今早在 Elgin West 游泳完畢﹐在隔鄰小泳池 "boo-loo boo-loo" 之際﹐聽到池內一男一女 (講廣東話的阿伯和阿嬸) 談論滿地可遊歷。
"唔講法文無人 serve 你 ......"
"係囉! 簡直係歧視!"
"佢地要搞獨立嘛!"
"係喇﹐呢 D 係文化革命!"
...........
不知閣下意見如何﹐ 但小弟出外旅遊﹐尤其是非英語地區﹐都沒有這個問題。 小弟並非精通多國語言﹐而是只要設身處地想一想﹐便可明白如何避免遭白眼:
若換轉你是身在香港做零售服務業﹐有一天來了個俄羅斯顧客﹐不講中文﹐不講英文﹐只講俄文, 正牌 "疑依俄俄", 相信你都會不奈煩。
但是如果這位客人用不鹹不淡的廣東話跟你說聲 "你好嗎" 或是 "唔該", 我想你就算不開懷大笑都會歡顏一點。
"橋妙" 就在這裡﹐先用他人的言語打話一聲﹐無往而不利。
就以法語地區來說﹐ 無論是在魁省或歐洲法蘭西﹐instead of saying "Do you speak English?", 我必會問 "Parlez-vous Anglais?" 結果是﹐如果對方識講英文﹐便會立刻 "轉台", 如果會方真是對英文一竅不通﹐都會 "灑手兼擰頭" 表示不會。 但對對方來說﹐我覺得是尊重。
又例如﹐在 Toronto 地區﹐很多便利店都是韓裔人仕開的。 如果我可以 confirm 到 (by looking at 店東櫃位後面的私人物品﹐例如報紙書籍或日曆之類)的話﹐付款之後我必定講聲 "kam-sa-ham-ni-da" (多謝)。 對方必定哈哈大笑 (可能笑我講得不純正吧 ?!?)
Saturday, June 07, 2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Royal Decameron Complex – 2nd time around
This is my review of the Royal Decameron as we were there on vacation last week. This review was also posted in TripAdvisor.com : (look for my alias "fsp4u1312")
This is our 2nd time vacationing in PV. The first time was back in last May/early June of 2005. Like last time, this time we stayed at the RDC in Bucerias – just north of PV.
What a nice surprise to see that they have renovated the place – and I mean major renovation.
1. They have a new, permanent guest check-in counter at Block 2.
2. The old internet room has been knocked down and replaced by a lobby bar. And because of that, a la carte dinner reservation is now done at the counter at Block 4.
3. There are 4 internet terminals: 2 at the Block 2 lobby and another 2 at the Block 4 lobby.
4. Block 6 is a new addition since our last visit. The Piccolo Restaurant has been re-located from Block 4 to Block 6. Adjacent to it is the Mexicana Restaurant.
5. There is a spa called Temascal in Block 6 as well.
Make no mistake about it, this is NOT a 5-star resort. However, with all the “hardware” upgrades, this is deemed to be a 4 star resort.
We do find that the quality of food has improved since our last visit. No more “divorced chickens” or “wired beef”! The presentation of dishes at the Piccolo was remarkable.
As usual, the grounds are still very well maintained. Always saw their crew watering or trimming the plants and wiping and cleaning the floors.
We have no major issues with the resort. However, we just have two smaller ones which I think is room for their improvement:
1. Housekeeping – can be late at times. We may be picky as we do expect rooms to be made up by noon time. However, for a couple of days, the maid did not come until afternoon. What we were told was that their priority was to make up those rooms which were checked out that day.
2. Switched off air-conditioners. When we finally got to our room after check-in, we found our that the air-con was not turned on. So the room was really stuffy and hot. So we had to turned on the air-con and headed out for dinner before coming back into the room. Fortunately with the new Block 6, the relatively new air-conditioner cooled the room quite fast. And unlike the traditional air-conditioners in the older blocks, these “segregated body” models (which the compressors are segregated units from the fans in the rooms) are actually much quieter. I guess the maids turned off the air-con’s after they cleaned up a checked-out room.
Other Trip Advisors have commented about smell of urine in the rooms. When we got into our room, I thought it was the smell of stale (or old) potpourri … but one day while I was inside our room when the maid came to clean up, I finally realized what it was: The smell is actually from the floor cleaner that the maid uses to wipe the floor! So, if you notice that smell, it actually means that the floors are clean!
Also another issue which I promised to report back - “Security Cops”: Yes, there was security guards patrolling the pools as well. However, we did find them quite polite. I spent extra time trying to see if they “bug” any guests for “mishaps” like taking their drinks into the pools … but I saw no incidents.
Other things worth mentioning off-site:
1. There were 2 time share kiosks – one right at the corner opposite to the complex and another one off that intersection on the street leading you to the Bucerias village.
2. I think the internet café and exchange kiosk has changed hands (used to be owned by JoJo). The place is still there. For internet, they are 50% cheaper than what is offered inside the resort … but it is just a small room. No air-con, just a fan. So you have to stand the heat if you are going there in the afternoon.
3. OXXO and the pharmacy on the hilltop is really handy. But we find that the pharmacy has more selection of stuff than OXXO. YES, they do not have bath gel at the pharmacy. You may need to try the MEGA just opposite the Flamingo golf course (2 bus stops away from the resort – PV bound). We were not at that MEGA but we saw bath gel at the MEGA inside the Marina Shopping Centre (just south of the airport).
4. If you want to go downtown, forget about taking the taxi (too expensive) or the hotel shuttle bus (always not enough people signing up). We twice took the local buses. Just walk up the road to the hilltop where the main highway is, there is a bus stop. The fare is just 10 pesos (~US$1). On the return trip, the bus will stop right on the opposite side of the road. If you are lucky, you will have live entertainment on the bus as well!
RDC, another well-spent and well-rested vacation – 2nd time around.
Online album: Click here
This is our 2nd time vacationing in PV. The first time was back in last May/early June of 2005. Like last time, this time we stayed at the RDC in Bucerias – just north of PV.
What a nice surprise to see that they have renovated the place – and I mean major renovation.
1. They have a new, permanent guest check-in counter at Block 2.
2. The old internet room has been knocked down and replaced by a lobby bar. And because of that, a la carte dinner reservation is now done at the counter at Block 4.
3. There are 4 internet terminals: 2 at the Block 2 lobby and another 2 at the Block 4 lobby.
4. Block 6 is a new addition since our last visit. The Piccolo Restaurant has been re-located from Block 4 to Block 6. Adjacent to it is the Mexicana Restaurant.
5. There is a spa called Temascal in Block 6 as well.
Make no mistake about it, this is NOT a 5-star resort. However, with all the “hardware” upgrades, this is deemed to be a 4 star resort.
We do find that the quality of food has improved since our last visit. No more “divorced chickens” or “wired beef”! The presentation of dishes at the Piccolo was remarkable.
As usual, the grounds are still very well maintained. Always saw their crew watering or trimming the plants and wiping and cleaning the floors.
We have no major issues with the resort. However, we just have two smaller ones which I think is room for their improvement:
1. Housekeeping – can be late at times. We may be picky as we do expect rooms to be made up by noon time. However, for a couple of days, the maid did not come until afternoon. What we were told was that their priority was to make up those rooms which were checked out that day.
2. Switched off air-conditioners. When we finally got to our room after check-in, we found our that the air-con was not turned on. So the room was really stuffy and hot. So we had to turned on the air-con and headed out for dinner before coming back into the room. Fortunately with the new Block 6, the relatively new air-conditioner cooled the room quite fast. And unlike the traditional air-conditioners in the older blocks, these “segregated body” models (which the compressors are segregated units from the fans in the rooms) are actually much quieter. I guess the maids turned off the air-con’s after they cleaned up a checked-out room.
Other Trip Advisors have commented about smell of urine in the rooms. When we got into our room, I thought it was the smell of stale (or old) potpourri … but one day while I was inside our room when the maid came to clean up, I finally realized what it was: The smell is actually from the floor cleaner that the maid uses to wipe the floor! So, if you notice that smell, it actually means that the floors are clean!
Also another issue which I promised to report back - “Security Cops”: Yes, there was security guards patrolling the pools as well. However, we did find them quite polite. I spent extra time trying to see if they “bug” any guests for “mishaps” like taking their drinks into the pools … but I saw no incidents.
Other things worth mentioning off-site:
1. There were 2 time share kiosks – one right at the corner opposite to the complex and another one off that intersection on the street leading you to the Bucerias village.
2. I think the internet café and exchange kiosk has changed hands (used to be owned by JoJo). The place is still there. For internet, they are 50% cheaper than what is offered inside the resort … but it is just a small room. No air-con, just a fan. So you have to stand the heat if you are going there in the afternoon.
3. OXXO and the pharmacy on the hilltop is really handy. But we find that the pharmacy has more selection of stuff than OXXO. YES, they do not have bath gel at the pharmacy. You may need to try the MEGA just opposite the Flamingo golf course (2 bus stops away from the resort – PV bound). We were not at that MEGA but we saw bath gel at the MEGA inside the Marina Shopping Centre (just south of the airport).
4. If you want to go downtown, forget about taking the taxi (too expensive) or the hotel shuttle bus (always not enough people signing up). We twice took the local buses. Just walk up the road to the hilltop where the main highway is, there is a bus stop. The fare is just 10 pesos (~US$1). On the return trip, the bus will stop right on the opposite side of the road. If you are lucky, you will have live entertainment on the bus as well!
RDC, another well-spent and well-rested vacation – 2nd time around.
Online album: Click here
Friday, May 02, 2008
The Colour For Today Is Orange
Credit: http://www.germes-online.com/catalog/13/714/238382/sell_orange.html
I do not have orange colour apparel. And I do not know how to turn my blog into orange. But this is my voice for today.
Further reading:
Littleho's Blog
BBC Chinese
Monday, April 28, 2008
久遺了的 Fire Pit
今日午飯時間去了密市的稅務局放低報稅表﹐然後心血來潮去了附近的 Fire Pit。
屈指一算﹐差不多二十二年沒有吃過 Fire Pit 的漢堡飽。以前在 Finch & Keele 有一間 (在東北角 ESSO 油站隔鄰)。 依稀記得﹐應該是 1984 或是 1985 年開的。在 Four Winds Drive 住的日子﹐ 間中也有去用膳。
還記得那段日子很喜歡替不同的主流店鋪譯中文名。“力哥”神來之筆為 Fire Pit 譯名為“火湖”﹗
今日付款時搭訕﹐知道密市這一間應該是大多倫多地區唯一的一間﹔ 是從 Brampton 市搬到密市的。
二十二年沒有吃過﹐當然不記得當年的味道是怎麼樣啦﹗今天這一個﹐味道不錯﹐漢堡飽與薯條是一貫 non-chain burger 鋪的質素 (meaning 一定好過麥記同堡記﹐甚至哈記)﹔反而淋落薯條的 gravy 帶來驚喜﹐很有肉味。
可惜都是離開 office 比較遠一點﹐不可以時常去。
The Fire Pit Restaurant
6020 Hurontario St.
Mississauga, ON
L5R 4B3
Friday, April 25, 2008
First generation Toyota Tercel - Still On The Road!
Driving on northbound 400 after work today and saw this baby. Still going very strong ... had no problem passing other cars on the highway.
Considering the model year (1978 to 1982), this car is almost 30 years old! No wonder people say that Toyota's are virtually indestructable!
Further reference: Toyota Tercel - Wikipedia
Considering the model year (1978 to 1982), this car is almost 30 years old! No wonder people say that Toyota's are virtually indestructable!
Further reference: Toyota Tercel - Wikipedia
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Made in China cars finally on Canadian Soil
Driving to work this morning, saw a GONOW SUV (similar to this one) on southbound 400 then exited onto westbound 407. I will post the photos (taken using my cell phone) tonight.
Photo source: http://nd.blog.cz/a/automotoslavek.blog.cz/obrazky/18446424.jpg
Thursday, April 17, 2008
R.I.P. 伍晃榮 (1940 - 2008)
Photo source: http://wtyym.dayoo.com/gb/content/2005-07/26/content_2151205.htm
Additional reading: 伍晃榮 - Wikipedia
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Hiromi Uehara (又是聽網台的收獲)
大約兩星期前聽 MyRadio 的 "今朝有酒" , 介紹了這位日本的爵仕樂手 Hiromi Uehara (上原ひろみ)。
主持人話佢 d 手指很快。當時我未有時間去 search ; 今日讀書 take break 的時候，上了 youtube search，驚見原來她個多星期前才在 Montreal 演奏過!
佢手琴，好似仲快過 Diana Krall!
主持人話佢 d 手指很快。當時我未有時間去 search ; 今日讀書 take break 的時候，上了 youtube search，驚見原來她個多星期前才在 Montreal 演奏過!
佢手琴，好似仲快過 Diana Krall!
Friday, March 21, 2008
窮鬼Blues
除了 jazz 之外，我好鍾意聽 blues。 但是 canto pop 好少有呢類的作品。 例如: Maria Codero 的 "晒氣"，夏韶聲 的 "深信著愛"......
以上兩首是屬於 canto pop 的 "主流"; 福音歌曲有久遺了的 鄧惠欣 的 "苦擔" (1987 or 1988?).
近來聽網台聽到這首，個 feel 好鬼正：
窮鬼Blues (曲/詞: Alien)
冇錢買酒，今晚點樣過？
冇錢買煙，今晚點樣過？
要食西北風，講理想有乜錯！
冇錢去賭，今晚點樣過？
冇錢去威，今晚又點樣過？
似遊魂野鬼，有冇「定」安置我！
佢有錢，又夠薑，我冇錢，任佢搶，
辛辛苦苦，我要半斤得四兩！
只想跟你，痛快地醉，
聽朝會點樣，一於懶理佢！
我冇錢買酒，冇錢買煙，
冇錢去賭，又冇錢去威，
只想跟你，快活下去，
聽朝會點樣，一於好少理！
窮鬼唱Blues，今晚只得我共你！
Sunny (Alien): vocal, guitar
Po (Alien): guitar
Chan Wai Fat: melodica
以上兩首是屬於 canto pop 的 "主流"; 福音歌曲有久遺了的 鄧惠欣 的 "苦擔" (1987 or 1988?).
近來聽網台聽到這首，個 feel 好鬼正：
窮鬼Blues (曲/詞: Alien)
冇錢買酒，今晚點樣過？
冇錢買煙，今晚點樣過？
要食西北風，講理想有乜錯！
冇錢去賭，今晚點樣過？
冇錢去威，今晚又點樣過？
似遊魂野鬼，有冇「定」安置我！
佢有錢，又夠薑，我冇錢，任佢搶，
辛辛苦苦，我要半斤得四兩！
只想跟你，痛快地醉，
聽朝會點樣，一於懶理佢！
我冇錢買酒，冇錢買煙，
冇錢去賭，又冇錢去威，
只想跟你，快活下去，
聽朝會點樣，一於好少理！
窮鬼唱Blues，今晚只得我共你！
Sunny (Alien): vocal, guitar
Po (Alien): guitar
Chan Wai Fat: melodica
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Monday, March 10, 2008
黃毓民：網上烽煙也是煙
刊於3月10日明報世紀版
「烽煙新戰國」系列訪問，預視未來電台烽煙節目趨勢，少不得標杆人物黃毓民。
縱然於商業電台封咪後聲音消失於大氣電波，黃毓民的沙啞嗓子不曾離開，他在數碼空間中一直開咪發聲，網台的抗爭帶來的是檢視現狀眺望未來的獨特視角、是烽煙不死有力的佐證──若申請數碼電台的計劃一旦實行，或就是烽煙新戰國的真正來臨！
再戰數碼電波
也許再難找出另一個節目主持人，影響力可跟毓民相比擬。
年初藝人照「肆虐」網上後，尚在事件初段的2 月4日，毓民即在網絡電台「Myradio」評論警方高調搜捕網民而未經審訊先行扣押之執法，是僭越了廣管局與淫審處。錄影節目一出，迅即吸引十萬人次瀏覽，即使如今風波漸平息，至今點擊率亦已達十四萬，相信已破同類針砭時事節目的接收──毓民指，收費電台的收視一般亦只三或四萬而已。
「毓民在互聯網世界，又領導潮流了！」他呵呵的笑。
許多網台、甚至主流電台或都聽眾零落，Myradio 卻有高收聽，毓民自言成功因他一向慣做content provider（內容供應者）， 「就知道該怎麼做！」Myradio 去年3 月方才開台，聲音廣播以外，還有部分節目影像上載youtube，其跨媒體性質顯示了網絡力量的無遠弗屆。與常見的非牟利網台如民間電台或有政黨背景的CP 網絡電台不同，Myradio 的運作商業化，有台長、技術員等明確分工，也有財經、旅遊、足球、女性等不同頻道；同時留心不成為「社民連」的官方台，而會邀請不同陣營上節目發聲，一星期五晚共20 小時的節目，在線收聽的聽眾平均2000 人，幾乎超出伺服器負荷，尚未計下載收聽者： 「搭的士，的士大佬在聽我的節目，他說『我兒子給我下載到MP3！』；後生仔給我看他的iPod，
一掃也全是我的節目！」
火爆的收聽率下，毓民和另一創辦人蕭若元，正考慮在他每星期兩晚的節目中加入烽煙元素，逢周一直播時接聽來電；而下一步，或更會繼鄭經翰之後，申請牌照辦數碼電台！ 「難道你得我唔得嗎？大班可以一年先蝕600萬，以自己做頭牌；但我們早已儲有base（基礎），從建立網台第一日便知道要做Content！」過去毓民一開咪即猛烈開火，為無聲的公眾宣泄鬱悶，言辭銳利引人入勝──出神入化的高超詭辯術當然在有限時間內引動戲劇效果： 「有聽眾罵我『為反對而反對』，我說『難道要為贊成而反對嗎？』」──但其學養才是為聽眾以至同業尊崇。
看見民間電台的空間
從網台到民間電台，他所見的不是電台廣播發展的局限，更是開拓言論自由新空間的媒介──如今只維持網絡電台廣播的「民間電台」，從誕生至今四樁官司在身， 「本身便是一種抗爭。」毓民正色地說。
05 年7 月，毓民被商台中止合約，他卻怎會就此消聲？
同年10 月，阿牛曾健成便成立民間電台，其時毓民便說此舉「搏拉」── 「搏拉不是目的，而是過程之中，引起社會關注，明白政府對於大氣電波的管制：電訴條例要保障現有商營電台利益、申請牌照要極高成本、還要得行政長官和行政會議通過，這如何叫『言論自由』？」透過民間電台以身試法，包括法庭已判處電訊條例違憲，政府卻仍控司徒華等參與非法廣播，更顯見政府藉司法程序打壓資訊自由的手段。
民間電台如此成為社會運動，毓民直指目的， 「是政府開放大氣電波，讓小眾開辦社區電台，譬如天水圍不就可以成立專門覆蓋元朗的電台？」若繼續站在五十年前立的電訊條例上為保障三間電台而以頻譜不夠為由推辭， 「數碼化即可以解決了！」技術豈成問題？一切，內容才是重點。
「烽煙新戰國」系列訪問，預視未來電台烽煙節目趨勢，少
縱然於商業電台封咪後聲音消失於大氣電波，黃毓民的沙啞
再戰數碼電波
也許再難找出另一個節目主持人，影響力可跟毓民相比擬。
年初藝人照「肆虐」網上後，尚在事件初段的2 月4日，毓民即在網絡電台「Myradio」評論警方高
「毓民在互聯網世界，又領導潮流了！」他呵呵的笑。
許多網台、甚至主流電台或都聽眾零落，Myradio 卻有高收聽，毓民自言成功因他一向慣做content provider（內容供應者）， 「就知道該怎麼做！」Myradio 去年3 月方才開台，聲音廣播以外，還有部分節目影像上載you
一掃也全是我的節目！」
火爆的收聽率下，毓民和另一創辦人蕭若元，正考慮在他每
看見民間電台的空間
從網台到民間電台，他所見的不是電台廣播發展的局限，更
05 年7 月，毓民被商台中止合約，他卻怎會就此消聲？
同年10 月，阿牛曾健成便成立民間電台，其時毓民便說此舉「搏拉
民間電台如此成為社會運動，毓民直指目的， 「是政府開放大氣電波，讓小眾開辦社區電台，譬如天水圍
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Snow Storm March 8 and 9, 2008
Record breaking snowfall. Just finished clearing the snow on my driveway.
For more photos, you can check them out by clicking this link.
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Snow, snow and more snow!
Will this be the last snow storm before spring? Hope so ...... probably not!
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
To switch church or not? That is the question.
And below is my answer:
****************************
Dear ......,
Thank you for your email. Unfortunately I cannot reply to you until now. My apologies.
I am glad to receive your sincere sharing about your feeling after visiting our church. Obviously no one can decide for you whether you should stay at your home church or join ours. In my humble opinion, below are the points to consider:
1. Christians need to grow spiritually;
2. Every church has or will have politics. You have the choice to stay away from it;
3. No matter which church we belong to, as Christians we have the duty to evangelize (I Cor 9:16). Outreach and evangelism can be done in a lot of ways. And you can participate in whatever way you want; and finally
4. Let me para-phrase what US President John F. Kennedy once said: Do not ask yourself what the church can do for you. Ask yourself what you can do for the church.
I welcome your questions/comments.
****************************
****************************
Dear ......,
Thank you for your email. Unfortunately I cannot reply to you until now. My apologies.
I am glad to receive your sincere sharing about your feeling after visiting our church. Obviously no one can decide for you whether you should stay at your home church or join ours. In my humble opinion, below are the points to consider:
1. Christians need to grow spiritually;
2. Every church has or will have politics. You have the choice to stay away from it;
3. No matter which church we belong to, as Christians we have the duty to evangelize (I Cor 9:16). Outreach and evangelism can be done in a lot of ways. And you can participate in whatever way you want; and finally
4. Let me para-phrase what US President John F. Kennedy once said: Do not ask yourself what the church can do for you. Ask yourself what you can do for the church.
I welcome your questions/comments.
****************************
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Mom still in hospital
It has been a week now. She is getting better. But the doctors want to be sure that everything with her body is 100% OK before they discharge her.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
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