Well, I've only a month left before I say goodbye to hong kong, kit ming, and doublethinks, and I'm not sure if I can handle it..... 'it' of course refers to the unbelievebly cold weather that canada has to offer.
I'm really excited to come home for a bit. I've been in hk now for a straight year, and though it's been great, there's just nothing that compares with a nice homecooked meal and spending christmas with friends and family.
Josh, Alexandra, Annie, Cj, Lauren, and everyone else back home......I request a snowball fight!!! It's been ages since I've been knocked over at just the right angle, that pushes snow down between waistline and skin. Oh the good times!
I've been a complete geek lately, having discovered my love of comic books (rather Menga). So far i've bought the first three menga's of my all time favourite anime, called Full Metal Alchemist. It's such a great series, and now the original comics have started being translated into english. Just an hour ago, rob and I were in Page One in Cental and I had to battle with myself as to whether I should blow a hundred bucks on a new comic or an actual book.
This time I'm happy to say that I went for the slightly more intellectually involved route. I picked up a great new book called 'Freedom' by Osho. Though I've only read a few random bits of it when I was in the shop, I think it'll be a great read. Steph picked up a couple of other books from the same author, and she seemed to enjoy him quite a bit.
The usual studio was booked up during our habitual sunday practice this week. Luckily, Anders managed to find a new place for us, and it turned out to be a great little place. It was on 18th floor of a commercial building in Mong Kok....not too far from the other one. On two sides of the studio we were surrounded by windows, and all around us was some serious looking gear. All of this was in a lovely white room with hardwood floors, which provided a great environment for us. It was a nice switch. We managed to work out some kinks with a few new and old songs, and we ran through the set list for our upcoming show as well. In all, we've got a good show ahead of us. We've broken the set down into three chapters according to the energy level of the music, and having to switch instruments a bit.
Chapter One:
yellow ruby
di don
could have been
riddles on sale
Chapter Two:
Piano Song( I can't remember the translation of the title from chinese)
Ocean Music
Chapter Three:
Rubber Band
How Long
Sleeping Elephants
Generally a good mix of stuff
And now it's time to teach one last lesson.
Happy Halloween
Brendan
Monday, October 31, 2005
Monday, October 17, 2005
Zeynex the Warrior
It's been over a month since I last updated my fancy blog. I had been meaning to add a few posts over the last month, but I've forgotten whatever it was I had to say.
A few interesting things have happened, such as moving off of lamma island and into swanky/convienent Central. In now takes me about 35 minutes to get to work, as opposed to the minimum 75 minutes from lamma.
I was in a nervous state the whole last week of september, which continued on right until I successfully passed through immigration from macau, back into Hong Kong, for the fifth time in the last year. Last time I left for a visa run, kit ming and I went to Shenzhen for a day of prospective shopping. Upon trying to enter back into HK I was taken aside by two immigration officers. One was a gruff sounding man who clearly didn't want to be at work (not to my advantage in the slightest) and the other was a average height woman, with a slender build, who was far too quiet for my liking. They lead me into some room with no chairs (damn scare tactics) infront of four people sitting at one long table. Not much at all was said. I was asked some simple questions regarding my reason for being in hk, and my anticipated time of departure. Nothing too bad really, accept that I had now been flagged down by immigration, which would make my next visa run an extremely nervous encounter. And as I said before........I was quite worried.
Happily though my next, and last visa run to macau turned out to be much more of a success than I had planned. They could have just looked at me when I was coming back from macau at 6:30am tuesday morning, that my luck was up, and given me a week to get the hell out of china. Both rob and I were taken aside in our tired, semi drunken state to a waiting room, then a little office.........waiting. I wasn't even that nervous at this point because I hadn't slept in a solid day, and had literally been drinking all night with steph and rob (having a great time as a potential going away party) Anywho, this really young guy walked in the room, told us he knew we were working here, illegally, and then came the magic words, "I don't care that you're working here. Just go back to your own country's for a little while, and apply for working visa's, then come back"
The lovely daniel Lui gave us two more months and then sent us on our elated way.
I celebrated my twenty-first birthday by doing nothing particularily special. I spent much of the day walking around causeway bay on my own. I did have a very nice birthday dinner though. Steph, Josh, Kit Ming and I went to the bookworm cafe (my favourite restaurant) ate a tonne of food, and generally just had a pleasent/relaxing meal together. So, that was the big 21.
doublethinks has been doing well lately. We've been playing more shows and getting a lot of constructive comments. Our main concern when playing live is to mind the balance of the guitars, and make sure that the drums aren't busting eardrums, as Gabe does with his shattering sticks in hand.
Our most recent and most significant gig as of late, was a show on october 13th at the edge. We played a decent set, and actually had someone write a review about the performence. It's a bit of a mixed review to be honest, but having been compared to oasis, coldplay, and notably echo and the bunnymen can't be all that bad. The write up and some pictures of us rocking everyone's sock's off can be found at www.undergroundhk.com
Our next big show isn't until november 6, so we have time to relax and work on new material. if anyone's interested in coming just give myself, anders, gabe, or shaun a ring.......or email........or just yell really loud. I'll hear you........trust me.
Right, tickets are $150 bucks, but that includes two drinks. Plus it's in tst, which can be a pricey place to drink. So, haveing two drink tickets in your hands, plus three awesome bands to watch isn't such a bad deal.
In other music news...
I plan on recording a few tracks of my own making next month, so that I have something to show you folks in canada that i'm not all that lazy and unmotivated. It won't be anything special, just me and my acoustic. I haven't said anything to anders about it yet, but I'm going to try to get him to help me with some bass, or bongo's or something to add a little more thickness, and flavour. I'll also need his help, and likely gabe's as well with the mixing and mastering, because it's such a time consuming process, that really needs a few sets of ears and a lot of input.
Not that it's very important, but I've been thinking of whether to use my own name for the prospective ep title, or a name of my own choosing. A name i've wanted to use for a band for a while now is, Read Music. I really like how it sounds.
Lastly, but not at all the least important....
Kit Ming and I have been really well lately. We've now been together for over eight months, and I've never been more happy and all around comfortable with someone before........which of course is a very good sign for the future.
cheers
brendan
A few interesting things have happened, such as moving off of lamma island and into swanky/convienent Central. In now takes me about 35 minutes to get to work, as opposed to the minimum 75 minutes from lamma.
I was in a nervous state the whole last week of september, which continued on right until I successfully passed through immigration from macau, back into Hong Kong, for the fifth time in the last year. Last time I left for a visa run, kit ming and I went to Shenzhen for a day of prospective shopping. Upon trying to enter back into HK I was taken aside by two immigration officers. One was a gruff sounding man who clearly didn't want to be at work (not to my advantage in the slightest) and the other was a average height woman, with a slender build, who was far too quiet for my liking. They lead me into some room with no chairs (damn scare tactics) infront of four people sitting at one long table. Not much at all was said. I was asked some simple questions regarding my reason for being in hk, and my anticipated time of departure. Nothing too bad really, accept that I had now been flagged down by immigration, which would make my next visa run an extremely nervous encounter. And as I said before........I was quite worried.
Happily though my next, and last visa run to macau turned out to be much more of a success than I had planned. They could have just looked at me when I was coming back from macau at 6:30am tuesday morning, that my luck was up, and given me a week to get the hell out of china. Both rob and I were taken aside in our tired, semi drunken state to a waiting room, then a little office.........waiting. I wasn't even that nervous at this point because I hadn't slept in a solid day, and had literally been drinking all night with steph and rob (having a great time as a potential going away party) Anywho, this really young guy walked in the room, told us he knew we were working here, illegally, and then came the magic words, "I don't care that you're working here. Just go back to your own country's for a little while, and apply for working visa's, then come back"
The lovely daniel Lui gave us two more months and then sent us on our elated way.
I celebrated my twenty-first birthday by doing nothing particularily special. I spent much of the day walking around causeway bay on my own. I did have a very nice birthday dinner though. Steph, Josh, Kit Ming and I went to the bookworm cafe (my favourite restaurant) ate a tonne of food, and generally just had a pleasent/relaxing meal together. So, that was the big 21.
doublethinks has been doing well lately. We've been playing more shows and getting a lot of constructive comments. Our main concern when playing live is to mind the balance of the guitars, and make sure that the drums aren't busting eardrums, as Gabe does with his shattering sticks in hand.
Our most recent and most significant gig as of late, was a show on october 13th at the edge. We played a decent set, and actually had someone write a review about the performence. It's a bit of a mixed review to be honest, but having been compared to oasis, coldplay, and notably echo and the bunnymen can't be all that bad. The write up and some pictures of us rocking everyone's sock's off can be found at www.undergroundhk.com
Our next big show isn't until november 6, so we have time to relax and work on new material. if anyone's interested in coming just give myself, anders, gabe, or shaun a ring.......or email........or just yell really loud. I'll hear you........trust me.
Right, tickets are $150 bucks, but that includes two drinks. Plus it's in tst, which can be a pricey place to drink. So, haveing two drink tickets in your hands, plus three awesome bands to watch isn't such a bad deal.
In other music news...
I plan on recording a few tracks of my own making next month, so that I have something to show you folks in canada that i'm not all that lazy and unmotivated. It won't be anything special, just me and my acoustic. I haven't said anything to anders about it yet, but I'm going to try to get him to help me with some bass, or bongo's or something to add a little more thickness, and flavour. I'll also need his help, and likely gabe's as well with the mixing and mastering, because it's such a time consuming process, that really needs a few sets of ears and a lot of input.
Not that it's very important, but I've been thinking of whether to use my own name for the prospective ep title, or a name of my own choosing. A name i've wanted to use for a band for a while now is, Read Music. I really like how it sounds.
Lastly, but not at all the least important....
Kit Ming and I have been really well lately. We've now been together for over eight months, and I've never been more happy and all around comfortable with someone before........which of course is a very good sign for the future.
cheers
brendan
Saturday, September 03, 2005
GUCCI PARTY BABY
success!
Last night rob anders and I attended the annual gucci fashion show. Our friend, ming, works PR for gucci, and he managed to get us a few invites to see last nights show. I'll see if I can upload some pictures of coat rack model people later.
I'm finding it hard to focus right now on actually saying anything that i want to say. Partly because I just woke up after six hours of sleep. I'm at sally's flat using her laptop, and there's some fella behind me instaling a new air conditioner. Naturally, installing anything at all tends to be quite noisey, so I couldn't have much of a lie in.
In other news, this is my very very very first saturday I've ever booked off from work!!
Interkids being the illegel place that it is, doesn't give it's employees any of the public/mandatory holidays that everyone else in hong kong seem to get. I started working the first saturday I got back into Hong Kong, which was the end of october, and I had just one saturday off for christmas..........which wasn't that great, because I had to work the sunday after anyway.
My saturday classes are all so hectic. For the first five hours all I have is little kids, with the average of four years. After five consecutive splitting headaches I can relax a bit with my two older classes, where the kids are about ten or eleven years old.
SO.... not having to deal with any of that today, as well as being safe in the knowledge that I'm not working tomorrow........... I feel happy!
Right then, Gucci party last night.
I had to buy a black jacket for the occasion, and sported with it, a white pinstripe dress shirt, and just a stinking pair of jeans.
It started off in a very surreal reception area, where as you walk in you can't help but notice models having their photos taken, and there just so happens to be fancy black runway carpet under your feet. Anywho, I can't be bothered to go into detail describing anything now, so I'll just say that it was dark, there were strange blue lights coming from the strange tables, and there were strange people dressed all in black walking around with strange black trays of champainge, whiskey with lemon, and some other strange tasting drinks.
There was an open bar all night with long elegant glassware spaning the blacktop bar, all in a rather large hall at the Hong Kong Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai.
Needless to say I drank a fair bit, but didn't actually get too drunk at all.
One thing that surprised me was that, I actually bumped into a few people I knew after the fashion show ended, and the party began. One of whom was a girl Rob and I worked with in the summer named Winky. She was there with a few of her friends. Winky introduced me to one of her friends whose name was................(drum roll please) Tease!
Yes, that's right, Tease. I found the name quite amusing. She was a local girl, but studies in England, so, I'm presuming that she must have heard all the wise cracks possible regarding her choice of english name. Admitedly though, I really had to contain myself from a fit of laughter as I was looking at her, and shaking her hand. I'm glad it was dark and the music was loud.
Anywho, the night ended at about four o'clock with Rob and I having a mini adventure trying to find a minibus back to sha tin town centre. We managed to get ourselves a messy falafel each, and then grabbed a bus that said it was going to Mong Kok. It did, we got there safely enough, and Rob even got some sugary mango juice. You've got to love 24 hour city life.........there's always somewhere to go to get sugary mango juice. After that we got on some random mini bus........we were loosely thinking that it was the right one back to sha tin. One problem with being a foreigner on a minibus is that you have to say the street name that you want to get off at, by yelling it at the driver. We didn't know any sort of street name, and even if we did, people tend to think that as westerners we're trying to speak english, even though we could be yelling in canto. So, communication is always a failure.
Luckily someone yelled at just the right time, and we managed to find our way back to sally and gabe's flat without much difficulty, and only a little bit of noise.
A good night in all.
Last night rob anders and I attended the annual gucci fashion show. Our friend, ming, works PR for gucci, and he managed to get us a few invites to see last nights show. I'll see if I can upload some pictures of coat rack model people later.
I'm finding it hard to focus right now on actually saying anything that i want to say. Partly because I just woke up after six hours of sleep. I'm at sally's flat using her laptop, and there's some fella behind me instaling a new air conditioner. Naturally, installing anything at all tends to be quite noisey, so I couldn't have much of a lie in.
In other news, this is my very very very first saturday I've ever booked off from work!!
Interkids being the illegel place that it is, doesn't give it's employees any of the public/mandatory holidays that everyone else in hong kong seem to get. I started working the first saturday I got back into Hong Kong, which was the end of october, and I had just one saturday off for christmas..........which wasn't that great, because I had to work the sunday after anyway.
My saturday classes are all so hectic. For the first five hours all I have is little kids, with the average of four years. After five consecutive splitting headaches I can relax a bit with my two older classes, where the kids are about ten or eleven years old.
SO.... not having to deal with any of that today, as well as being safe in the knowledge that I'm not working tomorrow........... I feel happy!
Right then, Gucci party last night.
I had to buy a black jacket for the occasion, and sported with it, a white pinstripe dress shirt, and just a stinking pair of jeans.
It started off in a very surreal reception area, where as you walk in you can't help but notice models having their photos taken, and there just so happens to be fancy black runway carpet under your feet. Anywho, I can't be bothered to go into detail describing anything now, so I'll just say that it was dark, there were strange blue lights coming from the strange tables, and there were strange people dressed all in black walking around with strange black trays of champainge, whiskey with lemon, and some other strange tasting drinks.
There was an open bar all night with long elegant glassware spaning the blacktop bar, all in a rather large hall at the Hong Kong Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai.
Needless to say I drank a fair bit, but didn't actually get too drunk at all.
One thing that surprised me was that, I actually bumped into a few people I knew after the fashion show ended, and the party began. One of whom was a girl Rob and I worked with in the summer named Winky. She was there with a few of her friends. Winky introduced me to one of her friends whose name was................(drum roll please) Tease!
Yes, that's right, Tease. I found the name quite amusing. She was a local girl, but studies in England, so, I'm presuming that she must have heard all the wise cracks possible regarding her choice of english name. Admitedly though, I really had to contain myself from a fit of laughter as I was looking at her, and shaking her hand. I'm glad it was dark and the music was loud.
Anywho, the night ended at about four o'clock with Rob and I having a mini adventure trying to find a minibus back to sha tin town centre. We managed to get ourselves a messy falafel each, and then grabbed a bus that said it was going to Mong Kok. It did, we got there safely enough, and Rob even got some sugary mango juice. You've got to love 24 hour city life.........there's always somewhere to go to get sugary mango juice. After that we got on some random mini bus........we were loosely thinking that it was the right one back to sha tin. One problem with being a foreigner on a minibus is that you have to say the street name that you want to get off at, by yelling it at the driver. We didn't know any sort of street name, and even if we did, people tend to think that as westerners we're trying to speak english, even though we could be yelling in canto. So, communication is always a failure.
Luckily someone yelled at just the right time, and we managed to find our way back to sally and gabe's flat without much difficulty, and only a little bit of noise.
A good night in all.
Monday, August 29, 2005
who wants a quickie?!
hey all!
Here's a quick one that I only just realized I forgot to post!
anywho. here she be.
one last thing before I make like a tree. this is my last month on lamma island. For october and a week of november, i'm going to be crashing on various sofa's and linolium floors. Should be fun because after that comes... tuk tuk thailand!
right so, if anyone cares to hit up the beach just give me a ring. I'm always up for a swim.
cheers
---------------------
arrrr.....
doublethinks played a show at the wanch last wednesday.......it went really well until the last song, where i suddenly blanked out and forgot the whole fucking thing. Good times though. There were quite a few people there, including all the new gelta's fresh off the chatteris boat.
Here's a quick one that I only just realized I forgot to post!
anywho. here she be.
one last thing before I make like a tree. this is my last month on lamma island. For october and a week of november, i'm going to be crashing on various sofa's and linolium floors. Should be fun because after that comes... tuk tuk thailand!
right so, if anyone cares to hit up the beach just give me a ring. I'm always up for a swim.
cheers
---------------------
arrrr.....
doublethinks played a show at the wanch last wednesday.......it went really well until the last song, where i suddenly blanked out and forgot the whole fucking thing. Good times though. There were quite a few people there, including all the new gelta's fresh off the chatteris boat.
Monday, August 22, 2005
hey johnbie!!!!!!!
I decided not to buy a rabbit. I figure since I'm never home for very long, that I'd neglect it...... plus I'd have to leave the aircon on all day so it wouldn't die from the heat. I prefere not to use much electricity, and the rabbit would ruin that angle.
Plans are changing constantly. Rob and I are seriously thinking about doing our tefl certs in phuket, thailand come november. The course we're looking at is a full month, housing is supplied, and it's meant to be really challenging, though rewarding. It's a tad on the pricey side though. The course alone costs 12500 HK$, about two grand canadian. On top of the course cost I'll need some money to live for the month, as well as buy my ticket to thailand, and back to HK.
If we actually do end up doing our tefl's then we'ld be laughing in regards to getting better paying, legitimate jobs, that would supply us with work visa's.
After prospective Thailand, I'd stay in HK for about a week and a half, working for a bit of extra dough, and then I'd be back in canada for christmas. Once home, I'll probably have to find a job to earn my fare back to hong kong, which i'm sure would take a couple of months.
Before this whole tefl business came about, I was planning on moving to the new territories to Tai Wai, into a new flat with Rob. We both wouldn't mind having a nice flat, that we could furnish on our own. We found an amazing little furniture shop in ma on shan about a month ago, where they had chairs that looking like giant hands. They were the perfect size, and because one of the chair's fingers runs directly up the centre of where your back would be, they provide posture support. My back is always sore from bending over at little tables all the time, teaching little munchkin children.
A group of us went out drinking saturday, as is the custom, and I ended up breaking my glasses.......................again.
I loved those glasses, they were so comfy, and had swirly brown and white all over them.
I bought a new pair yesterday before I went off to the studio in mong kok. I was in a rush so I picked out a new pair in a few minutes. Now, that I'm actually wearing them, they're just alright looking. I think they're a bit too big in the lense area. I've got a spare set of frames at my flat on lamma, so I'm going to get some lenses made for them, probably this week. I think i've had four pair of glasses in the past two years.........
the funny thing is, is that I've been thinking about laser eye surgery just in the past couple of weeks. Kit ming's sister recommended it too me. She said that she has some friends who've had it done, and it worked really well for them. Perhaps breaking yet another pair of glasses was a sign..
I was at steph and josh's place last night, and we ended up watching, I Heart Huckabee's. I had heard the name before, but never anything about the story line. To anyone who hasn't seen this movie, I definatly recommend it.................it was amazing. Definatly one of the best movies I've seen in a long while.
tiz all for now.
brendan
Plans are changing constantly. Rob and I are seriously thinking about doing our tefl certs in phuket, thailand come november. The course we're looking at is a full month, housing is supplied, and it's meant to be really challenging, though rewarding. It's a tad on the pricey side though. The course alone costs 12500 HK$, about two grand canadian. On top of the course cost I'll need some money to live for the month, as well as buy my ticket to thailand, and back to HK.
If we actually do end up doing our tefl's then we'ld be laughing in regards to getting better paying, legitimate jobs, that would supply us with work visa's.
After prospective Thailand, I'd stay in HK for about a week and a half, working for a bit of extra dough, and then I'd be back in canada for christmas. Once home, I'll probably have to find a job to earn my fare back to hong kong, which i'm sure would take a couple of months.
Before this whole tefl business came about, I was planning on moving to the new territories to Tai Wai, into a new flat with Rob. We both wouldn't mind having a nice flat, that we could furnish on our own. We found an amazing little furniture shop in ma on shan about a month ago, where they had chairs that looking like giant hands. They were the perfect size, and because one of the chair's fingers runs directly up the centre of where your back would be, they provide posture support. My back is always sore from bending over at little tables all the time, teaching little munchkin children.
A group of us went out drinking saturday, as is the custom, and I ended up breaking my glasses.......................again.
I loved those glasses, they were so comfy, and had swirly brown and white all over them.
I bought a new pair yesterday before I went off to the studio in mong kok. I was in a rush so I picked out a new pair in a few minutes. Now, that I'm actually wearing them, they're just alright looking. I think they're a bit too big in the lense area. I've got a spare set of frames at my flat on lamma, so I'm going to get some lenses made for them, probably this week. I think i've had four pair of glasses in the past two years.........
the funny thing is, is that I've been thinking about laser eye surgery just in the past couple of weeks. Kit ming's sister recommended it too me. She said that she has some friends who've had it done, and it worked really well for them. Perhaps breaking yet another pair of glasses was a sign..
I was at steph and josh's place last night, and we ended up watching, I Heart Huckabee's. I had heard the name before, but never anything about the story line. To anyone who hasn't seen this movie, I definatly recommend it.................it was amazing. Definatly one of the best movies I've seen in a long while.
tiz all for now.
brendan
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
ring ring
I'm not dead!
In fact, i'm feeling great! I've been having a wonderful time socializing and getting lost in the hk rush during the past few months, so i apologise for the complete and utter lack of updates.
so what's new?
lately, i've been thinking about buying myself a fancy dancy phone card, so that i can actually call some of you folks lost in the wilderness of canada........england........the states......and where ever the hell else you are.
Don't be too surprised if you here my distantly familiar voice yelling down your phoneline during the next couple of days.
It's hot here.............really hot. I've never really liked basking in the sun, or frolicking on the beach too much in the past. But! Due to my remarkably close vacinity to the beautiful powerstation beach on lamma (on the left are beautiful lush rolling green mountains, or the right there's a big fucking power station... hence the name) i've taken a big big liking to the salty water and coarse whitened sand. if any of you chumps are in the area on any given sunday you can find me honning my ever increasing frisbe skills. Feel free to join me in my goal of over taking my minor fear of the great unknown that is the water. Every time I'm out swimming I go out just a little further, and try really freaking hard to push away the thought of sometime creepy, and unfamiliar dragging me under, or heading off with a precious limb. I absolutly love swimming now.
in other news.......
I really want a rabbit. I'll probably buy one this month. They're so cool. I can't wait to just sit at home letting it hop about and sniff at it's new surroundings.
i'm going on a junk (yacht) trip this coming sunday.
that should be fun. I'm sure i'll get really drunk, and swim about in some of the little islands all around hong kong.
i'm going to be moving to sha tin, or tin wai come the start of october. I love lamma, but i'm willing to sacrifice a bit of serenity in order to save a crap load on rent and travel expenses... plus i'll be way closer to kit ming, and there are a lot of job opportunities in the new territories, and right now, i'm way too far south to consider traveling so far north everyday for work.
ming had invited rob and I to the big annual gucci party on sept 2nd. there will be an open bar. we're buying suits. awesome
that's all for now
brendan
In fact, i'm feeling great! I've been having a wonderful time socializing and getting lost in the hk rush during the past few months, so i apologise for the complete and utter lack of updates.
so what's new?
lately, i've been thinking about buying myself a fancy dancy phone card, so that i can actually call some of you folks lost in the wilderness of canada........england........the states......and where ever the hell else you are.
Don't be too surprised if you here my distantly familiar voice yelling down your phoneline during the next couple of days.
It's hot here.............really hot. I've never really liked basking in the sun, or frolicking on the beach too much in the past. But! Due to my remarkably close vacinity to the beautiful powerstation beach on lamma (on the left are beautiful lush rolling green mountains, or the right there's a big fucking power station... hence the name) i've taken a big big liking to the salty water and coarse whitened sand. if any of you chumps are in the area on any given sunday you can find me honning my ever increasing frisbe skills. Feel free to join me in my goal of over taking my minor fear of the great unknown that is the water. Every time I'm out swimming I go out just a little further, and try really freaking hard to push away the thought of sometime creepy, and unfamiliar dragging me under, or heading off with a precious limb. I absolutly love swimming now.
in other news.......
I really want a rabbit. I'll probably buy one this month. They're so cool. I can't wait to just sit at home letting it hop about and sniff at it's new surroundings.
i'm going on a junk (yacht) trip this coming sunday.
that should be fun. I'm sure i'll get really drunk, and swim about in some of the little islands all around hong kong.
i'm going to be moving to sha tin, or tin wai come the start of october. I love lamma, but i'm willing to sacrifice a bit of serenity in order to save a crap load on rent and travel expenses... plus i'll be way closer to kit ming, and there are a lot of job opportunities in the new territories, and right now, i'm way too far south to consider traveling so far north everyday for work.
ming had invited rob and I to the big annual gucci party on sept 2nd. there will be an open bar. we're buying suits. awesome
that's all for now
brendan
Monday, May 30, 2005
CJ CJ CJ CJ
Hiya CJ!
Well, it's been a while since my last post, and I suppose a fair bit has happened during the past twenty days or so.
To start, Doublethinks (my band: www.doublethinks.com) is doing extremely well. Anders Gabe and I have been busy little bunnies in the recording studio, finishing up all the mixing and mastering for our first EP, which may be called 'The Neighbourhood'. In total there will be six songs, and even though we're not even finished all the final touches, I can't wait to get back under the mics to record some of the new stuff we've churned out.
Over the past couple of weeks we've begun playing gigs again, and it feels great! Our first surprise appearance was at The Wanch, where after a studio session, we went to wan chai to check out our friends new band. It was just an open mic, and we didn't have any instruments, so we borrowed gear from another band and laid out two solid songs. We couldn't play anything else because Shaun didn't have a capo, nor did anyone else, so, that pretty ended the night. I ended up drunk, hitting up a bunch of bars with Shaun afterwards and eventually, I forgot an 11 yard role of canvas in a taxi, that I had bought earlier that day. So, being the funny drunk that I am, I spent a good half an hour argueing with some guy named Barry at the taxi service centre, trying to locate my $500hk role of canvas. He said that he would call me back with the whereabouts of my canvas, but.......
BARRY NEVER CALLED BACK!
that scoundral.
So, I'm continuing to be prolific with my art, and soon I will add another bit of ink to my body. I've been working on this piece for a good six months, on and off, and I'm nearing the point of completion. This time I'm moving away from the arms, and am getting inked on the chest. Anywho, should be fun. I'm planning on adding to the colourful right arm when I go back to the hammer for christmas.
UMMMMMMMMM........................ I can't really think of much else to say.
Kit Ming and I are still together going on four months now. She now has a new nickname thanks to my mother, I sometimes op to call her Kitty Ming. Clever isn't it. haha, she is a cutie.
Oh right! Doublethinks, this coming saturday is entering the first round of the HK battle of the bands. The world battle of the bands are being held in hk this year, and will consist of participants from the States, New Zealand, HK, and another couple of countries.
So, I'll surely update again soon with the results of this saturdays festivities.
anywho, time for lunch
cheers
brendan
Well, it's been a while since my last post, and I suppose a fair bit has happened during the past twenty days or so.
To start, Doublethinks (my band: www.doublethinks.com) is doing extremely well. Anders Gabe and I have been busy little bunnies in the recording studio, finishing up all the mixing and mastering for our first EP, which may be called 'The Neighbourhood'. In total there will be six songs, and even though we're not even finished all the final touches, I can't wait to get back under the mics to record some of the new stuff we've churned out.
Over the past couple of weeks we've begun playing gigs again, and it feels great! Our first surprise appearance was at The Wanch, where after a studio session, we went to wan chai to check out our friends new band. It was just an open mic, and we didn't have any instruments, so we borrowed gear from another band and laid out two solid songs. We couldn't play anything else because Shaun didn't have a capo, nor did anyone else, so, that pretty ended the night. I ended up drunk, hitting up a bunch of bars with Shaun afterwards and eventually, I forgot an 11 yard role of canvas in a taxi, that I had bought earlier that day. So, being the funny drunk that I am, I spent a good half an hour argueing with some guy named Barry at the taxi service centre, trying to locate my $500hk role of canvas. He said that he would call me back with the whereabouts of my canvas, but.......
BARRY NEVER CALLED BACK!
that scoundral.
So, I'm continuing to be prolific with my art, and soon I will add another bit of ink to my body. I've been working on this piece for a good six months, on and off, and I'm nearing the point of completion. This time I'm moving away from the arms, and am getting inked on the chest. Anywho, should be fun. I'm planning on adding to the colourful right arm when I go back to the hammer for christmas.
UMMMMMMMMM........................ I can't really think of much else to say.
Kit Ming and I are still together going on four months now. She now has a new nickname thanks to my mother, I sometimes op to call her Kitty Ming. Clever isn't it. haha, she is a cutie.
Oh right! Doublethinks, this coming saturday is entering the first round of the HK battle of the bands. The world battle of the bands are being held in hk this year, and will consist of participants from the States, New Zealand, HK, and another couple of countries.
So, I'll surely update again soon with the results of this saturdays festivities.
anywho, time for lunch
cheers
brendan
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
Two and a half years Plan
Plans are beginning to crystalize, in regards to what I'll be up to in the next couple of years.
Though very loosely layed out, I'm happy that I have certain goals to ascertain. So, starting from this summer I'm going to work work work, and save as much as I can, using my wealth to pay off my debts, weighing in at about 18,000 Hk dollars.
By the end of august I hope to alleiviate myself of debt.
December 12- January 12, back to Canada from a lovely albeit wintery visit.
Then Back to Hong Kong for another five months or so, where I'd work to save as much as I can. ( The time period for this one is pretty shaky, because it really depends on how much I'm able to save within the next year)
After the approximate five months in Honky town, I'd come back to Canada to earn my TEFL certificate (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) which would ensure me a good job, with higher salery in HK.
As well as my TEFL, I plan on getting my Motorcyle license in as quick a time as possible. I think I can get the full deal in about three months if I take lessons and all that extra money sucking garb.
So, with my M license, and TEFL cert in hand, I plan on picking up a second hand motorcycle well suited for long distances. Buying the actual bike may be a bit expensive, and may require a bank loan.
Now that I have my hypothetical motorcycle, and I'm all packed and ready to go, I would set off from Hamilton, heading towards British Columbia.
I've just started doing research today to get an idea of what path I'll be taking.
From what I have written down in front of me, it looks like:
Hamilton- Manitoba (Winnipeg) via the Trans Canada Hwy.
winnipeg- Saskatchewan (Regina to Saskatoon to Prince Albert National Park)
Sask- Alberta (If I follow the Sask route above, I can head SSW to Edmonton, then straight west to Jasper National Park) Depending on the altitude at some areas, and the pressure on the bike, I'd like to follow the mountains right down to Banff National Park to Lake Louisse to Banff, then cross the border into BC.
Though I may take a less ambitious route and head from Prince Albert, Sask. SW to Calgary, then to Banff and British Columbia.
I'm not sure which way I'd like to head in BC, but I was thinking of heading right out to the Pacific Coast, stopping by Vancouver, then following the coast south into the states for a bit, because it may be around late fall by the time I complete my set journey, and warmer weather would be good for both the safety of the bike, and me.
Taking a direct route, pretty much following the Trans Canada Hwy, from Hamilton to Vancouver is 4550 km, or 2844 miles. Though with some of the zig-zagging I've in mind, I'm sure it's quite higher than that, as I don't really want to just follow the highway, because of the monotany, which the prairy provinces and famous for, and I don't know how safe the TC Hwy would be on a motorbike.
Anyway, I'm starving and it's lunch time.
tartar
Brendan
Though very loosely layed out, I'm happy that I have certain goals to ascertain. So, starting from this summer I'm going to work work work, and save as much as I can, using my wealth to pay off my debts, weighing in at about 18,000 Hk dollars.
By the end of august I hope to alleiviate myself of debt.
December 12- January 12, back to Canada from a lovely albeit wintery visit.
Then Back to Hong Kong for another five months or so, where I'd work to save as much as I can. ( The time period for this one is pretty shaky, because it really depends on how much I'm able to save within the next year)
After the approximate five months in Honky town, I'd come back to Canada to earn my TEFL certificate (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) which would ensure me a good job, with higher salery in HK.
As well as my TEFL, I plan on getting my Motorcyle license in as quick a time as possible. I think I can get the full deal in about three months if I take lessons and all that extra money sucking garb.
So, with my M license, and TEFL cert in hand, I plan on picking up a second hand motorcycle well suited for long distances. Buying the actual bike may be a bit expensive, and may require a bank loan.
Now that I have my hypothetical motorcycle, and I'm all packed and ready to go, I would set off from Hamilton, heading towards British Columbia.
I've just started doing research today to get an idea of what path I'll be taking.
From what I have written down in front of me, it looks like:
Hamilton- Manitoba (Winnipeg) via the Trans Canada Hwy.
winnipeg- Saskatchewan (Regina to Saskatoon to Prince Albert National Park)
Sask- Alberta (If I follow the Sask route above, I can head SSW to Edmonton, then straight west to Jasper National Park) Depending on the altitude at some areas, and the pressure on the bike, I'd like to follow the mountains right down to Banff National Park to Lake Louisse to Banff, then cross the border into BC.
Though I may take a less ambitious route and head from Prince Albert, Sask. SW to Calgary, then to Banff and British Columbia.
I'm not sure which way I'd like to head in BC, but I was thinking of heading right out to the Pacific Coast, stopping by Vancouver, then following the coast south into the states for a bit, because it may be around late fall by the time I complete my set journey, and warmer weather would be good for both the safety of the bike, and me.
Taking a direct route, pretty much following the Trans Canada Hwy, from Hamilton to Vancouver is 4550 km, or 2844 miles. Though with some of the zig-zagging I've in mind, I'm sure it's quite higher than that, as I don't really want to just follow the highway, because of the monotany, which the prairy provinces and famous for, and I don't know how safe the TC Hwy would be on a motorbike.
Anyway, I'm starving and it's lunch time.
tartar
Brendan
Monday, April 18, 2005
Oogle boggle da dee! I'm on fire!!!!!!
To break up last week's usual work schedual, I worked for Odeon Productions Company.
I can't remember if in a past entry I mentioned being stopped by some random women in causeway bay a while back, but it turns out that she wasn't just a nutcase wanting to kill me.
Last thursday was spent at Hong Kong Stadium dressed like a rock star, drinking beer, and generally just goofing around.
I was hired along with my friend Shaun, to play the roll of the rock star guitarist for the phone company, Vodophone. For all you north american's reading, I've been told by my english friends that it's quite a big company.
Anyway, it was an enjoyable/easy day, that ended with myself and some others in a fairly intoxicated state, in the Grand Hyatt in Wan Chai.........nice place, but way too fancy.
In other news......I'm getting screwed!!!!!!
hahaha, but not in a good way at all. I've begun the part time process of looking around for a new job. I like my job now (for the most part anyway) but rob and I are getting dicked around in regards to getting work visa's.
Our boss, Tommy, told us that we would have a meeting today to finalize some things, but oops! I guess he forgot to show up to work!!!!!! What a prick.
anyway, one good thing that may come out of the vodophone commercial, is a prospective client.
I was speaking with the owner of Odeon Productions for a while inbetween shots, and she seems to be a genuinly nice person. During out talks I she asked what I do for a living, to which I informed her that I teach english.........but, I only do that to pay the bills. I told her that I'm an artist, and now she'ld like to see some of my work. So, I'm still working on one considerably sized piece now, and i'm nearly done a second one, in which I used for the first time, spraypaint. This past summer I hung out a lot at the lounge in the casbah, and I took quite fondly to the work gracing those dark walls for so long, that I still have a prefect mental image to recall at ease, of many of the works. One of the more interesting things I noted about them, was the artist's use of spray paint with the use of layers of oils, water colours, and acrylic paints all harmoniously working together, to produce a magnificant display of colour.
My recent works have moved away from the subject, and more towards a certain initial reaction dependant on colour, movement, and line. Occasionally when painting I can't help but notice, that i'm 'stealing' ideas from gaugain, and herring, which I think any healthy artist will do, but I'm worried that nothing of my own will come through. Hopefully, with the help of the island environment, and a healthy mind I'll produce what I need to, and in time I'll have done enough to show my new, prospective client.
Lastly........
This week I'm going to try something new. I'm not going to drink.
I'll let you know how it turns out.
Cheers
Brendan
I can't remember if in a past entry I mentioned being stopped by some random women in causeway bay a while back, but it turns out that she wasn't just a nutcase wanting to kill me.
Last thursday was spent at Hong Kong Stadium dressed like a rock star, drinking beer, and generally just goofing around.
I was hired along with my friend Shaun, to play the roll of the rock star guitarist for the phone company, Vodophone. For all you north american's reading, I've been told by my english friends that it's quite a big company.
Anyway, it was an enjoyable/easy day, that ended with myself and some others in a fairly intoxicated state, in the Grand Hyatt in Wan Chai.........nice place, but way too fancy.
In other news......I'm getting screwed!!!!!!
hahaha, but not in a good way at all. I've begun the part time process of looking around for a new job. I like my job now (for the most part anyway) but rob and I are getting dicked around in regards to getting work visa's.
Our boss, Tommy, told us that we would have a meeting today to finalize some things, but oops! I guess he forgot to show up to work!!!!!! What a prick.
anyway, one good thing that may come out of the vodophone commercial, is a prospective client.
I was speaking with the owner of Odeon Productions for a while inbetween shots, and she seems to be a genuinly nice person. During out talks I she asked what I do for a living, to which I informed her that I teach english.........but, I only do that to pay the bills. I told her that I'm an artist, and now she'ld like to see some of my work. So, I'm still working on one considerably sized piece now, and i'm nearly done a second one, in which I used for the first time, spraypaint. This past summer I hung out a lot at the lounge in the casbah, and I took quite fondly to the work gracing those dark walls for so long, that I still have a prefect mental image to recall at ease, of many of the works. One of the more interesting things I noted about them, was the artist's use of spray paint with the use of layers of oils, water colours, and acrylic paints all harmoniously working together, to produce a magnificant display of colour.
My recent works have moved away from the subject, and more towards a certain initial reaction dependant on colour, movement, and line. Occasionally when painting I can't help but notice, that i'm 'stealing' ideas from gaugain, and herring, which I think any healthy artist will do, but I'm worried that nothing of my own will come through. Hopefully, with the help of the island environment, and a healthy mind I'll produce what I need to, and in time I'll have done enough to show my new, prospective client.
Lastly........
This week I'm going to try something new. I'm not going to drink.
I'll let you know how it turns out.
Cheers
Brendan
Monday, April 11, 2005
Lamma Lamma www.Lamma.com.hk
Well, it's Monday morning and the folks are now on their way back to Canada. It was great having them here, especially considering that the next time I'll get back there is Christmas. And a having a couple of home cooked meals with the Rents, Steph and Josh was quite nice. I definatly have missed mum's homemade spaghetti.
Yesterday we went to Macau, because we had pretty much done everything else touristy in Hong Kong. Out of the five of us, I was the only one who had been there before, but I really didn't see too much, as I only spent three hours there last time. Plus, my tourist visa had only ten days left on it, so, now I'm good for yet another three month stint.
Last night, Steph Josh and I were briefly discussing plans to travel to Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand in the not too distant future. Recently we had heard about a sleeper train that we could catch, from Hong kong to Southern China, which would then travel for a good 27 hours right into any of the above countries. Seeing as I don't want to draw too much attention to myself with hong kong immigration, I think the trip would be a great idea, instead of making the habitual day trip to Macau every three months.
Actually, I was thinking yesterday, whilst wandering about Macau, that I wouldn't mind living there for a while. It would be far different from living in Hong Kong, because everything's in Chinese and Portuguese, though many of the younger residents speak a fair bit of english. It's also not nearly as busy as hong kong. Plus, if I could actually wrangle myself a proper visa, I could save my pennies and buy a kickass scooter. So many people, just fly around all over Macau on scooters. I've seen entire parking lots completly packed full of the little motorized two-seaters.
As for Lamma life.......
I'm loving life on the island. It's peaceful, I have a lot of space to myself, and most importantly I've set up nearly everything I need for my studio. Just last week I bought a roll of primed canvas, measuring 63'' x 6 yards, and I've been working on one piece just over 5' x 5'.
I've been fairly busy lately with trying to move everything in and having the folks over, so there have been a few nights when I crashed back at Hung Hom, but all in all I'm liking not having a television. I'm sure it'll get a bit lonely at times, but those instances will pass and i'll find something to busy myself with.
That's all I've time for now.
I'll write again soon, and thanks to everyone who's actually reading. Feel free to send an email my way, and let me know how everything's going.
Cheers,
brendan
Yesterday we went to Macau, because we had pretty much done everything else touristy in Hong Kong. Out of the five of us, I was the only one who had been there before, but I really didn't see too much, as I only spent three hours there last time. Plus, my tourist visa had only ten days left on it, so, now I'm good for yet another three month stint.
Last night, Steph Josh and I were briefly discussing plans to travel to Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand in the not too distant future. Recently we had heard about a sleeper train that we could catch, from Hong kong to Southern China, which would then travel for a good 27 hours right into any of the above countries. Seeing as I don't want to draw too much attention to myself with hong kong immigration, I think the trip would be a great idea, instead of making the habitual day trip to Macau every three months.
Actually, I was thinking yesterday, whilst wandering about Macau, that I wouldn't mind living there for a while. It would be far different from living in Hong Kong, because everything's in Chinese and Portuguese, though many of the younger residents speak a fair bit of english. It's also not nearly as busy as hong kong. Plus, if I could actually wrangle myself a proper visa, I could save my pennies and buy a kickass scooter. So many people, just fly around all over Macau on scooters. I've seen entire parking lots completly packed full of the little motorized two-seaters.
As for Lamma life.......
I'm loving life on the island. It's peaceful, I have a lot of space to myself, and most importantly I've set up nearly everything I need for my studio. Just last week I bought a roll of primed canvas, measuring 63'' x 6 yards, and I've been working on one piece just over 5' x 5'.
I've been fairly busy lately with trying to move everything in and having the folks over, so there have been a few nights when I crashed back at Hung Hom, but all in all I'm liking not having a television. I'm sure it'll get a bit lonely at times, but those instances will pass and i'll find something to busy myself with.
That's all I've time for now.
I'll write again soon, and thanks to everyone who's actually reading. Feel free to send an email my way, and let me know how everything's going.
Cheers,
brendan
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