syncopation

Melbourne is not on the list!

I was looking for a Moleskine City Notebook of Melbourne so that I could document all the places I love in Melbourne before I leave – and apparently I have thought too much of Melbourne as a city important enough for Moleskine to publish a city notebook…

Interestingly, neither is Sydney important enough or any cities on the southern hemisphere..!

But I thought I am pretty good at going to important cities :P

And yeah, I know, I know, Moleskine is an overpriced piece of crap.

HK tram in the global context…

Old news, but apparently Hong Kong tram’s were elected last year by National Geographic as one of the top ten trams among the 500 world’s greatest tram ride, the following is not in particular order:

I love trams in Hong Kong :D

BUPD thesis – Cycling and Women – check!

Okay, time for me to reactive this little blog before everyone thinks that I am dead. This also leads me to tell you… I am done with my thesis!!!

For those of you who don’t know my thesis topic, it is on Cycling and Women: a comparable case study of City of Bayside and City of Hobsons Bay. I chose this topic mainly because of my exchange in Lund, Sweden where biking is life and everyone cycles (including toddlers, skinny men and women, big men and women, and old gents and old ladies who all bike faster than I do…). But when I came back to Melbourne, the scene is completely different. Majority of the cyclists are men in lycra who race for their life. Therefore I decided to investigate the underlying cause of this phenomenon… and have it completed today:

I would like to take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude to:

By extension, I would also like to thank Vic who taught my how to bike before I went to Sweden when I was 21 years old… and everyone who had involved in a bike crash with me, especially… Simon. You all made me a better cyclist. :)

Lastly, I would like to draw your attention to the beautiful cover which the main picture is not my work but Marc of Amsterdamize.com. Marc granted me the permission to modify and use the picture for my thesis. I picked this picture because the mother was teaching her daughter to cycle which symbolises a sustainable future which could only be achieved if both men and women help minimising the carbon emission by adopting non-motorised transportation; and we can ride in casual clothes as oppose to lycra! In my eyes, this picture is exactly what I want for Melbourne’s future and is a magical fit for my thesis! Thanks Marc :)

Now, if Inner North Melbourne public transport planning assignment can get out of my way, I can’t wait to bike again!

If you are interested in the topic and don’t mind reading 15,000 word of academic writings…. please feel free to use the contact form and ask for a PDF copy – I’d be happy to share my findings with you!

Maybe trees and cars can co-exist after all…

A must-see for Yat!

To Make a Tree:

The planters are 1:1 scale cars made of fibreglass that contain trees which are then “parked” along Milan’s fashionable via Montenapoleone.

From the organizers:

Until September 30th, the street par excellence of Milan’s fashion hub will host the initiative “Per fare un albero” (“To make a tree”), the result of an idea of the Municipality of Milan – Department for Design, Events and Fashion in collaboration with Fiat Automobiles.

Twenty fibreglass structures in the shape of the Fiat 500C, created by the designer Fabio Novembre in a 1:1 scale, containing trees of different shapes and sizes will, in fact, be positioned in via Montenapoleone to colour and make the summer more liveable in the Lombardy capital.

After via Montenapoleone, the unique creations of “Per fare un albero” will be transferred to other areas in the city, in order to keep it alive during the remaining months of the year.

Better yet, maybe they can refurb all the unwanted cars, plant trees in them and put them somewhere somehow…

Fabs – have you seen them? I bet you are planning to go check it out now :P

World’s Best Cities for Foodies

World’s Best Cities to Eat Well – Forbes.com

10. Shanghai
9. Milan
8. Beijing
7. Hong Kong
6. Madrid
5. Barcelona
4. Mexico City
3. Tokyo
2. Rome
1. Paris

Six down, four to go.
And… I totally agree with the list – at least for the ones that I have been to!

(via Siutam)

via Helsinki

As a matter of fact, I do love Helsinki Vantaa Airport even though it was just a brief encounter :)

What to do/Where to go in Hong Kong

As a native of Hong Kong, here’s what I think every tourist should go or do in Hong Kong:

1. Mid-level escalator system – it’s one of a kind in the world. It’s free and you get to spend time in the vibrant SOHO too!
2. SOHO – short for south of Hollywood Road – it’s well connected to Central via the Mid-level escalator system. The area is dotted with indie retail stores, designer galleries, some local retail outlets, some of the best local eateries, and food from all corners of the world.
3. Night time tram ride – I am a complete junkie for sitting on the front row of the top deck. I think it’s completely romantic that you can see the hustle and bustle of the streets yet you are far from all the noises unless of course the person who you are sitting next to are not on the phone or too chatty…
4. Night time star ferry ride on the lower deck – it’s cheaper than the upper deck – but I don’t think it’s always opened. I first got to ride on the lower deck the first time of my life in January and I loved it. I think it’s the closeness to the water and the sound of the water splashing against the ferry that you don’t get to hear from the upper deck.
5. Ngon Ping 360 Cable Car – it’s absolutely breath-taking. NP360 is the cable car that runs on Lantau Island, it will take you to the Great Buddha and the Ngon Ping Market. If I remember correctly, you can also catch a bus from the Great Buddha to Tai O, a fishing village on the island. I’d say that’d make a great day trip!
6. Do a little bit of hiking! Much of the land is dominated by hills, I’d say you are missing out on 70% of the landscape if you don’t set a foot on one of the hills. If you do not feel adventurous, take the Peak tram and have a easy walk on the Peak on the paved paths. You will also get the best view from the Peak of all the high rises too!
7. There are two major amusement parks in Hong Kong. The worldly one would be the Hong Kong Disneyland on Lantau Island. However if you have already been to a Disneyland before, I would suggest you not to waste your time there and go to Ocean Park instead. Ocean Park has one of the most impressive aquariums that I have ever been to. Plus, it’s the only place you can see a panda in Hong Kong! There are also heaps of rides and cable-car ride for free (once you pay the admission).
8. I do not consider Lan Kwai Fong can be missed.
9. Visit a local wet market – you will see fish with heads or even fish that has been dissect, jumping up and down there!
10. Go to a country park – HK is not all urban area, in fact, I think more land is greenery than urban in HK. Some of them near Sai Kung are my personal favourites.
11. Tin Hau for food!

Some of the list might coincide with the official tour guide of HK and some of them might not be. But I have done all the things and been to all the places that I have suggested, and I really like them even as a local… so there you go and enjoy your time there :)

P.S. I did not mention any place for shopping… but they are not hard to tell once you get there since I don’t think any urban area in HK is without shopping. Anyway, in case you live in the woods and have no one to go to, the popular shopping areas are Causeway Bay, Mong Kok, Tsim Sha Tsui and Central.

六四貼文貼圖　June 4th Juni 4 VIIV

本來準備嘔心瀝血一番。但最後還是不了了之，被單車和女人淹沒了。反正寫得比我好的大有人在．．．

是的，我們要懂得寬恕，我們不能讓歷史的差池變成窒礙前進的包袱。我們可以寬恕，但我們不能忘記。六四的歷史烙印在我們良知之上，我們不能忘記這個恥辱。知恥近乎勇，中國人要是個不知恥的民族，那麼中華民族便是個沒有尊嚴的民族，是一群沒有勇氣面對歷史的懦夫。孩子，我們不僅是為了麵包而活着，我們更是為了尊嚴而活着，這些你都是知道的。

「今日，中國強大了，作為中國人，我們應該感到驕傲才對，何苦自揭瘡疤，讓別人看不起我們？」

孩子，不要相信這些說話。中國並不強大，國家強大，靠的不只是經濟力量，更還要有道德的力量。中國如果真的強大了，便應該有所自重為六四而羞恥，自信地面對瘡疤，謙卑地為過去的暴行懺悔。

今日的中國卻是一副財大氣粗的暴發戶口脗：「當時要不是鎮壓暴動，我們又會有今日的繁榮嗎？」我真的不明白，造就今日繁榮的動力，不是來自經濟開放，來自享有更大的自由的人民嗎？如果殘殺人民可以締造繁榮，那又還用開放嗎？統治者為什麼那麼害怕手無寸鐵的學生？

中共顯然認為經濟繁榮了，老子便大晒。人民有飯吃，那便可以掩飾所有暴行，一切壞事都合理化了起來？孩子，暴發戶會贏得你的尊重嗎？暴發戶可以令一個國家真正強大起來嗎？最近不是有個暴發戶大言不慚地揚言：「我有這許多錢，我怎會做壞事？」這是道理嗎？當然不是，這個你是明白的。

一個民族的核心價值是其文化和精神本質。不懂得反省的民族，又何以建立優良的文化？沒有廉恥，又何來精神力量？沒有文化、沒有廉恥的民族可以強大起來嗎？當然不可能。孩子，我們的中國並不強大。膽怯、自卑不敢面對自己的過去的國家，怎可能是個巨人？

孩子，到有一天你可以面對自己的錯誤，你才真正長大了。中國亦一樣，到有一天中國政府不再害怕人民，敢於面對自己的錯誤，謙卑地向人民懺悔：「對不起，我們錯了。」到那一天，中國才開始強大起來。

﹣黎智英

對「六四」，當然由於立場不同而有不同的看法。每個人對任何事件，都可以有不同的看法，但不能否定事實。例如說，一件紅衣裳，你可以說它好看、也可以說它難看，但不能說它不是紅色。同理，可以說「六四」 軍隊殺學生殺得好，可以說殺學生是暴政，但不能說沒有殺學生。

﹣倪匡

去年牛津。

火車站

除了香港電車上層以及天星小輪下層以外，我覺得火車站又是一個很浪漫的地方。不過呢個ＯＰＴＩＯＮ貴一點，因為我所講的火車站和香港的「火車站」很不同。

香港有幸，公共交通之發達己發達至不用擔心其速度及可靠度。（不是說它完全沒有問題，但除了其價格高昂外，真的沒有甚麼可以挑剔。）

可是香港人也無福享受火車站的浪漫﹣火車站經常人頭湧湧，行人如梭，有浪漫先奇。再者，香港的火車密度一班又一班，跟地鐵的班次密度無異，實在是世界唯一。可又，每隔五分鐘的嘟嘟嘟嘟以及月台廣播真的將所有閒情一掃而空，有浪漫都變無浪漫。

火車站的浪漫在於火車那種依依不舍的速度和親密感。火車和飛機的速度不同，你可以追火車看著你要說再見的人徐徐隨火車開動而離去，但你不可以追飛機。再加上如今的機場自９１１以來就有如驚弓之鳥，ＳＥＣＵＲＩＴＹ要ＣＨＥＣＫ呢樣ＣＨＥＣＫ個樣。在禁區前流躂多一陣都會惹來保安哥哥的好奇，實在諗起都掃興。

我想，我心中理想的火車站應該是歐洲的（大）火車站：倫敦ＫＩＮＧ’Ｓ　ＣＲＯＳＳ車站的古色古香，柏林車站的摩登和井井有條，馬爾墨車站的安守本份，哥本哈根和斯多哥爾摩車站之堂皇，一一都教我難以忘懷。我亦曾在隆德車站管接管送，在米蘭車站被追火車。那情那景絕對是我想牢牢記著一世的。

當然，凡事總有例外，因為我真的不能由衷的覺得我漏了往米蘭火車的巴黎里昂車站浪漫，我只記得它很大很大，大得我趕不上去米蘭的火車。我也不覺得捷克的ＰＬＺＥＮ車站很美。我只記得自己獨個兒在三七吾識二十一，又冷的地方在凌晨等了兩個鐘頭接駁火車往ＣＨＥＢ．．．

那麼，墨爾本的火車站呢？

應該是受到了本地城市規劃教育的影響，我對它火車站的感情無從入手。我只想到它的髒，它的誤點和不安全。

The evolution from 22 to 23

I think I have written enough ‘last year of today’ post in the past 10 months and in light of this special day, I thought I was going to write something different – but my friends can’t seem to let it go more than I do – they kept reminding me all the good times we had last year! But hey, you know what they say, history shouldn’t be forgotten, be it a dead-rat in drawer or hide-and-seek or multi-lingual birthday songs.

Indeed, I don’t think any birthday is going to top last year – which is kinda sad. But I guess every birthday is special in its own way. And this birthday signifies an evolution of me…

I didn’t organise anything real… No, hold on, I organised a world-wide ‘thinking of Janice’ party – it should still be carrying on as of the moment I am writing this, given the time difference between Australia and the Americas. I suggested a list of activities that willing participants can do with the theme of party (thinking of Janice), such as, making pancakes, drinking tequila, and rolling on the grass under the sun. So really, what happened is just that the approach has changed: Instead of a top-down party planner where activity is centralised and controlled, I have empowered participants to create their own party central to the main theme. So, I guess, from last year to this year, I have… been totally indoctrinated (or poisoned) by all the planning theories!!!

Anyways, back from the non-sense to something more solid. Wishing for a birthday with good weather is harder than I thought – Melbourne’s weather had been absolutely flaky lately! I couldn’t be sure that I will be graced by a day with warming sunshine until I see a clear sky from my room this morning. Because BOM kept telling me that today will be partly cloudy – and partly cloudy definitely does not constitute as good weather – at least not in Melbourne winter… But at last, I did get warming sunshine and had taken advantage of it: I went to Carlton Espresso for a really yummy brunch. Then I met up with Irene and bought finally bought a pair of jammie pants – ripped my old pair last night and it was definitely too big a rip to be repaired. I also got to have cup cakes which I had been craving since two weeks ago! But that’s not all, my birthday celebration actually started the night before – my twin cousins came to my apartment with flowers and cheesecake last night… on orders from my aunt!

Ahhhhhhhh all the indulgence, how am I going to jump back into the 5000 word research proposal tomorrow?

Tack för din birthday wishes och stor kram och puss til dig :D