May 19, 2007

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  I Love Blueberry Too
  

  
  

  Mostly muffins and pies. Wong Kar Wai’s first English language film, My Blueberry Nights, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday evening. I am quite excited by it. The film has an ensemble cast in Norah Jones, Jude Law, Natalie Portman, Rachel Weisz, and Tim Roth.

  
  

  

  
  

  Although some people were surprised by the casting of musician Norah Jones in her first movie role, and a major one at that, it seems fitting for a director of Wong Kai War’s reputation and calibre. After all, Wong Kar Wai cast a Chinese singer in one of his early films, Chungking Express, in the shape of Faye Wong in her first prominent role and Norah Jones is just the mirror in the English language version.

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  As always in Wong Kar Wai’s films, the cinematography is exceptional and exquisite. And judging from the movie stills My Blueberry Nights continues in the same vein. However, I was surprised to learn that the cinematographer for the film wasn’t long time collaborator Christopher Doyle but Darius Khondji. I imagine this will mark the first of many English language films directed by Wong Kar Wai as funding shouldn’t be a problem considering the amount of A-list Hollywood stars who want to work with him.

  
  

  
  Enjoy foreign films? Then come and join my blogring!

  
  

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  Asian Trip: Kunming, China
  
  Friday 27th April 2007

  
  

  Arrived in Hong Kong in the evening. J2 accompanied me to Mongkok to buy the Sigma 10-20mm wide angle lens for my DSLR only for me to discover the reputable camera shops were either sold out or didn’t stock it! I was gutted.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  J2 and I had dinner at a Swiss restaurant. It was one of those clever restaurants that charge you to cook your own food from their menu. Brilliant!  

  
  

  
  Saturday 28th April 2007

  
  

  This being my first foray to the Motherland, I had wanted to visit somewhere off the beaten track instead of going to the popular destinations such as Beijing and Shanghai. My friend in London, J, suggested Yunnan as he had backpacked the region late last year. After much in-depth researching, seven nights were allocated to spend in Yunnan. Lijiang and Dali were the main attractions. Unfortunately, there are no direct flights to Lijiang from HK, only via Kunming. And to reach Dali would entail a eight hour bus journey which wasn’t at all appealing. So Dali was dropped from the itinerary and Kunming took its place. Might as well spend a couple of days in the capital of Yunnan Province since I have to fly there.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  During my research on Yunnan, it was discovered that it has the highest rate of HIV in all of the provinces in China due to the high number of heroin addicts. This is due to it’s border proximity with the Golden Triangle – Laos, Burma (Myanmar) and Thailand – with heroin being smuggled through Yunnan. This equate to a rising crime rate as the addicts sought ways to finance their next fix, mainly through robbery. Still, I was undeterred.   

  
  

  As most of the locals in Kunming don’t know any English, I had my travel agent in HK write the name and address of my hotels in Chinese when the package was booked and printed it out prior to departure. J had warned me about the need to learn a few words of basic Mandarin as the locals will ignore any Asians without a grasp of their language. My flatmate is a Mainlander so I’d recorded him speaking some phrases on my mobile phone should I ever need them. I have experience of travelling in Japan and South Korea where the locals don’t know any English so China will be no different.   

  
  

  As I’d waited for my luggage upon arrival at Kunming International Airport, it didn’t escape my notice that the city is an extremely popular destination for golf aficionados judging by the amount of golf club bags ferrying around on the baggage carousel.
  

  
  

  All pics taken with camera phone. Click on pic to enlarge.
  

  
  

  

  
  

  Like most countries in Asia, there were touts at the exit of the airport vying for a tourist to rip off. I’d just ignored them all and headed straight to the taxi rank and showed the driver the address of my hotel. J had regaled an anecdote whereby two taxi drivers ignored him and drove on as he struggled to pronounce the address of his hotel correctly in Mandarin. Each taxi in Kunming has a sign designating an animal and a number for easy identification should anything happen.  

  
  

  
  Pic taken with DSLR camera

  
  

  I’d stayed at the four star New Ear Hotel and a couple of the staff had a basic knowledge of English but there was one guy who could speak the language pretty well. The bedroom and the layout was quite impressive.  

  
  

  
  Pic taken with DSLR camera
  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

  
  

  I’d decided to leave the DSLR behind in the safe deposit box and headed out to browse the surroundings. This sign was being erected under the gaze of a mosque.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  I’d headed pass the sign where street stalls were also being erected. Then I’d saw this.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  So I’d walked under to see where it led.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  And it led to a glimpse of local life.
  
  
  

  
  

  And local food.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  I’d then backtracked and walked along Dong Feng Road, the focal point of high street shopping and this pond. Notice in the background a stage being erected.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

  
  

  The pond is where large colourful fishes congregate to gossip and feed on free food.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  “Keep still. It will only take a century to take a picture.”

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Oh, what’s this?

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Oh, more fish.
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  I’d continued walking along Dong Feng Road, which incidentally is a very long road, and stumbled upon this tourist couple. The female was unsurprisingly attracting alot of attention with her green hair.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Kunming is not a tourist friendly city but there are establishments that cater for the Mandarin challenged folks like myself such as this cafe. There is also a helpful ticket office next door.  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

  
  

  The two star Camellia Hotel is a popular accommodation haunt for foreigners on a budget and for backpackers as it also house a youth hostel. My backpacking days are behind me as I much prefer my creature comforts.  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

  
  

  More significantly, the Camellia Hotel has a ticket office to assist foreigners with travel arrangements including drop-offs at the bus and train station.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

  
  

  The lobby of the Camellia Hotel. A travel agent is also located inside where I wanted to enquire about trips to the Stone Forest. Unfortunately, the agency was closed for the day.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Another tourist friendly establishment for those who want food and a drink.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  “I’m taller than you.”

  
  

  
  

  
  

  The changing face of Communist China – a mall housing only designer stores.
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  I’d had a browse inside and every shop assistant was eyeing my clothes, footwear and watch to gauge whether their products are within my budget. The products on sale were actually more expensive than in HK and in the UK, a testament to the emptiness of the mall. I think there were only about five customers walking around.   

  
  

  
  

  
  

  It appeared that the celebrations were being decorated for the Kunming International Tourism Festival.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

  
  

  There were an awful lot of small dogs, like this one, in the city. Apparently, J told me there are a couple of restaurants that sell dog meat.

  
  

  After four hours of relentlessly walking around, I’d retired back to the hotel.  

  
  

  
  If you love Asia and all that it offers, come and join my blogring!

  
  

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  Generous Lawyer

  
  

  A local United Way office realized that the organization had never received a donation from the town’s most successful lawyer. The person in charge of contributions called him to persuade him to contribute.
  
  “Our research shows that out of a yearly income of at least $500,000, you give not a penny to charity. Wouldn’t you like to give back to the community in some way?”
  
  The lawyer mulled this over for a moment and replied, “First, did your research also show that my mother is dying after a long illness, and has medical bills that are several times her annual income?”
  
  Embarrassed, the United Way rep mumbled, “Um … no.”
  
  The lawyer interrupts, “or that my brother, a disabled veteran, is blind and confined to a wheelchair?”
  
  The stricken United Way rep began to stammer out an apology, but was interrupted again.
  
  “or that my sister’s husband died in a traffic accident,” the lawyer’s voice rising in indignation, “leaving her penniless with three children?!”
  
  The humiliated United Way rep, completely beaten, said simply, “I had no idea…”
  
  On a roll, the lawyer cut him off once again, “So if I don’t give any money to them, why should I give any to you?”

  
  

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  Balcony With The Best Support

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  • 10:12 am
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