Sudden Depression

For more information, and other posts from me while I was in Greater China (Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan), check out my "Phil in Asia" website: http://pll.onsrn.com/movemania/asia. You'll love it. - Phil

The tour bus finally stopped at its terminus at Chiang Kai-shek International Airport, finally bringing my tour in Taipei to an end.

As I try to contemplate my week ahead, the Immigration official who screened me was marvelled at my full first name.

"Ba-lion Phi-hil-wip", he exclaimed with courtesy to my dismay. It actually sounded quite funny, but for a minute I contemplated the week ahead.

Do you know when you get a thought and then something happens? Even while the plum blossom chain of events opens up you just sit there thinking. Either it's supreme focus, or rudeness to the other person you're talking to, but it just seems a little inquisitive that I would actually feel this way. Numb, with a little bit of curiousity and confusion. Let's see Emeril Lagasse kick that up a notch.

After nearly four weeks abroad, I will return back to Canada on December 1st, from Hong Kong.

I won't end on a depressing note. We depart on the 1st in Hong Kong, the morning of, and we arrive in Toronto on the 1st, the morning of. Hmmm!

Phil

All or Nothing

Most families somehow some way have an excercise regime; for me, it involves getting off your bottom and dancing your heart out.

This new tradition started about four years back when Luce, Cher and Liz were enjoying the most rebellious aspects of life. Listening to Linkin Park and enjoying video games set on a self-instituted 3-day weekend. That's tween angst if you know what I mean.

In the light of extremes, the horizon of teenage-hood if that is a word, the three of them decided to haul the stereo two floors down to the basement. Ah, the basement; our oasis, the first place one can actually calm down in the house. We rode bikes, took nasty pictures and played in-the-dark hide and seek in the basement.

I can officially say that the soundtrack to the movie "Save The Last Dance" made my family start a truly normal excercise regime. You could film a television variety show screened only on sets in Macao with the kind of group bonding and group dancing I saw.

In a way, you could say the three of them were trying to form a girl-band. Of course, Lillix didn't arrive for a year, but you could see all the aspects of dancing with more than just yourself.

If you noticed the fact that I didn't dance myself during this excercise phenomina, you are absolutely correct. However, the only price you're going to get is a pad on the back for being so aware.

It was traumatising, actually, but silly for me, about how dancing became a dormant yet past activity. Back when I was in Grade 2 Gym, dance was part of the excercise regime. Remarkably, the Macarena was a popular dance at the time, and it was my favourite. When I asked for the "Macaroni" instead, the whole class started wiggling like al-dente pasta!

So much for my English as a Second Language education.

John Lennon

It was on this day back in 1980 when former Beatles member and passionate peace activist John Lennon was murdered in his apartment in New York. He brought with him a musical icon, who was not afraid of saying that all violence was cruel.

To me, and for other Canadians, his greatest moment was sitting with Yoko Ono in a bed, a love in at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal; singing those lyrics that all of us remember. "All we are saying/is give peace a chance". The message that was conveyed from Give Peace a Chance is relevant, even to today's world amongst the countless punk rock imitation or otherwise bands out there.

It's all so soad for me to imagine what John Lennon was pitted against when he conversed the message of peave and love. As I remember (from reading), it was during the Vietnam War when John and Yoko were at the love-in. The war that happened in most of what was Indochina hit a lot of people at home, including myself. If it wasn't for the Vietnam War, my parents would never emigrate to Canada and I wouldn't exist.

They probably would've emigrated anyways, but John had tried to end the suffering inflicted by violence; and this includes war.

My first time listening to John Lennon was through The Beatles. I remember back in my childhood when piano seemed to occupy 99.9% of my free time on weekdays. Every afternoon I had to practise Yesterday to my confusion.

I admit at first I didn't understand what the song meant, but I was in the middle of repeating (Celine Dion's) My Heart Will Go On for the umpteenth time.

As the song went: "Yesterday/all my troubles seem tso far way/Now it looks as though they're here to stay".

Curling Fever?

Everything is happening here right now: Election fever is... lukewarm, while the city has been through two medium-sized snowstorms and subsequent warm-ups, ready for more. So, while the snow has been a-falling and a-melting, I must remind you that curling trials are underway to produce the home team at the upcoming Olympic games in Torino, Italy.

While global warming and politicians severely affect the course of this winter, I have looked foward to watching curling since... the last time I watched curling. Yes, I am a fan of the sport.

Joke all you want about it, expanding the sport's criticisms ever further to the point where it's not even considered a sport, I doubt that allegations, but when the Winter Olympics seem to arrive I watch the curling and the curling ONLY, from trials to medal standings. While people were watching Canada win double gold in hockey, I was rooting for our curling team.

I am definitley not a new fan; my interest is drawn back from my childhood. So no, I didn't pick this up from "Men with Brooms". The game is more about strategy than visuals, so I do understand why hockey fans would not like the quieter and assault-free alternative; Until the players REALLY learn about other uses for their brooms.

As I remember, my childhood was a very quiet one; life used to be quite innocent, and curling was a little less criticised back then. My school participated in a mock-opening ceremony, and my class represented Great Britain. I can say that Nagano 1998 was pretty much a wonderful year for myself and for curling.

It was when Saskatchewan-born Sandra Schmirler and her team won the gold medal, when I really started watching the sport. That childhood event remains stuck in my mind to this day.

I am grateful to see the Olympic trials, and that was why.

Travelling Tribulations

The fact that I am now home from a month-long trip overseas had made me numb when I finally put my suitcase down in the living room of my residence. Home. This numbness has finally wore off, and normal life is slowly but surely coming back in my mind.

I wish that I could say that with my biological clock, however. Since we departed from Hong Kong for the final time, I am still following the time zone that's now 13 hours ahead of me.

One the flight home we passed through Taiwan and Japan, and as light turned into dark we crossed the Pacific Ocean, flying close to Alaska.

The sun gradually rose as the plane passed through time zone to time zone. We finally arrived at Toronto Pearson International Airport at around 2 pm local time, ready to call for two taxis thanks to the baggage amount.

It is 1:30 am in the morning as I am writing. An election has been called here in Cnaada. Oh, swell, am I looking forward to that in an extremely cynical and sarcastic way.

Since I arrived home, I have heard news of my friend Kathy going on a program called Katimavik: A national volunteering and travel experience program. She is currently in New Brunswick, and instead of me being 3 hours ahead, thanks to time zones she is now an hour ahead of ME. Interesting.

Interestingly enough, Kathy doesn't miss home. It's quite unusual, because only four days into my vacation I already missed someone and pouring my heart out through writing. It could be that I have different emotions, or it might be the stars as Kathy is a fellow Scorpio.

I've learnt many things about travelling in my first vacation in years, and it seems that emotionally and mentally, it's all a learning experience.