On Jan 22, 2008 10:40 AM, Suresh Ramasubramanian <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> What I love about Japan is its past (Kurosawa movies, just to start with). What I love about Japan is hard to sum up in a few words, but yes I love Japanese movie directors (Kurosawa, Miyazaki, Takahata, Inagaki, Mizoguchi, Imamura) and Japanese food, but really I think what I love about Japan is the pervasive aesthetic sense. The aesthetic of simplcity, the natural, and the beauty of imperfection and ordinary objects that I think comes primarily from Zen (to the degree that I am religious at all - which is not very - I consider myself a Zen Buddhist, at least this week.) > > the best Pakistani-style food (Shalimar) > [Jones and O'Farrell] are just on the border between "nice" and "not nice" Well mostly they were appalled at my preference for walking down Jones to market after leaving Shalimar stepping over the winos and junkies and politely declining the offers of the working girls and boys. > > I walked home from work down the length of Infantry Road at 2am > you had better hope that you are very well > acquainted with the various packs of stray dogs in the area Exactly! That was what I noticed most. All the cute dogs that had been sleeping lazily all day were up, alert, and sizing me up - and there were a LOT of them out. I also wasn't thrilled by the fact that the few cars that WERE out showed a disconcerting tendency to slow down and check me out before driving on. I felt like everything that was up and about was trying to decide if I was prey or not. On the other hand, I grew up in and near the barrio so maybe some of that attitude still shows. It certainly is responsible for the fact that I feel completely at home in even the "worst" parts of the Mission. I also ran into two cops walking the other way down Infantry Road and didn't really know what to expect. I was more wary of them than I was of the dogs, but they looked kind of alert when they first saw me then waved me past, maybe when they saw I was a foreigner. > I would rate India as very similar to China and Japan on most gender issues. I think that's about right. I was going to say I thought Japan had a better track record, and cite successful businesswomen, and the ability of women to work outside the home, but really it's not any different from India. Similarly women face a definite "glass ceiling." > Gays / transsexuals etc? Well, yes there's a more than horrible track > record, especially if you are poor. If you're rich and gay, well.. > http://www.rediff.com/style/may/07sylvie.htm But even that article illustrates the issues: In our times, if Sylvester wants to be known as 'she' and introduced as 'Sylvie', so be it. "I don't label myself as gay, homosexual, transvestite or a woman. I just say I'm Sylvie and I'm there." Comfortable with his sexuality, Sylvie does not mince words. To avoid a confusing clash of genders and facilitate a comfortable rapport, I consciously omit references of 'he' or 'she' and dutifully stick to 'Sylvie'. Notice the writer is aware that Sylvie wants to be known as and referred to as "she" and yet refers to her as "he" in the article making it clear that it was only to facilitate a comfortable rapport that "I consciously omit references to 'he' and 'she'." There is no acceptance of Sylvie, nor of her preferences even in the article you cite as evidence that you can be rich and gay in India. I find it a disquieting and a continual source of unease for me here. People I otherwise respect come out with the most blatant homophobic attitudes and no one around seems to bat an eye. I forget for a while then something happens to rub my nose in it. Like a friend of a friend mentioning that a good friend of his came out to his parents and was killed by his father for it. I don't think I could ever be completely at ease here due in large part to things like that, and couples being hunted down and killed by a father because the daughter married a Christian boy against her parent's wishes. Not to end on too depressing a note: On Jan 22, 2008 10:43 AM, Venkat Mangudi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I miss Shalimar food... Although there are quite a few Shalimars in the > Bay area, Jones & Farrell is the best IMO. I agree, though the one on Post isn't too bad. A little too neat and clean for my taste. :) > What has been your experience with Yank Sing ( the dim sum place near > Market St, next to the WF bldg)? It's reliable, can accomodate large parties, is high quality, and expensive. We used to go there regularly for a "treat" or to take out of town visitors for a dim-sum experience that was guaranteed to please. I'm a huge fan of their Peking duck, and I love all the tripe dishes, the jellyfish, and some of their other more exotic offerings. We usually would go to Yank Sing in the Rincon Center near embarcadero (it's bigger) but the little one just off Market near the WF building is nice, cozier. We used to sometimes go to Harbor Village in Embarcadero Center. Even fancier, even more expensive, even better dim sum. We also go to Hong Kong Flower Lounge down in Millbrae for really authentic dim sum (but go early or be prepared to wait for hours) and if we want something cheaper in the city but still good we go to Canton (655 Folsom St). But for real dim sum we would go to Gold Mountain. On my next visit to the Bay Area though I'm for sure going to Little Sichuan in San Mateo and having their "water cooked pork" I think they call it on the menu. I love how unappetizing some chinese dishes sound when translated in to english. :) I you didn't know what they were, you'd never order them. All of these places are better if you go with someone who speaks chinese. :) -- Charles
