once upon a time in chinatown

hmart burlington grand opening...sort of

2009-11-23T02:15:40Z

There I was...early in the month of October. We got the call for lion dancing at the newly opened Hmart in Burlington, MA. I was standing outside of the store with a handful of my younger KF brothers and sisters...waiting for the rest of the team to arrive. We got there early and were watching the insanity that typifies this type of large Asian market on a weekend day. You see, my personal advice is to never, ever go somewhere that all the Asians in the surrounding area go on a weekend, espesh if it's a brand spanking new massive grocery store. That parking lot was like the African savannah...survival of the quickest (to get a parking space), survival of the patient (waiting for said parking space) and survival of the warmest. Even though it was early October, we watched the light drizzle of rain from the grey skies freeze up into big flakes of snow. Yup folks, it was snowing on top of all that. *sigh* I'm gonna go wait inside the store.

It was kinda weird that we were there to do a "grand opening" that day because Hmart had already been opened for a month or so. Oh well, better late than never. Once the entire group finally got there & we got all organized, it was your typical lion dance gig. Well, not really. They wanted us to parade with our 2 lions all over the store...meander through aisles, tease (or terrify) wandering children, play with the people, get excited looks and camera flashes from the Caucasian customers while getting annoyed "get outta my way" growls from the Asian ones.

What made it different was that they wanted 2 different parades that day. So, after we did the first run through the market, we set up camp in one of their storage rooms and partook of their hospitality with sodas to quench our thirst and some kind of bean-filled flavored mochi treats that (obviously) were not big sellers in the store. We had about 45 minutes after the first lion dance show to wait until starting the next one. So, what do some martial artists do while we wait? They peruse Korean furniture display. What do I do? I run around the store to plan what to buy after the show is all said and done.

That's right...I'm there to do a job, but I'm also one of those Asians who knows to multitask when given the chance. We do our last lion dance parade through Hmart with plenty of drum beating and cymbal clashing gusto! As soon as we're done, I do my grocery shopping...because it's not every day that I have the opportunity to buy the BIG tin of Skyflake crackers!

technorati tags: Hmart, Asian, market, grocery, store

the wedding of the year ~ rani & kelly

2009-10-13T01:51:11Z

OMG...I can't believe I haven't written this post yet. It's been 3 almost 4 weeks! Yes, I can be a little busy, but that's no excuse. Especially when it concerns my best KFFs' WEDDING OF THE YEAR!

For you poor saps who didn't get to attend, sorry I don't have pictures to share with you, but let me break it down for you. I'll start in the beginning. Rani and I have been good kung fu friends for years...years. Sure, he can be gruff, a little rough on the exterior, but so can I. That's why we get along so well. We have hearts of gold, but only if we let you see it. Rani and I have shared umpteen million adventures...from lion dancing for the Federation back in 2001 (even staying at the same Marriott at the base of the World Trade Center only 5 months before 9/11) and whooping it up in Times Square with our other KFFs...from adventuring in China, starting in Beijing and all the way to Hong Kong, performing kung fu, shopping at Dennis (essentially Chinese Walmart), wreaking havoc wherever we go...from vacationing in Ibiza, paying ridiculous amounts of money to get in the clubs and getting frustrated over cab stands...from relying on each other during sifu (re)certifications...from countless trips to Orlando, weekly, twice weekly, even thrice weekly dinners all around the Boston area and soooooo many kung fu events, demonstrations, performances, festivals, banquets, etc., etc., etc., etc. ad nauseum...and I wouldn't have it any other way.

When Rani met Kelly, I knew she was the perfect partner for him. As much as Rani is hard and intense, Kelly is laid back and go with the flow...the yin to his yang, yet she has the same exact humor as he does...as I do and MDH does. They get each other and it's great to see. In the beginning, Kelly and I had this INSANE ability to dress in the same colors. No joke! We would go somewhere and both have not just a turquoise top, but it would also happen to be strapless and ruched. Or we hardly ever wear dark brown tops, but when we do, of course it's at the same time....and big as dinner plate sunglasses on our heads. Thankfully, over the years, we've somehow broken out of that synchronicity. I kinda miss it though...

Which brings us to the present day. Ranelly's big day brought us to the gorgeous Boston Harbor Hotel on the waterfront on a perfectly sunny day late in September. Their ceremony treated the guests to a gorgeous view of the water, which unfortunately I missed because as the role of bridesmaid, I stood with my back to it the whole time. That's okay because the most important part was their vows. The part I loved the most was when they stated the adjectives for each other that they truly felt. It almost brought a tear to my eye. Hey, I love my friends, but I don't cry at weddings. I do at funerals, but not weddings.

After the ceremony were the obligatory pictures with the official photographer and all of us in the bridal party, the only thing we could think about was the glasses of champagne waiting for us in the bridal party room. When all those duties were done...then finally, finally...the reception!

Oh man...Ranelly treated us all right. No stuffy sit down dinner where you have to wait for your rubbery chicken plate to be served and have to talk to your same table mates all night long. Oh NO! We had a great mix of an Middle Eastern and Italian buffet...with action stations! That's right...chefs cooking up the seafood linguine and lobster risotto right in front of our eyes! Then on to the carving stations of rack of lamb and cranberry stuffed chicken. Mmm...mm...mmmmmm! Add the ever flowing glasses of Veuve, Merlot, Riesling and the ultimate...a mojito (our favorite drink) bar...plus a nonstop rocking band, it was the party of the year. People were so anxious to start dancing, they even started during the requisite father-daughter dance. Damn people...don't you know your wedding etiquette? Way to take away Kelly's shine. It was still a picture perfect wedding reception though :)

The entertainment for the night was a Middle Eastern belly dancer which bumped me from performing the traditional kung fu Chinese lion dance for my brother & sister. I was bummed, yet relieved to not have to "work." However, the real entertainment (and those of us in our kung fu circle wait for it at every KF wedding) was Sherar break dancing. Oh we just love it...Sherar can back flip, do windmills on the floor, flares, kip-ups, you name it & he dances as smooth as Michael Jackson. Unfortunately, there was no one else in the crowd to battle, much less challenge him, so it was a solo show...and that's how we like it!

So, it was a rawking good night, tons o' fun! To my younger kung fu brothers and sisters who were taking advantage of all the open bars and having a little too much fun that night, is ok. I won't tell Sifu ;P

Congratulations again, Rani & Kelly!!! Much love to you both! Now, when am I gonna have a little kung fu niece or nephew to train? Hahahahahahaha!!!

technorati tags: kung, fu, wedding, reception, Boston, Harbor, Hotel

bring on the kiddies! ~ malden's 3-year anniversary

2009-09-30T03:28:08Z

I hate falling behind...hate it, hate it, hate it, hate it. This post is like 2 weeks overdue and I have so much more to write about. September has been a crazy month, so I'm sure glad it's over and now I can get back to updating my shiz. Anywho...

Two weeks ago, we celebrated the 3-year anniversary of my older kung fu sister's school in Malden. I don't mean to sound so jaded or bored, but it was the typical great show that I can always expect from the predominantly youth group in Malden :) We started off with a rousing lion dance show in the school with the proper bai san (show of respect to the ancestors) at the altar...with some awesomely big incense sticks. Those suckers were almost the diameter of my forearm, but I exaggerate...

We then moved outside for the actual kung fu performances! It was a gloriously sunny, warm (but not too warm) day (not like the first year anniversary when it was cold and drizzly) and not a cloud in the brilliantly blue sky! The exhibition started off with dragon dancing (where I had a tremendously important job of holding the pearl for oh, about a few seconds...hahahaha) and more lion dancing. Then, some of the again enormously talented Malden kids did their drumming performance, which I have seen in the past, but I'm always still amazed at. Obviously the drumming, having to keep in rhythm, but also the tricks they perform while drumming...tossing the sticks, switching places...too cool :)

After the usual round of pee wee performances, individual empty hand and weapon sets, tai chi, group forms and 2-man fighting demonstrations, we got down to the usual speeches and hand out of awards of appreciation...attended by our grandmaster himself, Master Chan Pui...all the way from Orlando, Florida! It really is much more special when he attends our shows up here in New England and supports his youngest school :)

All in all, another fine day for the Wah Lum family :) For more detailed pictures of the performances, check out their official photos here. Congratulations again to Sifu Mai and all her students at the Wah Lum Academy Malden!

technorati tags: Wah, Lum, Academy, kung, fu, tai, chi, Malden, Mai, Du

nothing like a 70-year-old putting your kung fu to shame ~ boston sifu workout 2009

2009-09-23T02:07:09Z

When I heard news of my grandmaster, Mr. Chan Pui himself, was coming up to Boston for a weekend full of kung fu, giving seminars, teaching tai chi, and so on and so forth, even after all these years, I still get excited. When I heard he was overseeing an instructors workout himself, I became giddy with joy...untillllllll I realized that meant working out under the watchful eye of my grandmaster. Oh snap...

You see, if you have ever had the opportunity to see Master Chan in full on kung fu action, whether an old or recent kung fu performance, they you know the gloriousness that he just IS. I've already waxed poetic on his bodaciousness...he's not just an incredible martial artist...literally poetic history in motion, but he's ever the showman, forever entertaining. Even during a regular workout...when he demonstrates a move and then expects us younger folks to do the same move, ummm...uhhhh...yeah RIGHT! No one brings the pain like he does. Even when you think your stance is nice and low, he's even lower. Even when you're proud of your mantis pose, his is that much more mantis-y. No matter what you do, this senior citizen will put.you.down!

Actually, you know what? Master Chan ain't all THAT. There's one area I can definitely surpass him in. I'll probably get in trouble for saying this...being an insolent junior sifu and all. I mean, how dare I say that there is something I'M better at doing than the much-beloved grandmaster (even great-grandmaster) of our kung fu system? How dare I? Oh, I DARE! When it comes to 9-course Chinese dinners...I can outeat him! Yup, I said it...I'll say it again. When it comes to packing away the food, I reign supreme! Trust me, I was watching him closely during dinner after our workout. For every biteful of food that he took, I beat him double, even triple! In fact, I dare say I could beat everyone at the table in Chinese food consumption. Oh yeah...that's not a challenge. That's a fact! Bring it on!

Then again...could there possibly *maybe* be a correlation between the amount of food I can inhale in one sitting and how low I can go in my mantis stance? Maybe my big ol' belly is hindering that. Hmmmmm...could it also be possible that the fact that Grandmaster Chan doesn't eat like a broke frat boy (like I do) is the reason why he's still so slim and flexible and can move better than most aforementioned frat boys? Naaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh can't be...*buuuuuuurp* can you pass the crispy fried chicken and spicy salty pork and squid please?

technorati tags: kung, fu, Wah, Lum, sifu, Pui, Chan

a summer of perfect attendance ~ august moon & films at the gate

2009-09-01T03:33:36Z

I was listening to NPR the other day. Don't judge...don't hate. I was a nerd all my life and yes I listen to talk radio. Sue me. Anywho, my point. I was listening to NPR the other day and my interest really peaked when they started talking about Filipinos. You see, the story was about the teaching shortage across the U.S. and how we have to now import teachers. No joke. One of the superintendents or principals...I don't know...was being interviewed and he was commenting on the work ethic of Filipino teachers in that he had so many to interview because all of them had perfect attendance records. Hmmm...perfect attendance...

There must be something about us Filipinos and perfect attendance. That little bit of information made me think back to another prominently punctual Filipino...my dad! Seriously, there's little tchochktes all over their house that has Perfect Attendance Awards from his employer written all over them. Then, again, my dad may had been on to something. In addition to what looked like useless awards, he also received tons of bonuses...not just in the monetary form, but rewards like tote bags, clocks and even iPod nanos...just for showing up for work when he was supposed to!

Sooooo...what does perfect attendance have to do with a kung fu blog anyway? Hold on there, Smoky, I'm getting to it. You see...the Filipino hardworking nerd in me also has the perfect attendance gene. I didn't always go to school every day, but I do recall at least one year when I did receive a Perfect Attendance award in high school and you know what? I was very proud! I thought to myself it was sooo easy to NOT go to school...all the kids can do it, so do I always want to be like everyone else? Oh hells no...I was going for broke! I even seriously considered skipping Senior Skip Day to keep my attendance intact! But...I didn't really. I'm a nerd who likes immaculate records, but hey I ain't stupid.

Which like a million years later, brings us to the summer of 2009. As it's winding down to its close, I ponder on all of the kung fu events of the past few months. Then, I think to myself...of all the weddings...all the big festivals that we always participate in...from all the little seemingly insignificant 10-minute lion dance jobs to even being "Chronicled" on TV, I've been at every single one! I tell you what, I'm always there to help my school out in whatever capacity that is (as long as I'm in town)...which for the longest time now has been performing when needed, but dang...even when I try to lay low (like August Moon Festival), I still had to get my ass on stage (when 2 performers dropped out). Ah well...

So, do I have perfect attendance due to supreme dedication and utmost loyalty? Nah...I'm just a loser and have nothing better to do.

technorati tags: August, Moon, festival, film, gate, kung, fu, perfect, attendance

what's better than a free movie? free kung demos!

2009-08-26T16:18:29Z

You're reading my kung fu blog, so you obviously are interested in kung fu, right? Or were you just misdirected by a broken link or something? Ok, if you're lost, no problem, we'll wait for you to leave.

All right, now, everyone else who is left...ya'll like kung fu right? Riiiiiiiight???? Well, prepare to be dazzled like crazy!

This weekend from Thursday to Sunday is the annual Films at the Gate sponsored by the ACDC, so that means free kung fu movies on a large outdoor screen near the Gate in Chinatown. Woo hoo! Who doesn't love a free movie, espesh when it's a KUNG FU movie!!! Like Po says, I LOVE KUNG FUUUUUUUUUU!!!

But...what makes this more awesomely awesome is that Wah Lum (aka my school) along with students form the Malden school will be putting on a kung fu demonstration right before the Friday night viewing of Fist of Legend...approximately 6:30. So, come on down to Chinatown. Bring a lawn chair or a bamboo mat to sit down on. Buy some banh mi and bubble tea or roast pork bun and soy milk. Then...be prepared to be astounded by live kung fu action and then big screen martial arts kick-assedness. See you at the Gate!

technorati tags: Boston, Chinatown, kung, fu, Wah, Lum, movie, gate, film, free

things i learned in nyc (central park/prospect park edition)

2009-07-28T00:43:54Z

There's nothing like an impromptu 4-hour drive to visit good ol' Manhattan.
The best way to plan a day in the Big Apple is to read old New York magazines on the way down.
I will easily bargain to drive in the day time as long as I don't have to do the night drive.
You can DRIVE THROUGH Central Park. (Seriously! I didn't know that!)
Although on Sunday, some streets through Central Park are barricaded off.
Central Park is big...hella BIG!!! I had no earthly idea how big!
When you are running late & feet already hurting from walking 10 blocks in the wrong direction, you will take a pedicab for $10.
Different areas of Central Park include Strawberry Fields, Cedar Hill & Sheep Meadow.
Rushing around with a big white floppity hat on your head may make you look chic, but heavily impedes your ability to see where you're walking.
Meeting people in IRL vs. URL is fun....kinda awkward & scary, but fun & worth it!
You could be walking right behind Central Park Zoo & not even know it.
CPZ is the cutest little zoo...you could easily see it in under an hour.
The zoo in Central Park has no large African safari animals.
To get a shy snow leopard to show her face, just place some kids in front of the glass & wait for her to pounce towards their heads.
If you miss the sea lion feeding, then you miss the sea lions PERIOD.
The most clever-looking scene is observing snow monkeys on rocks with New York City skyscrapers in the background.
When you're getting too hot, take a break in the air-conditioned penguin exhibit.
Traffic on Park Avenue, even on a Sunday, SUCKS!
My friend walked through a set of "I Am Legend" & thought a taxi cab hanging in the air was pretty weird, then he got yelled at.
You can't walk the Manhattan Bridge like you can the Brooklyn Bridge, but I didn't do either.
There is a big ass difference between Manhattan & Brooklyn in terms of esthetics as well as price & I now know why more people live in Brooklyn.
Different areas of Brooklyn include Prospect Park & Park Slope.
It is said that the designer of Central Park didn't quite get it right & that Prospect Park was actually his crowning glory.
An apartment in Park Slope is the same monthly rent as one in Manhattan, but is frikkin' labyrinthine compared to closet-sized!
An apartment building with an elevator is quite the commodity in Park Slope.
The coolest thing now in regards to baby monitors is not only audio, but visual as well...even night vision!
When you're a book editor & can work from home, child care is not an issue.
Get it in less than 30 minutes or is free does NOT apply to New York pizza delivery guys.
For the third time in as many years, if I spend less than 24 hours in New York City, I get NO time to shop :(

technorati tags: things, i, learned, New, York, City, NYC, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Central, Park

another lion dance, another dollar

2009-07-22T04:00:14Z

Oh gee...hey look. It's me lion dancing again. What a surprise. Not really. I'm nothing but a lean, mean lion dancing machine (well, maybe more mean than lean). RAWR!

technorati tags: Chinese, lion, dance, Chinatown, festival

things i learned in las vegas

2009-07-11T21:24:01Z

If you drive into Vegas on July 4th, every hotel/casino puts on their own aerial firework display that makes you feel like you're in frikkin' Beirut...in a cool ass way though.
Living in the suburbs of Vegas can actually be like normal life and have nothing to do with the Strip.
When you're amazed at how cheap sparklers are, it's because when you open up the box, they're 6 inches shorter than from what you remember as a kid.
There are no front yards or back yards...only desert gravel.
Little boys who say "this is awesome" ALL the time...are awesome!
The Vegas desert wind can chap yours lips bad within hours.
People who have actual basketball courts on their property (and not just a hoop in the driveway) are in true ways baller.
Enough Hawaiian people live in Vegas that it's called the 9th island.
You will get dehydrated in Vegas if all you drink are Hawaiian Sun juices and no water.
No matter what combo you get, the best part of a Hawaiian mixed plate is the MAC SALAD!
If you stay at the Riviera Hotel, choose the Monaco Tower as those rooms are newly renovated.
Saturday night stay in hotel = $169...Sunday night stay in same hotel = $30.
A leisurely stroll from the Riviera to Caesars Palace is 50 minutes.
You *can* be outside in 108 degrees when it's that dry desert heat vs. high humidity.
There is a freaky ass Poseidon animatronics show in the Caesars Forum Shops that makes you feel like you're in Disneyworld.
Never buy Balenciaga shoes in the actual Balenciaga shop when they're on sale at Barneys.
The Wynn maintains the lush look of its front lawn with ASTROTURF!
Treasure Island & Planet Hollywood are doing the annoying thing of wanting to be known as TI & PH. Laaaaaaame!
The Vegas Shanghai Tang is only 1 of 2 stores in the USA.
Elvis LIVES...in front of McDonalds.
Even at non-prime meal time...In & Out Burger is PACKED!
If Lance Burton has a super fly ass mansion on a hill, I can't even imagine what a real celebrity's home in Vegas would look like.
Does there really need to be a bebe store in both Caesars Forum Shops & Venetian Canal Shops?
Venetian rooms have sunken living rooms, remote control blinds & 3 TVs.
The only point of gambling in Vegas is to win enough money to buy shoes & purses at Intermix.
Molecular gastronomy does not exist in Vegas...and certainly NOT at Guy Savoy.
Next time I go out to a bar or club, I will again wear a dress with pockets & not even deal with a purse!
If you register online to get onto the guest list for clubs in Vegas, it works!
When you go to the ghostbar & there's NO line, they will still separate the girls into the ladies comp admission line & the boys into the men line pass line.
There is a section of the outdoor balcony of ghostbar that is heavy duty Plexiglass...like a glass bottom boat & at 55 floors up, I dare YOU to stand on it!
Drinking with your brothers & cousin is fun...until family drama comes up.
Usually when I get drunk, my vision clears & my teeth hurt. This was the first time I cried like a baby.
So Co + lime shots = YUMMY!
Trying to go to sleep so you can get up for your uncle's wedding the next morning is NOT the same as passing out!
Little Chapel of the Flowers does not allow photography of ANY KIND in the chapel during a ceremony. BOOO!
My dad can sleep standing up through anything!
Watching your cousin & grandma cry during a wedding will make you cry.
A Vegas wedding is the only appropriate time to wear clear heels!
There is *always* traffic along the Strip.
All the hotels have free garage parking...quite a pleasant surprise from Boston's constant parking headache.
When in Vegas, you can't help but make a LOT of Ocean's Eleven references.
I agree with most Yelpers that Cafe Lago Buffet in Caesars Palace was so-so...good prime rib with horseradish sauce, but sucky dessert selection.
The swimming pool at the Riviera Hotel is salt water! Tres cool!
Head waiters at Kristofer's Steak House are hard on the junior waiters!
The dealers at the Riviera Casino are kinda surly & rude, but that's like old style Vegas.
If a single deck blackjack dealer named Bruce offers you tickets to Michael Jackson's funeral, don't take them!
It is possible to go to Sin City & have it be all about good ol' family fun time!

technorati tags: things, learned, Las, Vegas, casino, hotel, vacation, wedding

despite budget cuts, the show must go on ~ dragon boat festival 2009

2009-06-12T01:43:36Z

We had gotten the notice a few weeks ago that that long-time, down by the Charles River on the Cambridge side annual tradition...also known as the Dragon Boat Festival...was in trouble. Trouble, you may ask. Yes, as in financial trouble. Like my wallet, the rest of the economy, the DBF Committee likewise was having problems procuring enough funds to hold the festival this year. I'll have to admit, I have been so busy every weekend with other kung fu stuff, I was kinda relieved to hear that. No festival...meant no lion dance and no kung fu performance by us which we have done for the past...oh...what...20 years? No lion dance and no kung fu performance meant I GET A MINI-VACATION!

Silly rabbit...it's never that easy *especially* for me. Another few weeks later, we heard that all was a go. The festival was still ON! Oh goody gumdrops...

The day of the DBF was gorgeously sunny and warm, a little too warm for my liking. That's okay, like I said, we've entertained at this festival for decades. A little bit of lion and kung fu action...all under the big tent. All under the shade. I nary even work up a sweat.

Soooooo...imagine my surprise when I head out to the festival site and I can't see the tent. The tent they always use for the festival is huge...where the heck was it? So, I go over and take a gander, a looksee to check out the scenario.

Well, lack of funds or not...that did NOT prevent the Dragon Boat show from going on. Budget cuts, however, did mean one thing...tents are expensive and the festival organizers couldn't afford a tent this year. Oh FML.

I hates performing under the full-on heat of the sun. The heat that causes those awfully ugly stains under your pits and at your low back. The bright sunlight causing me to squint the whole time and give me premature crow's feet. Ughhh...wrinkles...goddamn wrinkles! Good thing I wore SPF 75 that day!

But, enough about the things I don't like. Tent or not...our usual 50x30 elevated stage now substituted by a 20x10 piece of plywood on the ground, the show must go on! It doesn't even faze me. It's kung fu, man...you learn to adapt, you roll with the punches (so to speak), you STFU and get to work.

And got to work we did...our usual 8-10 minute lion dance sets...complete with plenty of orange tossing, lettuce flinging and single-legged pick action. After a little intermission and letting some of the other acts of the day have their turn on the "stage", we continued on with our usual 20-30 minutes of varied kung fu spectaculosity. The kiddies went...the intermediate students went...the senior students and instructors went...the demo team members went...I went. I did my thing...like I do every week, every weekend, every year...I did what I always do. Even with that hot annoying heat from the sun beating down on my face, dehydrating my skin and contributing to sunspots and wrinkling...even with the bright sunlight glinting off my gim, blinding me, making me have to squint & tear up...even with some piss monster kid running onto the stage, when the audience was warned of flying, spinning, sharp objects (good job watching the boy, there parents!)...despite all that, we pulled off another great show in splendid fashion!

last two photos courtesy of Carol Leung

technorati tags: Dragon, Boat, Festival, Boston, kung, fu, lion, dance, martial, arts, demonstration