thanksgiving

總覺得西方的節日,有時比我們傳統的有意義和實在得多了. 就例如感恩節. 不是嗎? 這不單只是家庭團聚的日子, 或只是一隻火雞, 一頓晚飯, 一場球賽, 一次巡遊, 一役"血拼", 而是藉着一個長周末,在和家人歡度的同時, 也能令我們停下來, 想一想, 懷着感恩的心, 去數算今年值得欣慰, 值得喜悦的事情.

今年, 不如意的事當然也有不少, 不過確實有更多的事更值得去記起, 去懷緬, 去珍惜, 去慶祝. 今天正是這忘記所有不快, 為並所有的事情, 所有的經歷謝恩的時候. after all the turbulences and things we are experiencing this year, the fact that we are still here in good shape - this alone is already one thing worth giving thanks and celebrating for.

“要常常喜樂；不住的禱告；凡是謝恩” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)… 無論有沒有信仰, 對任何人, 任何事情, 也該如此.

prediction

with the michelin guide 2009 for hong kong and macau coming out in less than a month, let me on the record have my own share of prediction to what i think will be (and not be) on the list (with my random thoughts):

3 stars:
gaddi’s – no brainer. that would definitely make david goodridge one of the youngest chefs at a michelin 3-star restaurant.
robuchon a galera (macau) – quoting this blog, “if… robuchon a galera aren’t top ranked (in michelin guide), i’ll eat my hat.”. well, i will eat with him.

2 stars:
caprice – people think they are of 3-star caliber, but i am still not convinced they will be rated above le cinq, their “sister restaurant” at paris’ hotel george v.
m at the fringe – a toss between a one or a two – but i am a bit biased here.
pierre – last time we tried it’s awesome, so i won’t be surprised if they do better than getting 2 stars. i put it here because i think hong kong will only get two 3-star restaurants at most.
yan toh heen – putting myself in those judges’ shoes, i think they would pick this as the best chinese restaurant in town, whether i necessarily agree or not.

1 star:
yung kee – just the fame of the restaurant itself deserve that one star. and they ought to put some more chinese restaurants in the list to please us, right?
lei garden - right move in opening one in ifc for raising its profile's sake
grissini
forum restaurant
aspasia
nicholini’s
petrus
don alfonso 1890 (macau)
l’atelier de joël robuchon
one harbor road
mandarin grill
celestial court
cuisine cuisine
kenjo

biggest bust:
nobu – even its hugely popular new york branch lost its star a couple years ago, i don’t see why they can have it over here.
amber – hmm… richard ekkebus never impresses me much.
felix - world's best restaurant? well coolest, maybe... but best? NO!
those h restaurants in central - harlan who?
fook lam moon – the omission of this restaurant will certainly have the local critics crying foul, but i just don’t think they are good enough.

but "most of the restaurants i picked are in hotels!", you may ask. but don't think that will count for or against the ratings that much. most of the restaurants in the vegas guide are hotel restaurants anyway.

godot and obama

等待果陀 – 一套"荒誕劇" (tragicomedy) – 兩個流浪漢, 在路上的一棵樹下, 等待一個叫"果陀"的人的來臨去解救他們. "果陀"是誰? 究竟是什麼樣貌? 他今天會不會出現? 他們等了多久? 他們是否等對了地方? 他們不知道, 只是無聊地打發時間, 等着等着. 最後, 過了良久, 一個男童, 自稱是果陀派來的, 對他們說: "果陀先生今天不會來了, 不過到了明天, 他一定會來的!". 第二幕, 相似的情節再次重覆, 一個男童在尾段又再出現, 告訴他們相同的說話. 他們討論着應否就此放棄 - 然而, 兩人始終沒有踏出半步離開…

"waiting for godot" (等待果陀) 是samuel beckett 最著名的作品, 被譽為是二十世紀英語文學最重要的劇作, 最近就在香港由一個愛爾蘭的劇團上演了一遍. 究竟"果陀"代表些什麼? 作品的要旨究竟是"果陀", 還是"等待"? 這是無數文學評論家, 哲學家討論不休的問題... 但看罷該劇, 每人心中自當有自己的答案.

一位時事評論員就曾以這故事來比喻香港的民主路 - 打從80年代起, "他們" 就告訴我們, 只要等到2007年,我們就能看到真正的民主和普選, 結果我們望穿秋水, 等到了2007年, "他們" 又回來跟我們說: "普選" 它今年不來了, 不過十年之後, 它一定會來的! 這些情節, 似曾相識, 也活生生的充滿着諷刺. 一次比一次的言之鑿鑿, 一次又一次的令人失望.

2008年11月4日–我們都見證了一個歷史性的時刻. 由 "i have a dream" 到 "yes we can", 走的路是多麼的遙遠, 是一步一步辛苦走出來的, but certainly worth the journey. 在美國獨立宣言中提到, "we hold these truth to be self-evident, that all men are created equal", 這二百多年前聲稱是不證自明的真理, 在今天, 才真正的獲得了實現.

正如奧巴馬的勝利演說中提到, "if there is anyone out there who still doubts that america is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer."

今天的確讓美國人重新相信美國夢; 可悲的, 是相比之下, 今天我們仍要活在那"十年之後, 它一定會來" 的南柯一夢裡. 而也許更可悲的是, 至少在劇中那兩個流浪漢也可以空談着放棄 (雖然最終他們也是動也沒動), 但是我們連這空談的option也沒有, 只可以一次又一次的在等, 一次又一次的落空...