Kong Hei Fat Choy 2010 – 愉快的中國新年 2010 年

Happy Chinese New Year 2010! Firecrackers have been going off for a few days here in Macau, China with fireworks on the water and throngs of visitor’s in the casinos.

I have my 2010 Tiger decorations up around the house (which I’m told can stay up all year) and received my lucky three oranges as a gift from a friend. We’ve been giving out the lucky red Lycee envelopes filled with Macau money (Patacas) to our doormen and women as a sign of good luck for the coming year and declaring “Kong Hei Fat Choy” to all of our Chinese friends.

My Chinese friends say I am “only half Chinese, but maybe someday 100% Chinese”. 愉快的中國新年2010年

Mad Dog Hong Kong MC

Mad Dog Hong Kong MC

A shout out to the Mad Dog motorcycle club in Hong Kong. I thought their leather vests were way cool and asked a member how I could get one. The response started with a polite sneer and ended with a rundown of the commitment and dedication the members have to their club. So I guess the only way I’ll get the vest is to get a knock off made at a local tailor in Macau or Zhuhai – and then if a Mad Dog ever sees me wearing it they’ll kick my butt – so maybe I won’t do that….

Back in the late 90’s or so I did have the privilege of playing for Sonny Barger of the Hell’s Angels. It was a private party and I was playing with Freddy Fender – I think it was in Hollister, CA. I remember Sonny approached Freddy to play a specific song and Freddy was like “Yes sir” – which was pretty funny because Freddy was a longtime Harley rider and a badass in his own right. But there’s a pecking order.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AEymY2U1FI

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O Holy Night – Celtic Singers

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDeXUvWbLp8

There is a little confusion in China when it comes to Western holidays. For instance, on Christmas Eve the street was littered with confetti as people exploded party poppers at the stroke of midnight for the beginning of Christmas Day. And then Auld Lang Syne is playing on all the bar sound systems. Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve – what’s the difference right? Ugh.

So thank you to my friend from the Great White North who sent me this. I got home tonight as Christmas Eve turned to Christmas Day in China. Was feeling very sad not to be with my family, and to not have the usual Christmas events around me. This video helped center me a bit.

Her is an alternate verse for O Holy Night (Cantique de Noel), and I think a more powerful one.

Chains shall he break
for the slave is our brother
And in His name
all oppression shall cease

Sweet hymns of joy
In grateful chorus raise we
Let all within us
Praise His holy name

Christ is the Lord
And ever ever praise we
Noel, Noel

O night, O night divine
Noel, Noel
O night, O night divine

China Bans Individuals from Registering Websites

I really could not believe this news. I read it several times to make sure I was not misunderstanding it. Since I run many websites I had contemplated running a Chinese network hosted in China – and I’m so glad now that I didn’t do that. What a waste it would have been.

In short: China will be reviewing all personal Chinese websites for content; will ban any website they think has bad content (porn, anti-government, dissidents, etc.); and anyone registering a new domain will have to present business papers.

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Chinese Activist Living in Narita Airport

Remember the Tom Hanks movie Terminal? There’s a real life version of that in Japan’s Narita airport. A Chinese activist has been denied entry into mainland China on multiple occasions and doesn’t want to enter Japan – so they are living in the Narita airport terminal.

Feng Zhenghu has been living there for a couple months now. There’s no restaurants in the entry terminal so he’s relying on handouts from passengers and flight attendants. Great story.

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/12/03/japan.chinese.activist/index.html

ZAIA Celebrates 500 Shows

ZAIA Cirque 500 Shows Poster
ZAIA Cirque 500 Shows Poster

November 12, 2009 was the celebration for the 500th performance of the ZAIA show by Cirque Du Soleil in Macau, China. Cirque founder Guy Laliberte flew in for the performance and toasted the artists and crew. Family and friends were also invited for the occasion.

Guy Laliberte and Conrad Askland
Conrad Askland and Guy Laliberte

Conrad Askland (ZAIA keyboards and assistant bandleader) and Guy Laliberte.

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Chinese Opera – Macau 2009

Chinese opera from Olimilch on Vimeo.

Chinese Opera filmed May 1, 2009 on Coloane Island, Macau (SAR) China. These performances every year on Taipa Island (Macau, China) also. I’ve stood by the musician pit many times to watch them play and it’s fascinating. I have to admit I cringe a little when the Chinese opera sopranos start singing, but I’m starting to acquire a taste for the male voices.

Happy 60th Birthday to the People’s Republic of China

china-60-anniversary

Conrad Askland, from Mount Vernon, WA USA, is currently living in Macau (SAR) China while working with the Cirque Du Soleil ZAIA show at the Venetian Macao. In Asia he has also performed in Shanghai, South Korea and Japan.

October 1, 2009 – 中国加油，中国万岁

Happy Sixty Year Anniversary to the People’s Republic of China!

It’s a four day holiday for the locals here in China. When locals have holidays it usually means that I work more; doing entertainment shows to accommodate the tourists.

China’s last 60 years has been bittersweet with a unified people exposed to both hard living and the largest economic boom in modern history. At the end of my blog post there’s a link to a great CNN article by Jaime FlorCruz that gives an overview of China’s 60 years as The People’s Republic of China.

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