When people rave about up-and-coming artists in Hong Kong, I usually have my reservations.  It's a rarity to find talent, good looks and charm all in one package. Enter AARIF 李治廷. Writes his own songs, wrote songs/ lyrics for Janice 衛蘭, plays the guitar and drums, acts alongside veteran actors in award-winning movie "Echoes of the Rainbow" 歲月神偷, winner of several "2009 newcomer" awards, speaks Cantonese and (North American) English, genuine and down-to-earth. He graduated from Imperial College (London) in Physics (smartie ). Oh, and did I mention that he's CUTE??? 

Many say Aarif resembles Leehom Wang at certain angles. Mmmmm....  

Apparently, Leon Lai discovered this gem and encouraged him to enter the entertainment industry. Currently, Aarif is with AMusic Records. I know he'll make it big someday. It's just a matter of time!

Here's a video of Aarif performing an improvised "Happy Birthday" song live on UChannel:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EZUXWSmqgQ&feature=related

Yum! I'm all for REAL talent (and good looks, why not )...

Aarif 李治廷 Aarif Rahman Echoes of the Rainbow 歲月神偷 AMusic

歲月神偷 [Echoes Of The Rainbow] has not only won the Crystal Bear for the Best Feature Film in the 60th Berlinale 2010's Generation section but also a place in my heart.

On my way back home from watching it, I called my parents in Toronto to tell them that I now finally understand what their childhood was like, and why they sometimes act the way they do.

Echoes of the Rainbow tells a story of a common immigrant family striving in the '60s of Hong Kong. It's told through the perspective of a naughty boy, who is the director and screen writer Alex Law himself. Although the film's Chinese name is Time Thief, the story doesn't concern a thief at all. Mabel Cheung, the producer and wife of the director, said time is a powerful thief that can steal many things: love, friendship, and parents sometimes.

Cast members include Simon Yam and Sandra Ng, who play a cobbler father and a happy-go-lucky mother. Through the elder brother's first romance, and the family's encounters with love, hope, failure, death and rebirth, we travel back to a place called old Hong Kong, a time we'll always remember, and a place we have always called home.

Yes, it's prestigious to live by the sea and away from the big city. Even more so when it's a residential building designed by Fosters and Partners. But seriously, as of now, I vote for CONVENIENCE.

Convenience = walking down a flight of stairs (albeit long) at 10:30pm at night to go to the supermarket to buy a carton of soy milk for breakfast the next morning

Convenience = walking 3 minutes to the bank for urgent personal banking

Convenience = having the MTR, bus, taxi, tram a few minutes away from your doorstep

Plus, the doormen here still run to open the door for me.  They all know Bella and give her a friendly salute in the morning and evening.   Yes, there's more pollution and there's more noise here in the "big city" than compared to a more exclusive HK location set against the blue sea and emerald hills. I would love to live by the sea one day, but just not now. For now, I'm happy where I am.

A few photos of where I am now, during the CNY festivities:

Bella is still doing well! Here, we are at The Peak, with another Bichon named "BonBon" dining at the table besides ours.   

I'm off to Toronto after nearly 1.5 years of being away from my hometown!  I will miss this little munchkin the most during my vacation (she's SMILING for the camera! Look at her pose...):

And when I return from vacation, besides the weight management program, this will be one of my new projects at work- a children's program:

I'll miss you, AnDers!

Dreamy asked if I've blogged about my new place yet. I've decided that if I blog about my new place, I should at least blog first about my current place!

So, here it is...

The foyer.

Go up the elevators...

These photos were taken on the 5th floor. The 5th floor is like a podium where there's a clubhouse, pool, tennis courts, playground, etc. There are two buildings/ blocks connected by this 5th floor. I pass by this place to go to my building every day.

I love all the greens. When I arrive home, once I set foot onto the 5th floor, I don't feel like I'm in Hong Kong anymore... Greens, foliage and stone gardens welcome me home.  There are even little tags/ signs showing the names of the different types of foliage.

Like our last place, there are a number of expats (mostly Japanese and Caucasian). Bella has a neighbour friend (a collie) called HACHI owned by a Japanese man. The man told me he named his dog Hachi for "good fortune" (8 in Japanese = Hachi = "good fortune" in Chinese).

A stone garden!

A night view...

So, this is my home. For now!