記得07年的「光年」演唱會，傷勢未痊癒，主辦單位給我特別位子，讓拿著枴杖的我盡量減少走動。嗯，歌神的演唱會，跌斷腳的人也不能錯過。走過1／2世紀的張學友，發片速度大幅度放緩、演出次數也降低，但他每一次出擊，都在提醒大家，誰才是中文樂壇的「神」。

五場售票演唱會－這樣的記錄在新加坡暫時無人能及。 「1／2世紀演唱會」以40分鐘的音樂劇掀開序幕。巨大屏幕上有舒淇與張學友談情說愛，舞台上有眾多舞蹈員帶出一首首中、粵語歌曲。隨後向沈殿霞致敬，發狂似的搖滾環節，以及主打Jazz的”Private Corner”單元，張學友在跨入50大關的同時，顯然沒有鬆懈的意思。絢麗的燈光加上具有王者氣勢的舞台設計，這場演唱會一次又一次給人頂級的震撼。 Encore部分，一連串的經典K歌，還有數十年前的熱舞完整再現，任何人都沒有挑剔的機會。

謝謝歌神，再次呈現一場那麼精彩的演出。

I promised myself not to return to Taipei this year, as I had made way too many trips there in the last decade or so. I wanted to explore Hong Kong further, as I had mentioned in January.

Contrary to what I had planned, I didn’t run amok in Mongkok grabbing sneakers, and neither did I sweep entire shelves of items in the various malls. Something was wrong somewhere. Was it the crowd at practically every store? Or was it the excruciatingly warm weather? I knew it was going to be hot, but I never thought it would be that bad.

My friends didn’t mind the weather and went crazy in a bid to boost Hong Kong’s economy. There was no stopping them, not even at a supermarket.

We popped by Macau for a day and had ambitious plans. Pork buns, Portuguese egg tarts, etc. But we ended up spending most of the day shopping at the Venetian. “I was back!”

A mere sixty minutes at the world’s largest casino, I discovered a multi-tasking machine where you could simultaneously place bets on baccarat, roulette and sic bo. Amazing.

Sala gate? Then where’s the correct one? Muahahahahha.

W Hotel is a luxury boutique chain targeted at the younger crowd. When they say ‘young’, I think they mean people in their late 20s to early 40s. It was edgy, hip, and informally classy. I like.

This is what I mean.

They have an iPhone application where you can access information about the hotel, listen to their customised playlists and even order in room dining or request for pillows and toiletries. It was all very cool, but the old fogey in me chose to use the telephone instead.

This is the harbour view from (some of) the rooms.

While I like their turndown service (which some hotels do not provide, unless given specific instructions), I don’t really fancy their light settings. There were only three choices- Day, Night and Dream. With the exception of the table lamp and night reading lights, manual adjustment of the other bulbs weren’t possible. Day was too dim for me when I was working on my laptop, while my friend who wanted to sleep in a pitch dark room, was annoyed with the Dream setting which had two night lights beside the bed.

I was frantically writing an essay forty eight hours before I left. Darn, I could sweet-talk my way through practically anything, but I had some trouble completing that 3000-word paper. I had to eventually lug my laptop with me and rush through the assignment with a plate of Caesar salad and a can of Coke.

The return flight was retimed twice. From 1830 hrs to 2200 hrs, and subsequently 2240 hrs. It was 2320 hrs by the time we took off from Hong Kong. I almost never go back on air the day following a vacation, but my friends had to work the next day. Imagine their anguish and fatigue by the time we touched down at nearly 0230hrs.

I was furious at the way they handled the entire communication process and I’ve just sent Singapore Airlines my third complaint letter this year. I swear I’ll publish the emails in full if the reply is as incoherent and grammatically challenged as the last one.

I adore Hong Kong for its excellent transport system with direct trains between the airport and the city, as well as the check in facilities in town. I’m not sure how many people on the same flight learnt of the delay only at the airport. We were told in Kowloon Station when we tried to check in shortly before 1600 hrs. As the grouchy group settled down in a cafe, I made up my mind not to sulk. I was going to the highest spa in the world, I announced.

Occupying the top floors of the International Commerce Centre, The Ritz Carlton, Hong Kong is the world’s highest hotel.

This is where I waited for my massage after taking a shower.

The view from Level 113 is enough to make anyone stop whining.

You would really have to be there in order to understand why Disneyland is “the happiest place on Earth”.

We arrived on a sweltering afternoon, but the exuberance peaked as we walked through the front gates. It is hard not to smile. And it is impossible not to point excitedly at everything and anything that comes along your way.

Stitch Encounter promises a hilarious and interactive experience that is “different every time”. I was laughing throughout the whole segment. I don’t want to provide any spoilers. Let’s just say that cameras are cleverly placed in the hall, so it’s not just Stitch alone in his spaceship.

Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters isn’t a ride for bobo shooters. Armed with a blaster, you take aim and shoot at various interactive points throughout the ride. And Space Mountain is an electrifying roller coaster ride that transports you into outer space- there’s no knowing which direction you’re heading! It’s a Small World is perfect to hide from the heat. It’s a boat journey through the different continents with exquisite dolls and impeccably timed music. And I like how The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh was well done too- looks so simple, yet so slick and amusing.

The Golden Mickeys is a grand and elaborate musical styled after an awards show. As Mickey and Minnie give out trophies honouring their friends, we are taken on a journey back in time to relive some of Disney’s finest films and music.

The Flights of Fantasy Parade which takes place twice a day, is commissioned for Hong Kong Disneyland’s 5th anniversary. The line between adult and child vanishes as lifelike characters appear in front of you in a wholesome carnival atmosphere.

My favourite show has got to be Mickey’s PhilharMagic. Donald Duck loses Maestro Mickey Mouse’s magic hat and travels through several scenes and encounters various characters like Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and the Little Mermaid to get it back. Pure 3D fun- and way better than how they make some of the 3D films nowadays.

And of course, no one leaves Disneyland without popping by Fantasy Gardens. Photo galore with the characters!

Sleeping Beauty’s Castle has been sprinkled with Tinker Bell’s fairy dust to transform into an enchanting backdrop for photo opportunities. Nice.

Footnote: Media people like us are given some privileges every now and then- thank you very much. My sincere appreciation to Hong Kong Disneyland for hosting us last week.

A friend of ours works there, and we called, expecting perhaps discounted tickets or something. Disney’s generosity, however, made my jaws drop. They provided FOC tickets for my group, and arranged for a guided tour. It was faster than the priority queue for the various rides and shows. Zero waiting time and front row seats every single time!

I was totally astonished and overwhelmed. Thank you.

That said, this isn’t a reciprocal blog entry. I truly enjoyed the Disney visit and will be back again.