Buddhist Temple in Lantau Island.

Sorry for the delay but last weekend after having no game the team went to Lantau island to visit an impressive Buddhist temple! It was quiet a drive from Causeway Bay but it was definitely worth it.

So I was really happy the team went by bus as don't think would have like to make the adventure by myself. For the record,  being from a mixed background I was never pushed towards religion or anything but i would consider myself Buddhist more then anything else.
遅れてごめん。今週末は試合がなかったためチーム全員でランタウ島にある仏教寺を訪問した。車で銅鑼湾からはかなりの距離だったが行って良かった。一人では絶対行く機会はないから。言っておくけど、あまり宗教的なことは興味がない家庭に育ったけど日本で生まれた僕にとっては仏教が一番近い存在。

10000 Buddha's were at the top of this.　一万の仏像はこの上に展示されてた。

We just went to the temple and didn't actually go to the big buddah, I'm somewhat glad that we didn't as being injured and seeing the pictures i don't think i would have liked the stairs. But now it means I 100% have to go back and see the big Buddah.
お寺にいっただけで大仏はみなかった。けがをしているので階段はきつい。でも絶対大仏をみにもどるつもりだ。

Naturally I wasn't allowed to take pictures inside but it was beautiful, there was this one room here that had 10000 Buddahs all different expressions and positions in a spiral around the room. Was nothing like anything I've seen at other temples before.
写真は禁じられていたのは残念だが、一万の仏像は一部屋に集まっていて全部それぞれの個性があり神秘できだった。他のお寺では経験できない美しさがあった。

Enough talk here are some of the pictures from the trip. お話はこの辺で。

cool snake...　蛇

what a view...

November and the sun is shinning... １１月の晴天日

vegetarian lunch to top off the day. 　ベジテリアンの昼食

Sorry the photos aren't very good. Need a better camera.
あんまりいい写真がなくてごめん。カメラの質が悪いんだ。

I think there are many more cultural things to do and see around HK so I have 1 down and many more to go. 香港には独特な文化を誇る催しものや場所がたくさんある。ここにいる間、もっとたくさん経験しなければ。

Paris

Movember...11月って？

Movember is just a couple days away. Now I have looked it up and its big in Australia, US, Canada but its not that big here in Hong Kong.
モーベンバーの日が近づいた。オーストラリア、アメリカ、カナダでは認知度が高いけど、香港ではあまり知られていない。

Movember is a simple charity movement where men grow mustaches out for 30 days to be a walking billboard of action towards mens health research. Prostate Cancer and depression being the largest two.  Men who take part are called Mo Bro's and women who help gather support are called Mo sista's.
モーベンバーとは男性の健康のためにできたチャリティー運動で、３０日間ひげをのばすんだ。前立腺ガンやうつ病がよく注目される二つ。この運動に参加する男性のことをモーブロと呼び、サポートする女性はモーシスターズ。

Becoming a Mo Bro is simple, there are 5 rules.
モーブロになりたい人な下記の５つのルールを守ってください。

1. October 31st the mustache and handle bar area must be clean. AKA no facial hair.
１０月３１日、顔には一切毛がないこと。
2. During November no hair can grow below the bottom lip.
１１月中下唇の下には一切毛をはやさない。
3. No joining of mustache to sideburns.
ひげともみあげをつなげないこと。
4. No joining of the handle bars to your chin to create a goatie.
ハンドルバーからあごにつなげてゴーティーにしないこと。
5. Each man with a mustache must conduct himself as a true gentleman!
ひげをはやす男は紳士的に振る舞うこと。

Simple as that.
かんたんだろ。
The traditional Mo Bro looks are below
典型的なモーブロのルックスは以下のとおり。

If you struggle to grow a beard start now.... awareness is awareness! But technically you're not allowed to start early and compete but you can still start now for the sake of awareness!
もしひげをのばしにくい人は早く始めて。認知がたいせつ。ルールはあるけどみんなの意識も大切だから。

Some team mates and friends in Hong Kong are all growing our beards and my dad and brother are too... I will upload photos when the time comes.
香港のチームメイト達や友達は参加してくれる。僕の父と兄も参加してくれることになっている。写真はいずれ載せるつもりだよ。

But on a side note in November if you see a guy with a beard, pat him on the back, give him a hug, whistle at him, do something to encourage him on. Also if u see food or milk or something mixed up in the beard, please inform him.
１１月中にひげをつけている男の人をみかけたら声をかけたり、ハグしてあげたりしてほめてあげてほしい。そして食べ物やミルクがひげにひっかかっていたら教えてあげてね。

I look forward to seeing the bearded men of Hong Kong over the next month.
来月香港にたくさんのひげ男をみかけることをたのしみにしています。

Paris

September football

Its been a while since I've blogged. No real reason why, maybe if anything just not sure how to word my thoughts. Which for most people who know me will find that hard to believe as words constantly come out my mouth like projectile vomit.
ひさしぶりのブログ。特に理由はないけど考えがまとまらなかっただけ。僕を知っている人には信じられないことだと思うけど。いつもだったら思ったことはすぐ言葉になって止らないのに。

The season has now begun and I have featured in 2 of the teams 3 games. 1 win, 1 draw and 1 loss. Got to play in Hong Kong Stadium which is Home of the Rugby 7s for those of you who aren't aware...(shame on you if your not aware as im buzzin' to watch the rugby next march). Hard to believe for many but I used to play rugby until 14. I was a hooker,　its a position...!!
サッカーシーズンが始まり、３試合中２試合出場。１勝、１引き分け、１負。ラクビー７のホームグラウンドである香港スタジアムで試合をした。知らない人は残念。来年の３月のラグビー戦は楽しみだ。信じてもらえないかもしれないけど、１４歳までラグビーをプレイした。フッカーってポジションだよ。

1 thing I enjoy about home stadium is the fact its similar to English stadiums with there being no running track around it so the fans are closer and louder. I think this makes it more fun for the fans and the players. Plus its nice being able to spot friends around the stadium.
このホームスタジアムのいいところはイギリスのスタジアムのように客席が近くファンの声援も良く聴こえる。選手にとってもファンにとってもこの近距離は大切だ。友達やファンの顔もよく見えるよ。

Here is a extremely touristy photo taken inside the stadium
観光客みたいな写真。スタジアムの中。

Yes the pitch looks very nice but I'm worried when the big rugby guys get on it and destroy it but its the best grass I have played on in HK so far. So very happy that its SCAA home stadium! Look at it... looks like a lovely green carpet!
カーペットのような芝生。ラグビーの選手が使った後は大丈夫かな。香港中で今のところ最高な芝生だ。SCAAのホームスタジアムで良かった。グリーン色のじゅうたんのようでしょ。

Here are some pics from the first two games!
出場した試合の写真です。

Great support at away games....　アウェイの試合に応援に来てくれたファン。

Not friends on the pitch....　試合中は友でも容赦しない。

We look like cartoon characters i like it.. and these 2 are a lot taller and we
all look the same height so i like it....
漫画ぽいけど気に入ってる。他の２人はもっと長身だけどここでは一緒にみえるのがいい。

Thats some pictures and here is a short highlight from those 2 games.
３分ぐらいのハイライトです。

On a side note been here 2 months now and still enjoying HK, great city!!
香港に住むのはも２ヶ月たったけどマジ好きやー！

Pari

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival Pt.2

So first part of the events was the moon-cake. Part ll it seems was the lanterns and Fire Dragon Dance.
月見団子の後はチョウチンと火を噴く竜の踊り。

The lanterns were conveniently very close to the club house so it was an easy walk. It was really pretty with the full moon and energy of the people all admiring the lights and the atmosphere of such events. Shame I was with my team mate Dyron so it was not romantic at all...
チョウチンの場所はクラブハウスから近く楽に歩けた。満月の夜、美しいチョウチンの明かりを見にたくさんの人のエネルギーで賑わう。残念ながらチームメイトのディロンと出かけたので、僕にとってはロマンチックじゃなかった。


Here are the pictures of the lanterns
チョウチンの写真。

you can see the moon in the background
背景にお月様

many people... 　たくさんの人々

Also made a wish but i cant share that....
一つ願いが叶うなら。。。秘密。

Thats some of the photos from that walk.
散歩中とった写真です。

But before that we went to watch the Fire dragon dance. I was so lucky I got to see it as i didn't know of it until the day when i was told by Asli Colette. It isn't like any other dragon dance ive seen before. It was a extremely long and was stabbed with hundreds of incense.  It was more of a smoke dragon but it was really fun. We got there just on time and watch the pre-show drums and children walking with lanterns and then the dragon came. Now the best thing about my team mate is that he is 195cm... and when in Hong Kong that is very handy when taking pictures in large crowds. So he naturally became the camera man for the night.
竜の踊りを見に行く寸前に初めてこのことを聞いた。Asli Coletteが教えてくれた。他にも見たことあったけどこれは今までのものより一番長くたくさんのお香にさされていた。だから火というより煙に囲まれた竜だったよ。ショーが始まる寸前だったから子供達や太鼓のパフォマーンスがありそして竜の登場。チームメイトは１９５CM。香港でかなり役立つ身長。大勢の人ごみの中、楽に写真が撮れた。

Hope you enjoy the pictures and the video.
写真とヴィデオを観てください。

my date....haha
ぼくのカメラマン。

long, smokey dragon!! 長くてけむったい竜

lots and lots of people!

Here is the video.




The background music is my current favortie HK song!!
背景に聴こえる音楽は今僕が一番気に入っている香港ソング。

Paris

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival

This is a totally new festival for me. I used to live near China town in Yokohama, Japan but i had never tried Moon-cake or heard the story behind the moon cake.
このお祭りは僕にとって初めての経験。横浜のチャイナタウンの近くに住んでいたことあるけどムーンケーキ（お月見団子）食べたことなかったし、その物語も知らなかった。

So when i heard of everyone buying them and eating them and i saw many pretty girls on billboards holding moon cakes i knew i'd have to try 1...
みんながこの時期になると団子を買って食べる習慣があり、かわいい女の子が団子を持っているポスターをたくさん見て食べる見るしかないと思った。

YUMMYYY　おいしそう。

As soon as i asked about moon cakes I was invited to the bma to try some. I received many different flavors and naturally red bean was my favorite... as red bean is my favorite anything...!!! I have eaten 3 moon cakes and they are super filling and very good. So for people who ever get a chance to try moon cake.. do it as it is goood!!!
早速BMAからお誘いを受け団子を食べてみた。たくさん色々な味があるけど僕の大好物はあんこだから自然と小豆入りのを選んだ。３つ試食。重いけどおいしい。機会があったら食べてみて。おいしいよ。


Now the story behind it  has been interesting. I have asked many people about mooncake and the story is different every time... the first version... told by a team mate was the worst...
団子の物語もおもしろいよ。たくさんの人に聞いてみたけど、聞く人、一人一人話が違う。一番最初に聞いたヴァージョンはチームメートが教えてくれたんだけど、一番できの悪いストーリー。

He said... Well, this guy wanted to live forever and mooncake was the secret ingredient... but his wife stole the mooncake that gave her abilities to fly and she flew to the moon... THE END... Naturally my reaction was a very confused face!
永遠と生きたいと思った男がいた。月団子がそれを叶えてくれるはずだった。が、彼の妻が団子を盗んで食べた。彼女は空を飛べるようになり、月まで飛んでいってしまった。終わり。僕あんまり良くわからなかった。その時の混乱している顔、想像つくでしょ。

After hearing a few more versions i decided to turn to the website that got me through high school.WIKIPEDIA!!
その後いくつかのヴァージョンを聞いて高校時代にお世話になったウェブサイトを思いついた。ウィキペデイア！


Now Wikipedia says that there are also different versions.. i chose the romantic 1...
ウィキペディアにもいくつかのヴァージョンがあったからロマンチックなのを選んで紹介することにする。

• man and wife banished from heaven to live on Earth... 
• ある男とその妻が天国を抜け出して、地球に行った。
• man becomes amazing archer and shoots down a sun...
• 男は弓芸術家になり太陽を撃ち下した。
• as a reward the man receives the pill of eternal life
• ご褒美びとして永遠の命を授かる薬を手にする。
• he saves the pill for another time and leaves home with work.. 
• 男はその薬をすぐに飲まないで、仕事に出かける。
• his wife finds the pill and eats it... 
• 妻がその薬をみつけて飲んでしまう。
• he questions her and she flys away to the moon. 
• 男が妻を責めると妻は月まで飛んでいってしまう。
• she asked the hare that lives on the moon to make another pill so she can return to her husband
• 月に住むウサギにもう一錠同じ薬をつくってほしいと頼む妻。彼女はそれをもって男のところに戻るつもりだった。
• the hare is still making the pill.
• ウサギはまだその薬をつくっている最中とか。

But on the night of the Mid Autumn festival he gets to visit his wife and that is why the moon is so full and beautiful.
秋の満月の日。男は妻に会いにいけるとか。だからこの季節の月はより明るく美しいをいわれているらしい。

Now what does that teach us??? NEVER TRUST WOMEN.... no no no im joking. it teaches to hide things better.... no no no im joking it teaches us true love? .....ANYWAY....
この物語は何を意味しているのかな？女性を信じてはいけないってこと？それとも中途半端な隠し方するなってこと？それとも本物の愛？

Here are the moon cakes i ate that day...
今日食べた団子とチョウチンの写真です。

Love it... im a fan! 

Hope everyone had a Happy Mid Autumn Festival, it was my first and im 100% a fan.
月見のシーズン、団子のお陰で僕は１００％ファンになりました。

Paris

An over due post.

Sorry i haven't been blogging much recently. I will write a proper post soon but for now I decided to put some media footage that I have featured in during my month in Hong Kong and in South China so far.

最近ブログ書けなくってツイマテン！！　そろそろ書くと思うけど、とりあえず今回のブログは香港で掲載されたニュースの特集！！

For another video click here
もう一つのビデオは上のリンクにのせてます。『here』



These 3 videos are from the clubs opening ceremony. I have never taken part in a opening ceremony like that so it was something new and interesting. It was to pay respect to the gods for the season ahead.
３つのビデオはクラブの開会式のもの。このような儀式は今回が初めてでおもしろかった。良いシーズンが迎えられるよう神様に祈るもの。よろしくお願いします。

If you can see on the video it has the temp at 31degrees and the humidity at 64%.... it wasn't a sweat free day thats for sure.

上の三つのビデオは新シーズンの開会式。外は31℃、湿度６４％。暑いってもんじゃない。

something weird with my right hand.,..
僕の右手ヘン？

i just like to dance dance dance dance
踊るの大好き

I guess many of the Hong Kong blog viewers would have seen this some of this before so i apologize, so this post is for views in other parts of the world.
香港で読んでくれてる人たちはもう既に見たことある写真ばかりでごめん。これは別の国から応援してくれている人たちのために紹介しています。

I really need to improve my interview skills. Most people who know me wonder probably why I answer with such short answers but luckily modern technology edits my gibberish and takes only the essentials.... So big Thank you to Modern Technology.
俺はめっちゃ話せる人だけどインタビユーはぜんぜん良くない！！何かあせってわからない事言っちゃう。。。あらま。。恥ずかしねー！これからのインタビユー頑張ります！

Also was very nice to meet many of the South China fans at the stadium yesterday. And also very nice many people said "Ganbatte" in japanese. Thank you.
昨日はサウスチャイナのファンの人たちに声をかけてもらえて嬉しかった。日本語で頑張ってって励ましてもらえた。ありがとう。感謝。

Paris
パリス

Pre Season Highlights '11

As pre-season comes to an end i decided to upload some footage put together from training camp in Korea.

プリーシーズンがもうそろそろ終わるのでちょっと最近俺のサッカーを見せてあげる！

Here is the Video
じゃーまずビデオから

I wanted to call the video something more along the lines of "Eating people for breakfast", or "Slide tackling 101", or "Paris vs Korea" but decided to keep it PG 13 and went with a more simple title.
このビデオはもっと面白いタイトルをつけたかったけど止めました！
『タックル１０１』それか『パリスvs韓国』とか　どう？

The theme song was a tough decision. I wanted to go with either "You cant touch this" by Mc Hammer or "Its like that" by Run DMC. And if you watch or know the Vanilla Ice video i just love the dance moves and the energy of the song so i decided to go with that! My dad suggested more of a Rock style in bands like Aerosmith and ACDC but I stuck with my instincts!

音楽は知ってるかも知らないけどかなり古いラップだよ―！父がもっとロック系がいいって言ったけどやっぱラップですね！

Some of the images I have in my mind when i play are,
サッカーしてる時のいろんなイメージ！こんなこと想像しながらサッカーするんだ。

Gandalf... not that I'm old or a wizard... but "YOU SHALL NOT PASS"... its just epic!
ガンダルフ、老人でも魔法使いでもないけど"YOU SHALL NOT PASS"はいい感じ。

Maybe a little... "THIS IS SPARTA" but change the "Sparta" with Paris and you get the idea...
スパルタをパリスに変えればいいよ。イメージわかってきたかな。

I think I will stop there.
それでは今日はこの辺で。

Paris 

Training Camp Korea Pt.2

So I was in Korea on a 18 day training camp.
１８日間の遠征のため韓国に来た。

It was the longest training camp I've ever been on and probably the hardest. During the 18 days we had many games and double trainings almost everyday. Plus not to mention in the heat and humidity like an asian summer.
今までの中一番長くハードな遠征。多くの試合とダブルトレーニングの毎日。しかも猛暑と湿度が高いきびしいアジアの夏の中。

1 of the best things about the camp was the fact that I was with my new teammates everyday, 3 meals a day etc etc... It let me get to know them faster than everyone having their own lives in Hong Kong it was a lot easier to talk and socialize.
毎日チームメートと過ごすのは大切なこと。香港に戻ればそれぞれの生活があるので今仲間として知り合いになる絶好の機会。

But technically 1 of the best things about the camp was the number of times we had Korean BBQ. Its super awesome!! I dont quite know how to explain it to those who have never tried it but i guess its something like cooking thin strips of meat on a burner, in the middle of your table with 3 other people or so...? And then you dip the meat into sauce and eat with rice or lettuce or kimchi (spiiicy). Kinda hard to explain but it is very good and I usuggest it to any true meat lover.
それと次に遠征で楽しかったのは、コリアンバーベキュウ。何度も食べれた。薄い肉を焼いてソースにつけご飯、レタスまたはキムチと一緒に口に運ぶ。肉好きにはたまらない。

Maybe the photo helps?
写真をみたらもっとわかりやすいかも。

Here are a few pictures from games and training.
試合と練習の写真。

run forest run....マジ走りヤバイ

trick contest??　トリックコンテスト。

different boots for each foot...　片足づつ別のシューズはいてみた。

always wanted to be a figure skater... i found my partner??
フィゲアスケートのパートナーがみつかったかも

more run forest run...　走り続ける。

reminds me of my rugby days....　ラクビーやってた懐かしい思い出がもどった。

One of the most important factors of a training camp is to push your body as hard as possible without getting injured. Thats where physios, ice baths, tape, all become big players in holding me in 1 piece. Somehow I survived and now feel in better shape then I have in a long time and looking forward to the season ahead.
怪我しないようにハードな練習をこなすのが大切な遠征の要素。自分をバラバラにしないように医者、アイス風呂、テーピング等が重要な役割を果たす。なんとか生き残り、お陰でフィットネスもとりもどし、気分もいい。これから始まるシーズンが楽しみだ。

me ruining a photo of ben... but much thanks to him i survived!
せっかくのベンの写真。悪いことしたけど、彼のお陰で僕は助かった。 

Also it was my birthday in Korea, although many people joke I'm around 25 I actually turned 22... So some of the guys on the team were awsome and got me cake... but most of the cake met my face.. not my mouth... but a good laugh and touching as i knew them less then 2 weeks.

韓国にいる間に誕生日もむかえた。みんな２５ぐらいにみえるっていうけどやっと２２。チームメートがくれたケーキ。ほとんどが僕の顔についた。２週間前までは他人だったのに。感動した。

cake faced... 4 times... 1 person each... i guess they found it funny...??
４人に4回ケーキ顔につけられた。あいつらの方が絶対楽しんでた。

I think I will stop there.
今日はここまで。

Paris. 

First Day off in HK

So after 18 days in South Korea I'm back in Hong Kong. I will blog about the Korea Experience soon but for now I just got back after 18 days without a single full day of rest.
１８日間韓国で過ごした後、香港にもどった。韓国での経験は後で話すことにする。やっと一日のお休み。

So what to do once getting a little bit of freedom? Decided to find a book store... Which in the 21st century is much harder than you would expect. With most people buying books online or downloading them to their ipads or kindle's it took a while to find one.
自由時間はどう過ごす？まず書店をさがす。結構今の時代には難しいこと。

Now there were many "Learn Cantonese" books so it was hard choosing which one would be best. So even though society tells us not to "Judge a book by its cover". Which is funny because book stores seal there books so you can only judge a book by the cover... mixed messages...!! Who knew book stores are so judgemental....
広東語の本。たくさんあって選ぶのに困った。カバーで選ぶなって良く言うよね。でもシールがかかってて中は見えない。

With judging by the covers this book stood out as it had,
"Will you marry me?"
"Join the queue!"
"I love you"
All listed above, "My name is..." Which embarrassing enough almost made me LOL in a almost silent book store.
この本は目立った理由。
結婚してください。
ここに並んでください。
愛しています。
僕の名前は。。。とはずかしくなる言葉ばかり。大きな声で笑いたくなった。

So far my favorite part of the book is the section, "Local sayings"... Now i don't know if they are true as books lie...
本当かどうかわからないけど現地の人が言う言葉っていうセクションがおもしろい。
It's a piece of cake.  Yart bowl, dung teen. Literally means: One step to heaven.
Killing 2 birds with 1 stone. Yart zeen,serng dee-oo. Literally means: 1 arrow, 2 birds.
Win, Win situation. Choy sick, geem sow. Literally means: You have money and sex.

I think I will stop there.
今日はここまで。

So the learning a 4th language continues..... Wish me luck.
広東語を話せるようになれば英語、日本語、デンマーク語に続いて４つめの挑戦。


Paris