Lotus Elite
Before it became a city built on land reclamation and long before it forsook a more leisurely lifestyle for pretensions as the Vegas of the Orient, Macau was the Land of the Lotus. Not only did its people share Asia’s devotion for the almost sacred flower (it plays a major role in Asian religions like Buddhism and Hinduism) but the island itself, with its long “stem” of sandbank connecting it to the Mainland, was shaped like a lotus. Even now, the central motif of the territory’s national flag is this flower of enlightenment. So it can hardly be surprising that every June, the lotus becomes Macau’s principal adornment as the city runs a festival with cultural events, exhibitions and even a dinner in honour of its national symbol.

This year the celebration takes on a triple significance, as Macau, also commemorating the 10th anniversary of its reunification with China, has landed the honour of hosting the 23rd Lotus Exhibition of China in tandem with its annual festival. The whole city has become this major exhibition’s showcase as, although the main flower show has taken over the Taipa-houses Museum, in every major park, sightseeing spot and area of greenery, lotus flowers have appeared to bear out the SAR’s 2009 festival theme, ‘The Scent of Lotus Perfumes the City of Macau’.

Among the highlights on the festival programme this year are a number of exhibitions mostly in Taipa, the Avenida de Praia – photography, lotus painting and lotus picture and literature – and even a lotus-themed dietary culture exhibition. No doubt visitors and lotus lovers will spend many delightful hours wandering through the various exhibits but they will also be able to improve their knowledge of this mysterious flower on a lotus appreciation eco-tour and lotus planting demonstration. And those who would like to get a more hands-on experience can play around with the lotus puzzle and lotus paper folding activities. The festival has also run lotus floral art, painting and cooking competitions, the results of which are on permanent display for the duration of the celebrations.
The 2009 Lotus Festival and 23rd Lotus Exhibition of China opened on June 10 and runs to June 28. For more information on the programme visit www.iacm.gov.mo/lotus2009/main.aspx?lang=e

S.H.E
Taiwanese girl group S.H.E – named after the initials of the three members Selina Ren, Hebe Tian and Ella Chen – are set to storm Macau for the first time ever this month as part of their Moving Castle tour. The girls chat to bc before taking CotaiArena down on June 20.

If the three of you weren’t in S.H.E., what would you be doing now?
Selina: I graduated from teachers’ college, so I would be teaching – I would be a tough teacher!
Hebe: I think I would be a tour guide, because I love travelling.
Ella: I would study interior design, to design space that I think is comfortable and practical at the same time. That would really make me proud.

If the three of you could create your own concert, what kind of theme would you give it?
S: To use pink as the theme – this is something I always dream of. With texture, and different kinds of pink!
H: I want a concert with the most guest performers ever – they all have to be my idols! So I can listen to them singing and perform with them at the same time!
E: Super KTV – we provide food and drinks and everyone can have fun together. You can choose the songs and just come up to the stage and perform!

The three of you have a lot of experience acting, singing and hosting. Which of the three do you like best? Is there anything else you want to try out?
A：We love singing the most but we want to try making films. That is the only thing we haven’t tried yet.

With whom would you like to collaborate the most?
S: Pinky (Selina’s dog)! I want to start a brand with it and leave something that can last forever!
H: I want to work with my heroine Faye Wong – but I guess I will be too nervous and not dare to talk to her.
E: I want to have a duet with my mum. From what I see when she takes over the KTV and sings and dances in front of it, I guess she will be a great performer.

News is floating around that Hebe will release a solo album in the near future. How will the other S.H.E. members show their support?
A：To show up at every show Hebe will be performing, help every promotion we can. We know she may not know what to say in front of the press, so we will help her – to create some noise for her.
E: Buy 100 copies of her CD and take them to the autograph session, and keep telling my friends and family about it!

Reports of Ella and Selina wanting to lose weight have also been circulating. Many fans are against this idea. Do you have anything to tell the fans to comfort them?
E: I will tell the fans not to protest against the idea anymore! I am actually taking my weight loss very slowly. In fact, I am not doing it on purpose. It is just so hot that I don’t want to eat… but I will eat anyway. I won’t let myself get unhealthy.
S: I am not on a diet, I am just working out. I feel that I am doing great and am very healthy!

S.H.E. will play at CotaiArena on June 20 at 8pm. Tickets are MOP$980, MOP$600, MOP$350 and MOP$180 from cotaiticketing.com, 853 2882 8818.