Veronica Guerin - The Magdalen Sisters

Last two nights, I watched based-on-true-event movies, both set in Ireland.

Veronica Guerin—an Irish journalist who reported to unveil the drug dealing crimes that particularly contaminated youth. Regardless of the truth, she was depicted somehow as an imprudent female journalist, at least to me. Even a male journalist wouldn't go unarmed alone to confront a perilous gangster, which she did and got beaten up so bad. I admire her determination to continue the investigation even after couple sever attacks. But shouldn’t she be more careful? I feel like there was a chance that she could have win the battle with the brutal evils without losing her life. I probably shouldn’t say this because this was a real event but I don't mean to be disrespectful for her death. It’s also unfortunate that the society didn’t respond until after her death.
(Recommend to learn about her rather than watching this movie.)

The Magdalen Sisters—a story of three Irish young women who suffered and endured mental and physical abuses at the asylum. This is probably one of the most depressing movie I’ve ever seen. The girls were sent to this church-owned "hell" by their own family for the sin they’ve made; being raped by his cousin, being a un-wed mother and being beautiful and flirty. Ironically, the asylum was originally founded as a part of Rescue Movement, founded for rescuing and educating the prostitutes. The depraved discipline and abuses by the villainous nuns have completely lost its uplifting origin but rather made it a hopeless, dehumanizing prison. Coincidentally, the last asylum was closed on 1996, the year Veronica Guerin was killed.
(Movie highly recommended but be aware it’s painful to watch.)

I picked these two tragic stories randomly and ended up thinking about two issues relative to both movies.

Is it necessary or appropriate for the viewer to know that the movie is based on a true event? The viewers may be compelled to feel more empathy toward the film—simply because the event actually happened. But it’s not a documentary. Tweaks and some details are added. Then shouldn’t that be treated and seen as a drama?

Each movie, in a way, illustrates the issue of women’s right. Today, none of the Magdalen Sister wouldn’t be a shame or accused for their "sins." But it’s still not the safe and fair society for many women weather to pursue a decent life or a rather challenging professional career. And the two movies did feature strong women who tried to uphold their spirits and dignity to their lives.

Facial in Chinatown

This winter has been an undeniable proof of global warming. We had a summer-like day with 70 degrees and then 20s next weekend. Cold dry weather is one of the biggest enemies to women's skin. Even those expensive moisturizer won't penetrate well into the dry skin. I have a quite healthy skin, very economical. I barely use cream either. But the recent series of excessive dinning and drinking had given a little problem to my normally egg-like healthy face.

Luckily, I have a Japanese friend who works at a beauty spa in Chinatown. This place uses high-quality european products and a whole process of facial you could get in the city for couple hundred dollars. The regular price for 90 minutes facial is about $60. They have a 10-ticket set which makes a single visit only $40. Chinese customers like to have every pour squeezed out empty, which is actually bad for your skin. But my Japanese friend, unlike other Chinese estheticians at this spa, does a very gentle practice.

The place is right on Canal street and the room is small but clean enough. It starts with cleansing, steaming, pour cleaning, masking, massage. She massages not only the face but the neck and shoulder as well, promoting the blood circulation around the lymph gland. All this for $40 is a very, very reasonable. I've sent a few friends of mine, including a Czech girl who has a very dry, sensitive skin. She liked this facial as well and didn't have any problem with the products they use. With my healthy skin, I don't NEED to go there so often, but I love it for the facial experience as well as the relaxation.

Ci Ci Beatuty Spa
221 Canal Street, 2nd Floor
212-680-3526
MAP
Let me know if you are interested in going!

Bronx Zoo

The off-season Bronx Zoo is almost deserted. All the shops are closed and most habitants need to stay inside the buildings. But I'd rather take a rainy, cold day than a sunny, warm spring when all kids block the view, screaming and kicking the glass window. First animal I saw was three camels in a tiny field. I later found out that they were for the camel ride. I had to question myself: "Should I protest against zoo by not visiting or is my $14 admission used to feed these poor animals who cannot survive in the wild nature any more?"


This zoo is in the middle of Bronx. People from surrounding apartments can probably see some animals through their window. But here I am, I stop worrying and rather enjoy the day trip. Besides the fact that they have lots of frogs in this zoo, I pretty much enjoyed all other animals. My favorite was this long-nose, b/w, panda+elephant animal. It doesn't move at all. Seemed really sad or completely enlightened.


Across from it was two black panthers, with beautiful pattern on their black fur. The zoo is famous for it's exhibition. Their fake forest was quite well done. It's like a mini amuzement park.



Bronx Zoo
2 or 5 train to East Tremont Ave/West Farms Square. 5 minutes wall from the station. 30 minutes from Grand Central. Open 365 days!

Inland Empire

I got completely lost in Mulholland Dr. I did enjoy Straight Story. I was afraid of Elephant Man. I was amazed by Inland Empire.

My friends invited me to see David Lynch's new movie, Inland Empire, in which the reality and imagination loses its boundary. It's absolutely confusing and it's supposed to be so. You see some links between each scene yet it never establishes a linear narrative. It's like a circle that's linked with another circle that's surrounded by another circle that's actually one of the circles within. Everyone would try to re-connect the dots and figure out the story. But at the same time, it might be wise not to try think too much about the narrative. The visuals and actinings are wonderful. Laura Dern is great. In the movie, the portrait of women in Hollywood, or perhaps not limited to Hollywood, seems to be one of the messages/theme.

3 hours is long. Especially since this movie doesn't give you much idea of how far it went. It could continue forever. But after letting myself sank in the story and finishing the task, I found myself refreshingly recalling the scenes and not even annoyed with accumulated halluciantion and intensity of the movie. It's a bit scary—perhaps the digital camera added further creepiness. I was pleased and proud of my capability: Little Miko can enjoy surreal masterpiece!

Elling

A charming, funny movie from Norway about two 40-year-old guys with mental disabilities. Elling, the main character, has spent most of his life alone with his mother until she dies and the Norwegian government sends him to the institution. His roommate in the institution is Kjell Bjarne, a huge guy with strong passion for sex and women, in non-harrassing way. While Kjell has an easier time adapting himself in a new environment, Elling keeps himself inside the apartment, avoiding his life-time enemy: depression/anxiety. This is a movie about mentally and socially challenged men. Yet, the director smartly put it in a unique, humorous way. The script is also very elaborate. If you aren't in the mood for some serious dramas or simply ridiculous comedy, this is highly recommended.

China - Forbidden City

The Forbidden City and Great Wall were the two places I wanted to visit. With a limited time scheudle, I only got to see the Forbidden City.

Once you pass the Tienamin square, where the big picture of Chairman Mao looks out the city, you see the City covered by tall red brown walls.The outside of the square is surrouned by water. In winter, the fog/pollution creates an exotic feel. Sadly, Beijing is renovating many parts of the city for the Olympic, including many buildings inside the Forbidden City.

This is a gigantic square in which the last emperor spend his most of life in. To him, this was the whole world. If you haven't seen the movie, Last Emperor, I strongly recommend it. My vivid memory from some scenes of the movie gave me further excitement and appreciation.

Besides the recommendation of the movie, a guide will help learn the history and trivias you would never know. I had a student with me who visited the City many times with a personal guide. He was full of knowledge and it totally helped me enjoy the tour.

One of the buildings is a treasure library full of lurxious ornaments and objects made with jade, crystal, diamond, coral, pearl, gold... What's surprise more than those visually stunning pieces is the way they're exhibited. Guards are sitting by the entrance but they don't really seem to care what people do. I guess nobody would try do anything crazy.

If you visit in the winter, it's harshly cold. I had a quick 2-hour tour but this place can entertain you for at least 4 hours.

China - Food

It requires a bit of courage and a tough stomach to enjoy real Chinese food. Especially since the local water is not drinkable yet people use the tap water to make soup, my boss and western travel-mates avoided any liquid dish. Luckily, I had both the courage/curiousity and a tough stomach. I tried authentic to internationally-famous dishes like Bejing duck. I rarely have Bejing duck in NY so I cannot exactly claim the local one is better. But the price was definitely cheap. The whole course with appetizer (soup, fried-beancurd, duck's leg skin that was not my favorite) comes with the roasted duck. The crepe had a perfect softness and thickness. All for 6 people came under 40 dollars, with beer!

Off the famous shopping street in Bejing, local street snack shacks line up. Over 20 vendars sell same stuff but a few had something unique: scorpions, crawfish, grasshopper, warm-looking species. Even my Chinese friend gave a disgusting look and I saw no one eating it. It's supposed to be eaten deep-fried.

The weirdest thing I ate during the trip was duck's tongue. It was steamed, still with the throat bone like a deer's scull attached. I could see the bumps. I knew it wouldn't taste good. But since it was an official dinner hosted by the school we worked with and none of my Western travelmates seemed to try, I did it. I kissed the tongue and bit it. As imagined, no taste but just an uncanny texture. Maybe, musturd could have helped.

So far, it was mostly 'fancy' dinners and I was unsatisfied. I wanted authentic, local food. With local students as my guides, we stepped into a very small restaurant—just a few small tables and stools and absolutely no foreign customers. Even the Chinese students asked me if I would want to try, worrying that I might get sick. At that point, I had to fight with my dillenma: 'Try local food nobody else would try' vs. 'I don't want to kill my stomach (it's almost impossible to find a clean bathroom in case of emergency).' I said 'Yes' for just a bite. This was the last place I'd have any soup, like instestin-extravaganza stew, or a sour plum tea. The severly cold weater, however, had me drink up the tea while the intestin soup didn't entertain my palette. My stomach was tougher than I thought. I was content that I at least tried very authentic Beijing food (i.e. lots of intestines and peanut paste dipping sauce). Coutinued walking on the street, we ran into a hot-skewer stand. Skewers with meat, blood jelly, veggies, fish cakes are cooked in a spicy hot sauce. You get a steel plate covered by plastic bag (so that no need to clean the plate) and pick whatever you want. This was my favorite dish and experience. I didn't see this type of vendar anywhere else. It was a night of super local food marathon.

In Shanghai, you must try Shao-long-bao, a steamed dumpling with soup inside. I went to a famous place with my local friend's recommendation. It was good. But honestly, Joe's Shanghai in NYC does a really good job. If I must compare, real Shanghai ones are lighter. What we don't have in NY is a deep-fried soup dumpling. My Shanghainese friend took me to a famous place whose storefront is full of local people. They were so good—crispy bottom and lots of juice inside. This dumplings are huge and the dough is much thicker than Shao-long-bao. I was hungry but 5 pieces was the max.

Do Chinese people eat anything? Pretty much. Some are so dlicately cooked with very intricated flavor. Some are not flavorful, rather bland or a bit stinky with the ingredients' original smell. A suggestion: the information from websites tend to change rapidly, so it's better to make sure that place does exist. I tried to find couple restaurants that were already closed.