As I See It

Dear Readers, My brand new blog The Real Deal ( http://realdealhk.blogspot.com ) is now up and running!! The Real Deal is a comprehensive review site that offers straight-to-the-point opinions on the dernier cri in the city's leisure scene: restaurants, movies, hotels and stores. Each "bite-sized" review aims at giving you the lowdown on everything you need to know to seek out the city's best kept secrets or before you step into the next tourist trap. Combining wry humor with razor sharp observations, the blog serves to inform and entertain. The Real Deal

Valentine’s Day is, for many, the most dreaded holiday on the calendar. Those who are already spoken for go along with it and pretend to enjoy it. For 24 hours, they act as though their love were as sweet as Godiva chocolates and their lives as rosy as an Agnes B flower bouquet. Singles , on the other hand, are relegated to spending the night alone at home with a tub of Häagen-Dazs in front of the television or meeting up with other singles to commiserate the way the years have slipped through their fingers. No one wants to be a wall flower or shrinking violet. The obligatory heart-shaped chocolate box Valentine’s Day is a quintessential Hallmark holiday. It was conceived, created and blown out of proportion by florists and chocolate makers. Originally dedicated to the Valentine of Rome, a martyred priest in the Middle Ages, the holiday was later removed from the Christian calendar because there wasn’t much to celebrate... _______________________ Read the rest of this

Beep, beep, beep. The x-ray machine went off as I walked through the gantry. I was going through security at Terminal 3 of London’s Heathrow Airport, where I was to take a connecting flight back to Hong Kong from Geneva. I didn't understand why there was no direct flights between Hong Kong and Switzerland. I also didn't understand why connecting passengers who had just got off a plane and never left the restricted area would need to go through security again. Even the purple and yellow signage inspires hatred Airport security officer Patel* signaled me over and asked me to stretch my arms for a manual screening. He began waving a handheld metal detector over my body. “Lift your arms higher please,” he said. I complied. I didn’t have any cell phone, loose change or keys on me. It had to be my belt. But I thought belt buckles wouldn't set off airport alarms. I am a frequent traveler and I don't remember ever removing my belt. And why didn’t the same b