| “Nei ho. Nei ho ma?” | | | | words. We get a good laugh over that one. |
| I am just warming up to greet Mr. Jackie Chan in | | | | Now, in the meantime the word has spread that The |
| Cantonese for our interview over lunch in his | | | | Martial Arts Reporter is in house. Or is it because |
| hometown, also known as Hong Kong, The City of | | | | superstar Jackie Chan is in house? We’ll never |
| Life. | | | | know for sure. |
| And you already know from a recent post on | | | | Anyway, they have to close off the entrance to the |
| October 27 that I have been quite fond of Hong Kong. | | | | restaurant to avoid the masses to swarm inside and |
| Let me re-phrase that: I just love the place! | | | | create total chaos. |
| I will try to be as concise as humanly possible: | | | | And believe me, it’s already pretty crowded in th |
| Staying at The Royal Garden Hotel at TST (Tsim Sha | | | | Luk Yu Tea House. |
| Tsui) Kowloon means that I just have to walk over to | | | | The owners themselves show us to our booth and |
| the Star Ferry Terminal and hop on the ferry for a | | | | the waitress immediately brings us some Jasmine tea, |
| short ride over to Central on Hong Kong Island. This is | | | | which just happens to be one of my favorites. This is |
| very cool! | | | | turning out to be an awesome day. Can you feel it? |
| The people of Hong Kong dine on Dim Sum and | | | | We find ourselves in an energetic place where we |
| because nothing conveys a sense of Chinese life | | | | can feast on spring rolls, steamed dumplings, and other |
| more vividly than a visit to a crowded, lively Cantonese | | | | delicacies served in bamboo steamers. And it all tastes |
| restaurant. That’s what it’s going to be. | | | | great! |
| That’s what it has to be. | | | | So, here I am sitting with Jackie Chan and I remind |
| Let’s check out Frommer’s recommendation: | | | | myself that I want to ask him just a handful of |
| The Luk Yu Tea House, that first opened in 1933 and | | | | questions that go a bit deeper than just touch the |
| that is famous for its Dim Sum. | | | | surface. You know what I’m saying. |
| Their quaint ceiling fans, spittoons, and wooden booths | | | | There is hardly a corner left in the world that hasn’t |
| evoke a 1930s ambience. | | | | heard of Jackie Chan. The martial artist, actor, action |
| Everyday packed with regular customers, it’s hard | | | | choreographer, filmmaker, comedian, producer, |
| to find an empty seat here, but I have no doubt that | | | | screenwriter, philanthropist, entrepreneur, singer and |
| there’s always a table for Jackie Chan and a | | | | stunt performer. |
| guest. | | | | In his movies, he consistently sets the bar higher for his |
| So I get there on time or better shortly before our | | | | acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, use of improvised |
| scheduled interview and would you believe it, they | | | | weapons and innovative stunts. |
| simply don’t believe that I actually have a lunch | | | | He has come a long way since his early days as a |
| appointment with Hong Kong’s favourite son. | | | | stunt performer in the Bruce Lee movies “Fist of |
| Can we even call him that? | | | | Fury” and “Enter The Dragon”. |
| Now, why won’t they believe me? Hmm, let me | | | | Jackie Chan has been able to carve out his own |
| think. | | | | personal niche and has created a global fan base that |
| I get over it within not more than a micro-second, | | | | is nothing short of mindboggling. |
| because I know that I am scheduled to meet Mr. | | | | But I do not want to rehash the stuff that we all know |
| Jackie Chan alias Chan Kong Sang which happens to | | | | about him in this unique encounter. |
| mean “born in Hong Kong”. | | | | I would like to ask Jackie Chan in person and |
| And there he comes already and even though we | | | | uncensored: |
| haven’t met before in person he somehow knows | | | | “What do you consider your greatest personal |
| that I am The Martial Arts Reporter. And no, not | | | | accomplishment and what are you most proud of so |
| because I am wearing some funny flower in the | | | | far?” |
| button-hole of my blazer to get his attention. | | | | “If you had start all over and let’s remember |
| It’s gotta be the positive energy, man. | | | | that you started your movie career at a very young |
| I have been looking forward to this opportunity for | | | | age, what would you do different, if at all?” |
| some time now and my famous interviewee can | | | | “What does your perfect day look like?” |
| sense it. | | | | “There are certainly many people who would love |
| The initial welcome is very sincere and I must say, it | | | | to meet you. Who would you like sit down with?” |
| feels like we have known each other ever since we | | | | “If you do have something like a so-called |
| were kids. Odd, isn’t it? | | | | “bucket list”, can you share what’s on it?” |
| “Nei ho. Nei ho ma?” | | | | “You have probably heard of The Bigger The Why, |
| And of course, Jackie is impressed with my absolutely | | | | The Easier The How, you make things look easy, |
| accent-free pronunciation and he responds in | | | | even though you still work harder than most, what is |
| absolutely accent-free Cantonese himself. Why am I | | | | your Why or Life’s Purpose?” |
| not surprised? | | | | “If you would want to be asked just one question |
| He is throwing all this Cantonese at me that my head | | | | by an interviewer, what would that question be?” |
| starts to spin, so I politely ask him if it would be alright | | | | I am pretty sure this is what my perfect interview on |
| to switch over to English. | | | | my perfect day with Jackie Chan would look like if I |
| That’s quite fine with him, he says. | | | | ever get the opportunity to sit down with him over Dim |
| He just thought that I actually spoke Cantonese and I | | | | Sum. |
| just thought I would try to impress him with a couple of | | | | Trust me, I am ready and I am looking forward to it! |