3/29/2007 ~ Ziggy Marley

Listening to the Wizards vs. 76's game.

I went to the Ziggy Marley concert on Tuesday night with 2 American co-workers, and we started the evening off at the classic Blue Frog expat hangout bar. In true happy hour form, we got our 2 for 1 drinks delivered together, and ordered onion rings and nachos and Blue Frog burgers with fries.

The Yunfeng Theater was rocking! I didn't know there were that many westerners in Shanghai, but there were several Chinese fans dispersed throughout. The Jamaican flag was flying, rasta hats added color and from the very first note, the crowd was up and dancing and no one sat down all evening. Ziggy played most of his classics from his Melody Maker days, as well as playing a classic Bob Marley tune almost every other song - like War, Get Up Stand Up, Concrete Juggle, Positive Vibration, No Woman No Cry. His encore was 2007 Grammy winning Love is My Religion.

A fun evening was had by all. One Love!

3/26/2007 ~ Beijing: Wangfuling Street

On the Rio: Odetta ~ Sail Away Ladies

Apologies for my prolonged absence. I made a home visit for a family event and upon my return have been embroiled in a project internal audit...and trying to get over the jet lag.

I did manage to take a short weekend jaunt to Beijing though this weekend.

After arriving at my hotel, I went for a walk down Wanguling Street, and was pleasantly surprised to find several street performances underway. One was of a girl drum group, quite mesmorizing.

The second act didn't capture my attention, or maybe I just wasn't interested in watching prancing "mud men", since I didn't know the story being told.

But before I left I was able to capture this photo of a Chinese man watching the performance. I've been experimenting with black & white photos of late (I did an entire series of photos while in Beaver Dam, WI (my home town) of the places I haunted while growing up. Too many memories to mention.

The streets in Beijing seem much wider than Shanghai, and traffic rules were somewhat obeyed. But the streets were just as crowded, for a city of a mere 13 million. And there are fewer skyscrapers. I also noticed a lot more Westerners, but maybe that was because I spent my time in the prime tourist areas.

I ate lunch at an Asian (possibly Japanese?) fast food place, Asijen, a noodle restaurant. We have one near my office as well, and they serve a mean spicy beef noodle (soup) dish. Bring extra napkins. With a (liter) beer my lunch cost $4, and it was so filling I didn't need to eat the rest of the day.

I continued on my journey, and came across a very interesting kite being flown.

Each strand is a Chinese opera face.

I also came upon the famous Pearl Market, but it overwhelmed me, so I left quickly.

3/6/2007 ~ Singapore: National Orchid Garden

On the Rio: Junior Murvin ~ Police & Thieves

The National Garden, within the Singapore Botanic Gardens, showcases the orchid breeding program that begin in 1928.

There are over 1000 species and 2000 hybrids, displaying the diversity, richness and beauty of the orchid. Although I probably took that many photos, I'll only share a few with you now.

3/5/2007 ~ 10 Courts of Hell

On the Rio: David Bowie: Scary Monsters (Super freaks) [now, isn't that a coincidence?]

Warning: Some of the following story/photos may scare young children (which I think is the intent of the exhibit).

One of the attractions at Haw Par Village is the "10 Courts of Hell". The welcome sign says: "For those intrepid enough to Brave the Ten Courts of Hell, be prepared for an experience that is out of this world."

Upon your descent, you are met by two guardians, Ox-head and Horse-face.

This design of Ox-head and Horse-face are based on legendary Chinese tradition beliefs. According to a recent publication entitled Popular Gods of China Ox-head is a hell soldier and Horse-face is "Lousha", a wicked ghost who acts as guardsman at the gate hell. When the spirits arrive they would chase them into the gate of hell with a steel spear and an ivory stick to face the various punishment given by the Yamas, or Emperors of Hell. [~L~ Note: This would make a great Halloween house party!]

First Court of Hell: King Qinguang.
In the First Court of Hell, King Qinguang conducts preliminary trials and each prisoner is judged according to the deeds of his/her past life. The "good" are distinguished from the "evil" and the King recommends appropriate reward or punishment. Punishment is then carried out in the various courts. Those with virtuous conduct in their past life will be led over the "Golden Bridge" to reach paradise. Those with past good deeds outweighing crimes committed will be led to the "Silver Bridge" to reach paradise. Those who were evil doers in their past life will be sent to repent before the "Mirror of Retribution" and then taken to a subsequent Court of Hell to be punished.

Second Court of Hell: King Chujiang

Crime-Punishment

Inflicting physical injury/Con men/Robbers-Thrown into volcanic pit

Corruption/Stealing & Gambling-Frozen into blocks of ice

Prostitution-Thrown into a pool of blood and drowned

Third Court of Hell: King Songdi.

Ungratefulness/Disrespect to Elders/Escape from Prison-Heart Cut Out

Drug Addicts & Traffickers/Tomb Robbers/Urging People into Crime & Social Unrest-Tied to Red Hot Copper Pillar and Grilled

Fourth Court of Hell: King Wuguan.

Tax Dodger/Refusal to Pay Rent/Business Fraud-Pounded By Stone Mallet

Disobedience to One's Siblings-Grounded By A Large Stone

Fifth Court of Hell: King Yanluo

Plotted Anothers Death for Property or Money/Money Lenders with Exorbitant Interest Rates-Thrown Onto a Hill of Knives

Sixth Court of Hell: King Piencheng

Cheating/Cursing/Abducting Others-Thrown Into A Tree of Knives

Misuse of Books/Possession of Pornographic Material/Breaking Written Rules & Regulations/Wasting Food-Body Sawn Into Two

Seventh Court of Hell: King Taishan

Rumor Mongers/Sowing Discord Among Family Members-Tongue Pulled Out

Rapists/Driving Someone to their Death-Thrown into Wok of Boiling Oil

Eighth Court of Hell: King Dushi.

Causing Trouble for Parents/Cheating on Exams-Intestines and Organs Pullout Out

Harming Others to Benefit Oneself-Body Dismemberment

Ninth Court of Hell: King Pingdeng.

Robbery/Murder/Any Other Unlawful Conduct-Head & Arms Chopped Off

Neglect of the Old & Young-Crushed Under Boulders

Tenth Court of Hell: King Zhuanlin

In the Tenth Court there is the "Wheel of Reincarnation" and the "Pavilion of Forgetfullness". After serving their sentences, prisoners arrive at the 10th court where King Zhuanlin passes final judgement. Sinners who have been punished will be led to the Pavilion of Forgetfullness where an old lady, Meng Po, hands them a cup of magic tea which when drunk helps them to forget their past lives.

They will then go through the Wheel of Reincarnation, Samsara, after drinking the tea. They will leave the 10 Courts of Hell via one of the of the six paths of reincarnation as either nobility, common man, mammal, insect, fowl, fish or insect.

3/4/2007 ~ Singapore

On the Rio: Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee ~ Old Jabo

After Bintan Island, I spent 2 days in Singapore, and for those of you who have never been there, that is plenty. Unless of course, all you want to do is shop.

This is the skyline of Singapore arriving by ferry at sunset.

These fan palm trees are seen throughout the city.

We met up with some Yum folks for lunch at Haw Par Village, a Chinese mythology park built in the 1930s by Aw Boon Haw, the flamboyant marketing brother of Tiger Balm ointment.

To promote Tiger Balm, he had this car built in 1932.

The park itself is now rather run down, but a new museum of Chinese history, has been established, along with a the new restaurant that serves delicious roast chicken and wasabi prawns.

Here are a few pictures from inside the park.

3/3/2007 ~ Shaolin Kung Fu & Roger Waters

On the Rio: Prince ~ Let's Go Crazy

I went to two very cool events last month in Shanghai.

Prior to the Shaolin Kung Fu show, I stopped for drinks and appetizers in Xintiandi at the TMSK bar. This is the bar made of psychedelic colored glass. Here is the bar seating area.

Shaolin Kungfu gets its name from its cradleland—Shaolin Temple on Song Mountain. In common parlance, all the Kungfu around world comes from Shaolin. Shaolin Kungfu is flexible and powerful, plain and simple, accurate and various. The program included:
Eighteen kinds of feats, 13 Buddhist monks help King Qin (Shaolin Legend), Shaolin Rigid Qigong, and Fight at the gate of the mountain.

It's difficult for me to put into words how magical the Roger Waters concert was. It was the same show that we saw in Chicago in September. I was in center row 11, and the stadium held about 9000. People flew in from other parts of China and several of my neighbors flew in from Japan just for the show (so, I'm not the only one who makes special trips for concerts!). Here are several pictures from the concert. I can't wait to see the show again in July at Wisconsin's Summerfest.

3/1/2007 Lion Dance

On the Rio: Lucky Dube ~ Feel Irie

The lion dance is an important tradition in China. Usually the dance is part of festivities like Chinese New Year, the openings of restaurants and weddings. If well-performed, the lion dance is believed to bring luck and happiness.

Although lions are not native in China, they came to this country via the famous Silk Road. Rulers in what is today Iran and Afghanistan sent lions to Chinese emperors as gifts in order to get the right to trade with Silk Road merchants. The lion dance dates back to the Han Dynasty (205 B.C. to 220 A.D in China) and during the Tang Dynasty (716-907 A.D.) it was at its peak. It was particularly performed during religious festivals.

The lion is enacted by two dancers. One handles the head, made out of strong but light materials like paper-mache and bamboo, the other plays the body and the tail under a cloth that is attached to the head. The 'animal' is accompanied by three musicians, playing a large drum, cymbals and a gong. A Little Buddha teases it with a fan or a giant ball. The head dancer can move the lion's eyes, mouth and ears for expression of moods.

The lion dance combines art, history and kung fu moves. Normally the performers are kung fu practitioners. Every kind of move has a specific musical rhythm. The music follows the moves of the lion: the drum follows the lion, the cymbals and the gong follow the drum player.
I saw 3 lion dances during the New Year's festivities, so I should be extra lucky during this coming year.