So I reiterate here, the bill is dead.
The story of this great city is about the years before this
night. We are free.
Hey everyone this. Is Ho Ho Hong Kong with me?
Vivek Mabubani and the other person who pointed at me?
Who? Is uncoordinated, low energy
Mohammed Magdi. That's right.
Whoa. Here's another episode.
He's dropping stuff down already.
His phones gravity gravities are taking spaghetti.
He's making something like that. In my defense, yeah, it's the
first day of Ramadan and I am dying.
Yeah, man, I'm actually in the process of perishing right now
as we speak. So this is this is where
Mohammed decides one time when he wants to be religious.
Yes. So no, I've, I've done Ramadan
every year. Yeah.
Like even when I'm not that religious I still practiced it
just out of like a lens I guess. As a cleanse?
Yeah. Yeah, it's a cleanse.
But also like obviously, like there is still the religious
part is still part of it. Like, it's just like, I believe
in what it stands for. Like some practices that I don't
really fully understand, I guess, like, I don't do.
But like this one, I fully get why.
Yeah. Ramadan.
So so explain to our knowledgeable audience that
which part of Ramadan do you fully get and hence why you kind
of want to do this. I like the idea that you're
supposed to feel like everybody else.
Like the whole point is that right before if the breakfast
time is that everyone is the same hungry.
Yeah. So which means you feel how the
poor people feel usually when they don't have food at all.
But are we? Really truly same Hungry because
like, what if I had one of those crazy heavy meals the night
before and I'm still full the next morning?
I would like to. I would like you to do that.
Yeah. So that's exactly what a lot of
people do. Yeah.
Which is before the whole, which is the last meal, like super
late at night, like basically not sunrise really.
It's like usually like here, it's about 4:00 AM maybe.
Yeah. I would like you to do that.
Eat as much as you possibly can. Yeah.
And drink as much. It's up to you.
Just try to fill up and then see how you feel because the iftar
is 7:00 PM Yeah, see how you feel the next day around 5:00
PM. If you if you think you'll be
like so full from the night before, yeah, you are very
mistaken. What if I OK, let's let's
reverse it. Let's use, let's take a page out
of your own book. Yes.
What if on purpose, the day before Ramadan begins?
Yeah, I purposely get food poisoning, yes, Right.
So then the next day I've lost my appetite.
Somebody out on the system for a day.
The problem with that is that you will probably be throwing
up, which means you're getting dehydrated and plot waste no
water. Oh, no.
Water. Yes, Right.
Yeah, yeah, right. I forgot that one.
Yeah. No.
Whatever, and I'm sure I mentioned it on the podcast
before we have AT shirt that we made like it's like a joke
T-shirt. Yeah, that says not even water
every white person because that's the most common question.
Yeah, how? Could you that people Every
teacher would tell you that's the one thing you should have
all the time? Yes.
So yes, what if you carbo load? Yes, OK, high protein carbo
load, yes. However, no fiber.
So you get clogged up. All right, So basically like
you, you can't you're constipated, right?
Yes, you're constipated as the food remains in your system.
Yes. So technically your system is
like, I guess I'm still full. Yes right.
Because like when you're like heavily constipated, you have no
appetite, but you're not exactly hungry.
You're not throwing up. I think I might have found it.
You're also talking about even if you eat right before the cut
off time, like right until, which again, some people do,
you're talking about 17 hours of fasting.
Yeah, it's a very long time. Yeah, but I'm saying like so.
So I'm trying to game it where? OK, yeah, you have to convince
them. You must convince the mind
before you convince the body. So.
You do convince the mind after, like, the first week, yes, Your
body completely adjusts. That's actually the beauty of
Ramadan is that the last two weeks are so easy.
Yeah, that you're just like, you adjust.
Your stomach shrinks and then you don't actually, even when
you do eat, you just can't eat that much because you feel, you
feel full so quickly. Yeah.
And then, yeah, that's it. And then once actually Ramadan
is over and you start eating normally again.
It's very weird. But what's the hour you can
break the the fast? So basically now at the in Hong
Kong time, it's about 6:50 or 6:50 so.
Around 7:00 PM. Around 7:00 PM.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. This is my plan.
So tell me how to how to game Ramadan?
This is what you got to do. Yes, First things first, you,
you basically hit all the broccolis and everything you
need to because that will obviously.
OK, hold on, let me let me rethink.
Sorry, we're talking about let's say, let's say day zero.
Day zero is your carbure load. Whatever.
You want day zero is last night. Basically, today is day one.
All right, got it. OK, so day zero, you don't want
to throw up because you're going to dehydrate it.
Yes. So what we're doing is like on
day zero, we're eating all the low sugar, high fat, yes, a high
protein diet. What is that in food?
I think it's like, let's say lean chicken breast.
OK, OK, yes, nothing sweet, but you can have like, let's say a
red rice or brown rice. OK, OK.
Sounds like hospital food. Yeah, sure.
But that's a bit higher in fiber.
OK, so we have that. So you clog yourself just enough
that you have a bit of fiber to stay keep the stomach full, but
not enough to have a good shit the next day.
Sure. So you wake up constipated at
9:00 AM, you're like Oh my God, Oh my intestine.
Yes, However, that automatically blocks you from feeling hungry.
Yes, because you're still congested.
Yeah. And then you get out with your
day because you're so lethargic you can't even get up to get the
glass of water. Yeah, so you go.
Which also means you eliminate any energy consuming activities,
which is basically any work. Yeah, but I well, I'm assuming
I'm. I'm going with your lifestyle.
I'm using you. Yeah.
So using me. Yeah.
You think so? You'd wake up and then you, you
lie and you're like, oh. Yes, that's that's me in
general, but also that's even that's me now for this first
week where it's just like, well, also unlike what you think, I
wake up at like 9 on the dot pretty much every.
Day. Really.
Yeah, because the dog. Well, dog, yes, dog is insane,
but also, like, you know, if no one wakes me up, I'm not, you
know what I mean? Like, I'm not going to wake up.
That's the problem. Like I'm I'm fully self.
Like you live with your girlfriend.
I live with the dog. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
It's like I need to keep an alarm.
Yeah, yeah, of course I can't. Just like, you know, sleeping or
whatever. Yeah, yeah.
I'm not assuming that you'd you'd wake up whenever you wake
up. Yeah, I know.
I I have to force myself. To wake up, you wake up Yes and
right. So for a lot of people when they
say you're when you're trying to lose weight and stuff, the idea
is number one to avoid having to challenge your willpower from
avoiding snacks, yes. So what you can do is on day
zero, you clear every food item in at home.
Already done. Already done.
Yes, yeah, yeah. Because I do have snacks around
the house. You guys got to get a lot of
like, candies and stuff. I literally just like I ate them
in the last week and then the rest I just locked them away.
Now, what is the rule of no ingesting of water?
Yes, only orally. Yeah, so people talk about this
a lot. It's yes only or you can't just
like it's also about intention because you know God can see
you, so it's not like you. Know you just keep showering.
Yeah, showering is fine. Like, yeah, yeah.
But if you like, drink it on purpose.
But you don't drink it like you're basically trying to keep
your. No, you can brush your teeth and
stuff with water, that's fine. You just don't drink it.
Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah.
So you can like gargle water or whatever.
That's what I'm saying is that you want to be able to stay
hydrated without the intention of hydrating yourself.
Yes, you can totally shower. It's fine.
In fact, like you know, for the prayer you need to do, do as.
Well, which is? Water, including gargling water
in your mouth. So you do do.
That so technically, when you really like parched and you
really want some water, you just gargle.
Yes, people do that. You can do that.
OK, no one. Again, it's about your
intention. If you drink the water then.
You know you don't drink, you just gargle just OK #2 you use
the highest level of skin moisturizer Yes You do that yes
and then you wrap the no, you don't because if you just cling
right, you'll start sweating. So you use moisturizer like
crazy, yes, right. So that way even if not orally
it's physically you're still getting moist moisturizer you.
Can also don't hold this again, don't cut this up and be like
send it to some Imam and be like these guys are working heretic.
He's like he's giving all kind of fatwa.
Like clearly I have in no position to say I'm just saying
what I think is right and what I do.
Yeah, it doesn't mean it's don't follow this.
Yeah, OK. Because like, we could actually
use every method that people use to get LSD in the system used to
get water. I don't think yeah, I know, but.
Eye drops on your right. Yes, eye drops are fine.
Yeah. So you can do a lot, a heck of a
lot of eye drops where the truth is you're trying to keep your
eyes strong, but the by product is the water does get retained
in your body and slowly, slowly over time.
I don't know if you know how eye drops work.
I don't think that I. Don't use eye drops, yeah.
But I don't think eye jobs are going to go into your skull and
then down into your your stomach.
Yeah, that doesn't even make sense, basically.
Yeah, because I okay, okay, the other one is this all right?
What if you gargle all day? Yes, can you?
Are you allowed to just constantly go like you are?
Just oral hygiene to the Max. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, you can.
Well, yeah, it's like. Shooting up, it's actually still
like you're doing that without swallowing any liquid and then
that's just making your throat pretty dry actually.
Yeah, yeah. Then that's you're, it's kind of
counterproductive if you think about it.
If you're gargling all time and then spitting stuff out, yeah,
it's actually going to make your your throat dry because there's
just. Unless you drink the water,
which again goes back to point, you cannot.
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. Reverse this.
Okay, I love how we're spending the entire time just try to
cheat that. Also, I live by myself.
I can just do whatever I want. Again, it's about.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, okay, what if for the whole
Ramadan period, yes, you live in the steam room?
Yes, you can. You get it.
Yes, you can. I.
Think that's something, I think that's something because like
technically you're surrounded by liquid humidity for that factor
and you don't swallow it, but you just keep your mouth open.
I think you're equating the external moisture, moist
moisture, yeah, with the intern look in general.
But I'm seeing like but that way without you even trying because
your mouth is open obviously that that humid air is going to
go into. That that feels like cheating.
We we might need to some scholars you're just.
Having less if. You're opening?
Yeah. You want to just open your mouth
when it's raining? No, you open your mouth because
like let's say you're saying you're praying, Oh yeah, you're
doing that. But by that gesture you have to
inhale as well. Yes.
And the air being so wet, you wouldn't inhale moisture.
Yes, sure. By that factor you obviously get
moisturize your body. I don't know you can even
survive sitting in the steam room for 17 hours.
I think that would probably like fuck up your lungs.
I'm, I'm working on trying to hack Ramada.
I just want to hack your, you know your, your immune system
anything right now. Yeah.
Well, OK. So you might get away with that
and then damage other parts, in which case actually that could
work because if you are sick you should not be fasting.
So if you get. I was just about getting.
Day 2, Sure. I was I was just working on day
one day. Two, you realize that one of
your lungs does not work at all. Exactly, and then you
immediately get on meds, in which case don't fast.
And then you're intention to stay alive, sure.
And everyone looking like dude, this guy went Ramadan all the
way. He like he he took Ramadan.
He was like, dude, I'm going all in, Yes.
And admitted he was like, he couldn't do it.
And now he's like something we look up to, Like this guy really
pushed the border. Yeah.
Sure. Yeah.
So I think, I think, I think my, my recommendation to everybody
is this, is that OK if you were to practice Ramadan basically,
well, fasting, what's, what's the, what's the correct?
I think it is practice. Yes, yes, yes.
If you were to practice Ramadan, you would do what Muhammad's
doing now, which is the proper way, you know, don't eat fast
stuff. But if you want to master
Ramadan, yes, you do it the way I've been suggesting.
Yes yeah, listen to the the non-muslim yes exactly telling
you how to master Ramadan like the humility yeah, not even like
you know, try to make it easy. No how to how to nail Ramadan?
As the consultant I've used myself to be about Ramadan, I
will tell you how to do it. I will not do it myself.
OK, why don't you actually do do one day with me?
I can't betray my religion, dude.
What? You're not even that religious?
You're not religious of anything?
No. What is your religion?
You don't even know. So when I feel like application
forms, I'm supposed to feel like Hindu?
Yes, that's pretty much it. OK, that's like the opposite of
Muslims. That's supposed to be like,
tense, right? In India.
Oh yeah, yeah, that's. Like the biggest thing, Yeah.
So if your family in India finds out that you are fast and
Ramadan, they might not be happy.
I'm guessing. I have no idea.
I mean, technically there are periods of my day.
Even today I'm not eating like right now.
I'm Ramadani. Yes, right.
Yeah, Well, everyone is Ramadani for like 10 minutes when they're
not eating or drinking. Everyone's going to take a first
step somewhere. Yeah, that's actually what we do
with kids. So when like they're like 10 or
whatever, Yeah. And you want to ease them into
it, We we like parents tell kids.
So like, oh, you want to fast and feel like an adult, you can
just fast until midday. Yeah, yeah, there's just so
people. Tell you guys are young at heart
and that's exactly what I'm doing so.
Sure, OK, why don't you stop by then?
The no water thing still holds. All right, so.
So. OK, you hear me?
OK, So I wake up. Yes.
And I tell myself, Viv, you may be 42.
On paper, yes, but you're young at heart.
Yes, all right. Which is 41.
Yeah, exactly. Yeah, talk is cheap.
It's time to act it now, as much as I want to Ramadan as an
adult. I want to Ramadan.
You just made Ramadan a. Verb sure to do that.
Yeah. All right, I want a Ramadan as
an adult, but I feel that if I do that, I may get too serious.
Yes. And my job, being a funny
comedian requires me to have that childlike curiosity.
Sure. So hence why I can't do what the
general adult who does accounting and stuff does, which
is like the proper Ramadan. Yes, I got to do the Ramadan.
OK, Ramadan. Ramadan is the kids version of
Ramadan. OK, I see, I see.
Yes, because it's a bit like, you know, it's, it's better than
the other thing. So it's the Ramadan.
The Ramadan. Now I feel like you are actually
doing Ramadan because you're not making sense.
That's. My boy, I told you I was
Ramadan. Not to agreed on you're carrying
this because I'm low energy. Now you're just making.
Sense No, because like, see. So without my realizing it, I
woke up this morning. I woke up a little later than
normal. Well, also you went.
Let's tell people that we're supposed to record much earlier.
All right, so let me explain something.
So last night I was out there using 120% of my my lungs and
body and everything to raise funds for a good cause called
Kids for Kids, doing whatever I can.
What? Is that what is that?
Where do kids for kids go? Like, what's the money?
Where does the money? Empower youth.
They have a lot of youth programs like for example.
With and how much money did you raise 2. .66 million what?
Yeah, holy crap. Wow.
OK, that's real money. Why you're not sipping your
water. Yes, going well.
I was not also working. Yeah, doing the under Bond show.
Yeah, I was also. Not knock.
Who's there on your bun? On your bun?
Who on your bun? This guy.
What? OK, there you go.
The jokes were much better. Thank you very.
Much the the other inning was funnier, yes.
Yeah, yeah. We were both, we were both
working and then we had the recording today at 11.
At 9:10, 10/10/10. 10 So I woke up at 9:00 as I do, yeah.
And then I was messaging you as we do.
I'm like, hey, you know, I'm on my way.
And I saw your last scene and it says 3:34 AM.
Yeah. And I'm like, there is no chance
he's up right now. Which luckily I, I knew that
that means I'm just not going to come here and knock on the door.
I'm like, I'm just going to message you and wait for you to
reply. Yeah.
And I'm like, you're not up, are
you? And then nothing.
I'm like, Yep, I knew it. Yeah.
So you say, why the hell do you stay up until 3?
Whatever. It was the the, the joyful
feeling of knowing that I didn't just make how many people went
to show last night? How many people?
And urban? Yeah, 150 people.
So I did not make only 150 people's lives change for the
better. I made $2.66 million worth of
lives better. Sure, but that can also go into
only 150 people too actually. Yeah, kids are expensive now.
Exactly. No, I was actually because like
the whole event I was the MC and like I took care of everything,
like the live auction and all stuff and.
Who was? Who was?
Organizing it so kids because the charity itself were
organized. We were at the JW married and I
was the MC and usually with these sorts of things they
sometimes get like an outside auctioneer.
They figure Christie's whatever. Yes, I'm cool with being the
auctioneer as well. If I'm the auctioneer, I very
rarely would I be like, all right, this would be this.
Lot you do with your own flair. Oh, yeah, man, yeah.
Like I, I, we, what we did is that I got a action camera on me
so I can look into the camera. So everyone's looking at the big
screen. I'm in the eyes running around
trying to be like, who wants to bid for this item?
Nice. Yeah, Yeah.
Yeah, it was like the one of the sculptures, this renger
sculpture. So if anyone you've been to
Exchange Square, yeah, you would see that Chrome silver huge
sculpture with the martial artists.
So that artist, which I think is genius.
Yeah, donated one in his sculptures.
Nice for bidding, right? Yes, yes.
So we get out there that's like lot #3 or something like that.
And then how? Much was it sold for?
Opening was 150 K yeah. It sold for 180 K Nice.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. But then The thing is 150 K.
Someone raised their hand. 100K then.
Now is there anybody else 151 because they they told me
incremental 1000 miles. OK.
We'll take. Yeah.
Of course you're not going to add like 100.
That's yeah, Yeah. 250K, right, Yeah.
So we'll go 100K at a time. Fine.
Whatever. And this other gentleman raised
his hand as well. And then this other person
raised their hand and hold on a second.
I feel like there's a bidding war.
Yes. And that's when I I bring in my
whole soap opera drama. Yes.
So I go to like for example, the gentleman over there, he has a
bow tie, all this stuff and everything.
I start thinking how much to bid.
He's like 152 K, very good. And I see a lady with ma'am,
she's saying you say 203. Okay, Then I go to him on my
ISR. Oh, this is 1000 thing, you
know. Yeah, there's no, it's beneath
you. Yeah.
Ego doesn't work. Yeah, Yeah, I don't have time
for this shit. Yeah.
So here I'm telling you, I tell you.
So what if you say. You pet them against each other.
Oh yes, full on man, it's. Nice and I would I would
compliment the crap out of my buddy.
Like I look at you now, I see just nothing but vibrance and
generosity and I feel like if you say 160 K the whole.
Room you just bully bully them into very.
Absolutely, man. Yeah.
It's like if you 160 K, the whole room's going to turn into
this person. This person's good person, you
know? Yes, and I walked to the LA in
my eye. Ma'am, I'm really sorry about
everything I told. Are you gonna let a man?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I was like, whatever.
Psychological Game. Oh, yeah, And I was like, as a
woman, you need to stand up. You are now representative of
all women? Yeah, in charity.
They're looking at you saying how could you let this guy in a
bow tie? Please, people, what year are we
in? Do not stop.
Yeah, she's like I honestly 170 Ki mean 70 I.
Mean she actually. Started jumping.
Oh my God I forget what he jumpers but he jumped.
Yes, I mean, and I go back to the guy in my eye, so I just
want to say everything. I told her it was a lie.
As a man, I think your style is cool.
Yes. I don't really care about her,
but I think you you are the one. So what is happening with the
rest of the room? Are they just?
Watching, They're watching. They're watching the show.
Yes, yes, yes. And I'm doing all this crap.
They're all I was going to have. I got to him here.
I think he went to 175 K. Yeah, All right.
I'm like, Oh yeah, yeah. I go back to I, I walk back to
lady on that. I just want to remind you again,
I'm a man. Yeah, That's why I stood on the
side. But the truth is I have a sister
as well. Yeah, I know that She would, you
know, appreciate if you stood up.
Try to relate and actually. Bullshit, you know.
Yeah, she does have real like I used to.
You have hair. I used to have hair when you
know. I get, I get it.
I tell her she's 180 K Yeah, I'm like, alright, yeah, well, go by
a lot of stuff. I go back to the guy in my eyes.
So I just want to let you know. He's like, I'm out.
Yeah, it's what's up. I go to him.
I'm like, so I just want to say that star, that star that I made
fun of earlier on, I'm actually 'cause it's out of jealousy.
I think it's so cool that. Yeah, he's like, no, as a
gentleman, I think it's it we should really respect the women.
I'll let you have the bin. I appreciate that.
I go back to her like, man. All right, So tonight, if you go
for 180 K, you get that sculpture.
Yeah. OK, whatever, right?
But if you go for 181 K, people are going to leave the room
knowing that not only did you bid and win the item, yeah, you
went and outbid yourself. Yeah.
Do you understand what's going to happen over here?
Nice. I mean, and she's like, what
would I have? I'm like, that's the point.
Yes. No one does that but you.
You are going to change the game.
No way. Did it work?
No, no, this is like I was keep. Yeah, I was.
Pay over home. I've got 180.
Yeah, yeah, but I've done it before.
Before I did attended for refugees Christian action show.
I made this person outbid himself.
Nice, nice. I kept saying tell him like,
come on, really. This is this is number.
Yes. Just think about it for the rest
of your life, you can tell me how much you pay for 180, 181,
what you know. Nice.
Yeah. So then event for that, it was
really cool stuff, was beautiful as well.
But I'm glad that that all worked out.
And it's like a super high energy thing.
I'm there a whole night taking care stuff.
Hence why when I come back home I need like a good three hours
minimum. Of decompressing.
Decompressing like to the point is just like I'm sitting there.
I'm, I'm exhausted, but I'm like alert, yeah, you know what I
mean? And that's when I'm like, this
happens all the time, man. Speaking of of Ramadan, so on
the same thread after last night, we took an urban the
headliner to tagline, which is one of the very good.
Yes, it's really good. So it's one of the sponsors of
the show and we went I've not I've never been there.
It's halal. That's why I'm mentioning it.
If you are doing Ramadan or just halal in general or like Indian
food, I've never been, I used to live around there and this whole
area changed. So this is the TST E basically
right on the waterfront. And I used to live around there
during COVID and you know, a lot of the places were shut down or
whatever. I come back and it's beautiful
now. Like every restaurant, like all
that waterfront area is full of like new restaurants.
And we went to tagline, which is Indian food, great food.
Like it's kind of really good. We had a mix.
Of Indian, I think Middle Eastern as well.
There was a mixture of that stuff, but.
Didn't know, I think Middle Eastern is like next to it is
called Bushara which I've not been to but.
That was good. Man, tagline is really, really
nice. So that's actually this is
Unsponsored Plug. I genuinely enjoyed it and I
talked to Karen, the lady who owns it, and she was super nice.
And yeah, if you're looking for a new place for Indian food in
TST or if you want to just go to TST for that, I highly recommend
tagline. So you have been.
I've been there. Yeah, I've been there before.
I think they just recently moved to another, another location
near next to where they were before.
Yeah, there's a Hart Ave., that little path with all the bars
and everything. No, that's not Yeah, now right
on the waterfront. Oh yeah, yeah.
I mean it's one of those like out you have outdoor.
Seating area, Yeah, outdoor seating area.
All the places have shisha. And actually, I was gonna also
show you this before. So they have this beautiful like
kind of sculpture. Like.
Like this is like the front of the I will put it here up in the
editing, but yes, like really crazy.
Yeah, kind of like art piece, like right in the in the front,
in the yeah, super nice. So it's like obviously like
really well done. Yeah.
And then I mean, if you ever intend that you and you want to
bite that as good. I I like I said, we both been to
it. We both think it's good food.
So yeah, I complain over. There I do actually have.
This is not like, you know, planned.
But because he sponsored the show yesterday, everyone who
came to the show got a $200 voucher from Tagline.
From tagline every. Person who came.
To the show man. So I have an extra one that will
give to someone on the Patreon. Oh yeah, How do you become a
Patreon subscriber, Ball? So you go on patreon.com/hohopod
and you sign up even for $5.00 a month.
So five U.S. dollar a month is 40 bucks, 40 bucks Hong Kong.
No, Well, 5 by 7, but yeah, yeah, you're right.
Yeah, yeah. So even for six months, almost
like or whatever my math is off I'm.
Still make your money back. You can still make your money
back. But I'm actually to be, you
know, fair. I'm going to give it to someone
who's already on the on the Patreon, not the new people.
But yes, we're just going to pick someone at random and give
them the $200.00. So yeah, sometimes you sign up
to the Patreon and you get something like this.
So $200 off from tagline. I'm just, I had an extra one
from the show last night, so I'm just going to give it to someone
there. And you can also support us by
joining us on patreon.com. And $5.00 a month.
That's right. So back to Ramadan.
Yeah. Here it feels like obviously the
big Pakistani community. Yeah.
And when I used to live in TST, I would go to the mosque on the
Kowloon. And that's actually pretty cool
because you can go do the prayer.
But then The funny thing is that they do the prayer in three
languages. They do it in Cantonese, in
English and in Arabic. Oh, OK, OK, OK.
But then the guy, it depends on who the imam is.
The Arabic that sometimes is Arabic is really broken.
So it sounds like he is just like he's just reciting, but he
actually has no idea what he's. Saying, which is kind of kind.
Of funny, but it does feel a little difficult.
I think here for for for Ramadan people fasting because I don't
believe unless you're like really religious, the people who
are like, you know, from different places around the
world who are fasting seems a bit this in French like this
franchise like they're not really together.
Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I guess like this area, I
mean like this is not, I mean think about the number of people
who are non Chinese, yes. And then on top of that, being
Muslim, and on top of that waiting to Ramadan.
Yes, yeah, yeah. So, but the one of the best
things about Ramadan is the communal aspect of it is that
like during Iftar, like the breakfast time, you can actually
have like a huge like a dinner or breakfast thing, like a whole
table. So I'm actually showing you
right now. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
So this is this is actually in Gaza in the middle of their
destroyed homes, because now people are going back and the
war is stopping. So you can see like a super long
table of people just like everyone is just kind of like,
you know, trying to get food. It's kind of like what we call
potluck I guess of sorts. Oh, you bring?
Yeah. Everyone bring Yeah.
Sometimes like people like, you know, businessman or whatever,
gift charity and then the old, like absolute yeah, yeah, yeah.
So it's like it's really cool and that's like 1 main thing I
miss about like Ramadan and not a Muslim country but like also
I'm used to it by now but. I'm pretty sure like if you do
or ancients are sure there must be community that do something
something like that and. Yeah, but that's what I mean.
Like, I don't know how to find them because I'm not like that
in that community of like, yeah, super religious people.
But if you know something, if you're listening and you know
something that is not, you know, hardcore because also they all
know each other. So if I just come out of
nowhere, you would be welcoming. But I would feel like an
outsider, you know, But you know, like a, yeah, a cool
Ramadan buffet or something. I mean, are you telling me the
mosque itself doesn't have some sort of?
They would have, but I was never there during Iftar.
Yeah. Yeah.
So I would go for, like, the
prayer time or sometimes, like, the late prayer time was
actually never there during iftar.
So maybe I should check it out. Yeah.
Because I'm like, curious. Like one cool thing about
Ramadan is that you usually start like, break your fast with
a date. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
So date is like, very common. So yes, in the Moscow times,
they would actually just give away.
Again, I wasn't there during iftar, but generally speaking,
in any place where there is Iftar, you just give you a date.
So back home, one of the one of the, you know, joked about
things is that because when you give someone day to break their
fast, you get Hassanet, which is like, you know, good karma.
Let's it's like Lycee. Correct.
Yeah, yeah. So the funny part is.
That so the date is to break the fast the license to break your
broke yeah yeah, yeah, yes break before.
Just broke, period. Yes, exactly.
So. But if someone is like driving
their car or on the road or whatever, that means that they
are not like they're not home. They're not like eating right
away. Yeah.
So you stop their car in the middle and you're like, give
them a date, date. But the joke is that there's
people are so forceful sometimes, like.
Take the fucking they. Like shove their hand inside
your car, inside the windows, Like, take the thing.
Yeah, it's just. I was like, oh, so annoying.
Yeah, keep me alone. It's.
Fine. Wow, that is so bizarre.
That's reverse burglary. Exactly.
Reverse burglary. I'm gonna break into your car to
shove dates in your face. Like shut up and take my date.
Shut up. And take my date.
Wow, okay, okay, okay, so 7:00 PM tonight basically people.
So if you do see more on the street during this.
Passed out. Or like at 7:00 PM.
Yes, just throw dates at him. Yes, yeah, yeah, you should.
If you know, if you run into me and there's some listeners who
usually run to me, if you think you'll see me soon, just have a
couple of dates in your pocket. Yeah, in case you see me next
time, you just give me dates and I would be very thankful.
I would just I would take a photo and say I post it online.
There's definitely some joker on the street.
He's going to throw their girlfriend that you take my.
Date. Take my date.
Yes, take my wife. Like, yeah, sure, man.
I mean if you have. To I do wonder, like obviously
you growing up here, did you have any Muslim friends like
doing really No, no. No, no, because like growing up,
see most of my friends are Chinese and like the other one
or two Indian friends were Hindus, Yeah.
So there was no where are the? Pakistani kids.
I have no idea actually. But then also not.
They segregate them from the Indians.
I'm pretty sure like back then probably there were not that
many Pakistani kids anyway to start off with more Indians and
then also Pakistani kids. Maybe they would go to more of
the English speaking schools. Oh, I see.
You get it. Like, like I was already being
the outside of the norm thing. And then on top of that being
like Indian as well. Yeah, yeah.
It may have been because they were not that many Pakistani and
then therefore, whoever were Pakistani, they may want to have
stayed in their own circle. Yes, That makes sense.
Yeah. Yeah.
But did you, did the school like you went to public school,
right? Yes.
Did the schools do anything? That was special.
No, no, no. No, Oh my God.
Dude, there was no acknowledge. You were just like oh you're
here, OK good. I mean, that's your problem.
I don't actually, yeah, because on the Hong Kong public
calendar, yeah, there is no mention of Ramadan either.
No Ramadan. There's like no Diwali stuff.
I do know that chief executive nowadays does mention something
about Diwali. Yeah, but back then there was,
like I said, there was no school cultural days and stuff back
then. Yeah, now you do.
You get OK, so you think like in schools now you might have like.
People know of it yes and also you have more and more Muslim
slack Pakistani kids in schools. So therefore other students
would be, oh, we better be aware of that, yes.
Hence like, for example, like you'll have a lot of, let's say,
Muslim girls in schools. Yes.
And like the school uniform may be like a skirt, whatever,
right. And then it is understood that,
yes, we get that, you know, you wear pants as well for that one,
you know. Yeah.
So there's that kind of the hijab is like, OK in schools.
Yes. So it's these obviously other
students are going to be like, what the hell is that?
You know, yes, they want to know.
And that's a good thing. You get to see first hand be
like, oh, it's no big deal. Yeah, right.
And but back then for us, it was more like there was no, because
I remember back in those in the 80s and 90s, there was no real
adult cultural let's live together.
Yeah, yeah. It was like, oh, you're yellow.
So therefore you do this. Yes.
And then, yeah, people I guess, like stuck together, like in
their own. Circles a bit more, yeah, yeah.
And even like school textbooks. I mean, there was like some
photo and someone textbook that did have that one.
My my parents, my father and my mother is a Filipino, huh.
She's a main kind of a thing, yeah.
What? Yeah, they were.
Holy shit. Yeah, they had the bad.
Yeah, it was bad, you know. So was that like AAPR problem
later? Yeah, yeah, that media pulled
back afterwards. Okay, So what was the story?
No, it was just one of these English exercise books.
Yes. And basically you had filled in
the blanks. You show pictures of people are
like cartoon characters and we just say my, this is that.
Therefore, she's she's a. Okay.
So it wasn't like therefore she but it's like, my mother is
Filipino. She's a a maid, right?
Say right, Yeah. And it was not like, therefore
she's a maid, but it's like it. Was under.
It was. Yeah, it was.
Understood. You know, it's like, wait, are
you doing that? You know.
So if the if the student answers, therefore she's a nurse
and they'll be like wrong. Like you actually lose the mark.
You don't lose for therefore you lose for nurse.
Yes. No you cannot.
Yes, exactly. Like, why would you do it?
Yeah, so I remember. That the model answer is.
Helper. Yeah, exactly.
You know, So the idea was, I remember like back then there
was no such thing as these things being politically
correct. Yes.
And it was. And even like the terms and
everything we call them like, oh, panmui, like as in like the
the Filipino lady. Yes.
And when you say panmui, you would know, oh, that's probably
the maid. Oh yeah, it.
Was that level you know back then, but of course now it has
changed and it's also because more and more people are voicing
it out yes the new generation is coming out exit it's like it's
like the the the South Asian face in Hong Kong yes has
changed because they're more and more candy speaking yes more and
more representation is like oh like they're they're actually
one of us but yes yes all along same with the Muslim community
hence like think about the whole what the government now I.
Have like the little hat. I should be wearing it during
Ramadan actually, but then annoyingly, I wouldn't wear.
The hat, I mean, you're not doing the water, but you're not.
You don't do the hat, I mean. Well, annoyingly, when I wore it
for Halloween, which admittedly, you know, it's still like my
costume. So what?
Not costume like my national, like regular clothes.
So I was just being lazy. Yeah.
But then also people have mistaken it for Yamak.
I'm like, no, yeah. Yeah, it's like.
The opposite, Yeah, Well, not the opposite.
It's just like different, you know?
To explain is it all? Right, fine.
Whatever. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Did I? I don't think I ever mentioned
this. I was wearing that same hat 12
years ago now. I was living in Changshun in my
first place in China, teaching English.
And then we did a trip to Beijing just to like, hang out
or whatever, me and other teachers.
And then it happens that there is a Jewish Passover event in
Beijing and someone who's a friend of the, you know, one of
the Jewish teachers invited all of us to go like, oh, cool.
Had no idea. No, I, I still like until that
point. Did it?
I like, I don't think I heard the word Passover before.
It was just like something complete.
I'm like, OK, sounds like a fun cultural event wherever we go.
So and I wore my little hat actually, no, that's not true.
I found. So they give you the little like
Jewish, the Yamaka. Yeah, like there is like a bowl
full of Yamakas and I felt uncomfortable wearing it.
And there's a bunch of other foreigners, non Jewish people.
And they were OK with it. I wasn't.
And I actually found the one hat that is actually Muslim there.
So someone I don't know if they just thought it's the same or
whatever. So I'm like, oh shit, that's
ours. And I wore it and it still
looked quite similar. Yeah.
So anyway, so the Jewish Passover, I'm sure most
listeners would know, is actually celebrating Jews
leaving Egypt. And I did not know that time.
So they actually, and then you're supposed to pass on
around the mic, around the whole venue, like every table, and
people read verses from I think the Torah or whatever the, the,
the not the Bible. Yeah, whatever their versions.
Yeah, I think the Torah. Equivalent, Yeah, the Jubal,
whatever we call. Yeah, yes.
And then you're supposed to read it and drink a bit of wine.
I don't drink and I'm doing like, so I'm like now holding
wine that I'm not drinking. Yeah.
And I'm reading it and I'm literally the 1st that I'm
reading is something about like just thrashing like Egypt.
And he's like the Pharaoh tried to kill all the Jews.
And I'm like, hold. On a second.
Yeah, and just I look around the table and this like this Israeli
grandpa from across the table just eyeing me and it's like,
bro, just sit down. It was so awkward and I had no
idea. And then I like yelled at my
friend after event. And why the fuck didn't you tell
me that Passover is about Jews leaving Egypt?
Why did you think it's a good idea to invite me at all?
I mean, you left Egypt too. Exactly.
Yeah, Yeah, exactly. Maybe.
Yeah, maybe. We thought you would enjoy this
as you also escaped. Egypt.
Yeah, that's a different reason, but sure.
Yeah, yeah. That was just like one of the
fun stories that I had back then.
Oh. God.
Yeah, I had no idea. Yeah.
But going back to Ramadan in Hong Kong, it's also hard
because Ramadan is a lunar calendar, kind of like Chinese
New Year. Oh.
Yeah. It's always switching around,
right? Yeah.
Switching around so much like it's coming.
It's goes earlier every year in the calendar.
So right now it's not as bad. But like couple of years ago
actually during COVID, it was like during in May or something,
and that was really rough. And when I arrived, it was
actually a proper summer. Yeah.
Yeah, that's brutal. That's actually when you really
can't do anything. I was working the coffee company
as well. And, you know, I was like
completely caffeine, like just addicted to caffeine, like
amazing coffee for free. And then when you cut that off
suddenly and then you still have to work in an office, no water.
And then the coffee, everyone is like, smells amazing and you
can't have it. That's when you, like,
contemplate suicide. That's like, I should not be
around people right now. But that, that's the thing,
right? That's the intention, though.
Like, yes, that time. Yeah.
So let's say someone gets to that point.
They're like really struggling with it.
But it's more like just a mental thing.
Yes. And they contemplate to the
point that it makes them angry. Yes.
What's the what's the the line that you can have the eye Man?
I was about to like basically break that vase if I didn't have
a glass. Well, the The funny thing is
that actually Ramadan or fasting as a spiritual well thing, it's
not just about you're supposed to fast from beyond drinking and
water. You're supposed to fast from
insults and bad mouthing and like stuff like this.
It's a full exercise. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
So actually, if you are not drinking water or food eating,
but then cursing at everybody and throwing vases at people,
yeah, then there's no point. Literally, according to the
text, just just eat already. Like you're just like.
It doesn't make any sense. So basically anyone who's a
spoiled brat can get away. Yeah, pretty much.
God damn dude. Like This is why.
I mean, This is why I should not have been brought up this way.
Brought a spot. But like, you do you, you know,
just do everything. Just leave your things on the
floor. It's fine.
So it's actually a very common back home that you see like a
lot of like traffic, like arguments and stuff a couple of
hours before iftar. This is where people are losing,
losing their shape. They're like everyone is just
also with like people smoke a lot there.
That's actually the. Hardest that's allowed.
No, no, You know what I'm saying?
No, people are. Generally smoked, yeah.
Oh man. And for like most heavy smokers,
if you just suddenly stop, you are again losing your shit.
Yeah, in general. What does the What does the text
say about vaping? Not allowed with my friend.
No. No, I don't think the text had
vaping, but I'm going to safely assume not allowed because
chewing gum is not allowed. Oh.
Yeah, when you're like ingesting still like sugar and stuff.
All right, OK, OK, yeah. What if it's those 0 sugar gums?
Still no. OK, all right, what if it?
You can you can swallow your own saliva yes and you can oh
actually, I don't know how this exactly works, but again, don't
come for me for this. Apparently the, the this is
going to sound horrible. The one the mothers usually are
making the food because of course.
Yeah, like the lady making the food.
You're, you can like like just if you're making the food for
the food, they not just taste like touch, like the tongue,
just to check like the salt and stuff.
And I think I remember like watching some imam on TV
specifically like addressing the women, and I thought that was
hilarious. How are you?
Yeah. Yeah.
So yeah, I think you can just like, yeah, just touch to see
again, it's all about intention. Yeah, yeah.
It's like, it's like I go with
me. Like ultimately it's like you're
really cheating nobody but yourself, right?
Of course. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
But I also do like it because, yeah, you.
You one of the main things is that also you appreciate the
things you take for granted when they are taken away from you.
So now you are like whatever smoker or or you know, you like
chewing gum so much you're addicted to stuff.
And it's also it aligns with 1 and I think this is probably the
main reason I do it. It aligns one of one of my main
principles in life which is non attachment.
Non attachment. Oh yeah.
So practice non attachment to me is a really big one.
I've been practicing for years. Yeah.
When it's like, it doesn't mean you're like.
Isn't really unfair when you have nothing to attach to.
It is. It's actually it's it's a bit,
it's a bit bleak. If you really, if you go extreme
with it, then it's not good because there, yes, you're
right. Then you have no identity.
Yeah, no. Just floating, yeah, yeah.
Exactly. But not attachment to things in
particular or habits. I really believe in that.
Yeah. And Ramadan is a really good
exercise for that because, you know, we're, we have a pretty
like Hong Kong's obviously, like amazing.
You have everything, you have access to everything.
So you know, if I want coffee at 5:00 PM or whatever, I just walk
downstairs and get coffee. And, you know, if I want
whatever, like clean water, any, anything.
And then suddenly you just don't have access to any of this with
your own choice. And that to me, yeah, just like
teaches you that like, oh, I can also.
The thing was not attachment is that you also teach yourself
that you can't live without. You can't live without.
Yeah, Yeah, exactly. Yeah.
I mean, I, I get what you mean. Yeah, you have to.
I think that's the ultimately, I think with every religion, yeah,
that I found or any sort of philosophical thinking is that
it's the ability to do but not need to do it.
It's like with martial arts, it's like you have the ability
to defend and fight, but you should never need to defend and.
Fight correct, Yeah. I think that's that's what I've
learned over time as well, is like having the ability doesn't
mean that you should do it, but just have it.
It's like like with the sinks. They have the dagger as well and
but you're not supposed to use it.
It's supposed to be there, but never the intention should be
like I should never need to use this.
Yes, it's actually to flip this around.
The Americans have the same argument about their guns.
Yeah, they're like, I should never have to use it.
I should. I should let me have it, but
they're funny enough, a lot of them have like 12 guns in the
house. Like you don't, you don't need
12, Yeah. Way to war, yeah.
Exactly. I mean, then we also have like
even with the the comedians here in Hong Kong, many of them have
the title of comedian, but they don't have don't always have to
have the. Joke.
Exactly they're. Like, well, you know, I'm not
attached to the part of the punchline.
Yes, yes, they're also practicing non attachment to the
job. Yeah, not this.
Is the job not attachment to writing jokes?
Yeah, exactly. They are attached.
They are attached to just hanging out.
Yeah, and being with. Other comedians saying I'm a
comedian, yes, without the attachment of the responsibility
with it as well. And this is where like you have
all those like little Gray area discussions like well,
technically I'm just not attached to the idea.
I have to be funny every time I was like what?
Yes. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
But I think that's something, though, as you get older, I
think that when you're young, it's annoying because like, oh,
what am I doing? I want to do this.
But I get older, you find that you need to do these things too.
Yeah. Mind yourself.
Exactly. Yeah.
Yeah, and it's also like,
literally just like going to the gym like you can.
Yeah, it's same thing you're saying like you don't have to do
it, but it's it's only benefiting you.
Yeah. It's the same thing for Ramadan.
I think it's only like, even if you completely remove the
religious side of it, Yeah, you're only doing it to benefit
yourself or to train yourself. And that's ultimately a good
thing. And it doesn't, you know, you're
not doing it for anyone else but yourself.
Yeah. And that's good.
However, I will also say because again, I'm like, you know, work
for myself and my schedule is a lot of it is like meetings and
coffees with people. Yeah.
So now I'm like, luckily this today is literally the first
day. So but like the next few days I
have meetings with people that I now have to be like, hey, do you
want to meet in like a park? Yeah, because because it's the
first few days are the hardest and I'm addicted to caffeine.
Yeah. You go see, like I go want to go
there. I I can't even handle them
drinking coffee and me smelling coffee.
So I have to just like nip it in the bud and be like, I just
asked two people if one, I asked if they want to go for a walk.
It's a professional meeting. I'm not supposed to do this.
And the other one who's quite high up in a big organization
and I literally just told her, can you beat me in the park?
She goes, what's wrong with you? I'm like, it's Ramadan, man.
I don't want to see food or drinks.
She's like fine just meeting in Hollywood Park.
Oh my God, that'd be so cool sitting on a bench.
There's like a little paper bag next.
To it, I I told her you can bring your own bottle of wine.
I'm just dictating the whole thing.
I'm like, if we meet next week, I would be fine.
Yeah. But the first few days is just
rough. But also, there is, I take my
dog to run around Hollywood Park.
I live next to it. And there is a, you know, a
homeless guy who's been, like, basically living there forever.
And, you know, sometimes I take the dog to run around at night,
and it gets kind of annoying. And I had this argument with him
before. He goes, dogs are not allowed.
And I said people are not allowed to sleep here either.
And since then, he kind of left me alone.
But then now I like, because I'm not drinking or eating.
I just want to go back. I'm like, hey, man, I can relate
to you now. Yeah.
Yeah, yeah, it's the whole. Exercise.
It's like, OK, I'm not going to be grumpy.
I get it. Now, yeah, you feel what you're
going through, man. Exactly.
But yes, also the also one of the main parts of Ramadan is
charity, so you're supposed to also it's the charity month.
Yeah. So you're supposed to not only
like, fast and feel for the poor or whatever, You're supposed to
give away a lot of stuff, which is why we're giving away a
voucher of $200. It's not.
Really. Of course, of course it's.
Not really a charity, but the charity should come the other
way around. You charity to us?
Yeah, on the page. Exactly. patreon.com/hoho pod.
Yep. And do your and we'll do ours.
Actually, you have done a bunch of charity stuff recently on in
the spirit of Ramadan. Can you recommend a few
charities for people that you are like big fans are?
Well, I can tell you on 22nd March, Impact HK, which helps
people who are experiencing homelessness, they're going to
have the big gala at the regional hotel.
So Jeff was on here before? Yeah, Jeff.
Meyers so I'll be emceeing that too.
Nice. OK, that's yeah, yeah, let's
give it a good plug. Yeah, that one of them, March
22nd, 22nd March, regional hotel go check out, I believe it's
Impact HK, gala.com I believe, but just go to Impact HK, you'll
find out the information. I just did the Kids for Kids
charity that last night. It's all about empowering youth.
I am the ambassador for Kelly Support.
Wow, I do that one as well. Nice.
Which one is Kelly? Support Kelly.
Support is also for youth empowerment as well and it's
basically I've been with them for over a decade.
Nice. On top of that, you got the big
ones like let's say BGCA, it's the Boys and Girls Club
Association I believe, and they also about you.
So you notice that my trend is always about youth and
everything. Yes, yes.
And lastly, I would also recommend thinking about Make a
Wish because that's always a special one.
Of course, I love working with as well.
Yeah, I would recommend, just because, you know, I've seen it
first hand, Christian action because they do a lot of work
with refugees. I can't believe I didn't mention
that one. Yes, thank you for refugees.
I'm actually going to be with the diversity hub is going to
launched on I believe the 21st of March and I'll be I'm seeing
that one. Oh, nice.
OK, yeah, so it's like 2. I'm seeing like 2 charity.
Yeah, nice. Yeah.
And that's right before you go to Melbourne as well.
Exactly. Great.
So yes, you know, donate to a charity if you have the chance
after you subscribe to the Patreon, if you have only $5
given to us because we, I will register backstage as a charity
at some point. But for now, just donate.
It will be fine. Thanks everyone.
Hopefully see you next week. If I'm not a skeleton or you
know, maybe I'll be like next week, I'll come on and be like,
I give up. It doesn't matter.
And you just see me like doing like just like doing shots on
camera. But until then, take care of
each other. Ramadan Karim.
Ramadan Mubarak, 88, No 88 is in a month.
I don't know what I'm saying. OK, bye, bye.
See you next week.