
Sunday, 15 March 2009
Eating hot top in Nottingham

Friday, 13 March 2009
mooncakes' story

Chinese rebel leader named Liu Fu Tong devised a plan to arouse the Chinese people to rise up against the ruling Mongols, to end the oppressive Yuan dynasty.He obtained permission from the Mongolian leaders to give gifts to friends as a symbolic gesture, to honor the longevity of the Mongolian Emperor. These gifts were roun mooncakes.Liu's plan was to place a piece of paper with the date of the revolt inside each mooncake, to inform his followers when to rise up. The coup date was the fifteenth night of the eighth month.When the people cut open the cakes and found the message, they set out on that appointed day to overthrow the Mongols, thus ending the Yuan dynasty. Today, far from exotic and heroic deeds, Chinese communities all over the world make and eat mooncakes during the traditional Harvest Moon Festival to honor this tradition.
Thursday, 26 February 2009
The Ballad of Mulan

and Mulan wove at door
But a sigh was weakly heard
and Mulan wove no more
‘What hath thou remembered, maid,
and what art thou thinking?’
‘Nay, naught have I remembered,
and naught am I thinking.
Mails of armies last night
and soldiers are at need;
The lists of names were countless
and Father’s name was seen.
Father has no grown-up son
nor I elder brother;
yet a sword I shall wield
and fight for my father.
‘From East market bought the horse
and settle from the West;
From South Market bought the rein
and long whips from the North.
At dawn I leave my parents
at dusk by Riv. Yellow:
their calls can be heard no more
away the waters flowed.
At dawn I leave River’s bank
at dusk by Mountain Dark:
their calls can be heard no more
the horses moan neath stars.
‘Thousands of miles towards war
mountains pass as flying;
in Northern air runs cymbals’ sound
the coldest light shining.
Through countless battle few returns
to home from the fighting.
‘Thus hither to see the Khan
in Halls he sits brightly:
Our names shall be ever known
He rewards us highly.
He asked Mulan what he would
yet no honor he needs:
a horse shall he only ask
to homeland he shall speed.
‘Out of town my parents came
when returned their daughter;
elder sister decks at door
when returns her sister;
to greet me he made a feast
O grown-up little brother.
Let open my bedroom door
I sit upon my bed
the armours I wear no more
I put on my old dress;
once again I comb my hair
with patterns on my face.
My brother-in-arms I greet
and O their shocks are great:
for decade with Mulan lived
but knew not that’s a maid.
‘The male hares’ feet always shake
the eyes of females’ squint
But how can you tell them part
when together they sprint?’
Monday, 16 February 2009
Drink beer with my friends

Thursday, 12 February 2009
Ropewalker

Sunday, 8 February 2009
Festival of lanterns

