April 6: Game pieces click-clack like a stampede of tap-dancing sparrows.
Joyce’s mother and aunties play mahjong (麻 將 or 麻雀); the second translates to “sparrow.” The four women noisily jumble the tiles, and I eat pastries while they play.
Joyce and I attend the 32nd annual Hong Kong Film Festival. We watch the debut of Kongdej Jaturanrasamee’s “Handle Me with Care.” It's about a guy with three arms, who goes Bangkok to get one chopped off.
The director-writer is present, and after the screening, he talks about the symbolism in the film - the aftermath of Thaksin Shinawatra's rule of Thailand. The main character, he says, feels remorse after removing his arm, like Thai people supposedly felt after Thaksin's westernization and removal of Thailand’s monarchy. I liked the movie and recommend it - one of the few romantic comedies that is actually funny. I especially like the sci-fi twist.
Afterwards, we meet my uncle at the Marco Polo (fancy hotel) in Kowloon. He just arrived from Colorado and will leave early for Shunde, where his company has a factory. We eat at a Chiu Chow style restaurant. After downing shots of traditional tie guan yin (鐵 觀 音) tea (one of Joyce’s father favorites. He happens to be Chiu Chow), we order three dishes. I especially like the duck’s tongue. The texture reminds me of tough oysters
Walking back to the main station in Kowloon, Joyce and I walk over the Avenue of the Stars, a tribute to Hong Kong cinema along the Tsim Sha Tsui promenade. Across Victoria Harbor, dazzling vistas of North Point and northern Hong Kong Island precede the night view from Joyce’s brother’s room (where I sleep).
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