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L’Orient, l’amour et le mariage by Anna May Wong « L’Orient est l’Orient et l’Occident est l’Occident et jamais les deux ne pourront vraiment se rencontrer ». C’est là une vieille, vieille maxime; oui déjà vieille quand Rudyard Kipling la fixa à jamais dans ces mots retentissants et rythmés dont il a le secret. Mais [...]
Day to Day
January 18th, 2013
So when did I feel like I was in Asia? Not when I climbed inside the metal cocoon of Cathay Pacific. Though some airlines are obviously better than others, it’s pretty much like eating at a chain restaurant, depends on each branch manager. No, my first sense of being in Asia occurred at the money [...]
January 13th, 2013
Finally, I’m in Kuala Lumpur. I grabbed a taxi and made it to Brickfields where I’ll be staying. Mano and Angela were expecting me, and happened to be waiting at the elevator when I stepped off and bumped into them. They were on their way to buy a few bottles of wine which is my [...]
January 7th, 2013
Two truisms everyone knows but seldom heeds: “If it looks too good to be true, then it probably is,” and “Always read the fine print.” This brings me to Air Asia, the region’s “premier” low-cost carrier. Even many of those with wads to spend somehow manage to endure the Greyhound Bus syndrome, shuffled about and [...]
Smart Living
June 16th, 2011
A book on relationships by the fengzhui master Jerry King was recently published. Here is the Preface of King’s book by his editor Aileen Lee: We aspire to construct beautiful sand castles, but one can never stand firm on a foundation carved in loose sand.” – so read the opening hook of an article on [...]
April 12th, 2011
I have a very dim memory of my grandfather Frank Lee Hung-Yuen (李雄銳), from the time when I was about five years old. My father hardly ever talked about his “old man.” When I started to take an interest in my roots, it proved difficult to gather any evidence. From what I could gather, my [...]
January 28th, 2011
Has there been a hardening of attitudes towards immigrants and immigration in Canada? Are all Canadians treated equally? And how long does it take for new citizens to feel that Canada is “home”? From Thursday, January 27 to Wednesday, February 2 at 8 pm, TVO’s flagship current affairs program, The Agenda with Steve Paikin , [...]
Family
August 8th, 2011
Mrs. Young, vivacious and engaging at age 98, was born in Vancouver, one of fourteen children. Her father owned a jewellery store. He died when Mrs. Young was only fourteen years old. Her brother managed the jewellery store for a while but went out of business after some burglars took all the diamonds. Mr. Young [...]
May 26th, 2010
I. Cicada sister still lies still, Her cheeks the rhythmic sound required, For me to sleep while she sucks against her cheeks with tiny whispers and clicks. I feel safer under these sheets trying, To find some rest then I did when she wasn’t sleeping above me. She holds her blankets to breathe, The scents [...]
December 20th, 2009
The Chinese have a great tradition of keeping things for their descendants. Most families would have some kind of heirloom that has been handed down from generation to generation. Jewelry, rare books, paintings, scrolls of calligraphy, mementos from emperors, whether they are of monetary value or not, are priceless to their collectors and keepers. Other [...]
Yummy
June 18th, 2010
A dish of multicultural flavours: South Asian, Caribbean and Canadian! You will need: 20 Chicken Feet 1 head of garlic or 3 tablespoons ground or minced garlic 1 Onion 3 tablespoons of Geeta’s seasoning (available in Asian and West Indian markets or the West Indian isle at many popular grocery stores) 3 tablespoons Curry Powder [...]
March 25th, 2010
South of the Yucatan Peninsula and east of Guatemala is one of the best hole-in-the-wall joints for Chinese food north of the equator. An hour by water taxi from Belize City on a small island known as Caye Caulker is Chan’s Fast Food, a weather-beaten blue wooden plank shack with a hinged wooden panel propped [...]
October 8th, 2009
Meiling Cao has provided us with a recipe for another delicious dish. And it is vegetarian too! Combine and heat the following in a saucepan: 1 cup of water 2 pieces star anise spice
Economy
January 18th, 2013
So when did I feel like I was in Asia? Not when I climbed inside the metal cocoon of Cathay Pacific. Though some airlines are obviously better than others, it’s pretty much like eating at a chain restaurant, depends on each branch manager. No, my first sense of being in Asia occurred at the money [...]
January 18th, 2009
US$700 billion can buy you lots of things. Or, have you ever thought of that you would have that much money? If you were given $700 billion, what would you have done? The US government decided
Arts
March 22nd, 2013
LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT Filed FEBRUARY 28, 1961 of HAROLD J. OSTLY COUNTY CLERK ANNA MAY WONG A.L. GRAHAM DEPUTY #439787 [last will, 1958] Book 1457 Page 276 I, WONG LIU TSONG, known professionally as ANNA MAY WONG, of Santa Monica, California, being of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding do hereby make, publish [...]
March 10th, 2013
LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF ANNA MAY WONG #439787 [penultimate will, 1947] I, WONG LIUTSONG, known professionally as ANNA MAY WONG, of Santa Monica. California, being of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding, do hereby make, publish and declare this my Last Will and Testament in manner following: FIRST: I direct that my body [...]
February 15th, 2013
ANNA MAY WONG’S LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT FILED FEBRUARY 28, 1961** The foregoing instrument consisting of three sheets was signed, sealed, published and declared by Wong Liu Tsong, the Testatrix, on the day of the date thereof, as and for her last Will and Testament, in the presence of us and of time, and each [...]
Treasures Inherited
March 22nd, 2013
Burma/Myanmar. It’s been only two years since I was last here, probably my twentieth visit after first passing through in 1970. Since February 2011, as everyone now knows, Burma has been “opening up,” shedding army uniforms for suits and ties, and forging a new free-for-all of doing your own thing. Yes, but … On the [...]
January 26th, 2013
Take Off Albuquerque International Sunport is the major air hub for all of New Mexico and I’m in it. Vancouver to Los Angeles. Los Angeles to Denver. Denver to Albuquerque, a long series of hopscotch arcs with one more jump left and then a twenty mile drive. The Sunport is bright, airy, and clean with [...]
January 13th, 2013
Finally, I’m in Kuala Lumpur. I grabbed a taxi and made it to Brickfields where I’ll be staying. Mano and Angela were expecting me, and happened to be waiting at the elevator when I stepped off and bumped into them. They were on their way to buy a few bottles of wine which is my [...]
Editorials
April 19th, 2013
Reprinted from News Release, CBC Press Relations, 19 October, 1983. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation said today that it has selected eight candidates to take part in the visible minorities broadcast journalism training program announced by its English radio and TV networks earlier this year. In announcing the successful candidates, Les Lawrence, Assistant Director of Training [...]
April 15th, 2013
PHOTO BY NANCY WONG THE ASIANADIAN: AN ASIAN CANADIAN MAGAZINE, Volume 4, Number 3, October, 1982. FACE TO FACE Interviewed by Dora Nipp Thirty-three year old Wayne Wang is the co-author, producer, and director of Chan is Missing, the first full length North American film to boast an all Asian cast and crew. It has [...]
Darts and Laurels
May 5th, 2013
Reprinted from The Journal of Ethnic Studies, Volume 11, Number 4 (Winter), 1984, 57-63. For decades into the twentieth century, Asians in Canada seemed mute in presenting their thoughts, ideas, and sensibilities about their lives to the larger Canadian world. Some, however, wrote secretly of the unjust treatment from immigration officials in Victoria. In 1919, [...]
May 5th, 2013
Reprinted from The Journal of Ethnic Studies, Volume 9, Number 3, Fall 1981, 37-46. Probably without recognizing the ethnic component in North America, Edward Said’s theory of Orientalism (1) has helped us understand how images of Asians are structured in the Western world. While Said is more interested in the Middle East, his analysis of [...]
April 19th, 2013
Reprinted from Asian Studies, Volume XI, Number 1, April 1973, 151-164. The death of Yuan Shih-k’ai in 1916 not only established Tuan Ch’i-jui as the strong man of China, but also climaxed the rise of military men and militarism to the pinnacle of political power. The political fortunes of China, once controlled by civilian bureaucrats [...]