Showing posts with label East Asia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label East Asia. Show all posts

Saturday, May 27, 2017

Urban Legends: Hong Kong Ghost Takeout

Ghost Takeout (Traditional Chinese: 鬼叫餐) is one of the most well-known Ghost stories from Hong Kong. The origins of the story began sometime after the Second World War. Although there are variants, the basic structure of the story is as follows...

Friday, May 26, 2017

Urban Legends: Bus 375

Bus 375 is a supernatural incident that is purported to have happened in Beijing, China. The urban legend took place on the board of  Bus 375, during the midnight of November 14, 1995. It is the last bus on its route and has just pulled out of the Old Summer Palace (Yuanmin yuan) bus terminus and is heading toward Xiangshan.

Old Summer Palace is the official residence of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911 CE) emperors prior to its destruction by British soldiers during the Second Opium War in 1860. It is not only the namesake of the bus terminus, but it apparently drove through many areas which the old palace once stood.

Sunday, May 21, 2017

Urban Legends: Gai-Jan (Chicken Man)

Gai-Jen (Traditional Chinese: 雞人) translated to "Chicken man". It is an urban legend from Hong Kong. Although purported to have predated the Second World War, recent research suggests a more recent origin. Specifically, it was written by the Hong Kong writer Zita Law 羅穎思 for the now defunct Yes! magazine in 1991. Because it was written so convincingly, many netizens confused it as being true and spread it across the internet as a true historical event. In fact, it is commonly attributed as being the top 10 most famoous urban legend of Hong Kong. Below is my translated version of the story. 

Saturday, May 20, 2017

Contraptions: Puppy-Shaped Puddings


Will you eat these little critters? Rest assured, these Shar Pei puppies are indeed creamy coconut puddings made by a Desert Shop in Pathum Thani, Thailand called Wilaiwan. They caused much controversy when the shop first post them online simply because how realistic they look!

Thursday, May 18, 2017

Landmarks: So Lo Pun

So Lo Pun (Traditional Chinese: 鎖羅盆) is a derelict village in the northeastern New Terrirotires of Hong Kong. Today, It is within the Plover Cove Country Park and a popular hiking destination. The village was once the home of generations of Hakka family with the surname of Wong and is purportedly haunted. 

Monday, May 1, 2017

Landmarks: Lover's Rock

The Lover's Rock (Traditional Chinese: 姻緣石) is a landmark located along Bowan Road, Hong Kong. According to popular myths, if you want love and children, pray to the Stone and your wishes will be answered.

Saturday, April 8, 2017

Monsterpedia: Moo-Sin-A

Moo-Sin-A 魔神仔 is a mythological creature endemic to Taiwan. The name Moo-Sin-A is derived from its Taiwanese pronunciation. According to folklores, it is a mischevious creature that enjoys pulling pranks on humans, especially children and the elderlies. 

Saturday, February 18, 2017

Urban Legends: Sai Kung Barrier

The Sai Kung Barrier 西貢結界 is an energy barrier that purported to exist in Sai Kung Peninsula 西貢半島, on the outskirts of Hong Kong. Sai Kung Peninsula is one of the most popular hiking destination. Over the recent years, several disappearances were reported from the area, causing many citizens to compare the peninsula to the Bermuda Triangle. 

Saturday, December 24, 2016

Landmarks: Oiran Buchi

It was said that people can sometime hear screams of women in Oiran Buchi 花魁淵 (Prostitute Gorge). The site is off Highway 411 in 山梨県 Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan.