Loud Thoughts

Cross posted at href="http://blogs.sun.com/syw">http://blogs.sun.com/syw

Last year, I learned whiskey from the master. Still an apprentice, I searched every liquor store that came my way for those Crawford mentioned. Over this year, I have found (and drunk) all but Lagavulin, the Islay whiskey.

Of course, my primary search algorithm is to peruse the airport duty free stores. Last week, in San Francisco attending JavaOne, I walked past this store and, what the heck, let’s take a look. Hey, on the bottom of the shelf stood this lonely bottle. I snatched it right away.

Wow! Smokey and peaty. This is supposed to be the most distinct one in the Islay category. I enjoyed it quite a lot so far. Honestly, I have only a faint memory on the differences between the 4 of them. I use MaCallan as the benchmark and try to tell the difference between them. I guess I need to hit the bottles now.

Crawford also told me this store to visit. Whoever happens to be at Taipei, do stop by Wonderful Wines and Spirits at 6F, No 200, Sung Chiang Rd (+886 2 2536.8261). Tell them Crawford sent you.

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同步上网于 href="http://blogs.sun.com/syw_zh">http://blogs.sun.com/syw_zh

自去年上了宝贵个一堂品酒课后，这新学生就四处寻觅威士忌。一年来，四瓶找到了三，Lagavulin一直没买到。当然，我的努力主要是在机场的免税店中而已。但上周在旧金山JavaOne时，路过这店，进去瞅瞅，居然在底层架上看到这孤单的一瓶。立刻买下。

这酒烟味及泥煤味重，应是Islay区的典型代表。我觉得味道很好，但说真的也有点忘了另三瓶的特色了。我都是用McCallan来做标准，注意别瓶和它的差异。看来得再开瓶做功课了。

Crawford还告诉我这店。谁去台北，请光临松江路200号六楼的“Wonderful Wines and Spirits”(电话：+886 2 2536.8261)。说是Crawford介绍的。

四月17早上九点25分，我抵达上海浦东机场国航柜台，准备拿11点往北京班机，CA985，的登机牌。柜台人员说那班机将会延误至少两小时，如果我愿意，可以搭早一班933，但是933九点半起飞，我得立刻决定。于是丢下行李，直奔登机口。慌乱过安检，跳上小巴，喘气坐在往飞机的路上，心头开始嘀咕，“我的行李怎办？”

北京三号航站的行李查询中心已经是一片战火了。女高音，男高音 （没有中低音的）。一群人围着几个服务人员，他们焦头烂额，电话放不下，顾客气急败坏，连骂带威胁。

我找了个女孩，平静的对她说，“对不起。能问个问题吗？”她极讶异。於是跟我问了几句，接着找了个头，明白了原委，写了张纸给我。

我回家，休息安顿，三小时后回到机场，出示那张纸给警卫，直奔行李查询中心。我的行李在那坐着等呢。正提起它，一人进来，破口大骂，“你们这什么国航，还想办奥运。我的行李呢？” 我一话不说，出机场。

Cross posted at http://blogs.sun.com/syw

“I insist,” said a friend. “How can you live in Beijing for almost 3 years without experiencing it.” She sounded just like myself when I said to Maggie a couple of years ago, “You grew up in Beijing and never visited the Forbidden City?” So I sheepishly follow them into this dimly lit massage parlor.

Foot massage, that is.

Many Chinese believe in reflexological therapy. The general theories associate vital organs and circulation to areas on one’s feet. By stimulating the corresponding areas, one will heal or strengthen the associative organs. You can also diagnose by observing how areas of your feet react to massage actions.

The place is subtly decorated with staff quietly busying around. We were led to a room lined wtih easy chairs and foot stools. Soon, a waiter came in to confirm our services and take orders for drinks and foods (all complimentary). A few minutes after, 4 masseurs came in each with a wooden bucket of hot liquid. Flower petals float on the slightly colored water. It was scorching hot, yet soothing to soak your feet in. The masseurs then start work on our shoulders and backs. Knots that I did not know exist disappeared and tension from neck loosens. Just when I noticed the water is getting cold, the masseur took my feet out, wrap them with warm damp towels, and took out the bucket.

They came back and start working on my feet. With lubricant, she pressed, rub, pinched, or rolled pretty much every parts. It hurt a bit, but not too much. Some parts generate unfamilar sensations that are part itchy, part a bit pain, and part soothing. It was the “good hurt.” I found myself getting drowsy and becoming quiet.

Too soon, they stopped and bid us farewell. We stayed to finish our drink and chat. As the conversation ends, we put our shoes back on (I don’t want to) and left, very refreshed.

Hmm, I can get used to this…

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“真没想到，”一个朋友十分诧异地问我，“你在北京住三年了竟然都没试过？”她的神情跟我两年前问 Maggie 时候的一模一样：“你从小在北京长大竟然没去过故宫？”于是我屁颠屁颠地跟着他们来到这个灯光昏暗的按摩店。

对了，我说的就是足底按摩。

中国人比较相信反射疗法。也就是说人的主要脏器、循环系统和脚底是有联系的。刺激脚底的相应区域，能够治疗相应器官的疾病或改善他们的功能。按摩这些区域，观察脚的反应，还能够诊断相应器官的健康状况。

这家按摩店装修别致，工作人员都在默默地忙碌着。我们被领到一个房间里，里面排着舒服的椅子和脚凳。很快，一个服务员进来确认服务种类，并让我们点饮料和吃的(都是含在服务里的)。不一会，四位按摩师进来了，每人端着一只木桶，桶里装满热气腾腾、颜色微深的汤水，上面漂浮着花瓣。水非常烫，但可以慢慢试着把脚放进去，很舒服。按摩师开始按摩肩膀和后背。她的按摩化解了我以前或许没注意到的结节，也舒缓了颈部的紧张。当水刚刚开始变凉的时候，按摩师把我的脚拿了出来，用湿的热毛巾裹好。

然后开始按摩脚。她用一点润滑油，开始对脚的每个部位压、搓、捏、揉。有一点疼，但还好。有的部位会有一种不熟悉的感觉 - 有点痒，又有点疼痛，但又有点舒服。真是”痛并快乐着” 。我发现自己慢慢开始昏昏欲睡，安静了下来。

很快她们按摩完了，送客。我们又待了一会，一边聊天，一边喝完饮料。聊完天，穿上鞋子(还真有点不愿意)，感觉非常清爽。

别说，我可能会上瘾呢…

Daughter and her friend visited Beijing on spring break. She lived here for the last two of her high school year. Her friend never set foot in China what-so-ever. They planned a full agenda: sight seeing, restaurants she missed, friends to reminisce, surprise birthday party (she is the surprise), etc.

I was just getting used to this serene, orderly, tidy empty-nester life. Their arrival mercilessly transformed it with semi-chaotic whirl-wind of activities catered to the whims of young college kids. It was very nice to see my kid; also nice to feel the calmness crawling back after they have left.

Day 1	Arrival. She almost gave her birthday friend a heart-attack jumping out of a box as a surprise. Dinner at A-Che, a Carribean restaurant on DongZhiMenWai (东直门外).
Day 2	Morning to the Forbidden City (故宫). Drove by the almost finished CCTV tower and marveled at the design. Mother met them near the north gate and brought them to a hot-pot lunch. After Temple of Heaven (天坛), they came to the office to pick me up back home. We swang by Olympic venues: Water Cube and Bird’s Nest. DingTaiFeng (鼎泰丰) dinner with a friend.
Day 3	Great Wall at JuYongGuan (居庸关). Toured Commune under the Great Wall (长城脚下的公社), an ultra-modern hotel designed as a commune of individual houses. They skipped lunch and came home for dinner.
Day 4	I tour-guided them at Summer Palace (颐和园) and DongYue Temple (东岳庙). There is an hour or so before the dinner when we came back, so I dropped them off at YaShow (雅秀) for some touristic shopping. Lunch as JiaoZi (天津百饺园) restaurant. Peking Duck (大董) for dinner.
Day 5	They went hiking at Fragrance Hill (香山). At around noon, they went to XiDan (西单) directly for shopping. McDonald for lunch. Belagio (鹿港小镇) with a friend.
Day 6	WangFuJing, hair-cut, birthday party followed by KTV.
Day 7	PanJiaYuan (潘家园) then Beijing Planning Exhibit Hall (北京规划展揽馆). Lunch at KongYiJi (孔乙己). Dinner at Very Siam (非常泰).
Day 8	Leave home at 9am, depart from new Terminal 3.

 

I am quite impressed. They packed lots of activities into a week. I was almost tempted to send them to Xi’An for a day trip, the real cost for that is 2 dinners slots. For these kids, that will be impossible to make up from their social calendar.

Beijing discourages high-rises, no ShangHai-styled skyscrapers. CBD’s Hyatt Park holds the current record: 64 stories of nearly 250 meters. Others are strangely uniform at about 60 meters, or about 30 stories. Not too high and consistent enough to create an industry for future spider men.

  A single rope is his lifeline. The job requires covering a range just out of reach. Don’t waste the bucket of soapy water; it needs to survive the lowest window. A harness is a meager insurance attached to the same lifeline.

Keep up! Everyone needs another sweep before lunch.

Hey, you missed a spot.

What a game! SuperBowls historically are boring. Guacamole, tortilla chips, pizzas, and, of course, lots of beers kept us in the game. SuperBowl party is as much as an excuse to ignore all social or dietary rules as a serious sport event.

This one is different, a nail biter, a shouter, a surprise, and worth every guacamole and chips. I carefully computed the time difference and woke up early searching for the game. ESPN, Star Sports, or other usual US channels all doing something else. Eventually, I found a Japanese channel that carried the game live.

Here I am, watching SuperBowl at 6am with Japanese commentaries with a tolerating and wife trying not to wake up.

Contrary to its name, American Football is really closer to Rugby than Soccer. The objective of the offending side is to advance the ball until it enters the end-zone. It has 4 opportunities to move forward 10 yards. If successful, it gets another 4 chances. Otherwise, it must yield the possession of the ball to the other side.

The players wear protective gears underneath the uniforms to make them look super-humanly strong. The helmets and the general atmosphere make it like a battle.

And a battle it was. New England Patriots entered the game with a historical perfect record of 18 wins and zero losses. Tom Brady, its quarterback, is experienced and in his prime. The game looks all but claimed before it started. Soon, Patriots was ahead 7 to 3. It looks like another boring game.

By the 4th quarter, New York Giant scores a touch-down and was ahead 10 to 7. No problem, Tom Brady coolly threw a touch-down and New England was ahead, again, 14 to 10. New York had less than 3 minutes left. Quarterback Eli Manning needed to score, quickly. He used up all 3 time-outs, miraculously connected with his wide receivers, and dramatically made a touch-down with 35 seconds left for Tom Brady to perform his magic. He needed more than that and left Arizona without a SuperBowl ring.

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好球赛。 超级杯历史上都没什么看头。 鳄梨酱，玉米片，pizza,还有当然的啤酒留住了观众。 超级杯聚会是男生们大玩大吃的借口，而不见得是个体育节目。
这场不同了：紧张，刺激，大呼小叫，惊叹不已。太值那鳄梨酱和玉米片了。 我早早算好了时差，起大早，开始找电视台。ESPN, Star Sports, 其他美国电台居然都没， 最后在个日本台找到了。

所以，大早六点，老婆不想起床，我看日文台的超级杯。

所谓美式足求，更像英式橄榄球，不像足球。 攻方要把球推进禁区，每回有四次机会推进10码。 如果成功，就再一回四次，不然球得让给对方。

球员在球衣下戴着护具， 鼓的像超人般。 头盔及气氛把这赛事扇成个战场。

好个战。 新英格兰爱国者队带着有史的全18胜的战绩。四分卫Tom Brady技高胆大， 又有江湖经验， 这杯看是手到擒来。 一开赛，爱国者队7比3领先，看来又是场无趣球了。

不料，第四节纽约巨人队达阵，10比7赢。 不慌，Tom Brady丢个达阵，板回14比10。 巨人队剩不到3分钟。 四分卫Eli Manning如有神助， 用掉3个暂停， 如神般的传到了接球员手中， 再戏剧化的达阵。 他留了35秒给Tom Brady变魔术，可是变不出来。 伤心离开亚利桑那州， 手上没带个新的超级杯戒指。

A Howard W. French questioned, on International Herald of Tribute on November 2nd, 2007, if the deeply rooted American values of democracy and check-and-balance are really superior. What if Beijing is right?

I have long explained to people that China’s current governance model has existed for over 2200 years. The system experienced ups and downs over these centuries and had a bad phase from mid-1800s to early 1900s. Before that, it was the most powerful and prosperous country in the world.

Jared Diamond, in Guns, Germs, and Steel, tried this China puzzle with a geographic slice. He observed that, culturally and geographically, China is homogeneous and uniform, as contrast with Europe be heterogeneous and diversified. What’s most interesting to me is America’s entrance to this great social experiment few hundred years ago. In a few centuries, would some comparative governmental historians make a conclusion?

A centralized, non-elective government can make fair, but not just, decisions, faster. It can sacrifice few for many — economically right decisions but sometime not humane. To avoid debilitating corruptions, China has a power transfer scheme that has worked quite well for the past 30 years.

Are democracy and freedom-of-speech good for all civilizations all the time? Americans viewed this very question as religiously condemnable. You can hardly blame them. Their mere few hundreds years of experience had hardly been tested by any serious challenges: except for now.

Jammie Thomas was devastated by RIAA by making copyrighted songs available for others to download. They traced her via an IP address. Her service provider betrayed her by linking the IP address with her real identity and provided this link to RIAA.

Yahoo betrayed Shi Tao and devastated him no less drastically than Ms. Thomas. Like Ms. Thomas’s service provider, Yahoo did so in compliance to the laws. Only that Yahoo complied to China law, instead of US. For that, Jerry Yang, CEO of Yahoo, received tongue-lashing from Congressman Tom Lantos as a “moral pigmy.”

Companies violated US laws all the time: minimum wages, maximum working hours, accounting principles, environmental protection, working conditions (OSHA regulations), etc. It is OK to do so outside of US soil and be in compliance with laws. Yahoo did not even violate any US law, only a value system and an ideology. This theater, therefore, is to send a message to China government, “We don’t like how you govern.”

Jerry Yang and Li Tao’s family are merely political props.

I grew up knowing few forms of alcoholic drinks: hard liquor (BaiJiu: 白酒), milder rice wines (HuangJiu: 黄酒), and beer. Honestly, the idea is getting others drunk and staying sober at the same time. Social cohesion and the capacity to hold liquor are more important skills than the ability to distinguish the finer flavors of the drinks.

Much older, I met Kathy and a group of wine fanatics. They taught me this new alcoholic drink called grape wines. (And yet many years later, Crawford taught me whiskey.)
I learned how to swirl, hold the glass to the light, sniff, sip, and make some comments. Those who really know me will snicker, “Sin-Yaw has no taste buds on wines.” They will be right and we all knew it does not matter. The real important skill is not to be able to tell the difference between a $15 bottle and a $20 one, but to appreciate the drink and enjoy the company or the foods. As Rich said, “The lubricant of conversation.”

Recently, I found out that a few people in China are at the same stage I was many years ago. “This is cool,” I thought. “How about wine tasting in China?”

As far as I have observed Kathy’s parties, this is how:

1. Decide a theme: First choose a theme for the tasting. This is usually arbitrary and up to the host. The typical theme surround grape varietal or region: Shiraz, Cabernet, Southern Italian, etc. At the same time, choose a price guideline for the participants.
2. Infra-structure: Wine-tasting parties need many glasses, a spit bucket, a clean water source to rinse the glasses, and a stain-resistant surface.

   Glasses should be transparent and easy to swirl. They don’t need to be expensive. Spit bucket is for throwing away wines: a normal and perfectly OK thing to do. Some people intend to taste many wines and do not wish to get drunk. Others simply do not like the wine enough to finish the glass. Water is for rinsing the glasses. Some people prefer to rinse the glass before trying a new wine. Lastly, wine pouring can be nasty on delicate surfaces.

3. Foods: Foods serve to cleanse the palate. In between wines, it is necessary to remove the tastes of the previous wines from your mouth. Eating simple, non-spicy and not too salty foods are best. Crackers, french bread, and simple cheeses are popular choices.

   Coffee, either ground or beans, is the best olfactory cleanser. Sniff the coffee in between wines to restore fresh scent.

4. Wines: The host should secure enough variety and quantity for the participants. Average person can consume about half a bottle without too much trouble. Each “serving” should be about a quarter glass or even less. The point is to taste wines and not drink them.

   The host should make sure the drivers are sober before leaving. This means at least an hour without taking any alcohol before driving.

   Of course the focus of the party is to talk about the wines just tasted. Some kinds of note taking devices will enhance everyone’s knowledge and memory.

Internet offers wealth of information on this subject. I read the quick online wine-tasting course and went to UC Davis site for its tasting wheel too.

Now I am ready to be invited.

Wedding ceremonies are all so lively and ancient. They throw me back to my youthful days when passion won over brain frequently. As I watch the procession and the rituals, I imagine the lives ahead of them: births, happy days, bitter ones, and ups and downs.

Thousands and millions of people married, raised families, and vanished. Everyone of them, however, lived through the same anticipation, excitement, and a bit scare. Wedding rituals are all ancient, like the budding of flowers, and so fresh and alive.

This sand ceremony was performed fittingly on a beach wedding. There were 3 bottles: two smaller ones filled with different colored sand and a large one empty. During the ceremony, the couple took turn pouring sands into the large bottle until it was full. The symbolism is simple. This is me, that you, and the larger one us. The “us” part is forever. But I still get part of myself and you too.

Isn’t that beautiful?