I was ready for another full packed day of desperately seeking adventure in Hong Kong. I adopted an independent stance as my friend Kelly was at work, I was ready for what the day had in store. After seeing the view from Victoria Peak the previous night I took the number 12 bus to Tsim Sha Tsui to revisit that iconic waterfront during the daylight. Standing before the waters of the majestic Victoria Harbour, a working waterway that has been shaped by the past of this former British Overseas Territory. I snapped away like a paparazzo, the feeling of standing in-front of such a view still hadn't registered in my mind! The waters were quite choppy that slightly chilly February morning, no sleeping in I was awake with the birds to catch the best of HK's nonstop personality. I had breakfast with Kelly's parents that morning, it did feel good to have a cooked breakfast that reminded me of mother England. Oh, I adored HK!Taking my time but in a hurried fashion I noticed a certain presence of Mainland Chinese tourists, I was understanding the stark differences between Hong Kongers and the Mainland Chinese people. Out of no-where a group of Hong Kong primary school children stopped me in my tracks, asking me several questions about why I was in Hong Kong and what I was hoping to see during my trip. I was appreciating the fact it's illegal to spit on the streets in Hong Kong, that indecent habit is practiced daily on the Mainland so I got a sense of how civilised HK was showing itself to be. I stumbled across the Kowloon-Canton Railway Clock Tower as I made the best of my time alongside Tsim Sha Tsui's waterfront. I wasn't in any place to endorse the high fashion brands of Canton Street, I said 'Bye Felicia!'. Boarding a Central bound ferry from the piers in Tsim Sha Tsui I remembered the results from my palm reading session at Temple Street Market, would the next year bring me good fortune?
Back in Central I wanted to see some more sights from Hong Kong's colonial days, swiping my Octopus travel card I took two stops on the Rickshaw bus to Western Market. I had done some research the previous night to see what sights from the British rule still existed. I really liked the Edwardian period design, as one of the oldest markets in Hong Kong I peered at the shops and bought a Hong Kong flag to remember my trip. I wasn't about the Rickshaw bus tour, I didn't rejoin the route, taking an unplanned turn from Western Market I wanted to explore deeper into the Sheng Wan area on HK Island. The feel of the streets changed the further away I got from Western Market with Ginseng & Bird's Nest Street staring me in the face, I marveled at the rows of colourful shops. It must of been delivery time when I got to Ginseng & Bird's Nest Street? That medicinal street was alive with action and noise!Once again Hong Kong was showing me everything that I had dreamed to see, following on from Ginseng & Bird's Nest Street I ended up going towards Hollywood Road. I'm not sure why I did so? Antique Street looked good to me, to be honest I didn't want to waste any time whatsoever so I moved forwards the MTR to consult a map because my China Mobile data was denied a signal to help me. The ordinary tower-blocks continued to mystify me with their concrete design, they looked every inch the brutalist council flats that England has in a never-ending supply. Hong Kong's streets slayed, fashioned with a mixed sense of identity, it did feel strange to be located less than a hour away from the border with Mainland China! Western Market had that colonial craze going on, I did take notice of the familiar British architecture. Thinking about my next move, I didn't have a clue! I did think about going to Repulse Bay? I wondered whether Man Mo Temple was worth my full attention?
Escaping the buzz of the city for a short interval I took the HK MTR towards the LoWu border check-point to Fanling. Based in the New Territories region of Hong Kong I was looking for some calm at Fung Ying Seen Koon Temple. I had been to many temples on the Mainland but I had not yet been to a Bhuddist place of worship in Hong Kong. Exiting the Hong Kong MTR at Fanling I followed the signs closely, located within an area that didn't feel touristy impressed me much. Facing the Bhuddist place of worship I remained respectful in that space of calm, it was lovely to smell the incense burning. Buying some incense sticks had to be done, I'm not Bhuddist but it always feels like a good practice to offer something to the universe, I definitely channeled some positive thoughts to a higher source that day. Fung Ying Seen Koon Temple gave me a sense of chill because I don't have any chill when I'm in China! No!Taking some photos for blogging purposes, I powered down my camera in respect of the departed souls who were remembered in the ancestral halls. Leaving an incense stick as I passed each shrine I gave a neutral thought to a higher spirit, for me it was an experience to see such places that commemorated the rested souls from Hong Kong. Taking my time I refrained from taking any photos of those sights of remembrance, it was time for me to say goodbye to Fung Ying Seen Koon Temple. Fanling MTR Station was linked to a typically Hong Konger shopping center that was elevated over a manic expressway. I was definitely the only foreigner walking through that shopping centre, I have to be honest those Hong Kong gentlemen looked so dreamy! I felt like a child in a sweet shop for I found Maltesters and Lucozade! Mostly imported from Australia I was living to see my favorite treats! Fung Ying Seen Koon Temple restored some chill for certain! It was so nice!
Before my visit to Hong Kong I would continually research the Mong Kok area of Kowloon, I was definitely attracted by those neon lights! The sun had not quite set yet, dragging my heels I took a look around Nathan Road to see where I first thought I would be stopping in a hostel, I was so thankful Kelly and her family were so good to me! No, I will not be endorsing that part of Kowloon! The streets of Mong Kok were gradually becoming darker, that shadiness was counteracted with the electric vibe, replacing the daylight. Known as 'Noisy Corner' in English, Mong Kok certainly lived up to its name! I waited patiently along Portland Street for the lights to illuminate, I had been on my feet since the morning so I wanted my snaps! The junction between Portland Street with Argyle Street had a berserk and crazy energy, Mong Kok presented a gritty sense of electric love. Turn those lights on! Those streets shone bright! Starting from the Hoi Lai Estate that morning, I had taken in an awful lot of Hong Kong's delights for one day! The morning's view of Victoria Harbour and the skyline on Hong Kong Island looked just as unstoppable in the daytime. Standing beneath the crazy, vibrant and unforgettable streets signs within Mong Kok, Kowloon was a treat to say the very least. I had reached the New Territories, Kowloon and Hong Kong Island within a very quick time frame, restoring some chill at Fung Ying Seen Koon Temple gave me life for certain. Loading up on some sweet treats I had missed from home was amazing, I did over indulge with those Maltesers but I didn't care! Concluding, Mong Kok gave me the view I had been searching for even before my Hong Kong dreams became a reality. Putting that vista, the New Territories and a noisy corner into a sentence is proving to be a challenge, all I can form is that after that day of adventure I was living for Hong Kong! Yes, Hong Kong is everything!
Turn Those Lights On!
Joseph Harrison
