Hong Kong Street Stuff
Usually free entertainment such as concerts in the parks, mimes on the street or suggested people watching venues.
Promenade and Avenue of the Stars Re-opening.
Last night, while on the way to a Hong Kong Philharmonic performance, we stumbled into a new attraction next to the Cultural Center.
It’s a 10 minute water, light and music show and was truly amazing. One of the effects is to project messages and pictures on to a thin sheet of water so that the message moves and disappears as the water falls. The show we saw was at 7:30 PM. As far as I know the schedule has not been published.
The Cultural Center From Victoria Harbor
Date: July 9th, 2006 |
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Ten Things to do in Hong Kong, #2
Walk!!!!!!!
I am referring to two kinds of walking here: walking as in “hiking” or “trekking” and walking as in “strolling” or “wandering.” Both apply to Hong Kong.
Aberdeen Country Park on Hong Kong Island
Date: June 11th, 2006 |
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Music Riots In the Park
A group of musicians and their fans engaged in a scuffle Sunday with Leisure and Cultural Services Officers, responding to noise complaints and trying to shut down their performance in Tuen Mun Park.
Was this a group of young, hip, funky musicians and their rowdy, beer-soaked fans? No. These musicians are well into senior status as are their fans and they play and dance to Chinese Folk Music.
Date: May 17th, 2006 |
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“Beating the Devil” in Hong Kong
Twice a year, during the White Tiger Festival in March and the Hungry Ghosts Festival in August, practitioners gather in Wan Chai to “Beat the Devil” with their shoes. In most cases the devil is often someone who is bedeviling the petitioner. Bosses and co-workers are particularly popular.
Monday March 6th, hundreds of people of all ages queued up on Canal Road to pay HK$50.00 (US$6.50) to have images or representations of their personal devils pummeled to oblivion with a shoe accompanied by loudly shouted curses and imprecations. According to observers, the crowd is …
Date: March 8th, 2006 |
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I Used to Love Parades
Three days ago I wrote, “I Love a Parade.” After enduring last night’s Lunar New Year parade, I must modify my original generalization.
On the positive side, the parade was well organized, the floats were colorful and well-done, and the marching units were varied and well rehearsed. It was all done very professionally. On the negative side, the crowds were almost unbearable, the parade started a half-hour late, the authorities blocked off large portions of the parade route from spectators increasing the crowding and lastly the parade route was too short also increasing the crowding.
Date: January 30th, 2006 |
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Ten Things to do in Hong Kong, #4
Ride!!!!
“Ride what?” you ask. Let’s start with one of Hong Kong’s icons, the Star Ferry. For HK$2.30 (US$0.30) or free if you are over 60, you can ride the ferry back and forth across the harbor. As long as you don’t get off, you can make the trip as many times as you wish. You better do it soon, though. At the rate the government is filling in the Harbor, the Star Ferry may soon be a memory.
The Star Ferry
Date: June 19th, 2006 |
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Music Haters Unite!
Time to ‘fess up. I have taken an unpopular stand.
The feedback in the local newspaper, The South China Morning Post, in both Talkback and Letters to the Editor indicates that many, if not most, people believe the Tuen Mun Park traditional Chinese musicians should pack up their instruments, especially their amplifiers and leave. Some felt unamplified music would be OK.
I was the only correspondent who was in favor of letting them play. I must be either an amplified music nut or out of touch. The truth is that, having lived in urban environments almost all my life, I believe …
Date: May 19th, 2006 |
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Being a Tourist Guide in Your Own Home Town: Part Two
Continuing yesterday’s item:
After arriving on the Peak, we strolled on Lugard Rd which runs from a point Southwest of the Peak viewing platform to Harlech Rd. which will take you back to the Peak viewing area. It’s a level, one hour walk and most relaxing. If you have time and are a flora enthusiast, you can take a detour to the Peak Gardens. Along the way there are signs with detailed information on the abundant plant life here and the history of the area. There are also awesome views of both the Western and Southern sides of the Island.
Because of our schedule, we didn’t walk all around the peak but strolled in relative solitude for twenty minutes and then walked briskly back to the Galleria mall for an early dinner at the Two-tiered Cafe Deco Restaurant. Cafe Deco answers the question, “When is a tourist oriented restaurant not a tourist trap?” My wife, Pam, and I love it and invariably find excuses to eat there with friends, business associates and visitors.
Date: May 10th, 2006 |
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Got To Love the Protests
As I reported recently in “Trying to Kill the Goose That Laid the Golden Egg,” the government sometimes seems hell bent on destroying or forbidding anything that either isn’t modern or that anyone complains about no matter how trivial.
The latest episode involved musicians playing amplified Chinese music. I will avoid the obvious issue of how authentic Chinese music is if it’s amplified. On Sundays these musicians have been setting up in Tuen Mun Park and playing for free to audiences mostly made up of retirees and migrants from the Mainland. Some unspecified number of people complained of the noise and so the government immediately banned all amplified music. They then tried to substitute yoga and magic shows but to no avail as people started complaining that they couldn’t hear anything the performers were saying.
Date: February 27th, 2006 |
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I Love a Parade
The annual Lunar New Year Parade will be held Sunday night, January 29 at 8:00 PM. It starts at the Tamar site and wends it way along the following route: Tim Mei Ave., Harcourt Rd., Performing Arts Ave., Fenwick Pier St., Harbour Rd., Fleming Rd., Convention Ave., ending at Expo Dr., Central. The parade will not only include floats but also local and International performers. For us American expats, the UCLA Marching Band and the Philadelphia Eagle Cheerleaders will be marching to provide a perfect combination of music and sex.
If you miss the parade, you …
Date: January 26th, 2006 |
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