środa, 12 grudnia 2012

Dzien muzeow – zmeczenie – cisnienie rosnie/The day of the museums – tiredness – high blood pressure


To jest poduszka / That is a pillow

Ledwie sie dzisiaj z wyrka podnioslam. Cialo krzyczalo “panna – lezec!”. A panna na to “nie ma mowy, ja twardziel jestem!”. Muzeum sztuki – cudne, tylko jak na zlosc – zamkneli na dzien otwarty (w sensie za darmo wszystkie muzea tu we srode sa, co oznacza – panna musiala zobaczyc) wystawe Warhola. Nie zebym nie widziala juz wczesniej dziel jego, no ale jednak – panna do muzeum, a muzeum nic?! Pod gorke robi?

Wolny czlowiek/Free man

Po Muzeum Sztuki przeszlam tuz obok, do Muzeum Kosmosu. Zabawek duzo, mozna wciskac guziczki I takie rozne sie ruszaja, gadaja, edukuja, ze hej! Ale pod koniec to juz mialam ochote sie sama w kosmos wystrzelic, bo coz… Prawa stopa zieje jak otwarta rana. Skora platami odchodzi – podryw na masaz stopek odpada… I spac mi siechcialo tak, ze cala ta edukacja gdzies mi bokiem umykala. Wrocilam do hostelu, wszamalam ciasteczko, zimna kawe z puszki wysdudlilam, chociaz zimno mi bylo okrutnie i bliska placzu, ale ruszylam dalej. Zabrania sie marnowac czas w Hong Kongu!
Do… Muzeum Nauki, ktore byloby dobre, ale tak ze dwadziescia lat wczesniej – tu to dopiero zabawek bylo, ale niestety na wzrost chinski, lamane przez chinski dzieciecy… Przerosniete Polki, stop szesc wzrostu sie tu po prostu nie mieszcza…
Kuracja dla oboloalych stop (bez skarpetek bylo za zimno)/ Treatment for hurting feet (without socks it was too cold)

Na koniec zaliczylam Muzeum Historii, jak na zlosc ulozone jak labirynt, zeby przypadkiem turysta niczego nie pominal i na pewno wszystko zwiedzil. Przebieglam je jak blyskawica, bo juz mi sie Dynastia Ming mieszala z japonska okupacja…
Mialam pojsc na uliczne zarelko chinskie, ale indyjskie przekaski na parterze wygraly. Postanowilam przynajmniej zjesc przy stoliku jak czlowiek. A stoliczek maly, chociaz sam sie nakrywa (rekami pana zza baru). A przy stoliczku juz dwie blade twarze siedza i sie milo usmiechaja. To ja grzecznie “smacznego”. A oni “witaj”. To ja “skad jestescie?” 
Chinskie sci-fi / Chinese sci-fi

Widze wahanie na twarzach, patrze na dredy, kolczyki, zagubione spojrzenia i dodaje “tak ogolnie – skad pochodzicie”? No I sie zaczyna… “Zewszad. Bo my juz nie pamietamy skad przyszlismy. A dokad ty zmierzasz w zyciu, jakie sa twoje intencje i czy aby na pewno te dania tutaj to sa zgodne z Ayurveda?” Nie mam nic przeciwko diecie, ale…
“Zmierzam do lozka, moja intencja jest porzadnie sie wyspac, a potem sie zastanowie.”
Myslalam, ze udusze. Czy naprawde tylko ja trafiam na takich nawiedzonych ludzi, kiedy probuje zjesc najtanszy posilek w miescie w najblizszej mozliwej do mojego lozka lokalizacji?! Ale pozostaje MISTRZEM ZEN. Ide spac!

Moonwalk

I could hardly get up from bed today. My body was screaming “girl – lie down!” And the girl answered “no way, I’m the though one!” Museum of Art was very nice but as if they wanted to piss me off – the main exhibition of Andy Warhol was closed on the open day (which basically means that all the entrances were free which leads to the conclusion that I had to see it all). Of course I saw his works before but still – a girl goes to the museum and museum does what? Troubles?
Orion

After the Museum of Art I just passed the pavement to get into the Museum of Science. So many toys, colorful buttons and talking things and moving and educating you as hell! But in the end I was ready to launch myself into space cause well… My right foot is like an open wound. The skin is falling off – impossible to pick up a guy on a foot massage anymore. And I was so sleepy that the whole education was missing me somehow. I got back to the hostel, had a cake with cold coffee from the can although I was cold enough already and close to burst into tears I moved on. After all one must not waste time in Hong Kong!
To robilo wrazenie, kiedy mialam 14 lat i zwiedzalam Muzeum Nauki w Bostonie/That made an impression when I was fourteen and was visiting the Museum of Science in Boston

My next aim was the Museum of Science which would be really interesting but maybe twenty years ago – this place was packed with toys but unfortunately good for the Chinese height or Chinese child to be exact. Oversized Polish girls six feet tall are just not fitting in…
At the end I went to the Museum of History shaped as a labyrinth so that the tourist would not miss anything and visit every single show room. I run trough it like a thunder because the Ming Dynasty was
 I was supposed to get some Chinese street  food but Indian stuff downstairs won the competition. I decided to have my food over the table like a human being. And the table was tinny tiny. And at the table there were already two white nice smiling faces. So I politely said “Bon Apetite”. And they said hello. And I asked where they were from. 
Przecieli Ole/They cut Ola

And I saw the deep thinking process at their faces and had a glance at their faces – so lost and their dreadlocks and piercings so I added “like originally”. And there it started… “From everywhere. It’s been so long ago that we do not even remember where we started. And where are you going in life? What are your intentions for this existence? And are you sure that this food is good according to Ayurveda?!” I have nothing against their diet but…
“I am heading to my bed. My intentions are to get a good night sleep and then I might wonder.”
I was ready to kill. Is it only me who bumps into freaks when I’m just trying to get the cheap meal in the closest neighborhood? But I remain the MASTER OF ZEN. I’m going to sleep!

Prawie chinska opera / Almost Chinese Opera

wtorek, 11 grudnia 2012

MACAU



Siedze sobie na promie do Macau. Niestety z blizej nieokreslonych przyczyn za bilet zaplacilam o stowe wiecej, niz mialam zaplacic. Ale tak sie spieszylam na prom odchodzacy o 10:00, ze nawet nie zdazylam sie nad tym zastanowic I cieszylam sie, ze w ogole dostalam jakas reszte. Moze dlatego, ze to wtorek? Albo dobre godziny? Cholera wie. Wracam dzis wieczorem, ostatnim promem.


Dookola mnie piski, bo zaczelo bujac. Za oknem niewiele widac – jest mgla, pogoda mnie tu nie rozpieszcza. Poza tym w oknach jest cos w rodzaju moskitiery, co przeslania widok. No I nie siedze jakos szczegolnie blisko okna.


Obiad mialam jesc powoli, ale coz… Wszamalam go tak szybko, ze poparzylam sobie jezyk. Nie powiem, ze bylo pyszne, bo to za duzo powiedziane, ale bylo dobre. Zjadlam smazone nudle z wieprzowina I kielkami sojowymi. Zdrowo, smacznie, bez fajerwerkow.


A samo Macau – coz – bardziej portugalskie niz sama Portugalia. Momentami czlowiek az zapominal, ze jest przeciez w Chinach. Miejscami przypomina Brazylie (ale chyba tylko przez palmy I zolte budynki), miejscami Lizbone. I zastanawiam sie tylko, co takiego Portugalczycy robia, ze wszystkie ich byle kolonie wygladaja, jakby polowa miasta sie spalila – sciany budynkow strasza czarnymi zaciekami.


Poza portulagska starowka Makau to rzecz jasna przede wszyskim kasyna I jeszcze raz kasyna. To chinska Mekka hazardu z wlasna waluta I zasadami. Kasyna sa pewnie podobnie kiczowate jak te w Las Vegas. Szczegolnie Grnade Lisboa ze swym dziwacznym ksztaltem I kolorowymi neonami. 


Poza kasynami atrakcja jest tez umiejscowiony tuz przy terminalu promowym park rozrywki z kopiami znanych zabytkow – jest tu i piramida, i Wielki Kanion i chinskie zabytki, ktorych nie rozponaje, bo jeszcze ich nie widzialam…


Jeden dzien na zwiedzanie wystarczy. Przykro mi tylko, ze zdjecia sa kiepskiej jakosci ale coz – najpierw mgla, potem chmury, zimno jak cholera. Slonce pokazalo sie moze na dwadziescia minut. I zniknelo…


I’m on the ferry to Macau. Unfortunately for some unknown reason I paid for the tickets a hundred more than I was supposed to. But I was in such a hurry to catch the ferry leaving at 10:00 that I did not even think about that and was happy that I got any money back. Maybe because it’s Tuesday? Or maybe it’s because hours are good? No one knows. I’m supposed to come back today with the last ferry.


People around me started to whistle – it’s rolling. There’s not much of a view behind the window – it’s foggy, the weather does not treat me well here. Plus there is something like a mosquito net in the windows which makes the visibility even worse. And I’m kind of distant from the window.


I was supposed to eat my dinner slowly but instead I did it so fast that I burnt my tongue. Unfortunately I can’t say that it was delicious cause that would be an overstatement but still – it was good. I had fried noodles with pork and soya. Healthy, yummi without fireworks.


And Macau itself – well – more Portuguese than Portugal. At moments it was easy to forget that I am in China after all. Some places reminded me of Brazil (probably mostly because of palms and yellow buildings) and some – of Lisbon. And it all just makes me wonder what is it that Portuguese people do that all their ex-colonies look like if they were half burned. Wall of buildings have black stains all over them.


Apart from Portuguese Old Town Macau is all about casinos, casinos and casinos once again. It’s a Chinese gambling Mecca with it’s own currency and rules. Casinos are probably as kitsch as those in Las Vegas. Especially Grande Lisboa with it’s surprising shape and colorful lights on sides.


Apart from casinos the main attraction here is an amusement park with the copies of well-known places. There is a pyramid, Grand Canyon and some Chinese buildings which I cannot recognize as I haven’t seen them yet…


One day is enough for sightseeing. I am truly sorry that pictures are of so pure quality but first there was fog then clouds. It was cold as hell (or as… heaven?!). The sun has come up for maybe twenty minutes. And vanished…


poniedziałek, 10 grudnia 2012

Wymowki / Excuses


Wymowki, wymowki - cialge je stosuje: "dlaczego krotko, dlaczego nie napisze wiecej". Dzisiaj musze sie wczesnie polozyc, bo jutro mam zamiar poplynac do Macau (o ile mnie chorobsko nie powali, bo wiaterek dzisiaj dal mi sie we znaki...). Ale prawda jest taka, ze po prostu ciagle zwiedzam i nie chce mi sie siedziec w hostelu.
Wiec dzisiaj bedzie dowod na to, ze Hong Kong jest miastem swiatyn...

Excuses, exscuses - I use them all the time: "why so short, why do I not write more". Today i need to go  to bed early because tomorrow I want to sail to Macau (unless the illness brings me down cause the wind today kind of made me feel a bit worse...). But the truth is that I'm just busy with running around and i don't feel like sitting in a hostel.
So today there will be a proof for the fact that Hong Kong is a city of temples...

CHI LIN NUNNERY







NAN LIAN GARDEN




WONG TAI SIN TEMPLE





Maly mnich, czy Karate Kid? / A little monk or a karate Kid?




KOWLOON CITY WALLED PARK


I przypadkowa, profesjonalna sesja zdjeciowa. / And an accidental, professional photo shoot.


niedziela, 9 grudnia 2012

Chungking Express to Chungking Mansions


Dzisiaj bedzie krociutko, bo wszyscy juz spia, jest pozno i nie powinnam przeszkadzac. Zaczne od tego, ze mieszkam w Chungking Mansions. I nie przesadze, jesli powiem, ze przywiodl mnie tu "Chungking Express" Wong Kar Waia. Jestem tu przez filmy i dla filmow. I adres hostelu wybralam nieprzypadkowo.
Poszlam dzis do kina. Na film "Cold War". Akcja rzecz jasna miala miejsce w Hong Kongu. I byli tam wszyscy: Tony Leung Ka Fai (szkoda, ze nie Chiu Wai, to jednak nie ta sama jakosc), Andy Lau i ponaciagany Michael Wong. I wysadzili w powietrze kino, w ktorym siedzialam (no dobra, nie dokladnie to, bo to, ktore wysadzili w filmie mialo grac "Cold War" dopiero jutro, ale tak lepiej brzmi, prawda?). I pokazywali wszystkie budynki, ktore mam na zdjeciach. Probowali z tego zrobic nowe "Infernal affairs", co sie nie do konca udalo (to pewnie przez nie tego Tony'ego Leunga), ale... Akcja sie rozgrywala w Hong Kongu! I wiecie, co bylo najlepsze? Jak wyszlam z kina - nadal bylam w Hong Kongu! A nawet w Mong Kok!

Today post will be short because everybody is slipping, it's late and I shall not disturb. I will start with the fact that I live in Chungking Mansions. And I will not exaggerate if I say that what brought me here was "Chungking Express" by Wong Kar Wai. I am here because of movies and for movies. And the adress of my hostel I chose intentionally.
I made it to the movies today. On the "Cold War". Action takes place naturally in Hong Kong. And everyone was there: Tony Leung Ka Fai (unfortunately not Chiu Wai - and it's not the same quality), Andy Lau and old Michael Wong. And they blew the cinema in which I was sitting (OK, not exactly the same cinema, because then one they blew in "Cold War" will be playing "Cold War" tomorrow but it doest sound better,doesn't it?). And they were showing all the buildings which I have on my pictures. And they were trying to make it into new "Infernal Affairs" and they did not really manage (probably because of wrong Tony Leung) but... The action took place in Hong Kong! And you know what was the best? When I left the cinema - I was still in Hong Kong! And even in Mong Kok!

Dream City of Hong Kong


Jest taki jak sie spodziewalam. Zatloczony do granic wyobrazni (tutaj chodniki wygladaja jak ulice w Dhace w godzinach szczytu - prawie nie do przebycia, z ta roznica, ze nie pustoszeja w nocy...
Jest wielki.
Jest piekny.
I jest taki, jak na wszystkich filmach, ktore latami ogladalam.
Jestem zakochana.

It's like I imagined. Stuffed with people to the borders of imgaination (pavements here look like streets in Dhaka during rush hours - almost impossible to get trough with this only difference that they do not get empty at nights...)
It's huge.
It's beautiful.
And it's exactly like in the movies I've been watching for so many years.
I'm in love.


No i oczywiscie cieszylam sie, jakbym znowu miala dwanascie lat, kiedy zobaczylam na plakatach mojego ulubionego aktora Takeshiego Kaneshiro (szkoda, ze w reklamie zegarkow, a nie filmu, ktroy moglabym obejrzec w kinie).

And naturally I was happy like if I was twelve again when I saw posters with my favorite actor Takeshi Kaneshiro (it's just a pitty that those were adds of watches and not of his latest movie which I would watch in the theatre).


Swoje pierwsze kroki skierowalam oczywiscie do Informacji Turystycznej po klasyczna, papierowa mape (nawet dziadki uzywaja smartphone'ow, ale nie ja...), a zaraz potem zwiedzilam Aleje Gwiazd...

My first steps were directed towards the tourist information - I needed a classic paper map (even all the grannies use smartphones nowadays but not me...) and next I went to the Avenue of Stars...


Gdzie kazdy chce byc jak Bruce Lee... / Where everyone wants to be like Bruce Lee...


Piekna dziewczyny szczerza zeby w usmiechach... / Beautiful girls show their wide smiles...


Gwiazda Wong Kar Waia jest tak wyblakla, ze ciezko przeczytac napis. / The start of Wong Kar Wai has lost colors so badly that it's hard to read.


Miasto noca to symfonia swiatel. / The city at night is a Symphony of Lights.


Przeprawa na druga strone to krotka, ale piekna wycieczka. / Sailing to the other side is a short but epic excursion.


By potem podziwiac widok z Victoria's Peak. / To then admire the view from Victoria's Peak.


Park Kowloon / Kowloon Park


Wizyta na targu Zlotej Rybki. / Visit on the Goldfish Market.


Gdzie mozna tez kupic zolwie. / Where you can also buy turtles.


Na Temple Streeet, gdzie znajduje sie nocny bazar i dzielnica burdeli, mozna tez zjesc kraba. / On the Temple Streeet where night market and the brothel district is located you can also eat a crab.


Ale nie az tak wielkiego... / But not that big...