Frequently being asked about questions of the Chinese language, I found that the more I try to explain it, the more I appreciate it. I realized that in the Kangxi Dictionary there are 47,035 characters, but for computer Big 5, there are only 13,060 characters available. It's fun but hard to explain the application, depth, and beauty of the Chinese language. Hope I could do it better and better. :)
Suddenly I thought of the beautiful dialogue referred by a good friend from The World of Huanzang and Silk Road few days ago.
"曾經有一份真摯的愛擺在我的面前, 但是我沒有珍惜, 直到失去的時候才後悔莫及, 塵世間最痛苦的事莫過於此,如果上天能再給我一次機會的話, 我會對這個女孩說"我愛你" ,如果非要在這份愛加上一個期限, 我希望是...........一萬年"
Translation:
A love used to be put right in front of me, but I didn't appreciate it until I lost it and regretted miserably. What can be more painful than it? If I can have the chance again, I would tell her "I love you". If expiration is required to put on the love, I hope it is... ten thousand years.
There are many things can’t be translated well among languages, such as poems, emotions, and etc. Somehow, the translation of a novel is relatively easier, although the artistic conception might not be revealed adequately as well.
2008/03/30
2008/03/27
New experience in the past two weeks
I went rock climbing for the first time, and could climb up to level 5.
I cooked for eight people for the first time, and it was going quite well.
I had dinner with 3 continental vice presidents and etc., and it's proved that CVPs' are normal human beings as well. :P
It's quite exciting to have new experience anyway! ^^
By the way, in some movie theathers in Holland, every week one selected movie would be played at one time slot. It costs less, but you never know what you would get until the second the movie start being played. For foreigners, it's even more tricky. Could you imagine that you paid, sat down, was ready to enjoy the movie, and then a Franch/Spanish/German movie started with Dutch subtitles? It would be a funny experience as well. However we were lucky to get a good movie "The Bucket List", in English.
I cooked for eight people for the first time, and it was going quite well.
I had dinner with 3 continental vice presidents and etc., and it's proved that CVPs' are normal human beings as well. :P
It's quite exciting to have new experience anyway! ^^
By the way, in some movie theathers in Holland, every week one selected movie would be played at one time slot. It costs less, but you never know what you would get until the second the movie start being played. For foreigners, it's even more tricky. Could you imagine that you paid, sat down, was ready to enjoy the movie, and then a Franch/Spanish/German movie started with Dutch subtitles? It would be a funny experience as well. However we were lucky to get a good movie "The Bucket List", in English.
2008/03/25
France - Mont Saint-Michiel, Saint-Malo, and Normandy - 2008/03/21 ~ 2008/03/24
During the Easter, we decided to visit Mont Saint-Michiel in France. We encountered heavy rain, heavy snow, sweet sunshine, and mixed weather sometimes. The weather changes all the time. How lucky we were that when we drove or were indoor, the bad weather came; when we arrived and were ready for visiting, the sun came out. It's a special experience. :)
Recommended Hotel
Hotel Patton
Tel: +33 (0) 2 33 48 52 52
Add: 93, Rue de la Constitution, 50300 Avranches
Mont Saint-Michiel
On Saturday, we changed the first visiting from Saint Malo to Mont Saint-Michiel because of the unexpected sunny day! Mont Saint-Michiel is an rocky island connected to the mainland by a narrow land bridge. Parking the car down and next to the land bridge, people have to walk into the town through a little wooden bridge. There is a monastery on the top with beautiful scenery. What I like most is the walking on the beach around the island during sunset. The incredible golden color covered the water lines wandering through the sands. One hour later, the high tide submerged the parking lot and the pedestrian bridge. People were reminded to move their cars to the land bridge and an announcement was made in the town to ensure that people knew they had to leave ASAP if they don't want to be stuck in the town in the coming few hours.
Recommended Restaurant
La Mère Poulard
Tel: +33 (0)2 33 89 68 68
Add: Grande Rue BP 1850170 LE MONT SAINT MICHEL
Saint-Malo
In the Sunday morning, we visited Saint-Malo, used to be a piratic town. The sea food is very fresh and the price is relatively cheap. You may have a set meal with a substantial seafood plate as a starter by only 16 euros.
Recommended Restaurant
Restaurant des Remparts
Tel: +33 (0)2 99 40 91 23
Add: 17, rue Jacques Cartier, 25400 Saint-Malo, France
Normandy
In the Sunday afternoon, we went to Normandy to approach the history of World War II. There are still some concretes left on the beach or in the ocean. The beach is too peaceful to believe that a war did occur here in year 1944.
Recommended Hotel
Hotel Patton
Tel: +33 (0) 2 33 48 52 52
Add: 93, Rue de la Constitution, 50300 Avranches
Mont Saint-Michiel
On Saturday, we changed the first visiting from Saint Malo to Mont Saint-Michiel because of the unexpected sunny day! Mont Saint-Michiel is an rocky island connected to the mainland by a narrow land bridge. Parking the car down and next to the land bridge, people have to walk into the town through a little wooden bridge. There is a monastery on the top with beautiful scenery. What I like most is the walking on the beach around the island during sunset. The incredible golden color covered the water lines wandering through the sands. One hour later, the high tide submerged the parking lot and the pedestrian bridge. People were reminded to move their cars to the land bridge and an announcement was made in the town to ensure that people knew they had to leave ASAP if they don't want to be stuck in the town in the coming few hours.
Recommended RestaurantLa Mère Poulard
Tel: +33 (0)2 33 89 68 68
Add: Grande Rue BP 1850170 LE MONT SAINT MICHEL
Saint-Malo
In the Sunday morning, we visited Saint-Malo, used to be a piratic town. The sea food is very fresh and the price is relatively cheap. You may have a set meal with a substantial seafood plate as a starter by only 16 euros.
Recommended RestaurantRestaurant des Remparts
Tel: +33 (0)2 99 40 91 23
Add: 17, rue Jacques Cartier, 25400 Saint-Malo, France
Normandy
In the Sunday afternoon, we went to Normandy to approach the history of World War II. There are still some concretes left on the beach or in the ocean. The beach is too peaceful to believe that a war did occur here in year 1944.
Yes, it's ASML on the Normany beach... :P
It's my favorite photo in the D-Day Museum. It's quite amazing to see how the artificial concretes and bridges were built for logistics supplies within 12 days.
2008/03/17
Awake
Sometimes
People treat you very well, but you can't treat them well
Sometimes
Happiness is in front of you, but you keep it away
Sometimes
You know the chances might not come back, but you leave them alone
You went for a danger
got lost
Awake
Would you get out of the danger
Would you take the happiness
or would you get out of the danger without taking the happiness
What are you looking for
People treat you very well, but you can't treat them well
Sometimes
Happiness is in front of you, but you keep it away
Sometimes
You know the chances might not come back, but you leave them alone
You went for a danger
got lost
Awake
Would you get out of the danger
Would you take the happiness
or would you get out of the danger without taking the happiness
What are you looking for
2008/03/15
Netherlands - Marken, Volendam, Huisduinen & Julianadorp - 2008/03/15
It's a sunny day! Spring is coming! What can I ask more than it! :)
Taking the boat to Volendam...
Eating the Dutch fish sandwich for lunch... ok. I know it's not professional introduction, but I don't know the name... :P
From the historic spot, we got the view of Julianadorp with the light house.
The sunset looked warm in the cold. Lying on the grasses... the time stopped...
Around noon time, we arrived Marken, a lovely fishing town with houses mainly in green and white. Driving to Marken is a joy because the way to the island is basically through the ocean, with many flights of birds flying in the sky. Like the buddy bodies in US or the cat bodies in Taiwan, there are bird bodies on the roads. It's natural, but I felt sorry about it. They are so beautiful.
Taking the boat to Volendam...Eating the Dutch fish sandwich for lunch... ok. I know it's not professional introduction, but I don't know the name... :PFrom the historic spot, we got the view of Julianadorp with the light house.
The sunset looked warm in the cold. Lying on the grasses... the time stopped...
2008/03/10
A key which could open all the doors
Finally I moved from the hotel to the apartment today. Although there is a second bedroom, I would rather exchange it with a garden or a closer parking lot. ha ha.. don't get me wrong… I do like and appreciate what I got this time. The apartment is very new, and in fact I am the second person to live in it. The last tenant must be a guy because most the stuff in the kitchen has never been used.
One incredible thing is that when we arrived the apartment, the housing agency realized that the last tenant didn't return the key, so she asked me to take the key which could actually open all the apartments on the same floor. What can I say? They do trust people. However I think it's not fair to the other tenants because they don't even know that someone else has the key to open their doors. They are lucky that I am not a bad person. :P
To me the separated lavatory with such a small sink is very Dutch. The height of this stool is considered as low. Sometimes you could experience a stool which you could rock your legs without touching the floor. Since the average height of Dutch is around 185cm, a high stool should be in fact a reasonable design, isn't it? :)
One incredible thing is that when we arrived the apartment, the housing agency realized that the last tenant didn't return the key, so she asked me to take the key which could actually open all the apartments on the same floor. What can I say? They do trust people. However I think it's not fair to the other tenants because they don't even know that someone else has the key to open their doors. They are lucky that I am not a bad person. :P
To me the separated lavatory with such a small sink is very Dutch. The height of this stool is considered as low. Sometimes you could experience a stool which you could rock your legs without touching the floor. Since the average height of Dutch is around 185cm, a high stool should be in fact a reasonable design, isn't it? :)
2008/03/08
Germany - Dusseldorf - 2008/03/08
The main purpose of this trip is to go to a Japanese restaurant. Waiting in a queue about 40 minutes, my colleagues and I finally got in the restaurant and had the pure la mian. :)
NA NI WA
noodles & soups
Address: Oststr.55, 40211 Dusseldorf, Germany
Phone: 0211-16 17 99
After the late lunch, we walked in the city center, had great Italian ice cream, and watched the crowd drinking on the streets.
Of course we joined them, emptying the dark beers on the street.
Dusseldorf is a city good for shopping, so not really a place for me. However there are many nice restaurants!
NA NI WA
noodles & soups
Address: Oststr.55, 40211 Dusseldorf, Germany
Phone: 0211-16 17 99
After the late lunch, we walked in the city center, had great Italian ice cream, and watched the crowd drinking on the streets.
Of course we joined them, emptying the dark beers on the street.
Dusseldorf is a city good for shopping, so not really a place for me. However there are many nice restaurants!
2008/03/07
Where does the urine go...
In Holland, during the weekends or festival periods (or make it simple, anytime when the government expects that people would drink a lot), you might see few or a line of prominent facilities for guys' convenience on the pavements or squares. I am not sure whether it's Dutch only, but one of my German friends was curious about it as well when she saw it. Anyway, taking the mission required by a friend, I asked my Dutch colleague "where does the urine go actually?" To answer the question, my lovely colleague called the government. :P
The answer is kind of too simple. It goes nowhere! They periodically suck urine from the facility, which is no more than collecting the urine in this case. The other brilliant guesses such as pipes under ground and etc. are just high tech fantasy. No wonder why it could be very smelly. ^^
The photo below was copied from http://pic.jxnews.com.cn/0/02/29/95/2299579_660747.jpg because I didn't dare, or didn't get a good chance, to take photos when people used toilets.
The answer is kind of too simple. It goes nowhere! They periodically suck urine from the facility, which is no more than collecting the urine in this case. The other brilliant guesses such as pipes under ground and etc. are just high tech fantasy. No wonder why it could be very smelly. ^^
2008/03/02
Back to the cheeses' world
This morning eating the breakfast in the restaurant of Dorint Sofitel in Eindhoven, I faced up to the fact that I am back to the Netherlands, with a mess biological clock. I have stayed in the Netherlands for more than 15 months since September 2004, and at least one third of the days in the past year was spent here as well. Now the Netherlands is kind of my second home country, but still in a distance somehow. Staring at the cheeses, I thought of the discussions about what and how people like and don’t like this country and culture. Sometimes what people experienced could be quite different from what I experienced, but so what? It’s like the discussion about any other country and culture; always diverse from people to people, but still interesting to share. :)
Yesterday the flight was nice because there were less than 50 passengers. I could lie down to sleep, wherever I like. The atmosphere was kind of relaxing and quiet in the passenger cabin. The returning flight is a charter flight so I was just lucky to take this one.
Today I decided to go nowhere, but take it easy to finish an English novel, based on a real story, "for one more day" which I hadn't finished in the airplane. It's a nice book and easy to read. The story starts from the point that a guy tried to kill himself. The reason he did so is that he couldn't forgive himself. Actually he didn't do anything horrible to the society, but just couldn't bear the fact that he didn't recognize and support the love from his mom and didn't treat her well. It's a novel to make people think who the ones really care and love you, what and who you really should treasure in your life, what you should do before it's too late, and etc.
Warren Buffet said “Money doesn't create man but it is the man who created money. Live your life as simple as you are. Listen to what others say, but do what you feel good.” While the world encourages people to be smart and successful, do we miss something critical essentially? As in the story, the leading character was shamed of his mother’s job, but later he realized that the greatness of his mom was the meaning and purpose of taking the job, not the job itself. Sometimes when we think we are smart, we actually miss something. That's why I always hope not to be smart in personal life. “Don’t focus on arguing the logic with your family, but share and support them emotionally.” Maybe I should start to write a letter... :)
Yesterday the flight was nice because there were less than 50 passengers. I could lie down to sleep, wherever I like. The atmosphere was kind of relaxing and quiet in the passenger cabin. The returning flight is a charter flight so I was just lucky to take this one.
Today I decided to go nowhere, but take it easy to finish an English novel, based on a real story, "for one more day" which I hadn't finished in the airplane. It's a nice book and easy to read. The story starts from the point that a guy tried to kill himself. The reason he did so is that he couldn't forgive himself. Actually he didn't do anything horrible to the society, but just couldn't bear the fact that he didn't recognize and support the love from his mom and didn't treat her well. It's a novel to make people think who the ones really care and love you, what and who you really should treasure in your life, what you should do before it's too late, and etc.
Warren Buffet said “Money doesn't create man but it is the man who created money. Live your life as simple as you are. Listen to what others say, but do what you feel good.” While the world encourages people to be smart and successful, do we miss something critical essentially? As in the story, the leading character was shamed of his mother’s job, but later he realized that the greatness of his mom was the meaning and purpose of taking the job, not the job itself. Sometimes when we think we are smart, we actually miss something. That's why I always hope not to be smart in personal life. “Don’t focus on arguing the logic with your family, but share and support them emotionally.” Maybe I should start to write a letter... :)