Monday, November 11, 2013

韓楓秋行 ─ 香港人的身份認同






對於4年沒有外遊的我,有點像幸運大抽獎,8月時獲得兩位好朋友(認識已19年的律師事務所舊同事,其中一位已移居加拿大多年)之窩心邀請,10月下旬去了韓國5天遊(2天半首爾和2天全羅南道),輕量級行山和欣賞紅楓葉。

因為《大長今》效應,「韓風」由2005年初已瘋狂「襲」港,但仍是我首次踏足此國。雖然不是韓劇迷,卻喜歡韓國文化,非常渴望可看看這個國家如何在短時間內(從1998年),用軟實力征服全亞洲,甚至部分歐美國家。

以往去旅行(這麼大個人只去了十多次),因為喜歡自由行,只選擇英語系國家(英國、美國、澳洲、南非)。若要去亞洲國家(尼泊爾、泰國、越南、星加坡、馬來西亞、菲律賓),無論參加旅行團或自由行,用英語的城市可以讓我放心與當地人溝通。去過日本兩次,只學了3個月的日語當然不足夠應用,但有一些漢字可猜測和依據。去台灣,說國語沒有問題。可是去韓國,不懂得韓語,英語不算普遍,溝通困難。我們一行10人(我和其中一位舊同事來自香港,其他8位從香港移民往加拿大多年)參加了一團共34人的「鴨仔團」…

韓國的自我保護意識一向強烈,但近年來多得「強國人」,南韓人(營業員和侍應)的普通話已變成很普遍和重要的語文。凡是亞洲臉孔的遊客,他們皆用普通話招呼,以為所有亞洲人也說普通話。

但當我遇到南韓營業員或侍應向我說普通話時,我堅持用英語禮貌回答:「Sorry, I come from Hong Kong.」。好讓他們知道有一個叫「香港」的小地方,仍然以廣東話和英語為主要語言,我要維持「香港人」這個特殊身份!

可是我的自己人團友(另外9位)問我為什麼不入鄉隨俗說普通話,可以方便得多。我解釋我會說會聽,但要盡點綿力來維護香港人的身份!最重要是我不想南韓人以為我們是吵耳、不守規、不守禮的強國人,尤其韓國人大多整潔和自治能力高。這可能在自己人團友眼中,我很無謂、無聊、好大香港主義 … 直至第3天,我們的導遊(他年輕時住在韓國,操流利韓語的香港中年男人)告訴我們南韓人(包括他自己)也不大喜歡強國遊客。理由?不用多說罷!

首爾的太原、樂天百貨公司、明洞、新村梨花女子大學街

第一天凌晨5、6時到達首爾機場,上午9時已開始遊覽。中午前,導遊帶我們34人往太原區購物和午膳,很舒適寧靜的小區,滿佈精緻小店、咖啡店。

午飯後,導遊帶我們34人往樂天(Lotte)百貨公司買護膚化妝品。一到達地下大堂,我已經想走!因為大堂的禮儀先生和小姐,用很高音的普通話和大動作揮手招呼我們,我已猜到上面什麼環境。果然,就像香港的Sogo (我已多年沒有去),化妝品櫃台盡是像打仗搶購糧食的強國人女子!之後,我們10人在附近地下街逛,開始領略中年小販和營業員的不歡迎眼光。

近黃昏到酒店check-in後(已很累,昨晚的3小時夜機睡不到),我們一行8人往明洞逛街和吃晚飯。再次領略中年街邊小販的不禮待遇,我們問價錢後,他居然邊罵邊用手撥走我們!可能他害怕我們8人阻礙他做生意?另在一潮流商場,只我和舊同事兩人逛,經過其中一間時裝店,我輕觸一件衣服(沒有標籤「不可觸摸」),估不到一青年從衣服後向我們怒吼,嚇死我們!我們向前行,我忍不住往後看,他仍在「怒啤」我們,像我們搶劫他的店和衣物!

第四天下午回到首爾,往新村的梨花女子大學購物街,感覺和氣氛好得多,是另一個舒適寧靜的小區,滿佈精緻小店。一時裝店青年男子,賣一些他自家設計的衣服,我們問他在那裡學時裝設計,他答溫哥華時,他和我的舊同事像他鄉遇故知般「再遇」。另一時裝店的年輕女孩,知道我們來自香港,立刻說很想來香港。

全羅南道的內藏寺、白羊寺、谷城火車站

第二天(星期六),從首爾坐車往全羅南道,需要4小時,路經中途休息站,想不到有半個維園般大。除了外地遊客,很多南韓人從不同地方也喜歡往渡週末,足有約50至60部旅遊巴士停泊。多年前往澳洲時,從Sydney坐旅遊巴士去Brisbane和 Gold Coast,路經的中途休息站,只有簡單的kiosk、洗手間、數部車停泊。

女洗手間當然多人,但整潔、使用者安靜、守跌序。當我見到有些女人亂跑亂撞,她仍未說話時我在猜測她是什麼國籍,當她遇到同伴高呼,或洗手後亂fing水後,我又猜對了!(其實從她的富貴俗氣打扮已猜到。)

中午抵達山區的內藏寺和白羊寺,作輕量級行山和欣賞美麗紅葉,末到渡假區酒店 check-in (所以沒有該酒店的名片或地圖作備用)。黃昏5時回旅遊巴士前時,我因為肚子痛要往洗手間,竟然和所有團友失散,更找不到停車場的旅遊巴士!山區的黃昏5時,天色漸暗,週遭路牌只有韓文,遲延了15分鐘才找到旅遊車,嚇壞我!上車後立刻向全車人道歉。

第三天早上,在谷城火車站等候火車時,看到一對中年夫婦和他們的可愛雙生兒,聽到他們說的是韓語。我對他們笑,只說了:「Twins?」,這位太太有禮地問我:「You come from Hong Kong?」。我回答:「Yes! Have you been there?」,她回答:「We went there last year, it is a beautiful city!」。我立刻代全香港人多謝她:「Thank you, please come again!」

See? 真好!這証明不是所有南韓人以為亞洲臉孔就是強國人, Ka mi sa da!

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Autumn Walk in Korea





My first time visiting Korea, seeing beautiful red leaves  ~~~

Thursday, October 10, 2013

God's Order/Cosmic Laws: 7 Cosmic Laws of Hermes Trismegistos





GOD's Order/Cosmic Laws - The 7 Cosmic Laws of Hermes Trismegistos




= Thot (Hermetic Laws)



"Law of Attraction" has been widely mentioned since the beginning of 21st century, which is the 4th Cosmic Law ...



Quoted from: http://www.puramaryam.de/lawhermes.html



==========================================



All Philosophy is based on seven Cosmic Laws. Thot, the Egyptian God of WISDOM =

Hermes Trismegistos, "The triple great Hermes" of the ancient Greeks, had once written them down on Emerald Tables, so that MEN would know andfollow them. These tables have not been found up to this day.



These LAWS are valid in all of CREATION, in all Planes of Being. They are eternal and unchangeable. But above all LAWS stands the UNCONDITIONAL LOVE AND

THE GRACE OF GOD, able to transcent all LAWS!

1. The Principle of SPIRIT ( MIND)

Everything is Spiritual. The Source of LIFE is CREATIVE SPIRIT, without bounds and limitations. The Universe is mental. Spirit / Mind stands above matter - rules matter.

The Consciousness determines the BEING. Thoughts are creative and changing powers; they are the means of CREATION. The IMAGINATION creates in Visualization. The intensity of the inner wishing and longing is an important factor of CREATION. And just like HIS WORD, MAN's WORD creates, too - as the action of his mind. So every MAN is able to leave his state of ignorance and consciously enter the STATE OF KNOWLEDGE OF LIFE at any time, thus accepting the Heritage of MAN's PERFECTION and of CREATION. He thus changes his world and creates it new.

Be aware of your thoughts - they can create and destroy! Be conscious of your responsibility! Which thoughts and words come from you? What do you CREATE with them? Are they worlds of LOVE - creatures of LOVE?

2. The Principle of Cause and Effect = KARMA

Each cause has an effect - each effect has its cause. Each action has a certain energy which requires that the like energy returns to its source, to its creator.

The effect equals the cause in quality and quantity. 'Equal creates equal'. Action = Reaction.

The cause can be on many different planes. Everything happens in accordance to the LAW. Each MAN is CREATOR, carrier and surmounter of his fate.

Every thought, every feeling, every action is a cause which has an effect. So there is no blame, no guilt or fault, no sin, no 'chance' and no luck - only cause and effect. Between the cause and its effect many centuries and incarnations could extend - as TIME does not exist.

"Luck" and "chance" are expressions of a LAW not yet acknowledged. Why do you have certain traits? Where do your patterns of behaviour derive from? Be aware of the effect of all your thoughts, feelings and actions! Let go of hatred, aggressiveness and fear and open yourself to Unconditional TRUST and LOVE. You alone are responsible for yourself!

3. The Principle of Correspondence or Analogy

As above - so below, as below - so above.

As within - so without, as without - so within.

As in great - so in small, as in small - so in great.

For everthing there is in this world, there exists an analogy on every plane of BEING.

So you can realize the great in the small, and the smallest in the greatest. The way you are yourself determines the way you experience the ouside world. Vice versa, the outside world is your mirror. When Du change, everything around you will change.

4. The Principle of Resonance or Attraction

Like attracts like and will be enforced by like. Unlike repels each other. Your personal behaviour determines your personal conditions and the total conditions of your life.

Negativity attracts more negativity, darkness attracts more darkness, aggression attracts aggression, hate attracts hate, sorrow attracts sorrow, addiction attracts addiction, so if you do not stop, reconsider and reverse your path, your negativity will increase, leading into a downward spiral that - at a certain point - cannot be stopped and leads into depression, desperation, desaster and death.

5. The Principle of Harmony and Balance

Harmony is the flow of life. Everything strives for harmony, for balance. The stronger determines the weaker and makes it equal to itself.

Life is harmonious togetherness, the GIVING and TAKING of elements and powers being active in CREATION. By grasping and holding on we create a blockage which in turn is leading to sickness and death as a result of ERROR: LIFE supports only what furthers LIFE, and anything causing a blockage weakens and must go, because it is a hindrance to LIFE itself. LIFE is mutual balance or compensation, eternal movement. Different effects are finding to a balance, so that as soon as possible harmony is restored. Life is continuous GIVING and TAKING. The universe lives by dynamic balance in EASINESS, HARMONY and LOVE. GIVING and TAKING are different aspects of the Cosmic Energy Stream.
While giving freely what we are seeking, we are letting PLENTY into our lives. While giving HARMONY, PEACE and LOVE, we are creating HARMONY, PEACE and LOVE, opening us for LUCK, SUCCESS and PLENTY.

We will get as much from the PLENTY of LIFE, as we are able to open ourselves to it. To open yourself, you should let go of all your conscious and unconscious thoughts of need and limitations within yourself and dare the NEW, THE UNBOUNDED. He who does not live PLENTY, will not find it.

Open yourself to the PLENTY. Do not enrichen yourself at the cost of others. You have to pay everything you get (unless it is GIVEN to you). GIVE in order to RECEIVE!

Above this LAW - above EACH LAW - is the GRACE of GOD!

6. The Principle of Rhythm or Vibration

Everything flows in and flows out again. Everything has its tides. Everything rises and falls. Everything is vibration.

Nothing is static - everything is moving. The even movement of the pendulum is evident in everything. The swing of the pendulum to the one side equals the swing of the pendulum to the other side. Rhythm equalizes.

Overcome rigidity and live flexibility. Whatever is rigid must break apart.

7. The Principle of Polarity and Sexuality

Everything has a pair of poles. Everything has a pair of contrasting aspects. Like and unlike are the same.

Contrasts are the same by their nature. GOD'S TRUTH IS ONE. Only in the low-vibrating worlds, like in the 3 dimension, the aspects have different signs marking them as "contrasts", and thus have different vibrational frequencies. The human brain is three-dimensionally oriented; for that reason the ONE-NESS or SAME-NESS appears PARADOX to the polaric mind. But each PARADOXON should be brought together - in the middle - , only this way we can approach TRUTH. Or else our truths are only half truths. We cannot understand TRUTH - only grasp it with the HEART!

In the 3rd dimension we should learn to recognize the ONE-NESS OF ALL - by LEARNING UNCONDITIONAL LOVE and LIVING this LOVE = THAT is our GOAL IN LIVE-on-Earth! When we are living in UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, we are living in NON-POLARITY.

Do not judge or evaluate others. Do not raise yourself above others. Accept the other opinion. Everyone is right. Everything is justified. Everything is well.

Sexuality is in everything. Both sexual aspects is ONENESS at the same time. Sexuality manifests itself in everything. Everything has male and female elements. Everything is male and female in ONE. Sexuality strives for ONE-NESS. But actually sexuality IS ONE-NESS or UNITY, as you can see with TAO. The NON-POLARIC UNITY consists of the male and the female aspect. you also cannot divide SEA and WAVES - both is ONE - and ONE is not without the other.

You yourself are male and female at the same time. Live your male and your female aspect equally. Be balanced - be in your middle - BE ONE.



Saturday, October 5, 2013

Shambhala 香巴拉: 一沙一世界, 一念一天堂




Shambhala 香巴拉 -- 一沙一世界, 一念一天堂


萬千繁華, 不過渺如沙礫

舞淨精神樂土, 呼喚心靈香巴拉

To see a world in a grain of sand, and a paradise in a thought

All prosperities are only a handful of sand, To dance in the pure land and paradise at heart

http://www.hkdance.com/ver2/dance/chi/index.html

http://www.hkdance.com/web/edm/2013_Shambhala/info.jpg



Monday, September 16, 2013

Before Midnight 情若半生 ─ 我們需要時光機和丹寧

新增說明文字




等了又等的《情若半生》(Before Midnight),終於在公映的第二晚看到。

整體上有點失望 … 雖然Celine和Jesse仍在一個公認浪漫的城市遊走,對白仍舊/加倍精警,也不是因為他們十八年後愛情變感情的老掉牙故事;而是他們在酒店房間吵架足有45分鐘,佔全片109分鐘差不多一半!

兩人在希臘小島 Peloponnese一古蹟的黃昏漫遊,往酒店途中,從Jesse的95歲祖母在美國逝世,她和他祖父的74年婚姻說起。Celine問Jesse:「如果你現在遇到我,你會對一個四十多歲,開始肥胖和脫髮的師奶調情嗎?」。她嫵媚感性的一個疑問,在充滿數千年歷史悲劇的地方提問,是適合貼切的傷感。

他們到達酒店房間後,由談情、接吻、脫衣到討論、指摘、各自穿回衣服,Celine兩度奪門而出,傷盡感情的漫駡,有點像Woody Allen電影的喋喋不休。可是他老人家在歐洲的五部曲 (由 “Match Point”(2005)到 “Midnight In Paris”(2009)),鏡頭和劇情穿梭遊走,而不是困獸鬥般在特定地方交待劇情。

我不是要求像《Samantha Brown’s Great Weekends》或《走過浮華大地》式的旅遊節目,但起碼不是單一地方,充斥「幽閉恐懼症」(Claustro Phobia)的演繹。也許是導演 Richard Linklater的刻意安排,已婚或多年,育有小孩的男女關係,也真像困在四面牆的不能逃走的無助感覺。

Jesse與兩男友人(一中年,一老年)在希臘午後閒聊「男人的浪漫」,當然不是火腩燒肉飯,而是慨談人到中年、事業婚姻、時光飛逝、意興闌珊。Jesse提到time traveller (時光旅人)和time machine (時光機),渴望在時間長河來去自如。

怪不得叮噹的「時光機」和「隨意門」這麼受歡迎,人類的最大恐懼、最難對付的敵人、最不能改變應是「時間」吧!若不,古今中外的電影旨圍繞「時間」。從電影《時光倒流七十年》(“Somewhere in Time”)(1980)、《回到未來》(“Back to the Future”)(1985)、《奇幻逆緣》(“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”)(2008),甚至現正播映的電視劇《情逆三世緣》(2013),也是在說永不回頭,只會向前的時間。

十八年前(1995)的維也納邂逅、九年前(2004)的巴黎重逢、2013的希臘家庭式旅遊,如 Jesse九年前的暢銷書《此刻》(“This Time”)。對,只有此刻、瞬間、一剎那、這一分一秒、當下最真實。佛家說的「當下」,才是真理。他提到新書將名為(“Déjàvu”)(通常譯為「似曾相識」),相信同樣是關於時光流逝、似曾相識的命運故事。

Celine和 Jesse 明顯代表美國和法國的文化差異,Julie Deply兩套前作 ─(“2 Days in Paris”) (2007) 和 (“2 Days in New York”) (2012),亦樂於以此為題。她在 “2 Days” 系列兩段比較短暫的情緣,與這 “Before” 系列如出一轍。

一段關係經歷十八年(6570天)的沉澱,仍會浪漫嗎?就像一瓶法國1995釀製的紅酒,丹寧是重或強,只有自己最清楚。

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

爸爸的芒果布丁




 
小時候的夏天,我和三個弟妹最希望爸爸放假在家,為我們弄芒果布丁!通常媽媽在兩天前買數枚帶點青的芒果回來,放在米缸焗熟,於是我們四個小孩常常查看芒果由青變黃。
 
等到爸爸在放假那天,我們已預備十來個啫哩杯,也騰空了雪柜。小小廚房充滿芒果香、蛋香和我們的笑聲。當他把芒果一開三片,上下兩片界開起肉,留下中間帶核的給我吃。他兩三下手勢,媽媽便可把熱騰騰的布丁蓋在十來個啫哩杯的芒果肉上,稍待一會,可放入雪柜。我們吃著那片滑不溜手的芒果核,總是論論盡盡,又會嚷:「我要吃兩杯。」、「我要吃三杯!」。
 
當我們四個長大出來工作的時候,已流行去九龍城吃泰國菜,可輕易吃到芒果糯米飯,再沒有撒嬌叫爸爸弄芒果布丁。
 
媽媽走了十多年,三個弟妹成家立室,只有我與爸爸相依為命。常留在家的他常愁眉不展,沉默寡言。有時候,我藉著叫他為我煮或教我煮一些食物,以食物為我們的溝通渠道!
 
八月下旬的上星期三,想起很久沒有吃過芒果布丁,叫爸爸教我弄。翌日,我在超級市場只買到一個像沙田柚大,青青黃黃圓筒狀的台灣芒果。爸爸用報紙包著它,說沒有理由夏天未完便沒有芒果。翌日,他在花園街買來數枚正常的芒果。星期天下午,猜不到他已寫下份量給我 七十多近八十歲的他仍有好記性,「師傅偉」不是浪得虛名!
 
喜歡憑感覺的我,看見那些份量已頭痛,很抗拒所有烹調份量!可是吃到製成品時,味道卻適中。
 
布丁材料(12人吃/12)

1.          芒果 (4)
2.          雞蛋 (3)
3.          栗紛和吉士紛 (2兩半)
4.          花奶 (4)
5.          清水 (24/3)
6.          牛油 (5/1)
7.          砂糖(4-5/4湯匙)
 
布丁做法:

1.       混合栗紛 + 吉士紛 + 雞蛋 + 花奶
2.       煲水 + 牛油 + 砂糖
3.       把已混合的栗紛 + 吉士紛 + 雞蛋 + 花奶放下煲,用打蛋器攬伴

Thursday, August 15, 2013

About "Madness" by Michel Foucault (1926 - 1984)