2010/02/19

"Ox out & Tiger in" New Year Fair - before opening

"Ox out & Tiger in" Chinese Lunar New Year Fair had been held in a week before Lunar New Year, i.e. Lunar 25th day last month of Ox Year to Lunar 1st day first month of Tiger Year. In Hong Kong, Victora Park was the biggest new year fair. There were 480 stalls where attracted thousands and thousands of people to visit there to pick up their festive kumquat trees and some auspicious flowering plants like peach, chrysanthemum, narcissus and fruit plants to bring good fortune in the Lunar New Year. Even the foreign people were attracted to visit new year fair for bargain-hunting and follow local customs to pick up the flowers.

1st day first month of Tiger Year coincided with St. Valentine's Day, i.e. 14 February. Both flower planters, vendors and opportunistic stallholders sold some Valentine's Day flowers and gifts. Besides, new year fair was more popular among the youths from various youth organisations, secondary schools and universities. They operated their stalls to sell some festive tiger-shape things such as cushions, hats, mittens, balloons, neckerchiefs, toys and souvenirs. In the area of dry-good stulls, their enthusiastic shouts and gestures drew the attention of the people. In fact, it gave a learning chance to the youths. They obtained more valuable experience of the business operations in the process of marketing research, positioning the business, marketing strategy and SWOT analysis. The stall marketing was helpful to the youths and they learned the knowledge about management and leadership. More importantly, the youths understood more their own strength and shortcoming as well as reviewed their philosophy.

Unfortunately, the continued cold rainfall caused that the sales slumped badly and some vendors suffered no small amount of loss. Even though the closing time was postponed to 7:00 am and the stallholders reduced the price for sales promotion, a large amount of goods and flowers still failed to be sold out. The 830 unsalable flowers were left to the charity organizations or hospitals.

In order to record the grand occasion of new year fair's 7 days by the photo-taking, I spent 6 days to visit there. From scaffolding, opening to closing, I took it near 900 photos. May be it is my great work. Dear friends, I select 100 photos to enjoy with you and let you feel the atmosphere of lunar new year. I divide the photo into four parts for your easily see:

"Ox out & Tiger in" New Year Fair - dry goods in fair
"Ox out & Tiger in" New Year Fair - wet goods in fair
"Ox out & Tiger in" New Year Fair - at closing
























































































































































2010/02/14

張敬軒軒動心弦演唱會
























年廿九去看了首場「張敬軒軒動心弦演唱會」後,覺得自己是聽八、九十年代歌曲長大的,對千禧年代的歌曲及新冒起的八十後歌手完全不熟識,張敬軒便是其中一位。

如果我聽過張敬軒歌曲的話,這一晚必會看得投入,說不定還會跟著唱出來,這才是看演唱會的吸引力,完全不是為看明星而捧場的。

張敬軒在演唱會的歌曲,絕大部份我未聽過,反而坐在我身旁的八十後青年,幾乎由頭唱到尾,他們明顯是張敬軒的Fans。除了Encore前的壓軸歌曲《酷愛》外,我比較熟悉的歌曲,竟然是他唱出別人的歌,包括《郎歸晚》、《舊夢不須記》、《奮鬥》,以及Encore環節唱出的新春賀年歌,包括《財神到》、《迎春花》、《歡樂年年》等,坐在我身旁的八十後青年,沒有跟著唱出來。

這晚演唱會的歌曲次序如下:
1. 未來的回憶
2. 披星戴月
3. 攝氏零度
4. 餘震
5. 騷靈情歌
6. 遇見
7. Saving All My Love For You (孟楠演唱)
8. 迷失表參道
9. 靜夜的單簧管
10. 櫻花樹下
11. 斷點
12. 無能為力
13. 過雲雨
14. 故園花茶
15. 相對論
16. 郎歸晚
17. 舊夢不需記
18. 奮鬥
19. 先入為主(與吳浩康合唱)
20. 洗剪吹(吳浩康演唱)
21. 曝光
22. 孤單公園
23. Yes and No
24. 愛愛愛 (與方大同合唱)
25. 玩樂(方大同演唱)
26. Hurt So Bad
27. 酷愛
28. 迎春花
29. 財神到
30. 歡樂年年
31. 喜氣洋洋
32. 恭喜恭喜
33. My Way
34. 陰天假期
35. 笑忘書

這個演唱會其實很好看,張敬軒是一位很成功的八十後歌手,在一眾新人中脫穎而出,他的嗓子十分動聽,在演唱上毫不吝嗇地展示出來,他的忠實歌迷讚他為「實力非凡」,的確實至名歸。

演唱會的舞台設計呈「8」字形,燈光效果使整個紅磡體育館更具浪漫動人的氣氛,感覺不錯。

















對於演唱會的意見,我認為要向主辦單位反映歌詞字幕問題,對於不熟識張敬軒的歌迷來講,附設歌詞有助投入欣賞,當晚只在一些非張敬軒原唱及國語歌曲才附設歌詞字幕,照看難度不大,也不會令製作成本增加,真不明白主辦單位為何不全部現場演唱的歌曲都加插字幕呢?

















另一問題,是否香港人習慣不守時?還是遲下班所致?明明演唱會在8時15分開始,但到了8時25分,還有很多觀眾未入場,有相為證:





2010/02/06

參加西九建築導賞後記

一個城市之所以偉大,除了本身的經濟成就或文化特質外,更重要的是歷史內涵與建築特色。香港的建築歷史並不悠長,但卻充滿中西合壁的豐富色彩,只要細心欣賞,便會發現箇中趣味與獨特的建築藝術。今天我參加了發展局主辦、香港建築中心協辦的西九建築導賞團 - 油麻地建築之旅,便領略到香港建築物的不同特色,從殖民時期風格演變至簡約主義,從20世紀初期到六十年代的變化,從英式建築到中式建築,原來可以在油尖一帶一一看到。我們欣賞這些建築物的同時,也應好好保護、保育,否則,我們的子孫只能從明信片或歷史檔案書籍中看到。































































































































































2010/01/31

鏡頭下的河背水塘美景

昨天,香港中心的遠足領隊夥同鄒主任往河背水塘遠足,為今年四月份遠足活動探路。前往河背水塘的交通十分方便,可在錦上路西鐵站公共交通交匯處乘搭71號專線小巴前往河背村(總站為元朗泰衡街至河背村)。在位於小巴總站的育英學校旁邊小路起步,沿斜路上山,步至半途,更可俯瞰錦田區。途經香港有機農莊,有興趣者可進內參觀,入場費20元,還有山水豆腐花供應。往上走不一會兒便到了燒烤場,這裡樹影婆娑,郁郁青青,再依路牌指示前行便到達河背水塘家樂徑入口。河背水塘曾被譽為郊野公園十大自然風景之一(得票率排名第十),家樂徑全長2.1公里,走畢全程約一小時,平坦易走,老少咸宜,圍著河背水塘緩緩行走,既可欣賞水塘景色,又可跟三五知己談談笑笑,好不寫意。河背水塘家樂徑輕鬆易走,絕對適合一家大小前往一遊。