悉尼位于澳大利亚的东南沿岸，是澳大利亚新南威尔士州的首府，也是澳大利亚面积最大、人口最多的城市。大悉尼都会区面积约12368.193平方千米，悉尼市区面积约1687平方千米，人口约503万（2016年），大悉尼都会区由悉尼市区和33个郊区组成。

📌 天气☁️
夏季（十二月至二月）26-43度
秋季（三月 至 五月）14-23度...
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悉尼位于澳大利亚的东南沿岸，是澳大利亚新南威尔士州的首府，也是澳大利亚面积最大、人口最多的城市。大悉尼都会区面积约12368.193平方千米，悉尼市区面积约1687平方千米，人口约503万（2016年），大悉尼都会区由悉尼市区和33个郊区组成。

📌 天气☁️
夏季（十二月至二月）26-43度
秋季（三月 至 五月）14-23度
冬季（六月 至 八月）8-17度
春季（九月 至 十一月）11-23度

📌 时差⏲️
2018年1月1日-3月31日（悉尼比吉隆坡早3小时）
2018年4月1日-10月6日（悉尼比吉隆坡早2小时）
2018年10月7日-12月31日（悉尼比吉隆坡早3小时）

📌 交通🚗
如果住在CBD，基本上都很方便，大多数的景点购物中心步行都可以到达。只要在便利店购买opal card，就可以轻易的乘搭巴士、地铁、火车、渡轮
1）Taxi 🚗 最方便，价钱不贵，但是乘以3的兑换后就不舍得了。
2）Bus / Metro Bus 🚌
3）Train / Light Rail / Tram 🚄
4）渡轮🚢

📌 VISA
可以上网自己填资料申请然后付费，RM25
https://www.australiavisa.com.my/
可以找旅行社代办，一般上收费RM60

📌 Pocket WIFI 📱
1天 RM26 unlimited
https://www.travelrecommends.com/WiFi_Router/Price_Plan

15个必去旅游景点
1⃣️ Darling Harbour 情人港
- 达令港（又名情人港）是当地集娱乐餐饮和购物于一体的大型休闲区。港口昼夜不分，景色各异，你可以坐在码头边上吹吹海风， 欣赏港口两岸的风景。
2⃣️ Sydney Opera House 悉尼歌剧院
- 是20世纪最具特色的建筑之一，也是世界著名的表演艺术中心、悉尼市的标志性建筑。在2007年6月28日这栋建筑被联合国教科文组织评为世界文化遗产，从落成到列入仅间隔34年，为少数20世纪落成建筑物列入世界遗产的例子。
3⃣️ Sydney Habour bridge 悉尼海港大桥
- 澳大利亚悉尼的一座主要橋樑，橫跨雪梨港連接悉尼商業中心區與北岸。這座引人注目的橋樑與附近的雪梨歌劇院構成了雪梨最知名的景色之一。因為雪梨港灣大橋的外表，所以獲得「衣架」這個外號。
4⃣️ Royal Botanic Garden 皇家植物园
- 皇家植物园占地30公顷，著名景色有玫瑰园，热带雨林以及棕榈林。植物园內可以眺望远处的悉尼海港大桥和悉尼歌剧院，也是拍摄悉尼标志性照片的最佳摄影点。
5⃣️ QVB维多利亚女王大厦
- 号称世上最美的购物中心，周边亦有大型商场可血拼。
6⃣️ Sydney Tower Eye 悉尼塔
- 塔高304.8 米，是澳大利亚最高的建筑，也是南半球最高的参观平台，让你将悉尼城市鸟瞰美景尽收眼底。看夜景,有4D電影院介紹悉尼的景點,不怕高的朋友可以玩SKY WALK。
7⃣️ China Town 唐人街
- 异国他乡特别思念家乡美食，而这里可以让你打打牙祭。你能想到的中国地方特色菜，在这里都能找到。这里特别推荐在唐人街很受欢迎的一家马来西亚餐厅--Mamak。
8⃣️ Fish Market 鱼市场
- 　鱼市场是吃货的天堂，这裡的海鲜超新鲜，在露天地方小心海鷗搶走你的食物。
9⃣️ Wildlife + Sealife 野生动物园 + 水族馆
- 沿Pyrmont Bridge步行就能到野生动物园，喜爱考拉和袋鼠的你一定要趁这个机会去看看它们。野生动物园旁边就是悉尼海洋生物水族馆，步行大约5分钟的行程。有点惊悚的鲨鱼通道和鲨鱼谷一定要感受下，长达146米的海底隧道，可以让你放慢步伐去尽情的欣赏海底世界的生态环境。
1⃣️0⃣️ Taronga Zoo 塔龙加动物园
- 動物園位於水邊，地段極佳，從圓形碼頭（Circular Quay）乘坐輪渡往北，只需 12 分鐘即可到達。 塔龍加動物園擁有超過 4,000 種不同動物，從稀奇物種到原生物種，應有盡有，包括大猩猩、老虎、豹、黑猩猩、長頸鹿、澳洲海獅、袋鼠還有樹熊等。
1⃣️1⃣️ The Rocks
- 城市活動、旅遊休閒及歷史文化於一體的區域，行程優先放在周六或周日，參觀假日市集。
1⃣️2⃣️ LUNA PARK
- 是悉尼唯一一个游乐园，地方不大，但是特别色彩斑斓充满了孩子们的欢声笑语。
1⃣️3⃣️ Bondi Beach 邦代海滩
- 这里可以看到不同肤色的各地美女，比基尼女郎，裸晒女郎，夏天超級多人，十分擠逼。
（火车：Bondi Junction 半个小时、还需要乘搭10分钟Taxi去到海滩）
1⃣️4⃣️ Blue Mountain 蓝山
- 蓝山山脉（英文：Blue Mountains）位于澳大利亚新南威尔斯州悉尼以西104公里处，是该州的一处著名旅游胜地。蓝山为由一系列高原和山脉的总称，由于山上生长着不少桉树，树叶释放的气体聚集在山间，形成一层蓝色的薄雾，蓝山因此得名。蓝山卡通巴附近怪石林立，有三姐妹峰、吉诺兰岩洞、温特沃思瀑布及鸟啄石等天然名胜。同时以其丰富的澳洲原住民文化遗产而闻名。由蓝山山脉的部分地区及附近地区组成的大蓝山区于2000年列入世界自然遗产名录。
（火车：Katoomba站、2个小时）
1⃣️5⃣️ Hunter Vally 猎人谷美酒游
- 猎人谷（Hunter Valley）是澳洲最古老的葡萄酒产区。喜欢喝葡萄酒的朋友们，千万不要错过这裡的优质葡萄酒。林德曼酒庄从一个不起眼的葡萄酒作坊开始到今天成为澳大利亚最大的葡萄酒出口商之一。这里不仅有好喝的葡萄酒还有很多巧克力，奶酪，橄榄等美食。猎人谷花园占地25公顷，绿地覆盖面积广，内有瀑布、果园、印度花园、中国花园、童话花园、意大利花园等景点可以感受下这裡的美景。
（这裡交通较不方便，所以建议大家跟团游）

博物館 :
1）Justice & Police Museum 司法及警察博物館2）Australian Museum 澳洲博物館
3）Art Gallery of New South Wales新南斯威爾美術館
4）Powerhouse Museum動力博物館
5）Museum of Sydney雪梨博物館等等

假日市场：
1）Sydney's Paddy's Market: 適合觀光客也適合本地人去血拼的市集，可以買到很多澳洲必買紀念。
2）The Rocks Market: 周末及假日才營業，深受當地人及遊客歡迎，200多個小攤檔，售賣着各式各樣的商品

3大OUTLET：
1）Birkenhead Point Outlet Centre:商店集中2）DFO Homebush, Sydney Olympic Park: 3個Outlet之中最大，最多商店
3）Red Yard Entertainment Centre:商店比較分散及少的一個Outlet，不推薦

悉尼住宿：
通常都住在市中心区域，首选Central Station、次选 Town Hall Station最佳(2者相距1.3公里，很接近)。悉尼景點都集中在這2個火車站一帶，而且Central Station來往悉尼機場及坐火車到近郊都比較方便 。我是住Serviced Apartment World Tower真的是一级棒，无论是地点还是房间，还有无敌的城市夜景🌃真的超疗愈超美。

推薦住宿(Central Station周邊):

1）- Meriton Serviced Apartments World Tower 交通方便, 靜中帶旺, 下樓已經是商場和大型超市,到處都是餐廳 ,距離火車站很近 Agoda評分9.3

2）- The Old Clare Hotel 交通方便, 靜中帶旺, 旁邊有一條街全都是餐廳,人氣十足,旁邊已經有商場和大型超市,距離火車站很近 Agoda評分9.1

3）- Mercure Sydney Hotel 交通方便, 超級接近火車站 Agoda評分8.0

4）- Metro Hotel Marlow Sydney Central - 在2個商場中間,購物最便利, 距離火車站很近, 房價較便宜 Agoda評分7.5

5）- Great Southern Hotel Sydney - 交通方便, 距離火車站很近,旁邊就是商場,大型超市及市集, 房價較便宜 Agoda評分7.6

亲子游 行程🏃
第1⃣️天：吉隆坡-悉尼
第2⃣️天：Sydney Tower Eye 悉尼塔、Royal Botanic Garden 皇家植物园、Sydney Opera House 悉尼歌剧院 ➕Sydney Habour bridge 悉尼海港大桥（在Circular Quay码头看着夕阳享受晚餐）
第3⃣️天：一家三口婚纱摄影、China Town 唐人街、Darling Harbour 情人港（又是一个享受天，看着夕阳享受晚餐）
第4⃣️天：Fish Market 鱼市场、Sealife 水族馆、QVB维多利亚女王大厦
第5⃣️天：Taronga Zoo 塔龙加动物园
第6⃣️天：Blue Mountain 蓝山
第7⃣️天：Sydney's Paddy's Market、Circular Quay、The Rock ➕ The Rock Market
第8⃣️天：Australian Museum 澳洲博物館、
悉尼-吉隆坡

⚠️ 现在很流行的一句话【只要有人的地方就一定有中国人】。走在悉尼的大街小巷，迎面而来10个人有5个是亚洲面孔（悉尼很多中国人、台湾人、韩国人、日本人、马来西亚人、泰国人等等）这城市有50%已经是亚洲面孔了，所以在吃喝方面不用担心，到处都是韩国餐日本餐和中国餐。

⚠️ 为了方便和舒服，亲子游有3岁小孩和65岁妈妈，所以Hunter Vally 猎人谷美酒游、LUNA PARK、Bondi Beach 邦代海滩，不在我们的行程内。

我是國榮。來自澳洲昆士蘭省，讀中學時成績非常好，分數已足夠在大學選讀任何一科。當時我希望成為一名醫生，因為可以幫助他人。我在新南威爾斯大學讀醫科，第一年是住在雪梨北區一個朋友家中，第二年入住大學國際宿舍，宿舍規定最少有半數是留學生，不是澳洲人。最先兩年結識了不少香港、新加玻、馬來西亞的朋友，與他們很合得來，不過最重要是入住宿舍後，便遇到了香港的流行歌曲。有一天我行經走廊時，聽到一些很悅耳的音樂，我便問同學這是甚麽歌曲及可否借給我欣賞，他便借了給我。我已忘記是Leslie還是Alan的歌，但肯定是其中一位。因為很喜歡這些歌曲，便到唐人街購買，後來一邊聽歌一邊看歌詞，因此慢慢地學識了很多中文字。
因為喜歡唱歌，所以在大學的同學活動，開始演唱中文歌，也曾參加香港學生會舉辦的歌唱比賽，參賽歌曲是「愛的根源」，結果獲得亞軍。我很清楚記得，國際宿舍為了文化交流，每年舉辦一次國際晚宴，希望不同種族的學生可以表演和分享文化。Leslie在一九八五年 唱Monica獲得獎項，那是一首我很喜歡的歌曲，所以在文化交流晚會我便選擇唱Monica。當時同學覺得很驚奇，我怎可能唱Monica。我是跟着錄影帶，學習他的舞步和唱歌技巧。我不停地在公眾地方練習，其他同學看到我很用心練習，也過來幫助我。在台上表演時有幾位同學為我伴舞，當晚演出非常成功。
一九八五年Leslie和幾位香港天皇巨星，來澳洲開演唱會。演唱會的主辦公司，需要義務司機，朋友問我能否當義務司機。我答應了，後來知道是當Leslie的司機。有一天他放假不用排練，我們便駕車往坎培拉，當日天氣多雲有微雨，甚麽也看不清楚，喝過咖啡後便離開，回程是Leslie駕駛，他的英語非常好，途中我們愉快地暢談，這次旅程對我來說是很重要的事情。
一九八六年Alan到來澳洲，我又當了他的司機。在他入住的酒店，介紹人在偶像面前，誤把我的名字說成河詠麟，當時在偶像面前我也不懂怎樣矯正。大約有兩年很多人以為我是河詠麟。他的四位女和音，知道我懂得唱他的歌，所以告訴了他，在排練那天他叫我上台一起唱。認識Leslie 和Alan兩位巨星，對我的影響很大，聽到他們的歌，和看到觀眾的反應，我開始對香港的歌唱發展很重視。
因為常常想着唐人街和唱歌，沒有用功讀書，因此醫科的第三年考試不合格，需要重讀，在一九八六年重讀了三個月便決定退學。
後來做了三份洗碗碟工作，還做了個多月砌磚的工作，我把工作一年多，所得工資儲起來，買了一張單程機票和帶了一千澳元，便到來香港發展。唯一的準備是問一個朋友能否到他的家中居住。他的父親很勉強地答應，但需要收租金。我甚麽準備也沒有，只是刻意買了一張單程機票，是因為不想遇到少許困難便放棄，返回澳洲。
初到香港時甚麼都不認識，沒有計劃，也沒有朋友。我最先是住在廣播道，但我的朋友不是在那裡居住，因為他還在讀書。初來時沒有事做，所以在外面逛了幾天，有一天意外地行到紅磡體育館，中門外有四名男士在吸煙，他們竟然叫我河詠麟。原來他們是Alan的樂隊成員，在一九八六年見過面，但相隔一年，竟然還可以記起我，這就是緣分。當時Alan正在為演唱會排練，他們帶我進去體育館，這樣便再見到Alan。一九八七年的演唱會是三十一場，我看了三十場。本來打算看足三十一場，但是有少許問題出現，因為我住的地方有規定，晚上十時半後便會關門，不會再讓人進出。但演唱會是不會這麽早便完場，每晚看完演唱會，我會行去尖沙嘴，然後再步行回廣播道，然後在公園外的石椅小睡，到五時公園開門便進去睡覺，但最終因捱不住，有一晚沒有去看演唱會。有一次Alan突然問我，今晚可否上台唱歌，我說當然可以，便成為他的嘉賓。我第一次表演Alan十分開心，但第二次他在台上介紹，有一個外國人，唱他的歌十分出色，當他呼喚河詠麟出場，因為我不在場，所以沒有出現。後來他問我為何沒有出現，我便向他解釋原因，他便安排我入住酒店，直到演唱會完結。所以便有第三次呼喚我上台，這是我第二次成為嘉賓跟他一起唱「朋友」，真是十分興奮。到八月他的生日會也有邀請我做嘉賓，其實每一件發生的事情都是有關係的。
後來我在北角僑冠大厦租了一間劏房居住，有一次從北角行到中環，看到一間職業介紹公司的招聘啟示，我便前往應徵。當時職員說我可以教英文，但我不是教師，他認為沒有問題，便介紹我到一間補習社工作。在補習社工作了幾個月，有一位同事看到一張電視台的海報，需要招聘 一個西方人，但要懂得說中文。我致電應徵，他是一位獨立經紀，我說沒有經驗和廣東話也不是很好，他說沒有問題。我便去見一位電視台女監製，她給我一段英文劇本，要我讀出來。因為很緊張，五分鐘都不能出聲，我跟自己說，不嘗試會後侮一生。那一段對白是警官責備下級，責備人一定是很大聲的，所以我便很大聲說出來。當時她正在做自己的事，沒有再理會我，但我的叫聲使她大吃一驚。因為沒有其他外國人給她選擇，她無奈地聘請了我，這套劇集需要兩個西方人，另外一位是當主角，從那時開始，便在電視台工作了二十年。
二零一四年九月我在N o w T V的一個音樂節目做嘉賓，在一間音樂室裡我和三位節目主持人，唱歌和談論音樂。到最近才知道，他們三位是100毛的老闆。到聖誕100毛找我拍攝雜誌封面，我不知為何找我拍攝封面，原來三位老闆是認識我的，只是我自己不知道。
二零一五年八月他們聯絡我，他們有一首歌，問我會否願意演唱，那首歌曲我很熟悉，歌詞十分口語化，應該可以學到的。但當時是星期五，表演是在星期日，只得兩天時間作準備，所以我很用心練習。舞台是有電視屏幕可以看到歌詞，但我盡量避免看電視屏幕，只是有需要時才看一看，便可以放心地唱。能夠上台非常開心，我可以扮了演一個角色，唱一首悅耳和有趣的歌，觀眾很熱鬧和興奮，真是十分難得。我知道這是一生一次，這不是自己可以做到，是他們給我機會。那首歌很受歡迎，而且登上了流行榜。聖誕節前他們聯絡我，表示將會舉辦總選，問我會否參加，我便欣然答應了。當天每位表演者，會有兩首歌曲，在十二月廿六日接到新歌，我從沒有聽過那首歌，是一首說唱歌曲，而且歌詞很陌生，對我來說十分困難，所以我不停地練習了四百多次。當晚表演由Now T V直播，有七十萬人觀看，想不到自己能夠獲得香港區最受歡迎男歌星獎，當宣佈我的名字時，極度開心，無人能想到，唱出真香港的歌曲，是由一個西方人唱出，可以感動到別人。這是天時地利人和，超乎現實，簡直是一個奇蹟。因為那首歌不是我揀選，是別人給我的，練習這首歌時眼睛常常都會充了滿淚水和很感動。
西方人在香港發展演藝事業是十分困難的，機會不多，只能扮演一些無關重要的角色，但我從來沒有想過放棄。五年前我計劃灌錄一張唱片，因為胃酸倒流，把聲帶灼傷，使我聲音變得沙啞，這件事使我非常懊惱，因為辛苦練習多年，卻發生了這個問題，後來我矯正了唱歌方法，問題得以改善，可以繼續唱歌，現在準備為唱片再進行錄音工作。
最近有很多關於少數族裔的事情出現在我身上 ，現在我為一個港台節目做旁白，是關於少數族裔在香港。他們在本地娛樂圈發展是十分困難，因為在一個有九成是同一種族的地方，看電視或電影，也是會看自己的種族，未必會看少數族裔。如果他們幾個人合作，做一個節目，然後在網上發放，是有機會成功。香港有很多少數族裔居住，有些人的中文比我好，他們也愛香港。
我心目中的香港人，是要做香港人做的事，吃香港人吃的食物，關心香港，不看膚色，希望他們也能說廣東話，最重要是覺得香港是自己的家，這便是真正的香港人。

I am Gregory. I hail from Queensland, Australia. During my high school years, my grades were excellent. They were good enough for me to enroll in any subject that I wanted to in university. At that time, I wanted to become a doctor because I could help others. I studied Medicine at the University of New South Wales. In my first year, I lived in my friend’s home located in North Sydney. During my second year, I lived in International House at the university. It was a rule for the school campus to have at least 50 percent overseas students. They cannot be Australians. I met a lot of Hong Kong, Singaporean and Malaysian friends in my first two years. I was able to get along with them very well. But what is most important was that after living in International House, I came across Hong Kong pop music. One day I was walking along the corridors and overheard beautifully melodic music. I asked my classmate what music he was listening to and if he could lend me the music to listen to. He leant it to me.
I have forgotten whether it was the music of Leslie or Alan. But I am sure it was one of them because I really liked that kind of music. I went to Chinatown to buy it. Eventually, I listened to the music as I read the lyrics. In turn, I slowly picked up a lot of Chinese characters.
I attended many different functions to perform Cantonese songs in university because I really liked to sing. I also attended a singing competition organized by the Hong Kong student association. The competition song was ‘Root of Love’. In the end I won second runner-up. I clearly remember International House wanted to organize cultural exchanges so they held international banquets each year. Their hope was for students from different ethnic backgrounds to perform and share their culture.
In 1985, Leslie won an award for singing ‘Monica’. It was a song that I really loved. During the international cultural exchange banquet, I chose to sing ‘Monica’. At that time my classmates were very surprised. How can I sing ‘Monica’? I followed the videos to learn the dance steps and singing techniques. I kept on practicing in public. Other students witnessed how hard I was practicing and came over to help me out. A few classmates became my accompanying dancers as I danced on stage. The performance that night was extremely successful.
Leslie and a group of Hong Kong superstars visited Australia to hold concerts in 1985. The concert organizer needed a voluntary driver. My friends asked me whether I wanted to be the voluntary driver. I accepted the offer. In the end I found out that I would become Leslie’s driver. There was one day when he was on break and did not need to rehearse. We drove to Canberra. It was cloudy and there was light rain on that day. We could not see clearly. After having a coffee, we left. Leslie was next to drive. His English was very good. During the journey back we chatted happily. The trip was very important to me.
In 1986, Alan came to Australia. I was also his driver. Our mutual friend misread my name as “Ho Wing Lun” in front of my idol during his stay at the hotel. I was not able to correct him at the time because Alan (“Wing Lun”) was my idol. Many people thought I was called “Ho Wing Lun” for around two years. His four back-up singers knew I was able to sing Alan’s songs. That was why they told him about it. During rehearsal day, he told me to sing with him on stage. Knowing superstars like Leslie and Alan had a great impact on me. To be able to listen to their songs and to witness the reactions from the audience led me to become interested in a singing career in Hong Kong.
I did not put in a lot of effort in my studies because I always thought of Chinatown and singing. Consequently, I failed my medical examinations in my third year. I had to re-take my subjects. In 1986, I re-took my studies for three months but then I decided to quit school.
In the end I juggled three dish washing jobs and also many months of brick laying work. I saved up a whole year of my salary and bought a one-way ticket to Hong Kong. I also carried $1000 Australian dollars on me. I then went to Hong Kong to develop my career. I only asked my friend whether I could stay at his place as preparation to living in my new homeland. His father reluctantly agreed but had to receive rent. I did not have anything equipped or prepared. I only purposely bought a one-way ticket because I did not want to easily give up when I encountered minor difficulties and return to Australia.
When I first arrived in Hong Kong, I did not know anything. I did not have any plans. I also did not have any friends. Initially, I lived in Broadcast Drive but my friend did not live there because he was still studying. I did not have anything to do at first. That was why I hung around Hong Kong for several days. One day, by coincidence, I came across Hung Hom Coliseum. At the entrance, there were four men smoking. They noticed me and surprisingly called out “Ho Wing Lun”. They were, in fact, members of Alan’s band. We have first met in 1986. Surprisingly, they remembered me after a whole year. That is called fate. At that time, Alan was preparing for his concert. The four men brought me inside the Coliseum. I saw Alan. There were 31 shows in his 1987 concert. I watched 30 of them. I intended to watch all 31 shows but there was a slight problem. There were rules at my guest house. After ten thirty each night, the door to the home will be locked. Nobody was allowed to enter or leave the house. But concerts do not end so early. So, after watching each concert in the evening, I would walk to Tsim Sha Tsui and then walk back to Broadcast Drive. I would sleep on the concreate seats outside the park. When the park opens at five in the morning, I will go in and sleep. Eventually, I was unable to handle it. One night I cannot watch a show. Once Alan asked me “Can you sing on stage tonight?” I told him “Of course I can.” I became his special guest. Alan was extremely happy when I first performed. By the second show, he announced that: “There is a westerner who can sing my songs very well.” He called out my name “Ho Wing Lun!” But because I was not at the scene, I did not show up. Eventually, he asked me why I did not show up. I explained my reason to him. He then arranged a hotel for me to stay at until the end of the concert. That was why he was able to call me out the third time! That was my second time as special guest singing “Friends” with him. It was exhilarating. In August, he introduced me as a special guest at his birthday party. Actually, everything happens for a reason and everything is interconnected.
Soon after, I rented a tiny flat at a building in North Point to live in. I walked from North Point to Central once. I came across a recruitment agency looking to hire. I went in to give it a shot. At that time, the staff said I could teach English but I was not a teacher. The staff said it was not a problem and introduced me to work at a learning center. After working there for a few months, a colleague saw a TV station’s poster. They were looking to recruit a westerner but that person needs to be able to speak Cantonese. I called to give it a try. The person who answered was an independent agent. I told that agent I had no experience and my Cantonese was not very good. The agent told me it was not a problem. I went to see the TV station’s female producer. She gave me an English script and wanted me to read it out. I was so nervous that I did not utter a word in five minutes. I told myself, if I do not try, I will regret it for life. The dialogue depicted a police telling off a subordinate. When you tell someone off, you must be very loud so, I read my lines out very loudly. At that time, the female producer was doing her own work and did not care about me but because I was so loud, I frightened her! As there were no other westerners for her to choose from, she had no choice but to hire me. The TV show required two westerners. The other westerner played the main character. From then onwards, I worked at the TV station for twenty years.
In September 2014, I appeared as a guest on a NowTV music program. I was in a band room with the three show hosts. We sang and discussed music. Only recently, I found out that they were the Founders of 100 Most. When it was Christmas, 100 Most invited me to appear on the cover of their magazine. I did not know why they wanted me to do it – only to find out that the Founders of the magazine already knew who I was! It was just me who did not know that.
In August 2015, 100 Most contacted me and asked me whether I wanted to sing this particular song. I was very familiar with the song lyrics. The lyrics were very colloquial. I should be able to learn it. It was Friday. The performance was on Sunday. I only had two days to prepare for it. That was why I practiced very hard. The stage showcased the lyrics. But I tried my best not to look at them. I would only glance at them when I needed to. I felt more confident and assured as I sang.
I was extremely elated to be able to perform on stage. I can play a role singing a wonderful and amusing song. The audience was super warm and excited. It was a moment to be treasured. I know this can only happen once in my life. It cannot be done by myself. It is because I was given a chance by 100 Most. The song was very popular and hit the charts. Before Christmas, 100 Most contacted me and expressed that there would be a final election of the songs. They asked me whether I would like to participate. I was more than happy to give it a try. On the day of the show, each contestant would have two songs.
On the 26th of December, I received the new song. I have never heard of the song before. It was a rap song. I was very unfamiliar with the lyrics. I found them very difficult. That was why I kept practicing it for more than four hundred times. The show was broadcasted live by NowTV. Around seven hundred thousand people watched the broadcast. I cannot imagine winning the Best Hong Kong Male Singer. When my name was announced, I was extremely delighted. Nobody can imagine that a westerner was able to sing a song about ‘real Hong Kong’. It can touch people. It was something that happened at the right place and at the right time. It was also surreal and a complete miracle. It is because the song was not selected by me. It was given to me by others. My eyes were often wet from practicing this song. I was very touched.
It is very difficult for westerners to develop their artistry in the entertainment industry. Chances are slim. They can only play roles that are irrelevant and unimportant. But I never thought of giving up. Five years ago I planned to record my own album. But because of stomach acid reflux, my vocal chords got damaged. My voice became hoarse and coarse. It brought me a lot of frustrations because I have worked hard for many years. Then this happened. I then amended my singing techniques and the issue improved significantly. I was able to sing again. I am now working on re-recording my new album.
A lot of ethnic minority issues materialized around me as of late. I am currently the voice over for a RTHK program about ethnic minorities in Hong Kong. It is very hard for them to develop their career in the local entertainment industry. It is because when 90 percent of the people share the same skin color comes together in a particular place, those watching TV or film will tend to watch people of their own skin color. They may not watch ethnic minorities. If a group of ethnic minorities work together to create a program for the web, it may work out. There are a lot of ethnic minorities residing in Hong Kong. Some of their Chinese is better than mine. They also love Hong Kong very much.
‘Hong Kongers’, to me, are people who need to do things ‘Hong Kongers’ do. Eat Hong Kong food. Care about Hong Kong. And do not look at skin color. I hope they can also speak Cantonese. Most importantly, they should regard Hong Kong as their home. Then, they are ‘real Hong Kongers’.