Picture of the Day: Dog Encounters

Flash, the three-year-old Shiba with his owner

In Covid news, Hong Kong recorded 52,523 cases today, and 188 deaths, of which 136 were in the past 24 hours. 

It's the same refrain again, how the vast majority of those who died were not vaccinated, and hospitals are completely overwhelmed, and now there are reports of not enough oxygen tanks for patients who need them. And there aren't enough doctors and nurses to keep track of the oxygen tanks so some patients are literally gasping for air...

BUT we have to find some sanity from this madness, which is why I go out for walks as much as possible.

Tonight we met this three-year-old Shiba called Flash!

He was very friendly towards us and was happy to have us pet him. He slinked around us like a cat, encouraging us to run our hands in his fur. His owner said he really liked people, and that he liked us!

Playing with animals is great especially during this stressful time. They have no idea what is going on and just want to play. 

We hope we bump into Flash again soon!

Public Space Opens in Kennedy Town

A girl and a boy hanging out at the new promenade

 

By the Belcher Bay bus terminus, there is a nice walkway that led to... nowhere. 

Until now.

After dinner I went out for a walk and was surprised to see the giant yellow water barriers were removed to reveal a giant public space and a small dog part to boot!

There's a public washroom at one corner and piles of painted pallets, benches for people to sit on and even chairs. How novel!

The walkway on the left now has more space

The government prides itself on completing this project ahead of schedule. On a plaque it explained construction started in the second half of 2018 and was supposed to be completed in 21 months.

"Traditionally the Promenade should be open to the public only when it is fully completed. That said, having regard to keen public expectation in getting close to the Harbour, the Government has adopted the latest 'incremental approach' advocated by the Harbourfront Commission and strived to first complete and open the 5-metre boardwalk in the first quarter of 2019.

"Belcher Bay Promenade is the first completed project under the 'incremental approach' by the current Harbourfront Commission. The arrangement allows the public to enjoy the boardwalk 19 months ahead of the original schedule, testifying the effectiveness of the phenomenon."

This doesn't really make much sense, implying the project was finished in two months. In any event we're just glad it's finally open and it will be interesting to see how the public, particularly residents in the area take to the space.

A small dog park for canines to socialize

For daytrippers visiting Kennedy Town, they will find more things to photograph and another reason to take their pet Fido there. Tonight lots of dogs were running around the area. It's going to be the new hangout spot other than Instagram Pier.

Love Conquers All

Elaine To and Henry Tong on their wedding day last August

This is Henry Tong Wai-hung, 39, and Elaine To, 42. They are such a cute couple. Both are into fitness and own a gym in Sheung Wan. They are also parents to three dogs.

Last July 28 they participated in an anti-government protest at Chater Garden in Central that later went towards the liaison office in Western district, but then were arrested on charges of rioting together with a teenager, Natalie Lee Yuen-yui near the protest site. If convicted, the maximum sentence is 10 years.

While Lee pleaded not guilty, Tong and To did as well, claiming they were there to provide first aid to those who were teargassed -- they said they were never on the front lines, nor did they act violently or illegally.

The couple helped people who were teargassed

The pair was shocked to be arrested and hoped to be out on bail in time for their wedding on August 4. They managed to get out in time and were registered at Cotton Tree Drive Marriage Registry.

She wore a short white dress, and white cardigan with white boots and a veil, and he a body tight shirt with a suit printed on it and shorts, and also boots.

Thinking the wedding would be just them and two witnesses, they were overwhelmed to see family, friends, media and strangers who came to support them.

"Although there are some obstacles in the road, I have finally become Mrs Tong. I will go through the upheaval with you," To said during the ceremony as she cried.

"It is not easy to find someone in life with the same ideals, values and willing to go through ups and downs with you in the time of chaos... I will continue to love you forever," Tong said before they kissed.

But they had the riot charge hanging over their heads for almost a year.

The newlyweds were overwhelmed by supporters

Their trial was supposed to start in March, but because of the pandemic it was postponed. The actual trial took 20 days instead of the estimated 10.

During this time they also lost about two-thirds of their income at the gym because of political differences with clients, though the remaining ones have been very supportive.

In the days leading up to the verdict, they prepared for the worst, deciding who would look after the dogs, passing ownership of the gym to a friend and packing up their things.

Today was the verdict -- they were acquitted on the charge of rioting, though they were found guilty of a lesser offense of possessing a wireless radio (walkie talkies) without a permit and fined HK$1,300 each.

The student Lee was also found not guilty of rioting.

Prosecutors conceded they did not have enough direct evidence of what exactly the three defendants did at the time of the riot, despite months of investigations.

Their case was solely based on circumstantial evidence, such as the defendants' wearing black clothing, protective gear, and attempting to flee from the police.

To and Tong during one of their trial dates

District judge Anthony Kwok Kai-on found the trio not guilty of riot or the lesser, alternative charge of unlawful assembly because there was no evidence they had assembled together in common purpose with the protesters on Des Voeux Road West, where a riot broke out at 7.02pm.

However he did believe there was sufficient evidence the couple was providing first aid to people, as there were medical supplies in their belongings, and there was also CCTV footage of them treating the student Lee after she was teargassed.

To and Tong cried and hugged each other. Emerging out of the courthouse, Tong bowed to the media and supporters shouted protest slogans.

"We will not celebrate until after all who were arrested have received their fair verdicts," Tong told reporters.

At Instagram pier with their three dogs

As they were leaving, he shouted through his mask, "Hongkongers, add oil! Keep it up everyone!"

To, Tong and Lee were the first to be charged with rioting; with these verdicts, it will be interesting to see how the rest of the cases are handled.

It's interesting that despite the prosecutor's circumstantial evidence, the judge did not throw out these cases. Perhaps it was a hint to the Department of Justice that they had better have solid evidence for conviction before wasting the court's time?

Pets Can Be Infected by You

The next item to buy are masks for dogs now that they can catch COVID-19

OK folks -- no more French-kissing your dog. It could catch the coronavirus from you.

This is the latest finding from the Hong Kong health authorities is that a dog owned by a woman who was infected with the coronavirus, passed on the virus to her pet.

This Pomeranian was found to be infected by its owner

A spokesman from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said today that a dog repeated tested weak positive for the COVID-19 virus, a low-level of infection.

But that still means the dog is infected. And various local health and veterinary experts agree it is likely a case of human to dog infection.

The Pomeranian's owner had visited various places around town for several days -- including a wedding -- before she had flu symptoms. She visited her doctor five times before finally being admitted into hospital.

Here's a cat wearing a mask. Cute, no?

Now the dog is under quarantine at an animal-keeping facility at the Hong Kong Port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.

While pet owners are told not to panic and wash their hands right after handling their dogs, their pooches may wonder why their daddy or mommy don't want to kiss them anymore...

Dogs Versus Cockroaches

Protesters call the police "dogs", while the police call protesters "cockroaches"

During the protests in Hong Kong that are sliding into the seventh month, the police and protesters have called each other names.

Right from the start when police were being heavy handed, protesters began calling them 狗 "dogs", a derogatory way of calling them not human. Police cars are called "dog cars" and police stations are "dog houses".

Some graffiti at the police station or "dog house"

Protesters have even thrown dog food at police.

Meanwhile a few months ago some police officers began calling protesters, volunteer medics and the media 蟑螂 or 甴曱 "cockroaches" which is hardly complimentary.

While it's also dehumanizing, it's several levels below a dog...

It may have started in a letter in August written by the chair of the Junior Police Officers Association, which denounced protesters as "no different from cockroaches".

For history buffs, this is similar to World War II, when Nazis called Jews rats, and Hutus involved in the Rwandan genocide called the Tutsi minority cockroaches.

 Chief inspector Tam Yu-hei says "cockroach" is a compliment

Earlier this week, on the RTHK program Hong Kong Connection, chief inspector Tam Yu-hei referred to the insults traded between protesters and police in these past seven months.

"Aren't cockroaches full of vitality and can survive in times of difficulties?" he argued.

When it comes to protesters using the word "dog", Tam says they police would rather see it as meaning loyal and obedient, adding his colleagues in the force were very professional and vowed not to be hostile towards anyone.

Uh-huh.

However in a regular press briefing, Tam's superior Superintendent Kwok Ka-chuen conceded: "It is not ideal to label a group of people as cockroaches. Tensions have risen between police and protesters, in the last few months... We hope members of the force can control their emotions in the field," he said.

In July, the Junior Police Officers Association started referring to protesters in its official statements as "cockroaches".

Cockroaches are known to be resilient in the face of adversity

When Superintendent Kong Wing-cheung from the Police Public Relations Branch was asked about this in August, he said the language was "not ideal", but added that all parties were "under a lot of stress".

That same month, Tsuen Wan district assistant commander Simon Southgate had to issue a reminder to his colleagues not to call protesters "cockroaches".

While the term "cockroach" is not an endearing one, maybe one could look at it as a sign of what's to come -- because regardless of what happens, cockroaches seem to survive just about anything.

Maybe protesters will be called yellow cockroaches?

Or would people just rather get the bug spray out?

Greece Explained

A Greek Orthodox church in Emborio village

After we visited the excavation site of Akrotiri, we had some lunch at Perivolos Beach, where the sand is black, and then headed to an old Greek village called Emborio. Our guide told us the Venetians occupied Santorini from the 13th to 16th centuries and the biggest threat to the residents were pirates in the Aegean Sea.

Checking out the black sand at Perivolos Beach

There aren't many traditional villages intact these days because of the massive earthquake in 1956. It destroyed a lot of buildings in the area, which explains why there is still a lot of rubble and not a lot of development.

However Emborio is one of the few villages that is still pretty much the same as it was before, and some families still live in the compound.

At the entrance to the village we were shown a church with a dome on top, which indicates it is a Greek Orthodox church. They always have a picture of Jesus Christ on the ceiling of the dome. The exterior of the dome is usually either blue or white, but there is no particular reason why a dome is white or blue; it is just the decision made at the time of repainting it.

A dog met us inside Emborio village

There are also very tiny-looking churches, and our guide explained people would build them once in their lifetime in the name of a saint in the hopes of getting protection from them.  The most popular saint is St Nicholas, who protects sailors and merchants.

The village also looks like a maze, much like Oia where we are staying. The passageways are very narrow. Why? To counteract the strong winds which have been recorded as high as 90km/h. When the winds get that strong, even large ferries like the one we took to Santorini, and even planes are grounded.

Mules were used to transport building materials and food supplies, though they aren't used now -- humans have replaced them. We've seen them to do the laborious work of transporting boxes of ingredients, water and wine to restaurants.

Every family would build vaults in their home using rocks mixed with crude cement to hold them together. so the bottom was thicker than the top. Then the homes would be white washed with lime in it. Lime has disinfecting properties, so it was put in the family cisterns that collected rainwater in the winter.

The view from Santorini Winery for a wine tasting

We wandered around Emborio and found some places that looked deserted, others had people living in them. We even spotted a dog looking down at us! It was so interesting to see such a small community bound together by this fortress-like compound.

I don't think I can live in Greece because there's a lot of dust like sand and pumice that is blown in Santorini, or Greece in general. This is why residents hardly wash their cars. Our guide says she will have a bottle of water to periodically clean the windshield, but other than that people only wash their cars three or four times a year.

The cars that look nice are the ones catering the tourists. Very easy to distinguish.

Later in the afternoon we tried some Greek wine from Santorini Winery. The Santorini white wine 2018 was light, fruity, slightly dry but easy drinking, but another white we tried which was a blend was musty, like ripe cheese, and acidic in finish. Finally we tried vinsanto, a dessert wine that tasted like sweet raisin juice. Would have been better chilled.

An overview of Santorini from Profitis Ilias Mountain

Our second last stop on the tour was to Profitis Ilias Mountain the highest point in Santorini at 567 metres. We had a pretty good view of the place, and at the very top is an office that collects data for earthquakes and volcanic activity.

There is an active volcano still in Santorini, and apparently there are many small earthquakes here. The land mass of the islands apparently increase a centimetre or two every year, showing the volcanoes are still active, and no one knows when it will blow.

The last stop is back at Oia for the sunset... we had seen it already, but we thought we'd have a chance to sit down and enjoy the view but we were wrong. The seats were already taken up and so we stood behind people on a rooftop terrace for over an hour, waiting for the sunset to happen.

We had to take the obligatory sunset shot in Oia again...

And like before, once the sun goes down everyone claps excitedly. Why is that? Nevertheless it's nice to stop and admire the view and appreciate nature for its beauty.

Picture of the Day: Hot Dog

Yuen Yuen with his proud owner showing off pictures

This afternoon we walked towards the waterfront and came across a man in his 70s and his dog, a Japanese Shiba Inu.

"He's very docile, he likes people petting him," his owner said and so we did.

"Touch his ears, they are particularly soft," he added, and they really were. It was the first time my three-year-old nephew had ever pet a dog!

The dog's Instagram page

Then the owner told us if we take pictures, we should tag his dog's Instagram account (@yuenyuen9011)...

And oh boy does the white dog with cream-coloured ears have a lot of fans! Most of the pictures are of the canine with various random visitors in Kennedy Town, and he has posted for pictures at the Instagram pier, and he's even been to the swimming shed along Victoria Road.

What a hot dog.

Update on Foster Dog

This guy has a forever home on Lantau Island

Last week I posted a picture of this Sheltie that my friend was fostering with the hopes that the dog would be adopted.

I suggested to my friend that he make the appeal on Facebook and he got a flood of inquiries -- 126 of them -- and a dozen requests for more information. In the end the dog didn't have to attend the dog adoption event -- an expat couple on Lantau Island adopted the Sheltie, who will be a companion to their other older dog they took in last year.

So all's well that ends well for this cute guy, who deserves a loving home.

Picture of the Day: Please Adopt Him

This rescued Sheltie needs a forever home

This Sheltie doesn't have a name yet, but he's already about seven years old.

My friend in Mui Wo is currently fostering the dog after he was recently released from a puppy mill in the New Territories. He was the breeder dog.

As far as my friend knows, the dog has been in a cage up until recently and is trying to give him some love and care.

He walks the dog three times a day, but each time after a few minutes, the dog stops in its tracks and refuses to move. Only after some coaxing and maybe the temptation of a treat does the Sheltie continue to walk for another few minutes and then stops again. Perhaps the dog has hardly had a chance to exercise its legs and isn't used to walking so much.

The dog also seems to only want to walk on concrete and not on grass. Was it punished for being on grass? Or it has never experienced grass beneath its paws before?

Moreover its sad eyes indicate the Sheltie has been through a lot and it will take a lot of love and patience to help it find joy in its life.

Next weekend there will be an event to hopefully find a forever family to adopt him and some puppies that were also rescued from the puppy mill. My friend worries the cute puppies will be quickly adopted and no one will take the Sheltie home. He will make a good companion for anyone who has the time to give him the attention he deserves (which is a lot!).

Picture of the Day: Canine Shop Greeter

Many shops have human greeters; this store has a friendly-looking furry one!

This afternoon I had an appointment in Wan Chai (close to Admiralty) and next door to the place I was waiting at is a shop that sells crystals. Some are small and fit into your hand, others are two feet tall.

It's a bright and cheery shop, but perhaps to lure customers in, the owner's dog sits by the entrance. He's a big Shiba Inu dog and this afternoon he was literally lying at the door, his paws hanging outside the ledge.

The weather these days is humid, which is why the dog probably wanted to sit by the entrance to catch whatever breeze he could.

Meanwhile passersby couldn't help but notice the docile canine and pointed him out; he would lift his head in the hopes they would come into the shop, but when they walked by, he would rest his head back down on the floor again.

He seems like a friendly dog who even smiles as evidenced by my picture!

If you happen to be near 18 Hennessy Road, say hi to the dog!

Picture of the Day: Ambassador Dog

Russell doesn't look big here, but he's reportedly 120 lbs!

Last August Vancouver International Airport launched the Less Airport Stress Initiative  (LASI) where the airport partners with St. John Ambulance and their Therapy Dog program. The fidos along with their owners wander around the airport terminal to help ease travelers' anxieties.

I got a chance to meet one of them today -- a giant 120-lb chocolate labrador called Russell who was a gentle giant. He didn't mind people petting him at all. Meanwhile his owner answered questions about Russell and she periodically had to take his nose out of of the snack section of the gift shop...

The dogs are around from 11am to 1pm Monday to Friday at YVR, after you have gone through security.

Picture of the Day: Festive Lights and Lanterns

Kennedy Town is all the more festive with these lights and lanterns

It's the 11th day of the Lunar New Year... just a few more days until the traditional 15 days of celebrations are over, though it's been back to business for us ages ago.

Belcher Bay Park in Kennedy Town has gotten into a festive mood with traditional lanterns strung around the walking/running path, and near one of the entrances is this grand light display with a dog of course, sitting on top of a golden ingot and holding one up too.

Beside him are the Chinese characters 花開富贵 or hua kai fu gui, which literally means "flowers blossom, riches and honour". Pretty grand, huh?

Along with the dog are red fish-shaped lanterns that are homonyms for wealth. Can't go wrong with that.

Last night it was really nice walking through the park with these lanterns lit up to create a warm atmosphere. Too bad it'll only be around for a few more days...

Picture of the Day: Lai See Envelopes

Some of the more creative lai see envelopes this year celebrating the dog

This being the Year of the Dog has heralded many displays featuring cute canines and it also extended to lai see envelopes.

Designers have been given a lot of space to create some fun envelopes and these are the favourite ones I received this year.

Clockwise from the left is one from Harbour City, with a complicated way to open the envelope by releasing its folded paws to be able to get the money note inside. Why does the dog not have eyes? Seems weird, but cute nonetheless.

Next the red and gold envelope from auction house Christie's gets the award for best graphic design. Look closely and not only are there red dogs, but gold ones too!

We also can't resist the gorgeous face of this mutt from the SPCA that says 一狗万利.

Finally, a red and blue thick envelope from ba&sh, a fashion brand. Pull the gold tab and a and the red dogs turn into a red background with gold lettering that says "Happy Chinese New Year!"

Swimming and Dogs on Sunday

There was little fanfare about the Kennedy Town indoor pools open

I don't take the bus home often these days, mostly because of time. But yesterday I wasn't in a rush and did, only to find that when the bus passed the Kennedy Town Swimming Pool, I was shocked to see people standing outside.

It was just before 6pm and I saw a banner out front that announced the indoor pool was open!

I had read earlier it wouldn't open until April!

When I went home I checked the government website and yes -- it was open since February 9.

At left is the 50-metre pool, 25 metres on right, and jacuzzi

So this morning before a brunch appointment at noon, I rushed over to the pool to check it out.

Underneath the futuristic roof are two pools, one 25 metres long, the other 50 metres. The former looked like it was occupied with adults and children taking swimming lessons so I went over to the other pool.

While it was great to be in the pool again, it was dismaying to find nothing had been done to fix the problem of people swimming into each other thanks to no proper lanes nor separating people according to their speed.

As a result (much like my previous public pool experiences), I had to keep a constant eye on what was in front of me in case someone literally popped up in front of me and had to duck the side.I also had to pass many people because they swam so slow.

Yes, many of them were men!

I'm not used to swimming 50 metres so I got tired out quickly, but this will be good practice for me to build my endurance. In the end I swam 1,500 metres in about 35 minutes.

So many puppies asleep together, the latest addition at the top

In the changing room I overheard two women, one senior, one middle-aged, exclaim how wonderful it was to have the indoor pool open. They found the Dr Sun Yat-Sen pool in Sai Ying Pun inconvenient to get to, and so this one was a marked improvement. I hope they won't tell all their friends...

At the same time it'll be interesting to see the dynamics in the pools once the outdoor one is open too.

I still fondly remember swimming outdoors in November, when the water temperature was a bit cooler, which deterred many people from swimming outside, and a bonus was a nice tan on my back.

This little guy was very cute to meet!

After my brunch appointment in Central, I decided to walk home and took the long route, popping into stores I was interested in and then when I approached Sai Ying Pun I remembered a friend telling me about the SPCA having dogs available to pet from 3pm on Sundays.

I headed over and saw the "Adopt a dog" sign. In a makeshift pen, five puppies slept inside it. One of the volunteers gently pinched their ears but they were dead asleep. There were two dogs that were outside the pen on leashes. I got to pet one of them, a lovely mutt that was curious and very gentle, who didn't mind us patting his head.

It's too bad they are located in such a small obscure area so not many people know they are there. But it was nice to see some cute dogs and hope to visit them again soon...

Pokemon Debate

You can capture Pokemon anywhere, even on the MTR...

There are so many Pokemon Go stories in Hong Kong these days, with the tram being inundated with riders keen on catching as many monsters as they can on their way home, or on the weekends they gather with friends, or how people discover new places in their neighbourhood they never knew about before.

But now there's a new debate brewing among Christians in Hong Kong -- is the game satanic, addictive or conducive to spreading the gospel.

After the game was launched in the city on July 25, an anonymous message circulated around social media, asking Protestants to pray for those who was addicted to the augmented reality game.

The tram is the best way to catch Pokemon safely + efficiently

It said Pokemon images were partly inspired by figurines in Japanese shrines, and suggested "the game would guide people to play with evil spirits".

"There are Christians talking about not playing the game... and I agree that you can choose not to play it to avoid getting addicted," said Reverend Sam Chung Shu-sum, senior pastor at Assemblies of God West Post Church.

"But while new [trends] are always attractive or even potentially addictive, Christians could also make good use of them."

Last month Chung had written on his blog questioning whether Christians with weak wills might find the game addictive.

However Alliance Bible Seminary assistant professor John Chan suggested on Facebook that churches could have "lures" to attract rare Pokemon, and that might attract some potential church-goers.

Hundreds of Pokemon hunters gather in Tin Shui Wai

While the game is about catching monsters, how is the game satanic in any way? It's just a game! There are many people addicted to it at the moment, and the trend could fizzle as fast as it came, as it's virtually impossible to catch all the Pokemon, unless you're like American Nick Johnson who has literally traveled around the world to catch practically every single one, even the regional creatures.

Although I'm not religious, I like Chan's suggestion that Pokemon Go could result in more people going to church. It's just a matter of getting them through the door, right?

The game is a time waster -- there's no doubt about that. But some people admit to walking their dogs longer than usual or even meeting new friends to catch Pokemon. That's a good thing too, right?

Picture of the Day: Pacific Spirit Park

Enveloped in lush greenery with shades of blue above

Today is Christmas Day and after many days of rain we had an unusually sunny day.

So we took advantage of the blue skies, though chilly temperatures in the late morning by going for a walk at the nearby Pacific Spirit Park.

Also out were many other people with their families and lots of dogs -- lots and lots of canines keen to get some exercise in the woods.

A closeup of moss and fungus growing on a branch!

Seeing the dogs sniffing each other out and being well behaved was a far cry from the dogs in Hong Kong that snipe at each other and worse -- are carried by their masters and mistresses! Dogs are for walking!

We took in the crisp clean air and enjoyed the green scenery before tucking into another big Christmas meal...

Finally Gao Appears and Speaks

Gao spoke to AP sometime earlier this year about what happened to him

We were so relieved to read Associated Press had an exclusive face-to-face interview with leading Chinese rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng.

He dropped out of sight in April 2010 and although he was released over a year ago, we wondered what had happened to him in that time.

Turns out he told AP he was tortured with an electric baton to his face and spent three years in solitary confinement during his latest period of detention since 2010.

Despite the harsh treatment, Gao refuses to leave China even though he is separated from his wife and two children who are living in the United States.

When he was released from prison in 2014, the formerly outspoken lawyer could barely walk or speak full, intelligible sentences, which raised concerns that Gao had been permanently broken physically and mentally.

But a year later he seems to be himself...

His wife Geng He is living in exile in the US with the children

"Every time we emerge from the prison alive, it is a defeat for our opponents," he told AP.

Gao now lives in a dug-out cave on a cliff in Shaanxi province with his older brother, though he is constantly under surveillance. He apparently managed to finish manuscripts for two books that were secretly sent out of China for publication.

In the interview and in one of his books, Gao said he spent three years in solitary confinement that he survived thanks to his faith in God and his unwavering hope for China.

"I thought about giving up and giving my time to my family, but it's the mission God has given me" to stay in China, Gao, a Christian, said.

His wife Geng He said from Cupertino, California, that she didn't understand why her husband was imprisoned and why he continued to be under house arrest.

"I don't understand why the government has to imprison him. He is just a lawyer. His legal profession requires him to help and serve others. Why is he being treated like this? He is standing up for greater freedom in China."

She later posted on her Twitter account a letter from her husband urging her to decline an invitation to meet a US deputy secretary of state before the summit between US President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

He told her such a meeting would be futile. Since the administration of President Bill Clinton, "the American political class has disregarded the basic humanitarian principles and muddied itself by getting close to the sinister Communist Party," Gao wrote, according to his wife.

In one of Gao's books -- that has yet to be published -- he predicts the authoritarian rule under China's Communist Party will end in 2017 -- a revelation he says he received from God. He also outlines a plan to build up a democratic, modern China after the party's collapse. The book also details his inhumane treatment in prison.

The other book is addressed to his son and tells of his family's story.

Jerome Cohen, a New York University law professor and expert on China's legal system, says Gao has become a symbol of the repression of rights lawyers in the country, and that it was heartening to hear he had given an interview.

"I had worried that Gao had become a forgotten man," Cohen said. "He was the leading human rights lawyer in China. He was a bold, courageous, outspoken person, and they broke him, they broke him in the cruelest way."

In Gao's book, he said he endured more torture, including with an electric baton to his face -- a moment he remembers as a near out-of-body experience when he heard his own voice.

"Undoubtedly, it was from me. I don't know how to describe it," Gao wrote. "That sound was almost like a dog howling when its tail is forcibly stepped on by its master. Sometimes it sounded like what a puppy makes when it's hung upside by its tail."

During these years of detention, Gao says he was able to build a mental barrier against the physical perception of pain. "This is a special ability I have acquired to allow me to survive difficult times," he said in the interview.

He says he was secretly tried in December 2011, and it was only then that the government acknowledged it was holding him by sending him to prison.

This was the first time he was taken outside -- albeit hooded -- for the first time in 21 months. "It was the first time I heard a dog bark and that I could breathe fresh air," he said.

Then he was moved to a prison in Xinjiang and while he was no longer beaten, he had to stay in a room of 8 square metres (86 sq ft) without windows or ventilation for three years.

As a result he could not cope with being in large spaces after his release. "I found I could not walk at the airport, but i could walk inside the locked-up room," he said.

Gao said at one point during his three-year period in prison, the authorities installed a loudspeaker in his cell that spouted propaganda on socialist values for 68 weeks straight. "You cannot imagine the mental harassment they inflicted on me," he said.

Now out of prison (but constantly being watched), Gao is able to speak to his wife and children daily, but feels he cannot leave China to be reunited with them.

"My wife is suffering, but I can do nothing," he said. "I understand those persecuted souls who have left China and I am glad for them, but I cannot be among them. I cannot go," Gao said.

If what Gao says is true, the Chinese authorities have no shame in torturing a human being to the point of physical and mental breakdown. A government that prides itself on being on a "peaceful rise" is far from the truth.

Does China think we on the outside cannot see this? We understand that people like Gao and Liu Xiaobo need to do their work from the inside, but we need them to know we are on their side cheering them on, to tell them they are not alone.

MTR: Caring for Life's Journeys?

Two pictures of the dog and MTR staff's attempts to get it off the tracks

Yesterday hundreds of people showed up to mourn the death of a stray dog that was hit by a train from Shenzhen on Wednesday.

The mourners dressed in black and congregated at the Sheung Shui MTR station where the dog was first sighted, and then like a funeral procession, headed to Fanling station where the canine was found dead.

Many people were upset when they heard about the pathetic attempts by the MTR staff to get the dog off the tracks. A video clip shows two men wearing orange vests trying to coax the animal out of the way, but did not make any attempt to catch it and lift it up onto the platform.

Another picture shows a staff member holding a chair down by the dog. Did he think it was going to jump onto it?

Hundreds of angry protestors came out to mourn the dog

Those who angrily complained felt the MTR should have stopped the incoming train and alerted the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation department, who might have shot the animal with a tranquillizer dart and then removed the animal safely.

In a news report, Leung Chi-sing, an MTR train driver and district councillor said staff lacked training in dealing with animals and didn't have the proper tools to catch animals.

One would think the staff, particularly those at stations in the New Territories, would be trained to deal with these situations, as the tracks are open and anybody or anything could wander into this area.

But apparently the MTR Corporation does not have an extensive crisis management plan, from how to communicate with customers when there are mechanical or technical failures, to rescuing a stray dog from the tracks.

However look at it another way -- if the MTR staff did halt the trains to get the dog off the tracks by getting a qualified animal handler who would then shoot a tranquillizer dart and then remove the animal, how long would that have taken? Would commuters waiting in other stations along the line be sympathetic about the efforts to save a dog?

It's hard to say, but worth considering. That said, the MTR has had so many man-made problems in the last few months, a stray dog would have been the easiest to solve.

Following this incident those people who showed up for the funeral procession might have wished they could have boycotted the MTR, but they probably need to use it to get around. Which may explain why the company doesn't seem to care -- it knows most people don't have much choice and need to use this public transport system to get around relatively quickly.

So much for the MTR's tagline, "Caring for life's journeys"...

Pictures of the Day: Pacific Spirit Regional Park

It's fun wandering through this forest!

During my visit in Vancouver I have been regularly going to Pacific Spirit Regional Park for walks. It's great to wander in the giant forest and feel like you're communing with nature.

Lots of moss and fungus growing on trees

It's 763 hectares of forest and foreshore that stretches from the neighbourhood of Point Grey to the University of British Columbia. The park even touches the Fraser River, the Strait of Georgia and Burrard Inlet. My brother even suggested that it is more than twice the size of New York's Central Park.

After some Googling, I see he's correct. 763 hectares is 1,885.41 acres compared to Central Park's 778 acres, so Pacific Spirit Regional Park is 2.4 times the size of the Big Apple's park, though many of the forested areas don't have paths.

Once you enter the park there are many routes to choose from, each with different names such as Imperial, Hemlock, Admiralty, Salish and Camosun. For the most part the trails are flat, only a few have an incline that isn't impossible to walk up.

A mini tree growing within a dead one...

The trees are very tall and covered in lots of moss and in many cases fungus as well. It's a great place to photograph trees though we have yet to find any creatures inhabiting the area.

The other fun aspect of this place is encountering the dogs that are walked here by their owners. The canines love the park because of the natural paths and in many areas they can freely roam and investigate with their sharp noses. They also seem to like to approach me...

The neon-green moss brightens up the path

We also love the fact that we can breathe in fresh oxygen! Coming from Hong Kong, walking through the park is a wonderful way to get a boost of clean air. Too bad I can't transport it back to Hong Kong. It's also the complete antithesis of the city -- pretty much in my backyard.