END OF FIN YEAR

Hoorah! Had a good one... praying the new fin year is also good to me

SONGS OF PRAISE - ALED JONES

I know this will be confusing for you, while I identify as a buddhist, we go to church and I'm an avid watcher of the BBC's Songs of Praise which is shown in Australia on Sunday on the ABC.

Songs of Praise I'm sure, was originally produced for the elderly and housebound who could not get to church on Sundays. In the old days it was just a series of hyms with lyrics so you can sing along and join the worship.

These days, there's alot more production value and even a rotation of hosts. One of which is Aled Jones. From what I can tell he was a child singing sensation and, while not a chart topper, his fame continues until today.

One of my favourite episodes is The restoration of Gorton Monastery episode in June 08, and which wasn't shown here until June 09. Basically it tells of a five year struggle by the community to restore their beloved church in Manchester and in the process turn it into a community space.

Aled sings one of my favourite hyms, Be Still (for the presence of the Lord).

MICHAEL JACKSON AND FARRAH FAWCETT

Friday, 26th June 2009 is a weird day with the passing of two international icons, Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett.

Of course poor Farrah's news was out first, only to be dwarfed by the tragedy that was MJ's and only MJ can create.

While I liked Michael's music, I was never a huge fan. While driving into work, I was listening to the unfolding news on the radio and following it on twitter.. you know, starts of with unconfirmed news of MJ rushed to hospital with heart attack, then confirmed, then unconfirmed news of MJ being dead.... then what seems like an eternity before it was confirmed, full marks for TMZ website for being first and being spot on.

But I was sad for MJ, someone who had so much talent and was so loved, yet was unable to find happiness and love, he was apparently on 9 types of drugs and anti-depressants before he had the heart attack and died at age 50.

I found it sad because it's a grand tragedy of lives of many who can not come out and so are forever living out two lives, never finding themselves and happiness.

RIP MJ.

Lotus Flower

As a buddhist, I appreciate the lotus flower has special significance. And we all know the idea of something beautiful growing out of potentially dirty ugly water.

Recently we were in Macau and got the chance to go to a little local park/garden which had many lotus flowers in bloom. I took these pics that, when I look at it now, just takes my breath away.

BALI HOLIDAYS

Already planning my next holiday. We're off to Bali early October for the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival.

Unlike the recent Macau/HK trip, this one is planned, and I'm seriously considering the Pita Maha resort in Ubud (pictured). 90% sure I'm booking there... because, apart from being gorgeous, I'd like to be able to say the resort looks over the Oos River!

Haven't settled on where we'll say in Kuta yet, problem is, the nice places aren't on the beach front - and this time, we want beach front!

Peanut butter, condensed milk and well, butter!

One of our favourite snacks in Macau and Hong Kong is this heart starter, or should I say heart stopper, which consists of toast bread, either a roll as shown here, or thick bread that is heavily buttered, then generously spread with peanut butter and drizzled (sounds almost healthy) with condensed milk.

On our last day in Macau we found this place called simply Macau Restaurant near our hotel, which also adds an entire slab of butter on top of the whole thing... as you can see proudly modelled by Walter here.

Smoking Macau Airport

Coming from Australia and also being used to Hong Kong being so restrictive on smoking (can't smoke in restaurants, public places etc in HK), it always comes as a shock that people can smoke just about anywhere in Macau.

That shouldn't be surprising given Macau caters for obsessive personalities, whether it's gambling, sex, drink or smoke.

Many a nice meal have been less nice when your neighbour lights up!

I was at Macau airport waiting for our flight back to Sydney on Monday 8th June. Luckily the place was non smoking, but I could smell cigarette smoke, I swear it... however, all the signs says non smoking and I couldn't see anyone lighting up.

Then I noticed in one corner a smoking area. As you can see by the picture, there was no attempt to enclose that area. I don't care how good they think their exhaust system may be, I could smell the smoke from 50 metres away!

Dad and me

Dad turned 88 this month and we're always amazed at how healthy he is. Until last year he was still driving, and still his memory for numbers, phone numbers, addresses etc is just remarkable.

I admire him profoundly, can't even imagine what Nam Van Ngo must have gone through, the second world war, the Vietnam war and trying to settle in America and then for the past 30 years in Australia.

I was going through my pics and found this one from my step sister's engagement party last month. I forget how much I love him until I see a pic like this.

CITY OF DREAMS - CROWN TOWERS

We happened to be in Macau on 1 June, when they opened the City of Dreams and new casino monstrosity opposite the Venetian on the Cotai Strip, near the Macau Airport.

City of Dreams includes the new Crown Towers, Hard Rock Cafe Hotel and the Hyatt... all in one glittering, well they'd like to describe it as glittering, others less kind, might say it was a monstrous waste of money and the glitz and glam, as usual masks the same old tacky casino.

Apparently the opening got coverage in Australia because Jamie Packer is a shareholder and Leighton Holdings also helped build the facility.

We were on hand at the 8pm opening, but there were just too many people queueing to get in for us to go through and kick some tyres. But here's a pic from the outside.

Modern Toilet

Went to dinner tonight at Modern Toilet in Mongkok, a restaurant that is er, well themed around the er, well, modern toilet.

The seats are toilets, food served in toilet inspired containers, there's even regular flushing of toilet that is pipped through the building.

The dessert here, well leaves very little to the imagination.

Modern Toilet is a Japanese concept that has spread to Taiwan and Hong Kong

Eaton Hotel

We booked a hotel that was on special for our unplanned trip to Hong Kong. To my great surprise, the Eaton was extremely comfortable, great service, and in Jordan, is in an extremely good location - not far from the MTR and from the eateries around temple st markets.

We ended up on the 18th floor which had great views toward Mongkok.

The rooms were their standard (basic) room, quite small, but that's expected of Hong Kong hotel. Otherwise and extremely pleasant 5 night stay!

Hong Kong High Rise... what more do I need to say?

Old Woman, Man Mo Temple

In the middle of the throng of tourist and locals and the suffocating incense fumes, sits an old lady chanting Buddhist sutra in Man Mo Temple, Hong Kong

Coil Incense

Walter says I always take too many pics of coiled incense. He's right, but I can't help it, they are mesmerising. I always think of them as a thing of perfect beauty and elegant in their concentric circle shape.

They remind me of life and death. I guess that's why they are so perfect in temples.

This pic was taken today in Man Mo Temple, Hong Kong Central

Star Ferry, Hong Kong

Walter saw one of his favourite movies called La Moustache (the mustache), it was a French film about a French man losing his identity and coping with it apparently by travelling backwards and forwards between Hong Kong Central and Kowloon.

We took a ride today. It was sooo nice, hard to explain, but it was just so quaint and such a blast from the past, but at the same time, ultra efficient and wonderful.

Mui Wo, Hong Kong

On the recommendation of Jim, we went to check out Mui Wo and in particular, Silver Mine Beach.

It was pretty hot and sticky so it was probably the right weather to head to the beach, except Walter and I were both in Jeans and bought no swimmers.

It was suprising how deserted the beach was, although it was obvious that this was a weekend destination.

We took down a couple of names of hotels that might be good to stay at in the future, including the Mui Wo Inn at the end of the beach. They're pretty run down and modest, but would be fun for a weekend in the future.

The weather was glorious and we did take lots of cute pics.

MACAU

This was an unplanned holiday thanks to a ridiculously low Viva Macau special fare. We’re doing six nights in Macau and five in Hong Kong.

It’s our third trip to Macau, we went on a whim the first time but have fallen in love with this crazy, contradictory place.

A former Portuguese colony, Macau was only handed back to China in 1999. So you’ve got the Western heritage, contrast with Hong Kong influence, which is now mixed with China. There’s the indigenous people of Macau and the newer Filipino working population. It’s a wild and wonderful mix that sounds strange, but I think it’s ultimately very successful.

If you think you can’t drive in Fairfield without bumping into a courtesy bus from the Clubs, you should see Macau. There are literally a fleet of over 100 buses from the various casinos and hotels on this Island.

And the first and most obvious thing you notice in Macau are the casinos. The gaudiest has to be the Grand Lisboa, which looks like a lotus rising out of a giant bauble, the entire place glistening with light and ever changing colour. The newest is the City of Dreams, which only opened its door on 1st June and houses the new Crown Casino, Hard Rock Cafe Hotel and Hyatt hotel.

The next thing you notice is the number of Catholic churches, a Portuguese legacy. There are wonderful examples to be seen including Sao Domingo on Senado Square, and Sao Laurenzo (St Lawrence). They are incredibly well maintained; I’m not sure where the money comes from because every time we go, there doesn’t seem to be anybody but tourists.

The Portuguese architecture is just stunning and many buildings stand out with their bright yellow wash. The most famous landmark is St Paul’s ruins which is no more than a façade, the church was destroyed over 400 years ago, but remains is now a world famous landmark.
The lookout on Guia hill gives you an appreciation of Portuguese architecture and at the same time, stunning, uninterrupted views of the Macau.

Then there’s the Chinese and Buddhist influence. Larger examples include A-Ma temple at Barra, A-Ma statue on the hills of Coloane and Kun Lam (Kwan Yin) statue on the lake off Avenida Dr Sun Yat-Sen. But smaller, neighbourhood temples can be found just about anywhere – reminiscent of the house temples in Cabramatta.

Food is a mixture of influences too. Portuguese custard tarts are warm, melt in the mouth sensations which is widely available and utterly delicious. At Lord Stowe coffee shop/bakery in Coloane you get delicious tarts and great old world Portuguese atmosphere.

Pork schnitzel wrapped in a bread bun is another specialty, of the several places we had it, my favourite was at Margaret’s Cafe e Nata just off Rua do Dr Pedro Jose Lobo.

But food wise, I’d say my favourite was Wong Chi Kei noodle shop off Senado Square. Since 1946 the place has been turning out egg noodle, both thin and thick in the world’s tastiest soup and accompanied by prawn dumplings. We’re regular customers every morning, it makes a great breakfast!

It’s easy to pigeon hole Macau as just a casino town. Believe me, gambling is not my thing, but scratch the surface, and you’ll find there’s a lot of similarities with Cabramatta and a lot to love