By Rach Wong

only if I'm really thirsty and trapped in a desert for 5 days

I said I'd try everything once in my life, but this is taking it too far

Sure, I can have a taste

Yes these are Chinese biscuits, get lost if you don't like it

It's hot, as long as it dont give me the ....

The clothes in this store are nice

Okayy

Check out, ‘lost in translation part I, a genuine menu found in Hong Kong. 

Nee Hao Magazine restaurant profile 

With Turkic Uyghur Muslims being the region’s largest ethnic group (as opposed to Han Chinese migrants), Xinjiang cooking undoubtedly comes with vibrant, exotic flair, and is a rare culinary gem that has finally found its way from the far away land of North-west China to the heart of London Chinatown, at Wulumuchi!

Wulumuchi’s simple yet well-balanced menu captures the essence of Xinjiang cuisine: (i) the abundant use of wheat (instead of rice) to make dumplings, noodles, and, of course, the all-essential Xinjiang nann bread, in central-Asian style; and (ii) the dominance of lamb dishes (including entrails) cooked in a wide variety of ways and with the use of a plethora of spices (e.g. cumin seeds and red pepper flakes).

Xinjiang Stir Fried Chilli Dish

The most popular and definitive Xinjiang classic – Da Pan Ji, literally meaning ‘big plate chicken’ – is a large platter of chicken with wide ‘belt noodles’ and mixed vegetables bursting with flavours, and is a must-try! Other Xinjiang specialties include perfectly-grilled ‘lamb skewers’crusted with plenty of cumin seeds and chilli flakes; hot and fiery ‘Ding Ding hand-sliced noodles’; and succulent, finger-licking good ‘mutton ribs’. From ‘sliced chicken drumsticks stuffed with preserved eggs’ to ‘sweet and sour shredded fruits and Chinese cabbage’, a special range of cold starters is another culinary star on the menu.

What these dishes have in common is pungency, with a long, memorable and satisfying finishing taste! Wulumuchi also offers an unusual selection of vegetable dishes: ‘handsliced aubergine’, ‘stir-fried daylilies with black fungus’, and ‘spicy stir-fried lotus roots slices’. To complete the authentic Xinjiang dining experience is to try the quintessentially-Xinjiang drink – goat milk tea, which comes as savoury or sweet! Notably, Wulumuchi is also Chinatown’s only restaurant that does not serve pork, with an authentic Xinjiang menu full of exotic spices’ kicks and moreish flavours!

A North West China Chicken Dish

After being under preview for the past few weeks and taking feedbacks, Wulumuchi finally opened officially on 23rd of April. Wulumuchi are promising us a simple, seasonal North-west (xibei) regional Chinese cuisine encompassing exotic and popular dishes from the Xinjiang province.

Wulumuchi Restaurant. 16 Lisle Street, Soho, London

]]> http://www.neehao.co.uk/2012/05/wulumuchi-north-western-china-xinjiang-cuisine-in-london-soho/feed/ 3 http://www.neehao.co.uk/2012/05/3-times-dmc-champion-china-dj-wordy/ http://www.neehao.co.uk/2012/05/3-times-dmc-champion-china-dj-wordy/#comments Sun, 13 May 2012 19:34:26 +0000 Editorial http://www.neehao.co.uk/?p=2950 Currently the leading authority of the DMC China scene, Wang Liang aka DJ Wordy quite literally scratched his way to the top of the home-game. Wordy is still the only DJ to have won the DMC Championship China 3 consecutive times, firmly clinching the title from ’05-’07 which is obviously no small feat. 

By Duncan Wan Music Editor 

A shining example of what can be achieved when hard work, discipline and focus are applied to a little inspiration, be it a randomly happening across a video on the internet or, indeed, a copy of a pirated VCD, our export-grade DJ has endeavoured to slake the expanding thirsts of an ever evolving culture. Together with his partner in crime, Soulspeak, Wordy is running a tight game and is responsible for the influential club night ‘Hotpot’ in the pumping heart of the Chinese capital.

Objectively,  Wang is the biggest fish in his rapidly growing pond but by no means the biggest fish in the sea that is the DMC World. It’s important to understand that this vein of culture wasn’t of the first things to seep through the iron curtain and actually has only been available to ‘the people’ in the last decade or so, leaving a gap of time for Chinese turntablists to scrabble and catch up to. This is in regards to the stylisation of dress as well the advancement of techniques that have progressed with the digital wave, allowing DJs to literally pack days of music into laptops and portable hard drives.

What I like most about DJ Wordy is his fearlessness of telling it how it is, learning his craft initially through imitation before slowly lapping his own subjective spin – the latter step being the one most commonly neglected in this digital age of media where mediocrity has a disturbing amount of foothold. It is exactly this reason that it’s incredibly refreshing to see a  genuine home-grown talent rocking the international stage armed with far more than just image and hype.

Nee Hao managed to catch up with the busy wax spinner and we didn’t hesitate to let fly a few questions.

DJ Wordy! Thanks for taking the time to talk to us here at Nee Hao, let’s get started!- so how old were you when you first started DJing?  

Hah! No sweat! I was 20 years old.

So some 7 years, do you think your taste in music changed from then? 

It has changed a lot, and changes all the time. For me, it’s all about progression. I was in a rock band playing guitar when I came across a VCD of the DMC World Championships. I had never seen anything like it before.

How did it feel to rock out like the people you were watching on that VCD and then win the DMC China Championships?

After watching that video literally 100s of times, I practised basically night and day for months. All my heart and soul went into DJing. By the time the China Championships came around and I won, I felt like it was the first step to open the door of music beyond China.

London, Paris, New York… I see what you mean! Do you feel technology has impacted your style especially since using Serato Scratch Live and DVS compared to the old school stuff? 

It has changed everything also. Everybody knows you can do so much more stuff technically with the new technology, but I also miss the old school feel and soul of using vinyl.

Snap. So for our aspiring readers, what do you think is the most important aspect of being a DJ? 

Technique first. Then feeling…how you control the music.

So where did you learn your scratching and mixing techiniques? 

Living in China at the time, there was not an established DJ scene. I actually learned so much from the internet and watching videos on youtube.

Hah! I get that. Out of curiosity, what did you make of the UK? Like it?

I’ve been  a few times actually. The first time was for the World DMC Championships, and it was also my first time outside of Asia. I loved it. So much culture and inspiration. As a DJ, it was a dream to go to the record stores and dig.

What else did you like about it? Playing any gigs here soon?

Obviously the underground scene in UK is world renown. No plans to go right now, but if you like my stuff bring me there!

Tell us what the current music scene is like in China? 

Overall it is still very commercial and pop. But there is definitely a great underground music scene, especially in Beijing, where everyone is doing it for their passion for music.

 What do you do to relax? 

Chilling with Bob Marley. And music and movies.

How do you usually  prepare for gigs/competitions? 

Chilling with Bob Marley. Haha. At this point, I just like to map it out in my head and think about the patterns of music and how it all fits together.

 What DJs or musicians do you admire/had an impact? 

James Brown, Herbie Hancock.  Kid Kaola (so creative). D-Styles and Q-Bert (technical genius/aliens). Jimi Hendrix, Soulspeak and Lomang.

Sweet. What is or are your favourite track/s in your record box at the moment? 

J Dilla, John Wayne, Flako, Lone

What are your future plans?

Make more music and videos with my production partner, Soulspeak, and keep taking our live show to the next levels. just be creative.

Can you come to play at a Nee Hao party soon? 

Sure, love to show my music to new people and friends,  last time I was in London was 2007.

Further Reading: DMC Champion DJ VAJRA

Ayi Clears up many misunderstandings about Fear Chaser in her video while telling us what to expect in the future as the project grows. 2012 is a big year for Fear Chaser with production breaking ground on the Short Movie, As well as her Fear Chaser Album. Also Ayi is expected to be performing Fear Chaser live in a technologically groundbreaking way; We are awaiting more details on that one.

In the video Ayi not only speaks about what Fear Chaser is but how it started and what it stands for. She explains a little about Fear Chaser being more than just a movie, but also a way of life, a movement, encouraging people all around the world to acknowledge and confront their fears.

Ayi also speaks about the ethnic and cultural influences that inspire Fear Chaser and make it slightly different from superhero figures that have gone before. ‘Anyone can be a Fear Chaser’ Ayi says. The different cultural and ethnic influences in Fear Chaser are displayed in the Re-designed Fear Chaser costume for 2012. Angela DeMontigny, native Canadian designer and stylist to Ayi Jihu is a top Fashion designer and she played a real part in helping Ayi and Co expand the Fear Chaser vibe to embrace even more cultures.

Danny Hall the sports columnist for Metrostyle Magazine in Beijing gives us an insight into the current football scene in China, having coached aspiring young footballers there. 

Chinese football is nothing less than a ticking time bomb of talent. With a population of over 1.3 billion, you would expect this vast pool of people to be churning out top professional footballers left right and centre. However, football seems to have taken a back seat to the successes of the CBA (Chinese Basketball Association) and their talisman Yao Ming, not to mention table tennis and badminton teams alike.

This was clear to be seen as all emphasis was engineered into producing world beating Chinese athletes at the Olympics in Beijing 2008, and it paid off. Topping the medals charts dominating the likes of the U.S.A and Russia. Couldn’t all of this political and social power be ploughed into creating the best international football team the world has ever seen?

Why has the most popular sport worldwide been snuffed at when it comes to sport in China, when the potential is extremely high for a world dominance in the football field? What will it take for China and Chinese professionals to be centre stage on the world footballing scene? When will the Chinese athlete be a major player in a world cup to come forth?

Danny Hall training young Chinese lads the art of the passing

Lets take an example, England has hosted the world cup once, won it once and competed at the highest level of international football for decades, even sub-cultures and fashion has emanated from the game. Even though England has underachieved in their expectations massively in recent years, there is one underlying factor that breeds success in England and other nations alike, this is the infiltration of football into society. England, a tiny island in the northern hemisphere, populated by a mere 51 million inhabitants.
People eat, sleep and breathe football in England and the world alike.. literally. And when this occurs it creates an aura of importance around the game, Thus making it an important and prominent entity in society. If England can produce a David Beckham, Wayne Rooney and a Steven Gerrard. Why can’t China? 20 times over. The fundamental solution lies in society itself, football has to be infiltrated into everyday life and manipulated in as many ways as possible.

Whats In Store For Chinese Football In The Near Future?

With the right grooming and implementation of the game, China will become top of the tree in future years to come in the football scene, this can already be seen as China took top spot in the medals list in the Beijing Olympics in 2008. This proves with the right treatment and involvement in a specified area, China can be spectacular. Please don’t misunderstand me, football in China is very much on the ascent. With the fantastic work of China Club Football (Wanguoqunxing) based in Beijing, they are providing excellent coaching from FA qualified personnel, to breed a new era of enjoyment and development for Chinese children in Beijing. Not to mention running regular 5 a side tournaments for the older age groups and adults also. This can only be a good thing for the Chinese people, and is sure to provide many benefits for the future of football in China. The enjoyment of the Chinese children’s faces was clear to see on my ventures into handing my own slice of the football pie to them, and it is unquestionable that China has the ability to be a major force in the future

Special thanks to Metro Style Magazine Beijing  www.metro-style.com.cn

Lin Shao Qiang came home one day to find his wife had cut their savings up into tiny pieces with a pair of scissors. The denomination of each note was 100 yuan which is about 10 pounds. He spent many sleepness nights along with his twin sons and some friends to piece them back together after trying to exchange them previously at numerous banks to no avail. He even quit his job as a postman but only managed to save 9 bank notes. 

Lin went to his local branch again and begged for the staff to help him and his call was heard after one of the senior managers, Zhang Ping took pity on the husband’s desperate plight to save the bank notes because it was for his wife’s medical treatment. Zhang swiftly organised 12 employees to try and painstakingly stick the notes back, but this was in vain as it took 6 hours just to piece one note back together.

The bank staff told Lin to return after a few days to see how many notes could be saved and then the staff worked around the clock. After returning to the bank a few days later, Lin was left disappointed as the bank were unable to rescue the notes and despite all the efforts only a handful could be saved to everyone’s disappointment.

As the story unfolded on the web, lots of people contributed to suggestions on how to find a solution, as the medical treatment for his wife was due very soon. Some even thought about writing a computer programme to sort out the fragments, but all the ideas that came forward via web forums and emails proved fruitless. Each note had to be exactly from the original with the serial numbers matching so the task seemed near on impossible.

However a kind hearted man called Mr Xie offered to make a donation for the full amount to Lin in exchange for the damaged notes. So the story ended nicely.

The husband looks on and waits anxiously to see if the notes can be reassembled.

“本月型男”和“本月宝贝”特辑。参赛者在这里可以递交他们的个人简历以及写真照让大家投票。而读者们通过一个公正但又非常特别的选票系统来为他们喜爱的型男或宝贝打气，并投出神圣的一票。

At the end of a 12 month period, the male and female who receives the most votes will have the honour of being Nee Hao Magazine’s Bachelor and Babe of the year, and a full centre page spread in the in-print magazine will be devoted to them. We are also in talks with modelling agencies in London and Beijing who will potentially sign up the winners to their books.

Nee Hao都将为每年的12位 “本月型男”和12位“本月宝贝”中最高选票者颁发 “年度型男”和 “年度宝贝”的荣誉称号。“年度型男和宝贝”的写真不但会被刊登在Nee Hao杂志的中央页面，
并且Nee Hao亦会为他们和中英两地的模特公司对话，型男和宝贝们就有机会获得顶级模特公司的签约。

Do you wish to be Nee Hao magazine’s Bachelor or Babe of the month? Send in a few photos and a brief bio to us and you can be featured in the future.

如果你想成为Nee Hao杂志的“本月型男”或“本月宝贝”，就请尽快给我们寄来你的照片和个人简历吧。
相信你会成为最有型的型男，最有人气的宝贝！

Rating system 选票系统: 

(Get voting just for fun!)

Plain Chow Mein = Nothing special

净炒面 = 没什么特别

Veggie Chow Mein = Interesting but could do with a little meat

时菜炒面 = 还可以，但最好来点肉！

Special Chow Mein = The full works, tasty and got the complete package.

招牌炒面 = 色香味俱全， 够入味， 完全满意的包装。

Bachelor of the Month for May 2012 

(5月型男)

Peter Hong 

From : Cardiff

Age : 24

Job : I’m a student at Cardiff university studying Business and Japanese. I’m also a nerd and dreamer. The nerd side of me loves photography and the dreamer side is dreaming that one day I will be a pro photographer lol.

Favourite food : Ramen! Real Japanese ramen! Mmmm… I would seriously go to Japan just for ramen.

Enjoy or not enjoy clubbing? I do enjoy it but prefer doing all night Karaoke in Japan! Before trying karaoke I thought it was super lame, tried it in Japan and love it!

Click here for more photos of Peter Hong 

Click here for Babe of the Month for May 2012

Click here for Bachelor of the Month for March

The Royal Court Theatre is Britain’s leading national company dedicated to new work by innovative writers from the UK and around the world. The theatre’s pivotal role in promoting new voices is undisputed – the New York Times described it as ‘the most important theatre in Europe’. It was Britain’s first national theatre company, and has held firm to its vision of being a writers theatre. Its plays have challenged the artistic, social and political orthodoxy of the day, pushing back the boundaries of what was possible or acceptable.

After 50 years, writers, directors, actors and audiences still look to the Royal Court for the classics of the future. Plays that were once considered subversive, immoral or blasphemous are now studied in schools and performed all over the world. George Devine, the first Artistic Director of the Royal Court wanted to create a ‘vital, modern theatre of experiment’. 50 years on, that theatre stands at the centre of a vigorous, renewed culture of playwriting.

This is the second year that we are running the Unheard Voices Writers Programme, as last year was a great success it is an 11-week playwriting group.

To apply for the group, send your play or a sample of dramatic writing (at least 10 pages) alongside an enrollment form on the link provided below or send Nee Hao Magazine an email (writers@neehao.co.uk) .

If your application is successful you’ll be invited to come to the weekly playwriting workshops at the Royal Court theatre, led by a professional playwright.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: Friday 25th May 2012 

For further info go to www.royalcourttheatre.com

Special thanks to Alex Sayer The Royal Court Theatre

“本月型男”和“本月宝贝”特辑。参赛者在这里可以递交他们的个人简历以及写真照让大家投票。而读者们通过一个公正但又非常特别的选票系统来为他们喜爱的型男或宝贝打气，并投出神圣的一票。

At the end of a 12 month period, the male and female who receives the most votes will have the honour of being Nee Hao Magazine’s Bachelor and Babe of the year, and a full centre page spread in the in-print magazine will be devoted to them. We are also in talks with modelling agencies in London and Beijing who will potentially sign up the winners to their books.

Nee Hao都将为每年的12位 “本月型男”和12位“本月宝贝”中最高选票者颁发 “年度型男”和 “年度宝贝”的荣誉称号。“年度型男和宝贝”的写真不但会被刊登在Nee Hao杂志的中央页面，并且Nee Hao亦会为他们和中英两地的模特公司对话，型男和宝贝们就有机会获得顶级模特公司的签约。

Do you wish to be Nee Hao magazine’s Bachelor or Babe of the month? Send in a few photos and a brief bio to us and you can be featured in the future.

如果你想成为Nee Hao杂志的“本月型男”或“本月宝贝”，就请尽快给我们寄来你的照片和个人简历吧。 相信你会成为最有型的型男，最有人气的宝贝！

(Get voting just for fun!)

Cup Cake = Delightful, cute and classy

纸杯蛋糕 = 讨人喜欢的， 可爱又时髦

Egg Tart = Nice to eat but can be a little fattening

蛋挞 = 真好吃但是好像有点油腻了。

Mantou = Plain and simple

馒头 = 简单， 纯洁。

Babe of the Month for May :

Ann Hoang

From : London, ethnicity is Vietnamese

來自: 伦敦, 英籍越裔

Age 年龄 : 21

Height 身高 : 5’7 [170cm]

Job : I’m currently studying fashion design but I my heart lies in modelling/TV/Film

专业领域: 正在就读时尚设计不过我一心想要在模特界/娱乐影视界发展。

Favourite fashion styIe : Don’t think I have a certain style, it’s always so random. I guess you could say I’m inspired by Korean fashion. I really love flower prints, lace and anything fluffy. You wouldn’t catch me without something fluffy on!

最喜欢的时尚风格 : 没个准，我总喜欢自由发挥随心所欲。 也可以说我的衣着风格灵感来自于韩流。我超爱花印，蕾丝以及毛茸茸的服饰。你永远也找不到我有哪天是没有佩戴毛绒饰品的啦。

Favourite food : Ah… I enjoy many cuisines; it’s so hard to decide! Chicken Katsu curry or anything really spicy!

最喜爱食品 : 额…我喜欢很多种菜肴呢; 好难抉择! 比如日式炸鸡排咖喱啦, 总之超辣的食物我都喜欢.

Enjoy or not enjoy clubbing? : I enjoy clubbing! I love dancing like nobody’s watching and dancing with a group of people keeps my spirits high~! Plus, I burn so many calories haha!

喜不喜欢参加派对活动? : 喜欢! 当我跳舞的时候我可不管身旁有没有人关注， 在人群拥挤的环境里跳舞我会感觉超好的！还有， 跳舞帮助保持身材哦， 因为会消耗很多卡路里嘛。

Cont… to page 2 Click here to see more photos 

Merlene was born in Singapore and came to London in 1979 as a law student. Both her parents are overseas born Chinese, therefore she has inherited a strong sense of colonial history and identity. To that extent she feels a kindred bond with immigrants from other ex-colonies now in the Commonwealth.

After graduation from King’s College London she obtained a Master of Laws degree at Cambridge University. She qualified as a Solicitor and worked at a leading City law firm in the high adrenaline-fueled world of corporate finance and banking. She returned briefly to work in Singapore and was made partner at a medium sized firm specialising in the areas of joint ventures and cross-border finance. In 1990 she became a CEDR accredited commercial mediator in the UK .

Merlene and her husband Mark have three sons, who have contributed to her deep desire to see that they grow up in a fair, tolerant and progressive society. She is currently a Director of the Chinese Welfare Trust and the registered social landlord, Richmond Housing Partnership (serving in the New Developments and Finance Committee). She is also an active member of her local Save the Children branch.

GLA (Greater London Authority) elections are to vote for a mayor as well as the 25 Assembly members who oversee the mayor’s work. There are 4 votes (2 for a mayor – 1st and 2nd Preference) and 2 for Assembly members (1 for your own Constituency and 1 for London wide). I am standing on the London wide list on my party ticket so my name won’t appear on the orange ballot paper.