April 4th
“Tell,” said the officer, “what did you actually do on the day of
Wednesday, April 4th?”
Well, after leaving
the hotel, I think I bought some film – two Fujichrome 100s and one Kodacolour
100VR (24 exp.). This cost $86. Then I went over to Silvercord, opposite Harbour City, to take some pictures of the
cascade and try out the flash. Took pictures around H. City and went into Ocean
Terminal. Some of the shops there have magnificent merchandise. Chinese
artifacts of ivory, gold, wood, silk – anything. Very beautiful stuff. Talking
of stuff, officer, there were some huge stuffed toys, including a lioness with
cub in her mouth, and a monkey sitting on a swing. Cuteso.
 |
| Silvercord in a more recent incarnation |
In the shopping
arcade of the Hong Kong Hotel, just next to Ocean Terminal, is a shop with eye-catching
wooden carvings. These are mostly of birds – ducks to be precise – and are
exquisitely painted and very light. Something brilliant for the mantelpiece. [Of course, since then I’ve seen these birds in may places
around the world, but the first time I saw them was in Hong
Kong.]
Then I left that particular area
of Canton Road
and went up around the side streets of Nathan
Road. Feeling a bit hungry, I went into a
Spaghetti Shop and had a Coney Island Hot Dog (being about the cheapest thing
on the menu). On the way back to the hotel I had an ice cream. I think I also
bought some Fujichrome 400 film. I dropped off the print film at a 1 hour
D&P place (that was before lunch). I stayed in the hotel room until it was
ready, picked it up and returned. Quite satisfactory.
I then went to the little playground opposite the New World Centre,
taking pix on the way. Now, remember that this day was a Public Holiday, for
the Children’s Day. It was also a holiday for the deceased Chinese (respect for
the dead, and all that). There were hundreds of kids, with their parents,
playing there – blowing bubbles (bubbles floated all over the place), climbing
in and out of pipes and swings. I only used up one troll of film. (Signal Hill
Garden, it was.) Then I
went up Chatham Road
and over to the Peninsula Centre – more photographs of people.
By and by, I returned to the hotel, had a rest and called the Clements;
caught the MTR to Tsuen Wan ($3) and was met there by Jessica, even though I
was trying to look as Chinese as possible. It was still light then but I didn’t
take any pictures. Some unusual and interesting buildings in Tsuen Wan.
On the way to Castle Peak, Bill pointed out some of the islands –
Lantau, which is much bigger than Hong Kong
island with very little built-up areas; and Tsing Yi, which apparently has a
lot of shipyards on the other side of it. Duly arrived at Castle Peak Villas:
Liz, Andrew and the Siamese cat Tara, who had a silly voice. Gave the Clements
five cans of passionfruit pulp [as per request as it
was something they enjoyed while living in Australia].
By the way, when I said ‘by and by, I returned to the hotel,’ this was
after I had gone back to the H.K. Hotel Shopping Arcade
and bought a small duck and an owl for $242.
At the Clements, dinner was pork chops with lemon meringue pie for
dessert. Then we sat around talking until about 11.40. Bye bye, Clements. Bill
drove me back to Tsuen Wan station, I caught the MTR and was in bed at about
12.45.
The New Territories and Lantau
Island are certainly
worth a closer look, but not with this omnipresent low cloud.
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