My Humps, My humps my humps my humps

Just got back from the Black Eyed Peas concert which I have to say was genius. Much much better live than on record I think. You would think that with four singers someone would be redundant but they all contribute something to the whole. Fergie did a cover of Sweet Child o'Mine which was inspired and they did something almost unprecedented in Hong Kong - they actually got the crowd moving clapping and cheering - a pure Hong Kong moment in the middle where they turned all the lights down and everyone in the audience held up their cell phones - the modern day equivalent of waving lighters around I guess...it was quite a sight despite the naffness.

Highly recommended.

Well, ok I get the hint - photos don't interest - the photo of the beach was, incidentally, south side of HK on a glorious day - Pooja gets the gold medal for guessing correctly. Speaking of Pooja, I am privileged to publicly announce her engagement to Jonathan - Yay! Pooja has also said that she is going to stop blogging which is a shame for me cos I really enjoy her posts - but I sympathise with her reasons - one of which is the state of the world is just so depressing. I mean what the fuck is going on? looks like the beginning of the third world war in the Middle East - Bush seems intent on bringing Iran and Syria into the equation and then the bombs in Mumbai - what do these people think when they blow up trains - is it actually going to further their cause? what absolute morons and what a waste of life. It is good to see the city picking up and going about the business of living which is the best riposte to this kind of horror. I can't help but agree with Pooja that it is just too depressing commenting on the shit that's going on in the world right now, which is why the blog has taken a more personal turn recently.

Another piece of news is that Shadi and I are (most probably) due to return to the UK at the end of this year. In many ways am very much looking forward to it, being around our close friends and of course my mum, the London summer etc. But, life is just so easy here that it will be a shock to the system to go back to bureacracy and crap weather (and 40% tax!). Actually at times like this in HK, London is an attractive proposition. It is hot and humid here which makes it pretty much unbearable to be anywhere where there is no airconditioning. Put it this way, in the morning when I wake up and put my glasses on (in our A/C bedroom) I go into the living room and my glasses fog up with condensation - and bear in mind this is about 6 in the morning!

I'm going to see the Black Eyed Peas on Sunday (shaz will be in London) which should be good although Hong Kongers aren't particularly active in concerts - last night Coldplay played here and I heard from friends that during the concert, in between songs, the audience was pretty much silent. Chris Martin even had to make an announcement in the middle of the concert to tell people to stop blocking fire exits and to sit down...remarkable!

Postcript: the heavens have opened and the most ferocious lightning has started - a cue for Shaz to get out the video camera, I reckon.

Love and Kisses

More Photos

These are some more photos of Tokyo- Harajuku (an arts area) street teeming with shoppers on a saturday morning, a "Mr-T" football in an exhibition of funny footballs; our chef coooking barbequed fish during our Kaiseki meal; and masses of people crossing the intersection at Shibuya, supposed to be busiest in the world (apparently 3 million people cross it every day)

Konnichiwa

Shadi and I slipped off to Tokyo this weekend. We are staying in Shinjuku, supposedly home to the busiest train station in the world. There are absolutely tonnes of people here but strangely it doesn't feel crowded - maybe that's because we've hardly travelled at rush hour. It's quite different from what I remembered of it last time I was here which was as a wee 18 year old with Sunil. First, I have some money this time, which means we can do the luxurious things, like eating at restaurants that don't have the word "McDonald's" in them. Tonight, Shadi and I are going to eat "Kaiseki" in a restaurant up in the hills. Kaiseki is a very traditional Japanese meal with, apparently, exquisitely made courses - apparently there are about 15 of them - each served in individually designed crockery. It is very expensive - about US$150 each - but I'm told absolutely worth it. That, by the way, was approximately the budget that Sunil and I had for a week here - room, food and sightseeing!

Anyway, here are some photos of where we have been the past two days.

Man Cutting Maguro Tuna

Geishas waving fans

Shadi (and coffee) in front of Senso-Ji Shrine

The Senso-Ji Shrine, one of the most famous and important Shinto shrines in Tokyo

having some trouble with some other pictures so will try later.

As they say here - arigato - sayonara

Here come the excuses

We were the better team; Ronaldo got Rooney sent off; we should have had a penalty in open play; carragher should not have had his penalty disallowed.

Is it just England that come up with some crappy excuses? England were probably the better team on the day but if you can't take penalties seeing as though the shootout has been going on for years, you deserve to lose.

Villain: Frank Lampard- how many times does he want to have a clear shot at goal and miss?
Hero: Portugal Goalie - saved what were pretty poor penalties
Honourary Beckham award for stupidity: Rooney.

Damn!!!!

England are so crap! shouldn't we expect professional footballers to get penalties every time!
Bad saturday for England in sport; football; cricket - bring on Murray (alright he's Scottish but you know what I mean)

The Picture Round

I took this photo recently - where do you think it is?