The Mind of an African-Chinese guy........

The Heavenly voice of (Liu Zi ling)......

2011-12-28T10:45:00.000-08:00

If you are a lover of Traditional Chinese Music like i am, you should definitely check out the songs of the beautiful and talented Liu Zi ling. Here is one of my favorite song from her.

劉紫玲 (Liu Zi ling)-久別的人 - 白雪成名曲

MINI BIO

Liu Ziling graduated from Chaoyang Normal School of Music Education. She
Served as a host in the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau, the Beijing Art Troupe readings, poetry recital, the commemoration of the Russian Culture - Russian classical music concert in 2006.

Miss Keira........

2011-12-08T15:00:00.001-08:00

Halloween 2011.....................

2011-11-04T15:16:00.000-07:00

Family video Albulm........................

2011-10-02T12:37:00.000-07:00

I have been so busy with work and school, but it will all be worth it in a couple of months.

My brother and i will be going to mainland China on a 12 days three city tour of Beijing, Honk Kong, and Shanghai.I am really looking forward to it. In the main time My family is doing great, Keira started school,and we really don't have anything to complain about.
I really don't have anything else to post today except this video i made of my Family.

The song in the video is by the beautiful Tong Li of China, and its call 髮如雪 Fa ru xue.
(Hair like snow)

Thank you all so much again for stopping by.

Keira at five and pics from her first day of school.......

2011-09-19T08:48:00.000-07:00

My little princess over the week end turn five.

Keira first day at school.

Family photos.......................

2011-08-28T07:08:00.001-07:00

Keira acting all grown up, i love this shot though.

My other half, she is always goofing around.

Keira and her Mom

My sister-inlaw, Keira, and her Mommy.

The unforgettable Jenny Tseng 甄妮 ....

2011-07-24T12:25:00.000-07:00

Jenny Tseng is the legendary singer from Hong Kong who was Born in the former Portuguese colony of Macau to an expatriate Austrian civil engineer father and a Chinese mother. But after fame came, held Hong Kong as her home base. She is one of the first singers to have huge hits in both Mandarin and Cantonese and was considered the only diva to come anywhere near rivaling the late Teresa Teng.

Here is a video of her singing one of biggest hits and one of my favorite songs.

some of her other biggest hits includes:

鲁冰花
海上花
铁血丹心 “Iron Blood, Innocent Heart” (often sung with Roman Tam)
明日話今天
春雨彎刀
东方明珠系
再度孤獨 “Alone Again”
世间始终你好 (with Roman Tam)

Fourth of July happenings......

2011-07-06T13:17:00.001-07:00

The fourth of July was a lovely day in Minneapolis...

We made BBQ and a lot of other food, but my favorite was this sea food dish...

Took the kids for a little walk in the park after lunch...

Keira and her cousin Sadee..

Keira and me.....

Random Summer Pics..........................

2011-06-14T11:15:00.000-07:00

We have been having a lot of fun lately and taking advantage of all the good weather we have been getting. When Keira is not inside doing one of her many Justin Bieber's routines or trying my patience with all her running around, we usually like to go out and enjoy the nice weather.

What we have been up to............

2011-05-28T05:36:00.000-07:00

Its been really a busy couple of months, but hey, we are all very excited and looking forward to having a lot of fun this summer. Keira is really becoming a beautiful young woman, its hard to believe it was only few years ago that she was this tiny little baby in my arms.

Here is a video of Keira dancing and singing to some of Teresa Teng's songs

I have recently receive a lot of emails asking why i have not updated my blog in a while, i am sorry guys, i have just been too busy with work, family and school, i will try to update as much as i can.

Song of the Week.......

2011-05-27T20:24:00.000-07:00

This is by far one of my favorite songs from the legendary Taiwanese singer Teresa Teng, Miss Teng's ability to connect with people when she perform was amazing, my only regret is that she did not live long enough for me to see her perform in person.

Check out this video as Teresa Teng sings her hit song (Ni zen me shuo, 你怎麼說, What Do You Have To Say ?) and interacts with people in the audience, at the queen Elizabeth stadium during her 1982 concert in Hong Kong.

Teresa Teng - Ni Zen Me Shuo - What Do You Have To Say?

Lyrics:
你怎么說 | Ni Zen Me Shuo | What do You have to Say?

＊我没忘记　你忘记我
＊Wo mei wang ji ni wang ji wo
＊I haven’t forgotten, but you’ve forgotten me.

连名子你都说错
Lian ming zi ni dou shuo chuo
You even get my name wrong

证明你一切都是在骗我
Zheng ming ni yi qie dou shi zai pian wo
Goes to show that you've been lying to me

看今天你怎麽说
Kan jin tian ni zen me shuo
Let's see what you have to say today

＃你说过两天来看我
＃Ni shuo guo liang tian lai kan wo
＃You say that you'll come look for me in a couple of days

一等就是一年多
Yi deng jiu shi yi nian duo
But I've waited for over a year

三百六十五个日子不好过
San bai liu shi wu ri zi bu hao guo
365 days is not easy to get by

你心里根本没有我
Ni xin li gen ben mei you wo
I am not in your heart at all

把我的爱情还给我
Ba wo de ai qing huan gei wo
Return my love to me

The talented Wang lee Hom 王力宏 ............

2011-05-20T18:35:00.000-07:00

Singer/actor Wang Lee Hom 王力宏 is a four-time Golden Melody Award-winning Taiwanese American singer-songwriter and actor who has achieved highly recognized success in Taiwan, Mainland China, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Thailand and the rest of Southeast Asia.
He produces, composes and arranges all his own music from writing lyrics to playing instruments.
he also produces music for other Chinese singers.

Here is one of my favorite song from the talented singer.

Amazingly, Wang Lee Hom didn't learn Chinese until he was 18 years old. He's incredibly talented (he can play the piano, violin, erhu, guitar and many other instruments extremely well.
The talented singer was born in Rochester New York on May 17 1976.

More Random Taiwan Photos...........

2011-02-13T15:01:00.000-08:00

My Dad.

Taipei 101

View of the city of Taipei from Taipei 101

Dad pose for a picture.

With my brother in Taiwan.

My cousin and little brother.

With my brothers and Dad in Taipei.

Dad and little brother Nikie.

With My elder Uncle, Dad's older brother.

sitting with Dad

With Dad and elder uncle.

Walking with Dad.

My brother and Dad.

With some of my relatives in Taiwan.

Taiwan reflection.......................

2011-02-12T21:03:00.000-08:00

Standing with Teresa Teng in the music store.

I have gotten way too lazy to blog since i got back from Taiwan, but my vacation in Taiwan was great, not only did i spend some time with my Dad and other relatives,I also went on an allout shopping spree looking for some Hard to find Taiwanese oldies from the 70s, and 80s.I bought so many CDs and DVDs of all my favorite oldies singers from Teresa Teng 鄧麗君, to Feng Fei Fei 鳳飛飛, and many more.

Here is one of the songs i bought of Miss Teng singing one of her many Japanese Hits..
I can swear i have played this song a million time and it still sound awesome....

I stopped at this one little music shop in Taipei, and in very bad Mandarin ask for any thing they have on Yang Yang Xiao Ping 杨小萍, And the lady behind the counter started laughing, i bet she was probably thinking you are so young and a foreigner what do you know about Yang Xiao Ping?

Some of my uncles and aunts in Taiwan.......

I must however say, i was proud of myself, My Dad,uncles, and aunties were all surprise at my knowlege of Taiwanese music and singers, especially the ones they grew up listening to.

While driving to my uncles's house in Yilan Taiwan, i played one of the CDs i bought, check out my DaD and Uncles reaction in the car....

I had such a great time in Taiwan, my family were great, Taipei was awesome, I can easily picture myself visiting Taiwan every year.

farewell dinner party ...........

2011-01-10T05:27:00.000-08:00

Well as the saying goes.... all good things must come to an end, after an amazing couple of weeks in Taiwan, its time to head home. but before we go our family decided to throw us a farewell dinner party. It was really great, to be among all these people, some of them i did not even know, but they were family, and it was great to be among family.

Some of my uncles at the dinner....

My dad two younger sisters, i call them Aunty number 3 and 4 for short.

Aunty number 4, i can swear this woman is the best cook in all Taiwan....

After dinner we all pose for pictures one last time, i will miss these people.

Driving in Taiwan

2011-01-04T04:03:00.000-08:00

With few days to go before my vacation is up, i have been recording a lot of videos about everyday life in Taiwan, especially how people drive in this country. here are a couple of videos, that i shot in Taipei and the city of Yilan while driving around those two cities.

Driving in Taipei can be fun,crazy and scary, i don't think i can drive in this city.
by the way my Dad and the taxi driver kept talking in the whole video.

And while driving in Dad's home town city of Yilan the other day i shot this one.

More shopping and more sightseeing in Taipei........

2010-12-28T15:58:00.000-08:00

Went again with my Dad and brothers into Taipei city yesterday, and spent the day at all of my favorite spots in the city. I am really going to miss this place when i go back to the states.

My dad and i bargain with this guy at the mall.

Some random pictures of a shopping center in Taipei.

Walking with my dad and brother on a street in Taipei.

some street scenes in Taipei.

Dad pose for picture in Taipei.

With my brothers and dad in Taipei

Dad and my little brother Nikie.

I finally got to try my first stinky tofu, and what can i say..... it wasn't that bad at all.

Eastern Taiwan, and a visit to a Taoist Temple in Yilan county............

2010-12-25T12:25:00.000-08:00

Took the Train yesterday afternoon to the eastern city of Hualien 花蓮 to visit my sick aunt and her husband then came back home and visited an ancient Taoist Temple on the mountain and a beautiful park in Yilan county.

The number 2 platform at the train station in Hualien City.

In the Train on the way back home.

The Taoist Temple on the mountain.

The view from the temple was stunningly beautiful.

This place was one of the most peaceful places i have ever been.

They had these beautiful fishes in a pond at the temple.

And i finally finish off the day by enjoying this scenic park .

Dr. Sun Yat sen memorial, National palace museum, and the Taipei underground mall..............

2010-12-24T05:13:00.000-08:00

I spend the whole day again in Taipei city visiting some national sites and enjoying this beautiful city. My first stop was the Dr Sun Yat sen memorial right in the middle of down town Taipei overlooking Taipei 101. I then took a taxi to the national palace Museum which was like any other place in Taipei these days crowded with mainland Chinese tourist.
Finally my last stop was the Taipei underground mall, they really do have some good stuff there if you look really good.

The Dr Sun Yat Sen memorial hall.

A soldier stood guard in the the Sun Yet sen memorial hall.

The national palace museum.

The Taipei underground mall.

I bought some really cool stuff from this stall at the mall.

Visit to Dad's home town and Incense burning to the ancestors.......

2010-12-23T13:12:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we went to visit our elder uncle,( Dad older brother) who live in the city of Yilan 宜蘭 to burn incense and pray to our ancestors. Yilan is the birth home of my father and the ancestral home of our family who according to elder uncle came to Taiwan from what is today Fujian Province in China, about a hundred and fifty years ago. It was surreal and really quite amazing to be standing in the house my father grew up in. I also visited the elementary school Dad and his siblings went to, and the Neighborhood they grew up in.

The Liu family shrine in the city of Yilan.

Elder uncle

Dad explaining some of the family history.

Different generations of the Liu family.

Dad's Childhood home in Yilan.

The neighborhood Dad grew up in.

Aunty made lunch and it was so so good.

My cousin and little brother.

Sun moon lake and surrounding area....................

2010-12-22T00:09:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we charter a taxi and pay about 7,000 Taiwan dollars to go to sun moon lake in central Taiwan. Driving through the Taiwanese country side was just beautiful, the scenery was breathtaking. we drove past mountains after mountains, and every now and then we would go through these passageway or tunnels drill deep into the mountains, all i kept thinking was Taiwanese engineers must be some of the best and most resourceful people in the world. to drill through these mountains to make highways was amazing.
When we finally got to sun moon lake the place was filled with tourist mainly i think mainland Chinese, but it was still a beautiful experience, the whole place was just beautiful.

We drove through tunnels after tunnels, this one was on the way to sun moon lake.

The scenery in central Taiwan was breathtaking.

View of sun moon lake.

With my little brother at sun moon lake.

On the way back to Taipei we stop in the city of Puli to have lunch.

McDonalds in Taiwan, taste better then any Mcdonalds in the U.S

Also in Puli Dad got some sugarcane to eat.

Taiwan has been awesome so far......................

2010-12-20T13:30:00.000-08:00

At the chiang kai shek Memoria

I have been in Taiwan for a couple of days now and so far its been awesome, we met uncles, aunts, cousins, and a lot of my fathers' friends from when my father used to worked in Africa. some of these people we have not seen for over twenty something years, but we were surprise that they still remember us, from when we were kids.

We have actually been staying in the city of Toucheng (頭城) Yilan county, about an hour drive from Taipei by bus, but i try to go into Taipei as much as i can, there is just so much stuff to see and do there. I spent the whole day at both the chiang kai shek Memorial and Taipei 101, and what can i say, it was fun, the shopping, the sights, its just one of those things you have to experience to know what i am talking about.

The view of Taipei from Taipei 101

With my Dad and brothers outside Taipei 101

Tomorrow we are going to the Taroko national park, i heard there is no other place like this in the world. so check back for more development as i make my way around this beautiful yam shape Island.

Hoping Taiwan will touch my heart too..................

2010-12-12T22:22:00.000-08:00

I am off to Taiwan in two days to visit Dad, and the rest of the other extended families including aunts, and uncles who i have not seen since i was a kid, and can you believe i am still not packed yet?? I have a lot of things planned as soon as i clear immigration and leave Taoyuan international airport, I told my Dad the first thing i will probably do is visit the final resting place of one of my favorite Taiwanese singer Teresa Teng, to put flowers on her grave.next i have a long list of places i want to see mainly in the Taipei area like the Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall, Taipei city's Martyr's Shrine, and off course Taipei 101.

Like others before me, i am hoping Taiwan, this Tiny beautiful Island, the birthplace of my father will also touch my heart.

Favorite Chinese Actress Liu Yi Fei (刘亦菲).......

2010-12-02T05:58:00.000-08:00

Name: Crystal Liu Yi Fei (Liu YiFei, Liu Xi Mei Zhi)
Chinese name: 刘亦菲 (劉亦菲, 刘茜美子, 劉茜美子)
Birth name: An Feng 安风
Nickname: Xixi 茜茜, Baozi 包子
Birth date: August 25, 1987
Birth place: Wuhan, China
Height: 170cm
Blood Type: B
Education: Beijing Film Academy (graduated 2006)
Languages spoken: Mandarin and English
Profession: Actress and singer

Favorite sports: Golf and tennis
Favorite actresses: Audrey Hepburn and Vivian Leigh
Favorite singers: Amuro Namie and Faye Wong.

Liu Yi Fei is fast becoming one of the most popular contemporary young artists in China. Some of her famous work includes the Condor Heroes, and and the forbidding Kingdom. This famous Beijing Film Academy graduate was born on the 25th of August , 1987 in Wuhan, China.

A Classic performance................................

2010-11-23T23:57:00.000-08:00

Famous in the 60s and 70s and a superstar in Japan, Taiwanese singer / actress Tang Lan-Hwa will definitely be remember along with Teresa Teng as some of the greatest stars from Taiwan during that period. Most Chinese parents will recognize her name. I still have some old VHS tapes of some of her movies that my dad had when we were growing up as kids. Here she is in a scene from the movie "Jilted" The movie that made Tang Lan Hwa an overnight sensation, performing one of my absolute favorite classic Chinese songs called, I am by your side............... 我在你左右 She sang all but one song in the sound track.

Although this was not my time, but there is something about this time and the way Tang lan-Hwa sings that just makes you want to be there. The lyrics to the song is so simple and endearing, No wonder my dad loved it. A lot of memory! Teng Lan Hwa is now a devout Christian

Halloween 2010 in pictures..............................

2010-11-03T05:14:00.000-07:00

The Heavenly voice of Tong Li 童麗.........................

2010-10-30T01:46:00.000-07:00

If you are really into classic Chinese folk music as i am, then you have to check out the beautiful voice of Chinese singer 童麗 Tong Li. her voice is just heavenly, even if you don't understand the language you will be blown away by her beautiful singing.

Here are a couple of my personal favorites.......

孟姜女 by 童丽 Tong Li

船歌 by 童丽 Tong Li

童丽/王浩 - 杏花溪之恋

I absolutely love her voice! and i love how her songs, she has one of the sweetest voice i have ever heard.

Fall in Pictures...............

2010-10-09T17:52:00.000-07:00

It is finally fall in our Great State of Minnesota, and it is really one of my best seasons, the trees all come alive with all sorts of beautiful colors. Keira and I have been taking advantage of the beautiful weather and doing a lot of stuff outside..........

Some great Oldies by Li Mao Shan 李茂山........................

2010-10-09T17:19:00.000-07:00

Lately i have been listening to some golden oldies from veteran Taiwanese singer and really one of my favorite performers li mao shan 李茂山. If really you are a lover of sad Chinese love songs, he is the guy you want.

Here are some of my personal favorite song s from the Talented singer.......

李茂山 - Li Mao Shan - Xin Sheng Lei Hen - 心聲淚痕

李茂山 - Li Mao Shan - Yi Qu Ji Zhe Yin - 一曲寄知音

What a truly remarkable singer, I grew up listening to beautiful music like these,and i can swear they don't make anything like these anymore. It is my hope when i get to Taiwan in December, i can find and collect more of his music.

My Little Princess at Four................................

2010-09-12T15:40:00.000-07:00

Keira over the weekend turn four, we threw a little party for her and invited friends and family to come celebrate with us.

Another beautiful song from one of my favorite Taiwanese singer.........................

2010-08-17T21:40:00.000-07:00

Taiwanese Songstress Fong Fei Fei 鳳飛飛 also known as the Queen of hats have captures the hearts of millions with her beautiful voice as well as her unique collection of headgear.
She is one of my favorite oldies singer from Taiwan. Not only am i a big fan of the legendary singer, i am also an avid collector of her works. i particularly like her songs from the 70s and 80s, i think some of her best work were from that time.

Here again is one of my favorite song from the Legendary singer......

鳳飛飛 -　《心裡的期待》

Apart from her vast catalogue of popular hits in Mandarin and her mother tongue Holo(Taiwanese dialect), Fong also has a good command of Japanese songs and Western music.
The 56-year-old entertainer’s success and versatility stems from her readiness to embrace the past and present.
Her interest in show business started after she won a championship in a singing competition way back in 1968,she has since then released more then 81 albums, with many of them garnering her numerous awards.

The beautiful and talented Faye Wong 王菲............................

2010-07-30T11:27:00.000-07:00

The beautiful and talented Faye Wong 王菲 have been one of my favorite Chinese singers, from the mainland.She is believed by critics and fans alike to be one of the most commercially and artistically distinguished singers in Chinese pop music history, with a following so large and devoted that media in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and mainland China often call her the goddess or Diva of Asia.
Born in Beijing, People's Republic of China, on August 8 1969 she was originally named Xia Lin adopting her mother's maiden name because the Wong family was persecuted during the Cultural Revolution (her grandfather was a Republic of China congressman when it governed the mainland). At the age of 15, several years after the turmoil ended, her name was changed to Wong Fei.

Here is Faye Wong in her 2001 concert in Japan singing one of my absolutely favorite.....

人間 - 王菲

She often credits her mother, who was a soprano singer,for her musical talent.
The talented singer also acted in several TV shows and films, most memorably in Wong Kar-wai's Chungking Express, a role that garnered her international acclaim. She also won the award for "Best Actress" at the 1994 Stockholm Film Festival.

Thank you..........................................

2010-06-28T13:26:00.000-07:00

I really do have a lot to be thankful for, a great family, a beautiful kid, living and and enjoying life to the fullest, all thanks to wonderful parents, and not to forget great siblings who i really got along with growing up..............
So to all the wonderful people who have always been there for me, and who really matters to me I dedicate this video of one of my favorite Taiwanese singer Timi Zhuo 卓依婷 singing her hit song called Thank you sincerely (真心真意谢谢你).

DAD

MOM

Caroline my little sister....

Eddie My Brother

And Keira My little princess

卓依婷 (Timi Zhuo) - 真心真意谢谢你 (Thank You Sincerely)

LYRICS.....

如果陽光裡沒有你我不會疼愛我自己
如果歲月裡沒有你我不會珍惜我自己
如果等待裡沒有你我也許早已隨風而去
如果期待裡沒有你我也許只懂得哭泣
真心真意謝謝你是你留住我的夢
溫暖了我的心真心真意謝謝你
是妳喚醒我的愛是你滋潤了我的情

If you were absent from the sunlight,
I would not be able to love myself.
If you were absent from the years,
I would not be able to cherish myself.
If I waited but you never came,
Perhaps I would blow away in the wind.
If in anticipation, you never came,
Perhaps, I can only weep in acknowledgment.
Thank you sincerely!
It is you who have left me my dreams,
And all the warmth in my heart.
Thank you sincerely!
It is you who have awaken my love
And moisten my sentiment.

A beautiful song....................

2010-05-31T06:01:00.000-07:00

I really love this song (最浪漫的事) The most romantic thing.
Here are two beautiful rendition of the song.
the first one is by 赵咏华 (Zhao Jue Hua) the original singer and the other is by 卓依婷 (Timi Zhuo).

Here is Zhao Jue Hua version..............

And her Timi's veriosn..............

Truly a classic............

Summer of fun...............................................

2010-05-29T11:44:00.000-07:00

Its been a while since i last blogged, i have been so so busy, but it seems this summer will be a great one. on the family front, my brother family and mine are all excited and getting ready for our big family reunion in Taiwan this December.

Keira on the other hand is growing up way too fast for my liking, she is watching Icarly now instead of Dora the explorer or curious George, Hmmmmmm i have this feeling its gonna be hard to let my baby leave the nest, but hey i still have a long long time before i worry about that

Here are some Pictures and videos of what we have been up to.....................................

and check out these funny family videos......

I have been doing a lot of pranks on my family here is a good one on Keira's mom

This one is of me and Keira in the Park, i am asking her about what she is going to do for her daddy when she grows up........

Remembering Teresa Teng 鄧麗君 15 years after her Death......

2010-05-07T15:58:00.000-07:00

Her voice has been described as the ultimate healing balm for broken hearts. Her smile was said to be warm enough to melt a glacier and her unwavering patriotism for Taiwan was unquestionable, and every year millions of fans of the legendary Taiwanese singer Teresa Teng 鄧麗君 , pause to remember May 8 the sad day when she was taken from this world.

Here is another one of my favorite song from her, this is the Japanese version of her song she call who will love me?

Miss Teng was hugely popular in Japan too, laugh and cry with her in this video as she wins three consecutive title for best singer in Japan.

Even 15 years after her untimely May 8, 1995 death, Teresa Teng, hands down remains one of the biggest sensation ever to hit the Chinese music industry in Taiwan and China, and she remains the most influential cultural figure for the global Chinese community.

Miss Teng not only enjoy huge success in Taiwan where she was born, but all over Asia. her clear and sweet voice, and her heart rending love songs , appealed to both young and old, and even today her music and beautiful voice can still be heard in Chinese communities across the world.

As we mark the 15 anniversary of her passing, let us remember what a great woman she was, let us all her loyal fans do everything to keep her memory alive, Even though she has left us, for millions of us who are her loyal fans
she will always be our idol.

How could we not love this woman who
through her many songs made us feel happy, sad, and countless other
emotions that cannot be describe. RIP Miss Teng.

Chinese actress Tang Wei to play Teresa Teng in upcoming movie......

2010-05-05T00:39:00.000-07:00

As the 15 anniversary of the death of Legendary Taiwanese songbird Teresa Teng draws near, it is been reported that Taiwanese Director Ang Lee has been given the go ahead by the family of Teresa Teng to adapt her life story to put to the big screen, and Lee has chosen renowned mainland actress Tang Wei to play the legendary singer.

Teng's family says Tang Wei has a very similar face and temperament to Teresa Teng, and they consider Tang Wei to be the only actress who could play Teng.

Tang Wei

Tang Wei and Director Ang Lee

An asthmatic, Teng died after suffering a serious respiratory attack on may 8 1995 while on holiday in Thailand and was given a state funeral in her native Taiwan.

In the 15 years since her death, film producers from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan have been trying to put Teresa Teng's story on the silver screen, but all have failed to get authorization from her family until recently.

As a huge fan of Teresa Teng myself, i could not be more happier, i cannot wait for the day this film hit cinemas around the world.

Another Beautiful Teresa Teng 鄧麗君 song..........................

2010-04-11T08:44:00.000-07:00

One of the reason why Teresa Teng 鄧麗君 was such a huge superstar was her ability to transmit emotions in her songs no matter what language she was singing in.
Here again is one of my all time favorite song call 想把情人留 I want my lover to stay... from her album " Love Is Like A Song" (愛像一首歌) released in 1981.
This has got to be one of Teresa's best, she did an absolutely good job with this song, so much emotion, so much beauty.........

想把情人留

And if you thought this Chinese version was beautiful, check out the Japanese version of the same song by Teresa also......

I fell in love with this song the first time i heard it and it has been one of my favorite since.

The lyrics goes something like this......

門前的小河不斷地流
The little river outside my front door runs continuously.

小河水悠悠是否你也爲情煩惱日夜說不休
Little running river, are you also burdened by sentiments and worries, non-stop day and night also?

雖然我願爲你分些憂卻不知誰來替我解心愁
Although I can give you some advice and i am willing to share some of your worries, I don't know who can help me resolve mine.

但願你心知我心想把情人留
I hope you know that my heart wants my Lover to stay.

小河不管我爲何愁依然說不休
The little river runs endlessly, regardless if i worry or not.it does not care for whom I worry.

只有我自己望夕陽落向青山後
Leaving me alone to watch the sunset descending behind the mountain.

雖然我願爲你分些憂卻不知誰來替我解心愁
Although I can give you some advice and i am willing to share some of your worries, I don't know who can help me resolve mine.

但願你心知我心想把情人留
I hope you know that my heart wants my Lover to stay.

門前的小河不斷地流
The little river outside runs endlessly.

小河水悠悠你說你也爲了情煩惱对我說不休
Little running river, you say you are also burdened by sentiment, running non-stop day and night.

雖然我願爲你分些憂卻不知誰來替我解心愁
Although I can give you some advice and i am willing to share some of your worries, I don't know who can help me resolve mine.

但願你心知我心想把情人留
I hope you know that my heart wants my Lover to stay.

Taiwanese Beauty.......................

2010-04-10T22:50:00.000-07:00

Zhang Ting is a Taiwanese actress and model. She has been in many Taiwanese drama series and hence she is a popular female.

Some of her TV shows and series includes....

* Song Lian Sheng Zuo Dang (2005) as Ying Wu Shuang

* The Bronze Teeth III (2004) as Liu Lin Lan

* Funniest Stories of the Ming's Royalists

* Happy Flying Dragon

* Huo Shuai

* Shaolin Seven

* The Switch II

* The Switch

* Treasure Vase

* Field of Dreams

Two more beautiful songs from the always lovely Timi Zhuo 卓依婷...

2010-04-09T15:59:00.000-07:00

Here again are two very beautiful songs from Timi Zhuo 卓依婷 one of my favorite Taiwanese singers......

This one is call silent ending ,

One of Her most popular song is this one she calls window窗外 ..........

What a truly gifted singer she is........

Favorite Chinese actors and actresses.........

2010-04-02T16:19:00.000-07:00

If you are a Lover of Chinese Movies and Chinese Cinema, then you probably know that the Chinese Movie industry is one of the best in the world. Here are some of my favorite Chinese actors and actresses............

Jacky Chan.......

You have seen him in recent times in the Rush hour movies, but i am a big fan of some of his earlier classics like the Drunken Masters, i cannot wait for his new movie the Karate Kid with Jaden Smith, which comes out in June.

Jet Li......

Probably one of the best Chinese actors of all time, you have seen him in movies such as Romeo must die, and Lethal weapons 4, but his best roles were in Chinese Movies such as Fist of Legends and the once upon a time series about the Legendary Chinese folk hero Wong Fei Hung.

Chow Yun Fat........

This Hong Kong native have stared in Hollywood hits such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon , Pirates of the Caribbean 3, but my favorite role by Chow is John Lee in the Replacement Killer.

Zhang Ziyi ..............

You know she can kick some serious ass if you have seen Rush hour 2, Zhang's other credits include "Memoirs of a Geisha," and "House of Flying Daggers."

Maggie Cheung.........

With over 70 film credit under her belt, this Hong Kong native is listed as one of the best oriental actress in cinema history, She is the first Asian woman to win a prize at the Cannes Film festival.
I love her roles in the Police stories series.

Takeshi Kaneshiro.......

He has been the dream guy for a lot of young girls all over Asia for years, but this Taiwanese Actor who is also half Japanese, has also acted in some of my favorite movies of all time. some of his film credits include the The red Cliff, House of flying daggers, and the warlords which comes out this month in U.S Cinemas.

From one Generation to the next...................

2010-03-27T11:16:00.000-07:00

Miss Keira Liu the next generation of Teresa Teng's Fan I hope.....

My daughter's favorite song is My beloved little horse wagon 我心爱的小马车 by Teresa Teng, i hope some day when she is old enough she will really get to appreciate the magic that was Teresa Teng. When we were kids growing up my Dad played her all the time..... we knew her voice and her songs instantly when we heard them, now my kid wants to listen to this song all the time, in the car, at home which is really great.

Teresa Teng 鄧麗君 ----- My beloved little horse wagon 我心爱的小马车

Here is one of my favorite Hokkien songs again from Miss Teng....

鄧麗君 ~~ 碎心戀

Rest in peace Teresa, Rest in peace................

The amazing voice of Luo shi Feng 羅時豐.................

2010-03-08T09:04:00.000-08:00

I so love the voice of veteran Taiwanese singer Luo Shi Feng 羅時豐, the guy is just an awesome,awesome singer......here are two more beautiful songs from this amazing singer.

羅時豐-人在他鄉-KTV

羅時豐&大芭-風流-KTV

wow what an amazing voice, what a great singer...............

Vacation, Vacation...........................

2010-03-08T08:15:00.000-08:00

Sorry folks i know its been a while since i last posted something on my blog, my brother and i have just been having the time of our lives, we just got back from an awesome vacation on the cruise ship Carnival Destiny. here are some pictures of our adventure ...............

The Atlantis Hotel and resort was a sight to see.....

View of Nassau harbor, the Bahamas......

Our Ship the Carnival destiny...............................

More beautiful songs from the Legendary Taiwanese singer Teresa Teng ...................

2010-02-17T05:54:00.000-08:00

One of the thing on my to do list when i visit Taiwan again, will be to visit and put flowers on The Legendary Teresa Teng's grave. I wish she had lived long enough for me to see her live in concert.

Here are some more beautiful songs from the Legendary singer..............

May she rest in eternal peace forever.

Happy Chinese New Year .................................

2010-02-11T22:53:00.000-08:00

The Chinese new year is finally upon us,This coming Chinese New Year, it will be the Year of the Tiger, which officially starts on February 14, 2010, Valentines Day! People born in the Chinese Year of the Tiger, have the following qualities and characteristics: Courage, Self-Reliance, Friendliness, Hopefulness, and Resilience.
As was done for generations, Tradition dictates those who celebrate the Lunar New Year do so by visiting friends and family, dressing in new clothing mostly red, because it is believed that red will scare away evil spirits and bad fortune, and eating elaborate meals.
A special tradition also at this time of the year is for children to receive red pockets or envelope called Ang Pow filled with money, as a way of wishing them success and a Happy New Year. Everyone is expected to be in good spirits, since displaying unpleasant temperaments or speaking unlucky words is thought to bring on an unsuccessful year.

In addition to red envelopes, small gifts (usually of food or sweets) are also exchanged between friends or relatives. Gifts are usually brought when visiting friends or relatives at their homes. Common gifts include fruits (typically oranges, and never pears), cakes, biscuits, chocolates, candies, or some other small gift.

Furthermore, one of the traditions in the Chinese New Year celebrations are fireworks.Chinese people believed that using these firecrackers will drive away evil spirits from the nearby surroundings and will bring luck.

Here are some of my all time favorite Chinese New year songs.....

from the 2008 Chinese New year album by the Eight super stars

八大巨星 - 新春结良缘

And from her 2009 Chinese new year Album 好春天 here is one of my favorite new year song by 卓依婷 (Timi Zhuo) called 祭祖先 (Worshipping the Ancestors)

And finally from the her popular 2007 Chinese New Year album 恭喜发财 is another one of my best new year songs from 卓依婷 (Timi Zhuo) - 财神来到我家门 (The God of Wealth Arrive At My Door)

So to all my readers of Chinese descent and who are celebrating the coming of the Chinese New Year, i will like to say Gong Xi Fa Choy 恭喜发财 "May You Prosper," a phrase commonly used by Chinese to greet each other during Chinese New Year. my heartfelt wishes for you and all your families!

May the 'Year of the Tiger' bring us all a better, more prosperous and harmonious year.

The Founding of a Republic .................

2010-01-23T18:44:00.000-08:00

Last year during the celebration of the 60th Anniversary of China’s Communist revolution, a star-studded movie call the founding of a republic was released.

I have been wanting to see this movie for a while, and i finally got the chance to see it over the the weekend.
I must say i was really surprise because i thought this was going to be one massive propaganda film but it really turn out to be an ok film.

Tang Guoqiang as communist leader Mao Zedong

Zhang Guoli as Chiang Kai-shek

The film made by the state-run China Film Group, and stars over 100 of the country’s best-known actors, including Hong Kong king-fu heros Jackie Chan and Jet Li, as well as Crouching Tiger actress Zhang Ziyi, tells the story Communist Party’s rise to power from the end of the anti-Japanese War in 1945 through a series of bloody battles with Chiang Kai–shek’s nationalist forces, culminating in the founding of the People’s Republic on the 1st of October, 1949.

Here is the movie trailer...........

Chinese mainland veteran actor Tang Guoqiang, who has played Mao Zedong in films and TV dramas several times before, is cast once again as the historic leader. Zhang Guoli plays Mao's political rival Chiang Kai-shek, former leader of the Kuomintang (or Chinese Nationalist Party).

I thought the acting and the movie over all was great, the actors who played both Chiang Kai-shek and Mao Zedong really did look like them, that was really cool,but wither the story was the way it all happen is another story.......

Family time................................

2010-01-23T15:38:00.000-08:00

Its been an awesome but busy couple of weeks, i have been having a blast spending a lot of time with my daughter and the rest of the family.
Here are a couple of pictures and video of what i have been up to......

And i love this Video of me bugging Keira....

Keira is so funny

Another Beautiful song by Timi Zhuo 卓依婷.................

2009-12-27T18:41:00.000-08:00

I so love this song by Timi Zhuo one of my favorite singers.
This song was originally sung by 韩宝义（Han Bao Yi）but hands down i love TiMi version the best.

卓依婷 (Timi Zhuo) - 粉红色的回忆 Pink Memories (梦里的依恋)

The lyrics goes something like this.........

夏天夏天悄悄过去留下小秘密
The summer passed silently by, leaving behind a small secret.

压心底压心底不能告诉你
I cannot tell you of the pressures in my heart.

晚风吹过温暖我心底我又想起你
The evening breeze blows warmth into my heart as I again reminisce about you.

多甜蜜多甜蜜怎么能忘记
How can I forget all the many memories, sweet as honey?

不能忘记你把你写在日记里
I cannot forget you, I write about you in my diary.

不能忘记你心里想的还是你
I cannot forget you, the one I still miss most in my heart.

浪漫的夏季还有浪漫的一个你给我一个粉红的回忆
A romantic summer and the still romantic you, gives me a pink memory.

哦夏天夏天悄悄过去依然怀念你
Whoa With the summer silently passing by, I continue to cherish you.

你一言你一语都叫我回忆
Every word about you also calls memories to mind.

就在就在秋天的梦里我又遇见你总是不能忘记你
Having met you again in an autumn dream, I will never be able to forget you.

Lou Jing 娄婧 update......................

2009-12-25T00:00:00.000-08:00

Sometime ago I wrote a blog about racism in China which was brought to the national spotlight when a black Chinese girl Lou Jing appeared on the Chinese reality television show called “Let’s Go! Oriental Angels,” Lou Jing gained national fame and notoriety — largely for her skin color.
Now CNN international just did a story about Lou Jing, and racism in China.

Here is part of that story...........

Lou's experience has put a spotlight on perceptions of race in the country and the challenges China faces as its economic boom fosters a more ethnically diverse society.

"I am Chinese," Lou said. "But when I read the comments, I started to question myself. I never questioned myself before. This time I started to think about how I am different from others."

As China rapidly expands its ties with Africa, commentators said Lou's story exposes deep racism in China, where the ethnic Han are in a vast majority.

In the southern city of Guangzhou, where residents refer to one downtown neighborhood as Chocolate City,because there is a large African population concentrated in that area,local newspapers have been filled in recent months with stories detailing discrimination and alleging police harassment against the African community.

"In Guangzhou, to be frank, they don't like Africans very much," Diallo Abdual, told internationa reporters, he came to China from Guinea west Africa 1 1/2 years ago to buy cheap Chinese clothes to ship back to West Africa for sale.

"The security will beat you with irons like you are a goat," he said. "The way they treat the blacks is very, very bad." He and others pointed out the spot where in July several Africans jumped from an upper-floor window to escape an immigration raid.
One migrant was reported critically injured in the fall, and a large number of Africans marched on the local police station in protest. The Guangzhou Security Bureau said in a statement at the time that it had a duty to check that foreigners living in the city were there legally.

"In the same year Americans welcomed Obama into the White House, we can't even accept this girl with a different skin colour?" wrote Hung Huang, a talk show host and magazine publisher often described as "China's Oprah Winfrey.

Although Lou is still working towards her dream of being a television presenter, she said the episode had left her less optimistic about whether she can find a place on China's airwaves.

"They want a TV host who is considered traditionally beautiful," she said.

"Ever since I appeared on TV, I realised that maybe I don't fit the image of a TV host. Many believe a TV host should have white skin, high nose and big eyes."

The beautiful and talented Chang Hui Mei 张惠妹 (A-mei)...........................

2009-12-23T17:42:00.000-08:00

A-mei

Ok so its been a while since popular Taiwanese singer Chang Hui Mei 张惠妹 (A-mei) , have come up with anything that i really like, but i still have a lot of love for her, i think she is a really great singer.
A-mei made her debut in the world of music in 1996, achieving instant mega commercial success. She has frequently been called a diva of the Mandarin pop music scene, as well as the "Pride of Taiwan". She has won numerous music awards and become one of the biggest music sensations within pop music of the Mandarin-speaking world.
She hails from an aboriginal tribe in Taiwan, the Puyuma people on the rural southeast coast.

A-Mei sparked anger in China couple of years ago after singing at the Taiwanese president's inauguration.

She sang the national anthem of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and was subsequently blacklisted by Beijing.

US soft drinks giant Coca-Cola was forced to drop a multi-million dollar advertising campaign in China that featured her.

Here are some of my favorite songs from her...

but this song she calls can i hold you is absolutely my favorite of all her songs.....

Since exploding on to the Chinese pop scene in 1996, she has released three acclaimed albums, performed to sell-out audiences and netted dozens of awards in Asia.

The gorgeous Landy Wen(溫嵐)...............

2009-12-05T13:00:00.000-08:00

popular Taiwanese singer Landy Wen(溫嵐) has one of the best voices in the Taiwanese music industry, though it seems that her talent is often overshadowed by her rumored relationship to the "King of Asian Pop" Jay Chou, the singer/songwriter who has been revolutionizing Taiwanese sound over the past decade.
Fortunately, despite the efforts of the tabloid journalists, Landy is an accomplished singer in her own right, having released five albums since her debut in 1999.

here are some of my favorite songs from this talented singer...............

and and i really love this duet with this guy call Jason.......

A member of the Atayal ethnic group, Landy Wen is one of the few Taiwanese aborigines to become a musical star. She is currently slated to star in the TV Drama "Less Than Zero" (Announced 2010), a retake on Bret Easton Ellis' classic novel that will be set in Taipei.

My own Bizarre food moment....................

2009-11-27T22:49:00.000-08:00

Andrew Zimmern.

One of my favorite shows on cable is the travel channel's bizarre food hosted by Andrew Zimmern.
On Bizarre Foods, you see Andrew traveling the world and eating basically anything that walks or craw, eating local cuisines that may seem bizarre for you and me. This show is fun, entertaining, educational, and makes you hungry and grosses you out at the same time.

Here is an episode of bizarre food with Andrew in Taiwan...

I am usually really particular about what i eat, and when i do go out to eat i usually just stay with what i know on the menu, but my friend Tony insisted that we try this South east Asian restaurant in the Uptown neighborhood of Minneapolis, it was my own bizarre food moment to say the least.....
Here is some of what is what i had......

The Duck feet was actually very tasty......

I think this was the pig intestine

This was by far the best on menu.....

The food was good, but i doubt it is something i will be trying again anytime soon.

The legend that is Fei-yu ching 費玉清............

2009-11-25T18:04:00.000-08:00

Fei-yu ching 費玉清

Man lately it seems i just cannot get enough of Fei Yu-Ching 費玉清 songs.
Fei Yu-Ching is a Taiwanese ballad singer, His career began in the late 1970s, and he began to build a large fan base along with his brother. He performed several theme songs for television shows, some of which were more successful than the shows themselves.
His numerous hits include such hits as "Goodnight Song" , "A Spray of Plum Blossoms" and "Ode to the Republic of China." his enchanting love ballads and friendly manner, have won him a lot of fans which continues to grow all the time.

Here are some more of my favorite songs from this talented singer...

In 2006, he featured in a duet with Jay Chou another one of my favorite Taiwanese male singers, and when two legend get together, only magic happens,here is the video

Jay Chou 周杰伦 ft.費玉清 - Faraway 千里之外

These guys are really awesome.

Another Beautiful song by Xiao Feng Feng(Joyce Lim) 小鳳鳳.......

2009-11-19T20:45:00.000-08:00

Xiao Feng Feng

Malaysian songbird Xiao Feng Feng(Joyce Lim) 小鳳鳳 continues to be one of my all time favorite Hokkien singers.

Here are some of my favorite song from her....

小鳳鳳 -十二蓮花　12 lotus flowers

Xiao Feng Feng Joice Lim 小鳳鳳深深的愛

What a lovely and talented singer

Feeling a little nostalgic today...........................

2009-10-21T16:53:00.000-07:00

As most of you who read my blog know, I am one of the biggest fan of the legendary late Taiwanese songstress Teresa Teng(鄧麗君) , i am also an avid collector of everything Miss Teng. but no matter how many times i listen to her songs i always have this nostalgic feeling about the beautiful and good times we had as kids growing up.

There was a huge Chinese community in Liberia, most of these folks were farmers and had big farms that supplied almost the whole country with fresh Agriculture produce.
At the end of the work week, all these good folks some mainlanders, others from Taiwan would all come together to eat,drink tea, and play mahjongg.

It was during these times that i first heard and fell in love with Teresa's angelic voice on the radio.....
Some of my Teresa Teng music and video collections

I especially like her old songs from the 70s and 80s, they are such classic that
they will be played again again in Chinese communities all around the world for years to come.....

Check out this song called 無奈(helpless)

Teresa recorded this song in 1985. It got lost at that time, only to be discovered 20 years later by chance.
This song is the mandarin version of a well-known Paula Tsui song.

And what person of Chinese decent will not instantly recognize her 1978 hit song 再見我的愛人(Good bye my Love)

Even though she has left us, for millions of us who are her loyal fans she will always be our idol.
How can we not love this woman who through her many songs made us feel happy, sad, and countless other emotions that cannot be describe.
Even if one is deaf, and blind, one will still feel the power and beauty of her voice
Such is the greatness of this highly gifted woman.

Dad ...............................

2009-10-14T16:41:00.000-07:00

My Dad is one of those guys who have gone beyond the call of duty to serve his native Country Taiwan. Dad came to Africa in the early 70s right out of the military, to work with the Taiwanese agriculture technical mission that helps mainly developing nations developed and improve their Agriculture sector. When he met mom he settle down in Africa for a couple of years to start a family, in later years when we all moved to the United states, he decided to back and work for the government.
he have since worked all over the world.

In the African nation of Malawi (2007)

In the south pacific nation of Papua new Guinea (1991)

In the Solomon Island (1998)

In Liberia west Africa (1983)

Port Moresby PNG (1990)

We don't get to see our Dad as often as we would like because of the kind of work that he does, but the family is planning a big reunion in Taipei in early February, where for the first time Dad will get to meet his grand kids.

My brother Eddie

With Keira,

can you believe she is already applying make-ups

My brothers and i were truly blessed to have a great man to be our father, i only hope and pray that one day our own kids will say the same about us too.

Beautiful Chinese folk ballad by Timi Zhuo 卓依婷 .....................

2009-10-04T20:04:00.000-07:00

I really love this beautiful ballad by Timi Zhuo 卓依婷, 中华民谣 (Ballad of China).

This was released in Timi's 1999 Transformation albulms, when Timi was just 19 years old. the album was the third out of five in the Transformation series 蜕变3 谜.

This song was originally sung by an eminent Chinese singer 谢东 (Xie Dong), but i can say for certain that i love the both of them.
Here is his version......

What a beautiful song it brings back lots of memories.

Another Beautiful song by Jiang Hui 江蕙 ( Jody Chiang)..........

2009-10-03T15:45:00.000-07:00

The more i listen to the angelic voice of Taiwanese singer Jiang Hui 江蕙 ( Jody Chiang) the more i get to appreciate this genre of Taiwanese music call Tai-pop and sometimes Hokkien pop.
The genre is not the same as Mandarin pop music from Taiwan. However many Mandarin pop singers from Taiwan also cross-over into Taiwanese pop genres as well, and there is increasingly more Mandarin pop influence in Taiwanese pop.

Born to a poor family in rural Taiwan, Jiang Hui struggled to make it to the top. When she was still young, she starting singing to help support her family. She literally sang her way to fame and stardom.

Here is another one of my favorite songs from her called 落雨聲 or the sound of rain..

You Have to Be Patient, one of Jiang Hui song, seemed to tell the story of her life. This was also the first song which catapulted her to fame and made her a household name in Taiwan.
She sang her way to acceptance in the mainstream pop world once dominated by Mandarin song stars. Her landing on the pop charts in Taiwan was unprecedented for someone specializing in Taiwanese songs.
Today she is affectionately called the queen of Taiwanese Music (Minnan songs)

Lou Jing (娄婧) the sad story of a Black Chinese girl.......

2009-09-26T17:02:00.000-07:00

Lou Jing (娄婧)

I have never been outrage about a story coming out of China then this one.....
When 20 year old Lou Jing (娄婧) who is of mixed Chinese and black heritage became one of the five Shanghai finalists on the reality Tv show Go! Oriental Angel, the color of her skin became a national issue on what a true Chinese person is suppose to look like. She also became a target for cruel gossip and vicious racist attacks on Aug 30, when her mother shared their family's story on the show.
The attacks began after Ms Lou's mother revealed at a preliminary round of the show early last month that her daughter was the result of an illicit affair she had with an African American man some 20 years ago.Ms Lou's mother, who is a Shanghainese and known only as Madam Lou, said her Chinese husband divorced her when he found their newborn looked African instead of
Chinese.

Here are some of the comments that people were posting online ............

Shanghai people’s value plunges. A bastard, brought her out to show off because of the foreigner descent. The girl is ok, her mom is a whore, married and still mess around with black guy, maybe it’s the great “love”, it’s a pity the black guy was just playing her, Chinese girls please have some self-respect.

Her mother still has the face to go on stage, she is shameless, and this kind of thing is definitely scandals you should keep in the family. She still dares to go on stage, maybe she does not feel ashamed, instead feels proud. Is this the legend of the bastard? And an unwanted bastard.

Her mother is a shameless woman, pregnant by a black guy, and then abandoned, was it good when he was pleasing you? Still obsessed with him after several decades? Not feel ashamed, even go on TV to look, looking for what? Looking for lost big XX? Looking for climax never had again? Shameless! Why are Shanghai women always the target of criticism? It’s because of shameless bitch like her! Dragon TV please help this bastard find her family. Let the black father with a big XX hurry back, address this old woman’s needs! Black Dad, come back soon! Someone cannot forget your big XX.

This woman has no sense of shame, married and you cheat, give birth to a black kid so there is no way to hide, if wasn’t for that her husband will have to raise their children.
Cheap is the word, in order to run with a foreigner, even do with black people.

As a person who is also of mixed Chinese and black heritage, i can certainly relate to this young woman's story.... and frankly, its outright shameful and disturbing that people would be so narrow minded like this.

With my dad and uncles, i am the one in the red shirt and black shorts

My siblings and i had great parents, and we were truly loved by both our African side, as well as our Chinese side of the Families, and thank God i live in these great United States were i am sure if this young woman had grown up, the sky would have been the limits for her talents and beauty.

Here is a video of Lou Jing on Go Oriental girl....

In many ways, Lou Jing is a typical young woman from Shanghai. Pretty and confident, she speaks Mandarin heavily accented with the lilting tones of the Shanghai dialect and browses the malls of this huge city for the latest fashions.
And i would only hope that she has the strength and courage to stay true to herself.

Jay Chou 周杰伦 the King of Chinese Music...............

2009-09-19T15:50:00.000-07:00

Jay Chou

Known as the King of Chinese Music, Jay Chou 周杰伦 the talented Award-winning Taiwanese musician, singer, producer, actor and director, has certainly made a name for himself.
he is known for combining both Chinese and Western musical styles to produce a fresh sound that fuse R&B, rock and pop genres, that is quite unlike what is produced in mainstream Taiwanese pop, and also for his unique lyrics which touch on various issues such as domestic violence, war, and urbanization.

Here are few of my all time favorite songs from him.......

and i absolutely love this one he call hair like snow....

this song has got to be the best jay chou song of all.

Since the release of his first album in2000, His music has gained recognition throughout Asia, most notably in countries such as China, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, Taiwan, and in overseas Chinese communities, winning more than 20 awards each year. He has sold over 25 million albums worldwide.

In 2007, he was named one of the 50-most influential people in China by the British think tank Chatham House. He starred in Initial D (2005) for which he won Best Newcomer Actor in Golden Horse Awards, and was nominated for Best Supporting Actor by Hong Kong Film Awards for his role in Curse of the Golden Flower (2006). His career now extends into directing and running his own record company JVR Music.

The beautiful voice of Taiwanese singer Huang Yee-ling,黃乙玲..............

2009-09-19T00:30:00.000-07:00

Huang Yee-ling

If you are a big fan of classic traditional Taiwanese or Minnan music as i am, you may have heard of this lovely lady called Huang Yee-ling,黃乙玲.
Fans including me of the veteran Holo pop singer Huang Ming-jhu, who performs under the stage name of Huang Yee-ling,黃乙玲 were thrilled when she released her 28th album in 2008.
Born in 1969 in Taipei County, Huang began singing early at the age of nine. Echoing the theme of inescapable destiny that pervades many of her songs, Huang says that while she loves singing now, her music career began because she felt she needed to do something to support her family, although she was very young. "Singing might be the job I was predestined to do," she says.

Check out this beautiful song from her.......

黃乙玲 - 無字的情批

Huang have won many music awards including a Golden Melody Award for best female Holo-language singer in 2006, and an earlier Golden Melody Award in the same category in 1999 as part of a career spanning nearly 30 years.

My Little Princess at Three...................................

2009-09-05T20:26:00.000-07:00

Yesterday my baby turn three, we celebrated her birthday in the backyard with BBQ and cake.
here are some of the pictures from yesterday celebration.................

Sister in law helping out with the food preparation

Keira and cousin Gavin in the back yard.

Another beautiful classic by Malaysian singer Zhuang Xue Zhong 莊學忠 .....

2009-09-05T06:16:00.000-07:00

For some reason i think Zhuang Xue Zhong 莊學忠 sound and have the same singing style as Taiwanese singer Luo Shi Feng 羅時豐. check out this beautiful classic by Zhuang called Forgive me, sweetheart 原諒我吧心上人.....

莊學忠 Zhuang Xue Zhong Yuan Liang Wo Ba Xin Shang Ren 原諒我吧心上人

Zhuang has released 30 albums since his debut album release in 1986, and has won more then 150 championships in singing competitions and other awards. Early last year, he celebrated his 20 years in showbiz with a concert in Malaysia.

An Old Classic by the beautiful Michelle Hsieh 谢采妘.............

2009-08-22T22:42:00.000-07:00

This beautiful song called Serenade of the Green Island or Green Island Serenade 绿岛小夜曲 have been done and redone by so many great Chinese singers, but by far Michelle Hsieh 谢采妘 version of this famous classic is one of the best to me.
Many Chinese people especially the older generation are familiar with this song....
I remember my dad playing it on his harmonica when we were kids and it just sounded so heavenly.

谢采妘 (Michelle Hsieh) - 绿岛小夜曲 (Serenade of the Green Island)

Wow so much memories

Beautiful oldies from Taiwan........

2009-08-15T14:03:00.000-07:00

I just bought a Video CD of some classic old songs from Taiwan....... for some reason i am more drawn to these old songs, and veteran old singers like Fei Yu qing 费玉清, Teresa Teng 鄧麗君, Tsai Chin 蔡琴, Jenny Tseng, and Hong kong canto pop star Paula Tsui 徐小鳳.

Here are some of the songs on the VCD

And who can forget this classic by the one and only Fei Yu qing 费玉清....

These are songs that really can never get old, and it just brings back a lot of good memories.

Thank you Itunes.....................

2009-07-26T00:27:00.000-07:00

I am so so happy,..... i just found out that I tunes now carry most of the legendary Teresa Teng songs on their site...i was able to get some beautiful but really rare songs

Here are two of the songs i got from I tunes...

Teresa Teng 鄧麗君 -- I can wait forever....

Teresa Teng 鄧麗君-----Fall In Love At First Sight 一見鍾情

some of these songs i have heard since i was a kid, this is so cool...

Fun with the whole family......................................

2009-07-12T16:15:00.001-07:00

I took the whole family to the Minnesota Zoo, it was awesome, the kids were excited, to see the many animals that the call the zoo home. It was good to spend some much needed time with the family..........

we saw some animals that i have never seen before

My Brother in law and his family

My wife was tired after all that walking...

The bear was too close for comfort...

The African section of the zoo was my favorite.

A beautiful song by Teresa Teng 鄧麗君

2009-06-19T16:33:00.000-07:00

Check out these two beautiful version of this song called 山茶花 by 鄧麗君 Teresa Teng. She sang one in Chinese and the other in Japanese. this is absolutely one of my best song from the late singer......

鄧麗君--山茶花

And here is the one she sang in Japanese....

Every thing Teresa ever did was beautiful... whether she sang in Chinese or any other language, she made it so special. such a sad yet beautiful song.

Chinese American Writer Amy Tan 譚恩美 is a brilliant writer............

2009-06-14T13:35:00.000-07:00

Amy Tan

For a class project i had to do a paper on any author of my choosing, and being of Chinese decent i decided i would find and do a paper on a Chinese author. My Friend Tony who is from Hong Kong suggested i consider Amy Tan 譚恩美, i was like Amy Who? i have never heard of her, i wanted somebody really famous, Tony insisted i try some of her work, he even went as far as renting the movie The joy luck club, one of Amy's books that was made into a movie....... and now all i can say Amy Tan is my favorite author.
For the past week i have gone to Barnes and Noble, bought and read two of her books, including the kitchen god's wife, and the Bonesetter's daughter, and watched the movie the Joy luck club twice.

Here is one of my favorite Scene from the Movie the Joy Luck Club...

This scene affected me more than any other. . .

Born in Oakland, California, on February 19, 1952, to Chinese Immigrant, Amy Tan is a Chinese American writer whose works explore mother-daughter relationships. In 1993, Tan's adaptation of her most popular fiction work, The Joy Luck club became a really successful film.
and according to her own biography Tan rejected her mother's expectations that she become a doctor and concert pianist. She chose to write fiction instead. Her much-loved, best-selling novels have been translated into 35 languages.
She grew up surrounded by influences from both Chinese and American cultures. She has written about trying to assimilate into the mainstream, American world as a child, often at the expense of her Chinese heritage. Tan's father and brother died of brain tumors when she was fourteen years old. At this time, she also learned that her mother had been married to a different man in China and had three daughters from this marriage,a situation not unlike June's in her first book the Joy luck club.
I love this woman, i think she is an exceptional writer, and i can't wait to collect and read all of her work.

Check out this group called Da Mouth 大嘴巴.......

2009-05-31T14:01:00.000-07:00

Da mouth 大嘴巴

I am not normally into punk rock music, so it was quite normal to judge these guys when i first saw their group Photo..... but i tell you it is never good to judge a book by its cover...they called themselves Da mouth 大嘴巴 i don't know what the heck kind of name is that, or why would anyone name their group like that, but i tell you they are really good.they are from Taiwan, but but their members come from all over the place. The DJ is called Chung Hua 板本宗華 he is actually half Japanese and half Chinese, the only female of the group is called Aisha 千田愛紗, also a Japanese name. She’s actually Japanese. rounding up the group are MC40 薛仕凌, and Harry 張懷秋 who is half Chinese and half Korean.

I just discovered Da Mouth recently and have been playing their videos nonstop. I'm really impressed by their vocals and rapping skills....as well as their dance moves.

here you can check them out yourself, you will be blown away too....

Da Mouth 大嘴巴 - Declaration of Love 愛的宣言

大嘴巴--Da Now一场

The Talented Jolin Tsai 蔡依林..........

2009-05-30T20:57:00.000-07:00

Known as the Britney Spears of Taiwan, Jolin Tsai 蔡依林 is undoubtedly one of the most successful and popular singer on the Taiwanese music scene.
Jolin first first broke into the Taiwanese music arena at the age of 18, when she won first place in an MTV singing competition for doing a Whitney Houston song.
I wouldn't say i am big fan of hers, but i like some of her work....
Jolin is extremely popular not only Taiwan and China, but she has also seen great success in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia, as well as having a strong fan base in the United States.

Here is one of my favorite song from her....

蔡依林 - 睁一只眼闭一只眼

Jolin Tsai - Zheng Yi Zhi Yan Bi Yi Zhi Yan
Uploaded by danetosanzo -

All in all she is a talented girl who has the potential to do even great things...

Keira's Video albulm.......

2009-05-30T14:50:00.000-07:00

Here is a video i made for my little girl...

Kids grow up so quick these days... one moment they are babies the next they are all grown up, we have to spend as much time with them as we can.

A beautiful Hookien song.........................

2009-05-29T23:36:00.000-07:00

翁立友

Hmmmmmm... I realized i am so addicted to Hokkien songs nowadays its not even funny anymore.
And the fact of the matter is, i don't speak or understand a word of Hokkien.
But my Thing is if the song is beautiful listen to it....... it doesn't hurt having an open mind you know.

Here is a beautiful song by JIANG Zhi-feng 翁立友 called 堅持...........

这首歌很好听，给了我鼓励!!!
哈哈...

This is a good song so i encourage everyone who visit my site to give it a try..... you might end up being hooked to hokkien music like me.

Another Classic song that will never get old.........

2009-05-28T17:05:00.000-07:00

There are so many renditions of this song, but again i must say by far 卓依婷 Timi Zhou by far has the best rendition of it.

Here are different version of the song.........

黃仲昆 - 有多少愛可以重來

蔡幸娟-有多少愛可以重來

And finally here is the one and only 卓依婷 Timi Zhou singing a beautiful version of this beautiful song............

What a great a song......... i love it.

A Classic song by Feng Fei Fei 鳳飛飛..................

2009-05-18T16:48:00.000-07:00

Old picture of us in Liberia, Africa in 1982, my dad is the first on the right, i am the kid with the red or orange shirt and short black pants, with my uncle holding me, my brother is behind the bike, and my cousin mei mei is infront the bike.

As more of you can tell by now, i am really into classic and traditional Chinese music.. i grew up listening to these songs, and it really brings back a lot of happy memories growing up as a kid in the 80s in an interracial home....
My father would come from work and would played these beautiful songs while he and his friends drink and play Mahjong 麻将. My brother and i would run and played with the other Chinese kids who will come to visit us, it really was quite a time.

Here is one of those classic song by the the one and only Feng Fei Fei 鳳飛飛.....

Feng Fei Fei songs and voice brings up lots of old and happy memories....
What a true Diva..........

Happy mother's Day Mom ....................

2009-05-10T14:31:00.000-07:00

Dad....

Mom..

Today is mother's day and i want to just take this time to thank both my parents for doing such a good job with us. we were not rich but we kids always had enough to eat, we always had a roof over our head.
Mom always was there when we needed her, there is noway we can ever repay her or daddy for everything they did for us, but it is my resolve that my own kids know that no matter what, we will always be there for them. we had good parents,we were blessed, and it is important that we passed it on to our own kids.

I would like to dedicate this song by Teresa Teng called 娘心 Mother's Heart to all mothers around the world for they are truly one of a kind.
I really mean it when i say 天下的妈妈都系1样的. they are really special.

娘心 Mother's Heart....

The lyrics goes something like this........

迎著風霜腳步淒涼浪子在異鄉
Braving the wind and snow and cold, and, being the prodigal son in the foreign land
受盡創傷　歷盡滄桑　想起我的娘
Having suffer, as a result of adversities.. i remember my mother
娘心如綿　體貼我身　帶給我溫暖
Whose heart is soft, caring, and warm.
我要回到你身旁
I would like so much to return to your side.

不再放蕩　不再流浪　我要回家鄉
No longer will I procrastinate or wander about, I have to return home,
重新做人　重新做事　安慰我的娘
To start all over again, to re-do things, and to comfort my mother
娘心如月　照亮我身　使我不徬徨
Whose heart is bright like the Moon that lights up my entire being, and gives me strength so that i should never worry ,
也會使我更堅強
And makes me stronger.

Memorial tribute to Teresa Teng on the 14th anniversary of her death............

2009-05-07T19:02:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow may 8 is the 14th anniversary of the death of Teresa Teng 鄧麗君, Me and some of my Chinese friends from Hong kong, and Taiwan, all hard core Teresa Teng fan i might add, will be having a little karaoke show at a Chinese restaurant in the uptown neighborhood of Minneapolis to remember the late Taiwanese songbird.
It should be fun.............. In the main time here are some more beautiful songs from the Legendary singer.....

鄧麗君 ~~ 何日君再來

What a great singer she was.....................

Remembering Teresa Teng 鄧麗君......

2009-05-06T18:00:00.000-07:00

Teresa Teng 鄧麗君

n May 8th 1995, exactly 14 years ago, Teresa Teng the legendary Taiwanese singer and the nightingale of the chinese speaking world, then at still the young age of 43 died from a severe asthma attack while on a trip to Thailand. When the tragic news was released, Chinese communities around the globe were shocked.
Miss Teng, not only enjoy huge success in Taiwan where she was born, but all over Asia. Her transnational success was attributed to her multilingualism (she sang in Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, and English), her clear and sweet vocals, and her heart-rending love songs, appealed to both young and old, and even today her songs can still be heard in Chinese communities across the world.
Born in 1953, the daughter of an Air Force Colonel in Taiwan, she started her singing career as a teen idol in 1964 on a TV station singing competition. She became popular almost instantly when her first record was sold in 1969 in Singapore.
More then a decade has passed since Teresa Teng died, but her beautiful songs and delicate appearance remain vivid for millions of Chinese speaking people around the world.
Here are some beautiful songs from the famous singer....

鄧麗君 - 一水隔天涯

鄧麗君--我和你

Even though she has left us, for countless fans she will always be their "eternal sweetheart."
and this may 8 on the anniversary of her death, we remember this legendary Chinese singer, who through her many songs made us feel happy, sad, and countless other emotions that cannot be describe.
May she rest in eternal peace forever.............

Radom family pictures.........

2009-05-04T14:04:00.000-07:00

Its been really getting nicer and nicer outside, this gone winter was really a brutal one, so we who live in Minnesota love to take advantage of every opportunity we get to play outside.
Today just happens to be one of those days.....................

Taking a break after a Long Hike in the woods..

Taking in the view

Keira Insisted i take a picture of her by this pond.....

After all the walking and running in the woods, there is noting like a bowl of hot noodles...

Here is the video of our adventures in the woods......

We really did have fun today, but whats more important, is the fact that i get to spend quality with my Kid, they just grow up so fast it seems.

A beautiful song by Huang Jia Jia 黃佳佳......

2009-04-25T14:38:00.000-07:00

I love this song, check out the beautiful voice of Huang Jia Jia 黃佳佳, and dont you just love the way those guys are playing the Instruments in the background.....

Huang Jia Jia 黃佳佳 Ni Wo Ta 你我她

That was awsome.

Chinese Bamboo Flute song.................................

2009-04-19T15:31:00.000-07:00

Listening to the Bamboo flute just gives you this sense of calmness...
it is so beautiful

A Typical day for Keira in Pictures .................................

2009-04-18T16:39:00.000-07:00

The amazing Banhu 板胡.....................

2009-04-16T18:05:00.000-07:00

I am a big fan of tradition Chinese musical instruments like the Erhu and the Banhu 板胡 or the Chinese coconut fiddle.
This Chinese traditional bowed string instrument is used primarily in northern China.
Like the more familiar erhu and gaohu, the banhu has two strings, is held vertically, and the bow hair passes in between the two strings.

check out this duet by these two playing the banhu or the Chinese coconut fiddle.

Wow, is that not great, Chinese folk music is is just amazing.

The Song i listen to most when i am down.......

2009-04-15T15:30:00.000-07:00

I have listen to many different renditions of this song from Malaysian singer Joyce Lim 小鳳鳳, to Yeh Qi Tian 葉啟田. but by far 卓依婷 Timi Zhou has the best version.
I have listen to this song so many times when i am down, and every time i do, it just lift my spirit.

卓依婷 - 问心无愧 (Have a clear conscience)

The Lyric goes something like this .....

不如意时不要埋怨,
When matters are against your wishes, do not complain.

挫折来时不要气馁,
Facing setbacks, do not be discouraged.

怎能成天怨对,孤影自怜
How could you spend the whole day alone in self-pity,

半醒半梦消极卑微.
Half awake half in dreams demeaning yourself to the extreme?

人生仿佛是起落的潮浪
Life is almost like undulating tides and waves,

失与得都在转念之间,
Succeeding and failing hinging on changing of the mind.

成功, 失败都应该坦然面对,
Achievement or defeat should be dealt with honestly.

生命诚可贵, 别蹉跎岁月, 但求问心无愧.
Life is really precious. Do not waste years and months, but have a clear conscience.

Whatever happen to CoCo Lee 李玟 ?

2009-04-15T13:12:00.000-07:00

Chinese American singer CoCo Lee 李玟 was one of the few if any Asian singers to have a hit record in the U.S, Born in Hong Kong with ancestry from Harbin, China, Coco is the youngest of three children.
She has released a total of seventeen albums by 2006, with two recorded in English. Her single, “Do You Want My Love” entered the music charts in America and the entire album, “Just No Other Way” gave Coco a break in the English market.
Coco is the first Chinese to perform in the Oscars, singing the Academy Award nominee for Best Original Song, A Love Before Time from the movie Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon in the 73rd Academy Awards.

Coco also provided the voice of Mulan in the Mandarin version of Disney’s animated feature of the same name. In 2008, Coco was chosen to sing one of the Olympic songs, Forever Friends opposite Sun Nan.

here is one of my favorite english songs from her called DO YOU WANT MY LOVE..

She is such a talented person, i hope she continue to make records not only in Chinese but also in English, so her beautiful voice can really reach a millions of non Chinese speaking people.

Two beautiful song by the lovely Zhang Yan 张燕...

2009-04-14T16:52:00.000-07:00

Hands down to me this girl Zhang Yan 张燕 is one of the best singer in all China, i love the way she represents China and the Chinese people.
from her angelic voice to her graceful and swan like dance, everything about her is beautiful.
here are two beautiful song from the talented singer...

张燕 - 中国民歌欢天喜地

张燕 - 锦绣中华

Wow, what a sweet and beautiful voice.

Why Classic Chinese music ???????

2009-04-13T19:18:00.000-07:00

One of my friend from Hong kong today ask me why i listen to these old Chinese music that his Mom and his Grand ma listen to, and i told him its not that i don't like younger artist, but i prefer the old timers, because frankly i don't think these younger folks can ever compare to them.
I grew up listening to legendary singers like Feng fei fei 鳳飛飛, Teresa teng 鄧麗君, Zhou Xuan 周璇, and Paula Tsui 徐小鳳, and they were the best, every time i listen to one of these classic and elegant ladies, it just hits me that there probably will never be anyone like these song birds again. sure there are some younger artist who aspire to be like these women, like Timi Zhuo 卓依婷 who by the way i have a huge respect for, but the fact of the matter is there will never be great singers like these classic ladies.

Here is my favorite singer ever, the legendary Miss Teresa Teng singing another beautiful song...

What a lady, what a voice, may she rest in peace.

Family Road trip.............................

2009-04-13T16:51:00.000-07:00

Today was such a beautiful day to be outside, so we decided to go on a road trip to visit families who we don't get to see often because of our busy schedule.
So with Teresa Teng playing in the car, we headed out and it was fun.
here are some videos of our adventures.........

On the road with Teresa Teng from Emmanuel Liu on Vimeo.

We even got to BBQ later in the night in the back yard.

BBQ in the Back yard from Emmanuel Liu on Vimeo.

The Beautiful Liu yi Fei (劉亦菲).....................

2009-03-22T16:28:00.000-07:00

Crystal Liu or Liu yi fei is a very talented Chinese actress and singer. Born in Wuhan, Hubei province the Republic of China on August 25 1987, she started her showbiz career at an early age.
She began modeling at the age of 8 and was trained in singing, dancing and the piano. Moving to the United States at 10 with her mother, Liu lived there for four years. She returned to China in June 2002 to pursue a modeling and acting career.
I first saw her in the popular chinese TV series The Return of the Condor Heroes, and the forbidding Kingdom with Jet Li and Jacky Chen. This TV series was very well received in mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan and helped Liu establish her reputation and popularity overseas.

劉亦菲－放飛美麗

She made her first debut into singing in 2005 when she secured a recording contract with Sony Music Entertainment Japan. After taking up singing and dancing lessons for a year, her album Liu Yifei was released regionally in mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and throughout South-East Asia in August 2006.
She also released her Japanese album in which the single, The Gate of Late Night, was chosen to be the theme for an animation series by Tokyo TV.

Keira's first bike ride.................

2009-03-22T16:03:00.000-07:00

Well it looks like spring is already here and we couldn't be happier. to take advantage of the the nice weather outside we decided to give Keira her first bike ride lesson.

We are so so glad the brutal Minnesota winter is gone, welcome spring and sunshine....

The angelic voice of Delphine Choi 蔡幸娟.............

2009-03-08T19:53:00.000-07:00

Delphine Choi 蔡幸娟, is one of those singers who captures your heart the very first time you hear her sing...
Here is one of my favorite songs from her...

蔡幸娟——真情

What a voice.