My Tragedy

Topic of the day: My little Chinese New Year heartbreak

Not to be melodramatic, but this really has been one of the most traumatic events I've been through in a while - and I need to vent.

This past week, I met a journalist friend of mine for coffee at a neighborhood cafe. Before he arrived, I had been editing some recent photos I took in Jiangsu Province - such as the one above (for reference, I work off of an external hard drive where all my photos are stored). Towards the end of our conversation, I offered to show him some of my better photos. I was maneuvering my laptop so he can get a better view when - WHAM - my accidentally nudged my external hard drive from the table to the floor.

Needless to say, my external hard drive is currently experiencing operational difficulties (to the extent of me not being able to access any of my files). Also need less to say, I am more than distraught.

Besides cursing myself at my own clumsiness, the real tragedy in this is that since I have purchased my external hard drive over a year ago, I have not backed up my hard drive once. In other words, all the shots that I have took and edited in the last year are only stored on that hard drive (and much smaller Internet versions on Flickr).

I took my hard drive to a data recovery center today and am hoping, hoping, hoping, that they can at least recover my "Edited Photos" folder.

The real irony in this is that just a few days prior to this whole incident, I was thinking to myself that I really need to backup some of my photos.

As Jason, the other witness to this tragedy puts it: "Let this be a hard lesson learned about the importance of backing up your files".

I should hear back from the data recovery agency in the next 2 days on the status of my files. Please cross your fingers for me!!!

My Beng Ming Year

Topic of the day: Ringing in the year of the pig



Someone at dinner the other day recently compared the eve of Chinese New Year (Da Nian 30) to be like London during the blitzkrieg. If you're in Beijing, it's not hard to see why. Days before Chinese New Year day, people start firing off fire crackers at all times of day. On the actual night of Chinese New Years eve, everyone in the city with a few kuais to spare purchase a bit of paraphernalia and sets them off on midnight. Come 12am, the city sounds like it's under siege - only this one is to scare off an ancient monster who is scared of loud noises and the color red.

There's something magical about bringing in the new year in the Mainland. Everyone is looking forward to spending some time with loved ones, eating good food (including lots of dumplings), and for once, having smooth traffic at all times of the day in Beijing.

That said, a very happy Chinese New Year to all those out there - especially those who, like me, are celebrating their Beng Ming year (when the sign is the same as the year you were born in). May the year bring happiness, good fortune and prosperity to all!!!

Walking the Red Carpet

Topic of the day: My company's gala dinner

Earlier last month, my company held a formal gala party to celebrate the win of a prestigious PR award - the Oscars of the PR world, as its been put. The event was held in the China World Hotel (a ritzy 5 star hotel) and was extremely well put together.

Not only did the night include a 5 course meal, but also a red carpet walk, 2 professional photographers (they weren't that great), performances, and a free flow of good champagne/ wine/ beer.

Plus, not only was I able to coerce Chris (and if he looks familiar, yes, he used to be a Canadian MC member) to go with me to the event, but also delivered, more or less, a half decent speech in front of my whole company, clients, journalists, and others, about my past year's experience at the agency.

The night ended fabulously well, with a room full of "happy" professionals (my memory of the later half of the night was a bit blotchy). With all luck, there will be more nights like this to come!

Crickey!

Topic of the day: A very Aussie Christmas



A Melbourne Christmas proved to be exactly what I needed from Beijing. For the first time in months, I was able to breath FRESH air, see the ocean, and eat great food (steak!). My real purpose in traveling to the Southern Hemisphere was, of course, to visit and spend some quality time with the Melbourne crew. As expected, that part was fabulous - it was great to see Simon, Michelle, Pei, and finally meet the infamous Alfy! A huge thanks to everyone and all that they have done to make sure that I had an excellent stay!! I love you guys!!!

Perfect Day

Just a perfect day,
Drink Sangria in the park,
And then later, when it gets dark,
We go home.

Just a perfect day,
Feed animals in the zoo,
Then later, a movie, too,
And then home.

Oh it's such a perfect day,
I'm glad I spent it with you.
Oh such a perfect day,
You just keep me hanging on,
You just keep me hanging on.

Just a perfect day,
Problems all left alone,
Weekenders on our own.
It's such fun.
Just a perfect day,
You made me forget myself.
I thought I was someone else,
Someone good.

Oh it's such a perfect day,
I'm glad I spent it with you.
Oh such a perfect day,
You just keep me hanging on,
You just keep me hanging on.

You're going to reap just what you sow,
You're going to reap just what you sow,
You're going to reap just what you sow,
You're going to reap just what you sow...


For some more Australian pictures...

My Blogging is Working Again!

Topic of the day: I'm back!


A belated happy 2007!


My Australian trip was great (more to come soon!) and am back in Beijing now. Even though a new year started, with Chinese New Year around the corner, things in China still feels they're still wrapping up.


Work has been very busy and life, when living in Beijing, can never be too dull. Take, for example, a recent friend I've made: Bobby Tailor. If you're familiar with Motown, then you've probably heard of Bobby Tailor and the Vancouvers. Well, he's that Bobby. Besides a bursting personality, he's got numerous stories to tell (like being good friends with Ray Charles!). Bobby is also the one who discovered the Jackson Five and wrote some of their most famous songs, like ABC and I Want You Back. He is also currently trying to bring Michael Jackson to China! I've already made him promise to let me take a picture with the star himself if he ever makes it. :)

On the topic of interesting people, I'm realizing that I really enjoy meeting all sorts of characters that can be found in Beijing and listening to their stories (as opposed to sitting in front of a computer all day long). If I liked writing more, I would've definitely pursued a print journalism career! Anyway, it's something interesting to investigate into...

More next time!