Posts Tagged ‘Olympics’

Sham Shui Po Street

Saturday, August 9th, 2008

Dim Sum, and other amazing  meals in Hong Kong

The morning started out with tasty Dim Sum. Lunch was a fantastic Vietnamese spicy beef stew and dinner was amazing Indian food, found in a hidden walkup in TST. All was amazing and all was very affordable. I like this town already.
Dim Sum in Hong Kong
tasty eats: Vietnamese spicy beef pho in Hong Kong


Kowloon Cultural District – “Our Life in West Kowloon II” exhibit

Went to an exhibit that was closing this weekend. The building was evicted and is being redeveloped, so organizers filled each floor with photographs and installations that highlighted how the living conditions are for poorer residents. One room housed twenty people, all strangers. And another room had one of the infamous cage homes (basically a cage a large as a simple twin-sized bed). It could be called home and locked up when not around. Hong Kong has been getting rid of the Bed cages, but from what I was told they do still exist.The organizers where chronicling the way people live in Kowloon, not the disappearing building. “The spirit of Sham Shui Po exists in the people and their lifestyles, not the buildings..”

Our Lives in West Kowloon II — Society for Community Organisation’s exhibit in a building set for redevelopment this month on 55 Kweilin Street.
Abandoned building. Our Life in West Kowloon II exhibit
evicted building. Our Life in West Kowloon II
old cage home/bed on Sham Shui Po street in Hong Kong
Another item that is disappearing from the Hong Kong streetscapes are the individualistic letter boxes.


Hungry Ghost Festival, Temple

The burning of paper figures are helpful to warding off the hungry spirits. I like this temple shot of 14 day incense coils and the paper maché horse in front of the temple.
Hong Kong Hungry Ghost festival, temple with incense
Hong Kong Hungry Ghost festival, paper horse


Sham Shui Po street scenes

Lots for sale on teh streets here: clothes, electronics, funky re-furbished CB radios, “new” mobile phones, and cheap tasty food – like pudding-on-a-stick and tea.

Sham Shui Po Hang Jing pawn shop
Sham Shui Po jade merchant
Sham Shui Po street
Sham Shui Po street
Sham Shui Po street
Sham Shui Po street


Chungking Mansions (“Chungking Express”)

Late night at Chungking near TST.. Wong Kar Wei where are you? What room are you in? Hello? Hello?
Chungking Mansions
A long appreciative day, Zzz Zzz

Hong Kong, China. 8/8/08

Friday, August 8th, 2008

Holden in China for summer vacation & adventure.
08-08-08 8:00pm+

Here I am at the Hong Kong airport arriving just a hour or so after the Olympics have begun. Holden Smith in Hong Kong. 2008-08-08

The international airport in Hong Kong has become very modern and efficient. My bag was waiting for me right after immigration swiftly checked me through. The photo was taken after I picked up my bag and reads 2 hours and 14 minutes after lucky start time of 08-08-08 8:08pm.

Here is a photo of me, taken in front of the Omega timekeeping board and a large screen of the opening ceremonies and a proud display of Chinese Olympic pride everywhere. Everyone in the airport seemed happy and I feel ready for a shower and some sleep.


This is a great trip so far. More of my photos will appear episodically as I travel, but most likely after my China travel.