Photos from ARF 2007; LOTR Symphony (SIN Arts Festival 2008)

Yes, I is the “达叔”。So let's say ‘Hi' to “达叔”！

达叔转行当linguist！

达叔的搭档，“神龙”。




The other Best Man on the Land.



An unforgetable, if uneventful (business-wise; the "food poisoning was certainly eventful), first time. 我把“第一次”献给了香港。

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Opened the Singapore Arts Festival mailer today.

The MOST EXCITING program for film music lovers (from the mailer) so far this year -

"THE LORD OF THE RINGS SYMPHONY: SIX MOVEMENTS FOR ORCHESTRA, CHORUS AND SOLOISTS

Singapore Festival Orchestra / Chorus of the Solvene National Theatres Maribor abd Ljubljana / The Singapore Lyric Opera Children's Choir

Drawn from the nearly 12 hours of music for the phenomenally successful film trilogy composed by multi-award winning composer Howard Shore, 'The Lord of the Rings Symphony' is staged by a musical force of more than 200 performaers, accompanied by original illustrations and storyboard sketches by renowned Tolkien artists John Howe and Alan Lee which inspired the majestic imagery of the film. A unique multimedia concert experience not to be missed.

"... flawless... breathtaking... a real sonic spectacle."
- The Herald

5-6 June, 7.30pm / $35, $43, $65, $85, $110, $140, $150
Esplanade Concert Hall"

Tickets on sale from 20 Feb. Students get 20% off!

The only grumble I have, and the factor that will decide whether I buy a ticket for this performance, is with.... the Festival Orchestra.

A month to decide then.

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Thanks to Obligations - AGAIN.

Attended the Briefing for a Mob this morning, learnt that the "watching window" will be from 1th to 18th March, with the next one later in the year from 7th to 14th Oct.

High chance that the "window" will "swing open" on 15th March, Saturday.

15th March.

15TH MARCH!

Said bye bye to one-per-part Planet Earth already.

If things get serious, I might not even be there on the 15th at all.

And if it does, if it really does...

I'm so gonna be pissed with the Obligation(s).

Signing off........... The ties never severed, just getting diluted over time.............
RC

Hong Kong - 香港浸会大学，兰桂坊

It was a pretty slow day, with almost no one whom we know at the ARF.

Met Dr. Wee Lian Hee in person for the first time - though it seemed like he looked kinda familiar.He offered to attend our session in the morning and lunch with us after that.

And of course, Prof. (I think) Tony Hung, who had connections with DELL as well.

The talks were quite alright I guess, though there was this one which kinda got blasted by some co-presenter who was, I presume, a professor at another university.

The highlight of the day (for me at least) took place at Lan Kwai Fong (Yes! We finally set foot on HK proper!). We were having dinner and beer at this bar + grill place and catching the Villa-Portsmouth match. We ended up betting on the final score, with the losers picking up the tab. Let's just say I've gotten lucky for once (Thanks Lady Luck - probably the ladies here bring more positive energy lol), and I didnt need to pay for my lamb stew + 2 bottles of beer.

The road sign that says Lan Kwai Fong seems to be a hit with photo-crazy tourists.

Soon, everything will be over and it's back to run-of-the-mill routines.

Gearing up for tomorrow morning - we gonna rock the house down!

And, the New York Cheesecake donuts from Krispy Kreme are the BEST-EST. EVER.

I'm so gonna miss the weather.

Signing off................. Overt Longing for many, Covert Pining for One..............
RC

Hong Kong - Kowloon Bay, Kowloon Tong

Now that we've kinda settled down, there's some time to recollect the last 30 hours or so.

Plane ride was pretty smooth; no hiccups and pain in the ears. Caught Superbad (damn farny) and the last 30 mins or so of Transformers (memories....). In-flight meal was the best I've encountered thus far - CX actually had smoked salmon for salad as well as Haagen Daaz ice-cream for dessert. (Vanilla though - nothing fancy) Comfortable no doubt, but probbaly nothing as close an experience as my last plane ride........

Had a late night after the last entry - we went out for a walk, had some dubious-looking BBQ meat, as well as fried noodle and congee.

Things we did today - rehearsed (thrice, with Naga), took the MTR and checked out Hong Kong Baptist University, took one of the many public buses and checked out Kowloon Tong area, had our best dinner so far (steamboat buffet), got approached by a pimp, checked out places to watch soccer tomorrow night.

I ruffled one of the ladies working at the motel with my locking of the room door - supposed to leave it unlocked, even when I'm out.

Ok, tomorrow's the actual start - will be checking out the crowd as well as the dress code. Seems like we are under-dressed wherever we go. Could be the weather, could be that clothes are cheaper over here. Maybe heading to Central/Tsim Sha Tsui/Wanchai/LKF to check out for watering holes + soccer spots.

Besides their boots, the ladies here love their (black) stockings and make-up as well.

Signing off............ Singapore has the worst school uniforms......................
RC

Touchdown - HKG

We didnt get our 4-star Regal Oriental Hotel in the end.

But...

... we had taken a HK$33 bus ride to (somewhere in) Mongkok...

... gotten ourselves some cheap accom that's overlooking the busier streets (thw crowds are still mvoing around at 12+)...

... wireless internet access (I hope we aren't gonna get charged!)....

... got a "warm" welcome; the room TV was playing pron once we closed the room door...

Now, to get some supper makan before turning in...

Thanks to a kind lady who gave us directions on the bus...

A lot of ladies wear boots though..........

Signing off............ EAT................
RC