South Africa trip, Apr 2008 - People you meet at the airport

I like to meet new people. Where's a better place to meet people than in the airport lounge? Everyone is bored, trapped in the lounge, waiting for their flights. Surely they don't mind a bit of conversation? :-P

So, as I was chatting away with one of my fellow passengers yesterday evening, he suddenly changed the topic and said, "Doesn't he look like Prince William?" I turned around and look towards the direction of where his finger is pointing. There is a young man sitting together with another 2 older looking men, but, no sign of Prince William. I thought, "am I really that boring that he has to change topic?"

Then, the young man turned around and I realise he is talking about Prince Harry! Well, we were in South Africa after all. He must be visiting his girlfriend, Chelsy, who is from the neighbouring Zimbabwe.

Another passenger joined in when she saw 3 staff gathered around the prince, "Is he really Prince Harry?" We then had a short gossip session about how Richard Branson must let Prince Harry to fly for free, whether Chelsy broke up with Harry etc... when we got bored with the topic, we continue to comment on the food, the airport and other random things.

At boarding time, I was thinking, "Hmmm... Where would a prince sit? I have got one of the best seat in the cabin (I was sitting towards the front, away from the toilets and away from the bar) Maybe I will be sleeping next to a prince for a night!!!"

I passed my boarding pass to the ground staff at the gate, then she suddenly flagged down her colleague, "Ms Kong, my colleague has something to pass on to you."

I saw the colleague holding a sticker on her hand. I thought, "@%$%@! They must want to switch my seat with Harry! I don't want to move!"

The colleague came around very quickly and passed me a luggage tag. Apparently, she didn't tag my luggage correctly during check-in, so she came all the way from the check-in desk to speak to me.

OK. That's very good service. But I guess you don't care, you just want to know, "where did the prince sit?"

I boarded the plane and as I walked towards my seat, my eyes were scanning the whole cabin for Harry-like object. No such thing found. So I thought he must be sitting in a special area designated for VIP.

Then, I started chatting with people sitting around me and I found out that Harry was sitting in what the other person called the "Premium cattle class" (aka premium economy class). It seems that the front of the plane was absolutely full and Richard Branson wasn't going to bump-off full-fee-paying customers for the prince! So we were all treated not 'like', but 'better' than royalty for one night!

Though it is sad to hear premium economy class being called premium cattle class. As I touched down at the airport this morning. I realise I am flying out to Amsterdam tonight, in "standard cattle class" :-(

South Africa trip, Apr 2008 - A country with 3 capital cities

I just found out that South African has three capital cities, each with its own purpose:

Pretoria (executive)
Bloemfontein (judicial)
Cape Town (legislative)

Nevertheless, Johannesburg is the largest city.

It's all very confusing.

South Africa trip, Apr 2008 - Keyword: "Load shedding"

(click on the image to enlarge)

One of the first words that I've learnt in South Africa was "load shedding".

The country's power shortages have been the result of problems with Eskom's (the South African electricity provider) generating plants, negative weather conditions, distribution network problems and voltage instability on the transmission network. On top of that, Eskom has just 7 percent emergency power reserved for emergencies (vs a minimum of 15 percent reserve power for other providers)

In Jo'burg, the load shedding took place on a rotational basis. The aim is to limit the power down to two hours per area. The load shedding is going to be a part of life for South Africans until the 2010 World Cup, and I can imagine that will cause lots of trouble all round.

My colleague arrived in Jo'burg yesterday and he was delayed at the airport because the non-essential electrical equipments were turned off. He struggled through customs and he thought it was all over. Then he found out that the display board for the luggage claim was off and it took him ages to find his luggage! On the way to the client site, the traffic was at a standstill because the lights were out and there were chaos at intersections!

I am so used to having electricity at a flick of a switch and it's time like this that I feel I shouldn't be taking electricity for granted.

My favourite Pixar short animation

One of the early animations by Pixar


Funny expressions on the kid's face


Poor boy. I hope this alien doesn't pass its 'driving test'.

Morocco trip, Dec 2007 - Merzouga

After Zagora, we went on an overnight camel trip in the Erg Chebbi (one of the Saharan sand dunes). The erg is 22 km long (North-South) and 5 km wide. Its dunes reach a maximum height of 150 meters. This is the real stuff! :-)

The camels are ready!

Leaving the hotel and into the desert. You can vaguely see the buildings in the background.

Mum and dad!

The sand dunes are amazing!

During the sunset, the sand dunes are of an red-orange colour. It is very very beautiful in person.

The caravan.

Abandoned site? Did someone have to pack up very quickly?

A little oasis in the middle of the dunes. Poor lambs, where can they go? They are trapped in the middle of the a desert!

It was just before sunset so we thought we would climb the dunes to see the colour changes. It was a tough hike!

We didn't reach the peak. It was just too tough!

So we stuck around and took some photos just before the sun went down for the night. The beautiful colours of the dunes made a very deep impression on my mind.

Learning to play the Berber tam-tams

Sun rise!

We didn't climb all the way up again! We were quite satisfied with the "mid-level" view.

Group photo

Another one!

The view on the way back to the hotel. Amazing clouds!

Dry land that hasn't been turned into desert yet. I wonder how long it will take for this land to become desert?

Melon in the desert. Daddy took one and insisted to bring it back to HK!

My brother's wedding

Earlier this year, I went back to HK for my bro's wedding.

I have only met my sister-in-law one time before the wedding, but it was clear to me that they are happy together.

My brother is my only sibling. Ever since I was a little kid, my parents have told me that my brother will be the closest relation I will ever have. So I am really glad that he has found a companion and that he is happy.

I love you, <3 bro <3! And I wish you a blissful marriage!

I was the "treasury" during the banquets! Too bad I was not offered any commission :-P

My brother and I

The new extended family

The siblings (Can someone help me out here? What is the Chinese relationship title for my brother's wife's younger brother? I can't find it on the Internet. So we are calling each other "my relative" at the moment.)

3 couples. My parents, my brother and my sister-in-law plus SP and I

A lovely gift

During lunch today, Ms SL gave me this:


She has just returned from her various trips. So I have no idea where this come from.

What do you think it is?

Well, do you remember Docomodake 1, 2?

It is a Docomodake phone chain!


Thanks, Ms SL!

We are getting new coins

The Royal Mint of UK has unveiled a a set of new coin designs today. According to the Daily Mail, "The new designs will be the first wholesale change to the country's coinage since decimalisation was first introduced in April 1968."

"The six new designs of the 1p through to the 50p coins can be pieced together to form a complete image of the royal shield of arms. The new £1 coin features the complete shield."

The £2 coin was introduced relatively recently (in 1998) so it is not being redesigned.

Personally, I think the current coins represents something much more meaningful than the new design. The emblems consigned to history are: 1p Portcullis, representing the Parliament; 2p fleur-de-lys in the way of three feathers, representing the Prince of Wales; 5p Thistle, symbol of Scotland; 10p Lion, symbol of England; 20p double Tudor Rose, representing the Monarchy; 50p Britannia, representing Britain; £1 A variety of designs representing parts of the union.

British people also like their traditions and history, so I think lots of people consider this is a waste of money and effort. I am still trying to judge whether this is an April's Fool Day joke! :-P

Meanwhile, we are expected to see these new coins this summer.

For more information:

http://www.royalmint.com/newdesigns/designsRevealed.aspx