Athletics are often part of everyone’s life and interests. This is true in Hong Kong, too. We’ll cover Hong Kong athletics here.
Visit!!!!!!!!!!
“Visit what?” you ask. Well, not the usual tourist traps but rather the outlying islands, 221 of which are uninhabited and a number of which are barely inhabited.
I’ll start with the three most popular and then talk about the others in a subsequent posting.
Lantau
Lantau is the largest island in the territory and the most visited. It is the home of Chek Lap Kok Airport, Disneyland, Po Lin Monastery and its 110 foot high sitting Buddha, the soon to be opened Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car Ride, Tai O with it’s stilt housing and Discovery Bay, an expat dominated enclave. But don’t think it doesn’t have its secret places where you are unlikely to run into many other tourists.
Tai O Village on Lantau Island
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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
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My ongoing comparison of Hong and Singapore will have to wait.
Yesterday Hong Kong celebrated the Tuen Ng Festival, which commemorates the death of a popular Chinese national hero, Qu Yuan, who drowned himself in the Mi Lo River over 2,000 years ago to protest against corrupt rulers. Legend has it that as townspeople attempted to rescue him, they beat drums to scare fish away and threw dumplings into the sea to keep the fish from eating Qu Yuan’s body.
Dragon Boat races are a major part of the festival. Participants train for months. Sitting two abreast, with a steersman at the back and a drummer at the front, the paddlers race to reach the finishing line, urged on by the pounding drum.
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Aunty Edna from Thailand writes that it was disappointing that there was only Heineken beer available except for a couple Carlsberg stalls.
I would like to add my own complaint that the outlawing of beer drinking in the upper stands is another needless “Big Brother” protection. If I drink too much beer, I’m just as likely to hurt myself in the lower stands as the upper.
Aunty Edna’s unexpurgated comments follow:
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In an incredible finish, England defeated Fiji to win the Championship Cup at the 30th Anniversary Rugby Sevens. Wales won the plate (second tier). China won the bowl (third tier).
England scored in extra time to take the cup 26-24. The stands were packed right to the end, although a few Kiwis were seen sneaking out early, muttering about how they were robbed in their semi-final match with Fiji which the All Blacks lost 35-10. The pageantry was magnificent during the parade of teams before the bowl final and at the end of the cup match.
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Bet!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you haven’t been to the horse races in Hong Kong, you have missed something special. I particularly recommend the Happy Valley track on a Wednesday night.
The ponies run only two days a week in Hong Kong. On week-ends at the new track in Sha Tin - usually on Saturday, sometimes on Sunday or a holiday. The mid-week meeting is usually Wednesday evening at Happy Valley, where the first race was run in 1847.
Happy Valley Race Track
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Number four in a series.
Museums
There are some fine museums in Singapore, especially the Asian Civilization Museum. The government is upgrading the museums so some are closed. Hong Kong, on the other hand has at least Six world-class museums, four of which are less than 10 years old. The Hong Kong Heritage Museum and the Museum of Hong Kong History are both “don’t miss” destinations if you are at all interested in museums. The Art Museum, the interactive Science Museum, the Coastal Defense Museum and the Space Museum are also worth spending time in. Except for the Heritage Museum and the Coastal defense Museum, the other four are within walking distance of one another. I’ll have to give Hong Kong the nod, here.
Cantonese Opera Exhibit, Hong Kong Heritage Museum
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In case you were planning to swim to Hong Kong instead of arriving by other means, you will be happy to know that the beaches of Hong Kong have improved to where you can actually swim in the water. I recommend, though, that you avoid Victoria Harbour as it continues to be polluted in spite of the efforts of the Pearl River and the tides to keep it clean.
When most people think of Hong Kong, they generally do not conjure up images of beautiful, pristine beaches. The truth is Hong Kong has some great, accessible, family friendly beaches. This has not always been the case. A recently released government study reports that the water quality at Hong Kong’s beaches has improved significantly in the last 20 years.
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You can read about the results of the matches at the IRB Site.
What follows are pictures of some of the action both on and off the pitch (for you U.S. readers, that’s British English for field).
England’s Hero: Ben Gollings
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Two days until the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens.
Suddenly, late night noshing has become a hot topic. Perhaps the advent of the Rugby Sevens Tournament has something to do with it. A few suggested stops for hunger and/or stomach lining, listed alphabetically, are:
Archie B’s Deli, SoHo (Has dropped off in recent months but the Philly Cheese Steak is still quite good.)
Assaf, SoHo, Central (Lebanese dine in or take out from next door at the Beyrouth. Better food than Ebenezer’s at a premium price.)
Bulldogs Pub and Bar, Lan Kwai Fong (Extensive menu. Slightly pricey for what you get. Pub food plus. Great Service.)
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