After almost two weeks in HK it’s about time I tried to write something clever about it, read on…
Architecture for too many people!
A hot pot is a traditional Asian dish where all these different things are thrown into the pot, vegetables, pork, frogs… whatever they have around really. They cook this all together in a special pot they put on a burner that is on the table.
Well, HK is a cultural hot pot. It’s obviously Chinese because people look Chinese and speak Chinese (well Cantonese- a type of Chinese) but it is so influenced by the British that were in control I’m sometimes surprised I’m not in Australia. The most prominent thing I’ve noticed is the “security signs” everywhere! They are in English too, what to do, what not to do… it’s all written on a million signs! Even trees have their own sign! You see, a while back some trees fell down and since then there is an office that follows tree’s health! They are also still massively hysterical about SARS here.
Ok, Thanks? Left over SARS fear!
The other most noticible thing in HK is the amount of people! Too many of them everywhere!!! This forces the entire architecture of the city to cater to so many people. Massive high rise housing complexes (with security guards!), over walks bridges and underground tunnels connect the city in a complex 3D maze. It’s almost impossible to walk a straight line in HK because you get sucked into one of these bridges or find yourself in the underground metro or some massive hidden shopping mall.
Really?
Is there anything you can climb in HK?
Those evil birds!!
There are so many of these massive shopping malls it’s almost nightmarish. They have caused all the small restaurants and shops I’ve seen everywere else in east asia to close which is a real shame. Globalism sucks!!!
The central area which is filled with clubs and pubs was packed with people of all ages and all nationalities… too many people again, human traffic congestion!
So what can you do?
Can all the signs be an attempt to deal with the overflow of humans? Does everything have to stay exactly in place or else this overcrowded culture will collapse into itself?
Even trees have signs