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MTR Challenge

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Not a catch-as-catch-can method can I ever think of to effectively help me memorise the spelling and pronunciation of the Gaelic names of my Irish friend and his two sons instead of letting them go by their initials D, C and R. It might have taken me months to be able to let their names sink in, but definitely in less than a week to have them drained out of my brain and repeatedly so afterwards.

This probably sounds familiar to gweilos and gweipos when it comes to the transliterations of the Cantonese names.  No wonder when the first decades the British extended their rule over Hong Kong, the Cantonese names were transcribed by the familiar English spelling system, say, Lei Yue Mun became Lyemun.

In a sort of similar spirit but a funnier way, two Irish expats in Hong Kong, Mark and Aisling, have done a  photographic project to poke fun at the Cantonese names of the underground stations.

(Nevin's note: Sorry for being silent for a while. First is the busyness. Then the GRD4 I use primarily for street shots malfunctions for the snap, M and one-press snap modes, which render it almost useless for that purpose. It is still within the warranty period BUT I can't find the invoice. Sigh. I hope to post more regularly soon.)


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