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"In Hong Kong, there are 105.75 mobile subscribers for every 100 inhabitants."

Hong Kong is an dynamic and eccentric city. I believe most of my family and friends here would concur. There is no other asian city as extravagant as this. And definitely no replacement (sorry, but "whatever" to Taipei and Shanghai).
Hong Kong is deep. It may be physically small, but the thought behind the many communities here are very knowledgable and realistic. In fact, its very intense and in your face. I would never compare it to other metropolitans like Manhattan which is probably a lot broader and varied, but Hong Kong is definitely not just another city. Hong Kong is crazy and I love it. Its where I grew up and call home.

~~~ Handsome Boy Modeling School - White People ~~~

Flip Flap Inspired Morning

I finally got my own Flip Flaps. Hehe. I got the orange, blue, and white one. Its something about the charming plastic bold colored scheme that has me. They remind me of the old Mario Bros. backgrounds. Those 8 or 16-bit flowers that only move back and forth in the background as you play. I plan to place mine by my desk to accompany me while I program hardcore next year..haha.

+++ http://artpad.art.com/gallery/?i8uglfpswcs +++ My ridiculous homemade Tomy Flip Flap Ad.


+ Others +
- Oh yeah. I'm already in Hong Kong. And Tokyo for Xmas!
- My modded Xbox has been banned on Xbox live....sigh...

Game of the Year

Many mega blockbuster games are taking on the shelves this holiday season. If I had to choose one among all these great games...Half Life 2 by Valve is the winner. I don't think the game is perfect, but I like the direction the developers of this game have taken. Their source engine has helped simulate a world more closely resembling our reality:

Characters - Advanced facial animation system delivers the most sophisticated in-game characters ever seen. With 40 distinct facial "muscles," human characters convey the full array of human emotion, and respond to the player with fluidity and intelligence.

Physics - From pebbles to water to 2-ton trucks respond as expected, as they obey the laws of mass, friction, gravity, and buoyancy.

Graphics - Source’s shader-based renderer, like the one used at Pixar to create movies such as Toy Story® and Monster's, Inc.®, creates the most beautiful and realistic environments ever seen in a video game.

AI - Neither friends nor enemies charge blindly into the fray. They can assess threats, navigate tricky terrain, and fashion weapons from whatever is at hand.

I'd like to add that level design is also worth noting. It keeps the adrenaline rushing and the game is fast paced consistently. Other things include all those little things like shooting the birds and breaking/throwing random objects throughout the world.
The minimum specs of this game, however, are pretty high. And I do advise playing it on a cutting edge PC. I wouldn't waste the time otherwise.

Note: My pick was among games like Halo 2, Metal Gear Solid 3, World of Warcraft, GTA: San Andreas, NFS Underground 2, Sims 2, etc... I do still need to check out Prince of Persia: Warrior Within and Gran Turismo 4 before the year end.

Still so Much to Learn

During my drive back up to Vancouver from LA earlier this week, I got into an accident on the I-5 and trashed my car. I was at Portland then, and my ML had to be towed. It was not the most exciting experience at all. Thank God nobody was injured and insurance is paying for the vehicle damages. I ended up taking the train to Seattle (with my three huge suitcases) where my Mom came to pick me up the following day.
Theres still so much to learn. On top of nearly killing myself, I wasn't able to deal with the aftermath of the accident. I was blank and still shocked over the event. It made me feel worthless, spoilt, and young. Next time around, I will take care of my own consquences in a more adult manner.

I will be starting my Computer Science Masters degree at game school DigiPen this coming January 2005. I'm definitely excited about moving to Redmond, WA and starting school again. I know its not going to be easy at all...but to say the least, I know I will enjoy studying a lot more this time through....I hope...

+++ www.usatoday.com/money/media/2002-12-03-video_x.htm +++ Old, but relevant article to show that I'm not crazy.

+++ www.wired.com/news/games/0,2101,65984,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_2 +++ I am bullish over multiplayer wireless portable gaming.

+++ www.last.fm +++ Ahhh. More new music coming my way. *drools*

Time to Jet. Returning back to Hong Kong for Xmas this weekend.
Erik.

Something about Nothing

Its been a while since I've written an entry. Mainly due to my temporary time away from the computer and television to allow my eyes heal "properly" from the lasik...
I don't know about you all, but I definitely heavily rely on my computer in my life(and sometimes the television). I felt handicapped all throughout this time because more than half of my motivations required my computer. I couldn't find/download music, play games, chat, blog, surf the web, read the news, etc.... The computer and internet is probably one of the best educational systems introduced in my life. Its definitely my primary instrument of work and source of entertainment. I mean, seriously, the internet itself on my computer is a portal to the world!! My laptop, which I bring around with me all over the place, is "a mobile world" that follows me whenever I am within WiFi boundaries.
But yeah, my point is that I am a slave of my PC. And if you are reading my blog, chances are that you are too.

[12/2/04] +++ http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,65890,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_6 +++ Exactly what I mean.

Erik.

Oh, and yeah, I have officially been contaminated with the Naruto virus..

Music.

I'm sure some of you are sick of my music blabbering all the time (who wouldn't be by now?) But somehow, somewhere I realized I had never mentioned what about music that has me swept off my ground...so here goes an exert from my diary...

In my world, music is life. I doubt there is a more accurate definition of music than that inside my dictionary. It embraces all my emotions. Music is merely just a hobby or interest of mine. It could inspire, motivate, be an adventure, be a form of escape, be a medium of communication, be a learning experience, trigger memories, etc... Music is art.
It's pretty interesting to know that my passion for music didn't grow until 6-7 years ago. Not like it didn't exist in my life up until then or anything, I just simply didn't find it particularly interesting compared to sports or computers or whatever.
I speculate a big part of the upbringing of music in my life was having to have gone to America. Not only was it culturally a whole new experience, I had heaps of free time at boarding school to listen to music. Hmmmm.
The guitar would probably be another good reason of cultivation of my music. The guitar has always been something I've wanted to learn for myself. It gave me much self satisfication. It was and is still a challenge to me (to get better and better and better). Hopefully one day it would be a medium for me to express what I truly hear inside my head. =)

Love music. Share it. I honestly believe if some of you spent more time listenning to it, it would become much more rewarding than you had thought.

Inspired

I just spent half an hour reading the xanga of an incredible lady who I don't know. It gave me satisification of knowing I am not alone here. She inspired me to stay true to myself as an individual (I feel I have been drifting off recently). And to stick to it because everything will fall into its place in time.
I hope today will be an end to the mess I have created (over the past couple months). As tomorrow I want to continue on the journey I have been traveling on since I matured as a boy. I am not asking for my motivation to come back as it is not currently required, but instead the essence of who I am. It is time to go back to the shop and create character rather than show it. The society really shouldn't be the medium to success rather it should be in ones own desire and actions.
I've always felt different. Its something I need to embrace entirely. It could be an opportunity to climb over the brick walls and lead something of my own. Something I have always dreamed of doing. Seriously, fuck the road to success. Fuck the road to happiness. Nobody has lived my life before. Especially under the circumstances of which I am in. Theres nobody that could see through it to guide me up the stairway. The future is an X-factor, how would it be possible unless you possess god like qualities.

I feel a lot better now. I may not be great writer...but its not what only counts you know??

And back to the xanga of this random lady. I'd love to write her an email to show my admiration for her thoughts and beliefs. Chances are I would most probably seem like a stalker/fag if anything. I wonder.

Its been 5 days of healing and recovery since my lasik surgery....
I want to begin by mentioning that the surgery was not exactly the most exciting thing I have gone through. In fact, it was uncomfortable and extremely stressful on the mind and body. My only calm was knowing it would rid my eye sight problems. I realize its not treatment for everybody. It involves clamping a frame on your eye (to hold it open throughout the surgery), having your cornea cut into a flap, shooting the laser into the eye, and then replacing the cornea back on.
To say the least, if i could choose all over again, I would still choose to have it done.

~~~ Bloodstone - Natural High ~~~ Music to make love to.

Erik. Healing.

Blogging from Vancouver..(yes, I traveled again)...

I'm having my lasik eye surgery done tomorrow. Its finally time to say bye to glasses, "the geeky look", contact lenses, dry eyes, and "one-night contact cases" (bottle caps, cups, dishes, my own eyes, etc...). The recovery period is going to be a pain, but I'm assured it will be well worth it. I can't wait until its all over.
Fun fact for the day: A typical lasik eye surgery only takes 3-4mins.
And also: Lasik was first performed 15 years ago. Its been around for a while, it is no longer *new*.

Mario Tennis for Gamecube (US Version) just came out today. I went to check it out from Future Shop, and have already spent hours of enjoyment from it. It's definitely recommended if you belong to any one of these categories:
1) You are looking for an awesome multiplayer game
2) You can enjoy any of the well polished Nintendo games
3) You like wacky, and you like tennis
4) You like Sega's Virtua Tennis, and looking for something equivalent but different
5) You appreciate games that are easy and fun to pickup, but hard to master

Out.
Erik.

Its been a while...


~~~ Jimmy Eat World - 23, Work, Pain ~~~ I SAW THEIR CONCERT LAST WEEK@!! =)
~~~ Guerilla Black - Hearts of Fire ~~~ i like their flow.
~~~ Beck - Everybodys gotta learn sometime ~~~ From Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
~~~ Coheed in Cambria - A Favor House Atlantic ~~~ Punk is not dead.
~~~ 213 - Mary Jane ~~~ LoL...LBC baby...
~~~ Greenday - Boulevard of Broken Dreams ~~~ Cultured Green Day.
~~~ Nitin Sawhney - Nadia, Sunset ~~~ This is something different.
~~~ Snoop Dogg - Signs ~~~....i'm a freak....
~~~ Eminem - Like Toy Soldiers, Mockingbird ~~~....a music freak....


it was hard...it was dirty...but i'm glad its all over...

Erik.

It ends with thunder. It ends with an epic beatdown to put the sledgehammer to an epic comeback/collapse.

It ends with a half-empty, fully depressed Yankee Stadium, with an infield celebration and the gleeful chant of "let's go Red Sox" echoing out past the Babe Ruth plaque in center field and deep into the cold New York night.

It ends Boston Red Sox 10, New York Yankees 3, giving Boston the American League pennant and the honor of becoming the first team in baseball history to win a series after it trailed 3-0.

It ends with Manhattan as Mudville, with the nail somehow getting the best of the hammer, with a champagne and Bud Light shower in a visitors' locker room used to Red Sox tears.

It ends with Boston finally, at last, unseating the Evil Empire.

"All empires fall sooner or later," Boston team president Larry Lucchino said. "This was a great night for the Red Sox Nation."

Actually, it was the greatest night for the Red Sox Nation.

by Dan Wetzel, Yahoo Sports

There's a hella big game going on tonite. Yeap! The biggest rivalry in sports history! Game 7 Yankees vs. Red Sox at the Yankees stadium. Boston came back from a 3-0 loss. Tonight will be their chance to redefine history and pay back for years of misery. Did somebody say curse? I'm skeptical, but with Boston.

I've been mucking around with Jons inventory these days. Made some pics (shown below) using his digital camera and Mac. I'm pretty satisfied with them. Hopefully I can work on a couple more while I'm here; I've already decided my next project will be scenic shots I'll be taking on the hills of Palo Verdes. =)



++ Jimmy Eat World – Futures ++ I haven't yet heard of their new album, but I'm going to get it and hopefully make it to their concert next week. Oh, and for those who don't have a clue, they're an emo band.

I can't wait until tomorrow morning. Body surfing appointment 7-9am this morning was canceled because of the damn rain. You just wait monster waves, I'm coming!! Did I just taunt the ocean?!!

Erik.

Bloggin from Long Beach, CA...

It rained today here in LA. It was weird. Both Jon and I have never seen it rain here previously....I wonder if it meant anything...

I played basketball all afternoon yesterday. It was great. I haven't played in a long while. I probably over did it again though (yes, even when I was just shooting around myself half the time =/ ), I strained my left elbow because I shot too much.
Anyhow, playing ball around here is extremely relaxing. Mainly because the court I was playing at was out in the open. The sky was clear blue and had just the right proportion of clouds. It was really chill....playing ball beneath a clear blue sky that. I felt at ease. I love it when you can see the horizon from one end to another. Absolutely no sign of concrete anywhere in the distant. Hopefully next time I can bring a camera with me and take pictures of this hoop I played at.

While I was at Vancouver, my grandma showed me this pic of me when I was young. It struck me that I haven't been happy like that since i remembered anything...


Erik.

++ http://gprime.net/video/blindfoldedmariopianist2.php ++ More wonders only available because of the internet. He's crazy.

~~~ Velvet Revolver - Fall to Pieces ~~~
~~~ Greyboy Allstars - Sunday School ~~~
~~~ Keren Ann - Road Bin ~~~

Life is full of lessons....some of which are fun and others will take you apart. I definitely learned a few unexpected ones during my stay at Vancouver. I guess its impossible to be able to handle everything in life. Focusing on your priorities equates to losing some others. Adding 1 to the left will always equal to subtracing 1 on the right. Thats life.
I hate balance. I want to be superman. Not so that I can fly, have x-ray vision, break walls or anything of that sort, but I just want to be able to keep up with "everything" that is going on. I'm talking about reaching a level where I can only spend more of my time doing something new and never losing what used to be.

Tonight. I have a confession to make...
I hate myself when I am a cocky egoistic lil' schmuck. As much as I am who I think I am, I am only just another individual being. I really ain't better than nobody. I should not have any needs to prove myself to anybody (unless its expected). In fact, I think I'm a total loser for not knowing better sometimes. I want to apologize to all of those that I have offended.

Tomorrow is a brand new day. Live it up Erik. Be better.

~~~ Quarashi - Stun Gun ~~~
~~~ Orange Pekoe - love life ~~~

Christmas is coming. What that means is that a huge line up of big shot games are coming out within the next two months...Nice.
One such game I am particularly interested in is 'Feel the Magic: XY/XX'. Its called 'Kimi no Tame Nara Shineru' in Japan, which translates to 'I Would Die for You'. I think I am generally pretty excited about the Nintendo DS...mainly because of its capabilities: wireless multiplayer connection, two screens (one of which is touch-screen sensitive), and the microphone is going to add a bunch of new gameplay features never heard of previously in portable consoles. It'll be very interesting how developers will implement this new hardware in the upcoming games.
But anywayz, back to the game...the game basically puts you in the role of pursuing the girl of your dreams through a series of canny scenarios. These scenarios include blowing out a candle out through the microphone, rubbing dirt off your lady through the touch-screen, looking for her valuables in the sand, coaxing goldfish to swim up a man's esophagus??....so yeah, I look forward to this wacky game. Check out those screenshots...its so ipod.






Erik.

The idea of video game recommendations/reviews sounded like a pleasant spice to my blog last night...(self realization: GEEK! GEEK! GEEK!! (oo);; )

Before I start, I want you to please keep in mind I am a true gamer. This might not mean a lot to some people, but those that play and live games will comprehend those words (Haha). When I play and review a game, I focus on factors such as whether the game is truly fun, innovative, original and appealing. Graphics and sound are of concern too, but unfortunately I must say they are at the end of my priority list. Incredible graphics do not make games fun, they are only additional bonuses.
I often only play a game for 5-15 minutes because most of them are usually boring if you play any further. I often feel that the heart of the game is already experienced within these 5-15 minutes. Whether it is a role playing or platform game, if the game does not allow me to easily immerse into it...I will find it boring. I hate playing games where after the first 2-3 levels, I consciously realize I'm repeating the same formula to progress through the game. Such formulas include the hack and slash, obtaining experience through tedious combat, running the same plays, create/maintain/destroy, etc...

## Wario Ware, Inc: Mega Microgames – Nintendo (GBA, GameCube) ## This is one of those rare games that took me by surprise. Its fast, easy to learn and exciting. I definitely give it thumbs up for its original canny design. As soon as I started playing, my hands did not let go of the controller until I finished it. I would recommend this game to players who are looking for a quick, enjoyable and addictive game experience...especially since only the D-pad and A button are used, simplicity to learn is what makes Wario Ware inviting.
The concept of the game is to throw an assortment of different five-second challenges at the gamer, and they'll not only have to figure out what to do and how to do it, they'll also need to accomplish the task before the clock runs out and the game moves on to the next challenge.
I would encourage both casual and gaming veterans to check this game out. Let me know and I can send you the rom.....for evaluation purposes only! =)


Will be back with more gaming reviews.

Erik.

20 Questions to a Better Relationship

eXpressive: 6/10
Practical: 4/10
Physical: 7/10
Giver: 9/10


You are a XSYG--Expressive Sentimental Physical Giver. This makes you a Sex Bomb.

You are sexy sex sex sex! The sexness! You are the sexiest, hottest and most charismatic of all types. You are a captivating speaker and a great dinner date -- relaxed, self-effacing, charming and generous. Your type probably has origins in something sad -- trying to keep the peace in a tough family situation, or an early heartbreak -- and you'll probably want to address and resolve that at some point, but in your relationships that heartache is pure gold!

You lie effortlessly -- not necessarily a bad thing. You can have problems with fidelity. You need frequent praise and validation, and in seeking it you can make decisions that aren't consistent with your general good judgment. In other words, don't cheat on your significant other just because someone is paying attention to you.

You strongly dislike conflict, and will avoid it. Like an XPYG, you give so much of yourself to your partner that you feel dismissed and unappreciated if you don't get the same in return. But you internalize your feelings more and have a hard time getting over them. You don't *want* to cheat -- you just keep finding yourself in vulnerable situations. But you'll stay with your partner in the long run from guilt and a desire to please.

Your sex life will always be hot. You are one of the rare people who can keep the fires of passion going forever -- if you find a good match. Find another XSYG and you will never need (or want) anyone else again.

Of the 121858 people who have taken this quiz, 8.2 % are this type.


HHAHAHAHA.....what am I supposed to say to this. Try it out yourself at: http://hokev.brinkster.net/quiz/default.asp?quiz=Better+Personality&page=1


Yea...i'm bored right now...

Erik.

I haven't been recommending too much music these dayz...

~~~ Franz Ferdinand - Take me out ~~~
~~~ Incubus - Meglomaniac ~~~
~~~ Jamie Cullum - Frontin' (cover) ~~~
~~~ Nada Surf - Hi Speed Surf ~~~
~~~ Rooney - Popstars ~~~
~~~ Snow Patrol - Run ~~~
~~~ DJ Krush - Dig this Vibe ~~~
~~~ The Roots - Thought at Work ~~~
~~~ People Under the Stairs - Outrun ~~~
~~~ Kanye West - Last Call ~~~
~~~ Zero 7 - Spinning ~~~
~~~ LMF - Finalazy ~~~
~~~ Guns N Roses - Out to get me, Nightrain ~~~

Erik

Blogging from Vancouver...

I caught the flu and have gotten sick since my arrival. That was a week ago. So yeah, I didn't do anything for a full week...knowing that drives me insane. It makes me feel worthless, it makes me feel like I'm wasting time. The voice at the back of my head has again been screaming at me to go do something constructive....

I have, however, made frequent visits to the bookstore while I've been here though. Haha. I sound like such a nerd but I've always wanted to hang around the bookstore. Just wander around and pick up any book (Yes! I mean any book!) that catches my attention. I love it. Its very stimulating. I never got the time to do that in college, but I've finally found the time to do so now. On top of looking through the computer, music and business sections (the obvious ones...), I was also at the home decor, design, cooking, and digital photography sections. Hmmm, I'm sure thats something new to those of you whom didn't know I was zany like that...

++ More Recommended Sites ++
www.happytreefriends.com - HAhahah. CUte! ^^; I like most of the episodes, check out 'Eyes Cold Lemonade'

www.threeoh.com/atmosphere/ - Artwork by Angel Souto. Theres something about his stuff that attracts me....especially his internal work. I was able to fine one broken website selling his stuff. Argh. Dammit.


Vancouver is such a beautiful city. Its soooo relaxing here. Its perfect when the weather is nice. Its funny to know that that idea had never gone through my head since the day I was born here. Growing up has changed my perspective so significantly. Vancouver is clean, friendly, peaceful, green...yet also a "full-on" city on its own. Except maybe that it gets too cold here in the winter, I rate British Columbia at the top along with my beloved California. I'm not at all surprised why movie and game production is big here.

~~~ Space Raiders - Beautiful Crazy ~~~


Erik.

I've probably already mentioned this to everybody I know, but here it goes again; I GOT A NEW GUITAR! Its a black Epiphone Les Paul Custom with gold plating ^^
I absolutely love it. Its my prized possession. I also got a black strap with gold linings of chinese dragons for it. I'm still thinking about what name to give it though. Anybody with ideas should definitely IM me =) Hopefully soon enough I'll be posting some of my recordings onto my blog.

I spent my afternoon at the DMV today:

What time did Erik arrive at the DMV: 2:30pm
What time did Erik leave: 5:00pm
Purpose: Obtain Cali drivers license
Why a Purpose: Maryland license expired
Requirements to accomplish purpose: Pass the California law drivers license written test
Huh?!What test?:36 Multiple Choice questions. 6 or fewer incorrect answers to Pass. 3 Attempts altogether.
Erik: Bring it on!
1st Attempt:26/36. 10 WRONG! FAIL!
Black fat lady at the counter:You didn't study huh?
Erik:Yep *smiling*
Black fat lady hands Erik the Cali Driver license hand book.
Erik walks out of the DMV, flips through the hand book under the sun for 5 minutes, and re-enters the building.
Confident 2nd Attempt:27/36. 9 WRONG! FAIL!
Black fat lady at the counter:You should study! You're not going to pass otherwise.
Erik:DAMN IT! WTF>! Lemme take it again.
Black fat Lady at the counter:I'm telling you son. You're just going to waste your time.
Sketched out last 3rd Attempt:32/36 4 WRONG! BUT PASS!
Erik walks out of the DMV smiling.

An afternoon in Erik's life....taking the written test 3 times at DMV.......

I've been getting into the habit of going to the pool for swims over the week. I can really get used to that...immersing myself under the water. It kills all thoughts and keeps me alive. I guess its a way for me to spend time alone relieving from stress. I love it cause it allows me to feel like I'm living in another world. Its those couple of seconds of void....the feeling of being isolated....just me. It makes me feel like I'm myself.

To my surprise, I still find that my friends read my blog. Haha, I guess it’s something to do when youre bored and online huh? Its seriously time I get some feedback from you guys; I really wonder what impression of me does my diary give. I rarely second think what I type. I just let my thoughts spill. I’m pretty sure my diary reveals a lot about my character. I'm just curious what that is ^^

Chilling by the pool and bloggin....

Erik.


- Flake by Jack Johnson -

I know she said it's alright
But you can make it up next time
I know she knows it's not right
There ain't no use in lying
Maybe she thinks I know something
Maybe maybe she thinks its fine
Maybe she knows something I don't
I'm so, I'm so tired, I'm so tired of trying

It seems to me that maybe,
It pretty much always means no
So don't tell me you might just let it go
And often times we're lazy
It seems to stand in my way
Cause no one no not no one
Likes to be let down

I know she loves the sunrise
No longer sees it with her sleeping eyes
And I know that when she said she's gonna try
Well it might not work because of other ties and
I know she usually has some other ties
And I wouldn't want to break 'em, nah, I wouldn't want to break 'em
Maybe she'll help me to untie this but
Until then well, I'm gonna have to lie too

The harder that you try baby, the further you'll fall
Even with all the money in the whole wide world
Please please please don't pass me
Please please please don't pass me
Please please please don't pass me by

Everything you know about me now baby you gonna have to change
You gonna have to call it by a brand new name
Please please please don't drag me
Please please please don't drag me
Please please please don't drag me down

Just like a tree down by the water baby I shall not move
Even after all the silly things you do
Please please please don't drag me
Please please please don't drag me
Please please please don't drag me down

So many thoughts...so little time to blog them...

Going to a NCAA football game later today. USC vs. Colorado State. Definitely going to be a helluva an experience. I can only imagine how its like to go watch the national football champions. Its going to be blazing hot tho (yesh, like everyday in Cali). I don't doubt I'll get an even darker tan at the end of the day...

It just struck me yesterday that i'm a workaholic. Not that I didn't previously know already...but after having seen myself at work over the past couple days just confirmed that its all over my blood. I have this urge to keep myself occupied regardless of where and how I am. I don't think I'll ever understand the needs of a bum. Sometimes I'm so motivated it drives me nuts.

+++ Peggy Hsu - Balloon +++ This is an album to own. Anybody who feels the 'music' would feel this.

The thought of a career in the video game industry is concreting (did I just make up that word? ^^;). In many ways, I can see this is what I want for myself. Not only do I want to prolong my stay in the States (and hopefully in Cali), it would be a job to keep me happy for years to come (since I'll be working my ass regardless). I'm pretty sure corporate America will need personnel like me to work in Asia when the time comes...
I guess I figured if I'm going to return to Asia in the future, I might as well live the coastal life now while I still have a choice. It'll be for a good change in the long run. I like it. Its peaceful, clean and simple. I could really appreciate the lifestyle here.

~~~ India.Arie - Good man ~~~

Time to run.
Payce.
Erik

As much as I am unemployed now (yes..I quit my job at Activision), I'm loving my free time here in LA. Sometimes I don't believe the speed at which I have grown over the past couple years; I seriously think my transition time right now is the best time for me to see who I've become over the years...
My life so far has been perfect. I've been doing exactly what I should be doing all throughout my existence. It's pretty scary to know that chances are that it will stay this way for the rest of my life. It's my destiny. My achievements and personality have already projected my future. I don't think theres anything that can pull me back from here onwards....

So yeah. My concerns are pretty obvious by now. Whether I want to foot into the same puddle is up to me and my lil brain.


Erik

Since my teeth have been aching over the last couple days...I decided to visit the local dentist to check it out this morning. Haha, and the next thing I know, I had two of my teeth pulled out. I guess if they were going to have to be pulled out anywayz, I might as well get it over with.
Like many things in this world, events occur when you least expect them to. However, whether you act on them is another story on its own. I guess some things are just inevitable. Delays are just excuses to confront your fears. You evaluate your risks and make your choice. A decision is only something you do not understand.

Life.

Erik

Sunday Morning.

I've been stressed lately. The reality of our world has taken me by surprise. The spread out civilization across California is getting to me. All of a sudden, I realize that I live in such a lonely world. Everybody lives for themselves. It's like a phone call that will not be answered at 4am. A reason why people turn their back at you....

So I ask myself once again...what the hell am I doing in this world? As much as I think I am living the life, I hate it. I hate it for its systems. I dislike the fact that we live in such a sad self-centered adult society. Its where at many points of time in my life it has caused me to just leave who and where I am. Just hop onto the car and drive away... far far away somewhere I can be alone and unknown.

You're a queen that I will always believe in
Its not where but who you are.
Many butterflies fly by me
In a daze, bebel vibrates your ears

Its pretty obvious I don't deserve a flower
Its not the beach. Neither the sun.
The truth is there is none
Just an apartment threatening to lose youself

.

Erik.

I had an awesome 4 day road trip from Vancouver to LA. Plenty of new memories to live for. The scenery I saw while driving along the coast was not something I expected. It was unreal. I don't think I can use words to describe how beautiful it was. Long, Jeremy, Cheuk and I would just stare at the blankly at the scenery with our jaws wide open.
Memorable moments of our trip included: sleeping in the car in front of the cinema, diversion at Mendocino(hehe), brewery at Eureka (best tangerine and white beer), the best piss, the strawberries, the gangsta lighting, the view, the view, the scenery, the view and jamming in front of the view.
Note to self: You are a moron for not bringing your VDO camera =/

~~~ Maroon 5 - This love (acoustic) ~~~

Erik.

Lunch time.....

Sometimes I really wonder what the hell am I doing. What am I trying to get at? Is this what I want? Who am I? Do I like my life?
I'm lost. Even if I had the world under my hand right now, I would still feel lost. I don't know why, but I've been feeling like I'm all alone over the past couple days. Its as if I'm just living a life in my world. Dealing with my own issues and my own state of mind everyday. I don't feel very well. Maybe its just one of those days....maybe I'm not getting enough sleep these days. I've been avging 6 hours a night compared to 10 hours for the past half year.

I went to the X games last weekend. I saw the Big Air Skateboard event. It was pretty crazy stuff I must admit.... you don't realize how big these ramps are and how much air these guys pull off until you see it live in front of your face. Props to the big air ramp designer and winner of the competition Danny Way. His 70 foot jump and 27 foot quarter pipe made the event just that much more cinematic. Its unreal.

Gonna drive my car down to LA from Vancouver later this week. Its going to be wicked (haha, unless I run into any unexpected situations). Nice ~4 day road trip down the west coast. I'm sure it'll be another crazy experience all together. Hopefully it will bring me back to the living, crazy me =)
Note to self - bring VDO camera.

~~~ Incubus - Talk Show on Mute ~~~ I LOVE THIS SONG.

Erik..

At Work....

So yeah....giving the fact that I am a music freak...I finally invested in the new click wheel 40Gb iPod. And after a little more than a week of product evaluation, I rate this product a 7/10. I personally think the iPod is overrated. I mean, sure, its got a chic design, it handles pretty well in your hand (looks and feels mad cool)...but thats as far as it goes. Aside from the fact that the accessories are way way way over priced, managing your music on your iPod/iTunes is just unbelievably crappy. If I have 40Gb of music on my portable music player, there better be better ways to access/manage my music on it. Its pretty user unfriendly when it comes to porting music into your device. I had problems being able to access my iPod through two different computers, deleting songs (doesn't reflect that I have deleted songs in my iPod storage space), and also have plenty of songs that do not have names...I have duplicate artists names such as 'Zero 7', 'Zero7' and 'Zero Seven' (and so, for those that know me....obviouslyI spent hours and hours tagging and renaming all my files using all sorts of scripts and mp3 file managing software....)
On a good note, however, I could confirm that I feel "powerful" with my new iPod tho. 40Gb of music on-the-go in my pocket is something to die for....(yes, and only if its organized)

Been mostly studying over the weekend (yeah..and I thought schooling would be over forever!!). Just hacking at some directx9 stuff. I'm learning how to do some 3D graphic programming. Its going pretty well, I think being able to create my first/third person shooter in the near future wouldn't be much of an overstatement. I will post a link to my work as soon as it is done. Hopefully, you will all check it out when its complete. I really look forward to my demo. Man, thank god for taking computer integrated surgery.

Went to the beach again over the weekend. Body boarding at Manhattan beach. Its so awesome. I am definitely going to make it a habit. Going surfing or body boarding during the weekends after a full week of work is a dream. I'm going to make it come true.
The waves were pretty huge too over the weekend. So yeah, I had a couple major wipeouts...haha...but its cool. Its all for the best. I like the learning process...its a challenge. I need to invest in a wet-suit in the near future though, it gets a little cold a 2-3 hours into the ocean. Both my hands were pale purple at the end of the day, they were numb and shaking.

I'm so going to stay in CA.

Erik.

Its Sunday Morning.
 
Went out to the beach yesterday. Was great. I like the outdoors. Getting together with friends to just do stuff. We drove down to Manhattan Beach for some bodyboarding, beach volleyball, and vodka chucking. I was dead by the time I got home (after a fat-ass Japanese meal).  Passed out nicely on my couch. Hehe.
 
~~~ Hoobastank - The reason ~~~
 
Got stuff to do.
 

I got a QA testing job at Activision.
Yep. Working at the headquarters in Santa Monica, California baby. Not a very well paid job yet....but hey, I'm working on it. For me, I'm just hoping its a baby step like this that will grow huge one day =)
 
My office will always be known as video game la la land to me. Game posters, arcades, anime, plenty of game consoles hooked up to monitors in every corner or cubicle of the office. Its quite awesome (haha, especially if you are a true gamer), people decorate their desks with so much game junk I am confident to say that they are making themselves at home.
 
Working in the west coast is laid back. People are more understanding in terms of everybody elses life. There are less formalities and people are more ultra modern. I like it. Productivity does not go down in these environments. Thats what its about. Working hard and living your life.
 
I'm getting so busy these days its not even funny. I haven't really worked in a long while. Going to work is tiring eventho I am technically in many ways just playing games all day. =P
 
 
Erik

I think I've finally come to the point where I have met my revelation. I want to be a video game developer. I think its time for me to stop mucking around and focus on this goal. I should start tighten my window of opportunities and stop applying to anything that sounds interesting. I think I have met my new challenge....

Checking in at Las Vegas...

What an unreal city. Flashy lights, huge hotels/casinos, lots of people, plenty of shows and lots of high rollers. This is surely a city of adult entertainment.
As much as my first day here was all fascination and excitment, I don't like this place. It really gets into you when the hotel-casinos look and feel exactly the same regardless of the time, weather or day here. It feels like a 24-hour cracked-out drug den. It really does. It makes sickens me when I am indoors at these hotels while knowing that the sun is shining bright outside.
I like unreal places. But Las Vegas gives me this feeling of an evil money making presence behind the nice flashy lights. I'm assured that there are probably businessmen greeding over this money made from the casinos. All they want is you to spend more money and gamble. Its all front. Its like the evil jester or clown that is all for show. They offer nice all-you-can-eat buffets and nice big cheap hotel rooms while small little stuff such as internet and drinks are way over-priced. How am I expected to dish out $2.50 for a small bottle of Nestea? Or even worse, $5 per 5 minutes of internet use anywhere down the strip? Its bullshit.

Out.
Erik.

OH YEA! Celebrating entry #201!

I didn't know that a gmail account was anything special until I heard about being able to register through invitations only the other day. 1Gb of account space. Hmm. Interesting. I can store a movie and a half onto my email account: erik.chan@gmail.com

I went to Stanley for BBQ last nite. I don't think I've had a good time like that in a long long while. Although it was VERY hot, we got lost more than once on our way, had problems setting up our fire, etc... I had an awesome time. I love group activities. I love it all: buying our food at the supermarket...taking the time to cook the food perfect and having to drop it onto the floor afterwards...its a really awesome way to share and make moments in life memorable with your friends....cuz in the end, not everybody likes to go out and drink....as much as I have spent nights out, I don't think I have ever met a close friend out at a bar or club...
I personally think that I need more outgoing friends. People that are willing to do and try new stuff. People that don't let materialistic luxuries define their ways. I think its a big part of life to go out there to experience and discover. I know way too many (spoilt, conservative, lazy or/and boring) kids. My opinion is that they are wasting their life. I understand that its not upto me to decide upon how somebody lives their life and what they do every weekend. But I just think its really sad that it takes so much of my effort to get the people I am close with to join (not to even mention 'organize') some sort of group team work type activity.

~~~ Jars of Clay - Overjoyed ~~~

Will be heading to LA and NYC once again in a couple days!!

ERik.

Some cool online material to share:

Sport shoes artwork ~ www.davewhite.me.uk ~ check out the Air Max 97 in the 'latest section', thats my favourite.

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry ~ http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Rhodes/1916/online.html ~ A story by a french writer that explores the purpose of our life, how our society affects it and other symbolic stuff about how we appreciate what we take for granted.

Web traffic Stats ~ http://www.visitorville.com/ ~ A cool and original methodology to indicate web traffic. I can really appreciate this IT geek culture originating from the valley.


Except for my two day excursion to Macau with my Dad, I've been busy with parties over the past week in Shanghai.....karaoke, clubbing, bar hopping and all of that sort. Mostly because the summer has begun here, the school year at Fudan is over and either friends are arriving back home in Asia (visiting or residing in Shanghai) or they are leaving back to their homes abroad.

THE DETROIT PISTONS rocked the Lakers to perfection. This is basketball. Team work, defense, and stepping it up. Although I am not a Pistons fan, I can respect their game and a championship to them. Go home LA, your time is officially over.
Its going to be nice to see Kobe and Shaq start all over again elsewhere. I don't doubt they will play any worse elsewhere. And to the rest of the Lakers? They might as well just sit around and rot.

Euro Cup 2004. I've been fortunate to stick around late enough into the morning to watch the games. The two comeback matches Czech Republic 3 - 2 Holland and France 2 - 1 England were classics.

~~~ Interpol - Obstacle 1 ~~~

I'm in a state of peaceful confusion. As confused as I am about my life and career at this point of my life, I am getting a good dose of time to analytically sort out and tackle my issues. Maybe in the end, I'll still be doing exactly what I would have chose to do half a year ago, but at least I'd know what i'm getting myself into now. I won't start asking the same questions I am doing now 5-10 years into my career.

I think I have explored and lived Shanghai long enough to know what its all about now. Whether I want to stick around is a completely different story. Maybe in 10 or so years.

Erik.

My excursion to Nanjing was a memorable one. Its these little things you choose to do in life that makes all the difference...cuz I definitely enjoyed this trip. Haha, we definitely live and learn.

I'm blank, motivated, and ready to absorb.

ERik

~~~ Air - Alone in Kyoto ~~~

Its only a matter of time until I switch to Linux. Not that I have any huge problems with the windows operating system, but I truly believe in open sourcing. I'm sure Microsoft has some incredible talent, but that can never beat 'the masses' behind free-for-all programming. Plus, you rid of any monopolies contained within our computer experience...
Its going to be a difficult fight for open sourcing though. Maybe the powerful will always stay powerful...

Erik.

Good Evening Shanghai. I'm back.

Spent most of today whizzing around downtown. I'm going to be honest here, but Shanghai (and most probably the rest of China) is a boring place for a recently graduated student from America just like me. Yes, this city is rapidly growing and incredibly dynamic but my future in this city is definitely not in the next 5 or so years. I don't have the experience to be boss, and neither do I have the expertise to be a professional here.
I'm trying really hard not to be bias here, but Hong Kong is so much more than Shanghai. As much as Shanghai is under heavy development to become the next asian metropolitan, its people are lacking. The typical Chinese still lacks culture, respect, education and free-thinking. I believe all that can only be developed in time. And I believe that may probably be the reason why I feel I am starting to dislike it here. I do, however, believe it is only in this type of market where you can make unreal profits from.

+++ ??? Demo Collection Volume 1 - Favorites +++ This is a must get CD. I love it.

Erik.

I'm back in Hong Kong after my "different moment" in New York City. The past 3 weeks has been intense, sane, and fun. I don't think I realize I traveled half the world in that time span. There was no post-trip time to digest what I experienced.

Although I would prefer a job in Manhattan, chances are that I will be better off staying at home in Hong Kong where my path can be cultivated more closely by my elders. Sometimes there is just too much I want to do in my life. In reality, I really am actually just another soul racing against time. But I know ‘success’ is the type of life I want to lead though. And I understand that only with loss, there is gain.

Not only do I have intense passion for music, I love people, women, sports, culture, knowledge, appreciation, experiences, my friends and family, and a list that will continue forever. If anything, it’s that I hate to have to choose only one path (yes, even though it is an individual and distinct one). The truth is I want to live them all. I can be seen as greedy, but I’ve always wanted to live in the shoes of every soul. Be it hardship, luck, or hope, I want to try and live it. Nothing is ever easy, be it you rich or poor, smart or dumb.

~~~ Evanscence – My immortal ~~~
~~~ Bent – Always ~~~
~~~ Murphy Lee – What da hook gonna be ~~~

Erik.

JHU Commencement day 2004

I had a blast. Seeing old faces, getting to know a bunch of new kids..what was I thinking when I said I didn't want to come back?

Commencement went through like a breeze. Bill Cosby put up a nice funny commencement speech/act. The weather was nice. It was a nice way to end college. Great senior week to give it a final touch.

I will miss Baltimore and life at Hopkins. I proved myself at many things during my time here. Not only did I discover a huge part of who I am, I realized many things about our world and society. I probably won't choose to take the same path I once did if I had to do it all over again, but I'm glad that things turned around just fine. I'm sure all things happen for a reason.

I'm now a Hopkins Alumni. Proud to say I graduated from this academicly intensive college. Now begin the next chapter of my life...

May 19th

Its Kevin Garnett's birthday today. On top of having lost my cell, I dissapointed my parents by arriving to dinner as late as I could have ever gotten tonite....
What else did I do today? Oh yeah, I ran around campus running errands one last fukin time...didn't even get to eat properly.

I still remember the amount of luck I was having a year ago from today....I suck.

Erik.

Just spent the last 30mins reading old entries on my blog. I've written 192 entries over the last 2 and a half years. Haha, I'm embarassed to say that I have plenty of typos and grammatical errors within them. My apologies to all my readers.

+++ Thievery Corporation - Mirror Conspiracy +++ One classic downtempo album.

I found the 'Mae - Destination: Beautiful' album here in NYC. I was so happy. I've been searching for that album for a while already. Only in NYC I can find all sorts of less mainstream and underground music. The album was everything I want and more. The lyrics are sooo worth checking out, its definitely my cup of tea.

The NBA playoffs are really starting to get pretty exciting. All the series are tied 2-2. Lakers vs. Spurs, Timberwolves vs. Kings, Nets vs. Pistons, and Pacers vs. Heat. Haha, I know I'm making a bias comment but THE KINGS WILL WIN!! Although the Kings do not play the same style I used to admire 2 years ago, I will still root for them. They deserve a championship (ok fine, so do the Timberwolves...). I'm glad to be in America during this time of the year, staying or waking up early in the morning to watch the game in Asia has been driving me nuts.

Zero 7 is performing in the city on the 21st. Hopefully I'll be able to make it.

Erik.

Exert from my moleskin diary(yes, the more personal one):

At YVR. Chemical beats knock Business Week, AWSJ and other finance articles into my head. I read them all (soaking up every fact and given theory), and wonder once again how much of a slave I am of this society. I think I'm at this point where I constantly pursue knowledge for the betterment of my future rather than for myself. To better put it, I'm at the point where I've gotten in the habit of following up on all this finance, politics, economics and business shit without even second thinking whether it is to my interest of not. I personally think thats a little f'd up. I'm blood thirsty for knowledge cause I think it'll benefit me in the long run.
Maybe I'm just too driven to let anything stop me from reaching my goals.

To think about it, I am a biomedical engineer. Why start educating myself the materical I can learn studying a different major after I graduate? Or should I say, why major biomedical engineering? I really wonder...



I LOVE NYC. Thats a stone-hard fact. I will definitely miss this place a great deal if I end up spending the next couple years working somewhere in Asia. I like NYC for its style, its food, its numerous cultures, and its wide range of people from all over the world and in different social classes. Its a crazy place. They have top of the world art and design talent, broadways, and most important of all, its own metropolitan like culture that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
I feel alive everytime I step out from the apartment into the city. Theres the East and West village, SOHO, Times Square, Chinatown, little Italy, Broadway, Union Square, Saint Marks, Central Park, Upper East side, Columbia University on the upper west, Wall Street, and plenty more. This place is packed with everything.
What am I talking about? I'm gonna go out and breath more of this city right now.

Erik.

Back and relaxed on my bed in Hong Kong. What else could beat those tiny moments in your life - laying on your bed with a nice cup of ice cold nestea beside you as you type away your next internet diary entry on your laptop.
I've always had wireless broadband at home here in Hong Kong, although, I've never made any use of it until two days ago. I guess I've sort of changed into a traditional consumer over the years. Instead of adopting early new technologies that will supposedly make your life more efficient, I've slowly turned into the type of person where I like to stick to things that work. I will only switch to new technologies that are showing signs of maturing. Maybe its a sign of growing up.... realizing that stability has become much of a priority.

Another bit of truth of my life - I'm a spoilt brat. Over the past couple months, I've been constantly observing how easy my parents have made my life for me. From the type of clothes and accessories I own to the amount of work that is being done for me at home makes me feel sick of myself. I think I'm starting to really have problems accepting the way of my life. I feel worthless when I know that there are plenty of people in this world that need to take care of many more daily errands than I do. I have always had that extra budget inside my wallet to take care of problems for me. Sometimes, I don't think I even deserve this type of life. I didn't work for it. Its not good enough even if I appreciate and understand where its coming from. I don't think theres anything I can do to really change this around, I guess life just goes on, and you are given what you are born with. Maybe all things do happen for a reason.

Finally got a haircut today. I don't think I quite enjoyed my last hair cut at Tony & Guy in Shanghai. Haha, a little bit of anti-advertising here, but I advise you all to avoid T&G in Shanghai. Its cheap, but really not that great.

I'll be off to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur in two days. I can't wait to get some good food. Yum.

The Spurs are gonna give the Lakers a smacking. Haha, was definitely worth staying up until 7am.

ERIK.

great...3 hours of work down the drain.....I'm am not going to write it back all out......I should have known that my post was not going to go through.....

~~~ Daft Punk - Something about us (love theme from Interstella 5555) ~~~ Very very chill.
~~~ Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto - The girl from Ipanema ~~~

Basically, I talked about my opinions of Shanghai. Its just too much work to type it all back out and go through the thought process. For once, it was a very written long paragraph citing my experiences here and there over the past year. sigh. F it.

this is bullshit

I've been sick this week. My Dad came to Shanghai on Thursday, and brought me along during his business trip at Hang zhou and Tong Li. So yeah...back to why i'm sick....I wore a polo out to this trip cuz it was bright and sunny during the morning (30+ celsius around here already).....I'm guessing I caught a cold cuz it suddenly started raining late afternoon and it got real windy at night (I continually resisted putting on the coat my dad offered me..haha)....or then again, it could also be due to the 2 bottles of red wine I had over lunch and dinner (DAMN Chinamen!!)....
But yea, being sick here in China is not fun at all. Unless you have the money to hire a private doctor, any other such medical help around here would probably do me worse than good....excluding the fact that I may contaminate other diseases and viruses at the hospital or ward, theres a good chance I will already get even more sick from waiting forever in line....

I feel like i've grown/matured/become more experienced since I arrived Shanghai. My study abroad is so worth it. Not only have I learned the language, more about the culture and other very factual entities...I've gotten to learn and realize a lot more about who and where I stand among this world.
I feel like I've been taking my surroundings and contempory lifestyle for granted over the years (and I think I will always do so). Having visited more rural areas like Yuan An (where people still live in caves, and nearly everything they own is made of twigs and branches), learning about the wages of the peasants in China, or maybe even going out with the local or other international students at Fudan really makes me realize how fortunate I am. It really puts things into perspective. The lesson I've learned, however, is not that I'm lucky though...its that I should be thankful for what I have and go make the best of the best of what I have been blessed with. (man, I starting to sound so religious...)
As I've been saying many times over the past couple weeks...you really don't need to have been to India to know what Nann bread is.....i mean, sure....maybe you dunt even have the resources to try it, its still not an excuse to not know what it is. I really don't know what to say sometimes. I may sound like Mr. Know-it-All, but I can't believe how uneducated, unexperience, ignorant some people are in this world. Its like, some people have no adventurous characteristics within them. They're satisfied with their life, their world, their friends, their routine.....they aren't curious about what type of lives other people around them are living.

On top of my belief that everything in this world is based on your perspective on it (how life can be great even during sad or non-eventful periods or how life can be miserable and gloomy even when you have the world under your feet), there are also plenty of things that can be learned around us depending on our perspective of it. Some things are obvious some others may not be. Letz say...... a trip to the local 'xiao long bao' restaurant for some xiao long......ok, maybe I just think too much, but over a simple trip like this for me.....I could look upon this event culturally, economically, from a business point of view, from my point of view (a foreigner), a local customers point of view, etc... The possibilities are endless when you use an experience like this to contrast and compare it with your previous experiences.

A tiny little thing like my name...'Erik'....and having been sent me to starters (an english kindergarten) and a chinese kindergarten at the same time really reveals a lot about what my parents were thinking when they were younger. 'Erik' with a 'K' is quite a bit of a twist for a Chinese family, and sending me to a German Int'l School is definitely also not a very traditional chinese either. Its like, my parents had set me a path different than a lot of other kids before I was even born. And only through these sort of roots, I can trace back out how and why I've gotten to become who I am. Its crazy. Things you don't realize until you grow up.

My cell got stolen today. Boo hoo. I lost all my numbers. I don't even want to mention how, why, and where.

I'm leaving back to Hong Kong next week!!! Ahh, I miss home. I can't wait to get back and get some real cantonese food. The sweet and strong taste of Shanghainese food is really driving me nuts. I can't take it everyday. But yeah, before I settle in, I'll be making a trip to Singapore and Malaysia(business field trip with Dad again!!)....can't really say much about that right now...maybe after I go (uh-huh..like i'll have the time to blog).....after that, its back to NYC (yes yes 2nd Ave 5th Street....you kno where the joint is....haha)....and then last of all, final destination, senior week at back at friggin Baltimore for my Hopkins graduation (did i ever mention Bill Cosby is the speaker?). Its gonna be a crazy month. And i'll be skipping school here in Shanghai all throughout this time.

~~~ Jurassic 5 - Thin Line (feat. Nelly Furtado) ~~~

its the small things we churn out in life...that makes it interesting

- Erik

Wanda De Sah & Sergio Mendes - So Nice
Nada Surf - Inside of Love
Rooney - Losing All Control
Something Corporate - Space
the Vines - Ride
Beta Band - Squares
Mae - Embers and Envelopes

Only til now I realize how much of a music promoter I am. I never realized until my friend was stating the obvious. I'm not only a music freak, but I constantly promote it to everybody around me with all my heart. Its like, I want to share this understanding and appreciation for music. I educate others to learn and love it, no strings attached. Damn, how come I never realized.
I think i've talked to everybody I know about music. I swear to god. Every single friend of mine.... I must have at some point spent time talking and recommending music. I've actually made a huge effort doing it too....ranging from burning CD's for other people, recommending music, playing music for others....wow. Haha, I can't believe how many of my family and friends have been affected due to my appreciation. Especially my close friends and two bros, it would never be justifiable how much I talk about it until you ask one of them about it....I talk about music every day.
I'm a music freak. I even categorize all the types of CDs in my CDS case into 'CD I haven't heard of', 'All-time' favourite, 'Giving it another chance', 'In the mood for it these days' and 'pretty good CD that makes it to the disk case everyonce in a while'.
Thinking back to all those things I have done to promote and appreciate music. I'm shocked. Its a huge part of my life.

Erik.

I'm at X'ian. Its my second day here. Fun? Hell Yea. Haha.

Been noticing all sorts of things over the past two weeks. Mainly the differences between Shanghai, Beijing, and the rest of inland China (haha..its really only X'ian and Yuan an..but whateva..LoL). I must say its quite different though, and I say this ranging from the standard of living to the local culture and attitudes....I don't feel like I should mention specifically how I feel about these cities though, mainly because I guess I don't qualify to evaluate them yet. Especially not with the short period of residency I've only had here in China. Maybe you could ask me personally......but yeah, anywayz, everyday in China has still been a bit of a brain drain for me....I'm still a sponge soaking up everything I see.....

I feel so bad. I really want to blog a lot more often than I do in China. I guess I just have no time, theres always something in the way...something more important or more desirable to do....Hopefully sometime, I'll be able to talk about my experience in more detail...Theres so much to talk about.

Tired as Hell. Went to see the terracotta warriors today.

~~~ Usher - Yeah! ~~~

Oyasumi.
Erik.

Haha. Its been a while since I've been back. Let me start off with a variety of music:

~~~ Zion I feat. Grouch - Silly Puddy ~~~
~~~ Elefant - Misfit ~~~
~~~ Duncan Sheik - On a High ~~~
~~~ ????? - ??????????????~~~

Been busy. Edwin was here. Edmund was here. Ronny was here. Seriously been exploring Shanghai quite a bit I must say. I dunt think it would be possible to even describe much of what I have experienced and went through over the past couple weeks....haha, I guess the best way to put it is that theres way too much to talk about and can't be bothered to. LoL.

Although I don't do that many things everyday, I often feel tired. I have a feeling its cuz I mentally work myself out everyday. Probably a combination of worrying, stress and striving to absorb everything my 5 senses allow me to. Even though my bed is stiff and hard, I somehow sleep incredibly well every nite. (Damn my hard bed!!)

I've been culture shocking. Haha. Seriously, every once in while I go through these random culture shock moments. Its like, I'm sick and tired of all this chinese around me. I'm sick of pronouncing chinese words, sick of speaking it and seeing it all over me. I feel like I need a break from it all. Just one day of english..only speaking and reading english. Even my cantonese is starting to turn into mandarin, its insane. Sometimes, I have to cut back on what I say (haha, yesh, we all know I always have a lot to say) cause i just can't figure out how to say it in mandarin. Man, I'm sick of having to translate everything I say in cantonese or english before I say it....

I'm going to Beijing and Xian next week. Gonna be great.

Erik - haha. ended not talking about any of the acutal experiences.

- I mentioned that Chinese music is a long way behind other parts of the world. I think I have to take that back. Maybe I'll talk about it next time -

Its been a while already. But Chris Webber is back!! Sadly though, on top of an nonexistant NCAA basketball (MARCH MADNESS!!) TV program here in Shanghai, I probably won't get to watch that many games of the NBA playoffs this year. That really sucks. Any chances of me getting to watch any of these games is if I wake up early in the morning (assuming I skip classes), decide to stream it on my laptop (laggy and bad quality), and that Shanghai sports channel decides to air that game I want. So yeah, it sucks to be missing out on the sports life. All they show here on the sports channel here is soccer, ping pong and volleyball. Boo.

I got a hold of the new zero 7 CD. Not quite as good, but i'm satisfied. Theres a lot more going on around here that has taken me away from sitting down to appreciate an album top to bottom. But anywayz, my recommendations for the album are 'somersault', 'speed dial no.2' and 'the space between'. I've only heard of the album through once, so that list may change.

I joined the guitar club here! HAha. People are not especially good here, so I fit just good among them. They only play chinese songs....but its cool...I'm just glad there are people to play with.
I guess this brings me to the point.... that the music scene here in China is musically (in terms of its structure, style and form) still a long long way behind compared to the music from other parts of the world. Playing the guitar here in China has such a folk feel to it, its all about strumming very basic chords and singing along to it. Its very simple and it has a strong emphasis upon self satisfication from playing. Argh, I dunno. Whatevaz. LoL.

~~~ Watashi Wa - All of Me ~~~

Ok. Done With.
Erik.

- Letz all take a moment of silence for every innocent life that was taken away by the 'cruel realities of the world' in Spain yesterday -

~~~ Mae - Summertime, Skyline Drive, Runaway ~~~ Recently made my fav bands list.
~~~ Belle and Sebastian - Seeing Other people, Burning Flies ~~~

I really should continue with my food experience in Shanghai right now. But i don't feel like it, i've already been a full day of work. So f*** it cuz its my blog and not yours.

I feel mellowed out. =) Its probably that 'Mae - Skyline Drive' song thats chilling me out right now. I like it....but anywayz, so yeah....where should i start...
Not much breathing room here in Shanghai, I've been constantly out and about most of my time here. Haha, in some way like the way I do in Hong Kong i guess, but different in another that I'm (supposedly) in school around here and I'm abroad in an environment very different than I have been over the past half of my life. I'm content tho. I don't ask for much in life...haha, ok maybe I should take that back...lets just say I am easily satisfied in the short run most of the time.....

Some japanese girls (maybe guyz too, but dunno them yet..wuhaha) are cooking dinner tonight. I think I'll take part in that. Haha. Hey, every man needs to eat too right? I'm too lazy and its too cold to go out anyways. As I said earlier, I'm tired...I had a full day of work. Pretty good class rate today. Went to 2/3 classes today, not bad considering I went to 3/11 last week when my older brother came to visit me.

ARgh. How come I always need to go half way during my entry?

Erik.

My diet has been very exciting over the past month. Yeah, and I think it would be safe to say that I've had an incredibly wide variety of food during my first month in Shanghai. Everything from the street food that can cost less than 2USD altogether, to the 20USD 'all you can eat' japanese cuisines.
Maybe I should start with the 'all you can eat'. HAha. Basically its all you can eat japanese cuisines or tepanyaki. Its pretty crazy stuff, on top of the 'all you can eat' you also get to order 'all you want to drink' too. And I'm talking about all you can drink hot sake, japanese beer, fruit juice, blah blah blah. I mean, seriously, 20USD for all you can drink is not bad already, but thats not even the best part. The best part is that the food is legit stuff!! Like, real japanese food. All you can eat japanese cuisine includes all you can eat uni, horse sashami, raw beef, raw prawns, and the list goes on just like every other japanese restaurant. This is same for the tepanyaki restaurant: private rooms, a chef cooks in front of you, and you can order anything on the menu (codfish, clams, different types of beef, blah blah blah). You point at anything on the menu and they will bring it up to you and cook it right there. So yeah, we're talkin about living like the king. Haha.

Crap. to be continued...

Maybe its just me, but I often feel like I am very different from the people I know. Typically, it is probably due to background circumstances, but even my peers that have went to an int'l school in Hong Kong most of their life do not possess traits similar to mine at all. For example, among my circle of close friends, each and everyone of them are very distinct in their own way that none of us are a good representation of our backgrounds. And I say this confirming that neither even everyone of us together would reflect a true representation of our background. Our personalities have already set us too far apart.

Its interesting to meet people from all over the world. Living abroad really gives you a chance to widen your perspective of this world. Ever since I set my foot here at the international cultural exchange dorm, I admit I have always ignored most European countries. Seriously, what was i thinking? Doesn't that seem quite fundamental? 'Too much BME for my own good' I would probably use as an excuse. Europe plays a huge 1/3 part of this world, yet when I read the wall street, I only goto the U.S and Asia section. I'm sure there are plenty of hungry men and women over there that are also planning to take over this world too. I must make a visit to the rest of Europe asap. Backpacking would sound fun.

Erik.

Still lov'in it. Theres a pretty good chance I'm going to settle here for good. Haha, maybe that statement will help re-emphasize my point about how much i'm lov'in it here. The three main reasons why I want to stay in Shanghai are:

1. Shanghai is not as developed as other metropolitans. Maybe it will be in the next 30 or so years, but wouldn't that be great? To live not only like a king with low living standards to start off with, but also live through the development of what will be one of the major cities in the future? The next New York City, but in China?

2. People here are generally more relaxed and easy going. Social ties and boundaries have not fully conformed yet. Locals and expatriots/foreigners get along a lot better than I've seen so far in my life. There isn't much of that uptite 'I'm higher class so I don't talk to you' thing going on. You don't need to know so and so to get into the door. I just feel that since everything is still going under rapid change, if I keep my head up and feet firmly on the floor, I have the opportunity to define my own world here. Have more things the way I want it to.

3. Huge second tier industry. Many more opportunities for a business man with a background in engineering and interest in developing/marketing high technology. How much easier can it get for me, I understand the Chinese culture yet I have an education overseas. I'm not trying to talk ego with you, but I'm money. As my friends put it, I'm already a chinese walking dollar bill around here.

~~~ Daft Punk - Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger (Neptunes Remix) ~~~
~~~ Duncan Sheik - Barely Breathing ~~~
~~~ Eve6 - Inside Out ~~~



HA. Its Friday night tonite. Maybe I'll go out later, I need a nap. If anything, I would recommend 'Pegasus' across from Times Square Thursday nights. Its my third week here and I've been there every Thursday so far. So yeah, not a bad party at all.

Airik.
'Õâ¸öÐÇÆÚÎÒÔÚѧÓõçÄÔ´òºº×Ö, ÕæµÄºÃ²»ÈÝÒ×.'

Haha. A song Will and I wrote then played for Brian on the guitar. Its a rip off of 'Semisonic - Closing Time'. Not bad, considering a couple of us sang it to him in front of a small audience on his Birthday.

Brian's Song - 'Closing time' cover

[Intro]

[Verse]
Its Brian's song,
So put your hands together and give him a birthday cheer
Its Brian's song,
So take off all your tops and let him see your underwear
Its Brian's song,
One last call for alchohol so give him your whiskey or beer
Its Brian's song,
Wish him a happy birthday or get the fuck out of here

[Chorus]
We know who he wants to take home
We know who he wants to take home
We all know who Brians taking home
So take her home.....

[2nd Verse]
Its Brian's song,
Undress her slowly in the dark but don't fuck up the bra strap
Its Brian's song,
Light the candles, set the mood, and make sure to keep it wrapped
So gather up the courage and make sure you don't blow it
I hope you can make her come.
Its Brian's song,
Every kiss will get her body closer to feeling numb.

[Bridge/Solo]

[Chorus again]

Although I don't make it to my classes as often as I should, I feel incredibly productive here in Shanghai. I'm always out and about doing stuff having a good time. Be it shooting some hoops, biking around campus, out downtown for a stroll, checking out the local restaurants....the days fly by just like that. HAha, I've also been consuming a lot more alcohol than I should be too so far. I've been drinking everyday for the past week, sometimes chill drinking and sometimes out clubbing getting a good dosage of shots, cocktails or whateva...
Speaking of which, I like the clubbing scene here a lot. Over the past year or two, I thought I was done with going to clubs, but having second thoughts now. People here are generally pretty friendly, drinks are cheap, and they have Djs that play a good selection of mainstream to keep people continually bouncing off the walls. So yea, I like it.

My first food poisoning experience was not a good one. HAha, the story goes like this: So earlier this week I decided to grab a quick bite at the cafeteria before my class. I had pork belly ramen, fried rice with chinese sausage and bak choi, and a warm milk tea. I'm guessing it was most probaby the damn milk tea, but yea, I finished my meal real quick and headed straight to class. Probably around 10mins into class, my stomach started to feel like it wanted to turn inside out. My first reaction was like 'god damn, are you for real?'. It was coo though, I mean, I quickly sped to the washroom. But only to find out that behind the washroom doors was only a gutter!!! I mean, it was a gutter around 20cm deep, and that was it!! No drainage no nothing. Basically if you took a dump in there, all your belongings would just sit there in this shallow gutter, and would probably stench up the whole floor in the building. Ahhhhhh, haha...the gutter was bad enough already, but they didn't even have tissue paper either. Its not like they were out or anything, but tissue paper is just non-existent in the washrooms. So yeah, I had no choice but to go back to my class room along with my diarrhea to sit and wait. I was at the point I felt cold and had goose bumps...it was basically the real deal. I just sat there staring at the ceiling trying to think about something else to get my mind off it. Luckily, the teacher gave the class a break at some point, and I just took the opportunity to grab my bag and get the hell out. The bike ride back to my room took like another 20mins. So by the time I was in the elevator going up back to my room, I was jumping at the walls already. So yeah, lesson learned. Bring diarrhea pills and bring tissue WHEREVER YOU GO.


Airik.

Been somewhat busy these days. Juggling all sorts of issues. Dealing with my class schedule, apps, job search, my busted head, and all sorts of shit. On the whole, I'm still having a blast and making the hell out of my time here. Theres always a lot to do and explore when given a new fresh surrounding. This place has been my heaven so far.

My mandarin is coming along very well. I've improved significantly already over the past week. I don't doubt I shall be fluent within the next 2 months or so. Although I've been sleeping in throughout most of my classes so far, I'm making an effort to talk to pretty much anybody I see around here. Be it the locals or the students at my dorm, I'm getting a good dose of practice everyday outside of the class room.

~~~ Outlandish - Aicha ~~~ Heard it and loved it. Theres a whole bunch of european kids in my dorm around here that are very friendly. I really shall get them to recommend me more stuff like this.

Speaking about music. Zero 7 is coming out with a new album in 2-3 weeks. Where the hell am I gonna get it around here?

I should really make it to one class today.

Erik Chan.

2/13/04

I'm lovin' it. My study abroad in Shanghai so far has been more like a vacation to me than anything else....maybe this is what I needed. School here is nothing like it is compared to my much less throbbing 6 years in America. I'm now in the metropolitan of China...definitely not a bad city to been at when the country holds two billion+ people. Yes, there are many options here that are willing to give you their number. Haha.

The only slight concern, if any, would probably be that there is not much of a music scene around here. Americans definitely appreciate music a lot more. I guess it isn't much of an influence around here. That pretty much leaves me only with amazon.com and kazaa for me to keep up about whats going on.

I got a new pair of green air max 95's for $150 yuan. Its ridiculous how much nike profits from its customers. Here in Shanghai, theres this market where you can get the cheapest sport shoes ever. The selection you can find here is also pretty incredible. I didn't believe it at first when my friend told me, but I was in awe for the rest of the day after it was confirmed with my own eyes. Haha, I told myself I will never ever buy sport shoes elsewhere around the world anymore. Oh yeah...one last thing....those shoes they sell are smuggled from the factories.

Erik

2/14/04

Its valentines day today. Not the best day I've had so far. I busted my head playing basketball in the afternoon..might need a stitch or two...argh. My bike was also taken away from me (stupid chinese guards) while I was at the gym.... Damn it. My date is asleep too.

Erik

Ok....2nd day at Shanghai.

HAha...still new and refreshing.....I took my chinese placement test today....I think I'm definitely in this very awkward position....I can read chinese, and so probably got all the multiple choice questions correct....I did really well on my oral (just happenned to know what to say).....but flunked all writing whatsoever.......I think if there were 20 fill in the blank questions....I probably filled in one. Not bad eh?! HAha. Man, I'm such a yank over here its unbelievable. There was this question I didn't even know how to do until I asked the examiner (I had to fill in the accent thingy on top of the pingyin)....

The dining hall here is definitely a change too. Hehe, they serve in those steel trays just like they do in prisons. Its pretty decent food tho, they have a huge variety of all these random chinese dishes...a small dish would cost 2-3yuan/2-3HK$/0.25US$....definitely cheap as hell from where I'm coming from. Not bad at all. Haha, the taxi meters here don't like to budge here either. A ride to the incredibly clean awesome looking downtown is only around 25 yuan or so. I can definitely get used to this lower standard of living.

Played bball today. Some of the ppl here are incredibly nice. I was asking this guy from the soviet union (yes, he can speak very good mandarin) where I can play bball...and he was just like 'You want to go play now?'. Yep. So i met him back right after we got changed and went to play. Simple as that. The level of basketball here is definitely pretty weak tho I must say. Theres no much hustle around here...and the china men here generally don't take the game seriously enough. They don't play mark their man, they just play continous scrimmage games. All in all, it was fun though.

Good enough for now. Hopefully I will take the time to keep up the blog.

Erik.

Hehe....My new laptop! Not bad not bad...US$1200 for a 14.1" lcd 1.4Ghz Intel Centrino, 512mb ram, 60gb Harddrive, Dvd + CDR, wireless lan....

So under very reasonable circumstances (free coupon from Bro) I went to one of those expensive (US$120+) facials on the day before I left to Shanghai. HAha... the whole process felt slightly awkward although the place was for men only (yes, and don't start thinking 'gay'...was actually one of those classy places wealthy men that worked/lived in Central went)....But yeah, anywayz, it might seem normal to females...but that was a weird touchy feminine experience for the man...

Shanghai

My first day has been quite a bit of a culture shock. You know something is wrong when even the foreign looking girls and the black guy cannot speak english....I think I need to re-emphasize that point...even the black guy wearing a philadelphia seventy sixers cap CANNOT speak english!! Whoa. That really is something. How crazy is that?! The chinese kid that cannot speak mandarin is trying to speak english to the black guy that can only speak mandarin....

So yeah...I went to check the gym out in search of some recreational activites to burn my time....haha...I really really need a digital camera to capture what I saw... I saw 40+ table tennis tables!! And more than half of them were being occupied....crazy man.....hopefully they play basketball sometime too...but yea...it was all table tennis
and badminton...

To say the least, however, my room is pretty nice. They didn't have any more doubles left, so I got a single...which has my own bathroom, balcony, AC, and all the other necessities... its pretty big...bigger than a lot of the rooms I've seen in college in America I must say.

Aite. Time to move. I think I can get used to place.

ERik

Back.

And guess where??...haha...HOME!!!

Yeah, so I spent some more time away from my blogspot over the past couple weeks. I was all over the place....Vancouver, New York City, Baltimore, Long Island, San Francisco, Stanford, Hong kong....and then Shanghai in a couple days. A pretty intense break, pack, and visit I must say.

~~~ The Postal Service - Nothing Better ~~~
~~~ Britney Spears - Toxic ~~~ No bias comments. This is an awesome song.

I have no idea what i'll be doing in a week. Thats defiinitely a scary thought.
....
..
.
Whateva man....i'm bored.

Erik

~~~ Taking back Sunday - Cute with out the E ~~~
~~~ The Postal Service - Such Great Heights ~~~

The end of 2003 and beginning of 2004 managed to slip by my blog. What it comes down to is probably because I don't spend much time (if any) online while I'm at home in Hong Kong. I guess theres just many more things to do than to sit around your comp and chat all day when you live at the heart of a metropolitan =P

I have a late new year resolution. This time I'm going to be ever more serious than I have ever been in my life. I need to free myself of my loneliness, and step out of my instincts once and for all. I pray that things can only get better from here. Think logic...think cause and events...think patterns in history....think for myself.....and do it everyday.

I long to do something. Life without work does not exist in my reality. I can't stand wasting time and being unproductive.......yeah.... I am a workaholic (and maybe psycho too). I just simply can't have much fun without direction. Getting trashed everyday during this break has not meant anything to me. I was just simply trashed.....trashed and emotionless I would say...

I wonder where I'll be in a year. Now that I've graduated, I'm unemployed and lost. I don't exactly know where to go and what to do. I'm confused.
On a good note, lets say I know at the least that I'll be tearing it up whereever I'll be. My name is Erik Chan you know. I'm supposedly a role model =).....haha
I can really relate to the guyz in 'Better Luck Tomorrow'...but anywayz...

Erik.