Signs in Lok Ma Chau

When you reach the other side of Lok Ma Chau (the customs of the Chinese mainland), you might come across these two signs.

A drawing by an autistic boy

This picture of the Japanese MTR routes was drawn by an autistic boy who can memorise every single detail of the whole system. Isn't it amazing?

The candlelight vigil

I joined the June-4's 20th candlelight vigil this year. I was not enthusiastic in the past few years. I used to think it was the job of the activists. This year I thought I could not stay quiet any more. There were a few reasons for me to come out. First, to pay homage to victims of the crackdown and to call for vindication of those who lost their lives. Second, as the focus of this year, to pass the message onto the future generations. The Tiananmen slaughter is not known much by the youngsters who were born after 1989. For political reasons, the crackdown was not mentioned much in the text books. The whole incident will be distorted if the youngster do not know the truth. Third, thanks to our Chief Executive, Donald Tsang, who wanted to represent me. I came out because I wanted to tell him he could not represent us.

I was happy to join the vigil because I could be one of the 150,000 people to light a candle. I was pleased to see the young students who stood up to lay a wreath on the stage. I was happy to see so many young people there. I was proud to be a Hongkonger and shamed to be a Chinese. Why our leaders cannot put down their pride to accept the guilt? Why the fallen and their family have still been suffering since 1989? Why the Chinese people still do not have freedom and democracy? The communists in Russia and Eastern Europe were knocked down and why not in Chinese? That's what I am shamed of.

This is the candle I lit.

My students' pictures

Marking students' homework may not be so boring. Look at some of my students' pictures and you will know why.

I like this washing machine most. Can you see the clothes inside being washed at the moment?:-)

A fresh meal

Always dream of having a garden where I can grow herbs and vegetables. And like Jammy Oliver taking plants from the garden for cooking.

When I stayed with a lady in Brighten one summer, I saw her taking 'jade green lettuce' from her garden for her sandwich for lunch. I was so JEALOUS (in a positive way). I really wish I could do that in my life.

Last weekend, there was a flower show at our shopping centre. I saw they sell Basil there. Then I bought a pot immediately. I put a couple of leaves into the mince beef to make burger in the evening. It smelt really nice. I felt great because I imagined I was in England going to the garden to get fresh plants for cooking ;-)

I am trying to take very good care of this plant so that my dream can last for a long time.

Lady and Gentle

A public lavatory in Tai Pei for "Lady and Gentle" :-)

Above is a public toilet at Fisherman Wharf in Tai Pei. A popular tourist spot where many people go.

Taipei MRT

We got on the Taipei MRT, found two seats by the door and sat down. After sitting down, I noticed a poster on the compartment wall saying "Please yield your seat to elderly, pregnant, disabled or baby-holding passengers" I looked at our seats, the colour is different from the others. They were dark blue and the rest were light blue. Then we immediately moved to the light seats. I started watching passengers on the train. They either gave the seat to those in need or just stood up and left the seat empty. I liked this practice.

Besides the notice on the compartment, there was also an announcement from time to time to remind passengers to give seats. It not only ensured the needed to have seats but was also a good civic education for the youngsters.

The second thing I noticed was another poster about the equitette of using a mobile phone. It tells people to talk softly, not to talk long and use text messages instead of talking. I saw less than five passengers using mobile phones in those four days on the MRT. Even when they were using it, they talked softly.

The third thing I noticed was the patience of the passengers, they did not jump in the queue when they were going up and down the elevator. Those on the left were all walking up or down, they would never stand still and block the others. They would choose to stand on the right if they didn't want to walk.

Why not Hong Kong people do the same? What happens to our government? In Hong Kong, fighting for seats, talking loudly on the mobile phone, standing on the left side of the escalator and jumping in queue are very common phenomenons in the MTR area. I think our government should do something about it. We should not be so selfish. We should care about the others. Even in Shenzhen, giving seats can be seen every minute on the train. How can't Hong Kong people do this.