中國女子獨自在外地生活殊不簡單，要掌握生存之道，必須要有上進心、鎖定目標、隨時single and available，要有觀察力及集中力，面皮要厚，才可仿效全中國女人的偶像鄧文迪，為國増光。
在這𥚃的milonga發生的。一屁股坐在張空櫈上，旁邊的中國女人說，'sorry, my friend is coming!' 只好滾開，然後她的「新朋友」走過來問她坐位空著的嗎？找到了頭，立時容光煥發，站出來自我介紹一番。
又有一次在街上被拋下一句「你是中國人嗎？」與有善同胞異地相逢，寒暄幾句，那揚眉女子便拿出黑梅做起民調來 - 你叫甚麼名字？你的電郵？你從那𥚃來？你現住在那𥚃？你做什麼工作？你們是夫婦嗎？他做什麼工作？那間公司上班？航空公司嗎？可將我的名字加入你的買機票一折名單中嗎？真的不行嗎？還是可以吧，對嗎....
再者，亦有些四面玲瓏、素質甚高，只與老外社交的。
對，我沒有甚麼給你的，只好稍稍讓開，不礙你的大事，但我會站在一旁打氣，吶喊助威！
中國女人，加油呀！
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
We are over with the coins, but still have problems getting on a bus!
Now we've got Sube! Once we join the 'club', life is much more easier. Despite the fixed office hour for the small shops in recharging the card, (even if the shop still open, recharge service may have already finished)...at least it's easy finding some recharge place than to get the card and we don't need to worry about no coins to get on a bus anymore!
The next problem is finding the bus stop!
We found these two sites helpful in searching which bus to take:
http://www.omnilineas.com/argentina/buenos-aires/city-bus/
http://www.mapa.buenosaires.gov.ar/
But they can't tell you exactly where the bus stop is!
Well, we know the street where that bus located, so we usually have to walk along the street to find it.
But the bus stops are so hidden! Unless a group of people waiting, which make it easier, sometimes you can't really tell where the bus stop sign is. The post is sometime tilted, hidden under a tree or it's just an old torn piece paper stick on a pole! It's almost like treasure hunt!
Okay, even when we get on a bus, we need to tell the driver in Spanish where we wanna go, and according to each destination, he would charged you differently. Lonely Planet only told us most bus fare are Ar$1.25, but we found that a shorter trip could be something like Ar$1.1. So we need to search on the street before we go somewhere and remember the streets of our neighborhood in order to head home!
What's more? There are different route for the same numbered bus, sometimes it's listed as a,b,c but other times, it's only shown on the destination. We are tricked twice taking a bus in the same station to Salon Canning and ended up a completely different route each time even though we got on a same numbered bus!
Last problem is the bus schedule, we seems unable to find bus time even in Guia T, the bus system guidebook nor online. It's not a big problem in daytime, but we had been waited almost an hour for a bus outside Sunderland at 3am!
Well, we are still learning to become a porteña. Way to go!
The next problem is finding the bus stop!
We found these two sites helpful in searching which bus to take:
http://www.omnilineas.com/argentina/buenos-aires/city-bus/
http://www.mapa.buenosaires.gov.ar/
But they can't tell you exactly where the bus stop is!
Well, we know the street where that bus located, so we usually have to walk along the street to find it.
But the bus stops are so hidden! Unless a group of people waiting, which make it easier, sometimes you can't really tell where the bus stop sign is. The post is sometime tilted, hidden under a tree or it's just an old torn piece paper stick on a pole! It's almost like treasure hunt!
Okay, even when we get on a bus, we need to tell the driver in Spanish where we wanna go, and according to each destination, he would charged you differently. Lonely Planet only told us most bus fare are Ar$1.25, but we found that a shorter trip could be something like Ar$1.1. So we need to search on the street before we go somewhere and remember the streets of our neighborhood in order to head home!
What's more? There are different route for the same numbered bus, sometimes it's listed as a,b,c but other times, it's only shown on the destination. We are tricked twice taking a bus in the same station to Salon Canning and ended up a completely different route each time even though we got on a same numbered bus!
Last problem is the bus schedule, we seems unable to find bus time even in Guia T, the bus system guidebook nor online. It's not a big problem in daytime, but we had been waited almost an hour for a bus outside Sunderland at 3am!
Well, we are still learning to become a porteña. Way to go!
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
The long-looking-forward class by Julio
With regret we missed his class on the first tuesday we came, we had to go out early to go to his class. Absent in the last two sessions, corina finally showed up with julio. Seven years after their class in hongkong we finally make it his class. He seemed to recognise me as someone taking his class before, but not exactly who from Hk. Anyway, the class was not easy and required good change of wait and solid embrace . The resultant steps were marvelous and I got the passion back indicated by my drawing all the steps taught. Later I can see J y C dancing socially on the floor, in front of my eyes !!! That night there were also performance by two couples. With budget concern and not staying in BsAs for, I didn't think about private class, but will attend the next class on Tuesday Salon Canning. That night the milonga was a bit quiet. It seems that people like the milonga with live band.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Class with Susana Miller
After going to three milonga, we needed some classes, so that we could improve and get higher chance to dance with local dancers. Maria did not have much concern on this, I guess, as long as she dresses well to attract those oldies who like young beautiful ladies. However, I don't look handsome to the local chicas then only good dance could give better impressions. After visiting some blogs and website we found Susana Miller having beginning / intermediate class on Monday, we gave it a go.
According to the blog it was out of luck that she was in town. We are and have the luck to see her charisma. She looks soft from outlook but strong inside, like a guru. The course started from warm up stretching exercise. That reminds me Mona's classes in Hk . It is always the basics to prepare the body for class but mostly neglected. Then came the walking basics, and the beginner's basic work of chest leading. I was glad that she spotted my tensed neck that made my axis inflexible. Also it was my great fortunate to embrace her on the dance and move. I could feel the tenderness yet the energy within. Marvelous. That really reminds me what a good tangueras is. Hope to see her next Monday (there was another class the coming Friday but she was not there, I was disappointed).
According to the blog it was out of luck that she was in town. We are and have the luck to see her charisma. She looks soft from outlook but strong inside, like a guru. The course started from warm up stretching exercise. That reminds me Mona's classes in Hk . It is always the basics to prepare the body for class but mostly neglected. Then came the walking basics, and the beginner's basic work of chest leading. I was glad that she spotted my tensed neck that made my axis inflexible. Also it was my great fortunate to embrace her on the dance and move. I could feel the tenderness yet the energy within. Marvelous. That really reminds me what a good tangueras is. Hope to see her next Monday (there was another class the coming Friday but she was not there, I was disappointed).
Sunday, January 15, 2012
有班有樂隊有舞跳好抵
應樂隊宣傳，又近自己住地方，星期日就去咗Milonga Andariega，早啲去有班上，連milonga只係25peso/人。班就係初班，上下basic都係嘅...當晚繼續有喺osvaldo那次表演的樂隊，Natalia Mancini嘅歌聲始終使我們感動，她很享受咁開聲咁唱，真使我們感羨慕她正做着享受其中的事。當晚我都同兩個當地阿根廷女郎跳舞，小milonga氣氛比那些出名的更好，仍是坐舞虛席。我們應該去多些其他的milonga,當然Salon Canning及Fruite Dulce要繼續去，因為有我喜歡的老師嘛。我們所掛心的,不是神的國嗎?
經過上星期日千辛萬苦，搵到本地講華語嘅教會，但又因為無銀仔撘唔到巴士去唔到嘅慘況，這星期日終於有增值咭，可以安然撘車番教會，唔駛好似遊客入去美輪美奐嘅天主教堂但又聽唔明西班牙版本嘅神話 (神的話語)。話哂都係中華基督教會，喺電話中聽到牧師去過窩福 (我喺香港所屬教會)，心想應該唔怕掛，至少可以唔駛入去靚教堂只為觀光。下午四時有崇拜，啱哂我哋呢啲適應咗晚出早歸嘅布市人生活 (我唔敢講係阿根庭人生活，因為總會有早出晚歸嘅農夫罷)。
我們遲咗十五分鐘到達，原來喺巴士上見到嘅華人都喺度，早知跟佢哋早一個站落車啦。嗰度係一間有獨立建築嘅小教堂，一入去見到會眾已經企哂喺度唱歌，之後仲繼續企半個鐘唱，好彩我哋遲啲到，其實仲應該再遲啲，唔駛為企而企，唱詩啫，唔駛一定要企掛。帶唱詩嗰個人帶領祈禱時充滿感情 : 神呀，請差遣我! 請差遣我! 請差遣我! 請差遣我! X N次，周圍啲人嘅"Amen" 聲 surround sound咁四面咁嚟。 Maria 以為係練緊法輪功或靈恩教會聖靈充頭咁（M:呆咗，只好一字一字極緩慢的閉目念天主經抗衡一下）。其實我對呢啲充滿情感嘅教會唔會太過抗拒，因為我來自比較理性及讀經為主的教會，總會覺得可以多一些愛主嘅情感交流。況且係場刊中寫到該教會嘅2012主題為"活出神國度特質"，第一季係秉行公義，啱哂我支笛。佢嘅異象係: 建造實踐、禱告、更新、裝備、相愛、宣教的教會"，使命: "跟隨聖靈浪潮、禀持復興信念、塑造國度人材、完成宣教使命"。都幾Evangelist，同我個教會都幾似。所以我可接受一下其他人嘅唔同。
之後佢哋有歡迎新來賓，所有人都走過來同我哋握手，我無乜所謂，Maria通常都好怕這種熱心教會的熱烈歡迎。（M:當係握手互祝平安反而冇乜特別，只係先前一陣surround sound驅魔人式的熱烈祈禱聲令我有點起雞皮。 ）
跟住有一個叫 Lydia 嘅阿根廷醫生講佢係山區嘅事工，教會有部份捐款用嚟接濟十幾條係離布市廿多小時車程的小數民族材落，佢哋唔識西班牙文，小朋友經常營養不良，無水無電，健康設施不足。其中一條村叫 Wichi el Pintado 佢哋只係飲用一潭和動物共用嘅死水，事工帶食物、衣服、玩具捭兒童，幫村民剪頭髮、醫病等。佢哋好多謝教會，知道係華人教會，就算唔知中國喺邊都會為中國人祈禱。其實呢個事工源自Lydia嗰姐姐，要去幫呢班西班牙文都唔識但會下山向佢求醫嘅村民。令佢知道有呢十幾萬小數民族喺山上存在。之後，佢有異象要去中國宣教，當時佢知道自己有癌症仍然要去，化療令佢無哂頭髮、皮膚乾乾的，但在雲南服侍期間佢生番嘅頭髮由之前嘅金變黑，而皮膚亦變得好似當地少數民族咁，最後再次病發，送回國才去。Lydia繼承姐姐工作。
呢個係好令人感動嘅事，傳道人跟住拿起小信封求為此作奉獻。我就不以為然，呢個教會每月都有幾千peso嘅餘款，況且佢講到秉行公義，喺呢個民主選出嚟嘅政府佢哋唔係應該可以要求政府做啲嘢咩? 後來我知道點解...
個女傳道深受感動，特別一班土著會為中國人祈禱，Lydia姐姐有個"中國心"，喺呢度"中國人"唔係應該保持呢個"中國心"呢? 佢話佢係台灣人，同其他大陸同胞已經係兄弟姐妹了。就算佢準備講題講詩篇22:3、歷代志上15:25-28、下:20:3-4,14-17,21-23，都抛諸腦後，要我們合眼唱甚麼"我的一顆中國心"。 我實感難耐，當他們沈醉在自己不知何謂嘅國民身份認同時，我哋就轉身離開了。（M:就知道他們大唱什麼中國心的時候，AT一定受不了，應該可以不再來這受不了的祟拜~笑）
我慶幸生在香港，對國民身份沒有熱忱，佢哋咁要愛國，點解離開? 因為大陸仍是被所謂共產黨嘅非法政權(非法者，公然違反自己定的國家憲法)蹂躪嘅中華大陸，國之不國，人民生活無出路才會外徒。還要為那"中國"國民身份祈甚麼禱 ? 我真係諗唔到要為魔鬼祈禱嘅理由。（M:錯，魔鬼是一個角色定位，仍要為免我們陷於誘惑而祈禱。）當然共產黨用人民的血汗錢在世界各地扶植親共勢力，呢個教會可能不能幸免。來自大陸嘅華人做慣奴隸，在他鄉自己顧自己，要佢哋入鄉隨族，認同阿根廷人身份，重新塑造公民身份及自己的公民影響力，只係對牛彈琴。
就算唔做阿根廷人 ，做神民更好吧，點解仲諗住當外邦人呢?
我們遲咗十五分鐘到達，原來喺巴士上見到嘅華人都喺度，早知跟佢哋早一個站落車啦。嗰度係一間有獨立建築嘅小教堂，一入去見到會眾已經企哂喺度唱歌，之後仲繼續企半個鐘唱，好彩我哋遲啲到，其實仲應該再遲啲，唔駛為企而企，唱詩啫，唔駛一定要企掛。帶唱詩嗰個人帶領祈禱時充滿感情 : 神呀，請差遣我! 請差遣我! 請差遣我! 請差遣我! X N次，周圍啲人嘅"Amen" 聲 surround sound咁四面咁嚟。 Maria 以為係練緊法輪功或靈恩教會聖靈充頭咁（M:呆咗，只好一字一字極緩慢的閉目念天主經抗衡一下）。其實我對呢啲充滿情感嘅教會唔會太過抗拒，因為我來自比較理性及讀經為主的教會，總會覺得可以多一些愛主嘅情感交流。況且係場刊中寫到該教會嘅2012主題為"活出神國度特質"，第一季係秉行公義，啱哂我支笛。佢嘅異象係: 建造實踐、禱告、更新、裝備、相愛、宣教的教會"，使命: "跟隨聖靈浪潮、禀持復興信念、塑造國度人材、完成宣教使命"。都幾Evangelist，同我個教會都幾似。所以我可接受一下其他人嘅唔同。
之後佢哋有歡迎新來賓，所有人都走過來同我哋握手，我無乜所謂，Maria通常都好怕這種熱心教會的熱烈歡迎。（M:當係握手互祝平安反而冇乜特別，只係先前一陣surround sound驅魔人式的熱烈祈禱聲令我有點起雞皮。 ）
跟住有一個叫 Lydia 嘅阿根廷醫生講佢係山區嘅事工，教會有部份捐款用嚟接濟十幾條係離布市廿多小時車程的小數民族材落，佢哋唔識西班牙文，小朋友經常營養不良，無水無電，健康設施不足。其中一條村叫 Wichi el Pintado 佢哋只係飲用一潭和動物共用嘅死水，事工帶食物、衣服、玩具捭兒童，幫村民剪頭髮、醫病等。佢哋好多謝教會，知道係華人教會，就算唔知中國喺邊都會為中國人祈禱。其實呢個事工源自Lydia嗰姐姐，要去幫呢班西班牙文都唔識但會下山向佢求醫嘅村民。令佢知道有呢十幾萬小數民族喺山上存在。之後，佢有異象要去中國宣教，當時佢知道自己有癌症仍然要去，化療令佢無哂頭髮、皮膚乾乾的，但在雲南服侍期間佢生番嘅頭髮由之前嘅金變黑，而皮膚亦變得好似當地少數民族咁，最後再次病發，送回國才去。Lydia繼承姐姐工作。
呢個係好令人感動嘅事，傳道人跟住拿起小信封求為此作奉獻。我就不以為然，呢個教會每月都有幾千peso嘅餘款，況且佢講到秉行公義，喺呢個民主選出嚟嘅政府佢哋唔係應該可以要求政府做啲嘢咩? 後來我知道點解...
個女傳道深受感動，特別一班土著會為中國人祈禱，Lydia姐姐有個"中國心"，喺呢度"中國人"唔係應該保持呢個"中國心"呢? 佢話佢係台灣人，同其他大陸同胞已經係兄弟姐妹了。就算佢準備講題講詩篇22:3、歷代志上15:25-28、下:20:3-4,14-17,21-23，都抛諸腦後，要我們合眼唱甚麼"我的一顆中國心"。 我實感難耐，當他們沈醉在自己不知何謂嘅國民身份認同時，我哋就轉身離開了。（M:就知道他們大唱什麼中國心的時候，AT一定受不了，應該可以不再來這受不了的祟拜~笑）
我慶幸生在香港，對國民身份沒有熱忱，佢哋咁要愛國，點解離開? 因為大陸仍是被所謂共產黨嘅非法政權(非法者，公然違反自己定的國家憲法)蹂躪嘅中華大陸，國之不國，人民生活無出路才會外徒。還要為那"中國"國民身份祈甚麼禱 ? 我真係諗唔到要為魔鬼祈禱嘅理由。（M:錯，魔鬼是一個角色定位，仍要為免我們陷於誘惑而祈禱。）當然共產黨用人民的血汗錢在世界各地扶植親共勢力，呢個教會可能不能幸免。來自大陸嘅華人做慣奴隸，在他鄉自己顧自己，要佢哋入鄉隨族，認同阿根廷人身份，重新塑造公民身份及自己的公民影響力，只係對牛彈琴。
就算唔做阿根廷人 ，做神民更好吧，點解仲諗住當外邦人呢?
Saturday, January 14, 2012
In Sunderland Club again
We had to wait an hour for the bus back home. The sky was light when we went to bed ...
Friday, January 13, 2012
Our first parrilla, thanks Osvaldo
After Fruto Dulce we woke up late again, we went harder on the self-learning in Spanish. Then we went to Cotto, a local supermarket, to buy wine and soda lime to make Sangria so as to bring to Osvaldo's party. We went there on Friday because of the previous week there that we could get 15% off discount on HSBC credit card. However, we couldn't get that again without knowing why, with our limited Spanish we couldn't negotiate that back. It was probably due to our credit card not issued by HSBC South America.
After a half-hour bus trip we got to Osvaldo's place, we were so happy to see parrilla stove on the rooftop while he was busy setting up the fire. A meal like this in restaurant could cost at least 50 peso, that would be our meals of 2-3 days. It was also Gwen's birthday. A great bonus was the live-tango music by a band featuring the beautiful voice of Natalia Mancini.
Osvaldo and I were talking about making a Chinese lunar new year party again with so many friends coming to Hong Kong also Angel would stay there too. We shall cook Chinese food !!!
Also we were glad to meet so many tango friends, including Isabel. Thanks Osvaldo.
After a half-hour bus trip we got to Osvaldo's place, we were so happy to see parrilla stove on the rooftop while he was busy setting up the fire. A meal like this in restaurant could cost at least 50 peso, that would be our meals of 2-3 days. It was also Gwen's birthday. A great bonus was the live-tango music by a band featuring the beautiful voice of Natalia Mancini.
Osvaldo and I were talking about making a Chinese lunar new year party again with so many friends coming to Hong Kong also Angel would stay there too. We shall cook Chinese food !!!
Also we were glad to meet so many tango friends, including Isabel. Thanks Osvaldo.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Supposed to be in the zoo ...
We planned a week ahead that we would go to the zoo in Buenos Aires. With second thought we changed our mind because such visit would mean supporting wild animals being taken away from the habitat but to cities for human. You can disagree with better reasons (if so please tell us), but we decided to go for the second class in BsAs. It was by Judy and Jon, an American couple in BsAs for decades teaching tango. We went to the Confiteria Ideal in the afternoon for the class. It cost 45 peso each (a bit expensive), but it was nearly a private class because there were only two female beginners and one Argentine man.
Jon was very eager to each us on the start of the dance, walk and basics. His last motto to us in the class was to be bold - keep dancing in the tanda even if we don't feel right, just go on and don't think! It was a good afternoon to revise basics. They were eager to introduce themselves to us on private class (around 300 peso a session with studio at their home). However we were in a long trip and couldn't afford that. They told us that they wanted to come to Hong Kong to teach, but it would be two years after because of our trip, also they impressed us as another similar couple in Hong Kong who were extremely enthusiastic about their own view of tango... hm... personally not my cup of tea. Thanks for their eagerness to teach. We are glad to see a couple who dived into the art so eagerly and stayed in BsAs for long. Wish them luck in the coming US trip.
Afterwards we went to a nearby shoe-shop, I was eager on a pair in discount (only left hand, only 380 peso) but it did not have my size... How can I find a tailor made one ?
After taking a break at home we started out long-looking forward La Boca grocery shopping spree. As a working class community its grocery was cheaper than many parts of BsAs. A huge chicken of 2.5kg costs only 20 peso, not to say the boca de lomo costing only 40 peso a kilo. We had a good time buying cheese, potatos, beef, herbs, chicken etc. If I have had brought enough cash I would have bought the fresh ox tongue (it was much more difficult to buy fresh in Hong Kong). It should make a good stew....
We immediately made a good beef dinner at home. See !!! The rice was cooked with chicken soup made from the bones. The carrots tasted so natural, the yummy boca de lomo and the Malbec were so matched. We were so full that we slept where we were and forgot about going out for milonga...
Jon was very eager to each us on the start of the dance, walk and basics. His last motto to us in the class was to be bold - keep dancing in the tanda even if we don't feel right, just go on and don't think! It was a good afternoon to revise basics. They were eager to introduce themselves to us on private class (around 300 peso a session with studio at their home). However we were in a long trip and couldn't afford that. They told us that they wanted to come to Hong Kong to teach, but it would be two years after because of our trip, also they impressed us as another similar couple in Hong Kong who were extremely enthusiastic about their own view of tango... hm... personally not my cup of tea. Thanks for their eagerness to teach. We are glad to see a couple who dived into the art so eagerly and stayed in BsAs for long. Wish them luck in the coming US trip.Afterwards we went to a nearby shoe-shop, I was eager on a pair in discount (only left hand, only 380 peso) but it did not have my size... How can I find a tailor made one ?After taking a break at home we started out long-looking forward La Boca grocery shopping spree. As a working class community its grocery was cheaper than many parts of BsAs. A huge chicken of 2.5kg costs only 20 peso, not to say the boca de lomo costing only 40 peso a kilo. We had a good time buying cheese, potatos, beef, herbs, chicken etc. If I have had brought enough cash I would have bought the fresh ox tongue (it was much more difficult to buy fresh in Hong Kong). It should make a good stew....
We immediately made a good beef dinner at home. See !!! The rice was cooked with chicken soup made from the bones. The carrots tasted so natural, the yummy boca de lomo and the Malbec were so matched. We were so full that we slept where we were and forgot about going out for milonga...
Tango@Fruto Dulce
Due to Salon Canning the night before, when we went to bed at 4am in the morning, we woke up (unexpectedly) at 1pm in the afternoon. We have planned to wake up early as the nearby museum of contemporary art has free admission on Wednesday (even on other days it is only 1 peso). It has been very hot these days. It was a very good occasion to enjoy cheap air-conditioning and hang out in the whole afternoon. Some collections stimulated good thoughts, for example, the series of photos by Ajeno about street corners, grounds, entrances showing how a city expects boundaries between indoor and outdoor, pavements and roads, vertical and horizontal planes, among different tiles etc.
We were lucky to catch a bus (168) home, it was 5am (again) when we got home. How can we have a healthy schedule with tango like that ?
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Tango@Salon Canning
Planned a week before, we still start off late for the pre-milonga class led by Julio in Salon Canning. He is my favorite vals dancer. We were tricked by the bus line (there could be three different lines for the same bus number, without extra mentioning on the bus) and had to walk around ten blocks. Luckily we can still listen to half the class. Julio looked slimmer than I had seen. He and Corina was my second overseas tango teachers when I started tango in Hong Kong 7 years ago. At that time their teaching was difficult to me, and our standard was a bit low to their eyes that I thought they may have lost patience with us. That's why I was so eager to meet him again for the class. Corina was not there and Julio was teaching around 20 couples on vals steps and musicality. I missed that so much and hoped that I could come earlier next time.
As for the milonga, without reservation we were lucky to be on the third circle table (table set-up in milonga here were in concentric circles surrounding the dance floor). The assumed stars and VIP could have reserved tables even they may not come, tourists with previous bookings sometimes may get to the inner circle, but those not reserving could be assigned to the outermost tables.35 peso each was really in good value because of a live band by Orquestra Unitango and tango show by Andre y Andressa. It is much better value than tourist tour costing a few hundred peso for a tango show in a pub. There were still many tourists around though. Maria was lucky enough to have several dances and I took some good shots with romantic ambiance..
I'll be more punctual next time to take Julio and Corina's pre-milonga class next time. Luckily we could find a bus and no need for a long wait. When we went to bed, it was 4am already.
As for the milonga, without reservation we were lucky to be on the third circle table (table set-up in milonga here were in concentric circles surrounding the dance floor). The assumed stars and VIP could have reserved tables even they may not come, tourists with previous bookings sometimes may get to the inner circle, but those not reserving could be assigned to the outermost tables.35 peso each was really in good value because of a live band by Orquestra Unitango and tango show by Andre y Andressa. It is much better value than tourist tour costing a few hundred peso for a tango show in a pub. There were still many tourists around though. Maria was lucky enough to have several dances and I took some good shots with romantic ambiance..
I'll be more punctual next time to take Julio and Corina's pre-milonga class next time. Luckily we could find a bus and no need for a long wait. When we went to bed, it was 4am already.
Monday, January 9, 2012
蚊子大食會
Buenos Aires 的夏天真的很多蚊（只是夏天嗎？），身為O型血型及皮膚滑滑的美女，每天只好蚊怕水當香水，再捧著蚊香通屋走，但仍免不了在任何疏忽之時遇襲，攪到周身痕，只有將無比膏當cream，此時最想念我一個惹蚊的朋友，有她在身邊或許可以頂一頂（或惹來更多蚊開餐！？）
 |
| 在床上放了兩人蚊帳營 |
因為慳錢，住所沒有冷氣，除了點蚊香，睡覺時已加強保護！
Buenos Aires 買啤酒的故事
我們兩次去Carrefour買啤酒cerveza（1liter, Ar$5.85-$6.85) 也附加了不明所以的收費，Ar$2.5@!! 是Carrefour不老實，濫收？還是啤酒稅？但紅酒也沒收稅...
因為西語太爛，上網找了很久，終於真相大白。
在這𥚃的超市、士多買大支裝（1L)啤酒，必須要交回同樣大的吉樽，否則要加每支Ar$2-3的按樽費! 難怪住處的廚房放滿玻璃樽！不只啤酒，大支的玻璃瓶可樂也一樣有價！
還有，每家店的按樽費價錢不一，當你拿樽去再買啤酒時，有些可直接在cashier收樽，有些則要在入口服務台，先收樽再發出一張當店樽價的單讓你結算時出示。今日做了測試，那張紙仔只可用來再買啤酒，Ar$2也好、Ar$2.75也好，只代表啤酒按樽費，不可用來購物。 (AT: 喺 Coto 可以呀 !!!)
另外，有些外表一樣，但價錢貴點的啤酒，其實係用不可回收瓶 (no retorno)...
總之，宜家我倆見樽如見錢！！！
Funny story about the beer bottle:
http://www.gringoes.com/articles.asp?ID_Noticia=1806
More info:
http://www.travelsur.net/forum/messages/199/2745.html
因為西語太爛，上網找了很久，終於真相大白。在這𥚃的超市、士多買大支裝（1L)啤酒，必須要交回同樣大的吉樽，否則要加每支Ar$2-3的按樽費! 難怪住處的廚房放滿玻璃樽！不只啤酒，大支的玻璃瓶可樂也一樣有價！
還有，每家店的按樽費價錢不一，當你拿樽去再買啤酒時，有些可直接在cashier收樽，有些則要在入口服務台，先收樽再發出一張當店樽價的單讓你結算時出示。今日做了測試，那張紙仔只可用來再買啤酒，Ar$2也好、Ar$2.75也好，只代表啤酒按樽費，不可用來購物。 (AT: 喺 Coto 可以呀 !!!)
另外，有些外表一樣，但價錢貴點的啤酒，其實係用不可回收瓶 (no retorno)...
總之，宜家我倆見樽如見錢！！！
Funny story about the beer bottle:
http://www.gringoes.com/articles.asp?ID_Noticia=1806
More info:
http://www.travelsur.net/forum/messages/199/2745.html
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Saturday, January 7, 2012
La Boca and grocery adventure
It was a hot afternoon, after ice-cream at home we started off at 4pm to walk to the nearby La Boca, famous with the photos af tin-plated squatters with colorful patches. The patches came from poverty in which people can only afford a can of paint time to time to paint one side of the wall. As a community with working class people, we expected lower cost of living and cheaper groceries. Instead of the touristy La Caminito street with souvenir shops and tango dancer on the streets which we passed quickly, we went into the poorer community. It still keeps the faded colorful patches, also the grocery selling cheaper fresh products. We had a good time exploring local goods, leaving a Chinese speaking keeping asking us the facebook, work and email behind, and taking note of the working-class life there. The La Boca Junior is still resting until Autumn, we would like to go to the stadium for the football match instead of the stadium tour. That night we made Cantonese home dinner: rice, steam egg, fried tomato with potatoes.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Maria got shark in Sunderland
I highly looked forward to the milonga in the Sunderland Club, due to my seeing so much youtube of tango being videoed there. After a late lunch (4pm, yeah we danced till 4am the morning before) we packed two sandwishes and took a long bus trip (93) to Villa Urquiza. As Jorge highly introduced his grown-up place and the history of tango there. We were there at around 7pm expecting some class before milonga. The site was still being prepared. We walked around the in the community, found a park to have the sandwiches. Without luck we did not bump into any tango-related relics.
We went back at 9pm and waited till 9:35pm when there was a pre-milonga class. Class and milonga only cost 35 peso@. The menu was also fine with aque con gas costing only 8 peso Maria seeing everyone having big meals, can't help but ordered a meat empanadas costing 5 peso. (thanks to the waiter who was willing to give change of two 1 peso coins so that we could take bus home that night). As for the class, it was a learning of steps that I don't like. It was an hour and a half to our exhaustion. As for the milonga, the atmosphere was good and there were many locals. There were also a table of Korean with Andres (he did not recognize me, maybe because of my changed outlook). Dancing with locals ? No luck for me, but there was a suited chico inviting Maria to dance. He kissed her right after entering the hall. He seems like not being welcomed by the locals here. I heard from Maria afterwards that he kept rubbing her while dancing and she was too shy to reject him right away. I have to rescue her by taking her out to dance when he invited her for the third time. We left early than expected (3am) because we were out for the whole day and felt tired and the shark was still spotting her.
The music was good, the cost was fine, and the atmosphere was good. I shall keep going there every Saturday and hope that one day I look familiar and could invite local one day.
We went back at 9pm and waited till 9:35pm when there was a pre-milonga class. Class and milonga only cost 35 peso@. The menu was also fine with aque con gas costing only 8 peso Maria seeing everyone having big meals, can't help but ordered a meat empanadas costing 5 peso. (thanks to the waiter who was willing to give change of two 1 peso coins so that we could take bus home that night). As for the class, it was a learning of steps that I don't like. It was an hour and a half to our exhaustion. As for the milonga, the atmosphere was good and there were many locals. There were also a table of Korean with Andres (he did not recognize me, maybe because of my changed outlook). Dancing with locals ? No luck for me, but there was a suited chico inviting Maria to dance. He kissed her right after entering the hall. He seems like not being welcomed by the locals here. I heard from Maria afterwards that he kept rubbing her while dancing and she was too shy to reject him right away. I have to rescue her by taking her out to dance when he invited her for the third time. We left early than expected (3am) because we were out for the whole day and felt tired and the shark was still spotting her.
The music was good, the cost was fine, and the atmosphere was good. I shall keep going there every Saturday and hope that one day I look familiar and could invite local one day.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
La Marchal@El Beso, where there are only leaders and followers but not male or female
After a hearty dinner with home-made baked orange chicken and sangria, we went to a homosexual-friendly milonga in El Beso. We started off at midnight, although it started at 10:30pm. It was a half an hour wait of the bus, which took around 15 minutes to get to El Beso at Riobamba 416. At first we were surprised by the entrance fee (30 peso each) higher than La Confiteria Ideal. After a long bus wait (29) and finally getting there, we gave it a try. Ordering was also compulsory too, so we paid 22 for a litre bottle of beer. It could have been the price of a large pizza in Ugi's already.
It was a good sight to see man leading man, woman leading woman, woman leading man and of course man leading woman. Here there were only leaders and followers, not gender defined. My cabeceo didn't work to invite local people but only a Swiss and a Swedish to dance with me. The atmosphere was good and I was glad seeing most of the time and not much dancing. We danced till 4am. We were lucky to wait only for a few minutes for the 24 bus to go home. The next day we slept till 1pm and missed the jogging.Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Dancing in the afternoon milonga - La Matine de La Ideal
We started the day as usual: bible study, jogging in the nearby park, brunch and self-study, we went to our first milonga in BsAs - La Matine de la Ideal at La Confiteria de Ideal.
May I go back a little on the Spanish learning first. We seemed to improve from knowing nothing to barely some words. It is better having a partner to study together, which I haven't done before (I used to study by myself). Maria has a better grasp of language than me, although we both found learning a new language more difficult at our age.Dissolving in the environment and solving problems at life do push our motivation to learn a language. Thanks to Reina for the two writing board. With lack of writing tools we use them on doing exercise and copying words, like when we had started learning language in childhood. Copying does help.
23 peso each on entry fee was low in HK standard but still a lot for our daily budget. Viewing that it was our first milonga we dared to go for it. Also we did not want to go for overnight milonga and spoiled our healthy daily routine. I like the interior design with pillars and the high ceiling decorated with floral graze. Bringing water ourselves we found a table next to the marble tiled floor and decided to order nothing. My first tanda with Maria was a salon and I felt the atmosphere given by the design not by the people, most of them in their fifties or above. Only the tourists were younger. We did see a couple of rocket flying around in their sixties. The floor was quite smooth that my giro was so easily done that also gave Maria a good impression to the viewers. Then invitations for Maria were non-stop, not only because she was the youngest and most beautiful lady on the floor but also people found she danced well. With a sprang ankle she could not push too herself too much. My next tanda after Maria was the invitation from a 70s year-old woman named "Otieria (?)". Later I found that she was one of the best tangueras that afternoon. In open embrace her open arm was very strong, to me it was stiff. It was enjoyable dance.
We danced till 8pm, then went to grocery shopping at CarreFour, where we realized that drinking large bottle was quite a nuisance here. We had to pay 2.75 peso more for the bottle; we could take empty ones to waive the bottle charge in the next beer purchase. However, how on early we bring empty bottles around for grocery shopping ?
May I go back a little on the Spanish learning first. We seemed to improve from knowing nothing to barely some words. It is better having a partner to study together, which I haven't done before (I used to study by myself). Maria has a better grasp of language than me, although we both found learning a new language more difficult at our age.Dissolving in the environment and solving problems at life do push our motivation to learn a language. Thanks to Reina for the two writing board. With lack of writing tools we use them on doing exercise and copying words, like when we had started learning language in childhood. Copying does help.
23 peso each on entry fee was low in HK standard but still a lot for our daily budget. Viewing that it was our first milonga we dared to go for it. Also we did not want to go for overnight milonga and spoiled our healthy daily routine. I like the interior design with pillars and the high ceiling decorated with floral graze. Bringing water ourselves we found a table next to the marble tiled floor and decided to order nothing. My first tanda with Maria was a salon and I felt the atmosphere given by the design not by the people, most of them in their fifties or above. Only the tourists were younger. We did see a couple of rocket flying around in their sixties. The floor was quite smooth that my giro was so easily done that also gave Maria a good impression to the viewers. Then invitations for Maria were non-stop, not only because she was the youngest and most beautiful lady on the floor but also people found she danced well. With a sprang ankle she could not push too herself too much. My next tanda after Maria was the invitation from a 70s year-old woman named "Otieria (?)". Later I found that she was one of the best tangueras that afternoon. In open embrace her open arm was very strong, to me it was stiff. It was enjoyable dance.
We danced till 8pm, then went to grocery shopping at CarreFour, where we realized that drinking large bottle was quite a nuisance here. We had to pay 2.75 peso more for the bottle; we could take empty ones to waive the bottle charge in the next beer purchase. However, how on early we bring empty bottles around for grocery shopping ?
如何慳家？
這幾天外出也是步行為主，巿中心、商店區20分鐘即達，San Telmo Sunday Market行幾個街口就到，賣很遊客的古董、Mate茶杯、樂器、布袋...對於還在外地跑兩年的我們來說，不大感興趣。
這邊巴士一程1.1-1.2pesoa（大約HK$2-2.2)要上車買票，提供24小時服務，甚是方便抵坐。
上館子吃飯、在cafe飲咖啡卻與香港價錢相約，除了一些只賣mozzarella pizza的現造pizza店賣18peseo (大約HK$35)一個大批外，其他餐廳要近HK$100一餐。
吃好的其實不用多少錢-只要自己做的話。
我們找到1月1日仍開門的中國人超市，加上自攜的白牡丹、金桂花、參片、普洱，仍能保持良好的生活素質！
這邊巴士一程1.1-1.2pesoa（大約HK$2-2.2)要上車買票，提供24小時服務，甚是方便抵坐。
上館子吃飯、在cafe飲咖啡卻與香港價錢相約，除了一些只賣mozzarella pizza的現造pizza店賣18peseo (大約HK$35)一個大批外，其他餐廳要近HK$100一餐。吃好的其實不用多少錢-只要自己做的話。
我們找到1月1日仍開門的中國人超市，加上自攜的白牡丹、金桂花、參片、普洱，仍能保持良好的生活素質！
我們的家居菜單包括：紅酒香煎鮮味的亞根廷牛排、新鮮出爐的homemade pizza, 芝士火腿三明治，配上本地紅酒（8.90 pesoa / HK$16.3 已有交易）或本地啤酒 （6.8-10.2 pesoa/ HK$12.5-$18.8) 1000ml，yummy!
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
A more normal day, at least the market is open
On the bed on the second day, we discussed about what we shall be after two years. If we are having a hectic life in BsAs like in Hong Kong, we shall become nothing but tourists with a forgotten trip. We should have a more scheduled life with some objective, or actually are we too used to the HK life emphasizing a life with objectives and outcomes ? Can't we just live and see what God put before us ? To feel more secure we set some schedule, so as to get ourselves prepared for future challenges: bible study after waking up from bed, then jogging in the nearby park, brunch, afternoon activities include going around the city, taking language/tango class, research for Antarctica and South America trip, preparing the gears, or finding living place for February. It is still quite a busy life, however it is different from Hong Kong that we do them with less distractions and these tasks are more directly related to nearer future.
Under where we live there is a grocery store opened by Chinese. There is a young woman called Ms Wong who just came from Mainland China to BsAs for 2 years. She introduced a Spanish language school opened by Chinese. After having brunch (the small eggs made by the pan we took from Hong Kong - our first trial), we decided to give a visit on Av Corrientes, after not calling the school successfully. It was a half hour walk and we missed the junction under strong sun, forgetting to bring a sandwich along, we are on the verge of paying another expensive dine-out. Thanks God we walked into a traditional pizza house called Uza (?) selling only one kind of pizza - mozzarella cheese pizza. A whole one cost 18 peso and 1/4 cost 4.75. It is a very honest pizza house. We bought our 1/4 pizza with speaking only one Spanish word in the whole process : delicioso !!! what came before was only body language.
We have too much to learn in the language, so there should be enough motivation for joining the suggested school. However, we were disappointed by the Chinese lady who claimed profession on language teaching studied in Germany, just because his husband was German in Goethe Institute. When I asked if there is any course schedule and syllabus, she could not give a concrete answer. How come a teacher trained in Germany which emphasizes a lot on planning and system, does not write teaching plan ? Costing 420 peso per person for 24 1.5 hour course was not expensive in Hong Kong level of living, but it was our one-week-expense. Bringing Berlitz "Essential Spanish" and an iphone under wifi, we decided to study by ourselves.
Another objective of our exploration was to find the market in San Telmo. To our disappointment there was not much fresh food sold there. We also found a CarryFour store on Av. Corrientes where we bought ice-cream, beef, beer and cheese for our big home-made steak dinner. We were quite tired after a whole day of walking and then cooking. We both fell asleep and forgot about Salon Canning that we expected to go after dinner. Not getting in touch of tango community in BsAs, we only knew from Hong Kong about the sad news of Andrea Misse's death. To me, she is a beautiful fire on dancefloor that I felt pity of not having a chance of inviting her to dance, but an embrace in the class with her when I was in Taipei was memorable enough. My heart throbbed in the embrace. Miss you, Andrea. Wish you rest in peace.
Under where we live there is a grocery store opened by Chinese. There is a young woman called Ms Wong who just came from Mainland China to BsAs for 2 years. She introduced a Spanish language school opened by Chinese. After having brunch (the small eggs made by the pan we took from Hong Kong - our first trial), we decided to give a visit on Av Corrientes, after not calling the school successfully. It was a half hour walk and we missed the junction under strong sun, forgetting to bring a sandwich along, we are on the verge of paying another expensive dine-out. Thanks God we walked into a traditional pizza house called Uza (?) selling only one kind of pizza - mozzarella cheese pizza. A whole one cost 18 peso and 1/4 cost 4.75. It is a very honest pizza house. We bought our 1/4 pizza with speaking only one Spanish word in the whole process : delicioso !!! what came before was only body language.We have too much to learn in the language, so there should be enough motivation for joining the suggested school. However, we were disappointed by the Chinese lady who claimed profession on language teaching studied in Germany, just because his husband was German in Goethe Institute. When I asked if there is any course schedule and syllabus, she could not give a concrete answer. How come a teacher trained in Germany which emphasizes a lot on planning and system, does not write teaching plan ? Costing 420 peso per person for 24 1.5 hour course was not expensive in Hong Kong level of living, but it was our one-week-expense. Bringing Berlitz "Essential Spanish" and an iphone under wifi, we decided to study by ourselves.
Another objective of our exploration was to find the market in San Telmo. To our disappointment there was not much fresh food sold there. We also found a CarryFour store on Av. Corrientes where we bought ice-cream, beef, beer and cheese for our big home-made steak dinner. We were quite tired after a whole day of walking and then cooking. We both fell asleep and forgot about Salon Canning that we expected to go after dinner. Not getting in touch of tango community in BsAs, we only knew from Hong Kong about the sad news of Andrea Misse's death. To me, she is a beautiful fire on dancefloor that I felt pity of not having a chance of inviting her to dance, but an embrace in the class with her when I was in Taipei was memorable enough. My heart throbbed in the embrace. Miss you, Andrea. Wish you rest in peace.
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