Living in faraway countries as I do most of the time these days, I'm begining to feel an ever increasing sense of shame at my complete lack of foreign language skills...
So I decided today to change all that starting with a 5 minute crash course in Chinese as follows:
English
Chinese
That's not right
Sum Ting Wong
Are you harboring a fugitive?
Hu Yu Hai Ding
See me ASAP
Kum Hia Nao
Stupid Man
Dum Fuk
Small Horse
Tai Ni Po Ni
Did you go to the beach?
Wai Yu So Tan
I bumped into a coffee table
Ai Bang Mai Fu Kin Ni
I think you need a face lift
Chin Tu Fat
It's very dark in here
Wai So Dim
I thought you were on a diet
Wai Yu Mun Ching
This is a tow away zone
No Pah King
Our meeting is scheduled next week
Wai Yu Kum Nao
Staying out of sight
Lei Ying Lo
He's cleaning his automobile
Wa Shing Ka
Your body odor is offensive
Yu Stin Ki Pu
Great
Fa Kin
Well I tried these newly learned phrases on my Chinese colleagues at the office and, well, I don't know if I'm doing it right because I seem to be getting the 'stupid man' expression on their faces (see Chinese equivalent above). Uhm... maybe I'm not pronouncing the tones right!?
Anyway, I did find a really useful online website for a crash course learning of the Chinese lingo >> Learn Real Chinese The good old BBC for you eh!
If only the BBC would do something on learning Vietnamese. I mean... I've no excuse for NOT learning the Vietnamese Lingo being that I have a Vietnamese wife. My Dear has promised me lessons but I'm still waiting... or I've been procrastinating... or something...
SO WHAT"S SPURRED THIS LAZY ENGLISHMAN TO HAVE A CRACK AT LEARNING THE LINGO?
Well if you really wanna know... It's that bloody blog by >> JOE – or is that Joe Blog – Eh? Oh nevermind! This hunk of a guy must be real sexy to the Vietnamese <
Me? Jealous… Oh no not jealous Dear… just, well somewhere in between one of these expressions…> because he gets several hundred comments per blog he writes – not withstanding he’s only written 25 blog entries to date. About what exactly I’m not sure… I asked my Dear, being that she’s fluent in the “Spectacular Vietnamese Vernacular” and she said… “oh nothing much Darling; why are you jealous!?” I googled the length and breath of the cyberworld this morning and found what I think maybe the answer to my problem and I’ve decided to myself>> “Em Hoc Tieng Viet” – Let’s learn Vietnamese – with this interesting website dedicated to providing quality teaching material for learning Vietnamese for FREE online.
I also found two other reasonably useful websites for learning Vietnamese:
http://www.seasite.niu.edu/vietnamese/VNLanguage/SupportNS/tableofcontent.htm
http://www.nhandan.com.vn/english/culture/studyvn/index.htm
I have to say that my heart has yearned
To say to the one who has learned
from a charming Xe Om
And I’ll say oh… uhm…
Yes dear Joe
I’m gonna blow
All of my most Spectacular
In the Vietnamese Vernacular.
p.s. And here’s one for anyone who fancies themselves to make an impression on a visit to Sapa - Among the beautiful H’mong >> “Learning H’Mong” in just 30 quick lessons.
My loyal (and soon to be growing in numbers?) friends please help yourself to a slice of fresh cream cake on your way out -
Urhhhg - I feel so full now...
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Learning the Lingo for the love of Joe!
Wednesday, November 8, 2006
More Sad News
-
On behalf of Moon, I'm really very sorry to have to let you know that her 77 years old maternal grandmother passed away this morning, also from cancer.
Moon was especially close to her grandmother, who had shown a lot of kindness and love to her during her life. This is a very difficult time for her particularly made more so by the fact that she cannot come back in time to Hanoi to make the funeral which will take place on Friday morning. In strange irony this is the same day as my sister's funeral here in the UK.
When Moon and I visited her in Vietnam on several occasions, she always showed much kindness, shared very caring words and never failed to wish the best for our lives together. Moon's grandmother was in our eyes a really very special person indeed.
We will miss her very deeply.
I'm sorry to have to write on such a sad subject but these events happen and cannot be avoided. I'm sure that next week as we return to Shanghai and attempt to return to our normal everyday life, I will find heartier and happier things to blog about.
When you love s.o, you don't think some day, she will leave you forever. But when that day comes, you don't believe the truth, you wish it's a nightmare, and you even think she's still by your side.It's so hard to accept the truth. But she always in your heart, you love her, and she alway loves you.
Thanking all of you above for your kind words and support.
Tuesday 14 November 2006 - 07:37AM (GMT)Friday, November 3, 2006
Family Bereavement
My elder sister passed away peacefuly on Thursday after a long struggle with breast cancer.
Moon and I are traveling back to the UK this morning and we will be staying for a week or so before coming back to Shanghai.
In the meantime, we just want to say thank you to all our Yahoo friends for all your support.
I'm sorry to hear this. Bless you.
Sunday 5 November 2006 - 10:49PM (CST)Monday, October 30, 2006
Halloween Greetings!
- I know that Witches are sometimes meant to be sensual creatures and all that but what's she doing with her left hand?If I were a lost spirit on Halloween then this one would definitely scare me away!You've probably seen something like this before - however now's an appropriate time. Please do have a good time on your Halloween night out but don't drink too much ok!
Sorry for the small image - but this is how BabyShopMagazine.com are advertising for this season. I say they got it right because Samhain festival is in fact partly about a celebration of the cycle of birth and death!If you're sending your children out for a trick or treat evening - here's an idea; paint their face as a pumpkin as above and tell them they must come home by a certain time or else the witches will turn them into real pumpkins...For an insight into the actual history of halloween I recommend you to visit Moon’s Blog.Wishing you a very Happy Halloween!
ahhh Photobucket... we R such Commoners, again!
Sunday 3 December 2006 - 03:34PM (CST)Monday, October 23, 2006
Invented Word of the Day: Quintesensual
Cor blimey, that Natalie Portman is just so quintesensual!
Definition – from Phil’s Mind
Quintesensual
Adjective FORMAL
1: being the most pure and perfect example of something that embodies the characteristics to arouse or excite the senses, especially of passion, sexuality and touch.
2: pertaining to aphrodisiac qualities
Examples:
Damiana, Fo-Ti-Tieng and Gotu-Kola are quintesensual spices.
I’ve just come back from an all-day beauty and makeover session; what a quintesensual experience that was!
Derived from the words Quintessential and sensual. Possibly coined by Corrinne Jenner and Carol Outram whose website I stumbled across:
They specialise in holistic beauty, well-being, anti-ageing and skincare treatments. If you happen to be in the London area running a business full of stressed out ladies, this could be the website to visit, where you will find they are offering an ‘Office Rescue’ package!
And finally for something QUINTEUPHONIOUS!
This very beautiful video and music piece has already been viewed more than quarter of a million times on Yahoo videos. It's an absolute must to watch and listen to. Please take your time to enjoy it.
This piano piece is called 'Comptine d'un autre été: L'apres midi - by Yann Tiersen'.
It also features in the soundtrack of one of my favourite films: Amelie.
As I am, perhaps I should have dropped a stronger clue that I invented the word. Since quintessential means 'the perfect example of a type' and euphonious means 'sweet sounding' I put the two together to mean a perfect example of sweet-sounding music. Yes if you like arty films, amelie will be right up your street... Koolbee, that's a good idea, do you think if I patent/copyright the word I could sell it to some organisation in the music trade (wink)! Annwyl, I'd replace the word 'odd' with 'broadly appreciative'! I love Andrea Bocelli's stuff too! He has a beautiful voice.
:) no, the smell is all over the blog, may be it is the tired mind refusing to work after a long day!
That is not a bad idea to copyright that, you can earn an extra, or if you are lucky, you can retire:)
I like opera but haven't been much into it. Would be appreciative if you can initiate me with something specific I can listen to...
- Koolbee
lol! At first I had some weird thoughts thou :)) okaya...patent it and be a millionaire! Good luck with your invention. Hope there'll be more in future. (grinning)
Koolbee (uhm.. the name now in Chinese) I don't think I'll be patenting the word but, you know it's really got me thinking some ideas... perhaps you will see more inventions to follow! As I Am, I'll look around for something especially for you... coming soon. Debbie and Sai, thanks for the compliments. Trung, great to chat with you the other night! Thanks for your support. Moon, thank you Dear, loving you always. X
U of Hertfordshire... reminds me of an older blog post i have... but u'd have 2 B pretty durn bored 2 happen upon it! i don't figure there 2 B any Quocidental moments... but i alwai's have 2 read the Credits and find the sumThin that reaches out 2 me!!!
Thainx as alwai's 4 Being U!
o yeah! 2dai was the first dai that i saw the Video... it was like a Sixth Sense/Saving Private Ryan/Nostalgic Reality Moment!!! ;)
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Forest for Sale - Only $12,466
I was just doing my usual lunchtime reading of the UK's Daily Telegraph - thank my lucky stars for the internet - and I came across an interesting article in it today about clearing our conscience of nappy guilt. But before you click on the link below to the article, please read on:
Get planting and give your nappy guilt a rest
We're talking here about the disposable kind that takes half a millenium to decompose, so that if there had been disposables nappies in the time of Henry VIII, then we could safely conclude that his royal nappies would have just about fully decomposed by now... Phew - to think that his smell would have been lingering all this time would make my bones shudder while sitting on the throne!
With millions of us parents using these dreadful disposables, I could reckon, we have generated enough to make a mountain higher than Everest... whoa, what a stench that would make huh!
Anyway, about that article, it says if we plant 7 trees, it will remove the same amount of greenhouse gas as would be generated by a baby wearing disposable nappies for 2½ years.
So folks, if you're planning on adding some tiny patters to your family, you need to plant 7 trees for every baby critter you give birth to at a cost of £1.43 per tree ($2.64), and you then can salve your precious conscience!
As an alternative, you could opt for towel nappies, but if you do, you'll have to wash'em by hand, because the electricity consumed by a washing machine to wash those towel nappies, will give almost the same contribution in greenhouse gases.
Sadly, nappies are the least of our problems, when it comes to greenhouse gases...
Aeroplanes and cars are very big greenhouse gas culprits too. The article showed an interesting diagram to illustrate how many trees we each individually need to plant to compensate for the greenhouse gas created by our indulgences.
Here's the diagram:
The round trip flight to Orlando by the way is from the UK.
Anyways, I sat down and calculated just how many trees I would need to plant, to compensate for my indulgent living of using cars, taxis and planes during my working lifetime:
Cars and taxis at 12,000 miles per year for 40 years = 1520 trees
Planes; For my work I do about six long haul flights a year + say about another 6 short haul flights, so let's say one round trip to orlando = 1 long haul flight and half a round trip to orlando for one short haul flight.
That's equal to 9 round trip flights to orlando a year at let's say for 40 years = 5760 trees
For good measure, I should add another 1000 trees, to compensate for my indulgent use of electricity; for washing machines, hot baths and showers, tv, laptop, various DIY tools etc,.
That's a grand total of 8260 trees required to clear my wee sensitive conscience of guilt at a cost of £6,738 ($12,466).
THAT'S A GREAT BIG BLOODY FOREST!! It's time to live on the Moon man!
Adrii, you are absolutely right that if everyone donated enough to plant 100 trees, the world would certainly become a very different place 40 years from now, and an elimination of the greenhouse gases well under way. Susan, glad you got a big kick out of the blog! My aim was to make people aware in a light hearted way of just how our lifestyles are impacting on our environment.
that Damn Moon, again!
seaux, now i am curious...
R U an Electric Car driving, Composting, Green~Phil?
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
What's in a kiss?
Have you ever wondered why we kiss? Next time you ever fancy to do the anatomical juxtaposition of your orbicularis oris muscles into contraction, with the same on the one you dearly love, give that question a brief thought!
Eh? What was that?
I said, next time you kiss your lover, ask yourself why we kiss.
Or, to use the words of the 19th century French poet Victor Hugo: "How did it happen that their lips came together?"
The answer is they exercised all 34 facial muscles… and another 112 postural ones for good measure… engaged the ventral intraparietal area… turned their heads to the right and moved forward in one smooth movement… and then applied suction.
Wow! Amazing innit!!
According to today’s Daily Telegraph, for that remarkable miracle, we can apparently pay tribute to a 125 million-year-old, climbing-ratlike mammal called an Eomaia scansoria.
Did you know? When you do the ‘natural’ kiss (the one briefly described above) you will exchange a culture… of bacteria – zillions of the little rascals! But, hey, don’t panic because 80% of these little creatures are already common to the two kissers, and as for the other 20% of the new nasties, it’s even better news because they help your body to generate more anti-bodies, therefore improving your immune system.
So you if wanna be more healthy guys – get kissin’ more often.
And there’s a bonus for your pearlies too! Kissing stimulates your saliva which helps fight against the build up of plaque on your teeth. Want less visits to the dentist? Then get kissin’ guys!
Here’s an idea for those of you Vietnamese readers who enjoy picking up a tooth pick after your meal (I call it a cocktail stick!); why not also spend an hour or two kissing your partner? It just might be a better alternative to enameling your teeth black!!
The smooching news just keeps on getting better… if you’re feeling depressed or stressed, go fall in love and enjoy a real passionate kiss… for you know that gooey feeling you get when you lovingly kiss creates an adrenaline rush and those endorphins (chemicals in the brain) help to combat the stress hormone hydrocortisone thereby helping to reduce your cholesterol.
Kissing also burns up calories by the exercising of all those facial muscles (all 34 of them) helping to keep your face looking young and fresh for years to come!
And you don't have to listen to my words of wisdom - you just need to get kissing, for according to e.e.cummings; "kisses are a better fate than wisdom."
Finally, I say to you to y'all the words of Francis Beaumont; "Let's Kiss till the Cows come Home!"
Truong Minh, your time will come don't worry! Thanks Sai, hope that you will enjoy your quintesensual moments! [wink]
Saturday 28 October 2006 - 12:10PM (GMT)Saturday, October 14, 2006
Wedding Party and Tuan Chau Island Photos
- Our Wedding Party and Tuan Chau Island Photos
- I'm back at last... it's been more than two weeks since the last blog entry so it was high time to do something.
- Moon and I went back to Vietnam on September 29th for the Autumn Festival break. Although we got married in the legal sense earlier this summer in Tobermory, Scotland, a wedding party was organised by Moon's family for Tuesday October 3rd in Hanoi. We also took a short break to Tuan Chau Island which is near to Halong Bay and not more than 3 hours drive from Hanoi.
- Hope you will enjoy browsing through them.
- To control the speed use the + & - buttons and to halt the slide click on the pause button. My comments will appear as you run your mouse over the picture.
i have 1000's of questyions!!!!
Sunday 3 December 2006 - 04:09PM (CST)
Comments from Yahoo 360
(17 total)Oh no, now you are one of Joe's victims. hmmm.....
Tuesday 14 November 2006 - 03:58PM (ICT)
Ah now Rosie... is it Victim or Victor? :-)
Tuesday 14 November 2006 - 09:03AM (GMT)
hey Phil, I'll just have the cake.!!!
Not very pedaguoge-ish??(word) me lol xxx hugz to you all
Tuesday 14 November 2006 - 11:11AM (GMT)
Very clever language lesson, and wonderful cake! Looking forward to your next party! Hugs
Tuesday 14 November 2006 - 06:02AM (CST)
Annwyl - you're always welcome to my cakes. I make them especially for friends like you [wink]. As for your pedagoge-ish skills, I'm always ready to learn from a good friend as you. Donna - happy I am that you enjoyed a moment of peculiar vernaculars and I hope you'll always abound in the genorosity of my lovely cakes...
Tuesday 14 November 2006 - 02:11PM (GMT)
Great to see you back, Phil. A very nice blog here. I really the cake!
Tuesday 14 November 2006 - 08:23AM (CST)
Thanks Nguyen and I'm glad you really like/love the cake! I'll make sure to make some more for next time!
Tuesday 14 November 2006 - 02:28PM (GMT)
thainx 4 the breakfast, now can i have the recipe... unfortunately i forgot 2 get enuf 2 share & the demands R high here in bachelor/bachelorette land... O and as far as my Chinese goes... i learn one word @ a time via the age old fortune cookie!
Tuesday 14 November 2006 - 09:11AM (CST)
ohhhhh....Joe...I like this guy! ( and the food too)
Thursday 16 November 2006 - 03:33PM (ICT)
It seems that you can't take advance in learning Vietnamese with your "long-hair dictionary", enjoy your online Vietnamese course. BBC has English learning for Vietnamese, why they dont have Vietnamese learning?! I like the cake, too :)
Monday 20 November 2006 - 04:06PM (ICT)
Umh... I'm wondering how many people will realize your translations from English to Chinese are false? ;-)
Monday 20 November 2006 - 09:22AM (GMT)
I saw this guy as MC in a music show for APEC guests but I havent know his Vietnamese so good... Dont be jealous with him, Phil, even this can encourage you to learn Vietnamese :). If you can read comments in his blog, you would know that many of them were not praises, said this guy is boasting too much about himselt, and his point of views are a bit negative about Vietnam! Of course, we cant deny he is a famous person in bloggers already, his 292 friends welcome his entries everyday, but a lot comments are nonsense :). But I have to say that I like this guy with his humor and sharpness...
Tuesday 21 November 2006 - 10:36AM (ICT)
Joe's an inspiration and his achievements have in fact encouraged me to make a more concerted effort to improve my Vietnamese. I'm quite sure I will never attain his standard and I'm sure it will take me a long time. I'm patient and eventually I will achieve a standard that is worthwhile.
I would hazard a guess that if Joe's being critical at times about Vietnam, then that's not a bad thing if he is trying to help and encourage Vietnam and her people to achieve greater success for the nation.
Meanwhile I'll just concentrate on learning how to pronounce the Kh- sound correctly. [wink]
Tuesday 21 November 2006 - 06:47AM (GMT)
can you teach me anymore chinese?
i think im picking it up really quickly!! LMAO
xx kiss xx
Wednesday 22 November 2006 - 08:57PM (GMT)
Love the language lesson. Kind of like people trying to speak Spanish here in Texas. No speako el Spanisho! LOL
Hey, don't feel too bad, I have lived here all my life...took Spanish in elementary school, high school and maybe even college (can't really remember college...another story!) and I still can't speak it well enough to get by!
P.S. So sorry to hear about the family passings. My grandparents, parents, most of my aunts and uncles, and one brother are all gone. It sucks.
Thursday 23 November 2006 - 12:58AM (CST)
Good for you Phil. I felt the same but the irony is not here in sydney but back in India. In India there are 18 official languages and I used to work in a city whose language is alien to me. So, guess I feel more comfortable living in a foreign country than in India (atleast in terms of language).
Cheers!
Sunday 26 November 2006 - 09:51PM (EST)
Wai Yu Mun Ching ??
Because this Cream cake is so very Philling.
Saturday 2 December 2006 - 07:59PM (CST)