亞力山大最新入會方案

Could you read and understand the title of this post?
If your answer is no, you can imagine how my daily life is here in a small city of southern Taiwan – a place where only Chinese and Taiwanese languages are commonly used and I can’t understand the language nor figure out what the signs say and consequently sometimes, I get into odd situations.

After a short holiday, when I returned back to my local gym , I noticed that they have done some renovations while I was away. The showers have new curtains and now they have bilingual signs in the shampoo and shower gel dispenser. A great improvement considering that there is no other English (or other language except Chinese) signs around.
Although the 2 referred products remain the same, I was astonished to realized that for the past year I’ve been washing my hair with the shower gel and showering with the shampoo. I always assumed with no doubt that between two products: one transparent green and one yellow opaque, the first one had to be the shower gel and the second had to be the shampoo never realizing why my hair wasn’t soft after the showers at the gym!
I have to laugh at these situations, after all it’s my fault that I still can’t master the Chinese language and have silly assumptions.

Living in a place where people don’t speak another language but their own, which you can’t master and where you can’t read 99% of the characters, makes you develop an instinct to get around and grab reality with some kind of 6th sense - except it doesn't work all the time!
And in a way, my localized analphabetism, protects me from any unwanted propaganda and marketing pressures. I never pay attention to the millions of signs that bombard me along the day, for me they are just art!

Formosa Hot Stuff

Photo: Sean Chao, Taipei Times
Models dress up yesterday as the ``hot-spring goddess`` Yang Kueifei -- an imperial concubine in the Tang dynasty -- to promote the 2004 Nantou Hot Spring Festival, which will run from Oct. 15 to Nov. 7. Yang, reputedly one of the four most beautiful women in China's history, was known for her passion for taking hot-spring baths.

Taiwan’s hot springs is on of its natural attractions not to miss! From the mountains to the sea side, you can find spectacular natural hot springs that are said to have healing powers for the body and the soul.

“Hot springs, the hot tears of the earth, are one of the most precious gifts that the earth has given to us. Ever since ancient times, people have recognized the rejuvenating and therapeutic properties of these natural resources. Taiwan is ranked among the world's top 15 hot spring sites harboring a great variety of springs including hot springs, cold springs, mud springs, and seabed hot springs. The island can proudly regard itself as one of the regions with the highest concentration and greatest variety of hot springs in the world.”
See more here: Taiwan Hot Springs

A billion dollars sentence!

Charles Duelfer's, the former deputy executive chairman of the UN weapons inspectors and current head of the CIA's Iraq Survey Group (ISG), delivered to the US Congress his much-anticipated report on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction (WMD) capabilities.

After all, in a vain retroactive attempt to justify his hokum about weapons of mass destruction (WMD), he had 1,200 people working for 15 months -- stretching the scarce supply of Arab linguists -- to produce 918 pages at a cost of about a billion dollars just to find out that:

Saddam would have liked to have had weapons if he could have, but he couldn't, so he didn't.

by Maureen Dowd - NYTimes

Let's see if it sounds as brilliant, in Portuguese:
"Saddam teria gosto de ter tido armas de destruicao macica se pudesse, mas nao podia e por isso nao tinha"

esta brilhante conclusao custou 1 milhao de US dollares!

força do caralho

I could not resist calling this post, a Portuguese slang expression, which can be softly translated into “amazing strength”...hehehe
Who would think about a martial art that trains your body and mind to this extent?
Como diria Fernando Pessa: E esta, hein?


photo: Gavin Phipps – Taipei Times
Tu Rui-lin prepares to lift 105kg with his penis, under the watchful eye of coach Li Rong-chou.

"In late October, 2000, Tu Chin-sheng and his genital-based form of qigong (氣功) known asyin diao gong made international headlines after three of the qigong master's students hauled a flatbed truck weighing 25 tonnes 1m across a Taipei car park using nothing but their penises."

"Diao gong is an important aspect of the qigong we study, but it is not the primary reason we study. Master Tu's qigong is both internal and external.
Externally it improves ones skin complexion and boosts energy levels. Internally it helps strengthen bones and muscles, reduces arterial blockages and cholesterol levels and eases allergies that effect orifices such as the nose and ears."
Shen Shyr-jong 62-year-old student of yin diao gong

To read more about this news or to know how you can enroll in such program, click here.

Window of Hope

I was recently in the USA and was quite happy with the Americans judgment of their own politicians. All over New York City and San Francisco is quite visible that many Americans see and think like many others in the rest of the world.
I hope that these many Americans will be sufficient to make the difference and contribute for a better world, this November 2004!

Window of Hope - San Francisco - Oct.04

10-10, Formosa's National Day

Yesterday was Taiwan’s national day and the president announced to the nation a message of hope for peace: the proposal to reopen talks with main land china.
The president’s new position has moderated his previous views and it has brought hope for a more stable future for the Taiwanese people.


photo by George Tsorng, Taipei Times
Thousands of people celebrate the Republic of China's 93rd National Day yesterday in front of the Presidential Office in Taipei.


photo by Sean Chao, Taipei Times
President Chen Shui-bian waves to the public in front of the Presidential Office after making a speech at the Double Ten National Day Rally yesterday.

"In a highly-anticipated speech yesterday, President Chen Shui-bian suggested both sides of the Strait could use a 1992 meeting in Hong Kong as the basis to return to the negotiation table for a new round of cross-strait talks.
Stating that the governments and people on both sides of the Strait hold different views on many issues, some of which is due to a lack of communication, Chen said he is willing to take the initiative."


photo by Sean Chao, Taipei Times
Armed forces members march in precise formations.
"While extending goodwill toward Beijing, Chen, however, also stressed the necessity for the nation to maintain a self-defense capacity, pointing to the increasing number of missiles China is aiming at Taiwan.
According to Chen, there are at the present more than 600 ballistic missiles targeting Taiwan with the number to grow by 50 to 75 missiles each year.
"The `shadows of terror' and `forces of darkness' not only directly threaten the peaceful status quo across the Taiwan Strait but also undermine regional stability and global security," Chen said."


photo by Chiang Ying-Ying, Taipei Times
The other ethnic side of Chinese Taiwan:
Students from Pingtung County's Neipu Agriculture Vocational School perform a Puyuma Aboriginal dance in sensible athletics shoes.

"Stating that it is indisputable that the Republic of China is Taiwan and Taiwan is the Republic of China, and that the sovereignty of the Republic of China is vested with the 23 million people of Taiwan, Chen yesterday also spoke of Taiwan's unfair treatment in the international arena and Taiwan's exclusion from the UN."

For my Portuguese friends, the newspaper “O Publico” published yesterday a very comprehensive article (kindly sent to me by Luis Mendes) illustrating the recent past and current political Formosa’s situation.
Check it out here.

Foodism in Montreal

When I first looked at this wall in a Montreal’s old building, as a Portuguese I was guessing what FOODISM could have meant in Portuguese. At that time, it did sound like something related to exaggerating f***… It was just my imagination stimulated perhaps by this electrical attractive colour of the wall.
Back home, I did some research and actually found out that foodism is in fact:

Raw foodism is, after all, an ism. It's a belief system based on the idea that people should eat like our prehistoric ancestors (or other animals), with assumptions made about how our prehistoric ancestors actually ate, how healthy they were, how long they lived, and how relevant other animals' diets are to our own.

Oh well, its not what my mind was thinking but it is also very Montreal.
A bit to serious for me but I still like the wall color and here it is, another shot of what Montreal has to offer you!




And now if you excuse me, I need a break and will go to Uncle Sam’s territory to catch up with some sun of what is left from the north hemisphere warm days.
I will be back on October 7th.

A dog's day in Singapore

...and one more thing: no swearing!

A Town House in Montreal

Aproveitando a viagem a Montreal e a proposito de um post publicado pelo Mimalho em Abril 2004, mostrando um modelo 3D de uma casa, concebida pelo arquitecto MESSANA O´RORKE, o modelo da casa fez-me pensar numa casa que conheco em Montreal e prometi ao Mimalho que lha mostrava.
Pois bem aqui esta’:

Modelo:


Casa existente em Montreal:


havera’ coincidencias?

Montreal – A life celebration experience

The architecture, the language and the art scene makes Montreal a true mix of Paris and New York. This city gives you a feeling of the old Europe and the modern America all in one.
French and English are the official languages but you can listen to almost every language in this cosmopolitan metropolis. There were times when there was tensions between the languages, times where French speakers were powerless and had no say, times were English speakers were not allowed to express them selves in their language, times of division.
Today Montreal is perhaps the best example of Canada, a true bilingual city were both languages often get merged “ ‘a la’ Montrealais ”!
Montreal is an island in the middle of Saint Lawrence river. The heart of Montreal is the Mount Royal - the equivalent of Central Park in New York - where every Sunday during the summer, you can experience a replica of Woodstock festival, locally designated by the Tam-Tam’s. The Tam-Tam’s is a weekly celebration of music, life, color, art, peace and unity among the diverse cultures that live in this city. People gather to voluntarily play music and dance providing an amazing show where everybody can participate.
Montrealers celebrate life at its full extent; they are generally easygoing people a great concern for respect of human kind and its diversity and for the world environment protection. I like to call them green socialists.
Montrealers stimulate and promote individuality and harmony among the generated diversity It is perhaps the best example of a society where individuals are respected for whatever they are, regardless they ethnic background, education level, personal style, sexual orientation, religious believes, etc…
The fashion and trends in Montreal, are up to each one’s style, so sitting at a terrace sipping your beer or coffee and people watching can be a very pleasant experience
Montreal is also a city of festivals: The Jazz Festival, Just For Laugh, Cinema Festivals, Clubbing Festivals, Diversity Festival, etc, etc…
There is only one thing that I don’t like about Montreal, it’s the long and freezing winters. But then again, this winter plays an important role in Montrealers life style. It’s the time of the year where people tend to stay more at home, updating them selves and catching up with friends, recharging energies before the next eclectic summer!
Montreal is where I grew up, a unique city in North America, full of beautiful people that grab life to its limits and respecting others.
Bienvenue a Montreal / Welcome to Montreal!


Down Town Montreal seen from the top of Mount Royal, by night - July 04


Montreal's Relaxed Old Europe Feeling - July 04


Montreal's Old Architecture - July 04


Montreal's Modern Architecture - July 04


Montreal 25the Jazz Festival - July 04

Invisible photos

Just to let you know that Photobucket.com (where most of the photos of this blog are stored) is experiencing a technical problem but as explained, it will be back in full operation soon.
Sorry for the trouble!

Here is their explanation:

Due to the disk crash last night, the rebuild is currently taking place and causing some albums (about 5%) to load slow. Hopefully it will finish the rebuild by this evening. Rebuilding a disk of this size takes longer than I'd like... As always, we are looking for solutions to prevent this in the future.
Thanks for your patience.
Alex

a buddhist belief

"A person who pursues his/her own goals without disturbing others is a moral being."

Drowning Formosa

This summer has been particularly wet in Taiwan.
Formosa Island has been stricken by typhoons and heavy rain storms.
I am starting to wonder what happened to the beautiful sunny weather reputation of southern Taiwan.
If it doesn’t stop soon, we will be moving around by boat, only!


Photo: Sean Chao, Taipei Times
Three cars immersed in water next to the No. 5 Floodgate on Taipei's Fuyuan Street beside the Keelung River are barely visible after a night of torrential rain. The sign on the left of the picture reads ``No swimming.''


Photo: Taipei Times
Scene from Keelung, following flooding from the weekend's heavy rains.


Photo: Taipei Times
Scene from Keelung yesterday.


Photo: Taipei Times
A road in Taoyuan County that had already been damaged by Typhoon Aere was washed away by heavy rains in the last two days, along with a vehicle marooned on it.


Photo: Liberty Times
The Keelung River rises above the warning level, almost overflowing the Chang-An Bridge in Hsihchih.


Photo: Liberty Times
A boy stands on the only dry section of the grounds of Cheng-yi Elementary School in Sanchung City.


Photo: Sean Chao, Taipei Times
TV crew films water spewing out from the MRT construction site in Neihu.


Photo: Sean Chao, Taipei Times
A car is lifted by a crane at the No. 5 evacuating gate in Taipei. Car owners had hired the crane to remove their vehicles from the site.

Natural and Wild Hong Kong

I have this fascination for the Hong Kong’s urban tissue, which I consider an impressive display of what human kind has produced and excelled in terms of modern architecture and civil engineering.
My focus on the Hong Kong urban tissue has mislead some of my friend readers of this blog that Hong Kong is a concrete and asphalt forest. Although you might have this feeling when standing in most of the business districts and even residential areas of Hong Kong, it’s rather unfair to limit ourselves to “this” Hong Kong.
Today, to correct the Hong Kong image that I have posted in this blog, I leave you with the other side of Hong Kong – the wild and natural Hong Kong.
In Hong Kong territory, composed with 300 + islands and a peninsula, you can find your own paradise either if you like deserted beaches, breath taking mountains, water falls, monasteries, fishermen’s villages, rural countryside or stick to high tech cyber metropolis


From left to right :
A view from the peak of Lantau Island
Silver Mine water fall in Mui Wo
A deserted beach in Sai Kung
Ma On Shan – New Territories

PS. Este post e’ para ti miuda, para te mostrar o outro lado de Hong Kong!

New York, New York

Last June, when I was about to land in New York City, I looked down into Manhattan and I could not help thinking about the passengers aboard the two planes that on the fatidic morning of September 11, 2001, crashed into the World Trade Center.

The sadness of this moment marked me to the point of having nightmares, where I was in one of those flights and knew what was going to happen without having any say or control over the unavoidable tragic end.

It was only a nightmare but I felt uselessly desperate.
This nightmare unfortunately was real for so many innocent victims.

3 years after that tragic day, in spite of the great irreplaceable lost, Manhattan still stands with its glory and pride as ever:



Life goes on for those who remain here. Not even the grief that New Yorkers went through, knocked them down and today they stand firm even against those who claim that they are protecting them...


The planes are back in the air and the humanity keeps the hope that such horrific day will never be repeated again.

My tribute to all victims and families of 911 and all similar attacks caused by somebody or something who wronlgly believes that they can act in the name of God!

present takes over the past...

A double-deck bus over passes a tram on Queen’s Road, Central district, Hong Kong, where a few decades ago, this same tram was the main public transportation means of the island and ran parallel, to the now distant, waterfront.



"The double-decker Hong Kong Island tram, which skirted the water's edge a century ago but now runs through mid-town thanks to successive reclamation projects..."

wait and stand...

Clock Tower, Star Ferry Pier, Central,
Hong Kong - 2004

A discreet presence

Admiralty, Hong Kong - 2004

Photography...

...is about what you see...

Clock Tower - Tsim Tsa Tsui - Hong Kong, 2004

...how you see it...

Clock Tower - Tsim Tsa Tsui - Hong Kong, 2004

...and what you feel when you see it!

Cumple Anos Felices, Cedric!

Today, they say, it’s the Internet’s 35th anniversary, congratulations for this achievement.

It is also a very specialy person’s birthday, my brother Cedric.

Cedric is a person who does not just watch life passing by, he grabs it and lives it! A true brother in arms, a professional model with a very rich soul, who believes and shares with us messages like this one:

Se quanta que en el siglo pasado, un turista fue a Egipto con la finalidad de vistar a un famoso sabio.
El turista se sorprendo al ver que el sabio vivia en un cuartito muy simple, limpio y lleno de libros.
Las unicas piezas de mobiliarios eran una cama, una mesa y un banco.
“Donde estan sus muebles?” – pergunto el turista.
Y el sabio rapidamente tambien perguntou: “Y donde estan los suyos?”
“Los mios?” – se sorprendio el turista – “pero si yo estoy aqui solamente de paso!”
“Yo tambien…!” – comcluyo el sabio.
“La vida en la tierra es solamente temporal”

"Sin embargo, algunos viven como si fueran a quedarse aqui eternamente y se olividan de ser felicies.
El valor de las cosas no esta en el tiempo que duran, sino en la intensidad con que suceden.
Por eso existen momentos inolvidables, cosas inexplicables y personas incomparables!”

Cedric, una persona incomparable!
I wish you a very happy birthday with everything you wish for!