy to the details of Beverly's party.  Beverly, hatefully portrayed by Moe Moss, with her lid to brow shock of eye make-up, matching her maxi dress,  flirted and schmoozed her way through the evening attending to her guests every need, poisoning them with her hospitality and exposing herself as the ignoramus Laurence knows she really is.  

Ange, played by Kath O'Connor, is so glibly unaware that the rest of the guests, including monosyllabic husband Tony, Jim Lewis, about-to-burst-a-blood-vessel Laurence, Chris Guiness, and of course Sue, Gail Southward,  are just as much irritated by her childish naivety as they are by Bev's superfluous hostess skills.  

As if is is not enough that we are subjected to witnessing the consumption of  pineapple and cheese on sticks, the persistent and irritating offering of cigarettes from a decorative cigarette box on the coffee table and the constant bickering between the hosts, we also have to watch, horrified, while Sue is slowly discharged of all dignity and Laurence becomes so incessantly stressed by Beverly's persona of kitchness he keels over and *dies.

If I had been a little more prepared I could have brought a cushion to hide behind during the closing scene so I could have shielded my delicate eyes from the unceremonious scrabble on the Berber rug and gone to bed thinking everyone went home and lived happily ever after...

I absolutely loved every moment of this production.  I had high expectations before taking my seat but I was not disappointed in any way.  

*I thought about this as a spoiler alert but frankly this play has been around since 1977 and if you don't know how it ends it's your fault. 

 

 

A Clockwork Orange - by Action to the World Theatre Company, London - Hong Kong tour

A Clockwork Orange directed by Alexandra Spencer-Jones

by Anthony Burgess

November 6-10 2013

Lyric Theatre, Wan Chai, Hong Kong

 

‘An outstanding all-male ensemble. The pure physicality and energy is astonishing. This is a show that everyone should experience.’★★★★★ WhatsOnStage

My ticket purchase was made months ago in order to secure a seat and experience this production.  A mixture of anxious anticipation with the possibility of having my senses battered and overwhelmed confused me.  My own experience of watching Stanley Kubrick's version had  left me disturbed and horrified but in no doubt that it is an excellent movie.

Extreme Cinema - Mark Kermode speaks  I highly recommend you take 4 minutes to listen to the good Doctor introducing A Clockwork Orange on Channel 4 who explains the background and why it was banned in 1971.

The simplistic black set with only a black table and chairs meant the actors used minimal props to symbolize and move the plot on.  The ensemble of nine males played every role, including the female character.  Dressed in black trousers and either a white vest or a black vest with contrasting black or white braces was occassionally supplemented with a sneeky pop of something orange. 

Action to the World is a physical theatre company and their depiction throughout is balletic  and beautiful.  The implied violence through skilled choreography was enough to be explicit in the mind.  The Shakespearean delivery of the dialogue using Alex and his Droogs own language evoked a terrifying and enthralling experience, luring us in to the seedy violent world of disenchanted adolescence and gang boredom. 

It was utterly brilliant and without a doubt one of the best stage performances I have seen in Hong Kong.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Le Crazy Horse Paris - Lyric Theatre, Hong Kong

Sexy Army   You Tube clip (take a peek!)

 

It was with immense anticipation that I took my seat in the Lyric Theatre, Wan Chai, Hong Kong on the evening of 19th September.  I bought the tickets feeling quite flushed with excitement at the very thought of watching a burlesque show.  Or was it that the high ticket price made my heart race?  I mean, what would my mother think?  It was billed as being an erotic performance for over 18s only.  

 

Please take some time to watch the You Tube clip which is the opening act of the show - Sexy Army.

 

Did you watch it?  What did you think?  My first thought was "Small tits"  then after a minute and a half of nothing much happening I thought "Yeh so, when does the erotic dancing start?"

The female form is a wonderful thing.  I appreciate the curves and their beauty.  Crazy Horse has been running for 60 years in a darkened intimate club where the audience is at close proximity to the nakedness and wine, possibly, is being consumed.  I can see that the term erotic is appropriate in such a context.  But in the soulless space of the A.P.A. and the comatosed audience that is the norm rather than the exception in Hong Kong on a Thursday night - frankly it was dull dull dull.

Oh yeh - apart from the bit when the super bendy flexible hip hop male dancer, fully dressed, wowed us with his moves.  That was great.

After the first couple of routines I looked at my friend and she looked back.  We shrugged with puzzled expressions.  We were still hopeful that it would get better, that it would actually become exciting.  The two elderly ladies with their tight grey curly perms in front of us were certainly well equipped with their binoculars - but I suspect they were as disappointed as we were.  It didn't get any better.  

We - meaning us - meaning the 21st Century - are used to sexy dancing.  We see it on MTV every day.  Beyonce and Britney have been doing it for years and doing it to a much higher standard.  Plus they can sing. A few girls with their tits and arses out - moving quite slowly, lacking excitement or originality just didn't cut it.  

 

TEDx Hong Kong ED - School's Out

TEDx HongKong - ED

Saturday 15th June 2013 10am - 4pm

633 Kings Road, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong

 

Website for more information  click here

Ideas Worth Spreading

'The fact is that given the challenges we face, education doesn’t need to be reformed — it needs to be transformed'

-Sir Ken Robinson

I discovered TED Talks on You Tube a few years ago and I use it from time to time in my classes.  Sometimes I come across one that really hits the spot of a particular concept I want to explain and sometimes they are just so damn interesting I bring them into my classroom to inspire my students. The point is that speakers on TED Talks can present an idea so much better than I can.

For instance I grew weary of listening and watching my students do presentations locked in the the restricting mind numbing Microsoft world that is PowerPoint.  I decided to have a power point free year.  I showed them all the TED Talk - A Modest Proposal,  David Bohannon explaining a scientific concept through dance and although didn't expect them to bring that exactly into the small space in front of the whiteboard, I did expect some imagination and creativity so they would at least think about presenting their ideas differently.  I got it.  I had Y7s playing music, rapping, singing, role playing and making art in stead of reading their dry power points.

Click here for more inspiration

When I start teaching the IB English A Language & Literature course (International Baccalaureate site) and all that it involves, the following TED Talk - Jay Walker on the World's English Mania is a marvellous introduction and discussion point for my students to start thinking about the way English is used around the world.  

When I became aware that TEDx was coming to Hong Kong to talk about education I quickly registered and bought my early bird ticket in order to secure my place.  

The event in Quarry Bay was from 10am - 4pm and we were encouraged to register by 9am to ensure a seat.  I felt it would be quite a test of our dwindling concentration spans as I read the itinerary.  As any teacher knows keeping the attention of an audience involves short bursts of information with a variety of ever changing strategies to hold their interest.   Overall this was achieved and the clever addition of the most coordinated man on the planet, Chris Brien and his percussion group 'Tribe' was inspired.  Of course he didn't just perform, he explained his notion that rhythm can bring out creativity, improve IQ levels and boost the immune system  Mozambique Drum Lesson 40 .

I obeyed the instructions and  got there early to take my seat on the 1/F.  It was announced that there were 1000 people attending the event which was actually in the space of the Island Evangelical Community Church and on two floors.  1/F where the stage was with the real live speakers, and 2/F where it was streamed onto to screens.  The rooms were very nicely appointed but surely there are bigger spaces in Hong Kong where everyone could be seated on the same floor?  

When it came to a break and my entitlement to a free drink, I felt that in the short time and given the amount of people, would mean there was no chance to join that queue as well as the queue for the ladies toilets!  Good job I'd brought my own.

I have a feeling that God had kind of sneaked into this event through the back door.   But we were sat in a church so may be he did use the same entrance as everyone else?  Brett Hillard the Senior Pastor of Island ECC spoke with ease, was engaging and certainly made this atheist think.   I was particularly impressed with his creative marketing and brochure ideas and am still allowing the phrase "If you are not failing you are not trying" run through my mind.  

I had my eyes opened by Julian Zhu, excuse the pun, to an organisation called Dialogue in the Dark

Activities to book which is, according to Trip Advisor, Hong Kong's most popular attraction.  DiD is an experiential venue to help understand what it is like to be visual impaired.  With a white cane in hand and eyes bound shut you are guided around a variety of every day places for 175 minutes. There are options for Eating in the Dark and Birthdays in the Dark.The summer holiday is coming up and I certainly intend to visit.

Merijn Everaarts was compelling regarding the epidemic of one use plastic containers used in Hong Kong and his illustrations and statistics really did bring home the message that we will soon drown in waste.  He has developed a sustainable plastic bottle called The Dopper and The Dopper Water & Waste Academy aims to empower citizens to take personal responsibility for reducing waste.  Note to self - tap water in Hong Kong is safe so why do I buy it in bottles?  

From a personal point of view I have been teaching in Hong Kong for 10 years now.  I did my PGCE at The University of Hong Kong and have worked in local schools.  The message I left HKU with was that I should be a 'change agent' and bring about change in the syllabus by incorporating new ways of teaching into the schools in Hong Kong where students are under a vast amount of pressure to pass exams and constant testing evades every waking hour.  Unfortunately the waking hours seem to be once the students are home and in the middle of the night.  Sleeping in class is so common it is acceptable behaviour.  Sleeping in the staff room is also acceptable.   I am not in the local system at the moment but I know that educational reform in Hong Kong is an up hill battle.  I cannot comprehend why any reform is resisted but find it a complete paradox that research regarding new ways of teaching in Hong Kong is blinkered.  The so called 'new ways' of teaching are not in any way new, they go on in the rest of the world as common good practice but in Hong Kong if they are not sitting in rows and passing or failing tests, are not under stress to complete after school tuition or are not carrying spine crushing bags they are not good students.   It was, therefore, with great interest and expectation  that when Sophie Leung took the stage with her tag line 'Instilling Hope to Students in a Skewed Education System' I thought I would hear something new.  She fell well short of the mark and was yet another Hong Kong voice of empty cliches with no actual concrete idea.  

Dr Yvonne Chiu was a very interesting speaker with an array of extremely complex ideas, notions and theories.  Since I returned from TEDx I have read more about her ideas, she made me curious and wanting more.  She had an impact on me.

Peter Kenny, who was last, and I guess was 'top of the bill' was extremely engaging and obviously used to the stage.  He spoke of inclusion, international schools and local schools building links to address the situation we currently have in Hong Kong of having huge waiting lists for international schools yet local primary schools closing down in the local system with not enough students to attend them.  My only complaint was that I wanted him to speak for longer.

CEO Reach Education Organization 

There were 13 speakers expressing their ideas about education in Hong Kong and asking us to question whether we are doing the right thing for children, the  city itself and the future.  Each segment will be available to the public via the recordings made on the day so everyone has the opportunity to listen. 

 

 

 

 

Hong Kong Problems - the play - a review

 

There is singing, dancing and a cute guy with his shirt undone.

 

I went on a pilgrimage to see this play.  I am on Facebook and I 'liked' their page.  I followed various instructions and clicked on various points in order to find out the time, the place, the date and the price of the ticket.  I don't consider myself to be particularly technologically challenged but I found this information very difficult to see clearly from their page and so when I eventually made it to The Beating Heart theatre space (down a slope into a car park, up in an unmarked lift to the 8/F of Cheung Fat Building

7-9 Hill Road

Shek Tong Tsui

and paid my $150 I really felt quite proud to have succeeded in my mission to attend.   Of course the two members of the cast standing at the top of the aforementioned slope were a big clue and I was grateful for their prescence.  What I really needed was a much easier way to buy a ticket and a map to the venue.  Forgive me all involved but I live in Sai Kung afterall.

 

 

cast in action

 

Hash Tag HK Problems under score The Play, to give it its full and correct title, is a series of sketches depicting the moments of frustration we all feel at times, living and working as expats in this city of rules and regulations with his confounding language.  There are a few bloggers who do this online, me for instance, and Hong Kong Expattery is always funny (I wish it was mine) Hong Kong Expattery and probably many others.  Meaghan McGurgan and Eric Krueger have now gone one step further and made the concept into a stage play, it could even be called

Hash Tag HK Problems under score The Musical as there is much singing and dancing happening along the way. Oh and did I say it was funny?  Well it is.  I laughed a number of times throughout the performance and so did the audience and, therefore, it can be called Hash Tag HK Problems under score The Comedy Show too.

I found the cute (yes he was SO cute in those shorts) P3 student hilarious with his obsequious presentation skills which, no doubt, will carry him through the education system and into a leadership role in no time at all.  I could also relate to the question to the 'class' 'Why do we have red packets at Chinese New Year?" and answer is always "To get money" and no one ever knows anything else about it and I find myself, as the only westerner in the classroom, explaining traditions and rituals of Chinese New Year in Hong Kong to Chinese students! 

The rain scene with the very cleverly choreographed umbrellas and the fierce little old lady was particularly good and the 'dirty little secret' skit was good to include.  Although I wasn't entertained by the domestic abuse scene supposedly going on in the bedroom.  Perhaps a little too much of a generalising stereotypical view point which puts you in danger, on that pesky thin ice arena, of bordering on the offensive and steering a bit too far away from the comedy element which we were all there to enjoy.  And while I am on the subject of being entertained perhaps toning down the swearing would be funnier than relying on expletives to get the laughs and concentrate on the good material that you've got to work with?  Just saying.

 

Facebook page

 A taster of what to expect on the night.   How Not to be an asshole on the MTR

 

click to view and 'like'.

There is talk of Hash Tag HK Problems under score The Play being performed again this month and so look out on Facebook where you'll, hopefully, find clear instructions on when and where its on and how to buy a ticket.