Junk Trip



This picture was taken onboard the firm's junk this morning as we headed off for a trainee's excursion to one of Hong Kong's outerlying islands. (I work in the little pinkish tower on the left of that giant monolith - IFC2 - in the background of the picture. To the right, the building under construction in the Four Season's hotel. The green and white boat is the Star Ferry.)

The boat is not a traditional junk - it's actually a motor boat with brown wooden panelling. Employees of the firm are entitled to take it out for free according to a rotational schedule. Every eight weeks or so, the trainees have their turn.

We boarded the junk at around 10:30 (due mostly to my tardiness, as I was buying drinks from the local supermarket) at Queen's Pier. We headed off to Lamma Island, where we feasted on seafood at the most popular restaurant there. Afterwards, we made a detour to a quiet beach before heading back to the smog and people of Central.

It was a sensational day - the weather was absolutely brilliant and the humidity was at an almost manageable level. I've got a wicked farmer's tan. I feel completely exhausted now and I still a little bit wobbly from the waves. I think I need to have a Bex and a little lie down.

Falling for Raoul
Monkey forwarded me the link to the new gap ad for its broken-in jean, starring Italian actor, Raoul Bova... all I can say is *phwoar*! He is definitely challenging the incumbent Gab Aubrey for the "Best Lookin' Guy" title.

He's been referred to as the "Italian Brad Pitt", but in my little opinion, Brad simply can't compare.

He's starring as Diane Lane's love interest in Under Tuscan Sun, which is coming out later this year.

Check it out here and be v. impressed!

As a side note, there are three other Fall gap ads for women's stretch pants, starring Claudia Schiffer, Jacquetta Wheeler and others. They're pretty fun to watch as well.

More movies actually

It's that time again, when I blog about the upcoming films which I'm eagerly anticipating. Of course, I'd be one of the first in line to see LOTR: Return of the King, Matrix Revolutions and Kill Bill 1 & 2 (btw, there's a incredibly funny new trailer at Yahoo! Movies), but here are some others that seem worthy to see...


This season's most eagerly awaited film pour moi most definitely has to be Love Actually - the directorial debut of Richard Curtis (screenwriter of Four Weddings and a Funeral, Bridget Jones's Diary, & Notting Hill).

The film revolves around ten charming love stories played out by a dozen characters, all culminating on Christmas Eve. The love stories portrayed aren't confined to the standard "boy-meets-girl" formula. Instead, the film covers platonic, married, unrequited, childhood, and sibling varieties as well, in a bold gesture to prove that love is indeed all around. Not every story ends happily, but it gives me warm and fuzzy feeling just thinking about it.

Members of the love-fest include Hugh Grant, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Laura Linney, Colin Firth (!), Liam Neeson, Rowan Atkinson, Keira Knightley, Rodrigo Santoro (!) and Andrew Lincoln ("Egg" from This Life - above right). Apart from the stellar cast, expect to see plenty of cameos, especially in the scenes at the arrivals area or London's Heathrow Airport.

Early reviews and work-in-progress showings at the Toronto International Film Festival have been overwhelmingly positive, surpassing those of Curtis' earlier films.

It's released in the US on 14 November; Australians have to wait until Boxing Day.

(For those straight males who remain reluctant or apprehensive about watching the film under your own initiative, consider that the cast includes the girl from 24, the exchange student from American Pie, the sister from American Wedding, Denise Richards and showings of boobs. As I said, there's something for everyone.)

Just released in the US is Sophia Coppola's light comedy, Lost in Translation. Bill Murry stars as a famous Hollywood actor, who is enticed to make a commercial for Whiskey in Japan. He meets a directionless woman who followed her photographer boyfriend to Tokyo and an unusual friendship develops between them.

Mona Lisa Smile has the makings of a great chick flick. Julia Roberts plays a newly appointed faculty member of Wellesley in the 1950s. Those in her art history class include Kirsten Dunst, Julia Stiles and Maggie Gyllenhaal.

If its trailer is anything to go by, Luther should be an awesome film. Joseph Fiennes plays the "heretic, genius, liberator", Martin Luther. It opens 26 September.

Opening at the same time is Duplex with Ben Stiller and Drew Barrymore, playing newlyweds with a fabulous NYC, er, duplex, but with an incredibly annoying elderly neighbour.

The Scary Moive franchise may not be everyone's cup of tea, but the trailer for Scary Movie 3 is hilarious. Check out who is under the bedsheet in the scene that spoofs The Others... now, that is scary.

Finally, the Director's Cut of Alien will be released on Halloween. Alien on the bigscreen will definitely be worth the price of an admission ticket.

Hello, you reached the office of Mr Queer

During the lunch break today, when most people around the department floor were out, I closed my office door and proceeded to record my voicemail message. To help things out, I read from the firm's recommended message script. That really didn't help much though... it was only after the 8th attempt that I pretty much gave up on things and left the recording be.

As I replayed each attempt, I couldn't help but cringe. It wasn't due to the loudly vocalised expletives, which seemed to come after every stutter, slur or awkward pause I made (v. unprofessional). It was my reaction to the sound of my voice! I absolutely loathed how gay I sounded! I can just imagine future listeners thinking, "Gosh, this guy sounds like such a big faggoty homo!"

It reminded me of the video S-M recorded at the end of high school. When we all saw the edited version of the tape at Will's place for the first time, I couldn't help but cringe then as now, all the way through it... at my actions, at my speech... it was all so nelly. How could everyone not know then?

No matter how far I seem to have journeyed towards a greater level of self-acceptance, it's troubling to realise that I still retain such strong residual feelings of self-loathing and homophobia. It's something that definitely has to change... how else am I gonna be able to moonlight as a phone sex operator?

Spin off

Successful blog-sitter and cheeky primate, "Monkey" has a cool, new blog at [Monkey has taken it off]. Check it out.

Day One

As I was walked through the Central MTR station this morning, trying my best to dodge the throngs of people heading off to work, I couldn't resist singing in my head Carly Simon's awesome song, Let the River Run. I absolutely adore the opening sequence to Working Girl. In many ways, the director, Mike Nichols, portrayed the mundane daily journey to work as a completely exciting and inspirational event. Even though I may not be Melanie Griffith (I have way better legs), nor did I just pop off the Staten Island Ferry, I was completely thrilled with the prospect of going to work and starting a new chapter in my life.

Our first induction day began, with eleven new trainees and four trainees seconded from London, meeting up at the firm's spanking new reception area. We were then herded into a training room whereby we were given volumes of firm literature. The day ended early at 6, but I was absolutely exhausted from the sheer amount of information that was bombarded towards us. To think, all this related to office administration!

I'm amazed that induction stretches three days. Work may start on Thursday, but we've got a public long weekend starting on Friday.

I share an office with my trainer. It's suprisingly spacious, and there's an awesome view East towards the Exhibition Centre in Wanchai.

Training at the firm consists of four rotational seats over two years. If things run smoothly, I'll be fully qualified as a solicitor at the end of the period. I have my first seat in International Capital Markets (ICM). Two other new trainees have been posted there as well, and none of us really knows what sort of work we will be doing... there will definitely be a steep learning curve. I'm excited that my last seat will be in London.

I've got a lot of reading to do tonight, but I'm not complaining (yet). I'm buzzed. Now, all I have to do is find a crazy, big-haired side-kick like Joan Cusack...

The Start of Something New

I'm terribly anxious about starting work tomorrow... it is my first permanent full-time job! I'm as excited as a bookish schoolgirl on the eve of her first day of high school.

I spent the last three days walking around the shopping centres of HK in search of shirts and a new suit. It has been an absolutely exhausting mission. I must have tried on at least a dozen suits, most were absolutely not to my liking. I finally settled for a black one this afternoon. By then, I was completely fed up with searching anymore. I may love clothes, but the process - shopping - is almost always a complete drag. I'm hoping I can pass off with wearing only two suits (my other one is a 4 year old dark navy Calibre, which I love to death) until I make another trip to Sydney. Then, I could finally get one (or more) suits from my absolute favourite store, Calibre.

I got the name and address of Vic's shirt tailor and went over to Central to get some measured up for me as well. I went into the store, and one of the first questions he asked me was "Are you a lawyer?".

The tailor had his store in a discrete shopping centre in Central. I expected it would be half empty, considering most people would be shopping elsewhere. However, I didn't realise that most of the stores there catered to HK's Filippina maid community. The place was like a maze, with with floor after floor of narrow corridors, dim lighting and low ceilings. Add in the massive crowds and the pumping dance music that congregates here every given Sunday, you could definitely imagine that the centre could be HK's only regular weekly "tea party".

Btw, tailored shirts are pretty affordable here. I made an order for 7 and it cost less than HK$2,000. That's around A$50 a shirt, made-to-measure. I get to try my first shirt on Tuesday. I get the rest on Wednesday.

Words

At Changi Airport. Again.

Since I told my parents about the good news, they haven't stopped providing little notes of advice to me. Most of what they had to say was general common sense - things every parent tells their child about - how to manage finances, eating well, staying healthy, etc. However, as we were driving to the airport, my mum mentioned something that we had never really discussed before - me finding a (male) life partner. She had hoped that I would find someone to share my life with... a life partner, akin to that of a husband or a wife.

My parents opinion on my sexuality has changed dramatically over recent years. I remain astonished at how quickly they have come to accept things... in many ways, it is me who is the one who is uncomfortable with the situation.

When they finally realised that I was "gay-for-life" (prior to that, it was merely a "phase"), both of them cried. My mum, a devout Catholic, would go to church several times a week, to pray for my soul. My dad, although not religious, made his opinion clear to me, saying that homosexuality was abhorrent and the only thing that would disgust him more would be if one of his children were a drug-user.

I wonder how they would feel in the future, however unlikely it may be that I do find a guy I want to spend my life with, whether or not they would be willing to go all the way and consider celebrating such a relationship with a big Chinese wedding banquet?

Final hour

I PASSED!

I am so incredibly relieved. Immediately after I read the email from the Dean this evening, I ran into the kitchen and told my parents. Then, to prevent complete embarassment, I ran back into my bedroom, said a prayer of thanks and burst into tears. I am not the type to cry, but I was completely overwhelmed with emotions.

These past two months have been the toughest in my life. I've had a near-death experience a few years ago, but that really cannot compare to the rollar-coaster ride of emotions I have experienced this year.

For the past few days, I've been on the brink of a nervous breakdown. I haven't been able to sleep. I had sent numerous emails to various instructors at the university, but I had not received any reply. As the days slowly passed, it looked as though the chances for receiving word of my results became increasingly slim. I almost lost all hope of starting work next week or at all. I even began planning on what I would do, if I had to return to Sydney, just to pass the time.

Then, I received word from the university an hour ago. It was as though the Governor had given his reprieve one minute to midnight, before the prisoner was submitted to a lethal injection.

I have to thank from the bottom of my heart, all those who supported me during this difficult time. All those who encouraged me with their words; who tried to cheer me up when I felt bummed; who were willing to hear me bitch on and on - you have been great friends and I thank you all. I should stop before this sounds like a corny Oscars speech...

Now, I have so much to do to prepare for work on Monday. I didn't even consider buying clothes for work. I haven't had a haircut in 7 weeks, and I look pretty haggard. I'm not complaining though. I'm just so ecstatic.

Off the topic... take a gander into this month's Australian Cosmopolitan magazine. Liz was photographed in it in a 80's-inspired ensemble a la Punky Brewster!

Arnie says Oui

When evidence surfaced this week at TheSmokingGun.com of the frisky antics of his youth, Arnold Schwarzenegger calmly proclaimed that he hadn't lived his life to be a politician. However, by the responses in the interview he conducted with Oui (the adult mag which Paker Posey's Connie, the "friendly skies" stewardess passes on to Laura Linney's Mary-Ann in Tales Of The City) in 1977, it’s clear his drug and sexual history would make any Kennedy proud.

The interview is quite the read, with Arnie discussing such topics as his recreational use of marijuana, sex before competition, penis size, being “exploited” by women purely because they are interested in his physique, and gym gang bangs (as one does in the gym in between work outs). As for his response to the question, "Do you get freaked out by being in such close contact with men in the gym?" Schwarzenegger replied:

"Not at all. When I was playing soccer at the age of 14, the first thing we'd do before going out onto the field would be to climb up on one another's thighs and massage the legs; it was a regular thing. None of us had a thought of being gay, absolutely not, and it's the same with bodybuilders. Men shouldn't feel like fags just because they want to have nice-looking bodies. Another thing: Recently I posed for a gay magazine, which caused much comment. But it doesn't bother me. Gay people are fighting the same kind of stereotyping that bodybuilders are: People have certain misconceptions about them just as they do about us. Well, I have absolutely no hang-ups about the fag business; though it may bother some bodybuilders, it doesn't affect me at all."

He commented Wednesday that he is against gay (or should that be fag) marriage, but favours domestic partnerships, as marriage is meant to be between a Mahn unt Vuu-mahn.

Publicity whores

By now, I presume everyone has seen, read or heard about the outrageous opening number performed by Madonna, Britney and Christina at the MTV Video Awards? (Channel Ten repeated footage of it at least 5 times during its hour-long news broadcast.)

For those who haven’t, this is what happened…
Britney emerged from an enormous white wedding cake in a wedding dress and veil. After Britney sang several verses from "Like a Virgin," Christina came out and picked up the vocals. Madonna then descended from the cake, dressed in black (as the groom, I presume) and singing "Hollywood". The whole performance culminated with Britney kissing Mads, who then turned and delivered one to Christina. Missy Elliot was in the girl-mix as well, but she was all but forgotten by the upstaging antics of the other three.

As MTV put it:
Anyone who's ever questioned Britney or Madonna's acting abilities should reconsider. Not only did the ladies show off some blood-pressure-raising moves, their kisses were nothing like the infamous mouth mush between Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley and far more like something from late-night Cinemax.

For a blow-by-blow account of the opening number and the rest of the awards show, MTV has its own synopsis.
To download the performance, go to this Britney fansite.

In news surrounding the performance, LA's KTLA-TV reported that Britney allegedly rinsed with Listerine following the performance, likening the "open mouth, no tongue" to "kissing the NBA." *ouch*

Christina returned later in the show to perform a medley of "Dirrty" and "Fighter" from Stripped. Afterwards, host Chris Rock quipped, "You'll be hearing those songs at strip clubs for years to come". *miao*

Later, at the Maverick VMA After Party, which was attended by Britney, Christina wore a button on her jacket that said "I fucked Britney Spears".

Britney had strong reservations about the pash during rehearsals, which led Access Hollywood asking Christina later if she thought Britney needed to loosen up. Christina retorted, "Yeah but I think she needs to loosen up in general". *hiss*

Justin *sigh*, more diplomatically, said he was not shocked by the performance and that he liked it. He said, “it was sexy” and he “won’t take that away from anyone up there” (whatever that means). Justin also said the cameras were right there and as soon as Madonna and Britney kissed they just went in his face and that is the reason why he had a weird facial expression. Y'know, I even believe that.

I’m making an official statement. I love Christina.

Obladi Oblada
I must give a round of applause and super big thanks to Adrian. Yay! He did an awesome job with his daily postings (including linking a pornsite to the blog for the first time). I thoroughly enjoyed reading his entries and I, like many others, can’t wait to start reading about the Monkey’s daily spankings in the near future. He really showed dedication and talent to this medium, which I have always lacked. Anyway, with that said, I’m back with my (semi) regular writings, so I’m warning all of you now.

I’ve really enjoyed my last 2 weeks in Sydney. It’s been a bit hard to relax and unwind, but I’ve tried - you can give me an A for that. I’ve vegged out, watched a whole load of television (I had a marathon viewing of The Block, which my sister taped for me) and saw plenty of films (from ones I would recommend, like Identity and The Italian Job, to the celluloid abomination that is From Justin, To Kelly).

There’s no word still of when the exam result will come out. I’m praying that it will come this week – work is suppose to start on Monday week and it's conditional upon me passing by then. Good results or bad, I leave Sydney on Thursday morning.

Again, thanks for the work, Adrian. I'll let folks know when your blog swings into action.

Bye-bye!

Bye-bye!

Well, I think we're reaching the end. August is almost over, so it's about time to hand over the reins back to Keith and say goodbye to this blog and "all you wonderful people out there in the dark".

I must say, my respect for bloggers has increased a hundredfold. It's time-consuming, isn't it? And the ability to think in short form is a real skill. Thank you to those who offered insights on gay models, Arnie, Alexander the Great, dramatic representations of Hitler, sexuality and religion, and Pauline Hanson, and who offered kind advice and notes on issues such as online dating, hat-wearing, facials, and funerals.

I've had so much fun that I'm thinking of commencing my own blog. I still haven't figured out the title -- there are a few ideas floating around, and Keith has given me some ideas, too. We'll see.

Hmm, it would be appropriate to break off with some resounding witty one-liner, or a conclusive aphorism, or even a musical or Hollywood-style finish. Sunday in the Park with George? White, a blank page or canvas. His favourite. So many possibilities...no, no one will know what I'm talking about... We sail to history! No, no, that won't do. I'll be back! *groan* And now Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up...? Ooh, or how about Captain Kirk's final words in that magnum opus, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, just after Spock has sacrificed himself for the good of the crew and the Genesis Planet has come into existence. You'll have to imagine me delivering this line with excruciating pauses in between the words, and general overacting:

"Young...I feel...young!"

cheesy James Horner music swells as the scene shifts to the vast expanse of space, with all its possibilities

The Colombian

The Colombian

Last night was fun. I had dinner with Keith, my friend Joe, and Joe's best friend at an Indian restaurant in Surry Hills. Joe impressed us all with his fluency in Hindi. Afterwards, Keith and I went to the Colombian, a bar on Oxford St., where as it happens a talent contest was taking place at the time. We saw a lady sing 'Cabaret', an oiled-up guy dance to a Britney Spears song, a mock fashion parade featuring two women with whips and dodgy German accents and two (presumably straight) guys dressed in frilly pink pyjamas, and finally another singer doing a fun rendition of 'Route 66'. Bar-hopping of any kind is unusual for both Keith and me, so this was a bit of an eye-opener for us.

I like the Colombian. It has a nice atmosphere, and the people are regular and down-to-earth. That includes the drag queens, who were out in force last night.

Online Dating

Online Dating

I am on a dating profile website.

Well, ok, technically speaking, the website isn't restricted to dating. It's designed to encourage both gays and lesbians to communicate and forge friendships from the privacy of their homes. The site has a chat function, updates its news service every few days, and offers a regular medical-advice column. So it ain't exactly matchmaker.com.au. To keep things fun (with the possibility open for cattiness), profiled people are able to rate each other on a scale from 1 to 10.

The thing is, I worry incessantly now about my rating, whether my profile is grammatically correct, and how easy it is for people to identify me from the photo I put up (the less obvious the better). Even worse, there's a guy who's been e-mailing me, on and off, for the past 3 months...in spite of the fact that I've only contacted him twice during that time, and on both occasions have deliberately kept things impersonal. I'm not interested, but he persists with his advances. He's perfectly polite, but his behaviour seems vaguely stalkerish to me. What's disconcerting is that he lists "Asian men and boys" as his interests, and I'm not sure which category I'm supposed to fit into. He's also a good deal older than I am. I'm not sure what troubles me more: his online stalking or his potential infantilization of me. He lives in Sydney, and I am often in the area. As a friend pointed out, he may well be sending these e-mails to several people. Maybe it's just that I've seen plenty of those internet action and horror movies, like Sandra Bullock's The Net or the German schlockfest, Fatal Online Attraction. Has anyone else had this experience? What should I do?