By Kimberly Johans
Published in The Macau Daily Times
October 08, 2008 (1,015 words)

The thing you wonder when you meet Carter Wong for the first time is that he couldn’t possibly be the 61 years he claims.
This, he attributes to several things, not least of which is his training in Wudang Chi-kung, a teaching similar to that of Tai Chi, which is said to prolong life expectancy, strengthen the immune system and improve vitality and youth.
The Macau-born and raised grand master is perhaps best known in the general public for having starred alongside Kurt Russell in ‘Big Trouble in Little China’. Carter played the character of Thunder, a henchman working for the sorcerer Lo Pan.
Having acted in well over 100  films during the course of his career, Carter even worked with Golden Harvest, a dominant film production company that had helped produce Bruce Lee’s ‘Enter the Dragon’. Not to mention providing fight choreography lessons to the likes of Matt Damon as well as William Shatner during Star Trek.
Fast forward 20-odd years and and Wong’s resume could impress even the most cynical of martial arts followers: World Muay-Thai champion, 7th Dan black belt Go-Ju-Ryu Karate-Do Seitokukai, 8th Dan International Martial Arts Federation, Kung-Fu Master.
Carter was, in fact, the first person to teach karate in Macau, back in 1968.
Then there’s the numerous positions he’s taken up  all over the world, teaching his skills, including being chief instructor for the Royal Hong Kong Police Force (Karate), Master instructor for the US Marine Corp (Muay-Thai) and Master instructor for the NY State Police Force (Muay-Thai).
These days Carter’s International Chung Hop Kuen World Federation is represented in 36 countries, producing several world, European and country champions in mixed martial arts, muay-thai, kung-fu and kick boxing.
Chop Hop Kuen is considered a mix based on Shaolin kung-fu and Wudang chi-kung and incorporates essences of karate, muay-thai, taekwondo and hapkido.
Carter explains that one of his students has even opened the first Shaolin temple in Hungary.
With his mark well and truly made on the world, Carter is looking homeward, and is considering returning to Macau to set up workshops on Chi-kung.
With three schools in Paris alone, Carter could be teaching tai chi, kung-fu or something else, all in the one day. He teaches Chi-kung mainly to those over 40, to help relieve stress and nerves. The style is divided into two streams, a ‘moving’ style and a ’silent’ style.
In the old days, both streams were referred to as ‘Daoyin’, meaning exercise that directed energy and blood to the body in a harmonious state by adjusting the way we breathe and by making limbs soft yet strong through stretching.
Tai Chi, it should be noted, is learnt from Wudang Chi-Kung.
To begin with, Carter intends to have a class for each stream and expects to have it up and running in about a month.
“I’d like to start with about 5-6 students first to garner interest and then start to open up,” he says.
He points out that the idea of exercise for most only seems to cater to the external, but ignores what’s happening inside.
“There will be eight lessons, of two hours each, in order to teach the whole thing,” Carter explains, adding “then I’ll create a video so they can take it home to help them remember.”
There would not be more than 12 people in a class as he “really wants [his] students to learn and know the postures.”
Carter stresses that Chi-Kung is for everybody, saying that “some people think it’s boring as they want to fight,” but adds “it will teach you how to use your mind and protect yourself.”
In his opinion, there are many “sifus” (teachers), but Carter says, “they don’t know how to teach. They may be a good fighter but not a good instructor, or can tech well but not fight well.”
He gives the example of breathing, some we are born with the ability to do.
“When you’re moving slow, your breathing should be slow and vice versa.
“You see people in gardens doing [tai chi] movements, but they don’t know the meaning.”
Yet his classes are only one reason Carter is looking to return to this side of the world, suggesting that he is also considering creating a company in Shenzhen “to train bodyguards within the next 2-3 months,” says Carter, adding that these would mostly tend to be army recruits from the big camps in Canton, which he intends to train up and send them to work in private companies.
“Security is about defence not offence. So I’ll teach them techniques where even one small bit can help them with their job,” he says.
He points out that Macau has so many casinos and many security guards but no real way of training them. “You don’t need a security guard to fight people, just to watch over you and to protect when necessary,” says Carter.
He explains that even an instrument such as an umbrella or jacket sleeve, can be used by an individual to defend themselves.
“You don’t always need to have a weapon,” he adds.
Asked why he decided to return to Macau, Carter simply responds that “I was born here. I lived in the US for over 20 years. Now I’m seeing so many new things in Macau. I need to spend some time here to get to know people again and they, me,” he says.
He laughingly explains that those who know him in Macau, namely his previous students, are now well over 45 with his visits back here usually ending up as an opportunity to recollect and bring back fond memories.
Asked what impressed him the most about the changes in Macau, Carter admits it’s the expansion of the SAR’s buildings.
“It feels a little strange. There should still be places for parks and trees,” he says, but adds that he believes the government has “done a great job since the handover.
“It’s a nicer place for people to live in. It’s much smaller, so it’s easier for people to get together,” he says smilingly.

By Kimberly Johans
Published in The Macau Daily Times
October 01, 2008 (989 words)

When asked to comment on one’s knowledge of the world of geishas, inevitably, the mention of that popular, yet somewhat inaccurate, Hollywood film will crop up. Yet, glamour aside, the world of geishas is still as mysterious today as it has been for hundreds of years. In Kyoto, considered to be where the geisha tradition is the strongest, this mystery can still be witnessed. It is a constant source of frustration for travellers wanting to experience the world of the geisha, to know where in Kyoto they may do so. If ever a woman needed to learn how to say no tactfully, look no further than the way a geisha responds to a passer-by’s question of which restaurant houses one of them.
Over the next week, guests need look no further than Crown Macau to not only see the way geishas express themselves but learn more about their world. Tenmasa at Crown have brought over Lady Mariko, her daughter Maika and her son Eitaro from the famed Matsunoya Geisha House in Tokyo, to entertain guests until October 6.
And while the idea of a male geisha might seem at odds with what is usually portrayed, Eitaro is quite possibly the only male geisha in Japan. Yet during the 19th century, they were all too common, performing the roles of women when women themselves were not allowed to. It can be compared with Shakespeare’s England, where male actors often portrayed female characters because women were not allowed on stage.
Mariko’s daughter Maika is 18 years old and referred to as a maiko or an apprentice geisha. It is this style of geisha most westerners tend to be familiar with. A maiko is usually the one adorned with floral hairpieces, as well as the customary wig and white makeup. Interestingly, the maiko’s costume differs in certain significant ways to that of the geisha, particularly in the sash, sleeves and length of the dress.
Mariko points out that her daughter’s sleeves are far longer than her own, down to her knees, while Mariko’s has been cut off at the ribs. This is the first indication for male guests to ascertain whether the geisha is unmarried. The long sleeves show she is single, but it also provides her with the means of refusing an offer silently. Maika demonstrates this by gently swinging her sleeves from side to side, with Mariko explaining that geisha’s were expected to be shy and discreet and so never responded vocally.
21-year-old Eitaro meanwhile doesn’t have a separate costume to that of Maika, nor is his makeup and hair setting any different.
The length of the gown, Mariko explains rather amusedly, prevents the geisha from being able to run away. Her gown trails behind her while her daughter’s is at floor length. She demonstrates how she stops her daughter running away by stepping on the back of her dress, causing peals of laughter from the guests.
With her family’s geisha tradition firmly entrenched for over 100 years, Mariko’s children were expected to follow in their ancestor’s footsteps. In fact, the idea of doing so is quite common in Japan, particularly within the creative industry and can also be seen in Tenmasa’s founder Hashii Yoshiaki being the third generation owner in his family.
The first mistake people tend to make when discussing geishas is assuming that it’s a form of prostitution, or oiran, as they dress rather similarly. Yet geishas are only entertainers, often singing, dancing, playing games or paying an instrument such as their usual shamisan (three strings), which they are taught to play at a very young age. There is no set score and the music is entirely self-created with geishas in training beginning study at 3-5 years and learning instruments between 5-6 years old.
With the world of the geisha being so strict, Mariko at one stage decided to leave it and enter the outside world, at which time she also married. Yet at the age of 30, she made the decision to return and has been ensconced ever since.
Mariko and her family are actually from Tokyo, where geishas are also popular. She had attempted to send her daughter to Kyoto but their closed nature meant her request was rejected.
The world of the geisha is shrinking rapidly as Japanese choose to follow the western way of life. This, coupled with the incredible expense of maintaining the geisha lifestyle mean that, where once there were groups of about 100-200 across Japan, now they only exist groups of 30-40. As well, where before guests frequented their world on a monthly basis, now they tend to do so annually, during important festivals.
In the past, geishas tended to be housed at a chosen restaurant which was their abode while these days you are more likely to see a production house of geishas with restaurants calling and requesting one when they need to. The world is opening up greatly these days, particularly to young Japanese girls who are fascinated by their lifestyle and wish to learn some aspects of it without dedicating themselves to the cause.
Coming to Macau was a new experience for all three as none had ever left Japan and they had their clients to consider. The latter is intending to visit them here on October 3, along with four other guests.
Mariko and her children will be available to exclusively entertain select parties at four-hour dinners while lunch events are arranged upon requests.
Groups of up to 12 guests are provided with the services of the geisha on a complimentary basis but a minimum charge of MOP80,000 will be made per party of 12 for a customised menu prepared by Tenmasa’s founder Hashii Yoshiaki and resident chef de cuisine Noguchi Takenori.
Each guest will receive a kanzashi (classic geisha hairpiece given to their best patrons) as a symbol of affection and desire to see them again.
For reservations call Tenmasa on +853 8803 6611.

By Kimberly Johans
Published in The Macau Daily Times
August 01, 2008 (388 words)

Macau’s status as the world’s gambling city was firmly entrenched with Wynn Resorts showing their second-quarter earnings in 2008, had more than tripled compared to the same period last year. This was mainly due to a tax windfall and strong growth in revenue from its Macau property, despite a dip in sales from their hometown.
Earnings for the quarter ending June 30 jumped to $272 million, or $2.42 per share from $89.6 million, or 82 cents per share during the same period last year.
According to Wynn’s statement, this was a result of higher earnings from Wynn Macau and a $140.7 million deferred tax benefit recorded during the quarter.
Adjusted net income in the second quarter was $124.3 million, or $1.11 per diluted share, compared with an adjusted net income of $100.8 million, or $0.92 per diluted share in the second quarter of 2007.
With regard to the company’s tax benefits, the statement issued showed that during the quarter, Wynn Resorts completed a study of the taxes, levies and obligations assessed on its Macau operations under Macau law and its Macau Gaming Concession, which resulted in the $140.7 million deferred tax benefit.
There was a 20 percent increase in revenue for the second quarter, to $825.2 million, compared with $687.5 million in the same period of 2007, driven primarily by a 50.3 percent increase in revenues from Wynn Macau. Meanwhile, Wynn’s Las Vegas revenue dropped 24 percent.
Wynn Macau generated revenues of $529.9 million in the second quarter of 2008 compared with $325.5 million during that period last year.
Adjusted property earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) increased 67.5 percent to $155.2 million compared to $92.7 million compared to the year-prior quarter.
Wynn Macau’s expansion was completed December last year, adding approximately 75,000 square feet of gaming space and 20,000 square feet of retail space.
Meanwhile, Wynn Las Vegas has an EBITDA of $81.8 million in this year’s second quarter, compared with $115.3 million over the same period in 2007. Results showed a drop in table games and slot machine earnings.
Steve Wynn is planning to raise additional funds of $3 billion via a listing on the Hong Kong stock exchange to fund Wynn Macau’s expansion.
Encore at Wynn Macau commenced construction in 2007 and is expected to open up in the first half of 2010.

By Kimberly Johans
Published in The Macau Daily Times
August 01, 2008 (289 words)

Cotai Waterjets (Macau) Limited yesterday announced an increase in their sailings to Hong Kong beginning today, with the company now offering overnight trips between the two SARs.
CotaiJet will add an additional six sails to it current 56 sailings between the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong and the Taipa Temporary Ferry Terminal in Macau.
Three of the sailings (12:00 am, 1:00 am, 2:00 am) will depart from Hong Kong to Taipa, while another three (1:00 am, 3:00 am, 5:00 am) will leave from Taipa to Hong Kong.
Stephen Weaver, Las Vegas Sands’ President for the Asian Region, believed that the expanded overnight CotaiJet ferry service will provide greater flexibility to visitors who come
to Macao for live entertainment, business and shopping at Macao’s new mega shopping centres
on Cotai Strip,” including the latest instalment, The Shoppes at Four Seasons.
A Venetian representative within corporate communications added that the numbers of sailings could be increased in the future, saying “we shall closely monitor demand and shall make adjustments accordingly.”
Asked whether the additional sailings could have an impact on those currently offered by First Ferry and Turbojet, they said they were “not in the position to comment on others’ behalf.”
Meanwhile, the fairs for the new sailings will be the same price as for the current night sailings and are scheduled at all times, not just when special events occur at the Venetian.
Finally, in response to whether Cotaijet would be increasing their ferries, the representative stated that “CotaiJet has enough vessels to service the new sailings. Our fact sheet also indicates the plan to put three more vessels into service later this year.”
Ferry schedules and fare information can be found on CotaiJet’s web site, www.cotaijet.com.mo.

By Kimberly Johans
Published in The Macau Daily Times
August 01, 2008 (496 words)

It’s taken Britain about 16 years, but the nation’s finally got their first Olympic synchronised swimming duet in 18-year-old Olivia Allison and 19-year-old Jenna Randall.
The two teenagers spoke to the media yesterday at the Westin Resort, Macau, about the changed perception of the sport and its true difficulties.
“Everyday, we’re training full time,” says Allison, adding that “all we do is eat, sleep and train.”
To be more precise, the girls are required to practise up to seven hours a day for six days a week, during this crucial period, although not all of this is intense, with practice involving different phases of training.
“We’re a lot fitter!” says Randall, who explained that they used to achieve scores in the “low 7’s at the European Championships” but were now achieving high 8’s to low 9’s, “so we’ve improved by a whole category of marks.”
And as far as the girls’ Performance Director, Biz Price is concerned, this is only the beginning.
“I think they have another two years to go” before become ‘really fit”, she says and Randall agrees, adding that “I feel pretty fit at the moment but for my sport, I’m not that great yet.”
Biz explains that, despite public opinion on the sport’s place as an Olympic event, the amount of work that is required of the girls is far more than simple twirls and spins.
For example, practise usually involves muscle and ligament lengthening, working against gravity and buoyancy in water, as well as physical fitness.
And if none of that impresses, there’s also the requirement of the athlete to be able to hold their breath for log periods of time.
“In a routine, we hold our breath for two minutes out of a three-and-a-half minute piece,” explains Allison.
Randall adds that while this was occurring, “you have lactic acid building up and you feel like passing out…”
“But you have to make it look effortless,” finishes Allison.
But for Randall, “it’s very much worth it [being at the Olympics] as I hadn’t imagined I’d be here.”
Allison attributes their success to “having a goal, as we were only looking at 2012 to begin with.”
“Our goal was to be in the top 18,” explained Biz, “we got into the 17th spot,” but she explains that the girls don’t yet have a world ranking.
Calling synchronised swimming a sport that’s “unique and quirky but feminine, dynamic and physical,” Biz believes that increased exposure is great, with majority of responses tending to be, “my God, we had no idea?” she says.
Allison explains that the peak age for synchronised swimmers was their late 20s, “so we have quite a long time to go yet.”
As far as Randall’s concerned, she’ll “obviously carry to to 2016, and see how I’ll feel then after that.”
As for home turf in the London 2012 Games, Biz is confident the girls can be in the top six.
“There’s a chance for medals then,” she adds.