It was a success. At first I thought the shell would crack, but it didn't. Here it is: http://junkmailbox.blogspot.com/2009/01/cooking-hard-boiled-eggs-easy-way.html
January 30, 2009
How to cook hard-boiled eggs ...
the easier way. I read a post how to do it and I tried it out.
It was a success. At first I thought the shell would crack, but it didn't. Here it is: http://junkmailbox.blogspot.com/2009/01/cooking-hard-boiled-eggs-easy-way.html
It was a success. At first I thought the shell would crack, but it didn't. Here it is: http://junkmailbox.blogspot.com/2009/01/cooking-hard-boiled-eggs-easy-way.html
January 29, 2009
演员派利是 Artistes giving out red packets
梁耀安, 丁凡, 蒋文端 ( 广东粤剧院一团, 二团 ) 派利是
蒋文端
丁凡
梁耀安
蒋文端慰问演员
Photos are copied from the Troupe's website (link at the right column).
蒋文端
丁凡
梁耀安
蒋文端慰问演员
Photos are copied from the Troupe's website (link at the right column).
January 23, 2009
My first website
I guess some of you have visited my first website before. It is also about Cantonese opera. (http://cantonopera.tripod.com/) It was started on March 2000. So it is almost nine years old now. There were no blogs then. It is hosted by Tripod, also free, but its site-builder is not easy to use.
And at that time not many people had fast connection as it was costly. I think there was only SingTel. I was using slow telephone lines to connect, so you can imagine how slow things were. Quite a lot of effort was spent too, so I'm quite reluctant to delete the site.
I have neglected the site for a long time. I was going through a few pages and I think a number of things are out-of-date. But the Introduction Page is still very relevant. I could have used it as introduction for this blog too. Here it is:
Introduction
Watching Chinese operas is an enthralling experience. Besides the colourful and shimmering costumes, dazzling headdress and ornaments, there are beauty and gracefulness in movements and gestures, poetic phrases and heart-rending melodious songs.
Moreover, most opera stories are based on Chinese history and famous Chinese classics. There are great moral values to be learnt from them such as loyalty, filial piety, patriotism and faithfulness.
frannxis, March 2000
And at that time not many people had fast connection as it was costly. I think there was only SingTel. I was using slow telephone lines to connect, so you can imagine how slow things were. Quite a lot of effort was spent too, so I'm quite reluctant to delete the site.
I have neglected the site for a long time. I was going through a few pages and I think a number of things are out-of-date. But the Introduction Page is still very relevant. I could have used it as introduction for this blog too. Here it is:
Introduction
Watching Chinese operas is an enthralling experience. Besides the colourful and shimmering costumes, dazzling headdress and ornaments, there are beauty and gracefulness in movements and gestures, poetic phrases and heart-rending melodious songs.
Moreover, most opera stories are based on Chinese history and famous Chinese classics. There are great moral values to be learnt from them such as loyalty, filial piety, patriotism and faithfulness.
frannxis, March 2000
Someone has written a post about a cantonese opera she has watched:
http://melialissa.blogspot.com/2009/01/cantonese-opera.html
January 21, 2009
Some other photos
After each performance, there was a meet-the-people session. At the autograph session, it was difficult to take photos because of the crowds at the table.
At the photo-taking session, it was also difficult because everyone wanted to pose with the artistes. When one finished, another rushed in. So some photos I took were not what I intended. Show you a few.
They were not ready yet .....
Just when I thought Jeong Mun Tuin was alone, this lady stepped forward. See, she was looking at Mun Tuin so close-up ...
Again when I thought she was alone, this gentleman came into the scene. Haha, quite funny, like he was protecting her from harm.
Another funny one. This fan looks as if she is looking at some delicious food and wants to devour it. By the way, this artiste is not Jeong Mun Tuin. She is Li Ka Yi (李嘉宜). She was acting as the White Bone Demon in the Opera The Monkey King thrashes the White Bone Demon.
At the photo-taking session, it was also difficult because everyone wanted to pose with the artistes. When one finished, another rushed in. So some photos I took were not what I intended. Show you a few.
They were not ready yet .....
Just when I thought Jeong Mun Tuin was alone, this lady stepped forward. See, she was looking at Mun Tuin so close-up ...
Again when I thought she was alone, this gentleman came into the scene. Haha, quite funny, like he was protecting her from harm.
Another funny one. This fan looks as if she is looking at some delicious food and wants to devour it. By the way, this artiste is not Jeong Mun Tuin. She is Li Ka Yi (李嘉宜). She was acting as the White Bone Demon in the Opera The Monkey King thrashes the White Bone Demon.
January 19, 2009
Meet the artistes
If you have watched the shows by the Guangdong Opera Troupe, maybe you can recognize this sweet girl below. She is 黃应征, the cute 石榴花 in 国色天香 and the filial son 秋儿 in 二堂放子.
(丁凡, 蔣文端) Ting Fan & Jeong Mun Tuin as fairy tale characters, the scholar and the snake
Jeong Mun Tuin as Madam White Snake
Jeong Mun Tuin as The Dragon Lady
Jeong Mun Tuin as Huo Xiao Yu in The Legend of the Purple Hairpin
As ordinary human beings
January 17, 2009
The Grand Birthday celebrations ...
... at Fragrant Flower Mountain
This is an opera I have never seen before. Have you? Looks like it is more elaborate and colourful than Liu Guo (六國大封相). I have put up the whole article for those of you who are interested.
This is an opera I have never seen before. Have you? Looks like it is more elaborate and colourful than Liu Guo (六國大封相). I have put up the whole article for those of you who are interested.
January 15, 2009
January 13, 2009
Drought year for CO fans
Wang Xi Feng - first full-length Cantonese opera of the year by local artistes, at the Drama Centre last Saturday.
Lou Mee Wah as Wang Xi Feng, I think this was the first time she did the dan role, but I prefer her sheng role.
Posters displayed at the Venue ... The centre and right posters are Lou Mee Wah, the one on the left is Leong Sau Fong. She played another lead role in the opera.
This is a special 'Fruit Tree' created by Lou's fans/students. The fruits on the branches are real ones that can be eaten. How nice if we can grow a tree like that, with different fruits, right?
Bleak year for Cantonese opera (CO) ?
I was having small talk with a man who is knowledgeable about CO and the CO scene in Singapore. He said this year there will be few foreign troupes coming here because people are reluctant to bring in foreign troupes. Not only they don't make profit, but they have to put in money themselves and the theatre may only be half-full. And of course another reason is the gloomy economy. Harsh reality.
According to him, the KAPT Foundation, which usually brings in a foreign troupe every year, will not do so this year. But it will hold a three-day charity-related show with a dozen or so well-known artistes from HK and China. Probably in June or July.
He said the KAPTF was hoping the wide range of stars would attract the fans. He said one of the reasons why attendance is not encouraging is that some fans only see their favourite artistes perform and they don't watch others.
I told him about my observations in HK and that CO audience in HK are also elderly people. He said one reason is that top HK CO artistes are quite old themselves and are not likely to attract young people.
He said HK fans who initially did not prefer China troupes are beginning to accept China troupes like the Zhanjiang CO Troupe and the Guangdong CO Youth Troupe which have been performing in HK quite regularly. These two troupes have younger talents and their performance is more towards HK style and so suit the tastes of fans there.
Lou Mee Wah as Wang Xi Feng, I think this was the first time she did the dan role, but I prefer her sheng role.
Posters displayed at the Venue ... The centre and right posters are Lou Mee Wah, the one on the left is Leong Sau Fong. She played another lead role in the opera.
This is a special 'Fruit Tree' created by Lou's fans/students. The fruits on the branches are real ones that can be eaten. How nice if we can grow a tree like that, with different fruits, right?
Bleak year for Cantonese opera (CO) ?
I was having small talk with a man who is knowledgeable about CO and the CO scene in Singapore. He said this year there will be few foreign troupes coming here because people are reluctant to bring in foreign troupes. Not only they don't make profit, but they have to put in money themselves and the theatre may only be half-full. And of course another reason is the gloomy economy. Harsh reality.
According to him, the KAPT Foundation, which usually brings in a foreign troupe every year, will not do so this year. But it will hold a three-day charity-related show with a dozen or so well-known artistes from HK and China. Probably in June or July.
He said the KAPTF was hoping the wide range of stars would attract the fans. He said one of the reasons why attendance is not encouraging is that some fans only see their favourite artistes perform and they don't watch others.
I told him about my observations in HK and that CO audience in HK are also elderly people. He said one reason is that top HK CO artistes are quite old themselves and are not likely to attract young people.
He said HK fans who initially did not prefer China troupes are beginning to accept China troupes like the Zhanjiang CO Troupe and the Guangdong CO Youth Troupe which have been performing in HK quite regularly. These two troupes have younger talents and their performance is more towards HK style and so suit the tastes of fans there.
January 11, 2009
Modern CO magazine
The first time I bought this opera magazine. The pages are printed on smooth glossy type of paper, so the photos look nice. Below are some pictures from the magazine.
Magazine cover
Huadan Lee Seok Ken
Huadan Chan Weng Yee
Sheng Wong Wai Kuan
Opera Madam White Snake
Lum Kau, veteran actor in old cantonese movies
Magazine cover
Huadan Lee Seok Ken
Huadan Chan Weng Yee
Sheng Wong Wai Kuan
Opera Madam White Snake
Lum Kau, veteran actor in old cantonese movies
January 09, 2009
Niu Year $$$ not enough
Even before the Niu Year starts, a big chunk of my income will have gone to the car:
insurance, after 50% NCD and 5% LD, and 6 months road tax - about $1100
normal servicing (every 6 moths, exclude repairs, replacement of parts, etc) - estimate $200
compulsory inspection - $62 (if fail, re-inspection $31)
three months parking fees - $195
Total more than $1500 !!!
At times like this, it looks stupid to own a car. Otherwise, part of this amount would have gone to my savings or holiday fund instead.
COE and car prices going down. You may be thinking of buying a car, but don't forget to factor these items in your budget. Then you have to think about parking and ERP charges. And if you are involved in an accident, it means a lot of inconvenience and more money gone.
insurance, after 50% NCD and 5% LD, and 6 months road tax - about $1100
normal servicing (every 6 moths, exclude repairs, replacement of parts, etc) - estimate $200
compulsory inspection - $62 (if fail, re-inspection $31)
three months parking fees - $195
Total more than $1500 !!!
At times like this, it looks stupid to own a car. Otherwise, part of this amount would have gone to my savings or holiday fund instead.
COE and car prices going down. You may be thinking of buying a car, but don't forget to factor these items in your budget. Then you have to think about parking and ERP charges. And if you are involved in an accident, it means a lot of inconvenience and more money gone.
January 07, 2009
Old postcard
You read about the fire at a building in Bangkok's Chinatown? While watching the news I remembered that I have an old postcard of Bangkok's Chinatown, so I scanned it to put up here for people to see. Does it remind you of our Chinatown of yesteryear's?
You know, during my first or second visit to Bangkok, I witnessed a fire in Chinatown too. It happened in the night at an upper floor of a building. Can't remember much though as it was long ago.
You know, during my first or second visit to Bangkok, I witnessed a fire in Chinatown too. It happened in the night at an upper floor of a building. Can't remember much though as it was long ago.
January 06, 2009
A dance rehearsal
I am not writing about the Chinatown Lights Up because other bloggers have put up posts and videos about it already.
But just a few words:
Last Saturday afternoon about 4pm I was at Chinatown. A stretch of New Bridge Road was already closed to traffic. Some performing groups were assembling and a dance group was practicing, so I took a video of the pretty girls doing their workout.
The crowd - this picture was copied from another blog.
Last Saturday afternoon about 4pm I was at Chinatown. A stretch of New Bridge Road was already closed to traffic. Some performing groups were assembling and a dance group was practicing, so I took a video of the pretty girls doing their workout.
The crowd - this picture was copied from another blog.
The dancers
January 04, 2009
Travel thoughts
Sunbeam Theatre
This is the Cantonese opera icon in HK. Actually it is just an ordinary theatre. What is unique is the various big illuminated standing billboards in the forecourt.
I read the news that the theatre owner has extended the lease of the theatre for troupes to use for another three years but the rent has been raised. If the rent issue is still not resolved by the early this year, the troupes may not be able to perform there.
The day I was there there was a night performance, so I bought a ticket for the show. As expected, the audience were elderly people. I would say many are 70 and above. I didn't see children or anyone who looked like below 20 or maybe even 30.
They have young people and even children learning cantonese opera. I think some schools are having it as their ECA. I presume these are small groups with few students.
But, unlike in Singapore where we are encouraged to use mandarin, their education is in cantonese and they live in a cantonese-speaking environment. Even their annual big-scale fund-raising show has CO performances.
So, how come no young people go to the theatre to watch CO? I think the reason is that although a lot of young people may know something about CO they are not interested enough to go to a theatre to watch a three-hour show.
This is a cooked-food stall near the theatre selling innards of cow. I think this type of food is quite popular in HK. But I have not seen any similar stall selling pig's parts.
Motherly love
A loving mother and her daughter sharing a box of lunch at a park. It was not the type of lunch box you could buy from the food stall. I think it was packed at home. I managed to peep into the box and saw rice, some vegetable and a chicken drumstick.
I find this scene warm and nostalgic. It makes you think of your childhood when your mother fed you with a spoon. Nostalgic thoughts are good for you.
This is the Cantonese opera icon in HK. Actually it is just an ordinary theatre. What is unique is the various big illuminated standing billboards in the forecourt.
I read the news that the theatre owner has extended the lease of the theatre for troupes to use for another three years but the rent has been raised. If the rent issue is still not resolved by the early this year, the troupes may not be able to perform there.
The day I was there there was a night performance, so I bought a ticket for the show. As expected, the audience were elderly people. I would say many are 70 and above. I didn't see children or anyone who looked like below 20 or maybe even 30.
They have young people and even children learning cantonese opera. I think some schools are having it as their ECA. I presume these are small groups with few students.
But, unlike in Singapore where we are encouraged to use mandarin, their education is in cantonese and they live in a cantonese-speaking environment. Even their annual big-scale fund-raising show has CO performances.
So, how come no young people go to the theatre to watch CO? I think the reason is that although a lot of young people may know something about CO they are not interested enough to go to a theatre to watch a three-hour show.
This is a cooked-food stall near the theatre selling innards of cow. I think this type of food is quite popular in HK. But I have not seen any similar stall selling pig's parts.
Motherly love
A loving mother and her daughter sharing a box of lunch at a park. It was not the type of lunch box you could buy from the food stall. I think it was packed at home. I managed to peep into the box and saw rice, some vegetable and a chicken drumstick.
I find this scene warm and nostalgic. It makes you think of your childhood when your mother fed you with a spoon. Nostalgic thoughts are good for you.
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