Journey to Hong Kong

An inflatable sculpture exhibition is being held in the West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade, the site of the forthcoming park of the West Kowloon Cultural District. This “complex pile” by American artist Paul McCarthy is provocative. Against the backdrop of Ritz Carlton Hotel (Hong Kong’s highest hotel), a very much luxurious residential complex and a very much high-end shopping mall Elements, the pile makes you pause. It is an unwitting weird juxtaposition.

The “sacrilege” sculpture by UK-based artist Jeremy Deller has an unwitting effect too. His life-size bouncy castle in the shape of Stonehenge captures his interest in the spirit of public participation. And public interest and participation is obvious. It was a Saturday. People had to queue and wait for their turn to jump inside in the “castle”. Yet, just a stone’s throw away, lies a five-star hotel, a luxurious residential building and shopping mall, which ordinary people cannot use.

This is another exhibit I like:

By HK artist Tam Wai Ping

Hong Kong can be beautiful if the divide between the rich and poor is no more discernible. The exhibition curated by M+, Hong Kong’s new museum for visual arts at West Kowloon Cultural District, lasts until 9 June 2013. For details, please check out its website.

It is not allowed to set off firecrackers or fireworks in Hong Kong. This is understandable as it would be very dangerous to allow this in a city with high population density. Yet, in the villages in New Territories, this prohibition is ignored and firecrackers are set off on festive occasions, particularly during Lunar New Year.

Today, the first day of 2013 Lunar New Year, when I passed by Ho Pui Village (河背村) in Yuen Long, a sea of amazing red caught my eye. It is what has been left behind after firecrackers were set off in front of a temple. And this is a colorful billboard celebrating Chinese New Year in the traditional village way. It hangs high over the village’s communal building. 

This past Saturday, I visited two places, Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, and the flea market outside Kam Sheung Road MTR station. It was all done together and it was fun.

I visited Kadoorie Farm for its fresh produce. The fresh eggs, vegetable, bananas, sugar canes, papaya, etc, all the produce of the Farm, are sold in its farm shop. This is the only place in Hong Kong where you can buy direct such a full range of fresh and organic produce. I love its farm shop. Its eggs are particularly popular (they are brought to the shop every day at about 11am), and are so popular that each is allowed to buy one small box only. The eggs are laid by chicken raised free range on the grass. Where else in HK and China can you buy eggs like these.

After a gratifying visit to the shop, you can then visit the farm and garden. Please follow this order – shop first, and visit later. Otherwise, all the fresh produce would be sold out. (you can entrust the produce you have bought with the staff. Just ask at the farm shop’s counter.)

At this time of the year,  the orchids and the Christmas flowers are blooming, very pleasing to the eyes. 

Before you leave Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, stop by its cafe to enjoy the vegetarian food offered. Don’t miss out on its omelette which tastes delicious because of using fresh organic eggs from the farm.

To go to Kadoorie, you get off at Kam Sheung Road MTR station and take bus No. 64K upon leaving exit C. The bus stops in front of the Farm and the bus ride is about 20 minutes.

Right outside Kam Sheung Road MTR Station (again, outside exit C) is a flea market that is open every Saturday and Sunday. It has grown over the years. Now it has 150 stalls and is really big, featuring all sorts of products and goods, and even local snack and hot food. View this website for a feel about the market. 

Choose a weekend so you can easily visit the Farm and the flea market in one go.  

More to read:

The farm that has fresh eggs