Lee Hom's " Forever 1st Day " Album Diary

00/12/02~00/12/08 @ Part 26

Dear Friends,

I am writing to you today from my hotel room in Hong Kong. Today marks the 26th week, or half year anniversary of my diary! I hope you've been enjoying yourselves as much as I have.

This diary, in fact has become a widely used source of information by the local press of any city that I go to. Often reporters, in order to prepare for an interview will go find my diary at www.sonymusic.com.tw and find out what they might want to ask me. I am always so happy when I see reporters with my diary printed out in their briefcases...instead of tabloid magazine clippings or misquoted statements that I never made.

This week in Hong Kong is comprising of two main categories of events. First, continuing promotional activities for my new single, "Take Your Time". Second, beginning promotion for my first full length movie, "China Strike Force", also known as "China White".

But to be totally honest, at this point I would just love to pack up my bags and go home to my studio in NY, leave the whole pop entertainment scene behind for a few months. I'm a musician and I'm out of practice.

I feel like practicing piano today, but first, I need to find a piano. There's a gorgeous Steinway grand in the lobby of my hotel, but I played that yesterday morning for an hour, and then was asked by management to stop. I don't think it would be such a good idea to jeopardize my good relationship with management as I am still staying here for another ten days.

So , after a quick lunch by myself, I go to the biggest music store in Hong Kong, called Tom Lee. Boy, am I in heaven here. They must have at least 50 pianos in stock! I choose a Yamaha grand, my personal favorite, and plus, this one is in the back of the room, and no one will ever see me. After a few hours of undisturbed practicing, I hear someone behind me playing "Descendants of the Dragon"! I swivel around on my bench to find that it's a little girl no more than seven years old! She is amazing, and plays the whole song while her little sister looks on. I'm happy toying with the idea that maybe something I did inspired that beautiful child (though I am aware that she probably just learned the song off of sheet music, and not my version!). For the rest of the afternoon, I practice with optimism in my spirit...and continue until they start turning out the lights at 8:00.

I feel much better now, having spent my day off practicing piano in pure unadulterated solitude. I spent quality time today...and am much happy this way.

Cheers,
Lee-hom Wang