hong kong wei dao (hong kong's food memories...)
avril 09, 2007
février 21, 2007
the timeless mandarin parlour
One midnight at the Mandarin Parlour, surprisingly it was full of activities
Longevity cranes bought from the terracotta army site are now guardians of the Parlour
Nocturne is looking for some food
At New Year the unforgettable "blue canned" cookies
a timeless gift at new year
Peony was playing with the little green "missing each other" birdie (this was granddad's birdie, it was called gigi birdie and she used to like to see it in bath in the terrace under the sun)
Phuong just put back her string instrument after playing
Parlour still in construction... it's a timeless parlour
février 11, 2007
piggy love
Cast: Mandarin Parlour
Nocturna (nf), Peony (goldie), Phuong (ll)
Nocturna (soliloquy): Let me fetch my piggy bank, i need it for the new year, may monies pitch in like avalanche!
(Peony and Phuong overheard in delight ...)
Phuong plotted in consipiracy. She is the red riding hood with a wolf's heart...
Peony was quite spotaneous. She seized it!
Helpless little Nocturna
Phuong: Don't touch it girls
... i can't help it! i heart piggies
The girls: awww she is a real piggy... *faints*
Piggy banks (thought): We become so popular... i said we made it ... even thought they talked about socalled passbook savings, investment funds, internet banking... Our piggy days come..
The girls are wearing sugarmag 2007 lunar new year outfits
février 04, 2007
array at the mandarin parlour
The Mandarin parlour proper is in fact located at my other dwelling (where all the furniture of the parlour are there but i am reluctuant to transport the girls there)... Here is a rehearsal of the conception with some pieces here and there, with the gang of oriental girls, Peony (goldie), Nocturna (nf), Phuong (ll) and the visit of Chamomile (mmlb)
For the auspice of new year, it's a parlour of symbolic material possessions to the point of excesses..., not unlike the mentality of many at this time of the year ! The three girls cheered at the gadgets and went playing in the parlour
Phuong assumed the lion dancer...
Peony checked out the piggy cash boxes... Nocturna wouldn't let anybody touch her piggy bank for life.
Group portrait posed as array of piggy banks 
the mandarin trio portrait
janvier 28, 2007
spring is in the air
The delivery of festive flowers... to the oriental room, i called it the 'mandarin parlour'
The mandarin parlour, together with a study and a bedroom, will be the living space for several girls, Nocturna (nf), Peony (goldie), Phuong (ll), or Chamomile (mmlb), Lili (lm), Magdalene (vcb) as well.... - an idea still in construction
The salon of the mandarin parlour is for the time being furnished with a pearwood ching dynasty imperial day bed, ming dynasty high back chairs and high vase sidetable and redwood long end table. Also on the wall wood carved new year picture from Yangjiabu, Weifang, Shandong (northwest china) and a persian carpet .
janvier 01, 2007
an afternoon of fishing lifestyle
Nocturna spent an afternoon of fishing lifestyle in Tai O, at the outlying Lautau Island
Among the zigzagging "pang uk", a kind of stilt houses, built right over the waterway
Deurbanisation has made the once flourishing trade in salt and fish nowadays a surviving cultural activity of old villagers as most of the young people leave for the city.
Owners of a large boat/stilt house enjoying their seafood feast kindly let us visit their home offering the quite scenic view of the pang uk.
Nocturna balancing with the 'sunbathing' fishes and shrimps
When the tide comes in, the whole town seems to float; when it goes out Tai O seems to be sinking into the mud banks.
Tai o sky
décembre 25, 2006
Christmas day
On Christmas day, Nocturna says her little prayers
Caine Road Cathedral (Catholic Cathedral of Immaculate Conception). Spiral staircase leading to the organ chamber
the deserted interior in intervals of the christmas masses, lights being turned down in late afternoon
cathedral facade
Nocturna was wearing Dollsville's Christmas Carolling outfit. Dollsville can be contacted at thisisblythe.
décembre 22, 2006
blue house revisited
The Blue House and other quaint old residential buildings in Wanchai were to me fascinating spots to photograph this city, framing almost grosteque images of this unnoticed side of Hong Kong, that juxtapose with the crowded cityscape of ultramodern buildings and fast pace.
(To accentuate even more this grostesqueness, my customised nightflower blythe Nocturna was dressed in chic smart casual with a beautiful camouflage-coloured bear head!! An attempt to bring surrealism into my photography)
This is the second attempt on Winter Solstice's afternoon off to go back to Wanchai to film my blythe...
Blue House
wooden planks of an once blue house shop
Blue House's paints
Scaffolding and metal gates
at dusk, lighting up of neon lights of a restaurant still in business, housed in a Wanchai aged building, telling me it was late to be back home for the winter dinner
décembre 16, 2006
the hiking bear and koala
The bear who hikes with a koala...
novembre 12, 2006
sailing to Byzantium?
The lights of the Star Ferry clock tower and pier in Central went out at midnight on 11/11 as the iconic green ferries left the berth for the last time after 48 years - sparking protests for some and memories for others.
Petitioning messages for the pier's closure. - Clock tower blurring to a halt
Popping down for a softie ice cream amidst a tantalising meeting or at times when having something to swallow for a nobler and strategic cause was my chimera when working at Jardine House
Nocturna assuming sailor, in Dollsville's sailor design recalliing to any Hongkonger in mind Star Ferry's sailors' uniforms for 48 years
Petitioning blue ribbons
Nocturna reclining on the steps at the opoosite disused Queen's Pier
Overlooking from City Hall's elevated corridor
Closed gates
Diva, in another Dollsville's pokka-dotted sailor design. at the new Central Pier, at the Waterfront off 2ifc
The new Central Pier is a handsome complex.
On the first day's operation on 12/11, sailing on board of a star ferry, named Celestial Star, from the new pier
Are you sailing to a bygone era or to a new era?
octobre 07, 2006
Nocturna, one of the nightkind
Nocturna was born this 15th Day of Eighth Moon (lunar calendar), on this night that is thought to be the fullest moon of the Year, the Mid-Autumn Festival, one of the most charming and picturesque nights of the calendar.
Traditions of lighting up lanterns and eating moon cakes were evolved round the lunar magic of this night.
Nocturna was given paper lanterns in her size... lighting up with colours and lights while adoring the moon
Traditional paper lanterns in forms of lotus root, bearing an auspicious meaning of abundance, and rabbit which was according to legend, the only other inhabitant on the moon accompanying the lady who soared to the moon after swalliowing an everlasting pill, and bound for eternal banishment while her youth and beauty got longevity.
During the festival, people eat special sweet cakes known as "Moon Cakes" made of ground lotus and sesame seed paste, egg-yolk and other ingredients
Are you one of the nightkind?