The gorgeous costumes of CLH & SSC

The pink/white/blue garments from Ep 1 and 4

I should really sleep now because I need to wake up before sunrise tomorrow. However, I miss Chor tai-gor and our adorable Siu Ching, hence I just want to make a short post on the gorgeous costumes worn by Chor Lau Heung and Song Siu Ching in the 1984 Chor Lau Heung series. I counted that Michael Miu had at least nine ensembles, while Barbara Yung wore at least 12 numbers for this series, excluding her peasant-style garments in Ep 17 and 35, among others. Other actors had adorable costumes too, but I will limit this post to CLH and SSC. I will just post the photos here with some comments on the episode numbers.

My favourite CLH/SSC ensembles is actually the clothes they wore at the same time during their first meeting and Ep 4. Chor tai-gor had white garments with very little soft pink embellishment with a white gossamer cape while Siu Ching's tunic was pink and blue with white under layer, as shown above.

CLH ep 40 screen shots: the hairpin and garden scene

Chor tai-gor only asked for Siu Ching's hairpin (and not the girl, ep 40)

We CLH fans have no doubts of Song Siu Ching's feelings to Chor Lau Heung. Barbara Yung portrayed Siu Ching as always being certain of her love for the wanderer since ep 10 at the earliest. However, despite being a ladies' man, and despite his initial attraction to Siu Ching, Chor Lau Heung was subtle with regards to his own feelings. Very subtle. Michael Miu didn't portray him with Yang Kang's or (I suspect) Li Sai Man's intensity in love. In the series, Chor Lau Heung never said he loved Song Siu Ching. He was a pragmatic. He showed he loved her, but never uttered the word 'love'. Perhaps that was the way ancient 80s series were, or perhaps that was just how Chor Lau Heung (as portrayed by Michael) was. But it sometimes, admittedly, left me wondering if he did love her, just like Siu Ching wondered if Chor tai-gor loved her too or not. It took Sowfoong from the Network54/MB Paradise to tell me that he did love her, and very protective of her. 

Then I saw ep 40 again last night. In addition to enjoying the fight between Yuen Tsui Wan and Chor Lau Heung, I was particularly interested in the garden scene after Chor tai-gor asked for Siu Ching's hairpin. Chor Lau Heung was a jovial man, and even while saying goodbye to Princess Wing Ching (aka Siu Ching), he still took time to smile. But then I saw something last night. Siu Ching was numbed when he left her. But apparently, he was not happy either. It took me a lot of freezes and screen shots to realise that he was indeed not glad to leave her in the Palace. It took me more freezes and screen shots to fast forward to the boat scene when he was alone examining the hairpin to see he was truly sad. He was broken-hearted, but as he said to Wah Jan Jan before: men are good at hiding their feelings. Chor Lau Heung was not an exception.

So here they are: the screen shots for the garden scene after Brother Chor asked for Siu Ching's hairpin. If (like I was, prior to this post) you have doubts that he was sad to leave her, see for yourself.

'The First Dance' - a Chor Lau Heung 1984 fan fiction

My take on the first meeting between Chor Lau Heung and Song Siu Ching, requested by JoNe. Romance, action. Chor Lau Heung 1984 is the property of Gu Long and TVB HK. This fanfiction is dedicated to Michael Miu Kiu Wai and Barbara Yung Mei Ling. I own nothing but my love to them and this series (click here to read all CLH'84 episodes). Special thanks to all my CLH/FD/MB regular readers, you guys have kept me going!

Song Siu Ching's and Chor Lau Heung's first 'dance', ep 1

The First Dance 

Han men didn't dance with Han women. Unlike the Mongols or the Shendu people, a dance between a man and a woman was not part of the Han culture. It would be the women who performed the ethereal dance and the men enjoyed their dancing, preferably while drinking good wine. However, King of Thieves Chor Lau Heung had danced several times with the woman he loved. He particularly treasured their first dance. Oh, she wouldn't call it a dance, of course, she would call it something else. "Rudeness" or "show off" might be her opinion of that moment. But he would always remember it as the opening dance between them.

The Foundation - a heartbreaking Michael/Barbara ancient series

Li Sai Man (Michael Miu) and Chun Sik Sik (Barbara Yung) in The Foundation 1984

After finishing Fearless Duo 1984, I want to see other Michael Miu/Barbara Yung series. I still have three to watch: Legend of Condor Heroes 1982 where they were bitter enemies (Yeung Hong or Yang Kang vs Wung Yung or Huang Rong); United We Stand 1984 (they were lovers, tho Babs played twins, and the twins loved two different men, Michael one of them); and The Foundation 1984. The last one I don't really want to watch for I will definitely cry buckets of tears and may not be able to show my face to the public for a while... 

In The Foundation (决战玄武门), Michael portrayed Li Sai Man (Li Shi Min) who was the co-founder of the Tang Dynasty. Later known as Emperor Taizong, Li Sai Man was originally a happy-go-lucky young prince who met a servant village girl in his counselor's household (Chun Sik Sik, portrayed by our lovely Barbara). Li Sai Man then fell in love with Sik Sik, the humble village girl who used to love Kong Fung (Felix Wong), a man from her village who left her to improve his kung fu career. Sik Sik then also fell in love with Sai Man and left her love for Kong Fung behind. 

Have a look at this MV by Thaijet. How beautiful and sad it is...SPOILERS ahead. For those who don't want to be spoiled, don't watch the MV till finished. The music is not the original the Foundation OST. Rather, it was from the Return of Condor Heroes (1983), featuring Andy Lau and Idy Chan. The next MV below the break contains the original OST of the Foundation. 

'The Princess who saved her wanderer' - a Chor Lau Heung 1984 fanfiction

To assist Yuen Tsui Wan, Kam Ling Chi poisoned Chor Lau Heung, Wu Tit Fa and the three ladies. Chor was almost defeated by Ting Fung but Sit Siu Yan and Wah Jan Jan arrived to save the day (ep 35). Then Khoo Tai Pang found out their hideout. This fanfiction takes time after Siu Ching met Sit Siu Yan in town and went to the mansion to assist Chor tai-gor (ep 36). Instead of asking Tim Yi to play music and acting all cool, Chor et al found a hidden passage inside the house (with the help of the Pak Ah zither) where he hid his friends there. Chor then faced Khoo Tai Pang alone. Chor still sustained injuries from his fight with Ting Fung, hence he was easily defeated and captured. It was now up to Siu Ching to rescue him. Featuring Chor Lau Heung first kissing Song Siu Ching. Violence, romance, action. Chor Lau Heung 1984 is the property of Gu Long and TVB HK. This fanfiction is dedicated to Michael Miu Kiu Wai and Barbara Yung Mei Ling. I own nothing but my love to them and this series (click here to read all CLH'84 episodes). Special thanks to all my CLH/FD/MB regular readers, you guys have kept me going!

Ting Fung defeated a poisoned Chor Lau Heung, ep 35

The Princess who saved her wanderer 

Song Siu Ching crawled inside the damp tunnel. Worried that she might be trapped in the tunnel, she started to regret the idea. However, something about the air told her that she was getting onto something here. The air was fresh, not rotten. The tunnel must end in an opening where she could get out, or at least see what happened in the old mansion.

Siu Ching had found the entrance of the tunnel totally by accident. Earlier that day, she had arrived at the hillside of the old mansion with Trouble Maker Sit Siu Yan to learn that a small army of Khoo Tai Pang’s had surrounded the area. She waited for a while for Wah Jan Jan (who she knew had been tailed by Khoo Tai Pang) to reappear. The Hua Shan girl did appear for a brief moment, stepping down the stairs before she stopped and returned to the mansion. Jan Jan must have detected Khoo Tai Pang then, which was good.

Fearless Duo 1984 summary of eps 15-20

The followings are the summary of Fearless Duo episodes. Special thanks to Dramacool and Dramanice for uploading this series. With all my love for Michael Miu and Barbara Yung for giving me this series. Click this for all episode guides of Fearless Duo. 

Szeto Man Mo finally married Lam Chor Yin properly, ep 19

Ep 15: MMCY tracked down the black magic guy and found his hideout. MM managed to cancel out the black magic thus SM was cured. However, they didn't found anyone in the hideout. Unbeknown to them, the black magic master was killed already by his teacher. Not the Evil Master, but Sky Heart, the 1st disciple (played by the actor who played as Wai Tin Ho in CLH actually). Cured, SM then concocted a plan to make 2nd uncle n cousin Tsung admitted their rotten plan in front of the village elders, such that the two pigs were exiled (despite Madam Yip's mercy). Madam Yip then invited SM to stay at the Yip Mansion. Big Mole arrived and joined MMCY acting as a go-between for SM and Madam. MM himself, he returned his jade to CY, asking her to keep it cos it is a very important item for both of them.

Fearless Duo 1984 summary of eps 8-14

The followings are the summary of Fearless Duo episodes. Special thanks to Dramacool and Dramanice for uploading this series. With all my love for Michael Miu and Barbara Yung for giving me this series. Click this for all episode guides of Fearless Duo. 

CY found the poisoned MM, ep 11

Ep 8:back to the Cantonese version!! OMG, I can't believe how significant this is for the enjoyment of my viewing! Michael's voice, OMG! Dubbing his voice in Mandarin doesn't do justice at all, unless he's the one who speaks Mandarin himself! (I’ve listened to Michael’s talk shows in Mandarin, his voice is still lovely...) Anyway. Since Chor Yin was angry with Man Mo, Tse Cheung Leung was able to accompany her here and there. She didn't fall for him, but she did like him because he was nice and always tried to protect her. Tse finally found criminal Ng Pak Tin and, after some hostage situation involving himself and Yin, Tse got Ng (who was killed by an officer during the hostage overtake). Tse then made some comical scenes about his injured legs so that Yin could take care of him longer (Tse was such a baby around Yin; it's funny that they later had a role reversal where he practically babysit and chaperoned Song Siu Ching in Chor Lau Heung). Meanwhile, Man Mo regretted being nasty to Yin, but he still found it hard to let go of Miss Fa. MM and Master then met Tung Yi, an orphaned girl whose veranda was obliterated when MM wanted to get away (again) from Master. The dumb and dumber then stayed with Tung Yi for a while to fix her house and accompany her. When they finally wanted to leave, Tung Yi went to town to buy some dinner ingredients as a farewell. There she overheard Tse asking the doctor not to heal him too soon so that he could be with Yin longer. Tung Yi borrowed that idea and twisted her ankle so that MM and teacher still stayed with her.

Fearless Duo 1984 summary of eps 1-7

The followings are the summary of Fearless Duo episodes. Special thanks to Dramacool and Dramanice for uploading this series. With all my love for Michael Miu and Barbara Yung for giving me this series. Click this for all episode guides of Fearless Duo. 

Szeto Man Mo developed a habit of bickering with Lam Chor Yin, ep 1

Ep 1: Supreme Master Cheung was drinking in town. Lam Chor Yin (Barbara Yung), daughter of the governor, strolled the town in her lovely yellow dress, used her magic to reveal Wu Yat Chu Big Mole cheating and found a cute rabbit. She then saw Master Cheung fighting. She went home and asked Auntie Wu to teach her more magic, but the old lady refused. Governor knew about his daughter sneaking out, hence she was grounded. Chor Yin still managed to sneak out the day (dressed as a boy) after and met Szeto Man Mo in town. Rather, bickered with him over his jade pendant stolen by a pair of thief (so refreshing this bickering couple! As Chor Lau Heung, Michael Miu was smart but calm. As Szeto Man Mo, he was a big mouth!). Szeto and Lam were apparently business rivals; both their fathers were involved with some corruption cases. The next day the two families went to Master Cheung for support. Man Mo went along and met A Yin who was disguised as a boy (that was how Man Mo recognised her from the jade incident). They had a mouth brawl again before A Yin left for fear that her father found out. They then met Master Cheung separately. Man Mo didn’t realise the meat-eating Taoist monk was the Master, while A Yin begged the Master to accept her as a student (and was rejected). Later, the Master taught Mr Szeto and Mr Lam to be more considerate with their positions and donate some money to the temple.

'Tonight I stay here' - a Fearless Duo fanfiction

The scene between Szeto Man Mo and Lam Chor Yin (MMCY) in Ep 6 of Fearless Duo after they had to share the room to fool Chor Yin’s uncle and aunt. After realising that he couldn’t escape the mansion without getting beaten to death, Man Mo resigned his fate and decided to just sleep in the room. But there was only one bed there. Fearless Duo is the property of TVB HK. This fanfiction is dedicated to Michael Miu and Barbara Yung. Click here for Fearless Duo episode summaries.

Lam Chor Yin wanted to slap Szeto Man Mo, ep 6

Tonight I stay here

"I'm not sharing a bed with you!" Chor Yin glared at Man Mo.

Szeto Man Mo glared back at his former wife. What a nonsensical girl! "Miss, even though you don't want to sleep, I do. You can sleep next to me, I don't mind!"  He then lay down on the bed, only to be dragged up again by Chor Yin. “Haiyaaa...! What do you want, Girl??”

Since Chor Yin still lodged a protest, both of them ended up sleep-sitting on the chairs. For the first two hours they could do that. But at midnight, just as the clock man passed the mansion with his clunking bamboo, Man Mo woke up with a thud cos his head hit the table. Groaning, he massaged his forehead. Then he looked around. Although the room was dark, silver lights penetrated the windows from the moon and 2-3 lanterns in the garden. He looked across the round table where he had been leaning on and found Chor Yin sleeping on her folded hands on the table. He was about to change his position when he saw the bed again. His back hurts. What would he give to sleep there...

Fearless Duo 1984: another Michael Miu/Barbara Yung charming ancient series

Szeto Man Mo (Michael Miu) & Lam Chor Yin (Barbara Yung), FD ep 19 

So, after finishing Chor Lau Heung 1984 (watched it for three rounds, actually, or perhaps more), I found the Fearless Duo MV with the OST sang by Alan Tam. Fell in love with the song, then binged watching FD the whole weekend. This post is basically the synopsis of FD 1984 and commentaries of major characters (including, of course, the stars Michael Miu and Barbara Yung). I will post the FD episode summary later. 

Fearless Duo (FD) is basically the ‘I fall in love with my neighbour’ Michael/Barbara rom-com series. I’m contrasting this with The New Adventures of Chor Lau Heung 1984 where Chor Lau Heung and Song Siu Ching were practically a super-star couple. CLH had a good reputation in the wuxia world despite his carefree lifestyle (the Emperor sought his advice on a regular basis); Siu Ching was the princess. In FD however, Michael played as Szeto Man Mo, a stroppy and cantankerous young man who was forced to marry the tomboy (and also stroppy) Lam Chor Yin (our darling Barbara Yung). The story evolved from them being bitter and bickering with each other to loving each other in a lovely, organic, down to earth way. I’m not saying CLH isn’t down to earth... but CLH is indeed a high-profile story involving high profile wuxia sects and the empire’s fate, while FD could happen in your neighbourhood. Adding to the FD story is the rivalry between Taoist Supreme Master Cheung and his evil brother, typical village superstitions and some undead and vampires, thus you have the typical “Chinese Ghost Story” with a high dosage of lovely, classical MB scenes that will surely melt your heart (well, at least mine and so many MB fans).

Who Can Change - Fearless Duo 天師執位 1984 OST

I haven't seen Michael Miu's and Barbara Yung's Fearless Duo (天師執位, TVB 1984), but after watching this YouTube and listening to the OST, I just have to see it. FD has a happy ending (unlike the Foundation, which I also want to watch but I fear I will cry buckets of tears), so I will definitely watch it. The OST is titled "Who Can Change" by Alan Tam, and after listening to the song, I can understand why it is Michael Miu's favourite song (and that the series is one of his favourites) and that Alan Tam himself is still the king of Canto pop these days. 


I obtained the lyrics and meaning from Wehaiyo (I modified slightly to streamline it) and the Cantonese Yale from Feitsui. Enjoy!

Alan Tam's rendition of the Heart Sutra (Prajna Paramita Hridaya Sutra)

I found Alan Tam's rendition of the Heart Sutra (Prajna Paramita Hridaya Sutra) on YouTube after listening to "Who Can Change", his famous OST from the Fearless Duo (1984, also feat. Michael Miu and Barbara Yung). I found this rendition of the Heart Sutra very lovely, hence I put it here. The Cantonese lyrics are from Nicholas Tse's website. I found the translation from Jayarava here, complete with the Middle Chinese script and pinyin. 

Strangely enough, Jayarava's post was dated 15 May 2015, that was just a day after the 30th commemoration of Barbara Yung's death. I recently have been feeling that I haven't totally mourn her passing, hence, I dedicate this song and lyrics for Babs, the lovely girl who coloured my childhood with wonderful series. Wherever you are Barbara, may you be in peace. If you are already reborn, may your current life and the lives afterwards be beautiful and peaceful.



Heart Sutra

When Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva practiced the deep perfection of wisdom,

He saw the five aggregates as completely empty, and overcame all states of suffering.

Śāriputra, form is not different emptiness, emptiness is not different form

Form is empty, emptiness is form.

Vedanā, saṃjñā, saṃskāra, & vijñāna, are the same

Chor Lau Heung 1984 opening and closing themes

I tried to find the translation of CLH'84 opening and closing themes but failed, so I asked my Chinese Malaysian friend to translate it for me. Sompong from the YT video below provided me with the script of the opening theme and Min Chi translated it for me; hence my gratitude for both of them. I obtained the closing theme script from Musixmatch and Min Chi translated it again for me (thanks again!). I love both songs. I really dig the opening theme for it truly captured who Chor tai-gor was, while the closing theme reminds me of CLH/SSC relationship.

Edit 15 April 2016: Click this for the third OST of CLH 1984 and this for the MV I made from the OST!

Baby delivery - a Chor Lau Heung 1984 fanfiction

Siu Ching was in the last week of her pregnancy and Chor Lau Heung unexpectedly had to help delivering the baby because Dr Cheong and the girls were detained in an infected town. Featuring Wu Tit Fa who was too scared to help due to excessive blood. Special thanks to the ladies at the MB Paradise, Network 54 and SPCNet.tv who have been reading my fan-fictions so far. Chor Lau Heung 1984 is the property of Gu Long and TVB HK. This fanfiction is dedicated to Michael Miu Kiu Wai and Barbara Yung Mei Ling. I own nothing but my love to them and this series (click here to read all CLH'84 episodes).

Baby delivery

Song Siu Ching & Chor Lau Heung (from ep 38)

Chor Lau Heung looked back at the gate several times before returning to the dining room where his wife was sitting. His very pregnant wife, to be exact, only a week into her due date. 

"Stop worrying Chor tai-gor, they'll be fine," said Song Siu Ching, opening a cup of tea and filling it. She looked peachy in her favourite soft pink maternity dress. "Here, have some tea."

"I know," smiled her Brother Chor as he took the tea. "It's just the trip shouldn't take that long for them to return. They said they'd be back yesterday, and now the sun will set in a few hours and they haven't returned."

"Do you think the illness in town is so bad? It might prevent them to come?" as Siu Ching sipped her own tea, her other hand massaging her very large abdomen. She winced a bit when she felt a kick, then she smiled. Chor Lau Heung registered the wince quicker than the smile tho, so he quickly leaned towards her and asked if she was okay. Siu Ching smiled again, looking alternately between her belly and her husband.

"It just kicked me."

The annoying but lovely girl - a Chor Lau Heung 1984 fanfiction

Chor Lau Heung’s subconscious thoughts as he drifted into and out of comma after the fight with Yat Dim Hung, and also his musing on the events before and after he took a wrong medication in eps 11 (click here for the summary of all episodes). Particularly inspired by the way Chor tai-gor reached for Siu Ching when he had the heart attack. Chor Lau Heung 1984 is the property of Gu Long and TVB HK. This fanfiction is dedicated to Michael Miu Kiu Wai and Barbara Yung Mei Ling. I own nothing but my love to them and this series.

Chor tai-gor had a heart failure due to wrong medication, ep 11

The annoying but lovely girl

Chor Lau Heung tried to raise his chi to balance the storm of energy within his chest. The imbalance was too great though; the internal storm attacked him back, causing him to double over coughing. He gasped as he felt a greater pain piercing his chest from within. One of his hands grabbed his chest as the other hand reached forward towards the people around him. His adopted sisters and a girl wearing a pearly white dress he successfully saved earlier. Siu Ching...

His hands reached hers as she called his name in panic. He couldn't respond, but he desperately needed to hold onto her hands as an anchor. He felt his chi slipping away and he needed her to ground him, thus he felt a tiny flush of relief as her small hands firmly holding onto him. He coughed again and then heard the commotions around him. Yung Yung's and Tim Yi's voice, then Siu Ching saying something about giving him a pill. Then he felt someone opening his mouth and force-fed him the pill. He automatically swallowed it, hoping for the best.