Tuesday, July 22, 2008

More Jacky Cheung: The Juicy Details

We've been getting a lot of Jacky Cheung fans here so we thought of sharing the whole story of how we met Jacky (We call him Jacky now) in super microscopic detail.

Nee & I were at the London Eye on the 2nd last day of our stay in London.


You're probably not interested in this photo but we've got a story to tell.

And you're probably also not interested in this next piece of information, but for the benefit of the Jacky Cheung groupie-stalkers, the date was July 16, on a Wednesday, late morning, to be exact.
This is the exact spot where I first noticed Jacky. He was standing somewhere directly beneath the black lamp post.

Sorry I didn't take a picture of the ground where he was standing on. I could have sold that to the tabloids & make lots of money.

I didn't really know it was him in the first place. I just thought that he looked familiarly like an architect or some kind of a professional artist (not of the singing & acting kind) as he spoke excellent English to a Caucasian next to him (of whom I suspect to be his friend). His two daughters were there with a nanny. The wife appeared later.

As I analysed his features, he stole a few glances at me. I wasn't sure what his glance meant, & after discussing it with Nee much later on, we thought that he was probably thinking:
1) You kinda look familiar too. Do I know you?
2) Does this Ah Beng actually know who I am? Has my superstar popularity reached as far as London?
3) Oh Sh*t. This guy got camera. Paparazzi!

We concluded that it couldn't be No. 1 cos I wasn't famous. And we had to rule No. 3 out cos my camera was peanuts. His was huge-r. So that left us with the possible No. 2.


Anyway, back to the story, so I went over to Nee.
Greg: Hey, look at that guy there. Don't you think he looks like Jacky Cheung?
Nee: Ya, I think so. Look at his nose. It's huge.
Greg: Maybe I should ask him or something but there is a limitation to the thickness of my skin.

At that moment, his wife appeared & they walked up the ramp to the river boat cruise to buy tickets. We were still debating on his identity. Nee was still assessing his nose. Then as quick as he appeared, he disappeared into the boat cruise stand. And at that point we really thought our luck ran out. It was like striking Jackpot Toto & then losing your tickets.

But heaven was with us that fateful day, cos the Heavenly King came back out, & confirming that it was him, I walked up to him in full stride & confidence.

Greg: Excuse me, I may be mistaken, but are you Jacky Cheung?
Jacky: Uhhh.......Yes, I AM!
Greg: Very nice to meet you. Can I take a picture with you?
Jacky: Uhhh........But I'm very busy, with my family.
Greg: Oh, I see. I'm sorry, but my wife's a big fan. She's there.
Jacky: Uhhh.........Okay. It's alright.
At this point, Nee was running, I mean almost flying, towards him.
Nee: We were at your concert in KL last year. I'm a big fan. We're sorry to bother you.
Jacky: It's ok.

Nee was ecstatic when I took her photo with him.

The only time that she can be so ecstatic-al is if she's in a superb European bakery shop, or if she's learning baking in Paris, or if she's just completed a major masterpiece in the kitchen.

Our conclusion was that Jacky was an excellent gentleman. He was very obliging & friendly although we have intruded into his private family outing. That was the reason why we did not push for ten more pictures with him. We apologised profusely, but he took it very calmly & politely with a smile all the time.

Thinking back, we were glad that we acted in a civil manner, and did not unleash our sua koo-ness (mountain auntie). We gave him the respect that he deserved, & we hope that he will see us as respectful Malaysian fans.

There, that's as detailed as we can get. Any more detailed & you'll fall into a deep coma.


NEE: Well since I was the STAR in that really ugly photo, I thought I should share some of my thoughts. And I was still thinking today how could I possibly look so aunty ~ unkempt and downright country bumpkin. Am still beating myself up about it. Not that I expect Jacky would find me attractive or anything remotely along that line, but to only have one photo of this starry encounter and probably will never have it again, how could I ever show my future grandkids and not expecting them to wonder why grandma ever looked so bad. But on the good side, Jacky's fans are probably so jealous that if I actually look good, I will be torn to pieces.

Anyway, like Greg says, I am glad to find that the person I listened to since my teenage years is actually a gentlemen ~courteous and obliging. None of those prima donna air or artic air coldness or rude abruptness. Based on the circumstances of our encounter, we would totally understand if he refused a picture. Many of us would not like work (entertaining fans would be be work for him) to be interfering with our holidays. I mean I would get really irritated if my workplace starts calling me up during my trip. Under such circumstances, he was warm albeit looking a little careful about the whole thing. Not wary but definitely careful as he has his family with him. Let's just say, he handled it really well. Hats off to him!

Another wonderful thing is I am really happy to see my 'idol' as a family man who would put them first. And I believe many Jacky's fans would love to know that. As we do respect the guy and his family, we would not want to describe his family or anything else besides the encounter itself here, and we did not take any secret paparazzi shots at any of them. So that photo is the one and only that we have and would be purely for a memorable keepsake.

Finally thanks to my dear hubby for having the guts to go up to him and ask. In fact, I actually told him not to bother. Thoughts of two university lecturers who tells students to be professional and calm in all circumstances acting like silly star-strucked fans is just so totally uncool. What would my students think! But I am glad Greg did it. Being almost a banana (Chinese who can't speak mandarin) like him (he has never listened to canto pop) and I am glad after the Jacky's concert last year (which i have to bribe, persuade, beg whatever you call it for him to go), he actually said after the concert in these exact words "I finally understand what canto-pop is now. It is Jacky Cheung." And I am glad-er that Jacky gave him an even better impression in person!

Thank you!

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the details of your encounter. Glad to hear some news of Jacky and that he's having his well-deserved break after a year long concert tour.

Anonymous said...

Oh my God, you are so lucky! Jacky is my favorite singer too.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing your wonderful story and pictures.

Jacky is a very kind man,especially to his fans.He once said that he's not a star,but a singer & actor,someone fans can reach.

We love him not just because his talent in singing or acting.We love him as a good people.^_^

Anonymous said...

"don't u think he looks like JC?"
"look at his nose. it's huge."
I laugh out when I see it ^O^

it's honor to be his fan,
and so good to know he's enjoy his vacation with his family.

BTW, you looked not that bad!
it's a good shot~
chiasan^^

Greg Wee said...

Hi jcfan, jojo, anonymous & chiasan:

We were wondering if he felt good being recognised. I guess it must have been a mixed feeling for him. Being recognised makes him feel good, but yet it encroaches into his private life.

And yes! I've always thought that he looks exactly like Jackie Chan. I think it's the nose that makes the man.

WoMbOk™♂ said...

Oh man.. the last time I went to the UK was in 1993 and the exchange rate was more affordable then. Would love to go again in the near future.

Very nice of Jacky Cheung! And he uses a Sony Alpha with a Tamron lens I think! I am surprised Sony hasn't engaged him to be their brand ambassador, or is he already? can't remember. keke.

Greg Wee said...

Wow Wombok, when you guys are into photography, you guys are really sounding geeky about it! I mean it as a good thing. I didn't even notice what camera he was carrying when I met him. Too star strucked I guess.

I wanted to blow up the picture of his watch but it reflected light so it just looked like a circle of white light. Oh well, maybe next time. Wait a minute...there is never going to be a next time! OH NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for dropping by esp the jacky's fans.

Yeap arent we lucky to like a performer that has a nice personality.

And i also realised that his group of fans are also very kind giving him a lot of privacy and not those crazed up type. i felt that in the concert last year. the age range is very big from teenagers to even grandpas and grandmas

Chiasan: you are very kind. thank you. but seriously the picture of jacky just took entire limelight so that is good hehehe....

The Rambler said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
The Rambler said...

Dear Greg and Nee,

Thanks for telling your story and congratulations on your good luck! It sounds like you were very respectful and relaxed, so you got a nice photo with him... he looks happy to be there with you. And hey, you may get to meet him again, you never know!

Anonymous said...

hahaha, i love the way both of u write of all the details, it's a good read! Greg, it's nice to see that you have a nice impression of JC during your first (unexpected) meeting... and Nee, it's so funny of you to think that we'll want you to look ugly! i knw it's a joke, but we are nice ppl, hehehe~ i am impressed with the way you handled the encounter, it's sweet of u two :)
god bless, and yeah, u MITE see him again in the near future! :)

Anonymous said...

Hi Greg,

I guess you don't have to worry too much about you guys recognizing Jacky. I have seen some other blogs of others encountering him too and as usual, he's very obliging to their requests. As long as people do not disturb or intrude on his family, he's ok with it. We all respect him for that.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing your amazing experience with us,JC's fans! The detailed description about Nee's thought is terribly interesting~
wa~haha

cassie said...

hi mr greg. how come i didn't bump into Jacky Cheung in London? i listen to his songs too. lucky mrs greg. haha, great picture anyway.

Anonymous said...

Hi to all jacky's fan. so good we can have this conversation on the encounter and about our idol. and so far as i can see, even his fans are all very nice people. And of course that include us hehehee....

Let just hope we all will eventually bump into him one way or another.

And really glad we can share and you find the whole thing interesting to read. God Bless!

Greg Wee said...

MArian, jc fans, juanita, cassie: Not being a fan of Jackie Cheung initially nor canto pop, I never knew what Anita Mui, Leslie Cheung & all that canto pop meant. After his concert last year, I finally understod the importance of Jacky Cheung because I feel that on his stength alone, he could have single-handedly defined what the HK music scene was during his time. It was about the voice & real talent before pop songs became manufactured commercially baed solely on image alone. And I guess I could appreciate & really rspect that, because it's hard to find such talents nowadays.

Anonymous said...

wo,it is fortunate that u have met jack chueng. very cool~~~~~~~~

Anonymous said...

I'm soooo proud of being a fan of Jacky's because I see another example of respectful and thoughtful fans here!

Nee, regardless your luck, I envy you that you have a husband who recognizes your favorite and even fight it for you!

I think you're lucky enough to meet JC because you guys are as nice as him. I'm sooo touched to read that you didn't take any other photos and didn't describe his family (though I would not refuse to know stories about his family..ha). I think that's what makes JC's fans special. We know how and what to respect! I think it's also JC's luck to meet you and Greg but not other impolite people:)

simplyjojo (author) said...

Wow... envy you wor!
Thanks for sharing... that's a great photo, nicely taken!

He is a very down to earth person... friendly, no airs.... This is why I like about him.. and looking at your photo, makes me miss him even more.

Your husband so good... how i wish I can meet someone who supports Jacky too..

Greg Wee said...

HI winnie and sjojo. greg's nose is growing very big with all these praises for him..haha...but yeap i am glad he did it.

yeah i think most jc's fans are tamer because his image attracts more mature ppl. if he is a rock or crazy type of singer who does stupid things then we would not like him at all in the first place. it is the image and how he carried himself which appeals to the similar type of ppl.And of course the real talent in the person. Even my dad who is 60 actually thinks that he sings very well. So he's got the real stuff and combined with a good personality = a superstar.

Well, I am just a happy person to have been able to meet him.

Thank you to all JC's fan for being nice and giving kind comments.

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