Roses everywhere

I feel like I am going back in time. I am in Yi Lan 50 mins drive down south from Taipei. It's so beautiful.

Election's posters ( I understand that the State governor election day is around the corner) were everywhere and beautiful scenery of padi fields as we drove down. What a sight! Yi Lan is also known for it's hot spring and it's everywhere even in the apartments and hotels.

I am blessed with a friend who happened to be a tour guide and he asked me what I hope to find and I said -. FOOD of course!
He then brought us to the TRADITIONAL ART MUSEUM in "LAO JIE" ( Old Street) filled with old heritage building. I felt like a child all over again; all the retro candy store (古早味), where they keep the candies in the big glass tub. I don't think we can find them on Singapore or Malaysia anymore. I thought of Rose if she lives thru this era.

Then I found Rose here. hahahha... A Rose lollipop. I also bought myself this little game - Sand bag, or Bean bag?
I wonder if anyone will likes to play bean bags anymore but I used to call myself the 沙包冠军! The champion of the bean bags. Nehh, i wasn't that good, but I really like them. I used to make these bean bags during my primary art classes.
It's simple - Put the beans or rice inside the little cloth, then use thread and needle to sew it together. DONE!! and this is the game that bring back the memory of my younger days with my mom and my sister - everything can be so simple!

The next day we went to visit the biggest plum making factory in Yi Lan. Plum is a known produce of Yi Lan.
My friend's cousin who owns the factory broughtg us round the factory. Though I don't really like plum, but drank the plum juice because the owner told us that it is good for the throat and he claimed that many singers drink this to protect their voice.... OOOH yea, and I have TWO! hahaha... Here comes the KIASU spirit. :P

Well, it was a fun and brand new experience. I have not visited factories since my school trips and I wasn't interested or pay any attention then. Glad I did it now :)

My encounter with a python

check this link - http://www.divaasia.com/article/5977
http://www.dailychilli.com/buzz/730-christy-yow-plays-with-python

If you have read my earlier reports; I am terrified by the mentioned of snakes. Yes, since young while watching the National Geographic I told myself that I will never go near this creature. As they say - Never say never.

When I first auctioned for the role of Rose Chan, director Eric Khoo show me some picture of Rose Chan performing with a python. I was scared and asked if I have to do that. Yes! said Eric. I almost turn down the role as I cannot imagine how I am going to handle that and I left with this thought that I may not even get the role.

Weeks ago while talking to Ling from Fly Entertainment; she mentioned that model/actress Michelle Goh did a magzine cover with a python long ago and it's not that scary. Immediately my manager asked if she got the contact and if I can meet the owner. After a few calls Ling told us that the owner of that python no longer contactable.

The next day, Ling called and said that she had found another python owner. The owner Yussof had an encounter with Rose Chan when he was 12. I was drawn to him. I wanna meet him and know more about Rose. We met the next day at Fly's office.
Yussof was a nice and easy guy. When we meet that day, d he asked if I have touched or handled any animals that day. Yes. I have play with bebe (my brother's Jacob's dog) this morning. He then asked me to clean myself throughly. Relax - he keep telling me. He probably can see how nervous through my eyes. Yes...I am damn scare lor.

He opened his basket - just look at it he insisited. He introduce the python as Mr Bean. I laughed - Mr Bean?? and continue to listen to him. Just touch it slowly and I did. It feels COLD. After a few minutes he held the python on his neck and before I know it; he put the python over me and I were FROZEN. Deep in my heart; I told myself that only I can help myself to overcome this fear. U thought about all the negative responses from friends about me playing Rose Chan - I told myself - I can't let those who believe in me down - Eric Khoo who has given me this chance; my brother, my manager and friends who were behind me even before I got this role. I need to be very professional.

Slowly but surely, the python got friendly with me and somehow we "got along" :) I sat down with Yussof and he told me of his first encounter with Rose. Rose was a brave woman and she told Yussof that she has a better python and bought him to see it.

The next day, they python was bought to the studio and photographs were taken with it. Now, I have crossed my biggest hurdles and I look forward to many more challenges.

Meeting Roses' last bf ...

Eric Khoo's office just rang up my manager to check if I am available first week Dec to meet Rose Chan last bf?

Yes! Of course! Only through them that I can really find out more about her. I want to be able to protray her as close as possible. I have yet gotten to post my meeting with Rose Chan's firs bf because I really need to clear with him before posting about my meeting with him. I want him to be comfortable. He is a great guy and I know he still loves Rose Chan deep in his heart despite what had happened. He said my hair got to be more curly :) That's so much I can say for now.

Keeping it Real!

Did you get a copy of 8 days this week? Thanks Wang for her encouragement. Thank you for writing this letter. Truly; I was just trying to be myself.

My manger called me when my cover story for 8 days came out last week. "My sister said that you looked great on the cover but you came across stupid in the interview." I read and was sad how the story was presented but I realized that every journo has a right to form his/her perception but I do think the media plays a very important role to form that perception.

I don’t not know how to put it in simpler term. Sometime it takes just an interview to put an aspiring artiste down. Think of the effort of the many people and money put together in a movie or just a music CD/album

It just take a stroke of words – bad production, thrash it , don’t watch it, etc ….. these words may cause many readers or listerners to not go watch the movie or buy the CD.

Maybe it’s just not the genre or style that journo hence it doesn’t mean it’s no good enough for others.

Like my mum always say – “if you don’t have anything nice to say; don’t say. Then again...who am I to say. I am just a newbie :)

It's getting cold ...

One of the many things I like about Taipei besides the food is certainly the weather. I get to wear a lot more ... layers after layers during winter. Yes. it's getting cold here in Taipei.and many taiwanese will be starting to take some kind of herbal soup to keep their body warm.

Since I love eating in Taipei ( and I need to put on more weight for the role of Rose Chan) I will be writing a lot about eating here. During winter; herbal soup seems to be the fav food.

小毕, a friend I met her during my acting workshop (She's a great singer!) brought me to one such establishment where many focal celebs will come for their nutritious potion . So I reckon this must be the place to warm myself up while I am here. Check this out - http://www.udd.com.tw/)

The soup is black in color and has a strong alcohol taste ... and yes, they slow cook with alcohol. And it is pretty expensive.

According to my friend that after drinking; some people

1) may get dizzy

2) may get a feeling of throwing out what you just drank

3) may even get a stomach upset. etc etc...

well ... honestly, it was really difficult to drink, but for sake of my health and my friend who bought me there, I forced 2 bowls of this herbal drinks down my throat.

Let's hope this will warm my body and improve my health. I need to make sure I get my body ready to meet Rose :)

My Sifu – Irene Ang aka Rosie of PCK

I grow up watching PCK. Never had I thought that the character on my TV set could one day be my “Sifu”. I am thankful that I finally get to meet her in person.

I first met Irene in Goodwood Park hotel when Eric Khoo intro her as the older Rose. She certainly looks very different from the character I knew from my TV set. She is more beautiful.

We got along as soon as we met, as we knew each other long time ago. Irene was excited about her role as the older Rose. She really doesn’t need this but I knew her love for acting caused the excitement. I am on the other hand was still clueless how blessed I am to have landed the role of Rose Chan. Her excitement made me realized that I should cherish every opportunity that comes my way. I hope one day I can be as established as her.

After meeting Irene, I were so excited that I tweeted and wanted to share this excitement with my friends on facebook but strangely I received a comments from a friend – who is Irene (Rosie of PCK) ?

I were like ??????? Everyone in Singapore, Malaysia and so say Batam will know and be familiar with her! Then I realized that not everyone shared the joy of my “success”

I am Rose

The day when the media reported that I have landed the role of Rose Chan; many were surprised. Who on earth is Christy Yow? Some said. I can only count my blessing. Ya … who is Christy Yow; a relatively “nobody” as reported by a local magazine. I immediately knew this journey will not be easy.

I received many congratulory sms-es as well as those “quick to judge” sms-es too. This saddens me. Sometime I asked myself if I really should or can I fulfill the role of Rose Chan. She is a strong woman and I am not.

“Don’t take on such a role”

“Why you want to act in a R-rated movie”

You need to strip wor”

Etc…………………

In general, people are just quick to judge. Just because I am going to do nude scene made me a porn star? What are they thinking? I know out there are many concerned friends. I just want to let you know that you really need not worry – It’s an Eric Khoo’s movie you knowJ It will be shot beautifully.

By the way, I really don’t think Rose stripped for the sack of stripping. If she has a choice will she do it? But I do have a choice.

When I first auditioned for the role I were told of the nude scene. I was hesitant. I pondered.

Eric told me the story of Rose together with the script writer James Toh. Fong Cheng (another producer from Zjaowei Films) gave me lots of newspaper cuttings about Rose. I went home and did my own research. Immediately I knew I wanted to be Rose. There are more to the nude scene in Chinese Rose.

Her life; her struggle and her inner most feelings. How many people really know about her besides her being a striptease?

I want to tell her story. I want to be Rose!

Taipei ...

I am in Taipei at my favorite 小笼包，鼎泰丰 with my baby of course. Since finishing my acting camp here I have fallen in love with Taipei all over again. Being here in Taipei is no longer the same beacuse now I know I will always have someone to take care of me. Thank you baby.

What I really hope to achieve here is a brand new accent. I know I just need to talk to everyone here in Mandarin. The guy over the counter inside 711...the girl at the restaurant and even the passengers in the train :)

For now ... I just want to enjoy the moment. I will tell you more about my stay here in Taiwan. It's getting late. Need my beauty sleep.