Published on April 27, 2005

Searching for home from space

BEIJING – Some 350km from earth and

orbiting it once every 90 minutes, a mesmerised Leroy Chiao constantly gazes outside his window and points his zoom lens at different sites. Gazing at the watery blue planet and taking photos are two of his big pleasures, apart from his challenging work as an astronaut. He loves to search the streaks of colours below indicating his favourite places. And his most favourite is Qingdao of Shandong province in East China. It’s a city he has never been to, but for which he somehow feels an affinity – a mysterious power of connection.

“It is where my family is from. I felt a connection with Shandong and Qingdao when I photographed them. I still have family members in the province,” he said.

Leroy Chiao is one of only four Chinese-American astronauts with space flight experience. Besides being one of the US astronauts who has stayed in space for the longest time, he holds records on several counts: He is the first ethnic Chinese to perform a space walk, the first Chinese-American to be commander of a space station and the first astronaut to vote in a presidential election from space. Chiao has completed six space walks – the first four times wearing an American space suit, the last two donning Russian space garb. Born in the United States in 1960, Chiao was inspired at the tender age of six by the lunar mission and Neil Armstrong’s “giant step for mankind.” While in college, he applied to become a Nasa astronaut. Out of 2,500 applicants, he was one of just 23 successful candidates.

“The love of flying did not inspire me to become an astronaut, rather, the two are related. They are part of the same dream,” he declared. – China Daily.

Nobu-san serves up a taste of dreams

TOKYO – Japanese cuisine chef Nobuyuki

Matsuhisa, 56, is the owner of the Japanese restaurant chain Nobu, which has most of its branches in the United States and Europe.

Matsuhisa, whose nickname is Nobu-san, is now the force behind the “Taste of Dreams” charity dinner party that will be held on May 12 at a hotel in Tokyo. The dinner will be prepared by seven of Japan’s top chefs, including Matsuhisa.

He has been holding charity dinners for cancer research in the United States, where he lives, for more than 10 years. “I would like to see the idea of a charity culture grow in Japan,” he said. With this idea in mind, he suggested holding a charity dinner to fellow chefs, who readily agreed to help. The proceeds from the May 12 event will go to benefit children through the Yomiuri Light and Humanity Association. Matsuhisa decided he would go abroad at the age of seven, when he lost his father. One of the possessions Matsuhisa vowed to take with him was a photograph of his father taken in the Palau Islands, which his father – a timber merchant – used to visit to buy lumber. He trained at a sushi restaurant in Tokyo and went to Peru at the age of 25. The restaurant he opened there did very well, and he had a luxurious 9,900 sq m house. But later when he moved to Alaska, on the 50th day after opening a restaurant, a fire broke out, plunging Matsuhisa into heavy debt.

“I thought of killing myself, but eventually pulled myself together,” he said. Making a new start, Matsuhisa opened a restaurant in Los Angeles when he was 37, which earned a reputation for providing a fusion of Japanese materials and Latin American taste.

“I’m going to keep creating dishes not just to satisfy myself, but to make everyone – including guests and employees – happy,” Matsuhisa said. – The Daily Yomiuri.

Chung marks 50 years of music

SEOUL – Cellist Chung Myung-wha may

sometimes seem eclipsed by her famous musical siblings – violinist Kyung-wha and conductor Myung-whun, who has just been appointed to head the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra. However, Chung is an outstanding performer in her own right, having played with most of the major orchestras around the world and been invited to perform at acclaimed international festivals. She is also a teacher, nurturing some of the country’s most promising young cellists at the Korean National University of Arts.

It is fitting, then, that the HOAM Art Hall kicks off its “Great Korean Stars Series”, dedicated to artists who are both performers and teachers, on April 29 with Chung, who celebrates 50 years of playing cello this year. Koreans are familiar with the story of how the three Chungs became world-class musicians – a very determined and driven mother who saw the musical genius of her young children and made sure that they developed their potential to the full.

The third of seven brothers and sisters, Chung studied the piano as a child, influenced by her mother, who played the piano and classical guitar. But the piano did not really catch her interest and she could not hold the violin the right way. Neither did she like the high notes of the violin. When Chung was given the cello as an elementary school graduation gift, it was love at first sight. She has now been playing the instrument for five decades.

Chung has performed as a soloist with top orchestras around the world and has been a featured performer at many festivals, including Lucerne, Spoleto, Tivoli and Palma de Majorca. She has also performed at the White House and the United Nations. – The Korea Herald.

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