Anything About Asia

Divine Performing Arts 2009 World Tour

2009-03-02T08:18:00.007-07:00

Divine Performing Arts is going to Columbus, Ohio on March 8, 2009. The dancers and the live orchestra are performing at the Ohio Theatre from 6:30pm. Ticket prices start from $28 to $108. You can get your tickets online at www.ohiogala.com.

Get 10% discount for seniors and students, and 15% discount for group of 10 or more.

Need help in Chinese to order the tickets? Call 888-308-5998.

Ohio China Day in Columbus

2009-02-12T08:53:00.008-07:00

I moved to Ohio a few months ago and have always been wondering if I can find a bit more Chinese heritage in this part of the U.S. With my Toastmasters network, I attended the Ohio China Day on February 8 in Columbus.

When I first stepped into the venue, I was amazed at how many Chinese there were! Having lived in a small town in New Mexico for a few years, it is almost overwhelming to see so many Chinese all at one place. I got really curious and started to look around.

At the entrance of the venue, I saw a yellow table with the names of different Chinese schools on it. Then I started to realize how established the Chinese community here is. Wow, I was really impressed.

Ohio China Day brought the Chinese communities in various parts of Ohio together. Vendors, such as Chinese restaurants and other businesses owned by Chinese, set up counters at the event. The main attraction was the different cultural performances by adults and kids to celebrate Chinese New Year. Some of the performances sounded a bit like those in the American Idol, but they certainly had high entertainment value! Overall, it was a fun-filled event and I enjoyed seeing the Chinese heritage unfolded in a foreign land.

Destined to escape the fire at Mandarin Oriental Beijing?

2009-02-09T18:16:00.004-07:00

The nearly completed Mandarin Oriental Beijing caught fire on February 8. Various reports said it was possibly due to the sparks from fireworks that was set off as part of the Chinese New Year celebration.

When I heard the news from my parents at first, I thought, "wow, I might have been stuck with the fire and smoke if I accepted their job offer last year." Or that the hotel was burned down and it had to be rebuilt, the expatriates might just enjoy another long year before they needed to do any actual work.

Who knows? I am just glad I did not have to speculate or worry about that.

Chinese dim sum in Columbus, OH

2009-02-08T19:41:00.001-07:00

I have been craving for Chinese dim sum for a while. Being new in Ohio, I just never knew where I could find a decent Chinese restaurant with dim sum. Fortunately, after making some new friends, I was given some highly reliable tips about where to eat in Columbus.

For those who know what dim sum is or simply want to find out what to order next time, I am sharing some of my favorite dishes here with you:

Top left: crispy taro snack; Top right: shrimp dumplings

Bottom left: sweet bean curd; Bottom middle: sesame balls; Bottom right: egg tarts

The bottom three are all dessert. In fact, all their dishes were really good...just a bit pricey though. The dishes shown here range from $3.35 to $4.95. Some can go up to $5.95. Essentially, it is almost double the price in Hong Kong. But, this is still cheaper than buying a $1,000-air ticket and eat in Hong Kong!

"Mong Kok" in a quiet corner in North Carolina

2009-01-09T18:26:00.001-07:00

"Mong Kok" is a "happening" place in Hong Kong with lots of shopping, food...and people. When I visited Winston Salem and Lewisville in North Carolina in December, I was surprised to find a small Chinese restaurant named Mong Kok in a small, quiet strip mall. I knew immediately that the owner must be from Hong Kong.

I walked into the restaurant and was greeted by friendly smiles. The owner looked like Chinese to me, but it was still hard for me to tell if she was from Hong Kong. I was looking at the menu and started to speak to her in Cantonese (mother tongue of Hong Kong people). The owner looked at me and said "whoa, you speak Cantonese? Where are you from?" It is always good to see a familiar face in a foreign land. We started chatting and found out that she was indeed from Hong Kong and had lived in the U.S. for many years.

When I brought up the name of the restaurant, the owner said, "we are in a quiet location and that's why we call this place Mong Kok in the Chinese name." In Chinese, Mong Kok means a busy corner. So they chose the name for "feng shui" reason, hoping that it will bring them lots of business. The English name of this restaurant is called China Wok Chinese restaurant.

To be honest, with the quality of their food and service, I see no reason they will not do well. They even do free delivery for orders over $10. It is indeed a small restaurant...actually it is more like a take-out place, but I think it is what they offer that matters.

If you are in the area and are interested in trying it out, the address is 189 Lowes Foods Drive, Lewisville, NC 27023. Phone number: (336) 945-6228.

Panda Express - More Than a Fast Food Restaurant

2008-12-17T09:27:00.001-07:00

People usually say you can't expect much from a fast food restaurant. The food is generally okay and the service is fast, but impersonal. Obviously, as with anything under the sun, stereotypes are generalizations that do not work on everybody. I have been to Panda Express several times and I was impressed with their service every time I was there.

I am in love with their BBQ pork, a Cantonese dish from the Guangdong Province of China. It is oven-roasted and glazed with Chinese BBQ sauce. Being a Chinese myself, I have to say that this dish is particularly authentic and works well as an ingredient for fried rice or chow mien. I took a casual photo of the BBQ pork as shown below. During my last visit there, I asked for three portions of their BBQ pork for takeout. Their tray for this entree item was empty, but they said they would prepare them immediately. The friendly cashier offered me a free drink while I was waiting.

The pork came out hot and steamy, which was way better than having them sitting in the food tray for hours like those in the Chinese buffet restaurants. The staff who was cutting the meat made sure he gave me the correct portions by measuring them in a container before putting them in my takeout box.

At Panda Express, I see several important elements of customer service - care, anticipation, quality, and precision. I am sure many restaurants or stores have the same values, but not many of them actually are able to demonstrate them and have a resonance with the customers. This is definitely more than a fast food restaurant.

Cantonese restaurant in Reynoldsburg, Ohio

2008-08-18T18:28:00.003-06:00

Dim sum is a popular Cantonese meal for Chinese. It is a meal with different small dishes of delicacies such as steamed shrimp dumplings and deep fried taro puff. Most Chinese restaurants do not serve dim sum because it requires a different set of skills and not all Chinese chefs know how to make them.

Fortunately, I found one Chinese restaurant called Sun Tung Lok in Reynoldsburg, Ohio that serves around 10 dishes of dim sum, including shrimp dumplings and steamed spareribs with black beans (as shown below). The size is much bigger than a regular dim sum size, but the taste is exactly the same as what a Chinese restaurant in Hong Kong serves.

Since not many Americans know what dim sum is, they do not make them often. I usually call to make sure they prepare them before I drive there. It is a hassle, but unless you are in big cities like Las Vegas, New York or Los Angeles, it is next to impossible to find a restaurant that can make proper dim sum.

Decorating with red lanterns

2008-08-13T18:03:00.002-06:00

Red lanterns are a happy symbol for Chinese culture. You have probably seen them in restaurants and old Chinese houses. I have also used red lanterns to decorate the exterior of my houses before. They look awesome with lights in them because they emit a red warm glow for your porch or patio.

I went to Molly Woo's Asian Bistro in Polaris, Ohio a few weeks ago. The restaurant is decorated with bunches of red lanterns hanging from a high ceiling. I have never thought using so many red lanterns inside a room, but it turns out to be a stunning design for an Asian bistro.

This will be a very good inspiration for the design of my new house.

Hip place for Asian food

2008-08-10T11:02:00.000-06:00

I love Asian food, but it's not always easy to find a decent restaurant that serves authentic Asian food. Some people I know talked about PF Chang, so I decided to give it a try.

I was immediately impressed when I walked into the PF Chang near Denver - modern decoration, high ceiling and courteous staff. I secretly hoped that their food would be as good. I glanced through their menu quickly and realized they might be serving American Chinese food again. However, one menu item quickly caught my eye - Singapore street noodles. It's supposed to be rice noodles stir fried with chicken and shrimp in a curry sauce. This is a popular dish in Hong Kong, but I realized there is no such thing as Singapore noodles after living in Singapore for five years. Anyway, I ordered it with great expectation.

When the noodles arrived, it looked a bit different from what I was used to. It didn't really bother me until I put some into my mouth. It was way too salty and the taste was also different from what it should have been.

Fortunately, I had more luck with the dessert. The banana spring roll is not something of Chinese tradition, but I found this creation to be particularly pleasing. The spring roll contained banana and was served with pineapple-coconut ice cream and drizzled with caramel and vanilla sauces. I highly recommend this dessert for anyone. It is a good blend of both the West and the East.

Beijing Olympics 2008 Opening Ceremony - Look what China can do!

2008-08-09T11:53:00.004-06:00

The Beijing Olympics 2008 Opening Ceremony has been one of the most talked about subjects these few days. There is no doubt that this world-class performance was stunning and spectacular and the Opening Ceremony Director Zhang Yimou did an amazing job. However, the Opening Ceremony means much more to the Chinese than a mere show.

(Photo from Xinhua News Agency)

Some local Chinese were interviewed after the Opening Ceremony was over. One of them said China has always been bullied throughout history, but now nobody can look down on them anymore. This statement contains strong emotions and pride and is probably representative of what most Chinese think and feel.

Being a Chinese myself, I am proud to show the world what China is capable of doing. It is not a poor and developing country as some people think anymore, it is growing to be an extremely strong, creative, artistic, disciplined and unified country.

For those who miss the Opening Ceremony, see the highlights from this NBC link:

http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/share.html?videoid=0808_HD_OCB_HL_L1622

http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/share.html?videoid=0808_HD_OCB_HL_EN197

http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/share.html?videoid=0808_HD_OCB_HL_L1621

No Touchee

2008-06-20T18:45:00.004-06:00

I am in Denver this week attending the Ph.D. residency, a required module for my study. My husband has a good friend who lives in the area and he graciously offered to let us stay with him and his wife. We were having dinner in one of the Japanese restaurants with them one night and I could not help but decide to write about this little incident.

Both my husband and his friend love sushi. They ordered over 15 varieties of nigiri sushi and sushi rolls among two of them. I noticed that his wife did not eat the sushi but would use her chopsticks to take the sushi to her husband's plate. According to the couple, she does not like sushi at all, but enjoys the experience of using chopsticks to serve her husband with the sushi pieces.

It seemed a bit odd to me, but I thought that was sweet of her to do that (her husband could use chopsticks perfectly, but I thought they just enjoyed the dinner time more by doing that among themselves).

Her husband was asking for a piece of tuna sushi while she picked up the salmon sushi at first. While her husband told her that it was the wrong piece, she began poking at different pieces with her chopsticks and asked if that was tuna or not.

That raised my eyebrow. For both Japanese and Chinese table manner, once you use your chopsticks to touch a piece of food, that piece "belongs" to you. You are supposed to pick it up with your chopsticks nicely and transfer it to your own rice bowl or plate. It is considered rude if you poke at different pieces of food with your own chopsticks. For those who are lost in this Asian table manner episode, consider using your own fork poking at whatever you see on a buffet table.

She even tried to be neat and grouped all the scattered pieces together. Both my husband and I finally put our chopsticks down and called it a night. We felt that it might be impolite to tell the couple on the spot and decided to bring it up casually the next day.

Moral of the story: Treat the chopsticks as your fork or spoon. Use serving chopsticks, forks or spoons when getting food from a plate that you are sharing with others. You can use your own chopsticks to pick up individual pieces of food, such as sushi or egg roll. Be careful not to touch other pieces while you are doing that.

Surprising expatriate practices in China - Part III

2008-06-02T22:22:00.004-06:00

A veteran radio producer from RTHK in Hong Kong called Chan King Chong is facing fraud charges of allegedly made false claims to cover incidental costs incurred during the production of radio programmes. He claimed that RTHK staff regularly used a claim form intended to cover freelance work when submitting claims for a range of other expenses for personal gains. This scandal has involved many veteran DJs and top management staff. He also said that this has been a practice at RTHK and he was just following directions from the management and didn't think it was wrong or unethical.

The timing of this piece of news is impeccable. I was writing about the organization that wanted to hire me is involved in making false claims in "surprising expatriate practices in China - Part I" and "surprising expatriate practices in China - Part II". This is exactly what I foresee will happen and I do not want to be in the middle of this mess. I am so glad I asked the right question before I signed the employment contract. I take this piece of news as a sign to tell me that I made the right decision of not accepting employment from this hotel.

Surprising expatriate practices in China - Part II

2008-05-30T23:05:00.004-06:00

The surprising expatriate practices in China story has not ended yet. The general manager of the hotel wanted to find out what exactly was holding me back in signing the contract. We spoke over the phone today.

I was even more surprised to find out that all the 20 odd expatriates including himself are in the same boat. They are all "buying" or "manipulating" official receipts in order to maxmize their housing allowance. The general manager explained that it was very reasonable to produce receipts for reimbursement and that it was a local practice. In a nutshell, the general manager was wondering why this was a deciding factor for me not to accept employment from them.

I think he missed the point here. It's reasonable to produce official receipts for reimbursement, but not reasonable to produce fake receipts for the purpose of maximizing personal gains at the expense of the owners or shareholders, regardless of what the local practices may be.

Integrity and honesty are some qualities most multinational organizations value and require of their managers. If the top management doesn't have these qualities, it's hard to expect other employees to uphold these values. I stand firm on my decision of not accepting employment from this hotel.

Surprising expatriate practices in China - Part I

2008-05-29T21:51:00.005-06:00

I have been in touch with a multinational company (I prefer not to name the organization) for a job in China. They were interested in hiring me to be the learning and development manager for their new hotel in Beijing. I was given the job offer and was told the package, which included an amount for the housing allowance. When the contract was e-mailed to me, I realized some of the terms were not consistant with my understanding and previous discussion, including the transportation of personal effects, housing allowance and the tax protection. For example, the housing allowance is not a paid-out, instead it is on reimbursement basis. In other words, whatever the amount was promised to me was not part of the income anymore. I only get reimbursed for whatever I use.

I agreed to accept the job offer originally based on the information quoted to me verbally. Well, it could be miscommunication since this job was organized through a headhunter in Hong Kong. The headhunter might have put in her own interpretation when repeating the terms to me. Anyway, since the contract terms were not the same as what I was told verbally, I wrote back and asked for clarification.

The human resources department wrote back with this, " in practice, you can always claim the maximum. You may not understand now how China works but trust me. Receipt in China is something you can “manipulate” and “buy” as well but official, therefore you can claim the maximum but not actually spending the maximum. I’ll teach you more later." This is the exact quote from the company.

"Buying" official receipts has been an unethical, but accepted way of doing business in China for a long time. I am surprised that expatriates nowadays still fall into the trap of the old Chinese way instead of upholding the work ethics. Or are the expatriates taking advantage of and maintaining this system so they can increase their personal gains? Either way, I do not want to get involved in this.

Filipino Tinikling dance & Korean Taekwondo demonstration

2008-05-23T23:51:00.001-06:00

Holloman Air Force Base in Alamogordo, New Mexico organized an Asian Pacific Heritage Month Luncheon yesterday and I captured most of the activities during the event. There was a fashion show (unfortunately I was in the show myself so I couldn’t operate the camera, except to set up a tripod to capture the whole stage), Filipino Tinikling dance and Korean Taekwondo demonstration.

Check out the video and enjoy the Asian culture in the United States!

Generous donors from Hong Kong support Sichuan earthquake relief work

2008-05-18T18:27:00.001-06:00

The earthquake in the Wenchuan County of Sichuan Province has probably left over 50,000 people dead. The reconstruction of homes and infrastructure will take considerable time and financial resources. Fortunately, the government and many organizations in Hong Kong are very generous in their donations in helping their motherland China.

According to Xinhua News Agency, the Hong Kong government donated close to US$45 million to help the victims in the earthquake while the Li Ka Shing Foundation donated US$3.85 million and a businessman Tsang Hin Chi donated US$1.28 million to the disaster area. Many other organizations, including the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Hang Seng Bank and HSBC, continued to raise funds or approve funding to support the relief work in Sichuan.

On May 16, 2008, U.S. Ambassador to China presented a check for US$500,000 to the Red Cross to assist China's relief efforts in areas affected by the earthquake. The funds are from the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, the U.S. Agency for International Development.

It is a small check comparing with a small government such as Hong Kong Special Administrative Region considering that the United States is a developed country and the world's police. Even Cisco, a single company, has donated US$1 million to China. Don't get me wrong. The amount is not everything in terms of donation. We do what we can. However, with a disaster of such a magnitude, the number on the check is everything. We would have thought that big boys in the world such as the United States would have been more generous. It is a time about humanity.

Someone I know suggested that the United States government probably could not help much more than they did because the Bush administration is pretty broke with their extravagant expenses on the wars they are still fighting.

Another cultural difference...no pets in bed or sofa

2008-05-05T11:16:00.004-06:00

When I first came to the United States, I always saw ads selling pet step stools or pet stairs for dogs or cats. I was telling myself who wants such a product. It is better if my dog can't reach my bed or sofa.

I was surprised to see that Americans are completely the opposite and provide their pets unlimited access to their beds or sofas. In Hong Kong, I have never seen any pet owner has such a product before. This is all because we do not allow pets to get onto our sofas or beds, partly due to hygienic reason and partly because of the desire to minimize damage on expensive furniture.

Well, it's just another cultural difference and I'm glad my husband, who is an American White guy, agrees with me both on the hygiene and cleaning part. If not, I think we will fight day and night about how to treat our dog!

Panic over rising global rice prices

2008-04-29T10:00:00.003-06:00

We have not seen panic over the shortage of food in developed countries for a long time. With the rising rice prices in different countries and the consumers' fear of the shortage of supply of rice, many businesses and households have been stacking up bags and bags of rice.

One of the Chinese restaurants in town told me that their usual supplier has increased the price of rice by threefolds. Walmart is out of supply and they went to Sam's Club in El Paso to stock up. However, due to the panic buying by the consumers, the retailer is restricting the purchase by a few bags of rice per customer.

Rice is a main staple of most Asian countries and the soaring prices of rice have affected many negatively. In Philippines, people are asked not to throw away leftover rice and fast-food restaurants are advised to give half a cup of rice instead of what they normally give to customers with the meals.

The rising price of rice is driven by many factors, including climate and fuel cost. We really need to do something about the fuel cost and how we treat the environment. We are not only killing the earth, we are also driving ourselves nuts.

Support the athletes in Beijing - Don't use it as a political tool!

2008-04-18T01:31:00.006-06:00

I have been sad to read news about different countries using the Beijing Olympic as a political tool on China. From Steven Spielberg resigning as the artistic director of the Beijing Olympics in February this year to a major Japanese Buddhist temple withdrawing from a plan to host the Beijing Olympics torch relay today are all acts that are making a genuinue sport event political and ugly. This is the same as bombing the whole country because there are a few bad guys hiding there. What about the innocent people there? What about the athletes who have been training hard for months? What about the general public who look forward to seeing a world-class sport event?

It is important to support those who many need help, but please use other diplomatic ways or regular political channels and not through the Beijing Olympics. There are many people, including myself, who just want to enjoy a good sport event and do not give a damn about politics and power struggle.

(Photo from Xinhuanet)

Myriad of small businesses in Hong Kong

2008-04-18T00:55:00.003-06:00

When I was looking for interior designers and carpenters for my new apartment in Hong Kong, I spent a lot of time walking through many shops and businesses in Wanchai, North Point and Tokwawan. There are just too many small businesses and entrepreneurs in Hong Kong. There were so many that I got lost and didn't know which one to choose. It was also hard to judge how well a designer or builder was by just looking at the photos of their previous work.

It would have saved me so much time if there were a one-stop shop website that helped me find builders, electricians and interior designers. I enjoy shopping in a myriad of small boutiques in Hong Kong, but probably not contractors or carpenters!

Disclosure policy

Table manner at a Chinese meal

2008-04-15T14:13:00.005-06:00

I was having dinner at a Japanese restaurant with my husband and some Chinese friends over the weekend. We were trying out different types of sushi and I was trying to get a piece of big sushi roll from a plate that just arrived. The sushi pieces were slightly stacked and the ones on my side happened to be at the bottom. It took me a while before I could get a piece out without touching the other pieces or breaking them. My husband was asking why didn't I just take the top piece from across the other side of the plate.

Here comes the cultural difference: Chinese do not take the piece that is easiest. We have to take the piece that is closest to us.

We also pour tea for everybody else at the table first before pouring tea into our own tea cup. If you only pour for yourself, that is considered rude and self-centered.

There are lots to learn and to be aware of in terms of cultural differences, but once you get a hang of it, it is fun!

How to say "no" in 5 different Asian languages

2008-04-12T12:35:00.003-06:00

Now that you have learned how to say "yes" in 5 different Asian languages, how about learning to say no?

Japanese: iie

Korean: anio

Mandarin: bu shi

Cantonese: ng hai

Thai: mai

Police and military fans: Where to look for good gear

2008-04-12T12:14:00.006-06:00

Since I just talked about attorneys and police officers in my recent post, I can't help but think about the craze of some Asians trying to collect military and police items. I am actually one of them. I used to love to collect bullet shell casing when I went to Vietnam and China. Some were authentic ones from the past and some were just casing after we fired them. Good souvenirs, I thought.

One of my friends used to ramble through any used military item stores when he was a sailor. He would travel to many places in the world and whenever he got a chance to get off the ship, he would be looking for used military items. Well, now of course, he does not need to travel around the world to look for what he wants. He only needs to sit at the computer and browse through the products online. He does not need to buy used items anymore either because many of the military or tactical items can be purchased new from companies that serve the police and military community. It may sound weird, but these kinds of companies come in handy during Halloween too!

Disclosure policy

How to say "yes" in 5 different Asian languages

2008-04-12T11:59:00.003-06:00

Japanese: hai

Korean: ne

Mandarin: shi

Cantonese: hai

Thai: khrap (male); khaa (female)

Battery charge: How do you define it?

2008-04-12T11:27:00.011-06:00

Recently I accepted a translation job at the municipal court for a Chinese who cannot speak English. After the "arrest," eyewitnesses were contacted and the police officers wrote reports about the incident. My client needed to appear in court because of an alleged battery charge in January this year.

Some witnesses "heard" them fight and saw him pull his sister aside in a public place. They were totally surprised as to why he was charged battery even though his sister did not want to press charges against him and said that he never hit her. I read some information posted by some Los Angeles Criminal Attorneys California DUI Felony Misdemeanor Lawyers that charges will not be dropped simply because the individuals who called the police or are involved do not want to prosecute because the police and the prosecutor's office will take into account a variety of reasons including the fear to proceed with a prosecution.

I was told to explain to him that battery is probably defined differently in the United States. According to the criminal code, battery is "the unlawful, intentional touching or application of force to the person of another, when done in a rude, insolent or angry manner." He said the definition is ridiculous and there is a difference of culture between Americans and Chinese. He said they were just talking loudly and arguing. There may be, but unfortunately the judge did not buy that and still ruled him guilty.

Disclosure policy

Asian population in Alamogordo, NM

2008-04-12T11:12:00.003-06:00

Some people ask me if I know how big the Asian community is in Alamogordo. The latest official census information is from 2003. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Asians consist of about 1.5% of the population. Considering that there are 35,551 people in Alamogordo in 2003, there should be around 533 Asians in town.

Sharing my Asian experiences

2008-04-12T11:09:00.025-06:00

The advent of personal computer and Internet has been one of the greatest inventions in life. People from all over the world can share information, experiences and knowledge with one another. In the past, if anyone wants to publish their information, they will need to go through a publisher, a newspaper or any other print media. Very often, you will have to pitch your ideas to them, wait for their approval and have your article edited and reedited. It is not unusual to have your articles rejected either. Even for today’s world, the executive producers of news programs or newspapers decide what people should see and read. How wrong it is for information to be controlled by one or a couple of people.

This is why I also think that blogs is a brilliant invention. Now people from all over the world can share their thoughts and experiences with us. Without blogs, it would not have been possible for me to share my Asian experiences with you all. The only drawback about blogs is you need to know how to drive traffic so as to get a wide range of readers…basically if your blog has no traffic, then nobody will get to read your great ideas and experiences. Also, with the proliferation of information, one has to be careful about what to read and how to filter out information. As with any newspaper, magazine or TV station, each has their own agenda and perspective. You need to get a wide range of opinions and come up with your own conclusion of what an issue really is.

I started my freelance writing career by beginning writing my own blogs. My blogs have become my portfolio of the ability of my writing. I am very grateful for those who came up with this idea. You get paid for what you love to write...without being edited! You can also be assured you will get paid to blog if you sign up with reputable company such as payperpost. I love writing and I will keep doing it!

Learn the language and experience the culture

2008-04-12T11:05:00.004-06:00

I love learning languages. I think it is the best way to understand the culture and people of any place. Even if you can't speak the language fluently, the effort you show to the native people will help you exchange friendship with them.

When I was working in China, I could see how the trust between the employees and the management built when both spoke the same language. Most top management were expatriates and seemed to be in a world of their own. For those who could speak Mandarin or at least make an effort to learn a few words quickly earn the respect of the local employees. There are also differences in culture and language is always an important link.

Even if a foreigner means good in his speech, it may turn out to be totally obnoxious when it is encoded back to the native language. For example, most Chinese show respect to people older than them or are senior to them in terms of rank. Even if they do not agree with their superior, they may not express it or disagree with them on the spot. On the other hand, Americans are very direct and tend to express their disagreement regardless of the seniority of the parties involved. Many Chinese do not appreciate that kind of behavior and often feel embarrassed or shun away from such "conflict."

Learn the language, experience the culture and see the place for yourself. It will open up a whole new world to you. It is a world different from books and photos.

Savings for entrepreneurs and businesses

2008-04-11T09:28:00.004-06:00

Most Asians I know are very entrepreneurial and open their own small businesses wherever they go. Even in a small, low-income town like Alamogordo in New Mexico, there are six Chinese restaurants owned and operated by various Asians. Others start some small businesses around town such as nail parlor, beauty salon or medical practice.

The start-up cost is usually substantial, but there are always ways to save money for those who want to be their own bosses. If you are providing a type of services, you can consider setting up an area in your home as a home-based business office. There are sources to find discounted or even free home office equipment and if you cannot find what you want, get them from the big retailers at a discount by using the coupon codes. Some computer super centers also offer great deals that you cannot find in a brick-and-mortar store. They consolidate all the offers for you and save you time and headaches shopping around for good deals.

When I was a kid, I was taught that "nothing is free." With the advance of technology and the increasing awareness of saving the environment, that statement is not true anymore. You just need to know where to look to find the right products for you at low or no cost.

Local favorites in Singapore

2008-04-10T12:48:00.004-06:00

I was born and raised in Hong Kong, but I studied and lived in Singapore for a few years and became a Singapore citizen. Many people ask me what I think about Singapore and whether I think the government is suffocating the citizens. If I do not like the place, I probably will only become a resident and not citizen.

In my opinion, Singapore is a very clean and orderly place with the best of both worlds. You can find many Western restaurants and shops there while you can also experience their rich local culture. I enjoy the administration and paternity of the Singapore government...I still receive money in my CPF account (similar to a social security account in the United States) from the government from time to time even though I haven't worked there for over 10 years. Singapore government is just like the government in Alaska - well-managed with surplus in their account.

Talking about local favorites, I love their Hainanese chicken rice, satay, rojak and fried carrot cake. The following photos are from the Singapore Tourism Board. Check out their list of top 10 local favorites. It gives you a concise description of what they are.

(top left to right: Hainanese chicken rice & satay; bottom left to right: rojak & fried carrot cake)

Wedding DVDs as gifts

2008-04-10T09:08:00.005-06:00

I have been talking about wedding invitations and evening dresses on my blog these two days. Another thing that came to my mind is wedding DVDs. During my wedding, I have hired photographers and videographers to capture the whole event for us. Many friends and family members requested for a copy of our wedding video. It took us quite a while to complete the DVD replication process and I wish we could have found a company to do it for us.

There are indeed companies who provide DVD graphic design, packaging and DVD replication services. Depending on the services provided by your videographer, you can also request to have the DVD menu and the front cover designed to the way you want it to be when you get your DVD replication done.

The wedding DVDs will be a great wedding thank you gifts for those who attended your wedding. Send a copy of the DVD with your thank you card. For those who can't make it to your wedding, send them a copy too and it is a great opportunity for them to share the joy with you. Marriage is an important milestone in your life. Capture the moment and share it with people whom you love.

Casino list in Macau

2008-04-09T13:11:00.002-06:00

For those who like the excitement in gambling, the best selection of casinos in Asia is in Macau. It offers a wide range of both Asian and traditional Western games including baccarat, blackjack, roulette, boule, "big and small", fan-tan and slot machines. The casinos in Macau operate 24 hours a day. There are also both Chinese and Las Vegas styled casinos there. The more familiar ones to Americans will be Wynn, MGM and Venetian. Two Las Vegas based gambling companies Wynn Resorts (Macau) Ltd. and Galaxy Casino Company Ltd. were granted the licence to operate casinos in Macau a couple of years ago.

Below is a list of the casinos in Macau. Currently there are 29:

Babylon Macau Fisherman's Wharf, Avenida Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, Macau
Tel: (853) 2823 2233

Casa Real Avenida do Dr. Rodrigo Rodrigues, No. 1118, Macau
Tel: (853) 2872 7791

Club VIP Legend 3-5/FL., Macau Landmark, Avenida da Amizade, ZAPE, Macau
Tel: (853) 2878 6233
Website: http://www.landmarkhotel.com.mo

Crown Avenida do Kwong Tung, Taipa, Macau
Tel: (853) 2886 8888
Website: http://www.crown-macau.com

Diamond Hotel Holiday Inn, Rua de Pequim, No. 82-86, , Macau
Tel: (853) 2878 5645

Emperor Palace No.288 Avenida Comercial de Macau, Macau
Tel: (853) 8981 6803
Website: www.grandemperor.com

Fortuna No. 63, Rua de Cantão, Macau
Tel: (853) 8982 1301

Golden Dragon Quarteirão 3, Lotes C e F, ZAPE, Macau
Tel: (853) 8982 6201
Website: http://www.goldendragon.com.mo

Grand Lisboa Av. de Lisboa, Macau
Tel: (853) 2828 3838

Grand Waldo Avenida Marginal Flor de Lotus, Taipa, Macau
Tel: (853) 2888 6886
Website: http://www.grandwaldohotel.com

Jai Alai Travessa do Reservatorio, Porto Exterior, Macau
Tel: (853) 2872 6086

Kam Pek 1-2/FL, Rua de Foshan, No.51, A-andar, Edf. Centro Comercial San Kin Yip, Macau
Tel: (853) 2878 6945

Kingsway 1/F, Kingsway Hotel, Rua de Luis Gonzaga Gomes, Macau
Tel: (853) 2870 1111

Lisboa Avenida de Lisboa, Macau
Tel: (853) 8297 7111
Website: http://www.hotelisboa.com

Macau Jockey Club 142 Estrada Governador Albano de Oliveira, Taipa, Macau
Tel: (853) 2883 2265

Macau Palace Avenida da Amizade, Macau
Tel: (853) 2872 7988

Marina Avenida Olimpica, Pousada Marina Infante, Taipa, Macau
Tel: (853) 2883 3623
Website: http://www.pousadamarinainfante.com

MGM Grand Macau Lote A do Quarteirão B2 da Zona B, Nape, Macau
Tel: (853) 8802 8888

New Century Avenida Padre Tomas Pereira, No. 889, Taipa, Macau
Tel: (853) 2883 6011
Website: http://www.newcenturyhotel-macau.com

Oriental 956-1110, Avenida da Amizade, Mandarin Oriental, Macau
Tel: (853) 2870 5681

Ponte 16 Rua do Visconde Paço de Arcos, Macau SAR
Tel: (853) 8861 8888
Website: http://www.ponte16.com.mo

President 355 Avenida da Amizade, Macau
Tel: (853) 2878 8198

Rio 33 Rua de Luis Gonzaga Gomes, Macau
Tel: (853) 2833 3183
Website: http://www.riomacau.com

Sands Largo de Monte Carlo, No.203, Macau
Tel: (853) 2888 3388
Website: http://www.sands.com.mo

StarWorld Avenida da Amizade, Macau
Tel: (853) 2838 3838

Taipa Regency Hotel, 2 Estrada Almirante Marques Esparteiro, Taipa, Macau
Tel: (853) 2883 1537

Venetian Macao COTAI, Macau
Tel: (853) 2882 8888

Waldo J-Quarteirão 6 da Zona, de Aterros do Porto Exterior, Macau
Tel: (853) 2888 6615

Wynn Rua Cidade de Sintra NAPE, Macau
Tel: (853) 8986 9966

Low calling rates to Asia

2008-04-09T12:37:00.007-06:00

Having traveled to and lived in different countries, I have made many friends in Asia and other parts of the world. I enjoy keeping in touch with friends and see what they are up to. The best way to communicate with my friends is e-mail so far. However, when it comes to family, especially the older family members, phone is still the only way to keep in touch with them. Phone services here are expensive in comparison to those in Asia. My parents are paying a special promotional flat rate of $6.00 a month in Hong Kong that allows them to call me as much as they want. $6.00 will only give me a few minutes if I call them using the U.S. phone service here.

There are different phone services around the world that can help you save money. One of them is Trueroots, an international calling service that is based in India. If you have friends in India, this will be a service to consider. The India call rates is less than $0.07 per minute. So don't get ripped off and research different overseas companies to save money!

Freelance translation services

2008-04-09T12:16:00.003-06:00

It has not been easy trying to juggle with family, school and work at the same time. I'm glad to find out that I won a scholarship that can be applied towards school tuition. While scholarship will help pay for school, I am also trying to find freelance writing and translation jobs that can help generate some income while I'm on the move since I travel quite a bit.

I offer translation and interpretation services for Cantonese, Mandarin, Japanese and English. You can find the details here. I have worked with companies both in Asia and the United States. Your satisfaction is guaranteed.

Please feel free to contact me to discuss your translation needs.

Finding the right dress for your wedding or party

2008-04-08T10:41:00.003-06:00

I talked about the dream of Asians being a princess for a day during their wedding yesterday. In Hong Kong, it is very common to rent your wedding dress or evening dresses. Hong Kong is a very small city with 7 million people. Most people don't have the storage space for a dress that they will only wear once in a lifetime. They usually go to different wedding rental shops and browse through what they have. I bought my own considering that I will have a chance to wear some of the formal dresses to the military functions.

I live in a small town in New Mexico, so I do most of my shopping online, including evening dresses. It is not just about choice, but also what sizes are available. I am a size 0 and I can hardly find anything in the limited stores here that will fit me. When I shop online, my choices immediately expand and I can find size 0 easily. For example, one of my favorite black cocktail dresses has the size I want. Most Asians are much smaller than Americans and for most of us, shopping online is the only option in the United States.

When do Asians eat rice?

2008-04-08T10:26:00.004-06:00

Yesterday I talked about rice being the main staple for Chinese. In fact, other Asians such as Japanese, Filipino and Korean also treat rice as a major part of their meal. Most of them have rice as their breakfast as well. I visited one of my Japanese friends in Tokyo two years ago. She made breakfast for me and my husband and surely rice was one of the items.

When I was a kid, I grew up eating rice and meat for my breakfast during winter. My mother said it would help keep me warm...considering that there was no heating in the classroom and we were on public transportation a lot, rice did help give me energy and warmth. I still have the habit of eating rice almost every day. Bread is considered a snack for me. If I don't have rice for a particular meal, somehow I feel that I didn't quite feed myself well.!

Creating a "zen" space

2008-04-07T20:32:00.011-06:00

I know many people who like to create a living space with Asian elements. I am one of them. There are many inexpensive ways to create an inexpensive Asian, "zen" environment. One easy way is to use simple, minimalistic furniture with decorations such as candles, paper lamp shades and water fountains.

One of my favorite ways to decorate my living room is to have a dark wood tray and fill them with various kinds of black smooth stones (you can get them easily in a dollar store) and scented candles such as tranquility aromatherapy pillar candles or esque candles. Candles cast a soft glow in the room and the scent creates a relaxed environment.

One other important point of creating a zen living space is "de-cluttering." Remember, less is more.

The main staple of Chinese

2008-04-07T20:27:00.002-06:00

Most American and European have their meals with bread or dinner rolls. For Chinese, rice or noodles are the main staple depending on which part of China you are from. For Chinese who are from the north, they prefer noodles and dumplings. For the rest of China, rice always accompanies the main meal.

There is a Chinese saying "no rice, no energy; no money, no courage!" It shows how important rice is to their culture.

Asian/Chinese Wedding Invitations

2008-04-07T19:53:00.006-06:00

Marriage is an important milestone for many people and most couples want a perfect wedding that reflect their heritage and dreams. I have been to numerous Asian weddings so far. Most Chinese women are adamant in having different evening dresses and Chinese dresses at their wedding. It is their dream to become a princess for at least a day. On the other hand, most Chinese parents prefer to have a proper wedding banquet with good Chinese food and presentable wedding invitations.

It was a nightmare when I tried to get the wedding invitations printing done a few years ago. I had to sit at the printing shop for hours trying to find a design I liked and figure out what kinds of paper to use. I needed to travel there a few times to amend and approve the proofs. Finally, when the invitations were done, I had to travel there again to pick them up. Things are much easier now with the increased popularity of online shopping. You can customize and order the wedding invitations at the comfort of your own home or office.

If you are trying to plan an Asian wedding, try the Oriental double happiness design. The Chinese symbol means happiness and good fortune for the couple. It is a popular and auspicious symbol not only used in wedding invitations, but also for wedding banquet decorations. Red is a color that suggests good luck, so stick with the red and gold!

A meal for two

2008-04-04T18:06:00.000-06:00

I love Korean food, particularly Kalbi (short beef ribs marinated in Korean sauce). My little doggie loves Kalbi too. Whenever I order take-out, she will share the Kalbi bones with me. It is a great source of calcium for her and the bone also keeps her occupied for a long time. It usually takes her around 45 minutes or so to finish one small piece...like the one shown in the photo.

She will chew it down until like the photo below. So if you happen to order Kalbi from a Korean restaurant, don't forget your furry friends at home. They will love it!

Showcasing your talents

2008-04-03T11:19:00.003-06:00

I never had an open kitchen after I arrived in the United States. Due to the nature of Chinese cooking, it is always best to have an enclosed kitchen with a door. However, since I love cooking and entertaining, I started to make use of our open kitchen and counter area with delight. Guests can watch me prepare and cook while I explain to them what ingredients I am using and how they are prepared. Most of them are not familiar with Asian cooking and they are fascinated by just watching how everything happens in the kitchen.

With more guests coming through the door and eager to see the cooking, I decided to add a touch of class to the kitchen by looking up an Enclume pot rack. Cooking is not just for feeding, but it is also an art or entertainment for me. Any discerning chef wants to showcase his or her fine cookware as well as to reduce back stress by not stooping to reach for the pots and pans in the lower cabinets, which most kitchens are designed that way unfortunately.

I am looking into a hand-made yet sturdy pot rack such as a lighted elegant oval rack or a lighted stainless steel oval rack. A pot rack can also provide lighting solutions in the kitchen...isn't that smart? Any good chef will need some good tools to help make the presentation better. After all, we are there not just to feed, we are there to entertain too, right?

Recipe for crispy egg bows

2008-03-28T08:55:00.000-06:00

I went to a Chinese buffet restaurant in Albuquerque and found that they served crispy egg bows. The one on the far left of the photo shows the crispy egg bows. They should be a bit thicker than that and you can make your own too. I am sharing my recipe here:

Ingredients:

6 oz high gluten flour

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon castor sugar

1 egg

3 oz water

Method:

1. Sieve all powdery ingredients together and add in the beaten egg and water. Set it aside for around 15 minutes.

2. Sprinkle some flour on the surface you use to roll the dough into a thin sheet.

3. Trim and cut the thin dough into 1 inch wide strips, then divide them into small rectangles.

4. Put 2 pieces of pastries together, dampen and make sharp slit in the center, pull one end through the open slit as a bow shape.

5. Deep fry until light golden brown.

6. Serve with golden syrup.

Recipe for curry triangles: Another way to use spring roll shells

2008-03-24T18:32:00.004-06:00

As I mentioned in the previous post, you can make spring rolls or crunchy noodles using spring roll shells. You can also make curry beef triangles using spring roll shells! This is a Southeast Asian delicacies and it can also be a dim sum item for Cantonese cuisine.

I am sharing my recipe with you here:

Ingredients:

12 sheets of spring roll shells

4 oz ground beef (substitute it with ground pork or chicken if you like)

1 tablespoon curry paste

Seasonings:

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon soya sauce

Method:

1. Trim spring roll shells to long strips of 2 inches wide, cover and set aside.

2. Season the ground beef.

3. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in wok, saute curry paste, add seasoned beef and stir well.

4. Thicken with cornstarch solution (2 teaspoons cornstarch mix with 1 tablespoon water).

5. Cool before you wrap it with cut spring roll shell strips.

6. Fold each end of stripped shells twice to form a triangle pocket, add 1 teaspoon of filling, turn and fold to form triangle puff.

7. Deep fry till light golden brown.

Serve while it's still crispy and hot! Enjoy :)

Recipe: Make your own crunchy noodles

2008-03-21T14:18:00.001-06:00

Many people in the United States like egg rolls/spring rolls or wontons. You can easily make your own at home by buying the spring roll shells or wonton skins, which are readily available in Walmart or Lowes as well as all Asian grocery stores. The package will give you instructions on what ingredients and seasonings to use. You can adapt it to your own personal liking and put in your own ingredients or omit a couple of seasonings if you like.

You can also make your own crunchy noodles with spring roll shells or wonton skins. Crunchy noodles are usually served with egg drop soup in Chinese restaurants or on the Chinese buffet. It's a common snack you eat with the Chinese soup in the States.

Save some wonton skins on the side, cut them into slices, deep fry them until slightly golden brown...voila, here's your fresh home-made crunchy noodles!

What's in the soup? Make a guess! (The Answer...don't peek if you haven't checked the previous post for photo!)

2008-03-15T10:35:00.003-06:00

That was a soup with mushroom, peanut and CHICKEN FEET!

What's in the soup? Make a guess!

2008-03-12T10:33:00.003-06:00

Make a guess what's in this Chinese/Cantonese soup?

The answer will be in the next post.

Chinese dessert on the buffet

2008-03-08T17:05:00.006-07:00

Many Chinese buffet restaurants in the smaller towns of United States have dishes such as General Tso chicken, egg rolls and beef with broccoli. The dessert will usually be the fortune cookies (by the way, fortune cookies are not popular in China and other Asian countries. It is more of an American Chinese thing), pudding (which is American) and ice-cream (again, American).

Some of my Chinese and Taiwanese friends and I went to Albuquerque a couple of weeks ago. We went to this Chinese buffet restaurant with not many expectations, but we were pleasantly surprised by the variety of authentic Chinese dishes they served on the buffet, including whole steamed fish and Chinese vegetables. Their dessert dishes and fruit were also refreshing and creative comparing to most Chinese restaurants I have been in the United States. The photo shown here was taken at the restaurant there.

They served "longan", a type of sweet fruit with white interior and brown skin. For dessert, they made their own Chinese peanut candy, buttefly pastry and egg pastry. They tasted as authentic as they looked!

Korean Kimchi in Alamogordo

2008-03-05T14:07:00.005-07:00

Kimchi is a type of Korean spicy pickled cabbage. It is a kind of side dish that Korean like to have during their meal, especially Korean barbeque. According to the Korean I know in town, she said that Kimchi can taste very different depending on who actually makes it. It sounds redundant to say it, but what she meant is there is no standard recipe for Kimchi. If you search around the web, you may have seen Kimchi of all shapes, taste, presentation and color.

This picture shows the Kimchi she makes for Chinese/Korean restaurant in Alamogordo. They taste really good, and if you have a chance to come here, drop me a message and I'll let you know where to go.

10 economical and effective ways to practice a foreign language

2008-02-28T23:52:00.000-07:00

The key to learning a foreign language is practice. It is as simple as "if you don't use it, you lose it." There are several ways for you to practice a foreign language. This is my own original list:

Practice with your friends and family members who speak that language
Find a language buddy who wants to do language exchange (i.e. you teach him your language and he teaches you his language.)
Join a Toastmasters club that uses the language you want (e.g. in Hong Kong, there are clubs that practice in Cantonese, Mandarin and English.)
Use Skype and chat with people who can speak that language
Network with military spouses: Chances are there are spouses from around the world who will be happy to make friends with locals.
Rent foreign movies and drama series with subtitles
Sing karaoke in that foreign language (I learned much of my Mandarin through singing!)
Search for language software that corrects your pronunciation (some language software will compare your recorded words with the standard computer pronunciation.)
Attend regular language classes or language clubs
Get a job that requires you to interact with employees from different backgrounds and countries

Chinese eat anything that has 4 legs

2008-02-24T13:38:00.000-07:00

Yes, there is a common saying that Chinese will eat anything that has four legs, except for tables. It may sound really inhumane and gross to most foreigners, but Chinese do eat dogs (but not your normal chihuahuas and retrievers, so don't worry!), monkeys, snakes etc. They will also eat all the interior of the animals, including blood, intestines and liver. Here is a Cantonese soup that is cooked with pig knuckles, peanuts and dates.

Asian karaoke

2008-02-18T18:24:00.001-07:00

When I was in Japan, I used to go to karaoke boxes. Literally, it is a small area that looks like a telephone booth. There are two chairs and one karaoke machine in front of you. If you want to kill some time and practice a few songs before singing in front of your friends, this is a pretty good choice. They also have bigger private karaoke rooms so you and your friends can have enjoying singing within your own circle.

The song selection is all automatic and you can pick and choose any song you want through a console. In the past, when another karaoke room was using that particular disc, you would have to wait until it became available. With the new technology, it is almost like karaoke-on-demand. Try going to a karaoke if you go to Asia, it's really fun!

Challenges of teaching Japanese

2008-02-13T17:38:00.001-07:00

I am teaching Japanese to a few individuals who are interested in the culture and language. Having gone through a formal and professional Japanese language program myself, I am able to impart my knowledge to the students. However, the challenge is to teach a complicated language to adults or kids who only attend a 30-minute lesson every week. I have been revising my materials to suit the needs of my students. I also recommend them to buy additional learning tools so they can make up for the lack of practice and short class time. I salute to those who are willing and interested to learn a language with four sets of alphabets/characters (romaji, hiragana, katakana and kanji). For those who want some high intellectual stimulation, learning Japanese will be a good exercise to keep your mind active.

How do you like your chicken done?

2008-02-10T13:05:00.000-07:00

Americans tend to like chicken breast that are without bones and skin. You actually have to pay more for chicken breast if you go to Kentucky Fried Chicken. Quite the opposite, Chinese like chicken thigh, chicken wings, chicken drumsticks with bones and skin. It is also very common to have the whole chicken with both head and tail on a plate. Don't get offended. This is just to show its wholeness and freshness.

Happy Chinese New Year to everyone!

2008-02-07T09:24:00.000-07:00

Happy Chinese New Year to everyone who drops by this blog!

(The photos above show the different styles of Chinese dresses available.)

Bright colors in funerals...no-no for Chinese & Japanese!

2008-01-23T10:21:00.000-07:00

There are many cultural differences between the West and the East and I found another one today. I was at the rosary / funeral mass celebration of an ex-colleague, Adrian Guerrero today. I was on the second level of the church and when I looked down to the crowd, I could see every color you can think of literally. There were people who wore red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, brown, grey, pink, black and white. At a traditional Chinese or Asian funeral in general, you will not be able to see a wide array of colors. It is actually rude and inconsiderate to wear bright colors to a funeral.

I guess the Catholics or Christians have a different interpretation of death - it is certainly a loss for the family members and friends, but it's a celebration of the deceased who is now in heaven with God. However, please be aware that most Asians, especially Chinese and Japanese, do you have the same perspective. Avoid all bright color clothes and accessories and wear your blacks to the funerals in Asian countries.

Disclosure policy for this blog

2008-01-15T09:02:00.000-07:00

This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me.

This blog accepts forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation.

he compensation received may influence the advertising content, topics or posts made in this blog. That content, advertising space or post may not always be identified as paid or sponsored content.

The owner(s) of this blog is compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. Even though the owner(s) of this blog receives compensation for our posts or advertisements, we always give our honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the bloggers' own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question.

This blog does not contain any content which might present a conflict of interest.

Simple Asian meals / lunch boxes

2008-01-04T22:57:00.000-07:00

I always look for ideas to make delicious yet simple meals, especially when I have to make lunch boxes for my husband from Monday to Friday. Here are some ideas for you too. I just made inari sushi (rice filled in a deep fried tofu bag), shrimp sushi and onigiri (rice formed in a triangular shape) tonight.

You can easily get the inari pockets, nori (dried seaweed wrapped around the onigiri) and butterfly shrimp from Asian grocery stores. Follow the instruction on the seasoned sushi vinegar when seasoning the rice, make the rice into the shapes you want, add a little bit of wasabi in between the shrimp and the rice (no need to add wasabi for inari sushi and onigiri), then voila, that's your sushi meal!

Shaolin kungfu disciples from the U.S.

2007-12-28T13:33:00.001-07:00

I came across these photos when I was researching for one of my Ph.D. classes. It's great to see that the shaolin kungfu is being spread across the world and it can be shared and learned by anyone who is interested. It is hard work, but is extremely rewarding for those who persevere.

According to People's Daily Online, more than 500 Shaolin disciples from the United States went on a pilgrimage to Dengfeng City in Henan Province, China on 5 July 2006. They visited the home of kungfu and some of them performed kungfu with the Chinese monks.

Presentation is everything in Asia

2007-12-25T21:46:00.000-07:00

As most people know, packaging and presentation are very important in Asian cities such as Japan and Hong Kong. One very good example is the style of cakes Asian pastry chefs make. They don't sell plain-looking apple pies or simple cheese cakes. Even a Tiramisu has to be decorated with a piece of delicate white and dark chocolate. The cakes below are very basic cakes that you can get from a neighborhood bakery...and yes, most pastry chefs are very good artists, and they can do much more elaborate than this easily.

Recently I made a strawberry cake for a potluck Christmas dinner, and you can tell that dessert in Hong Kong is all about presentation, presentation and presentation. Not bad for a home-made cake, huh?

What kind of canned food is the most expensive?

2007-12-18T06:38:00.000-07:00

What kind of canned food is the most expensive?

Well, it really depends, but as far as I know, the most expensive canned food I've seen is canned abalone. It is another kind of Asian craze about expensive seafood. There are different grades of abalone and usually the bigger it is, the more expensive it is. There are also different brands of canned abalone you can purchase. They usually range from around US$40 to US$70, depending on where you buy them. The photo below shows the abalones taken out from a can. As you can see, they are pretty decent and that's why this kind of canned food is expensive.

Kind of crude to have a fish head on the table?

2007-12-14T22:26:00.000-07:00

It's unthinkable to a lot of Americans to be served a fish with its head still stuck to it. It goes the same with chickens. Most Asians don't find it offensive to have the whole fish, chicken or duck on a plate. In fact, it indicates to us that it is indeed the type of fish or meat that we ordered! Most importantly, especially for fish, most parts are edible including the head. Of course, it has to be fresh if the whole fish is served. Most Asians prefer live seafood, and not frozen or refrigerated ones that you get from Wal-Mart or Lowes.

The photo below here shows a steamed grouper that my Mom made.

The typical Philippines food in restaurants

2007-12-10T10:53:00.000-07:00

I interviewed the Asian Pacific Islanders' Club at the International Children's Festival on Hollman AFB yesterday. They talked about the type of typical Filipino food people get in restaurants. It's the first mini-interview among the four in the video. Take a look at what they say.

Business and academic research resources

2007-12-03T00:28:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite research resources is not any peer-reviewed article that makes you wonder what they talk about sometimes. It's not any book that gets outdated easily either. It's the CIA website. We are not trying to tap into the intelligence of other countries, but CIA does provide a very comprehensive country profile guide called "The World Factbook," which is worth looking into. Just go to its drop-down menu when you see "select a country or location" and you'll get a wealth of information including geography, people, government, economy and many other issues.

Asian Pacific Islanders' Club

2007-11-29T00:06:00.000-07:00

Wherever you go in the America or Europe, you probably either find a Chinatown or some kind of Asian clubs. Asians tend to be tightly knitted and prefer to preserve their culture even when they are in a foreign country. I live in Alamogordo, which is a small town with 30,000 people. There is not a big Asian community, but yet there is an Asian Pacific Islanders' Club on Holloman Air Force Base. It is a DOD (Department of Defense) approved club on base with the goal of promoting the Asian Pacific cultures and friendship among different nationals.

I interviewed them in October when they had a fund raiser in preparation for the International Children's Festival on 15 December. They will be organizing a food tasting together with the German on base. I will be covering the event this Saturday, and will post the video on my New Mexico blog.

Guide to doing business in China

2007-11-22T23:49:00.000-07:00

China has been and will be a preferred place for investment. Since its Open Door Policy in the 1970s, foreign direct investment has been increasing and most major international brand names are already in China. However, many investors or foreign managers are still looking for ways to do business with or in China successfully.

I recommend this one-stop-shop website that contains news and analysis, province business guide, comprehensive surveys of major industries and various laws. If you have no clue where to look, this will be a very good start.

Excuse me...

2007-11-16T05:48:00.000-07:00

Today I went to Mong Kok in Hong Kong. I noticed that Mong Kok was as crowded as Causeway Bay, but there were a lot more people trying to slow you down in the street. I was stopped by five people asking me to fill out a survey; three people shoving their flyers into my hands; a guy from Green Peace selling his organization and trying to ask me for monthly donation; and some salespersons standing at the front of the stores persuading me to go into their stores. It's not easy weeding through all these people to go to my destination. I learned to be firm and just say "excuse me" or "sorry, I don't live here..."

If you are a Caucasian, you'll probably get different kinds of obstacles on the road. My husband used to have Indians trying to sell him watches or tailor-made suits in Tsim Sha Tsui.

Swarm of people in Hong Kong

2007-11-15T18:49:00.000-07:00

I haven't been in Hong Kong for around a year. Coming from a small town like Alamogordo, New Mexico back to a big cosmopolitan city is overwhelming. It's nice to have all the convenience of a modern place, but seeing thousands of people just at one zebra crossing (crosswalk) is disturbing.

If you happen to travel to Hong Kong, try to avoid the rush hours at Causeway Bay. That will save you a lot of headaches, and possibly money too. The zebra crossing right outside Sogo Department store is one of the busiest in Hong Kong and many pickpockets are at work there. Keep your handbags and wallets close to you. Do not swing your bags at the back. Your wallet or cell phone will be gone after you cross the road if you do so.

Don't leave your belongings hanging on the chair in a restaurant or on the floor either. Pickpockets are faster and smarter than you think.

Don't give me a clock

2007-11-14T20:11:00.000-07:00

When I was on a plane yesterday, I was browsing through a catalogue that sells mugs with a clock on it. I was thinking who will want such a mug...at least not Chinese. Clocks are very bad gifts for Chinese, because it means "I'm sending you to hell" or "I'm putting an end to your life."

This is a very important etiquette for those who do business with Chinese. If you ever send your business partner or a friend a clock, your relationship will probably just end right there.

10 richest countries in the world

2007-11-07T19:53:00.000-07:00

According to http://www.xinhuanet.com/, 4 out of the 10 richest countries in the world in 2006 are from Asia:

Tokyo, Japan (GDP: US$784.8 billion)

New York, United States (GDP: US$407 billion)

London, United Kingdom (GDP: US$284.7 billion)

Seoul, Korea (GDP: US$198 billion)

Los Angeles, United States, (GDP: US$196 billion)

Osaka, Japan (GDP: US$191 billion)

Hong Kong, China (GDP: US$164 billion)

Chicago, United States (GDP: US$146 billion)

Toronto, Canada (GDP: US$141.9 billion)

Mexico City, Mexico (GDP: US$125 billion)

Note: The GDP figures are in 2004.

Cantonese - Greeting of the day

2007-11-07T11:55:00.000-07:00

恭喜

Pronunciation: "gung hei"

Meaning: Congratulations

Japanese - Greeting of the day

2007-11-07T11:24:00.000-07:00

お元気ですか。

Pronunciation: "o-gen-ki de-su-ka"

Meaning: How are you?

Cantonese - Greeting of the day

2007-11-06T11:46:00.000-07:00

喂

Pronunciation: "wai"

Meaning: Hello (when answering the phone)

Japanese - Greeting of the day

2007-11-06T11:23:00.000-07:00

おやすみなさい

Pronunciation: "o-ya-su-mi-na-sai"

Meaning: good night

Social / cultural profile of some Asian countries

2007-11-06T08:01:00.000-07:00

I talked about the economic profile of China, Macau and Singapore on November 4. Here, I'm going to provide the social-cultural conditions of these countries.

Chinese is the major ethnic group in all these three countries. Most of them speak Mandarin and a number of Chinese dialects. Christianity is not a popular religion comparing to most Western countries, and there are various religious beliefs in each of these countries. According to the Hofstede research and his scores for different countries (2003), Hong Kong and China are more similar in terms of power distance, uncertainty avoidance, masculinity, individualism, and long-term orientation, but Singapore is quite different from Hong Kong or China. The scores for Macao are not available. The following are some cultural/social indicators of the three countries:

China
§ Ethnic groups: Han Chinese 92% (Central Intelligence Agency [CIA], 2006)
§ Languages: Mandarin and many other dialects (CIA, 2006)
§ Religion: Taoist, Buddhist, Christian 3-4%, and Muslim 1-2% (CIA, 2006)
§ Educational level: 34.8 million received secondary education and 2.4 million received higher education in 2004 (National Bureau of Statistics of China [NBS], 2005)
§ Education index: 0.755 in 2003, an increase of 10.5% from 1995 (United Nations Development Programme [UNDP], 2005)
§ Literacy: Male 95% and female 87% (CIA, 2006)

Macao
§ Ethnic groups: Chinese 96% (CIA, 2006)
§ Languages: Cantonese and other dialects (CIA, 2006)
§ Religion: Buddhist 50%, Roman Catholic 15% and other religions (CIA, 2006)
§ Educational level: 43,851 received secondary education and 11,995 received higher education in 2005 (DSEC, 2006)
§ Education index: Not available from UNDP
§ Literacy: Male 97% and female 92% (CIA, 2006)

Singapore
§ Ethnic groups: Chinese 77%, Malay 14%, Indian 8%, other 1% (CIA, 2006)
§ Languages: Mandarin 35%, English 23%, Malay 14%, Hokkien 11%, Cantonese 6%, and other Chinese dialects (CIA, 2006)
§ Religion: Buddhist 43%, Muslim 15%, Christian 10%, Taoist 9%, Catholic 5%, and other religions (CIA, 2006)
§ Educational level: 213,534 received secondary education and 143,846 received higher education (Ministry of Education Singapore, 2005)
§ Education index: 0.907 in 2003, an increase of 5.3% from 1995 (UNDP, 2005)
§ Literacy: Male 97% and female 89% (CIA, 2006)

For those who want to find the source of my information, please leave me a comment. I'll be more than happy to share it with you.

Cantonese - Greeting of the day

2007-11-05T11:44:00.000-07:00

早抖

Pronunciation: "zou tau"

Meaning: Good night

Japanese - Greeting of the day

2007-11-05T11:21:00.000-07:00

こんばんは

Pronunciation: "kon-ban-wa"

Meaning: Good evening

Economic profile of some major Asian countries

2007-11-04T20:44:00.000-07:00

As an international management student during my graduate study, I have done some research on some major Asian countries. I would like to share my research with those who are interested in knowing more about Asia.

Asian countries have been experiencing strong economic growth in the past few years. Recent events such as SARS and avian flu had negatively affected the tourism and hotel industry in the region, but China, Macau, and Singapore were quick in responding to the threat and restoring visitors' confidence successfully. The following are some economic indicators of the three countries:

China
§ Population: 1.3 billion (Central Intelligence Agency [CIA], 2006)
§ GDP growth rate: 9.3% (CIA, 2006)
§ Unemployment rate: 4.2% (National Bureau of Statistics of China [NBS], 2005)
§ Average monthly wage in hotel industry: 1,089 Yuan (NBS, 2005)
§ Visitor arrival: 120 million, a 10% increase from 2004, with Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan as the top markets (China National Tourist Office [CNTO], 2006)
§ Tourism receipts: RMB$769 billion, a 12% increase from 2004 (CNTO, 2006)

Macau
§ Population: 488,100 (DSEC, 2006)
§ GDP growth rate: 8.9% (DSEC, 2006)
§ Unemployment rate: 4.2% (Government Information Bureau of the MSAR [MSAR], 2006)
§ Average monthly wage in hotel industry: MPO$4,781 (MSAR, 2006)
§ Visitor arrival: 13.8 million, a 13% increase from 2004, with China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan as the top markets (MSAR, 2006)
§ Tourism receipts: Gross gaming revenue was at MOP$45.8 billion, a 8% increase from 2004 (DSEC, 2006)

Singapore
§ Population: 4.5 million (CIA, 2006)
§ GDP growth rate: 5.7% (CIA, 2006)
§ Unemployment rate: 2.6% (Singapore Department of Statistics [SDS], 2006)
§ Average monthly wage in hotel industry: S$1,406 (SDS, 2006)
§ Visitor arrival: 8.94 million, a 7% increase from 2004, with Indonesia, China, and Japan as the top markets (Koumelis, 2006)
§ Tourism receipts: S$10.8 billion, a 10% increase from 2004 (Koumelis, 2006)

For those who want to find the source of my information, please leave me a comment. I'll be more than happy to share it with you.

Cantonese - Greeting of the day

2007-11-04T11:42:00.000-07:00

再見

Pronunciation: "zoi gin"

Meaning: Goodbye

Japanese - Greeting of the day

2007-11-04T11:06:00.000-07:00

こんにちは

Pronunciation: "kon-ni-chi-wa"

Meaning: Good day/good afternoon

Hong Kong: Iding engine ban

2007-11-03T12:25:00.000-06:00

The Hong Kong government has been releasing press releases these two days about a proposal to ban idling vehicle engines. It has launched a five-month public consultation on its proposal and is aiming to implement this policy in mid-2009.

The proposal suggests if drivers do not switch off the vehicles' engines when they are idle, they will be served with HK$320 (US$41) fixed-penalty tickets. With the number of complaints against idling vehicles increasing from 238 in 2002 to 501 in 2006, the Government is also considering issuing warning letters to those drivers upon receiving public complaints.

According to the Secretary for the Environment, Edward Yau, vehicles are the second-largest source of air pollution in Hong Kong, contributing to 25% of respirable suspended particulates and nitrogen oxides.

Yau agreed that certain old turbo engine models require an idling time before being switched off or their lifespan will be shortened. The Government is consulting local vehicle importers to investigate which models should be granted exemption. The following are some of the possible exemptions:

Exemptions
* Vehicles stopped roadside for boarding or alighting
* The first two taxis or minibuses at a passenger stand
* Taxis, minibuses or buses boarding and alighting passengers at designated stops
* Special traffic conditions, such as traffic jams
* Security transit for armoured, disciplinary and emergency vehicles
* Vehicles required to run engines for ancillary purposes, like refrigerator trucks
* Vehicles engaged in a parade or events authorised by the Transport Department

The air pollution is certainly a concern in Hong Kong and I'm glad to see that the government has solid plans to improve the air quality for its citizens. When I was walking to the MTR (subway) station to go to work every day, I had to keep a handkerchief with me so I could cover my mouth from the exhaust fumes and cigarettes smell from people who smoked while they were walking. It was extremely annoying.

This ban might cause some inconvenience and discomfort to the drivers and passengers, but we have to take care of the environment and the overall interest of the public. It is time to take care of "us" instead of "me".

Click the picture below if you want to report pollution in Hong Kong.

Cantonese - Greeting of the day

2007-11-03T02:57:00.000-06:00

你好嗎?

Pronunciation: "nei ho ma"

Meaning: How are you?

Japanese - Greeting of the day

2007-11-03T02:53:00.000-06:00

おはようございます

Pronunciation: "o-ha-you-go-za-i-ma-su"

Meaning: Good morning

Bedroom taboos in Feng Shui

2007-11-02T11:05:00.000-06:00

According to Chinese feng shui, there are a few taboos you have to avoid in the bedroom. If not, you are going to have trouble with your marriage or relationship. I have always heard and read about them throughout my life. It's up to you whether you believe them or not!

Mirrors - It is bad feng shui unless you cannot see it when you lie in bed. According to feng shui masters, mirrors cause friction between the couple because of the appearance of a third party.

Bedroom televisions - TV screens are considered mirrors. So make sure your TV does not face the bed directly.

Open bookshelves - The edges represent sharp knives cutting at you and often cause migraine and headaches. They should be covered up with doors or artificial creeper plants.

Wallpaper with pointed designs - The principle is similar to the open bookshelves. It creates inauspicious chi flows inside the room.

Paintings with abstract or frightening designs - These kinds of paintings cause bad vibes in the room and are said to damage the well-being of the couple.

Cantonese - Greeting of the day

2007-11-02T10:21:00.000-06:00

早晨

Pronunciation: "zou sun"

Meaning: Good morning.

Japanese - Greeting of the day

2007-11-02T00:04:00.000-06:00

はじめまして　

Pronunciation: "ha-ji-me-ma-shi-te"

Meaning: Nice to meet you.

Asian mango pudding recipe

2007-11-01T23:45:00.000-06:00

Most Asians love mangoes, especially those from the Philippines. I have a mango pudding recipe that everybody loves. Try it out and let me know how it turns out!

Tips:
The taste of the pudding is largely depends on the quality of the mangoes. Use Philippine mangoes. They are the sweetest and have the best aroma.

Ingredients:
2 mangoes
1.5 tbs gelatin
100g sugar
1.5 cup hot water
1 cup fresh milk
2 egg yolks

Method:
1. Cut the mangoes and blend them with a little fresh milk to form mango puree
2. Mix gelatin & sugar in hot water, stir constantly over a pot of steaming water to form a clear gelatin syrup
3. Beat egg yolks, gradually mix in fresh milk, add gelatin syrup & mango puree, mix well, pour into jelly moulds
4. Chill until set

"Chow Mien" = Stir-fried noodles

2007-11-01T22:40:00.000-06:00

“Chow” means stir fry and “mien” means noodle in Chinese. Some Chinese restaurants in small towns of the United States either put some crispy noodle-like material (those that you can buy in Wal-Mart’s Asian section) in replacement of the real noodles or simply serve just the meat and vegetables. Many menu items have been adapted or created in the United States, but this dish is really testing the patience of native Chinese like me. Oh, by the way, it is also weird to serve stir-fried noodles with rice on the side, which happens here.

I don’t mind the owners or cooks in the United States adapting their menu items to suit the taste of American. However, there are some basic principles that need to be followed. The culture and authenticity of Chinese food have to be preserved to a certain extent, if not, it won’t and can’t be called Chinese food.

American roast pig VS Chinese roast pig

2007-11-01T22:19:00.000-06:00

American

Chinese

Does anyone know the difference between the American roast pig and the Hong Kong / Chinese roast pig?

The Chinese style is a succulent piglet with clean and crispy skin, which is the best part of the pig. The American one can be all burned and hairy. The skin will be stripped off for obvious health and hygiene reason before being served. The meat tastes like pork loin that has been cooked in a slow cooker.

Remember to try the Chinese roast pig when you go to Asia. It is very popular and you will be able to find a restaurant with this dish easily.