Blog Archives

Vegetable Market

12/28/2018

Before our cooking class in the countryside (next week's blog), we took a walk through a vegetable market and it was like walking back in time. Shoppers were perusing the merchandise, occasionally pointing to some eggplant or scallions. The produce is weighed using the old fashioned scales with the vegetables on one tray and weights on the other. Most of the shoppers frequent the same vendors, and stop for a chat before wandering home.

As we walked up and down the alleys of not only vegetables, but fruit, meat, fish (including frogs and turtles) and poultry, one of our group asked how the people decide from which to buy, "They all have a lot of the same products," she commented. Our local guide and cooking teacher told us that she looks at the produce and buys whatever looks freshest. Some buy from friends out of loyalty.

Regardless of the village, town or city, there are vegetable markets all over China. Join me on a trip and check it out!

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Victoria Peak

12/18/2018

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Victoria Peak, the highest point on Hong Kong island, is a hill in western Hong Kong with spectacular vistas of Victoria Harbor. The top of the peak is accessed by bus or by the 120 year old funicular, one of the world's oldest. When going up or down on the funicular, there is an optical illusion out the right side of the carriage. It appears as if the buildings are falling into the hill. Obviously, they are vertical, but the angle of the funicular creates this illusion.

When Hong Kong was a British colony, 1841 - 1997, The Peak was "the place" to live. It was exclusive to British ex-pats. Since there were no roads up The Peak in the early years, residents might be seen being carried up the hill in sedan chairs.

Hong Kong's Peak is still home to the uber-wealthy; it has been the least affordable city in the world for eight years. This year, a 9,217 square foot mansion sold for $180 million, about $19,400 per square foot. However, there are reports of purchases for up to $30,000 per square foot.

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Tai O Fishing Village

12/11/2018

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Lantau Island is one of the thousands of islands that make up Hong Kong. One of the fishing villages on the island is Tai O. The name means "large inlet". For the past 300 years, generations of families have built and lived in stilt homes in Tai O. The homes are referred to as "pang uks." The homes and village are quaint and picturesque, despite being dilapidated.

Tai O used to be a very important trading and fishing port. Although many still make their living as fisher people, the subsistence life motivates younger generations to move away from the village. Salted fish and shrimp paste are sold in storefronts all over the village.

Tai O is the port from which boats depart, bringing tourists to the open water in search of the elusive pink dolphin (see last week's blog).

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The Pink Dolphin

12/4/2018

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Hard to see the hue in this picture, but it was unmistakably pink!

The pink dolphin was a legend of Hong Kong, told to me by local residents and tour guides over the years. I had heard about the existence of boat tours around Lantau Island, the purpose of which is to try to find this elusive creature, but until my most recent trip to Hong Kong in October, I had not taken such a trip.

On October 21, 2018, my group went to Tai O fishing village on Lantau Island, one of the thousands of islands that comprise Hong Kong. We took a boat ride through the village and then sped for the open water. I had no idea we were looking for a pink dolphin. We drove near the new 55 kilometer bridge from Hong Kong to Macau which opened in late October. We were marveling at the bridge when our driver started pointed and gesturing. We looked where he pointed. There was the dolphin, jumping through waves. The hue is unmistakable, a light shade of pink.

The pink dolphins are endangered. Many locals who have been riding boats around the islands have never seen one. According to the Hong Kong Dolphin Conservation Society, the pink dolphin population of Hong Kong went from 158 in 2003 to 61 in 2014. Our boat captain was respectful of the dolphin and kept his distance, but others speed toward the dolphins, scaring and injuring them. Water and noise pollution has also endangered the dolphins in these waters. Noise pollution has increased significantly since the new airport was constructed on Lantau Island, particularly disturbing for dolphins because they rely on sonar to communicate.

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Vegetable Market

Victoria Peak

Tai O Fishing Village

The Pink Dolphin

Lauren Drazen

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