Episode 68 - Shao Hsing Chew

The bottle on the left is the wine bottle of a 10 year old reserved Shao Hsing Chew.

This Chinese rice wine has a tradition of over 2,400 years. It is a kind of "yellow wines" (in contrast to the "white wines" like Mou Tai) with ≧15% alcohol content.

I recall that some 30 years ago in Hong Kong, the traditional Chinese wines (perhaps with the exception of Mou Tai) were mostly consumed by people from the low-income group or used as cooking wines only. Foreign wines, like cognac, whisky and red wines, were (and still are) much more popular.

I first tried the Shao Hsing Chew, about 20 years ago, on the recommendation of my brother (he discovered that the wine, after warmed, was a good companian to hotpot food in winter). At that time, the Chia Fan was the best available Shao Hsing Chew in the market. The wine was then sold in a large traditional wine bottle - like the one used by Jacky Chan in the kungfu film Boxing of the Drunken Immortals. It took me more than one week's time to finish a whole bottle.

Although the Chia Fan was good, my attention was soon diverted to the French red wines which were then becoming popular in Hong Kong.

I do not know when the reserved wine was introduced to Hong Kong, but it must have been in the market for quite some time. I spotted it in a supermarket a few years ago and I purchased one recently. The porcelain wine bottle was packed inside a nice wooden box - much more attractive than the Jacky Chan bottle.

While the wine can also be consumed with ice or in room temperature, I like to drink it hot. I poured half bottle of the wine into the wine bottle (on the right side of the photo) and steamed it until the wine was hot. I then consumed the delicious wine with red meat.

It was an excellent wine, good smell, supple and juicy. I definitely have had my money's worth out of this wine.

Episode 67 - In Bud

The flowers are now in bud!

I believe that the orchid will blossom within one to two weeks.

As there are still 25 days before the Chinese New Year, and the flowers for this variety can last for around 2 weeks only, I am not sure if the flowers can last until the New Year. Let's see my luck this time.

The position of the White Cattleya is a little bit uncertain. The 2nd flower bud of the orchid is coming out from the shoot but the first flower bud has stopped growing. I am afraid that the 2nd bud will take away all the food and the first bud will dry up soon. As mentioned previously, it is not easy, if not impossible, to have 2 blossoming flowers in one pot for this variety.

There is no sign of a flower bud yet for the Clivia.

Episode 66 - Spinning Top

It appears that we are more stable if we stand with both legs rather than with one leg.

Taiji lays importance on balancing oneself in action but it would appear that its Theorem Against Double Bases ("TADB") is at odd with what we normally think about balancing. According to TADB, a double based position is a bad position.

Why single based?

Look at the top in the picture above.

The foot of a top is small. It will fall down easily when it is static. However, a top will not fall down whilst spinning.

To name one obvious advantage: A spinning object generates centripetal force or centrifugal force.

A double based object cannot spin around easily. Likewise, a doubled based person will not be able to spin his body easily in action - he can only do so by putting all his weight on one leg.

In order to overcome the Strong Man Principle, a weaker party has to move around quickly and deal with the stronger opponent with suitable techniques.

Not knowing the secret of the TADB, a double based party will ironically, and inevitably, end up locking horns with his opponent!

Episode 65 - Spherical Power

Imagine you are a ball filling with air inside.

Although your mind determines which part of the ball is to hit, the "air" fills the internal sphere of the the ball in an even manner. When you push forward, your back goes backward; your head pushes upward; your leg goes downward; your right side maintains the force to the right; your left side maintains the force to the left, etc. That's the idea behind the eight directions diagram.

The force is exercised as a coherent whole: You are in a balanced position.

If the force is directed to one side only, it will piece through the wall of the ball. The "air" is released, and you lose the power: You are in an unbalanced position.

[See also the Note on Occupying the Centre]

Episode 64 - Ginger Milk Pudding (II)

I visited my parents yesterday and treated them with the ginger milk puddings (see a picture of the pudding here).

My father said he tried to taste this pudding when he visited Fatshan previously but he could not find the shop. He was surprised that I could make the pudding.

My parents enjoyed the puddings very much and said that's the best ginger milk puddings they have ever tasted!

I have taught my parent's Indonesian maid the method to make the pudding. Hopefully she can make the puddings for everyone's enjoyment in the next family gathering.