I found this picture at my uncle’s house. It is:
How weird is it that I didn’t even recognize myself. And look at those glasses! They were my first pair, which probably means I was around 14 or 15. Apparently, I was still wearing my calculator watch at that age.
My cousin brought over some Japanese apples that cost $90 HKD ($15 CAD) for a pair. They were light green and quite large, but they didn’t taste that unique. My uncle believes the cost comes from the way the apples are grown: all the branches but one are cut from the apple tree, so all the nutrients go into one apple.
I’m so glad my family knows how to eat; I get to partake in all the amazing food they buy or cook. Even snacks — cookies, candy, ice cream, and drinks — are of a particular quality. I’m wondering how much weight I’ve gained so far.
Nestled in the concrete jungle that is Hong Kong is Nan Lian Garden, a newly-built park that features distinct greenery and buildings. The architecture was modeled after classical Chinese buildings, and constructed using wood that is interlocked in a way that no nails or glue are needed. One thing that I noticed was that it was very quiet inside the garden grounds, when most of Hong Kong has the constant sound of traffic (unless you’re on a mountain). It turns out that sound-dampening barriers around the perimeter have been erected to create the peaceful atmosphere. It’s quite amazing to see skyscrapers so close and all around, when there is such a calm place here. There must be a tremendous amount of labour involved in keep such a place, as guards, gardeners, and grounds keepers were always around. I wish Julie was there; she would appreciate the horticulture so much more than I could.
There’s a dress code, designated eating areas, and visitors aren’t allowed to take group photos, so as to not disturb others trying to enjoy the surroundings. More places need to implement rules like this.
Unfortunately, the areas of scale models and examples of interlocking wood were not allowed to be photographed. I tried to do so surreptitiously and shoot from the hip when the guard wasn’t looking, but the photos didn’t turn out.
The Chi Lin Nunnery is a Buddhist temple directly attached to the Nan Lian Garden. Most of the areas were off-limits for photography, and unfortunately, a picture is the only way I could describe the many colours and statues in each of the shrines. One thing to note were the many bowls of fruit at each shrine, unlike Taoists or other non-Buddhists, who also offer meat because they’re not vegetarians.
It’s interesting to see people kneeling by each shrine and bowing their heads three times, even when they’re not Buddhist. Sort of like making the sign of the cross when entering a church, I suppose.
My Uncle Joe and Aunt Vivien bought me this model cat from Taiwan. It looks so real that I thought it was stuffed at first glance. It’s life-sized, though on the small side, so appearing to be a kitten. You can only tell that it’s fake when you look closer at it’s nose (plastic, without the same texture as a real cat’s nose) and ears (too much hair — I’m guessing membranes are too difficult to fake). If I wasn’t a cat lover, I’d definitely be fooled.
I’m going to put it in the back window of my car; I’ve been looking for a decoration ever since I got my car a year ago, and this is perfect. Hopefully no one will smash my windows in an attempt to save it.
I went to visit Government House, which is the official residence of the Governor of Hong Kong1. The governors were all Caucasian, aside from when the Japanese invaded, since they were appointed by the British government. Now they’re all Chinese, and they don’t live here anymore, as a symbol of China’s new presence and to lessen the impact of old British legacy.
It was a chance opportunity, because it’s only open to the public twice a year. Which pretty much means that it’s packed, even by Hong Kong standards. People seemed to really enjoy seeing the expansive garden and the dining rooms where official functions are held. For me, it was a good chance to photograph locals, and an important piece of Chinese history.