Amsagirl stuff & beyond

Today morning i logined in a new portal to post some hand made, painted items and chose this name for the avatar: Amsagirl. Hamsa is actually a body part or better a small nut that cannot be seen because it is covered by our skin&meat at the junction between the nose and the forehead. This is a crucial point, which also gives a crucial personality in the proper cases, when it is not spoiled.

On Sunday i also spent more than five hours making earrings, they came out intricated, with patterns and colors combinations never used before. But before that, i had to divide the real crystals swarosky from the fake ones (imitations), the glass beads from the plastic ones, the wooden from the clay and so on. It took me about two of the five hours to discriminate and order (and it didnt finished completely yet): in fact all the compartments of the beads-boxes were under quite a chaotic movement.

Thru this discrimination not only the bad anti-ecological beads were distinguished from the good environmental friendly ones and viceversa but also the different shapes were noticed, the colors, the materials and all together a neat inspiration resulted into a new beautiful earring design. So discrimination is a must, all in all. Without it, all the work can be also done but it will be a full waste and of no use for anybody, the designer and the  ones in love with fashionable designs in this case sample. And above all for the divine that loves accurate sort of design. 

The place of each person in the whole world

Is it that difficult to reach? No, when desire is strong. And if the desire is kept shining and live the answer fades in clear and clear every day more. It’s beautiful and it gives alot of strenght from inside, the roots of the personality become real, they can be felt with your whole body, it’s a unique feeling which gives a totally different perspective on life and the key for living at fullest heights. Try it. Meditate on it everday everywhere everytime.

Recently i ve been called up by my supervisor at office for the annual appraisal interview we have at the department. The first thing he respectfully asked: why are you still working here after three years, considering your resume and abilities? Then continuing: you are a foreigner in Hong Kong, you can make lots of money by just shaking hands and signing papers at your desk. I was a little speechless, meaning: i know what my ablities are and purposes, meaning and responsibilities of my  daily life at work, what else should I consider? So in conclusion: it is always good to realize your place in the whole world and to have a wider vision of yourself, a mind constantly open and free of charge.

Try it. Meditate on it everday everywhere everytime.

Verses inspired by a dream in phase REM

Come to my heaven you are my son
See all the water, the flowers and the sky
We can swim in this sweet ocean
We can eat honey from flowers everyday
We can dance in the garden of Love
 

 

Come to my heaven you are my son
I saw you jumping on your brother
Making jokes with your sister
I am delighted my son
Your hair are shining and tigerly
The nature wants you to be like that
You belong to my heaven
Since ever you were my son
See your bothers and sisters
They are all around the garden
Laughing and playing
I can hear them giggling
They are living a dream of truth
Come to my heaven you are my son
Your mouth, velvet
Your skin, silk
Your eyes dark pearls
Your dresses petals
You are my son
Living in my heaven
Your smiling is eternally free

How much face expression does influence your universal being

 

Is it really fundamental to understand the other person feeling? is it really something that makes the world going? With people, there are connecting points going beyond feelings and emotions, i am not too able to explain them but i know  they just exist. Although research likes focusing on how diverse cultures express their emotions thru diverse expressions of the face, there is still a huge amount of things we have to learn about each other.

Eyes going high

 

my eyes try another way

high escaping from the level

of the building

they look up and take a picture up

up into the blu

the Chinese blu

another nuance

My daily panorama back from work

In Hong Kong you get EVERYTHING from any point of view, that is why many people who have lived here a long part of their life can miss the everthing feeling. And that’s what makes this city so unique in the whole world and the kind of place to not be missed once in life. It is just unbelievable! Moreover, if you are a content person that is not seeking special entertainments or adventures in life, Hong Kong is still perfect for you because of its deep Chinese heritage which is all pervading in people and happenings here! There are no cities like Hong Kong, where progress is showering from all sides, there is no fear of Big plannings ahead in the years, a character which is blossoming nd blossoming  every day. If you come to Hong Kong you will leave transformed for sure. In a world that cannot escape the game of transformations, this city is playing each card with the professional skills of a champion. 

My new route at sunset betwen traffic jam in the heart town and the Chinese sea flowing thru the beautiful hills (and hundreds islands).

Way out

There are ways but te Way is uncharted

There are names but no nature in words:

Nameless indeed is the source of creation

But things have a mother and she has a name.

The secret waits for the insight

of eyes unclouded by longing;

those who are bound by desire

see only the outword container.

These two come paired but distinct

by their names.

of all things profound,

say that their pairing is deepest,

the gate to the root of the world.

10 spectacular places i’ve been in the past 10 years

Mostly a tribute to flickr either because i am writing this post between home (where my pics are stored) and office and because soft copies of the pictures are only available from the last five years. I didnt follow a meaningful order, just browsing in my memory: 

1. Aragonese Castle, Italy

A unique place with an awsome history connected also to Michelangelo Buonarroti’s life. It shall deserve a rich post asap. (image by me)

2. San Francisco Aquarium by flickr

Even though Hong Kong and Genoa Italy aquariums are two of the biggest and most beautiful, i still loved Frisco one. why? Because you walk under real tunnels of the Bay Area!

3. Pan de Azucar in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil by flickr

A combination of spirituality and cable car is the most thrilling experience for me!

4. Big Buddha, Lantau Island

This other combination of spirtuality&cable-car is really close to my home and I could potentially get the experience every weekend. Last month with a friend from Vancouver we went up for two consecutive days just for tasting the feeling to fly higher and higher into the mountains and have the majestic Buddha waiting for us on the other side!  You may also want to enjoy a more accurate post about it soon. (image by me)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Jamaican beach

It was a lovely family tour during my stay in US. Bathing in the warm Caribbean waters every morning and chatting with the locals on the beach all day long until evening. We also met a direct friend of Bob Marley living upon discographic projects and hand making palm leaves hats for tourists. Most hospitable place. (photo flickr – my dad keeps all the real pics)

6. Havana de Cuba downtown

Harmony of colors and extreme relaxation and freedom in the streets. On our fly-route back from India e Moscow with my friend Maneesha, we took loads of pictures and then… lost the camera. Ahahahh. I just remember we were in ecstasy for the whole day spent there. A most welcoming taxi driver strolled us everywhere and gave us contact number in case we’ll be back. If anybody interested.  (photo flickr)

7.  Parque Chicaque, Colombia

The most vivid nature, the real “selva Colombiana”.  An amazing day trekking in the jungle, few of us, completely absorbed by beauty and silence in the country Garden of the world. There is an Indian story about Shri Vishnu, He had to leave India  because in trouble and went seeking refuge with Garuda precisely in Colombia, chosen because it was the only place on Earth so much rich in plants and fruits.  

8. Faraglioni, Italy

Did you know it’s the Zen Garden of Italy? Have a look, it’s my home. Really.

9. Beihai park in Beijin, China

A remarkable park to understand the lifestyle of old emperors. Many of them have written lovely poems to their own mothers, whose words are often engraved on marble pillars around.

10. Elephanta caves, India

I was speechless here I was totally stunned by the grandness of majestic Lords Brahma, Shiva, Vishnu.

 

I just realized there are more than 10 spectacular places i’ve seen but for now i will just confine into the maryadas of this TAG. And yes you have been tagged too! Which one are your most spectacular visits… 5, 10, 15 you number them. And leave me a message below when you have done the post, and please tag more people. Let’s travel all together! Do you know something shocking about travelling? I know it cause my sis is a travel agent in Italy. Last week she spoke over the phone that Italians are so crazy about traveling and holiday that despite of the economy struggle they are  paying rates for their vacation even if it’s just for few days!

Photohistory of unique shopping malls

 Everytime i enter a modern shopping mall here in town a breeze of sophisticateness punctually blows around me. It’s not that i spend the time shopping during my visit but most of all tasting the colors, the architecture, the large space in name of the which we all sacrifice the space of our own homes in Hong Kong. Have a look from this past weekend.

Few but useful Airport check in counters  inside the mall:

 

 

 

 

 

 

environment and design

 

in case you want to have a snow stroll

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

dining & shopping

everybody likes it…

Cool vegetarian sushi

I like eating almost everything but i do select the food most of the times depending on weather, body conditions, mood, cost, social circumstances. if i have to choose between meat and vegetarian dinner i love to go for vegetarian although i grew up having nice varieties of Mediterranean meals based on fish, meat, pasta, rice, salads, vegetables.

For the first time this week we had vegetarian sushi which was so tasty and very close to real!  Accompanied by a great array of other dishes.  

Gaia Veggie Shop 

8/F., 502 Hennessy Road, 

Causeway Bay (Tel: 28081386) 

 

That inner sense of theatrical being

 How can you miss your theatrical part in life, i mean the comic or dramatic aspect of your character which gives so much meaning to every day! otherwise we will be like fish in a box.  In these financial cities where everything and everyone is on a schedule you can enjoy some theatre

• very much at the theatre where you pay the ticket and assist to the show
• very little during interaction cause most of the people act moreless monotonely so they give the impression to do all the same things at the same way.

Well, there are countries where people are so serious about theatre that they act 70% of their time in norml dailylife. They conversate transforming their voices intentionally like they were possessed or performing acts in any place when get along together; for example you cannot understand when an Italian is talking seriously or he is joking. Such a skill he has got. Innate. Humoristic and tossed with charm and kindness. It’s just pure life. you can’t get this sense in a materialistic society where businesslike minds guide every profit out. But if you really seek for this side, a comic side is also there and it will make you laugh. I start believeing that this is why we have big cities: to make people laughing about it and about themselves.

 

Creations meditations or meditation&creativity

One day we can decide let’s create somethinga nd let’s meditate at the same time. There are things we do with special care and heart which can lead us into meditation, into yoga, and into a state of thoughtless awareness, a natural state of inner pleasure and peace which all our body, mind and senses strongly require in certain moments. Which kind of creations we can achieve? Few examples (very personal examples though):

• Dance meditation: some delightful music on or a DVD of Indian classical steps and heaven here i come. Thoughts stop absolutely. Body follows the music and start creating steps arranging them for the next performance.
• Painting meditation: with a large drawer full of different boxes of crayons, pick the one suiting the mood and start drawing on a canvas or a card. Mind becomes of the same colors and shape, in full sync. 
• Knitting meditation: sitting comfortably on a sofa or on the floor, crossed leg and right needle with threads. the work begins, a simple scarf or a headband, i cant go further that that now…
• Cooking meditation: put at least 4 ingredients together to make a delicious meal and offer it to the first person next to you. it’s like alchemy, you are a magician of a chef.
• Hand made jewerly meditation: collect beautiful beads and silver wire, combine them together with yoru fingers and metal tools. a new magic for awsome gifts and a great idea of a business.
• Hand made cosmetics meditation: it is possible that your meditation is so powerful that you go secure with alterating of dosages and et voila’, a new fragrance and a unique piece of solid soap or shower cream is ready.
• Diary meditation: it’s a tricky meditation: where is your attention? now it’s time to drop down the great findings of the day.

and last but not least we have to add…

• Blogging meditation: for the ones who blog with the flow and literally dont have to think about their contents because they are already somewhere ready to be disclosed at the right moment.
• happy creations! = happy meditations!

Going to the roots of the dance

With Rabindranath Tagore awsome encouragement to revive the cultural aspects of India, the art of Sadir or Sadiatam (today known as bharatnayam dance) and the art of Kathakali (music and drama) were estabilished with more prestige and underwent significnt development. It is no surprise that these arts grew, in the South of india,  under the influence and the presence of ancient civilazations such as Greece, Rome, Egypt and Syria. the artists at that time used to performe everywhere without need for a stage. Any outdoor setting would have been perfect as far as there were some people rady to watch them. And this is exactly what I have been experienced last weekend in this Chinese hub of stock market & cutures. isnt it unbelievable? i still get goose bumps if i go back to those moments on Sunday.

i was lucky to the extent to performe Indian dance two meters from the crowd, on rugs placed directly on concrete floor, with genuine Indian instruments and curtains as background  just like in the ancient times but in a hyper modern city like Hong Kong is. it was too much of a blast! I wish all passionate dancers to get this marvelous experience which mad me gain not only money but also so much dignity and real understanding of the meaning of dancing. A meaning going straight to the root of the heart. the focus is different: when the heart is dancing, you are jumping in the flow and everything is still and perfect.

 

Source of much of Chinese culture

When I came to the United States I was surprised that there were so many translations of the I Ching in English. I cannot immagine how these translators all found the I Ching scholars and did the decades of study necessary to truly learn the I Ching.

To the Chinese, the I Ching is like a Holy Bible written by the four most honored sages in our history – Fu Xi, King Wen, the Duke of Zhou and Confucious. The Chinese translation of Holy Bible is Sheng Ching. Sheng is equivalent to holy, and Ching means classic. Chinese understand that Ching is the Tao, the Truth, the holiest of the ancient books, and because they revere and respect the sacred writings of the Jews and the Christian church, they honor the Bible by calling it Ching.    

The I Ching is truly a profound book.  It is the source of much of Chinese culture. Originally, the I Ching was a handbook for divination. After Confucius and his students had written the commentaries, it became known as a book of ancient wisdom. It is a book that not only tells one who consults it about the present situation and  future potential but also gives instruction about what to do and not to do to obtain good fortune and to avoid misfortune. But one still retains free choice. The guidance is based upon comprehensive  observations of  natural laws by ancient sages and their profound experiences of the principle of cause and effect.

These are excerpts from the Preface of The Complete I Ching by Taoist Master Alfred Huang. Before coming to China I used to consult I Ching alone or with friends, in Italy for example this book is definitely appreciated and studied by people who meditate and seek for self knowledge in their daily life.  Here in Hong Kong i still did not find anybody who throughly knows about it and some local people often comment not really positively about it. 

This master suggests that the best English versions of I Ching are: Richard Wilhelm’s and James Legge’s although westernized.  He adds that

… the ideal translation should be English but Chinese in essence. As a book of divination, Confucius’s commentaries are crucial. The Chinese call Confucius’s commentaries the Ten Wings. They believe that the I Ching depends on the Ten Wings to be able to fly. In other words, without Confucius’s commentaries the I Ching cannot be understood.

I felt I had no choice because the more I meditated the more I felt that I had an obligation to work out a translation of the I Ching based entirely on Chinese concepts. I began to realize that during his last years, Master Yin’s proposal to teach me the I Ching was not accidental. There was  a reason. I sense now that in this great time of change, when people are longing to transform and the situation is ripe, a new translation of I Ching based upon ancient Chinese wisdom and experience might be helpful for those making their own choices to enter the twenty-first century with confidence.

Come with me for a stroll in SOHO late at night

Tonight we had our usual dancing class in Soho, in a new stage center of a very exclusive and stylish club house. This part of the city is a real meltin pot of modern and old, trendy and old fashioned, hills and plane roads, plenty of narrow streets which i had to cross before reaching the MTR=underground train on the main street “at the feet of the mount”. 

 

this one was the starting point, the gallery of Mr. Tagore the grandson of the most legendary and auspicious Nobel of India. Work in progress inside, it was close and they are installing a new exhibition.

Soho is always busy and crowded and at night time it represents the drink/chat place for many people workin and living in the dowtown. However some streets are very quite and almost deserted with just one shop still shining.

 

We ‘ll look up so many interesting details and neon lights, fashionable items and cute little shops for foodies, lifestyle, wellness and beauty. A collection of colors and ideas

 

 

Somebody is still working on the street….and somebody is still shopping at almost midnite (…i got a beautiful “casacca” with geometrical designs). one of the best fun for me is bargaining in Chinese with these local folks: sometimes running into a sweet uncle or  a screamy auntie, sometimes into a young girl. i always wish that these people will go to the foundation of the economy in their own country and at the most important meaning for exchanging goods.

 

Late at night you can meet the usual  auntie who cleans up all the road of its cartoons, pack and pile them up diligently and carry them to some receptacle-place. Or simply she cleanse the city of the daily wasted plastic bags. She is the one who knows Mother earth problems and tribulations better than anybody else and better than any philosopher and wiseman.

 

Finally you can also get a floreal taxi to the MTR if you dont want to walk anymore. The driver can be a close relative of the auntie above. He very possibly enjoys drinking and smoking with his friends if not on due and very possibly does care very little in his central nervous sytem about the cycles and messages of Mother earth. But he knows how to drive well in the city jungle and will bring you to destination.