Review: Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Imagine taking over a parade to sing Twist and Shout!

Yesterday I went back to my teens and re-watched Ferris Bueller's Day Off which was released in 1986 at the VIFF theatre downtown. The community theatre is having an 80s film festival, showing everything from Back to the Future and Ghostbusters, to Fatal Attraction, Sex, Lies and Videotape, and E.T.

The theatre was hardly full for the matinee, or maybe people were taking advantage of the nice (hot) weather?

Ferris persuades Cameron to take his dad's car

Nevertheless, it was an interesting experience re-watching something from 37 years ago. First off, it reminded me of how young and charming Matthew Broderick was, and how amazing it was that his character could pull off a sick day from school with such an elaborate plan as a teenager.

The other was all the antics he, his girlfriend Sloan and friend Cameron got up to in Chicago, from getting a table in a fine dining restaurant to catching the baseball in a Cubs game, and taking part in a parade -- on a weekday?

It was all a fantasy written by John Hughes, who had apparently finished the script in one week. That may explain why Ferris' character was quite flat, while his doting parents were just characters who had to be there because, well, they're his parents.

The only person who grows in the film is his friend Cameron, who starts off as someone who is sick all the time and then realises he needs to stop cowering in front of his domineering father and grow up. Meanwhile Ferris just seems to want to have fun all the time, and gets away with everything, much to the annoyance of his sister.

Contemplating art at the Art Institute of Chicago

In fact Ferris seems to dismiss Cameron's insecurities and moodiness which today feels insensitive. 

Perhaps this is why Broderick had trouble connecting with Ferris as a character as the time of filming, as Ferris didn't seem to care much about Cameron and his life problems while he hardly had any.

In any event it was enjoyable watching the school principal, Ed Rooney trying to catch out Ferris; he would probably still get away with it using today's technology like smartphones, Uber and maybe even ChatGPT?

What still stands the test of time is Ferris' statement at the beginning and the end of the film, which is very mature for a high school senior -- "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

So true.

Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Written and Directed by John Hughes

98 minutes

Star Prisoner get Paparazzi Treatment

AP has captured Lai's movements in Stanley Prison

The Associated Press has released an exclusive series of pictures documenting Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying at Stanley Prison.

The 75-year-old is in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day, and is allowed 50 minutes of exercise per day -- by himself. This punishment is for a Category A prisoner, a status usually reserved for those who have committed serious crimes like murder.

In the pictures Lai wears prison-mandated short-sleeved shirt, shorts and his own sandals. He looks like he has lost some weight. The government is making it harder for the media to take pictures of inmates, even during court appearances, where the prisoners must go through a covered walkway to and from the prison vehicle.

Lai is in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day

Lai is a British national, who is accused of colluding with foreign forces to endanger national security, and conspiring to call for sanctions or blockades against Hong Kong or China. He also faces a charge of conspiracy to print seditious publications under a colonial-era law.

He was scheduled to go to trial last December, but it was postponed to next month, while the Hong Kong government appealed to Beijing to block his attempt to hire a British defense lawyer.

Each month, Lai is allowed two 30-minute visits by relatives or friends where they are separated by a piece of glass and they speak on a phone.

Meanwhile his son Sebastien is traveling to democratic countries, advocating for his father's release. Even though he is not in Hong Kong, Sebastien is very cautious about his movements.

"My father is in prison because he spoke truth to power for decades," Sebastien said in May in a statement to a US government panel, called the Congressional-Executive Commission on China.

Lee doesn't speak to reporters after verdict

"He is still speaking truth to power and refusing to be silenced, even though he has lost everything and he may die in prison," he said. "I am very proud to be his son."

How his father, a diabetic who is also suffering from high blood pressure continues to keep his head up high is a result of his strong will and Christian faith.

Today Lai and six others were cleared of instigating the 2019 protests, though their convictions and sentences are upheld. 

The others are barristers Margaret Ng Ngoi-yee, Martin Lee Chu-ming, labour activists, Lee Cheuk-yan, Leung Kwok-hung, and former lawmakers Cyd Ho Sau-lan and Albert Ho Chun-yan.

Hong Kong's Tourism Numbers Don't Add Up

This campaign focuses more on China tourists than N America

A friend from Hong Kong told me the hospitality sector is still struggling despite the city being fully open for tourists and the government pushing its "Hello Hong Kong" campaign.

Hotels are hurting the most, with low occupancy numbers, while high-end restaurants are trying to lure in diners with set menu deals.

And the Hong Kong government is wondering why the tourists aren't coming...

Chan wonders why tourists aren't coming to HK

Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said the city needed to improve its tourism offerings even though it had 3.6 million visitors last month, up 30 percent from June.

On his blog, Chan wrote inbound tourism would continue to be the main drive of economic growth for the remainder of the year, along with private consumption. As a result, Hong Kong needed to improve its attractiveness to visitors.

"Many tourists, especially the young ones, come to Hong Kong mainly to attend exhibitions, cultural and artistic activities or major concerts," he wrote.

"This change in travel and consumption patterns means that we need to deliver what our tourists value: the features, creativity and quality of products and services, as well as the user experience."

It took Chan this long to figure this out?

Obviously neither he nor his fellow officials have learned anything from the Covid-19 pandemic, that people are seeking experiences over shopping and what does it have to offer that's new?

The mainland Chinese people who have visited Hong Kong are not interested in going there again, and so the only ones coming now are newbies.

Will more conferences lure people back to HK?

Their consumption spending power is much lower than previous visitors, and with China's high speed rail network, Chinese tourists don't have to stay overnight in Hong Kong -- they can zip across the border to Shenzhen for a cheaper hotel room before going back to Hong Kong again (if they so please).

But more importantly it's the implementation of the national security law, with headlines around the world reporting about the eight pro-democracy activists and former lawmakers with HK$1 million bounties over their heads, and the arrests of many others that has scared potential long-haul visitors from coming.

Another is the exorbitant prices for flights that have deterred many from coming back too.

However, former financial services secretary Chan Ka-keung tries to put the blame on other factors.

"A lot of people still -- because of the slow economic activities -- are not traveling much. It's not just Hong Kong not receiving tourists, many countries in Asia aren't receiving tourists either," he told reporters.

Has he seen Japan and Taiwan overwhelmed with visitors?

"But Hong Kong of course has another problem, which is because of the propaganda from the western media, a lot of people don't understand Hong Kong," Chan continues. "We should host more exhibitions and conferences, get more people to come to Hong Kong to see for themselves."

Perhaps if the city's government wasn't so repressive and arresting so many people then maybe more potential visitors would feel comfortable to travel there? The Hong Kong Police recently boasted it has collected over 380,000 tips from its reporting hotline.

For Chinese visitors, it's a stark reminder of home, not a respite.

Visiting Squamish on a Foggy Day

A brief break to see blue skies through the fog at the top

The other day I took a quick side trip to Squamish, which is just over an hour away by car, north of Vancouver. 

We set off early in the morning at around 9am, and despite the one-lane traffic going across the Lion's Gate Bridge, we were able to get to the Sea-to-Sky Gondola in less than an hour and a half, which is just before the municipality of Squamish.

We were supposed to see this mountain...

The gondola takes visitors up 885 metres to have reportedly stunning views of the mountains, but the day we went it was lightly raining -- a good thing since it has been so dry and hot this summer -- but it was really foggy when we went up to the top.

Tickets are not cheap, at C$65.95 for adults, C$59.95 for seniors, but we made the most of it. The ride up was smooth, and less than 10 minutes was up at the top.

We couldn't see much, but could imagine the views were stunning if the fog had lifted. In any event we had a quick bite to eat in the cafeteria (sandwiches, tacos, poutine) before trekking one of the 12 hiking trails, six frontcountry, the others backcountry, from very easy in 20 minutes and short to a long eight-hour hikes. 

Panorama Trail was recommended to us so we took the frontcountry route that was estimated to take 30 to 60 minutes. If you don't stop at various scenic points along the loop, it will take 30 minutes, and for us relatively fast walkers, we finished in about 40 minutes.

The trails are very clean and natural, and we were most impressed by the diversity of the trees and plants. It seemed much more diverse than in Pacific Spirit Park, a place I frequently walk in. Here there were different species of trees, such as cedar and pine, along with various plants and huge boulders.

Walking along the Panorama Trail

Scenic stopping points encouraged people to try to spot birds, though there was another sign pointing out various wild animals like cougars which was not very reassuring! 

We did see a tiny chipmunk, sitting in the middle of the trail eating something. At first it seemed completely unaware we were there, but as soon as we pulled out our phones it ran away into the trees.

Overall we enjoyed the easy walk and if we had more time we would have chosen a longer route.

The gondola was opened in 2014 after a year of construction, but was plagued by two incidents of vandalism. Someone cut the table of the gondola on August 10, 2019 and it took months to repair, but was vandalised again on September 14, 2020. Still to this day no one has been arrested for these crimes.

We also made a quick trip to the municipality of Squamish which was a short distance from the gondola. The main street is lined with small shops, cafes, and restaurants. There's a ramen/sushi place and another to get Vietnamese food. There are many coffee places as well as for wine. A sign on the sidewalk read: "Day Drinkers Welcome."

A welcoming mural in the town

Xoco is a shop that makes local chocolate. The salted caramel chocolates are apparently best sellers and they are packaged in boxes designed by the artist in the next door gallery. 

What a great way to support the community!

The Rabbits of Jericho Beach

One of hundreds of cute rabbits at Jericho Beach

A friend took me to Jericho Beach this evening to not only catch the sunset but also show me the feral rabbits that live there.

For over 15 years, people who are tired of their pet rabbits (usually after Easter), set them free at Jericho Beach and the cute furry population has exponentially increased.

They are out in the open, unafraid of humans

Every year around Easter the City of Vancouver warns residents to think carefully if they purchase a rabbit for the spring holiday and to not get rid of the pet by releasing at the beach, but instead giving it to animal welfare groups to ensure better care.

"The rabbits are not wild -- these are all European rabbits that are bred as pets. They come in a variety of colours including black, white, grey and brown, and many are spotted or have a variety of markings," explained Nick Page, a biologist with the Vancouver Park Board.

"As such, all of these animals were once pets. People have simply been leaving them here, and they have continued to do so for at least 15 years."

He estimates there could be some 250 rabbits roaming around the area.

This evening we saw dozens of rabbits, both adults and bunnies hopping around and eating the parched grass. They did not care for people to touch them and hopped away if they attempted to.

Be sure not to feed or touch the rabbits!

Years ago my friend said the rabbits would hide in brambles in a grassy area near the tennis courts, but this time we took a look and those have been removed, making these animals more vulnerable to predators, including coyotes.

The rabbits didn't seem to show any fear of predators and were out in the open munching away on the super dry grass.

However do not feed them -- anyone caught feeding wildlife could be fined up to C$500. It is unhealthy for the feral rabbits, but also them gathering makes them more vulnerable to predators and could spread disease. Food left for them could also lead to mice and rats getting at the food, that could also lead to other diseases spreading.

So while the rabbits are super cute, don't touch and don't feed!

Canada Wasted Millions of Covid Vaccines

Canada wasted over 14 million vaccine doses this year

Previously when I was in Hong Kong I and many others thought it was outrageous that the local government wasted 1 million Covid-19 doses of vaccines, but that was hardly as egregious as Canada, which threw out a whopping 14.4 million vaccine doses this year.

Over a week ago the influential British Medical Journal named Canada one of the world's worst vaccine "hoarders."

Health officials encouraging people to get booster

By December 2020, the Liberal government "boasted" securing more doses per capita than any other country in the world -- "up to 429 million doses of seven different vaccines, roughly 11 for each of Canada's 38 million inhabitants," researchers wrote in the BMJ's special Canada Covid series.

Granted at the time it was not clear which of the vaccines would be the best at keeping the virus at bay, but researchers wrote what was harder to understand was why Canada did not redistribute vaccines to countries that needed it "once it became apparent that Canada would have more than enough."

So the Hong Kong government looks so much better than Canada's in calculating how many vaccines it needed...

In the meantime Canadian health officials are advising citizens to get the next booster in the fall, which is supposed to focus on a variant of the XBB variant which is thought to be the most immune-dodging Covid variant yet.

Only 26 percent Canadians have bivalent shot

About 83 percent of the population has had at least two doses of the vaccine, though only 26 percent have had a dose of the bivalent vaccine. 

The government is trying to get everyone on the same page and get the upcoming vaccine so that everyone will be immunised.

But there are fears that most people will ignore the call, as they think Covid is over and life is getting back to normal. 

In the meantime I'm still floored by the wastage of over 14 million vaccine doses. Like WOW.

Starry Lee to Exit Stage Right

Lee has announced she will step down as head of the DAB

Starry Lee Wai-king, chairwoman of the largest political party in Hong Kong has announced she will step down due to workload concerns.

Lee who headed the pro-Beijing Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong for eight years, made the announcement on a Facebook post on Tuesday.

Remember this striking image from May 2020?

"With limited time and limited work capability, I am starting to realise that it may not be conducive to the development of the party [if I continue]," Lee, 49, said.

"After careful consideration, I have decided not to run for election as DAB chairman. I am pleased to see that there is much talent in the party and I am certain that the future chairman will be more successful."

She was the first female DAB leader when she succeeded party veteran Tam Yiu-chung in 2015.

But we remember her most for her power grab in May 2020 when security guards removed 15 pro-democracy lawmakers, including Lam Cheuk-ting from a meeting room regarding the election of the House Committee chairperson.

Pro-democracy politicians like Lam were ejected

The sight of masked security personnel surrounding her as she sat in the chairperson seat was a sign of things to come...

And three years later she is giving up all this power?

Seems like an unceremoniously early exit for this ambitious woman.

Review: Barbie

Robbie as Barbie in her perfect Barbieland world

I was really keen to watch the box-office blowout sensation Barbie, with the hype around it. Most people seemed to enjoy the film starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, but perhaps I was expecting too much?

It's an interesting take on the Mattel doll, setting the scene at the beginning to explain that previously girls only had baby dolls to play with, and so they were forced to role play being a mother and who wants to do that? (ask your mother, says narrator Helen Mirren).

And so the introduction of Barbie changed all of that, empowering girls everywhere that they could do everything and anything they wanted, without addressing her impossible body measurements until later. 

Gosling's Ken (right) is teased by Liu's Ken

She lives in Barbieland which is perfect, and features all of her homes, cars and wardrobes. And just like the real Barbies, she doesn't actually drink milk or eat or walk down stairs.

Perhaps the funnier bits were of Gosling as Ken who was desperate for Barbie's attention, and having to compete with other Kens like that of Simu Liu. But it is true -- he really was her arm ornament.

An interesting storyline develops when Barbie suddenly develops flat feet and needs to find her owner which results in her facing the real world of California, and Ken discovering patriarchy and horses. It also involves Mattel headquarters headed by Will Ferrell being a clumsy boss who likes an entourage of minions around him.

The most integral scene is America Ferrera who gives a long monologue about how women in real life have to walk a very fine line that is full of contradictions that make it impossible to be the perfect woman, let alone be yourself.

"It is literally impossible to be a woman. You are so beautiful and yet so smart, and it kills me that you don't think you're good enough. Like, we have to always be extraordinary, but somehow we're always doing it wrong," she starts off.

An all-inclusive Barbie land abounds

"You have to be thin, but not too thin. And you can never say you want to be thin. You have to say you want to be healthy, but also you have to be thin. You have to have money, but you can't ask for money because that's crass. You have to be a boss, but you can't be mean. You have to lead, but you can't squash other people's ideas. You're supposed to love being a mother but don't talk about your kids all the damn time. 

"You have to be a career woman but also always be looking out for other people. You have to answer for men's bad behaviour, which is insane, but if you point that out, you're accused of complaining. You're supposed to stay pretty for men, but not so pretty that you tempt them too much or that you threaten other women because you're supposed to be part of the sisterhood.

"But always stand out and always be grateful. But never forget that the system is rigged. So find a way to acknowledge that but also always be grateful. You have to never get old, never be rude, never show off, never be selfish, never fall down, never fail, never show fear, never get out of line.

"It's too hard! It's too contradictory and nobody gives you a medal or says thank you! And it turns out in fact that not only are you doing everything wrong, but also everything is your fault. 

Amusing doll-like situations in Barbieland

"I'm just so tired of watching myself and every single other woman tie herself into knots so that people will like us. And if all of that is also true for a doll just representing women, then I don't even know."

Suddenly this is all deep and existential -- but wait -- the Barbies need to figure out how to get their Barbieland back and becomes mildly funny, not hilarious funny which was what I was expecting...

At any rate, it's a very inclusive movie, featuring all of the past Barbies, including discontinued ones and shamelessly plugs her and Ken's outfits.

Robbie is really good as Barbie, and Gosling's having a lot of fun, making fun of Ken.

Hopefully there will not be a sequel. We're good with just this one.

Barbie

1hr, 54 minutes

Written and directed by Greta Gerwig

Co-written by Noah Baumbach

Graffiti with Chinese Characteristics

The "art" before it was covered in graffiti in an angry response

Brick Lane in East London is known for graffiti on the walls, adding an artistic touch to the neighbourhood.

However, some Chinese art students whitewashed a long wall with white paint and then spray painted in red 24 Chinese characters that would easily have been spotted in their homeland: "Prosperity, democracy, civility, harmony, freedom, equality, justice, rule of law, patriotism, dedication, integrity, and friendship".

The words are meant to represent the core values of socialism.

The 24 characters sparked fierce criticism

However reaction was swift.

On top of the whitewashed wall was instant feedback on the "art".

There were strong words, like "F*** Communism", "Remember June 4th", "No Freedom in China", "But some are more equal than others", while in between the characters for "patriotism" there's a sticker of the face of Chinese leader Xi Jinping with the words, "No Xi Dictatorship".

These are only a few of the examples.

The "art" or "art stunt" also raised questions as to whether the students should have even painted Chinese slogans in the UK, or did they do this as an act of satire?

Regardless it riled up a lot of people, including many Chinese living there who do not want to return to China and graffitied the graffiti.

Someone took the time to type up a description of the "art work" as one would find in a gallery or museum to give it context.

Sticker reads "No Xi Dictatorship"

It reads in part:

"The twelve Core Socialist Values are a set of official interpretations of Chinese Socialism promoted in China since 2012. Written in 24 Chinese characters, they represent the values of

"prosperity, democracy, civility, harmony, freedom, equality, justice, rule of law, patriotism, dedication, integrity and friendship

"The sight of this slogan is ubiquitous in public spaces around China, frequently appearing as giant posters and as stand-alone installations. Chinese President Xi Jinping aims to promote these values in a campaign to the extent that public support for Chinese-style Socialism will be "as ubiquitous as the air".

"In August 2023, a group of free-spirited Chinese artists from London painted these values on a graffiti wall in Brick Lane, East London, deliberately emulating the style that these would have been found in a Chinese setting. In an adamant display of freedom of expression, the characters stand as a silent reminder of the oppression of thought, press freedom and to free speech that is still rampant in China in 2023."

It ends with "#agendasetting".

Review: Love in the Time of Revolution

Another 2019 protest documentary released last year

A Hong Kong activist group in Vancouver organised the screening of Love in the Time of Revolution at the Vancouver International Film Festival theatre this afternoon, including a Q&A with the director following the showing of the film.

Ticket for the film were sold out and the the theatre was open 30 minutes ahead of time. When I arrived, there were volunteers encouraging people to petition their Member of Parliament in protest of the Hong Kong police taking part in the World Police and Fire Games in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

All people had to do was find out who their MP was, fill in their name, and sign the form letter. On the envelope, they wrote the MP's name and address in Ottawa, with the return address on the back (to prove you are in their riding) and it would be mailed off free of charge (because it is to the MP).

Before the screening, Mabel Tung, chair of Vancouver Society in Support of Democratic Movement said a few words. She was very emotional having already seen the film and encouraged the audience to stay behind for the Q&A. 

Ngan interviewed protesters as events unfolded

Love in the Time of Revolution runs 107 minutes and the documentary follows the 2019 protests through the eyes of a group people: Uncle Fat, a middle-aged man who knows what life on the streets is like, Mr Leader, a frontline protester along with a young couple, and Rai Riya, a young woman from South Asia, perhaps Malaysia? who is fluent in Cantonese.

There is a very quick history lesson at the beginning from 1984 when the Joint Declaration was signed, until 2014 and then five years later when then chief executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor proposed the extradition bill.

Footage from the peaceful marches of June 9 and 16 are shown, mixed together with June 12 when the first shots of teargas were fired by the Legislative Council.

The protesters justified their actions by saying the government ignored them compared to what happened in 2003 when half a million people came out to protest Article 23 and then it was indefinitely shelved. 

People felt there was no point in protesting peacefully and then going back to work the next day -- they didn't want to be ignored by the government, and wanted to create change.

Uncle Fat gives context and concern

So on July 1 the protesters finished their march and went to Legco again -- this time ramming into the building with makeshift tools. Pro-democracy lawmakers like Fernando Cheung Chiu-hung, Wu Chi-wai, and Lam Cheuk-ting desperately tried to stop the protesters from doing this, saying this was not a productive way forward. It was heart-breaking watching them try to physically stop this overwhelming wave of anger and frustration.

However, with other pro-democracy lawmakers had been disqualified, the ones who were left were a small minority who could not make any substantive change, which is why these protesters insisted on taking matters into their own hands.

Thus began the relentless scenes of violent protests, the teargas canisters flying through the air, the police brutality meted on protesters they captured, the bloodied faces, throwing Molotov cocktails, and the beatings commuters suffered at the hands of white-shirted men on the night of July 21, 2019.

Many of the scenes of violence are relentless and excessively long, and could have been edited down further, though the director Twinkle Ngan is keen on having Love in the Time of Revolution as a record of what happened. Nevertheless, it was re-traumatising and hard to watch.

A lot of protest scenes can be re-traumatising

Uncle Fat is an interesting character who nonchalantly says he was once involved with the triads, and how they have become gangsters only interested in money, with regards to the Yuen Long attacks. He constantly shows his concern for the young protesters, but there aren't any particular scenes of him actually helping them.

Riya says she and her family have been discriminated, perhaps for the darkness of her skin (which doesn't seem apparent in the film), but that she feels accepted in the movement and feels proud to defend Hong Kong.

The young couple brings some brevity to the film, as they tease each other about their techniques when on the front line, and how she needs to run faster if she wants to avoid being arrested.

Following the Polytechnic University standoff, the film just ends, adding that the imposition of the national security law led to the arrest and detainment of 47 pro-democracy lawmakers and activists, and that over 10,000 people were arrested.

Mr Leader is concerned about keeping the movement going and how the rest of the population needs to be mobilised into action -- it seems only the young people are brave enough to go on the front lines, some he says are as young as 10. He asks why it is only these kids who are willing to fight the state, but that they are exhausted and someone else needs to take their place.

Tung with Lee (above) and Ngan (below)

There is no answer, but it is evident others do not want to face a 10-year prison sentence for rioting, nor do they want to face police brutality, particularly in the hands of the "raptors", who showed no mercy.

After the film ended, Ngan and former Apple Daily executive Simon Lee appeared on the screen via video call. Lee seemed visibly upset, dabbing his eyes not once but twice, moved by the film and Ngan's comments.

He said this film was an important record, as the Chinese and Hong Kong governments are actively trying to rewrite history. 

Ngan said many people have asked him what they can do as the Hong Kong diaspora community. He explained that he himself had moved to the UK, and that he would continue to tell stories. Ngan said it was important to not feel helpless, but to be involved in the movement in whatever way they wanted to be.

A young student said he was now in university in Vancouver, but had trouble getting his fellow Hongkonger students involved and was frustrated. Ngan replied that there are reasons why others cannot be as active as him, as they may want to go back to Hong Kong at some point so they need to keep a low profile and not to blame them.

A middle-aged woman asked what happened to the people in the film. Ngan said Uncle Fat had moved to the UK as well, and spoke at length about Riya. He said when he last contacted her she has just gotten out of jail, and that she would sing the protest anthem to give her hope and strength.

It seems the next logical step would be what happened to people and Hong Kong following the national security law in July 2020. Is anyone working on this next chapter? It is a crucial one that was a tipping point for many to leave.

Love in the Time of Revolution

Directed by Twinkle Ngan

107 minutes

The Toll of Global Warming on Stanley Park

This is Beaver Lake in Stanley Park, minus the lake

This afternoon I met up with an ex-colleague who I haven't seen since 2007. He now lives in France and came to Vancouver for a short trip. 

One of his requests was to walk around the Stanley Park Seawall so I helped him cross it off his bucket list. We walked from 4th Avenue and Balsam, across the Burrard Street Bridge, got a bite to eat at the food court in Pacific Centre and then set off to the park.

We almost walked the entire circumference, though he wanted to stay in the shade as much as possible so we cut through part of the park.

This is what Beaver Lake used to look like

He wanted to see Beaver Lake, a place he last visited 13 years ago. But we were shocked to find that it wasn't a lake -- most of the water had evaporated and what was left was a "lake" filled with greenery. 

When we made this remark, a middle-aged woman sitting on the park bench nearby echoed the same sentiment. She'd lived in Vancouver for 50 years, hadn't been to Beaver Lake for a while and decided to come take a look and was as shocked as we were.

We had a discussion about global warming and were dismayed by what had happened to this lake. We could only see a small patch of water off to the side which barely even fit the definition of a pond. There was a lone duck there, enjoying what was left of the water there.

Metro Vancouver has now stepped up to Level 2 water restrictions, which means absolutely no lawn watering, and only the watering of flowers and vegetable patches with a hose. Anyone violating the Level 2 restrictions will be fined C$500. Water elements like fountains cannot be refilled either, which probably applies to Beaver Lake too.

This was the only patch of water we could see

What's shocking is that water usage in Metro Vancouver is up 20 percent -- there couldn't be a 20 percent jump in the population in the past year, could there?

What are people using water for these days? Everyone has been told not to wash their cars with a hose, and to leave their lawns dry. 

But it was quite sad going through Stanley Park to see a lot of dead trees. Granted I didn't know when they turned brown and waiting to fall down, though my friend pointed this out and the sorry state of the yellow grass.

Towards the end of our walk we took a break by the concession stand where I bought two glasses of lemonade for over C$13, seriously equivalent to Hong Kong prices. As we sat cooling down with our cold drinks, I was shocked to see a young woman next to us, wasting her bottle of water by dumping part of it on the ground and not behind her on the parched grass. She did it in an attempt to pour her lemonade into the bottle, with limited success.

A lone duck in the "lake" of Beaver Lake

Why are people wasting water like that?!

In the end we walked over 16km around the city and my friend was pleased we'd accomplished so much walking.

He was impressed I'd managed to keep going in the heat and I remarked it might have been from all those days walking in the heat in Hong Kong...

Fort Langley: Visiting the National Historic Site

An elderly woman shows kids how to make wooden buckets

Our next stop in Fort Langley was the fort itself, which dates back to 1827 and was a vital part in the fur trade as it is located on the banks of the Fraser River.

It's now a national tourist attraction, where visitors can roam around the actual fort and see recreations of the various buildings and some people there bring the time back then to life.

Fur pelts hanging from the ceiling in a building

The fort was once part of the British trade route that traded with indigenous people for furs and fish, who got blankets and other goods in return. 

This also resulted in the birth of the Metis people, when European men married aboriginal women in a bid to gain better access to goods and trade networks.

In the fort, visitors can see furs hanging from the wooden ceiling, various blankets, including those from the Hudson's Bay Company with the distinctive red, blue, green and yellow stripes. 

We were intrigued to see boxes made of woven bamboo with labels that said "Shanghai" and "San Francisco", while the dining room table had crockery with blue and white chinoiserie designs.

There's also a room showing aboriginal embroidery and beading that is modern but beautiful nonetheless. An impressive piece is part of British Columbia shown in embroidery and beading, while other handicrafts including woven baskets and hats.

Woven bamboo boxes with Shanghai labels

Another building showed woodworking, and an elderly woman demonstrating to a group of children how buckets were made out of wood, and in another outdoor area, a blacksmith talked to kids about making objects out of metal, with a real fire nearby.

At the back of the fort is a home, where a man is dressed as a steward and says he manages the household, with the kitchen just behind the house and to the right of it is a small hutch for three rabbits, and another caged area for three goats. There's also a small but impressive looking garden that is growing kale.

One of the last stops is where visitors can go through a slurry and pan for gold. Any chances of finding anything?

It's an educational visit and young people get a bit of a taste of the history in an interactive way.

Chinoiserie crockery with tartan tablecloth!

Fort Langley National Historic Site

23433 Mavis Avenue

Fort Langley, BC

604 513 4777

 

Fort Langley: Krause Berry Farms & Estate Winery

The patches of gardens are pretty and colourful at Krause

This morning I headed out to Fort Langley for a visit. It's an hour away by car, taking Grandview Highway going east onto Highway 1, passing Burnaby, Surrey, Coquitlam and Pitt Meadows... 

Blueberry waffles are good to share

It's a relatively easy drive and once in Langley township, there's a lot of farm land growing blueberries, corn and other fruits.

Our first stop was Krause Berry Farms & Estate Winery, a massive compound that has U-pick berries (blueberries now in season), as well as a sandbox for kids to play in, and lovely garden patches full of blooming flowers to admire.

Most impressive was the store that is choc full of the farm's signatures, from fresh berries and vegetables to jam, fruit-flavoured syrup, numerous pies from strawberry to blackberry, peach and apple. The jams come in vegan and no sugar, in blueberry, blackberry strawberry and rhubarb. 

Interestingly it does not encroach on its neighbour's business of selling honey, so Krause does not sell any kind of honey at all. Krause also sells farm-style crockery, scarves, and even pyjamas with blueberries on them.

Lots of pies, like blackberry for sale!

We could not resist trying the blueberry waffles -- a large round one that had a squirt of syrup followed by a massive mount of blueberries topped with a generous swirl of canned whipped cream.

The waffle itself wasn't too sweet, and the blueberries were so large and plump that we didn't want to waste any and two of us managed to finish the plate. I was intrigued by the drink of strawberry milk on the menu, but it ended up being a plastic bottle that was bought from a store. 

Meanwhile the wine tasting room is fun -- those sitting at the bar actually sit on saddles! 

The food choices at Krause are on the limited side -- only waffles with seasonal fruits, ice cream, pizza, fries or at the bar there's nachos... 

Nevertheless, it's a fun stop that's family-oriented and appeals to everyone at some level. 

Get on the saddle at the wine bar

Krause Berry Farms & Estate Winery

6179 248th Street

Langley, BC

604 856 5757

Mobilising 1.4B Chinese for Counter-Espionage

China will mobilise its population for counter-espionage

China trusts no one and now is mobilising its 1.4 billion citizens to help inform on any suspicious activities in the country.

The state security ministry has announced it is encouraging Chinese citizens to engage in counter-espionage work, and will be opening up channels for them to report on any nefarious activities, and even rewarding them, though there were no details reported on the compensation.

According to the Ministry of State Security, the main agency overlooking foreign intelligence and anti-spying, said it will become "normal" for the masses to participate in counter-espionage.

Chen says political security top priority

This call-out for the population to participate follows the expansion of the counter-espionage law that took effect in July.

The law bans the transfer of information related to national security and interests which is vaguely described; the United States is alarmed by this development, as foreign companies in China could be punished by doing regular business activities.

With the new law, the authorities can carry out an anti-espionage probe to gain access to data, electronic equipment and information on personal property.

Political security is the top priority of national security, according to Chen Yixin, Minister of State Security.

"The most fundamental is to safeguard the leadership and ruling position of the Communist Party of China and the socialist system with Chinese characteristics," he wrote in an article in a Chinese legal magazine in July.

But is there espionage happening in China?

This latest development will make foreign companies based in China think again if they want to continue having a presence there, or risk being accused of espionage and face heavy penalties.

Is that a risk worth considering anymore?

Over the years many foreigners have been detained for alleged espionage, including an executive of a Japanese drugmaker called Astellas Pharma in March.

In addition. Australian-Chinese journalist Cheng Lei was accused by China of providing state secrets to another country. She has been detained since September 2020.

This move falls in line with the Hong Kong government (via Beijing) to get anyone to inform on the eight pro-democracy activists and former lawmakers who have HK$1 million bounties on their heads. 

While some of the eight are publicly defiant as they live in countries where the extradition agreement has been indefinitely suspended, there is the possibility of misguided patriots who may think they are doing the right thing...

Remembering the Abalone King

Chef Yeung slicing the abalone with a knife

Chef Yeung Koon-yat, known as "the abalone king" has died at the age of 90.

I had the opportunity to interview him twice, the second time was in November 2017 for an interview. It took him a while to show up, perhaps he had forgotten or was not up to it, but eventually he came and put on his showman face.

When the camera started recording and I asked questions about his youth and how he became known as the abalone king, it was apparent that he had signs of dementia. I tried to gently ask questions in a different way or ask him to remember dates, but it was difficult for him to answer.

Massive dried Japanese abalone

But what he could not remember he made up in his cooking demonstrations, making his famous fried rice which was still so delicious, each grain of rice evenly flavoured in the claypot with egg, Chinese sausages, conpoy and spring onions.

As making abalone takes a long time, they were prepared ahead of time so he posed for the camera spooning the thick, shiny, flavourful abalone sauce over this prized seafood delicacy.

He was born in 1932 in Zhongshan, Guangdong province to a poor family. When the Sino-Japanese War broke out, his family was destitute and his parents sent he and his younger sisters to his grandmother to raise. When she died, the three children were put in an orphanage where his two siblings starved to death. 

Determined to find a better life for himself, Yeung came to Hong Kong in 1949 at around the age of 18.

Like many migrants he found work in the restaurant industry, where he could get three meals a day and a place to sleep (on the dining tables, using table cloth as sheets).

Yeung worked his way up, learning to cook and together with some friends opened Forum Restaurant in 1974 with HK$600,000. The restaurant didn't do well at first, serving home-cooked dishes, so he had to find a way to differentiate it from competitors and decided to focus on abalone, a very expensive ingredient.

Not only did Yeung perfect how to cook abalone, but he also taught a generation of diners to eat it with a fork and knife, cutting it lengthwise in relatively thin slices to best appreciate the dish.

Yeung was the ultimate showman

Soon after he was known as the abalone king for over six decades, well known in Hong Kong and was probably the first Chinese chef to travel to various countries to cook for foreign leaders, showing them what Cantonese delicacies were, particularly abalone.

The first time I met him was in the late 1990s with a good friend who is also a food writer. He handed out his business card to us which was extra large to fit in all his titles including the Club des Chefs des Chefs. 

He showed off how he heated up the already braised abalone in front of us table side and we enjoyed every bite. But then we were even more impressed by his fried rice that he also made before us. 

It smelled so good even before we had a bite, that we knew it would taste delicious.

Before we left the restaurant he insisted on giving us each a bottle of wine -- Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1982.

I carefully brought the bottle home, and years later my parents and their friends drank it -- without my knowledge!

Nevertheless as my friend says, Yeung was the ultimate showman who was passionate about cooking and you could taste it in his food.

A culinary gem has left this world, though we will not forget these words of wisdom: "Be even more outstanding when others are outstanding," another way of saying work harder for your success.

He is proof of that. Thank you chef.