Post #142 29 April 2017

Gentlefolk,

This post is about Time's 100 Most Influential, and a couple of other events.

Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential

On 20 April 2017 Time Magazine published its list of the 100 Most Influential People in the world.

Time Magazine emphasises that this list is about influence, not just physical power.

The list is divided into 5 categories: Pioneers; Artists; Leaders; Titans; and Icons.

I must admit that I recognised only a few of the names on the List.  Here are some I recognised:

Pioneers	Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner; Samantha Bee (Satirist); Conor McGregor (UFC fighter)
Artists	Alicia Keys; Emma Stone; Margot Robbie; Ryan Reynolds
Leaders	Theresa May; Donald Trump; Vladimir Putin; Xi Jin Ping; Julian Assange (Wikileaks); Pope Francis
Titans	Evan Spiegel (Snapchat); Tom Brady (NFL); Janet Yellen (Federal Reserve); Jeff Bezos (Amazon)’ LeBron James (NBA)
Icons	Margaret Atwood (poet); Viola Davis (actress); Colin Kaepernick (American Footballer); Fan Bing Bing (actress); Neymar (Brazilian soccer)

As usual the Times List is dominated by Americans, with 56% born in the USA. The List by Region of Birth:

Region of Birth	Number	% of total
North America	58 (USA 56, Canada 2)	58%
Latin America	7 (Brazil 2)	7%
Europe  (including Russia)	14 (UK 5; Belgium 2)	14%
Middle East and Africa	8 (ME 4; Africa 4)	8%
Asia & Australia	13 (China 4; India 2; Philippines 2; Australia 2)	13%

This year 40% of the List are female.  The youngest person is 17 (Gavin Grimm); the oldest 87 (Sandra Day O’Connor). 

The two Aussies on the List were both born in Queensland: Julian Assange (Wikileaks) and Margot Robbie (actress). Wasn't Robbie marvellous as Leonardo Di Caprio's love interest in The Wolf of Wall Street?

The four Chinese are: Xi Jin Ping (Chairman & President); Wang Qishan (Member of Politburo); Fan Bing Bing (actress); and Liu Qing (CEO of Didi Chuxing).  Xi and Liu were born in Beijing, while Wang and Fan were born in Qingdao, the city where Vera & I lived for 5 years.

Liu Qing (English name Jean) did an MBA at Harvard and then worked for Goldman Sachs.  At just 34 she became Managing Director of Goldman Sachs China - amazing.  Then she left to run a start-up, Didi Kuaidi, which came to dominate the car-hailing business in China. Two years ago Uber China gave up the fight in exchange for 20% of Didi.  Liu is married and reported to have 3 children. She had breast cancer and is now in remission.  Not yet 40 and she beat Uber and cancer - what a gal! 

Liu Qing, one of China's top business women

In the 2017 List, one of the Artists was Ryan Reynolds.  We actually knew Ryan when he was just a lad, in Vancouver, Canada.  We were good friends with his parents, Jim and Tammy Reynolds. Ryan has matured into a fine actor.

Time Magazine started publishing this List in 1998.  The people who have appeared most often are: Barack Obama (11 times); Hillary Clinton (10 times); Oprah Winfrey (9 times); Angela Merkel (8 times); and Xi Jin Ping (8 times).  Of these, only Xi Jin Ping made the 2017 list.

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My niece, Britt, has a 12 year old daughter, Lelani, who is very much into dance. Her group participated in a dance competition and Vera & I went along to watch and give support.

Vera and Lelani.

Different age groups competed.

One of the dance groups had a boy participant - he was the only boy we saw.

Apologies for the quality of the photo.  Anyway, there were many fine performances.  

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Last Sunday the Indonesian Embassy sponsored a Balinese gamelan and dance performance.

Vera and I at the Balinese performance.  Vera grew up in Bali and is very familiar with Balinese music and dance.

A photo of the stage, before the dancers came out.  The gamelan orchestra was in two parts.

A closer look at one part of the gamelan orchestra.

Two of the Balinese dancers, with a member of the audience.

A group photo at the end.

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That's it for this post.

Best wishes, stay healthy and keep smiling.

Alex & Vera Olah

Canberra, Australia

Saturday 29 April 2017

Post #141 22 April 2017

Gentlefolk,

This post covers the period 9 to 22 April 2017.

On 8 April we flew overnight from Hong Kong to Sydney, arriving on Sunday morning.   Unfortunately on Saturday my right knee "blew up" and became swollen, hot and tender, so the flight was rather uncomfortable.

This happened to me two years ago, also in Hong Kong (must be something in the air???).  It was diagnosed as Bursitis, when the bursa (a sack of fluid on joints) becomes inflamed. At that time I used a new piece of equipment in the gym which must have triggered it off.  But this time I hadn't done anything unusual, so don't know what caused it.

Sydney International Airport (Kingsford Smith Airport) is a joke, an embarrassment.  Thirty years ago it was regarded as ahead of the game, but these days it is way behind.  Airports such as Hong Kong, Singapore or Beijing are so much more modern and efficient.

About 20 years ago the Government went through a period where it privatised a lot of infrastructure, including Sydney Airport.  Of course the main aim of the owners is to maximise profit - and they squeeze every last cent out of it, and put as little as possible back in.  For example, they increased parking fees to exorbitant levels: in the last year Sydney Airport earned $97 million just from parking - unbelievable.

Why would you privatise a monopoly asset?  The new private owners can virtually do what they want, and bugger the common good.  Maybe there are benefits of efficiency if it is a competitive situation, but that doesn't work when it is a monopoly.  In retrospect, it is a crazy policy.

From Sydney we flew to Canberra; to a cold, rainy welcome.  When we left, just 2 weeks ago, it was still summer, but now autumn has definitely arrived.

The next day I saw a doctor and he confirmed Bursitis; no cure, just RICE: Rest, Ice, Compression, & Elevation.

Friends were coming for the Easter weekend (Good Friday 14 April to Easter Monday 17 April) and our big plans had to be revised.  They were Howard Eakins and his gorgeous partner Angie from Sydney, and my ex-student Yu Zhi Chao (Charles) who is at the University of Wollongong.

Here are some photos of the Easter weekend and later.

Howard Eakins and me at home.  I met Howard in Jakarta in 1972, when I was working at the Australian Embassy and he was working for an Australian consulting engineering company.  

Going through some old photo albums with Howard - a walk down memory lane.

Vera with Charles.  He is on a 3 + 2 program: does 3 years of an undergraduate degree in China followed by 2 years at an Australian university.  In July 2017 he will graduate with two engineering degrees: Chinese and Australian.  He is doing well in Wollongong, getting credits and distinctions.  He is a clever lad!

Vera and I waving from our balcony. Note the beautiful clear blue sky.

Back in the early 1960s Howard designed a bridge on the Cotter Road, near Canberra.  We took a drive, but couldn't find the bridge.  It was a lovely autumn day, clear and bright. From left: Angie, Vera, me, and Howard.

The Cotter Dam which provides Canberra's water supply. 

Charles and Vera in front of the Cotter Dam, the water supply for Canberra.

Two old farts reliving our youth. Howard was a Civil Engineer and specialised in bridges.  Later he also built golf courses, and wool stores - a man of many talents - and obviously a very good engineer.  By a strange coincidence his father was manager of the Commonwealth Bank in Cooma, and got me my first job in the Canberra CBA in 1963 when I finished High School.  I met Howard in 1972 when we were both working in Jakarta, Indonesia. 

 

They visited the War Memorial, probably the best museum in Canberra.  It has many impressive displays. But it tends to glorify war rather than condemn it.

The Commemorative Wall at the War Memorial, with lists of Australian war dead. Australia has participated in lots of conflicts, big and small. Back in the second half of the 1800s were: NZ Maori War; Sudan War; Boxer Rebellion in China; Boer War in South Africa.

One of the many fine dioramas inside the War Memorial.

Angie and Howard on the steps of the War Memorial.

Angie at a barbeque on Easter Sunday.

On Easter Sunday we had lunch with the extended family at the house of my niece, Britt.  From left: Sasha, Adrienne, Davide, and Peter (partly obscured)

Vera with my two sisters, Angie and Aniko, at the family Sunday lunch.

After the traditional "Easter egg hunt", the kids enjoyed playing games in Britt's garage.

On Wednesday 19 April I gave a talk to the Australia-China Friendship Society about "Teaching in China". I described the nuts and bolts involved in getting a teaching job in China.  An animated Q & A session followed the talk.

On 20 April I attended a talk by the author of "Birds of China", Yong Ding Li. He is from Singapore and doing a PhD in Australia.   The Asia Bookroom holds many interesting talks by authors and I intend being a regular attendee.

Here is Yong Ding Li in conversation with Sally, the owner of the Asia Bookroom.  He is a dedicated conservationist and knows a lot about birds. Apparently China has about 1,400 species of birds, almost twice as many as Australia.  That surprised me as there was not much diversity where we lived in Qingdao - only seagulls, sparrows and a type of magpie. But China is a huge country; there may not be many along the over-populated East Coast but obviously lots more birds elsewhere.

On 21 April Vera and I attended an Elvis concert all the way from the USofA.  Featured 3 singers: rock & roll; songs from movies; and ballads.  A most professional performance, and enjoyable.  Elvis is rightly known as The King - a wonderful performer - and a great favorite of the baby boomer generation.

The big crowd at the Elvis concert.

Autumn has well & truly arrived in Canberra.  Nights are quite cool, down to 5 C & 6C, but the days are beautiful, around 20C, bright and clear.  In a few days will be ANZAC Day, 25 April, when traditionally people switch on their heating (but this year many people started heating at night at the beginning of April). 

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That's it for this post.

My knee was very sore for about 10 days, and is now getting better. At least I can drive again, but it will take a few more days before I can walk comfortably. It's awful being incapacitated.  This is perfect biking weather and I can't participate. Bloody bursitis!

There was an unexpected benefit to having a bung knee -  forced rest and reading.  It enabled me to get into Bill Clinton's autobiography "My Life" published in 2005.  It's a monster book at 969 pages; I am now up to page 520 (April 1993), where he has just completed his first 100 days as President. A fascinating story.

Hugh White is Professor of Strategic Studies at the Australian National University.  On 11 April 2017 he gave the annual lecture at the ANU's China Centre, titled "China's power and the future of Australia". It is a thoughtful and thought-provoking talk. To listen to the speech click HERE.  Highly recommended.

The Brumbies started the Super Rugby season well, but have lost their last 2 games. They should have beaten the Melbourne Rebels last week - scored 3 tries to 1 - but woeful kicking and ball control cost them the game. Last night they played the Wellington Hurricanes.  The Brumbies were leading 21-14 at half time, but then fell apart.  The final score was 21-56. How the hell did that happen?????

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Best wishes, stay healthy and keep smiling.

Alex & Vera Olah
Canberra,  Australia
Saturday, 22 April 2017

Post #140 8 April 2017

Gentlefolk,

This post describes our visit to Hong Kong, 28 March to 8 April 2017.

The main reason for the visit was to see our new granddaughter, Jay Milton Olah, born on 8 March 2017.

Andrew & Caroline have decided to re-locate to Sydney in June. They reckon Sydney is cheaper than HK and Australia holds greater potential for their business.  So this was probably our last visit to HK, at least for a while.  It is an incredible city - so intense and crowded, with high-rise buildings everywhere, yet works very well.  Chinese know how to handle big populations.

We spent 10 days here in September 2016, on our way back to Australia.  The biggest change we noticed is the number of Tesla cars now on the road.  Traditionally Hongkongers have preferred Mercedes and BMW, which are everywhere, and now Tesla is becoming popular.  I've only seen one or two in our 6 months back in Australia - Chinese like quality and new technology.  Also many Toyota Alphards now visible, a luxury "people mover".

The other big difference this time was the weather.  September was hot and steamy - much more comfortable now, in Spring.  The first couple of days were showery, but then the weather cleared and we had 5 or 6 days of nice, clear days with maximum temperatures in mid-20sC.

We have visited  HK regularly since Andrew and Caroline moved here 2.5 years ago, and we were going to and fro Qingdao.  It is a big, crowded city.  Space is at a premium, so buildings are getting taller and taller. Life is lived "vertically" - for example, Eddie's soccer class on Saturday mornings is on the 20th floor of a building.

The well-off (10%?) live in beautiful apartments and houses, while the other 90% live in 'shoe-boxes'. Yet the society seems cohesive; although very competitive just like the Mainland.  It's not good enough to be 10th in the class, you have to be top - lot of pressure on kids - very different from life in Australia.

Here there are few government hand-outs: if you don't have a job or an income you'd better have a supportive family!

Personal safety is good.  I'm sure bad people exist, but around Andrew's place we've seen none of the alcohol-or-drug-fuelled rowdiness one sees so often in Western countries. A big plus.

Still, I'm glad we live in sleepy little Canberra.

Here are some photos of our visit to HK.

Our first meeting with Jay Milton Olah, 3 weeks old. Born in Hong Kong on 8 March 2017, 2.9kg, 48cm long. She is gorgeous!!!

Andrew with Baby Jay.

"Opa" Alex busy looking after Baby Jay.

"Oma" Vera with Baby Jay

Baby Jay at 4 weeks.  She is stacking on weight, and has already increased by 2 cm in length.

Andrew left Google at the end of October 2016 to join Caroline's online furniture business, Reddie, click HERE. Sometimes they work from home - this is a typical sight, with Eddie playing under their work table.  Not easy starting a business from scratch. They have focused on the HK market, but since Andrew came on board they are looking wider afield starting with the Australian market. The big selling point is that the furniture can be customised to an individual's specific requirements. 

Little Eddie, now 3 years of age.  He is not too sure what to make of his sister's arrival!

One day we took a fast ferry to Cheung Chau Island (about 40 min from Central).  No cars are permitted, only bicycles. It was like stepping back in time - very nice.

A map of Cheung Chau Island.  It is next to Lantau, where HK's International Airport is located.

The large boat harbour at Cheung Chau.  I really enjoyed this place - it had a very strong "asian" flavour - reminded me of other parts of South East Asia (Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia) in days gone past.  Of course Hong Kong is Asian, but it is a big, modern mega-city very different from this Island.

Walking along the main promenade, along the harbour. We had lunch in one of the small local restaurants - delicious and cheap.

One of the narrow streets on Cheung Chau.  I liked the atmosphere - reminded me of  a small Georgetown in Penang 40 years ago.

Cheung Chau also has some nice, small beaches.  Although it was a nice day, it was still a bit cool to swim.

Our 'home away from home' was the HKFC.  It was only about 80 meters from Andrew's apartment.  He got membership through the Tennis Section.  Vera & I belong to the Southern Cross Club in Canberra, which has a 'reciprocal membership' arrangement with HKFC.  The Club was founded in 1886 by James Lockhart (later Sir James) who was a Civil Servant and rose to rank of Colonial Secretary.  Later (1902-21) Sir James was Commissioner for Weihai, a small British Protectorate in Shandong Province.

Sir James Haldane Stewart Lockhart, 1858 - 1937.  He came to HK in 1878. He was Colonial Secretary of HK and Commissioner in Weihai. He was the main instigator of founding the HKFC in 1886. The Club played its first game of Rugby Union in February 1886, and its first game of soccer a month later.  Lockhart became a fluent Chinese speaker and an expert in Chinese coins.

The nice swimming pool on the roof of the HKFC.  I used the gym, and swam almost every day.  In winter the water is heated to 30C - very comfortable.  The huge 30 storey apartment blocks which line Leighton Hill (aka The Great Wall) look down on the club.

Another view of the HKFC swimming pool, looking north towards Causeway Bay.  The tall black building on the right is the Crowne Plaza Hotel.  The two tall buildings in the distance is Times Square where the Google office is located.

The coffee shop has an indoor area and outdoor, which is shown in the photo.

Andrew was able to join HKFC through its Tennis Section (6 tennis courts on the roof). As a sports member he paid US$3,000 for membership and there was a minimum monthly usage charge.  Normal membership is at least 10 times that amount. The club's website has 50 Corporate Memberships for sale at the moment, at US$400,000 each.

The HKFC is adjacent to the Jockey Club's racecourse at Happy Valley - it is a green oasis in the midst of one of the most crowded cities on earth.  The two tall towers in the distance are the Sanatorium Hospital where Baby Jay was born on 8 March 2017.

Andrew & Caroline's apartment was on the second floor of this building, at 155 Wong Nai Chung Road, Happy Valley. Great location, near Causeway Bay.  It had a nice outlook towards the Craigengower Cricket Club across the street.  It faces west, so can get quite hot in summer.

The living room of their apartment. The apartment is 2 bedrooms and a study and 2 bathrooms; a total of about 100 sq meters.  Their rent is US$5,500 per month (plus utilities). Apparently their landlord has put the apartment on the market for US3 million,  Prices in the Mid-levels, above Central, are going for around US$10,000 per square foot - yes, you read right, per square foot! -  property prices in HK are crazy!

Andrew and Eddie in the living room of the apartment.

The HK Jockey Club runs races at Happy Valley on Wednesday nights (weekend races are held at its main facility at Sha Tin).  Big totalisator board, everything is very professional.  Chinese love gambling, and the turnover of the Jockey Club is huge.  Note the lights of the Leighton Hill residences in the background.

The racecourse was packed, mainly a young crowd, lots of expats.  Seems that it's a popular night out. Entrance ticket is US$1.50. 

The horses were paraded before each race.  Beautiful specimens.

The horses being led into the barrier for the start of the next race.

The HKFC organises a "Tens" tournament a few days before the famous "Sevens".  I went to the 10s a few times - so convenient, jut across the street.  In this photo a French team is playing a team from East Africa.  One of the teams was the "Classic Wallabies" made up of previous Wallabies such as Adam Frier, Morgan Turianui, and Wendell Sailor (crowd favourite, but Big Dell wasn't fit and didn't stay on for long).  Steve Menzies 'Beaver', ex-Manly Sea Eagles was a ring-in and played well.  The coach was Justin Harrison.  

The Classic Wallabies in action.  The played three games on the first day (Wednesday), won one, lost 2.  They were obviously "under-done" - coordination and fitness were lacking.   I got the impression they thought they could just turn up and their past experience would carry them through.  But they got a rude awakening when they came up against fit young sides.  The following day they had a big win in the first game, but crashed out in the second, so didn't make the final of the Bowl.

After being knocked out of the 10s comp, the Classic Wallabies walked around the pitch thanking the crowd for their support.

On Friday night Andrew and I went to the start of the "HK 7s". Huge event, lots of people.  Great atmosphere, music blaring between games and many spectators come in fancy-dress.  Apparently Saturday and Sunday are BIG, BIG, BIG, but tomorrow we fly to Australia.  I'd heard of the HK 7s (it has legendary status amongst expats in Asia) and was grateful for the opportunity to experience it at least once.  Tonight Australia beat Samoa, so we were off to a good start.  South Africa and England are the favourites this year and they also won their first games tonight, as did New Zealand and Fiji, always contenders,    

Some of the large crowd at the Hong Kong 7s on Friday night. A well-designed stadium - the crowd cleared quickly at the end.

Eddie's "Little Kickers" soccer class this morning.  They mainly play games to improve coordination.

A new Tesla and a new Toyota Alphard parked outside Andrew's apartment block this morning.  They have become popular in the last 6 months in Hong Kong.

And so ended another memorable visit to Hong Kong.

We are flying back to Australia tonight.

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I've now caught up with my blog.  It's been quite an effort since my decision in early February to continue the blog; but it has also been enjoyable re-living the time since we left our teaching life in Qingdao back in July 2016.  

The next post will be from Canberra.

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Best wishes, stay healthy and keep smiling.

Alex & Vera Olah

Canberra, Australia

Saturday 8 April 2017

 (We are still in Hong Kong, fly back to Australia tonight).

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