The Tower Bridge in London is one of the world’s most iconic landmark, and also one the world’s most famous mistaken identity as many foreigners often mixed it up with the less-spectacular-but-historically-rich London Bridge.
Archives for May 2007
Harisu got married
Korean transgender entertainer Harisu got married with boyfriend Micky Jung on May 19 after two years into relationship. Image from Newsen [Kr]. Congrats.
Harisu is noted as South Korea’s first transgender entertainer. She’s the second person in Korea to legally switch gender when she did it in 2002.
$16,000 USD for a pair of Yubari melons
A pair of cantaloupes from Yubari, Japan, fetched a whopping two million yen (over $16,000 USD) at the first auction of the season in Sapporo. The price paid by department store chain Marui Imai has broken the previous record of 800,000 yen.
The melons, priced at a million yen apiece, were on display/sale at Marui Imai’s flagship outlet. A spokesman said that the melons were meant for publicity in celebration of their 135th anniversary instead of direct profit.
Yubari melons are known for their high quality and sweet taste. The melons are popular summer gifts in Japan. An average Yubari melon could cost $50-100 USD.
Giving gifts to corporate partners and clients is a Japanese tradition which is usually done twice a year, in mid-winter and mid-summer respectively.
[Update] The record was broken again in 2008 for two and a half million yen.
Big Ben clock tower, London, UK
The Clock Tower, famously known as Big Ben, is the name of the tower at Houses of Parliament in London. The Chinese affectionately call it the Big Dumb Bell for its pronunciation pun.
Big Ben is not the tower’s official name though; it’s actually the nickname of the clock’s main bell (officially the Grand Bell). But these days the name is synonymous with the tower as a whole.
Big Ben wouldn’t have existed if it wasn’t for the 1834 fire that destroyed most of the Parliament building. A commission was set up then to choose a new design for the building, with Charles Barry’s plan the eventual winner. The clock swung into action in July 1859.
Europe travelogue – Previous: Trafalgar Square – Next: Tower Bridge
Rain to make Hollywood debut
Korean pop star Rain is set to make his Hollywood debut with movie Speed Racer, to be directed by the Wachowski Brothers of Matrix fame. His co-stars include Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, Matthew Fox and Susan Sarandon etc.
It’s said that Rain was in Germany to meet the directors and has agreed on the contract terms. The filming should start in the next couple of months, and the movie is scheduled for a May 2008 release. Congrats, and good luck Rain!
[Update] Check out my interview with Rain when the film is out in 2008.
Life is beautiful on a Sunday morning
One of my favourite photos, taken back in February 2006 on a Sunday morning from my old apartment in Petaling Jaya…
It’s not just the scenery that pleased me, but the unexpected circumstances… it reminds me that life should be blissful, and that happiness could be found easily if we choose to find it. Appreciate life, be happy, and Carpe diem.