FROM HONG KONG, CHINA

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Hong Kong: Skyscraper Canyons

HONG KONG, Dec 21, 2007 - This morning, the sun decided to pay us a surprise visit down around the South China Sea.  By about noon, it had burned off the fog and the smog.  So I used a chance to go for a walk around the city, hoping there would be something that might actually see this time.  Here are some of the images that I brought back...

My first stop was the hotel coffee shop, where I had coffee and some of their delicious pastries for breakfast (left).  Then on the way out, I walked through an overpass that led through this lovely shopping mall, all deck out for Christmas (middle two photos).  Once in the street, thought you might like to see some of those double-decker street cars from my first walk through the city, only this time in daylight, rather than looking like some impressionist paintings.

Much of the stroll through downtown Hong Kong felt like walking through deep canyons.  It is the land of the giants, the giant, concrete, steel and glass skyscrapers. I know from past visits that the Chinese love their lion statues, so I wasn't surprised to see this giant lion guarding the entrance to the HSBC bank tower.

That's why it was pleasing to see occasionally some old-fashioned colonial buildings, like the Hong Kong Legislature (left). That's where I also came across this small wedding party, as well as nice fresh flowers even this late in the winter season. Hong Kong's mild and temperate climate seems to make it possible for plants to bloom year-round.  The beautiful Hong Kong orchids (a particular strain that I once had in my back yard in Phoenix), for example, are in full bloom in front of the City Hall (right).

You can see above also the Mandarin Oriental in broad daylight, along with the three red flags that are flying at its entrance - Hong Kong's, China's and the hotel's (two left shots). And then just across the street, there was a giant billboard promoting the 2008 Olympics equestrian events.  I could not help but notice that one Arizona rider was flying high above it, while the Chinese Olympic spirits were riding high (middle right).  Just to the side the Legislature building, workers were setting up something that looked like a stage, and the chairs in front of it.  I asked them what that was about.  They said it was for a noontime concert.  So I made a mental note to return at that time.

Christmas Lunch Hour Concert

By the time I got back, the concert had already started. And it was a Christmas concert performed by a group of young Chinese, as you can see from the above photos. They were very good and very enthusiastic.

Take a look their faces and the emotional commitment with which they were singing the "Joy to the World," for example.  Some of them sang as if in a trance (two left photos).  There were only three or four people seated in the audience (I've told you before how few Christians there are around here), but they were also moved by the beauty of the Christmas hymns and the devotion and joy of the young people's voice, that some  joined in the songs, waving their arms as if in a trance, too (two right photos).

I was stunned.  And moved, too.  Who would have thought that such genuine and pure Christmas spirit would reign over a non-Christian city like Hong Kong on this winter solstice of 2007, especially amid the tall skyscrapers that symbolize the commercial crassness the West has been confusing with the Christmas spirit?  I felt tears rolling down my cheeks, as I was filming some video clips of the concert so you can share in it, too.  If you click on the slideshow to the right, you can view the scene in slow motion film clips.

And now, before you click on the real video clips that follow, a fair warning to those of you who may be still using the Internet over the slow lines.  These clips range in duration from 10-25 seconds, and take up between 4MB and 12MB of storage, and therefore, bandwidth to play. 

One more thing.  Not being a professional filmmaker, I messed up the ending of the Jingle Bells clip.  You will see one long outstretched hairy male leg, propped up on the chair.  It is not intended as an exciting finale, nor as a new Christmas symbol.  I was simply not aware that the camera was still filming while I was trying to put it away.  A few minutes earlier, on my way in, I had crashed my shins into a bench.  So I propped up my foot to help stop the bleeding.  I know, once a klutz always a klutz. Well, giving blood is a good thing, they say. :-)  But I thought the singing was more important and so I posted the clip anyway, warts and all.

Overall, it was probably the nicest lunch hour I have ever spent.  And the best thing about it was that it was so totally unexpected.  Merry Christmas to you all!  I've had mine early this year.

"High Tea" and Christmas Ballet

In the afternoon, I had booked a table for the afternoon "high tea" at my hotel (yes they still honor some colonial traditions around here), which was to be followed by a Christmas ballet recital. 

The performance was to take place in the Mandarin Oriental lobby, under these magnificent works of art that hang on the lobby wall (left).  My "high tea" came with a view - the view of the Legislature that you can see in the middle shot.  And no, I did not have actually tea. I had coffee instead, as you can see in the right picture).  You see, I don't know what all the shouting is about when it comes to "high tea."  Personally, I think it's a case of false British advertising.  I've trying for years, but have never been able to get high on it.  :-)

As for the actual show, it was so-so.  First, they started almost half an hour late.  That may be okay for a rock group, but these kids didn't strike me as rockers.  Ballet and classical concerts normally start on time. I know that because I almost missed the "Wicked" as some of you may recall from my New York travelogues (see "'Wicked' Not Wicked Enough," Oct 2007).  But tardiness aside, let's face it... it was like a PTA-sponsored event - kids dancing for kids and parents.  Still, they tried hard and looked cute, so I also clapped, along with all the aunts and uncles, grandparents, neighbors and friends.

But you can judge for yourself.  If you click on the following video clips, you can soak in the atmosphere from the ballet recital, again with the same provisos about the length of the clips and their bandwidth as before.

For my money, the best performances were the first and the fourth above (the Hungarian gypsy dance and the Swan Lake).  Of course, both were done by older girls, so you'd expect greater ballet skills.

Afterwards, it was my turn.  No, not to dance, certainly not ballet, but at least to move and stretch.  After being a sedentary spectator since I left home nearly a week ago, it felt great this evening to take an Ashtanga yoga class.  I have never done Ashtanga yoga before, which originated in Mysore, an ancient Indian city, but unfamiliarity was no problem. It was great to exercise again and get a really good workout.  The class included about 60% of the poses that I am familiar with, and maybe 40% that I had never done before, some quite advanced.  Its overall level of difficulty was about the same as what I am used to, but some new poses were obviously harder for me because they were, well, new.  On the other hand, we do a lot more tough balancing poses in the States.  So overall, it was a great 90 min-workout.  My shirt was soaked at the end.  And that's always a sign of a good class.

And that's all she wrote from this Day 4 in Hong Kong.

TO BE CONTINUED... Day 5.

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