March 29, 2008 Bok Sa Town, Toishan, China Yesterday, I hoped to find the village of my great-grandfather, Ma Bing Sum. I had thought he was from the village of Gong Hao. But it turns out that Gong Hao isn’t a village; rather, it’s a small district of many villages....
Tracing China’s Past
THE WAY TO COME HOME – Following A Ghost To China
March 28, 2008 Overseas Chinese Hotel Bok Sa Town, Toishan County, Guangdong Province, China In the town of Bok Sa, I'm not merely one of the few foreigners: I'm the only non-Chinese foreigner. As such, I've become an instant celebrity. Last night, our plump, smiling,...
WHAT UNCLE ROY ATE BEFORE HE RAN FOR HIS LIFE – Tracing Hong Kong’s Past
March 26, 2008 Hong Kong I wanted a “hearty” breakfast. Fiona Zhu wasn’t familiar with that word, so I said, “I want to eat a meal that will make me feel full and make me strong… so I can walk all day.” She still seemed at a loss, possible because I also said I wanted...
FROM CANTONESE TO CAPPUCCINO – Walking in Hong Kong
March 26, 2008 Mong Kok, Kowloon, Hong Kong Yesterday morning, Fiona Zhu and I ate breakfast at a noodle shop. I ordered rice noodles with pork in soup. I expected little bits of pork, and was disconcerted to see an entire chop in my bowl. It was tasty, although I...
I CAN ALSO BECOME INVISIBLE – Jet Lag in Hong Kong
March 25, 2008 Anne Black Guest House/YWCA Kowloon, Hong Kong I have no idea what time it is, only that it’s still a dark time of morning, and few cars are passing on the usually busy streets of Kowloon, eleven stories below. I feel a fragile safety in my tiny cocoon...
UNRAVELING THE GOLD MOUNTAIN THREAD – A Journey to China
I know many of you are waiting to read about my trip to China last week. However, that story will make better sense if I first tell you about my earlier trip, two years ago. China is the most surreal junction of cultures I’ve encountered. So, please allow me a rare...