Hong Kong

I've lived in Hong Kong for the last twenty years. It has its plus points and its minus points. It is certainly not my favourite place in the world, but there are some parts of Hong Kong I always enjoy visiting the Island of Cheung Chau is one of my favourite places here.

As I have lived in Hong Kong for such a long time, I don't go sightseeing much anymore. If I do visit a place, it is usually work related. My last few trips to Cheung Chau have been on school trips or even three day school camps and I have been there either with my class of primary twos or a bit earlier my class of primary fours.

Drying fish in the sun.

Most of the people of Cheung Chau traditionally made their living from fishing. On a trip there you will see fishing boats and house boats bobbing up and down in Cheung Chau Harbour. As you walk along the islands coastline, you will pass fish drying in the sun, shops selling dried seafood and restaurants serving fresh seafood. You can also take a walk through Cheung Chau's fish market.

Fish market.

Shrimps.

Fish stalls.

In addition to fish other products from the sea are used by the locals. Cgeung chau has many shops selling souvenirs made of shells.

Shell based souvenirs.

Shell based souvenirs.

There is a lot more to Cheung Chau than fish. It also has lovely walks, a mini great wall, beaches, a real pirate's cave and a temple known for its famous annual bun festival.

I recently took my primary two class consisting of twenty-eight six year-olds on a day trip to Ocean Park.

Ocean Park and Disneyland are the two theme parks in Hong Kong. I have been to both. My first visit to Ocean Park was around twenty years ago - needless to say a lot had changed.

I began the day with a quick trip to see Ocean Park's giant pandas. There are two: a male named An An and a female called Jia Jia. These were given to Hong Kong's Ocean Park by China in 1999. This is only the second time I have ever seen pandas. I first saw them in Taipei Zoo.

Giant Pandas.

Giant Pandas.

Giant Pandas.

After the pandas, we had a walk through the aquarium. This is a new aquarium and in my view the old one was much better. It was very dark inside the new one and really rather disappointing I thought.

Inside the aquarium.

On my first visit to Ocean Park all those years ago, I loved the cable car which takes you from the lower to the upper level of the park. Nowadays there is a new fast train which will take you there much quicker. The train is dark inside with a video of sea creatures displayed on its roof. There are good views from the cable car and from the upper train station.

Cable Car.

Views over Hong Kong.

Views over Hong Kong.

Another interesting bit of Ocean Park was Goldfish Treasures. Apparently Chinese people breed goldfish in a similar way to the way westeners breed dogs thus creating odd varieties with highly exaggerated features such as bulging eyes, golf ball round bellies, butterfly shaped tails.

Well bred Goldfish.

The final thing we had time to see at Ocean Park was 'Emperors of the Sky' at the Amazing Bird Theatre. This is a show about birds performed in Cantonese.

Bird Show.

Bird Show.

Bird Show.

Bird Show.

There are many other attractions in Ocean Park such as seals, penguins, walrus, sharks, dolphins but we did not have time to see them.

The Hong Kong Flower Show takes place once every year usually in spring time. It used to be held in either Victoria Park or Sha Tin Park, but in recent years it always seems to be held in Victoria Park. It is organized by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of Hong Kong. It lasts for around nine days. The theme of this year's show was 'Blossoms of Love' and its star flower was the rose.

Roses.

Roses.

Certain aspects of the flower show are the same each year. There is a competition between different districts of Hong Kong to design the best garden. Most of these gardens this year had a Japanese theme.

Best Garden Competition.

Best Garden Competition.

Best Garden Competition.

Best Garden Competition.

Best Garden Competition.

Best Garden Competition.

There's also a bonsai competition. I love bonsai especially the ones that make up a complete mini environment complete with rocks, statues, boats animals etc.

Beautiful Bonsai.

Flowering Bonsai.

There is also a very cute competition where local primary school children get to create a garden for the show.

Children's Gardens.

Children's Gardens.

There is also an indoor hall with flower displays and flower arrangements.

Flower Arrangement.

Flower Arrangement