Out of nowhere, the rain poured down in what seemed like bucket-fulls. Just two minutes before, it was clear skies (albeit a humid night). Visibility dropped to about 10-20 feet. Singaporean weather can be so fickle!
torrential downpour from Mary Qin on Vimeo.
The Night Festival, held outside the National Museum in Singapore one hot evening.
Check out the people drumming upside down at times!
fire show from Mary Qin on Vimeo.
ring of fireworks from Mary Qin on Vimeo.
Fireworks through the trees provide an interesting perspective.
fireworks through the trees from Mary Qin on Vimeo.
Well, yet again Time Warner has failed us here in LA, leaving Panda’s apartment without internet or television service. This has consistently occurred on a monthly basis and their repair trucks can be seen on our neighborhood streets a good 2-3 times a week. Not a good sign at all. so here I am stuck blogging on my iPhone, with little heart to put together a nicer entry.
It’s amazing how this happens time and time again. At first, Panda would call in and get a month or a week free, but he just did so this weekend when this same thing happened (albeit not for as long). It’s gotten to the point where even that doesn’t make up for the inconvenience and loss of productivity.
I did enjoy the peace and quiet of not having so much buzzing around me, but I’d rather get to choose when I take a step back from the hubbub of modern life. I didn’t even feel like reading a business magazine I had been meaning to read for months now. Situations like this put a damper on my entire mood and make me wish that TW took better care if their customers. I can’t wait until we leave this place and I find a place near work – I’ll know then to avoid Time Warner at all costs.
Well isn’t it weird that the day after I write about the earthquake tunnel and have a lengthy discussion with Panda about safe practices and earthquake preparedness, an earthquake occurs? I doesn’t seem to be the big one we’re all waiting for, but it was quite large and still shook us in SoCal. Ironically, Panda and I didn’t feel it at all, because we were on the road, driving in Westwood. Plenty of our acquaintances did experience it, and for one it was her very first time. I’m curious what it felt like, but kind of glad I didn’t feel it, since it would have been an eerie reminder of the blog entry I had just posted. Perhaps I should give a honk for good measure the next time I’m in that tunnel.
Not a high-traffic day, so there wasn't any honking, but here's the unassuming tunnel.
I don’t know if you’ve ever heard, but in Los Angeles, there is an “earthquake tunnel” that locals like to use as a good luck charm against earthquakes. It’s a tradition that I learned of soon after arriving here and I have no recollection of how I heard of it or who told me, but I observe all the time when I am there. What am I talking about? Well, where the 405 North ends and merges into the 5 freeway, there is a tunnel that people drive under. When you are under it during rush hour (or any other time traffic is slow), you will find a good third of the cars will honk their horns incessantly until they are out.
I usually am under this thing at night. It's great when big rigs join in the honking too.
It’s one of those fun, somewhat underground (haha no pun intended) traditions that is still alive and well. I guess it’s a superstitious act, since honking your horn is supposed to prevent earthquakes from hitting us too hard. It seems to be working, since that big one is way overdue and still not coming… Anyway, whenever I’m stuck in that tunnel during traffic hours, there’s always a car or two honking its way through. I’ve only joined in once, but it puts a small smile to my face as those people enjoy their freedom to honk as they please. After all, I realized not long ago that I don’t even know what my car horn sounds like. I don’t exactly have a situation where I can test it without drawing attention.
I never knew that FOX had a lot right off Pico until the HOME screening was held there! Check out their lot – there’s always something so staged and fake about these places (in a wonderful Disneyland sort of way).
Who knew that Sound of Music was produced by FOX?! This painting decorated the side of the parking structure and greeted us as we parked.
I saw a few G&E trucks along the way, which made me nostalgic for my Wristcutters* days.
I wonder if any shows I know are filmed here.
They were glowing so beautifully I had to pull over and take a picture before exiting the lot.
*My very first internship was with a production company that made Wristcutters: A Love Story (see my IMDB page). It was crazy hectic and an unforgettable experience.
In Chinese, Wynn has been translated to “yong li” – which can mean “always favorable” or “forever advantageous” or something to that extent. Here’s a water show at the Wynn in Macao, where the streams of water reminded me of ladies dancing, their arms gracefully swaying to the song.
wynn water show from Mary Qin on Vimeo.
Panda and I went to a performance by the West Los Angeles Symphony at Royce Hall tonight (called Good Vibrations). I enjoyed their unusual lineup with solos by a harpist and marimba-ist (is that what they’re called?). These two instruments don’t get the limelight enough, so it was refreshing to hear them in their glory. Yet, what I noticed most was the fact that the two ladies playing these instruments got to wear beautiful evening gowns whereas the rest of the orchestra wore black, as is traditional. Is it the fact that they had solo acts or is it because of the unusual nature of their instruments? Either way, it was a great way for them to stand out even more and truly perform to us the audience.
I also noticed that I enjoyed the energy level of certain performers, whereas the more reserved ones decreased my enjoyment of the music. In particular there were a few who really moved with the music, so I liked to watch them most. But occasionally, my eyes were drawn to the one lady who barely moved at all, even when the music was loud and energetic. Everyone else around her moved with forcefulness, but she was completely stiff, letting as little of her body do the work as possible. It was really strange and really awkward to see. I tried to avoid looking at her, but sometimes her lack of passion really stuck out like a sore thumb.
Also entertaining was the first celloist, who was a lady with a fun outfit on of black laced with gold in a full pantsuit type attire. She looked a lot like one of my old high school friends, who I showed Panda on Facebook and he agreed. They had the same short brown hair with thin bangs that fell in a stringy sort of manner. And of course, my friend also played a stringed instrument, not like that was much of a coincidence. I was greatly entertained by that resemblance though. I could totally see my friend being just like that lady in the future, performing in an orchestra.
Rounding off the night were the comments from Panda, saying he liked the hair of this and that guy (one with crazy gray curls that reminded me of a doll my mom used to have – except that doll’s hair was blonde – and one with white hair pulled back in a ponytail). Certainly not the hair styles I would expect him to aspire to. He also started to point out the couple of men he thought had day jobs as engineers because they “looked smart.” -___- As if only engineers can be smart. I do wonder if the West Los Angeles Symphony is composed of professional musicians or more of hobbyists. Perhaps I should do some research.
It was a fun night and loved that it was completely free! We had a nice stroll/speed walk there and a refreshing jog back. I need to get more active again!
Yesterday my friend and I tried to go eat at a restaurant half an hour before its closing time, only to be turned away because they close the kitchen an hour early. What?!?! That is ridiculous. Most meals only last about 40 minutes or so. I absolutely hate when restaurants stop serving food way before closing time. I once ran down to a place I wanted to eat at and made it 20 minutes before they were supposed to close, only to have the doors pretty much shut in my face. And here I thought restaurants would want to maximize the amount of customers they serve, but I guess going home is far more important.
What really bothers me about this is that it’s so misleading. Do I always have to plan on showing up at least an hour before the listed closing time, even if I only plan on a quick meal? In last night’s case, we even called at 10:15 and asked when they close that night – they told us 11. Why didn’t they bother to tell us that, oh by the way, the kitchen is closed?! It’s not like we were asking when they usually close. We asked when they were closing that night. Hint, hint, we wanted to eat there TONIGHT. Those hours of operation are unreliable.
I think there should be legislation that forces restaurants to list their opening hours as when they stop serving new customers (and listing when they actually kick the customers out of their shop would be optional). After all, we’re going there to eat, don’t we have a right to know at what time we won’t be able to do so anymore? Restaurants should not get away with tricking people into thinking they’re open far more than they actually are. It’s like this one boba place that I’ve heard doesn’t even serve boba until at least half an hour after opening. They should have to note that on the door with their opening times! After all, much of the draw of their store is the boba. People don’t just go to get any old drink; they could do that somewhere else that’s probably open earlier anyway.
So if you ever open a restaurant, please take it upon yourself to do the responsible thing and let people know if your food isn’t served until half an hour after your doors open or if it is no longer served an hour before your doors close. It’s vital information that’s typically far more relevant than when those doors lock and unlock. Thanks.
It was a very zen moment, going down the escalator to the MTR and having this music and commercial playing all around me.
zen mont blanc commercial from Mary Qin on Vimeo.
Haha, check out the couple kissing. So random.
