上週末是 2009 年的第二個週末，也是個特別可喜的週末。
這是個晴朗的週末，但卻略嫌晴得有些過了分了，赤裸裸的天空，竟無一絲雲彩！幸而終年常駐的「瘴氣」，那兩天竟然大大減退，於是夜裏皓月如鏡，白天穹蒼一片藍。這算是第一個可喜。
這是個適逢月圓的週末，而月亮在軌跡上走到了它的近地點，因而略微顯得比較大，也較為明亮。我不但在營地得賞晴空皓月，翌日又復披星戴月而歸。 這是第二個可喜。
這是個楓葉尚紅的週末。 營地上方那片楓林，經過多番寒風的侵凌，已然漸入禿境了。疏落的紅葉，多半殘缺不全。林地上卻鋪滿了枯葉，幾乎把泥土全給覆蓋了。可是偏偏還有幾棵壯株，依然枝葉婆娑，似乎不肯輕易向寒風屈服。 我鑽到楓林裏去流連，還能得賞可愛的紅葉；倚榦仰首凝望，但見滿樹的通紅，在藍天的映襯下，迎風搖曳。這是此地難得一見的深秋色彩、冬前景象，我托兩腿雙肩一腰板之福，大老遠跑了來，見證了，心中自然感到欣悅。 這是第三個可喜。
這是個稍冷的週末。 香港地處亞熱帶，又非高原，沒有氣候學上所定義的冬天。然而南下的寒流，還是偶爾會給這氣候溫和的海隅之地，帶來丁點冬天的氣息。上星期六晚上到星期天日出，我嘗到了只有6到7度的氣溫，可說略可感受幾分冬意了。 過冬，是人類文明發展的重要自然催化劑之一。 於今地球升溫已然證據確鑿，未來的冬天料將越來越暖和，我在香港的野地上，此刻仍能嗅到冬天的氣息，這算是第四個可喜。
這些個可喜，必得先有那麼一股傻勁，投進自然之母的懷抱裏，才得感受出來。
倘若讓我跟人們一樣，在西沙路岔口的「燒烤場」上，一邊吃著烤香腸，喝著蒸餾水，一邊迎著北風，呼吸兩旁車道上汽車排出的廢氣，那就大可不必再談什麼感受了。然而，要不像只顧烤雞腿的人們那樣心無旁鶩，而勻出幾秒鐘的工夫來，仰頭看看場中一棵大樹，那就一定會察覺，這原來竟是一棵楓香獨樹，這時滿樹的赭紅，略堪與烤灶裏滴上雞腿油的炭火一比燦爛。
2009/01/17
The American Football As I Perceive It
A friend of mine told me that the football team of the university from which he graduated, many, many years ago though, was on "60 Minutes". He just didn't need to tell me that. I did remember the name of his university. And as long as my Chinese made hard disk recorder is in its working order, it's unlikely that I would miss the programme. "60 Minutes" is always worth watching, with Andy Rooney's cliché in particular.
Later I spent some time, compromising some sleep, to watch it, together with a part telling a terrifying story about a drunk driver prosecuted for murdering a little girl riding in a limousine by crashing it with his car and severing the poor little girl's head.
Despite I was taken with anger that I agreed the irresponsible young driver deserved capital punishment, I found the football part of the programme rather interesting. It profiled a head coach with a decent belly just like many other coaches. This smart coach was able to transform the college team and lift it from nowhere to the seventh of the country's top ten in the season. It is particularly amazing that this fat coach has never played college football himself.
Yet the American football could be the last of all kinds of games I would like to watch, just next to soccer which is normally less violent.
In my opinion American football players are by and large warrior-like, consisting of 50% muscles and bones and 50% pure testosterone. Many even take certain drugs to help building up muscles and increasing body power. Some are really brutal, physically as well as mentally. Every now and then, someone gets seriously hurt or killed in the field, right in front of his loved sexy cheerleader's tearful eyes.
Yeah, those fellows of the university team simply call themselves "Raiders", don't they?
Someone might be trampled flat if he gets in their way! They just have struggled really hard to climb up to the high rank.
In ancient times when men raided their enemies, they conquered by killing and enslaving, and they snatched all the young women and girls for bearing their own children! That's what a raid, or an invasion is all about.
An American football player is meant to mimic the primordial human reproduction behaviour in this modern time, obeying the animal instinct that has propagated the human species so fast and so successfully.
The most essencial ingredient of this sort of game is always brute force. Without a heavy body build and very strong muscles and bones, just talking about the skills is absolutely pointless.
On top of brute force, of course, the offensive line must have good tactics in order to win, and so must the defensive line in order not to lose, but both lines must be made up of big tough guys in the first place! There are 300-pound big guys among the players. The gorgeous skinny cheerleaders surely won't be enthusiastic to cheer up small fellows in the field.
No doubt this is a big boys' game. Those who are small or weak can only be spectators or fans. They get their adrenaline pumped to their dilated pupils and extremities watching their idols raid and crush their enemies. It is the hormones and empathy that make the fans of a football team feel intoxicated.
If one doesn't want to have any hero to worship, and not any enemy to conquer, he probably wouldn't be keen on this sort of game, not even just being a spectator.
Later I spent some time, compromising some sleep, to watch it, together with a part telling a terrifying story about a drunk driver prosecuted for murdering a little girl riding in a limousine by crashing it with his car and severing the poor little girl's head.
Despite I was taken with anger that I agreed the irresponsible young driver deserved capital punishment, I found the football part of the programme rather interesting. It profiled a head coach with a decent belly just like many other coaches. This smart coach was able to transform the college team and lift it from nowhere to the seventh of the country's top ten in the season. It is particularly amazing that this fat coach has never played college football himself.
Yet the American football could be the last of all kinds of games I would like to watch, just next to soccer which is normally less violent.
In my opinion American football players are by and large warrior-like, consisting of 50% muscles and bones and 50% pure testosterone. Many even take certain drugs to help building up muscles and increasing body power. Some are really brutal, physically as well as mentally. Every now and then, someone gets seriously hurt or killed in the field, right in front of his loved sexy cheerleader's tearful eyes.
Yeah, those fellows of the university team simply call themselves "Raiders", don't they?
Someone might be trampled flat if he gets in their way! They just have struggled really hard to climb up to the high rank.
In ancient times when men raided their enemies, they conquered by killing and enslaving, and they snatched all the young women and girls for bearing their own children! That's what a raid, or an invasion is all about.
An American football player is meant to mimic the primordial human reproduction behaviour in this modern time, obeying the animal instinct that has propagated the human species so fast and so successfully.
The most essencial ingredient of this sort of game is always brute force. Without a heavy body build and very strong muscles and bones, just talking about the skills is absolutely pointless.
On top of brute force, of course, the offensive line must have good tactics in order to win, and so must the defensive line in order not to lose, but both lines must be made up of big tough guys in the first place! There are 300-pound big guys among the players. The gorgeous skinny cheerleaders surely won't be enthusiastic to cheer up small fellows in the field.
No doubt this is a big boys' game. Those who are small or weak can only be spectators or fans. They get their adrenaline pumped to their dilated pupils and extremities watching their idols raid and crush their enemies. It is the hormones and empathy that make the fans of a football team feel intoxicated.
If one doesn't want to have any hero to worship, and not any enemy to conquer, he probably wouldn't be keen on this sort of game, not even just being a spectator.
2009/01/10
歲末歲首野營
去歲的耶穌聖誕，節期和週末粘連，造就營期共四天；本欲用以串走麥、衛二徑，野行四晝，帳宿三宵；啟行於北潭涌，於鉛礦坳岔口串入衛徑，結束於南涌。
可是因為朋友臨時要加入露營，原計劃體能強度要求太大，只得取消，改為定點野營，以適應朋友的時間安排和體格狀況。於是竊居東灣西峪半坡營地。
倘若串走麥、衛二徑，從北潭涌走到南涌，腳程大約100公里，恰與全走麥徑相若。 這麼個走法，雖然掐去了叫人甚為難堪的衛徑港島段，和麥徑的屯門段，卻還是無從繞過衛徑的大埔段，也就是說，必得穿越大埔舊墟的鬧市。這一小段可真彆扭死了！這是讓我樂於輕易改變計劃的主要原因。
此外，沿途並無像樣的野營地，而衛徑的後半截，乾脆可說完全無地紮營了！或說可在第9段離徑到流水響「指定營地」，可這營地設於郊遊徑上，對於新界的露營者，交通方便，在這種假日，必然熱鬧得跟蘭桂坊不遑多讓；晚上還可能來個普天同慶、徹夜歡騰；縱有蘭、桂綻開，難免吵得即時凋落。這種營地呀，我輩離群野人，萬萬住不得也！
罷了，計劃暫且擱置，來日方長，再看吧。
聖誕日傍晚我到了東灣半坡營地。但見濱海的熱門野營區場面冷清，一片枯黃的台坪上，帳篷寥寥無幾，比途中在赤徑所見，大為遜色。在熱鬧的赤徑海邊，一些少年露營者，乾脆把帳篷立在混凝土小徑一旁的路燈之下，大抵圖個來時快捷去時便，而帳裏又可徹夜通明吧。
還不只此呢，垃圾暫存點和公用廁所僅在咫尺之外！ 有的帳篷索性與大型垃圾桶作鄰，而不以為不美！看來一切盡得其便，以便為主，而便在不言中了。
翌日中午，按約定到大浪大圍去接來營的朋友，順便到村裏去和愛好滑浪的洋村民約翰和珂麗雅夫婦打個招呼。珂麗雅正在院子裏寫信。她馬上放下紙筆，非得給我們進屋倒茶。我們於是在小院子裏坐下聊天。他們的房子就在麥徑上，院前遊人如織，絡繹不絕，相當熱鬧。 聊著聊著，不覺就讓差不多兩個鐘頭溜走了；於是告辭，繼程奔赴東灣。
朋友安頓停當，已近黃昏。 晚餐前到海灘去溜達，竟又遇到了愛好露營的佳佳和安安。夫妻倆選用了低坡上的草坪，以撿來的泡沫塑料箱為灶台，拿透明塑料水瓶做蠟燭燈。 他們的帳篷小得像個大飛蛾的繭，我看非得專立名目，叫個「夫妻帳」不可！ 他們的帳篷雖小，卻擁有再大沒有的山海景觀；在這裏看海灣、谷地和山岡的全貌，那肯定是最佳的位置；角度可說全方位，美景一覽無遺！
第二天，朋友埋怨自己的帳裏悶熱。 嘔，這可是十二月的天氣呀！可不，那個帳篷是個簡單的饅頭形設計，外帳並不覆裹整個內帳，前、後帳篷口上面，只有靠的一根短桿架起來的淺簷，意思意思罷了，實際的作用不大。 這設計肯定不能禁受風雨。而且出入口的門簾一旦放下繫好，就完全覆蓋紗幔，大礙通風；要把門簾捲起來透氣的話，卻又好比玻璃窗戶缺了一掛窗簾。為了行囊輕便，當然也不配備天篷了。倘在夏天而烈日當頭，那就只好找棵大樹，整天在下面呆著了。 不過，對於我這朋友，這都不成問題，反正一年到頭，頂多就在涼天出來這麼一次罷了。
下午要離營去遠足。朋友決定不遊長嘴和短嘴，而選擇攀登蚺蛇尖。我們於是由營地後面的山坡出發往上爬。這雖是我常走的蹊徑，卻肯定並非正途，其中很有幾段驚險的陡坡。朋友得此機會，約略禁受兩三分的驚心動魄，該可以說不枉此行了。
傍晚經由大浪大圍回東灣，約翰正在村前的頹房旁邊搭竹棚。他要親自在那堵殘留的牆上繪一幅壁畫，吸引滑浪者，準備開展他的滑浪板生意呢。約翰來自澳大利亞，長於滑浪，似是理所當然；但他竟然也會搭竹棚，這倒有些出人意表！
朋友要在村裏買瓶喝的。 我利用這段時間，和約翰又聊上了。 我又爬到了這個洋人搭的港式竹棚上，擺了一副猴子架勢，照了個相，聊作紀錄。
回到東灣台坪，天色已經入黑。 我們得走山徑回營。出乎我意料之外，朋友竟說背包裏沒有附帶手電！我輕裝出行，手上只有照相機和三腳架，別的一概闕如。既沒有水瓶，也沒帶手電，當然也無須背個小背包。 這是因為短途爬山我不必喝水；另外自恃略有夜視能力，就算萬一要在入黑之後回營，也絕對能夠安然摸返熟悉的營地。
結果我還是能夠領著朋友，僥倖地安全返抵營地。 這時朋友打開背包，竟然告訴我：包子裏面，原來是有手電的！沒事！朋友既沒出事摔跤，我也就無須生氣，這就算個野外摸黑夜行訓練得了。
星期天上午，我把朋友送到大浪大圍的混凝土麥徑上，讓他自行回城，然後我又得去爬坡鑽林，賞看那可喜的楓葉。
這一天沒有藍天了，自然也沒有太陽，就那麼如常一片灰濛濛。 叫人憋悶的一團暗晦，似乎鑽到心眼裏來了。然而那楓香的紅葉，卻依然讓我欣喜。
紅，不過就是一種色光、一段波長，哪裏都能見著；偶爾一個不留神，把個手指頭扎破，它就要冒出來了，叫人看著害怕。然而這楓葉的紅啊，它就是不一樣：它偏偏要由翠綠轉變而來，呈現在自然之母繪就的葉片上；這葉片它形狀獨特、構圖巧美；就那樣，它顯得分外可愛、特別誘人。
然而，這畢竟只能是短暫的紅，它不會持久。幾夜寒風把綠吹紅了，再添幾夜寒風，那紅便被吹褐，隨即掉落，鋪滿林地。堪憐的禿枝，只得在未來的寒夜裏，迎風哆嗦，靜待春歸。
在這晦天裏賞罷楓林紅葉，再到海灘看了一會洶湧澎湃的浪，也就回營了。這時的東灣濱海台坪營區，已然蕩然了無一帳。 可我，並不忙於回家，要做的事情還多著呢，包括了聽音樂。不知怎的，我又聽了海頓的「倫敦」。 我偏要愣想：那倫敦嘛，敦則敦矣，哪有這麼可愛無倫的野地！
入黑之後，我夜行下山，疾走到公路，坐車回城。
不過三天之後，也就到了除夕。我晚上無須去趕熱鬧看煙火，自然又到荒郊度歲了，我要去大浪嘴迎接元旦的朝日。
大浪嘴東北方的海上有個小島，也就是東平洲，此島位處香港全區最東的海域上，該是每天最早看到太陽的地方。可它東面4公里外卻是陸地，也就是內地的南澳半島，日出因而不自海平線。這就讓大浪嘴成為全區晨曦最先照臨的陸地了。
除夕的夜空是持續了多天的密雲，要是元旦清晨還是那樣，日出將無緣觀賞。然而咱這號稱天文台的氣象台，卻預報元旦日天氣轉晴，倘若這是準確的，大浪嘴就會迎來海平線上的日出了。
好容易堵車堵到了西貢，排了半天隊，上車時有人在候車欄裏跟我打招呼，原來竟是珂麗雅。約翰當然也在一起。由於汽車滿員，我們坐不到一塊，要到下車之後才能談上話。 從北潭坳聊到了大浪大圍村，耗時65分鐘。 約翰要請我家去喝杯茶，我說不了，一坐下來沒準聊個半夜，非得天亮才到營地。夫妻倆說明天也要到大浪嘴去看日出，到時來找我。
辭過約翰和珂麗雅，花了1小時30分，我走到了長嘴白泥頭的半坡小原上。這是11點05分。 這時小草原上無定向的勁風刮得相當厲害，幾次把我的帳篷吹到遠處，還讓我丟失了一根營釘。 好容易把帳篷搭好，趕忙下坡去澗源洗澡、打水。 水源附近有零星旱地，我用小塑料桶打水淋浴，避免污染流入叢林泥沼的小澗。回來躲進帳裏的「小廳」，拉上門簾，才能開灶做飯。 那風是真個來勁了！ 過了兩點，我才吃上飯。
由於那風實在刮得厲害，帳篷不住發出聲響，我一夜無法睡好。 輾轉反側，就到了破曉時分。睡前氣溫10度，早上卻降到8度了。 起來拉開帳簾，竟是晴空一片，夜來的雲障，已然消失殆盡。
7點04分，太陽準時從海平線上升起來了，確實好看。我身在小原上，既有微型地平線，又有海平線，這是再美沒有的圖景了。
7 點半，兩個人從岸邊的人群中走出，朝我這小原的方向過來。這肯定並非別人，必是約翰和珂麗雅。 他們走到小澗對岸，大概把我確認，就向我打招呼。 他們都穿著顏色鮮豔的攀山服。 珂麗雅帶來熱水瓶，裝著蜂蜜薑湯，大概學會了中國人的驅寒絕竅。然而這裏寒風正盛，薑湯甫倒進小瓷杯，就被吹涼了。我主觀感覺，驅寒的效用不大。
他們請我喝薑湯，我自然不應待慢客人，但帳中物資匱乏，唯有以速溶咖啡款客，酌加冰糖，和產自黑龍江、可能含有豐富三聚氰胺的全脂奶粉。
儘管如此待客，珂麗雅竟還要送我一個日曆。我說我的日曆夠多的，珂麗雅卻說倘我不需要，可以拿去送給別人；我於是答應晚上回程路過他們的村房，要是他們還沒走，我就去取。晚上7點半，我到了他們那裏，坐下和約翰一聊，喝杯茶，不覺就過了一個鐘頭。
我一看錶，嚇了一跳，已經8點25分，剩下只有一個小時，我得走到北潭坳，否則就要錯過末班車。這一程，大概是我有史以來，背著二十多公斤的背包，而跑得最快的了。
珂麗雅給我的，原來是個香港天文台出版的日曆，除了十二幅香港野生動植物的精美圖片，還有每天日月出沒的時間，和潮汐的漲退，對我這個野人而言，該很有用。
兩天之後的週末，我又到了楓林營地，觀賞我那賞之不疲的紅葉。這一次，竟讓我找到了五裂的葉片。
可是因為朋友臨時要加入露營，原計劃體能強度要求太大，只得取消，改為定點野營，以適應朋友的時間安排和體格狀況。於是竊居東灣西峪半坡營地。
倘若串走麥、衛二徑，從北潭涌走到南涌，腳程大約100公里，恰與全走麥徑相若。 這麼個走法，雖然掐去了叫人甚為難堪的衛徑港島段，和麥徑的屯門段，卻還是無從繞過衛徑的大埔段，也就是說，必得穿越大埔舊墟的鬧市。這一小段可真彆扭死了！這是讓我樂於輕易改變計劃的主要原因。
此外，沿途並無像樣的野營地，而衛徑的後半截，乾脆可說完全無地紮營了！或說可在第9段離徑到流水響「指定營地」，可這營地設於郊遊徑上，對於新界的露營者，交通方便，在這種假日，必然熱鬧得跟蘭桂坊不遑多讓；晚上還可能來個普天同慶、徹夜歡騰；縱有蘭、桂綻開，難免吵得即時凋落。這種營地呀，我輩離群野人，萬萬住不得也！
罷了，計劃暫且擱置，來日方長，再看吧。
聖誕日傍晚我到了東灣半坡營地。但見濱海的熱門野營區場面冷清，一片枯黃的台坪上，帳篷寥寥無幾，比途中在赤徑所見，大為遜色。在熱鬧的赤徑海邊，一些少年露營者，乾脆把帳篷立在混凝土小徑一旁的路燈之下，大抵圖個來時快捷去時便，而帳裏又可徹夜通明吧。
還不只此呢，垃圾暫存點和公用廁所僅在咫尺之外！ 有的帳篷索性與大型垃圾桶作鄰，而不以為不美！看來一切盡得其便，以便為主，而便在不言中了。
翌日中午，按約定到大浪大圍去接來營的朋友，順便到村裏去和愛好滑浪的洋村民約翰和珂麗雅夫婦打個招呼。珂麗雅正在院子裏寫信。她馬上放下紙筆，非得給我們進屋倒茶。我們於是在小院子裏坐下聊天。他們的房子就在麥徑上，院前遊人如織，絡繹不絕，相當熱鬧。 聊著聊著，不覺就讓差不多兩個鐘頭溜走了；於是告辭，繼程奔赴東灣。
朋友安頓停當，已近黃昏。 晚餐前到海灘去溜達，竟又遇到了愛好露營的佳佳和安安。夫妻倆選用了低坡上的草坪，以撿來的泡沫塑料箱為灶台，拿透明塑料水瓶做蠟燭燈。 他們的帳篷小得像個大飛蛾的繭，我看非得專立名目，叫個「夫妻帳」不可！ 他們的帳篷雖小，卻擁有再大沒有的山海景觀；在這裏看海灣、谷地和山岡的全貌，那肯定是最佳的位置；角度可說全方位，美景一覽無遺！
第二天，朋友埋怨自己的帳裏悶熱。 嘔，這可是十二月的天氣呀！可不，那個帳篷是個簡單的饅頭形設計，外帳並不覆裹整個內帳，前、後帳篷口上面，只有靠的一根短桿架起來的淺簷，意思意思罷了，實際的作用不大。 這設計肯定不能禁受風雨。而且出入口的門簾一旦放下繫好，就完全覆蓋紗幔，大礙通風；要把門簾捲起來透氣的話，卻又好比玻璃窗戶缺了一掛窗簾。為了行囊輕便，當然也不配備天篷了。倘在夏天而烈日當頭，那就只好找棵大樹，整天在下面呆著了。 不過，對於我這朋友，這都不成問題，反正一年到頭，頂多就在涼天出來這麼一次罷了。
下午要離營去遠足。朋友決定不遊長嘴和短嘴，而選擇攀登蚺蛇尖。我們於是由營地後面的山坡出發往上爬。這雖是我常走的蹊徑，卻肯定並非正途，其中很有幾段驚險的陡坡。朋友得此機會，約略禁受兩三分的驚心動魄，該可以說不枉此行了。
傍晚經由大浪大圍回東灣，約翰正在村前的頹房旁邊搭竹棚。他要親自在那堵殘留的牆上繪一幅壁畫，吸引滑浪者，準備開展他的滑浪板生意呢。約翰來自澳大利亞，長於滑浪，似是理所當然；但他竟然也會搭竹棚，這倒有些出人意表！
朋友要在村裏買瓶喝的。 我利用這段時間，和約翰又聊上了。 我又爬到了這個洋人搭的港式竹棚上，擺了一副猴子架勢，照了個相，聊作紀錄。
回到東灣台坪，天色已經入黑。 我們得走山徑回營。出乎我意料之外，朋友竟說背包裏沒有附帶手電！我輕裝出行，手上只有照相機和三腳架，別的一概闕如。既沒有水瓶，也沒帶手電，當然也無須背個小背包。 這是因為短途爬山我不必喝水；另外自恃略有夜視能力，就算萬一要在入黑之後回營，也絕對能夠安然摸返熟悉的營地。
結果我還是能夠領著朋友，僥倖地安全返抵營地。 這時朋友打開背包，竟然告訴我：包子裏面，原來是有手電的！沒事！朋友既沒出事摔跤，我也就無須生氣，這就算個野外摸黑夜行訓練得了。
星期天上午，我把朋友送到大浪大圍的混凝土麥徑上，讓他自行回城，然後我又得去爬坡鑽林，賞看那可喜的楓葉。
這一天沒有藍天了，自然也沒有太陽，就那麼如常一片灰濛濛。 叫人憋悶的一團暗晦，似乎鑽到心眼裏來了。然而那楓香的紅葉，卻依然讓我欣喜。
紅，不過就是一種色光、一段波長，哪裏都能見著；偶爾一個不留神，把個手指頭扎破，它就要冒出來了，叫人看著害怕。然而這楓葉的紅啊，它就是不一樣：它偏偏要由翠綠轉變而來，呈現在自然之母繪就的葉片上；這葉片它形狀獨特、構圖巧美；就那樣，它顯得分外可愛、特別誘人。
然而，這畢竟只能是短暫的紅，它不會持久。幾夜寒風把綠吹紅了，再添幾夜寒風，那紅便被吹褐，隨即掉落，鋪滿林地。堪憐的禿枝，只得在未來的寒夜裏，迎風哆嗦，靜待春歸。
在這晦天裏賞罷楓林紅葉，再到海灘看了一會洶湧澎湃的浪，也就回營了。這時的東灣濱海台坪營區，已然蕩然了無一帳。 可我，並不忙於回家，要做的事情還多著呢，包括了聽音樂。不知怎的，我又聽了海頓的「倫敦」。 我偏要愣想：那倫敦嘛，敦則敦矣，哪有這麼可愛無倫的野地！
入黑之後，我夜行下山，疾走到公路，坐車回城。
不過三天之後，也就到了除夕。我晚上無須去趕熱鬧看煙火，自然又到荒郊度歲了，我要去大浪嘴迎接元旦的朝日。
大浪嘴東北方的海上有個小島，也就是東平洲，此島位處香港全區最東的海域上，該是每天最早看到太陽的地方。可它東面4公里外卻是陸地，也就是內地的南澳半島，日出因而不自海平線。這就讓大浪嘴成為全區晨曦最先照臨的陸地了。
除夕的夜空是持續了多天的密雲，要是元旦清晨還是那樣，日出將無緣觀賞。然而咱這號稱天文台的氣象台，卻預報元旦日天氣轉晴，倘若這是準確的，大浪嘴就會迎來海平線上的日出了。
好容易堵車堵到了西貢，排了半天隊，上車時有人在候車欄裏跟我打招呼，原來竟是珂麗雅。約翰當然也在一起。由於汽車滿員，我們坐不到一塊，要到下車之後才能談上話。 從北潭坳聊到了大浪大圍村，耗時65分鐘。 約翰要請我家去喝杯茶，我說不了，一坐下來沒準聊個半夜，非得天亮才到營地。夫妻倆說明天也要到大浪嘴去看日出，到時來找我。
辭過約翰和珂麗雅，花了1小時30分，我走到了長嘴白泥頭的半坡小原上。這是11點05分。 這時小草原上無定向的勁風刮得相當厲害，幾次把我的帳篷吹到遠處，還讓我丟失了一根營釘。 好容易把帳篷搭好，趕忙下坡去澗源洗澡、打水。 水源附近有零星旱地，我用小塑料桶打水淋浴，避免污染流入叢林泥沼的小澗。回來躲進帳裏的「小廳」，拉上門簾，才能開灶做飯。 那風是真個來勁了！ 過了兩點，我才吃上飯。
由於那風實在刮得厲害，帳篷不住發出聲響，我一夜無法睡好。 輾轉反側，就到了破曉時分。睡前氣溫10度，早上卻降到8度了。 起來拉開帳簾，竟是晴空一片，夜來的雲障，已然消失殆盡。
7點04分，太陽準時從海平線上升起來了，確實好看。我身在小原上，既有微型地平線，又有海平線，這是再美沒有的圖景了。
他們請我喝薑湯，我自然不應待慢客人，但帳中物資匱乏，唯有以速溶咖啡款客，酌加冰糖，和產自黑龍江、可能含有豐富三聚氰胺的全脂奶粉。
儘管如此待客，珂麗雅竟還要送我一個日曆。我說我的日曆夠多的，珂麗雅卻說倘我不需要，可以拿去送給別人；我於是答應晚上回程路過他們的村房，要是他們還沒走，我就去取。晚上7點半，我到了他們那裏，坐下和約翰一聊，喝杯茶，不覺就過了一個鐘頭。
我一看錶，嚇了一跳，已經8點25分，剩下只有一個小時，我得走到北潭坳，否則就要錯過末班車。這一程，大概是我有史以來，背著二十多公斤的背包，而跑得最快的了。
珂麗雅給我的，原來是個香港天文台出版的日曆，除了十二幅香港野生動植物的精美圖片，還有每天日月出沒的時間，和潮汐的漲退，對我這個野人而言，該很有用。
兩天之後的週末，我又到了楓林營地，觀賞我那賞之不疲的紅葉。這一次，竟讓我找到了五裂的葉片。
2008/12/25
楓樹
營地的高坡上有一叢楓樹，約略成林。 最近迎來幾宵北風，涼上了好些天，它就果然紅成一片了。
那紅，是似赭還紅，紅中帶橙，橙裏透黃，實在紅得很可愛。 這紅葉的規模，或許比不上內地和外地所見，但總算給我最喜愛的這一片野地山坡，帶來了濃濃的秋意。
我帶把馬札，鑽進楓林裏去，在枯葉地上舒舒服服地坐下，看了半天，一邊聽著音樂，捨不得回營。在藍天的映襯之下，那透底的通紅有若花燈，實在好看。我仰首久望，脖子竟不知道累。
這楓樹，也就是楓香，也叫台灣楓香 Liquidambar formosana, 屬金縷梅科 Hamamelidaceae; 以其樹液帶香味，故名。
提起楓樹，人們總會想到加拿大這楓樹之國。 北美洲無處不在的紅楓 Acer rubrum (red maple), 在植物分類學上，漢語科名不叫楓，而叫槭 Aceraceae. 香港就有一種嶺南槭 Acer tutcheri, 和北美的紅楓同屬一科，但葉片型態不似北美洲的 Acer rubrum 那樣呈掌狀而複裂，卻是三裂，更像本地的楓香。
有台灣學者提出，楓香不是真正的楓樹，日本植物學家因循中國古人之誤，把楓香當作了楓樹，又把日本的楓樹改叫槭樹；後來日本廢除了這槭字，中國植物學家們卻繼承了日本人的錯誤，把真正的楓樹都叫槭。但內地也有人認為，唐詩裏江南的楓，其實就是指的楓香。
楓香的分布，自淮河流域至川西一帶以南。江南固多楓香。而唐朝詩人之中，恐怕知道「真楓」和「裝楓」的區別的植物學家不多吧。
我看，縱或此中真的有錯，今天把楓香叫楓樹，該也錯不到哪裏。這其中有兩個道理：
一是隨俗。 其俗既非不可耐，則俗成於約定，這無可厚非。
二是入雅。 這楓香既生好看的三裂紅葉，給你報告節候，這麼老實可愛，就算中古以來人們有錯，也錯不在它；不能追溯到上古，強行把它從唐朝詩人的雅意裏排除。就算確實另有「真楓」，就算這楓香是「裝楓」，它的葉片確有可愛的奇數葉裂，而它紅起來呀，確實就是楓樹的那個紅！ 不管怎麼說，它配有真正楓樹的雅籍。
香港地處亞熱帶，落葉樹不多，像楓香這樣秋來變出一片紅，隨之葉片落個精光，禿樹在寒風裏赤條條地哆嗦；等到春霧迷濛，才又長出嫩紅的新葉。這不是本地植物世界的物候主流圖景，因此顯得特別珍貴。
我對這楓香，就是一往情深。
那紅，是似赭還紅，紅中帶橙，橙裏透黃，實在紅得很可愛。 這紅葉的規模，或許比不上內地和外地所見，但總算給我最喜愛的這一片野地山坡，帶來了濃濃的秋意。
我帶把馬札，鑽進楓林裏去，在枯葉地上舒舒服服地坐下，看了半天，一邊聽著音樂，捨不得回營。在藍天的映襯之下，那透底的通紅有若花燈，實在好看。我仰首久望，脖子竟不知道累。
這楓樹，也就是楓香，也叫台灣楓香 Liquidambar formosana, 屬金縷梅科 Hamamelidaceae; 以其樹液帶香味，故名。
提起楓樹，人們總會想到加拿大這楓樹之國。 北美洲無處不在的紅楓 Acer rubrum (red maple), 在植物分類學上，漢語科名不叫楓，而叫槭 Aceraceae. 香港就有一種嶺南槭 Acer tutcheri, 和北美的紅楓同屬一科，但葉片型態不似北美洲的 Acer rubrum 那樣呈掌狀而複裂，卻是三裂，更像本地的楓香。
有台灣學者提出，楓香不是真正的楓樹，日本植物學家因循中國古人之誤，把楓香當作了楓樹，又把日本的楓樹改叫槭樹；後來日本廢除了這槭字，中國植物學家們卻繼承了日本人的錯誤，把真正的楓樹都叫槭。但內地也有人認為，唐詩裏江南的楓，其實就是指的楓香。
楓香的分布，自淮河流域至川西一帶以南。江南固多楓香。而唐朝詩人之中，恐怕知道「真楓」和「裝楓」的區別的植物學家不多吧。
我看，縱或此中真的有錯，今天把楓香叫楓樹，該也錯不到哪裏。這其中有兩個道理：
一是隨俗。 其俗既非不可耐，則俗成於約定，這無可厚非。
二是入雅。 這楓香既生好看的三裂紅葉，給你報告節候，這麼老實可愛，就算中古以來人們有錯，也錯不在它；不能追溯到上古，強行把它從唐朝詩人的雅意裏排除。就算確實另有「真楓」，就算這楓香是「裝楓」，它的葉片確有可愛的奇數葉裂，而它紅起來呀，確實就是楓樹的那個紅！ 不管怎麼說，它配有真正楓樹的雅籍。
香港地處亞熱帶，落葉樹不多，像楓香這樣秋來變出一片紅，隨之葉片落個精光，禿樹在寒風裏赤條條地哆嗦；等到春霧迷濛，才又長出嫩紅的新葉。這不是本地植物世界的物候主流圖景，因此顯得特別珍貴。
我對這楓香，就是一往情深。
2008/12/20
電郵致友人―妄談達賴喇嘛
Y先生：
收到《論壇》第5期，並貴學會會務報告，我雖一介山野外人，不免深感於中，謹致謝忱！並祝學會會務興旺！
《論壇》上登了我關於達賴喇嘛的胡說八道，卻又給了我考題一道。不免還得敬答則個。 由於邇來瑣事纏身，網誌曠廢多時，這電郵也就順便拿去充個數吧。
達賴大喇嘛多番宣稱不尋求獨立，固然是說說無不可，但也是合乎現實的理智取態。我揣摸他是真心的。他雖曾被共產黨譽為披著袈裟的狼，我看今天的他，頂多算是個釋家老頑童罷了，童真也許摻雜，卻斷乎不至於表裏不一致乃爾。
我竊忖，他本人和他的流亡政府，都十分明瞭外在客觀現實，獨立已然無望，強求無濟於事。然而在外藏民之中，不管教內教外、派內派外，反對達賴，激烈要求獨立，一不怕血，二不怕死，主張使用暴力，蠢蠢欲動者，大有人在。 一旦發生動亂，北京把一攬子的帳都算到達賴那不必剃淨的頭上去，肯定是戰略手法。內地一般認為，達賴和藏獨分子關係密切。我看這是再自然不過的事，毋庸贅言。
猜想大喇嘛在西方的政治、文化、宗教界的高階真假好友，和真假崇拜者們，若非別有用心，多不鼓勵他去尋求獨立；因為光從現實的角度看，那是極度的強弱懸殊，無異以卵擊石，硬是要搞，只會鬧出得不償失的大亂子，徒給西方政壇添煩添亂。西方給他頒了個諾貝爾和平獎，一則表達了不同意北京的西藏政策，二則多少有點鼓勵大喇嘛貫徹和平手段，抑制不惜流血的內外藏獨分子。
另外，流亡在外這麼些年，達賴必然深知，在一座小小山城上運作他的流亡政府，已然並不容易；縱使讓他回駕布達拉宮，他的班子要參與管事，也必然不得要領。這畢竟已經過去了半個世紀，西藏已然不是舊時的大Tibet.
況且如今這位上師垂垂老矣，身體大不如前，如何產生繼位者，反倒是目下第一要務。一旦圓寂了，如果照舊要去尋找再一次轉世的自己，那該到哪裏去找？其範圍肯定要排除北京治下的西藏自治區和青海、四川的藏區了，那麼要不要也包括文明、民主的基督教西方？如果找出幾個靈童的話，要不要金瓶掣籤？這籤該到哪裏去掣？他新近發明的“在世轉世”之說能不能實現？如何實現？ 一旦真個“轉世為女童”又該如何應對？ 這麼些大事的懸而難決，就夠他忙活的了。對於已然相當西化和現代化，而且充分研究過目前世界最大宗教――基督教的演化歷程的這位“活佛”來說，要在達拉姆薩拉進一步深化他的宗教改革，恐怕都來不及，縱然心繫他的大Tibet, 縱然還想獨立，一時恐怕勻不出工夫去提上日程了吧。
達賴當然預見，一旦自己在外圓寂，北京必將按照“藏傳佛教活佛轉世管理辦法”，在境內藏區訪尋轉世靈童，確認為第十五世達賴喇嘛正統。如果現世達賴他老人家不搞移風易俗的大變革，因循舊制去輪迴轉世，那麼屆時必鬧雙胞，貽笑寰宇。 想到這裏，他就該知道，尋求獨立橫豎徒勞，大搞變革前景可觀。久離故土，他反正無從跟北京鬧彆扭；身在達拉姆薩拉，倒可以放眼世界。
收到《論壇》第5期，並貴學會會務報告，我雖一介山野外人，不免深感於中，謹致謝忱！並祝學會會務興旺！
《論壇》上登了我關於達賴喇嘛的胡說八道，卻又給了我考題一道。不免還得敬答則個。 由於邇來瑣事纏身，網誌曠廢多時，這電郵也就順便拿去充個數吧。
達賴大喇嘛多番宣稱不尋求獨立，固然是說說無不可，但也是合乎現實的理智取態。我揣摸他是真心的。他雖曾被共產黨譽為披著袈裟的狼，我看今天的他，頂多算是個釋家老頑童罷了，童真也許摻雜，卻斷乎不至於表裏不一致乃爾。
我竊忖，他本人和他的流亡政府，都十分明瞭外在客觀現實，獨立已然無望，強求無濟於事。然而在外藏民之中，不管教內教外、派內派外，反對達賴，激烈要求獨立，一不怕血，二不怕死，主張使用暴力，蠢蠢欲動者，大有人在。 一旦發生動亂，北京把一攬子的帳都算到達賴那不必剃淨的頭上去，肯定是戰略手法。內地一般認為，達賴和藏獨分子關係密切。我看這是再自然不過的事，毋庸贅言。
猜想大喇嘛在西方的政治、文化、宗教界的高階真假好友，和真假崇拜者們，若非別有用心，多不鼓勵他去尋求獨立；因為光從現實的角度看，那是極度的強弱懸殊，無異以卵擊石，硬是要搞，只會鬧出得不償失的大亂子，徒給西方政壇添煩添亂。西方給他頒了個諾貝爾和平獎，一則表達了不同意北京的西藏政策，二則多少有點鼓勵大喇嘛貫徹和平手段，抑制不惜流血的內外藏獨分子。
另外，流亡在外這麼些年，達賴必然深知，在一座小小山城上運作他的流亡政府，已然並不容易；縱使讓他回駕布達拉宮，他的班子要參與管事，也必然不得要領。這畢竟已經過去了半個世紀，西藏已然不是舊時的大Tibet.
況且如今這位上師垂垂老矣，身體大不如前，如何產生繼位者，反倒是目下第一要務。一旦圓寂了，如果照舊要去尋找再一次轉世的自己，那該到哪裏去找？其範圍肯定要排除北京治下的西藏自治區和青海、四川的藏區了，那麼要不要也包括文明、民主的基督教西方？如果找出幾個靈童的話，要不要金瓶掣籤？這籤該到哪裏去掣？他新近發明的“在世轉世”之說能不能實現？如何實現？ 一旦真個“轉世為女童”又該如何應對？ 這麼些大事的懸而難決，就夠他忙活的了。對於已然相當西化和現代化，而且充分研究過目前世界最大宗教――基督教的演化歷程的這位“活佛”來說，要在達拉姆薩拉進一步深化他的宗教改革，恐怕都來不及，縱然心繫他的大Tibet, 縱然還想獨立，一時恐怕勻不出工夫去提上日程了吧。
達賴當然預見，一旦自己在外圓寂，北京必將按照“藏傳佛教活佛轉世管理辦法”，在境內藏區訪尋轉世靈童，確認為第十五世達賴喇嘛正統。如果現世達賴他老人家不搞移風易俗的大變革，因循舊制去輪迴轉世，那麼屆時必鬧雙胞，貽笑寰宇。 想到這裏，他就該知道，尋求獨立橫豎徒勞，大搞變革前景可觀。久離故土，他反正無從跟北京鬧彆扭；身在達拉姆薩拉，倒可以放眼世界。
An email to a friend – to barely chat a bit when dizzily busy
Old C.,
You just always remember that old Frisbee thrower in Tian'anmen Square. He could still be living happily in his late nineties, or even as a centenarian, flying that simple yet patented plaything.
30 whole years down the road of reforms, China has since changed a huge lot. The economic growth is unprecedented, more than fiftyfold in terms of GDP per capita. Now many have enough to eat, not guaranteed free from being poisoned though; and many have got really rich, thanks to their insatiability and corruptibility. Yet education at large has hardly had its quantum leap from quantitative change to qualitative change. Those who belong to the elite still need to stand still in front the TV camera to attend to a sort of advice with something really basic every time they meet with the leaders from the top.
When it comes to TV programmes about China, there is no shortage of them. While you were with the RTHK, I have just watched one produced by a U.K. station. It tells the stories of three Englishmen doing business in the Middle Kingdom. They couldn't beat their upstart Asian enemy at home, so they wisely venture to go to the Far East to join them. How can one catch a tiger cub without entering a tiger lair?
One even brings along his juvenile son who would actively urge this some what arrogant father to enjoy a piece of donkey penis his ever smoking Chinese business partner treats him. I think this must be a plot to make the documentary more watchable, and not a genuine part of the story. He simply buys a granite quarry to make sure every single piece of his kitchen worktop selling in the U.K. meets his British standard.
Another Englishman closes his cushion factory at home and invades the Middle Kingdom, which also doesn't have a king, without the assistance of the Royal Navy. With the help of his translator-partner's sister's father-in-law to build the factory, now he makes cushions in Zhejiang by the millions. It's impossible even just to imagine the scale of production at home in the U.K. He goes to New York to sell his products before the completion of his factory. Just a single one of the deals makes him smile with a 3 million US dollars' worth. He would be fully contented, seated in his office bearing his position, which is "Mamaging Director". The title for this foreign businessman must be so unique that it has to be spelt that way.
That 70-year-old Mad-off of Wall Street was really mad! His greed must be too strong that it had prevented him from judging soberly how many billions he needed to take and how he should have it taken. As some obese people wouldn't hesitate to eat to anticipate an early death, many fortune thirsty people would like to take the risk of being jailed, for no more than a couple of years in the U.S., a price affordable for many of the kind. Does it on a much smaller scale in China without a protective party membership one might be rewarded the capital punishment.This sort of fraud can't possibly go on without bursting for too long. This Mad-off guy should have calculated that he had enough time to prepare for his disappearance on Wall Street and reappearance somewhere in the world where the Federal Supreme Court can't even effect an extradition. The investigators might have been keeping an eye on him for quite some time, just like the case of that "Son of Taiwan" on the other side of the Pacific. Greedy people make big money easily, yet they could be very stupid. Ironically many believe in these stupid con men and worship them before they know they have been swindled.
You just always remember that old Frisbee thrower in Tian'anmen Square. He could still be living happily in his late nineties, or even as a centenarian, flying that simple yet patented plaything.
30 whole years down the road of reforms, China has since changed a huge lot. The economic growth is unprecedented, more than fiftyfold in terms of GDP per capita. Now many have enough to eat, not guaranteed free from being poisoned though; and many have got really rich, thanks to their insatiability and corruptibility. Yet education at large has hardly had its quantum leap from quantitative change to qualitative change. Those who belong to the elite still need to stand still in front the TV camera to attend to a sort of advice with something really basic every time they meet with the leaders from the top.
When it comes to TV programmes about China, there is no shortage of them. While you were with the RTHK, I have just watched one produced by a U.K. station. It tells the stories of three Englishmen doing business in the Middle Kingdom. They couldn't beat their upstart Asian enemy at home, so they wisely venture to go to the Far East to join them. How can one catch a tiger cub without entering a tiger lair?
One even brings along his juvenile son who would actively urge this some what arrogant father to enjoy a piece of donkey penis his ever smoking Chinese business partner treats him. I think this must be a plot to make the documentary more watchable, and not a genuine part of the story. He simply buys a granite quarry to make sure every single piece of his kitchen worktop selling in the U.K. meets his British standard.
Another Englishman closes his cushion factory at home and invades the Middle Kingdom, which also doesn't have a king, without the assistance of the Royal Navy. With the help of his translator-partner's sister's father-in-law to build the factory, now he makes cushions in Zhejiang by the millions. It's impossible even just to imagine the scale of production at home in the U.K. He goes to New York to sell his products before the completion of his factory. Just a single one of the deals makes him smile with a 3 million US dollars' worth. He would be fully contented, seated in his office bearing his position, which is "Mamaging Director". The title for this foreign businessman must be so unique that it has to be spelt that way.
That 70-year-old Mad-off of Wall Street was really mad! His greed must be too strong that it had prevented him from judging soberly how many billions he needed to take and how he should have it taken. As some obese people wouldn't hesitate to eat to anticipate an early death, many fortune thirsty people would like to take the risk of being jailed, for no more than a couple of years in the U.S., a price affordable for many of the kind. Does it on a much smaller scale in China without a protective party membership one might be rewarded the capital punishment.This sort of fraud can't possibly go on without bursting for too long. This Mad-off guy should have calculated that he had enough time to prepare for his disappearance on Wall Street and reappearance somewhere in the world where the Federal Supreme Court can't even effect an extradition. The investigators might have been keeping an eye on him for quite some time, just like the case of that "Son of Taiwan" on the other side of the Pacific. Greedy people make big money easily, yet they could be very stupid. Ironically many believe in these stupid con men and worship them before they know they have been swindled.
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