An Expatriate in Hong Kong

I first came up to Hong Kong in the mid-seventies when bellbottoms ruled and winds blew soot at me as I walked along the city streets. It's the end of the twentieth century now: bellbottoms are back in vogue and the winds still blow soot at me as I walk along the city streets. 8th Nov 2000

Every December, my family and I would come up to visit my mum's side of the family. It was a round of dimsum, noodles, soup, cantonese dishes and rice with shopping every minute my mum could pack it in. I loved seeing my relatives, the different cuisine and getting to see new places but my happiest December was the one I managed to get away and spend it with my cousins back home swimming and reading.

For most of the 90's, I have been in Hong Kong.

I was up in '91 just after the economy crashed. The Japanese bubble stock market had burst, and then there was the Tian An Men tank incident. I came just in time to witness the darkening of the brilliant Hong Kong harbour night scene. The government called for the energy (and thus money) saving move of switching off the skyscraper office lights which hithero had been left on 24/7. In a month the glittering lights which lit up several miles on both sides of Victoria Harbour, and which reflection had sparkled like dancing gems in the Fragrant Harbour's waves, were dimmed. In fact, right now as I write after midnight I can see the dark silhouettes of the buildings, only the roads along the sides of the island cling like a necklace in the gleam of their lamps.

Yes, food was cheap then, and I also seem to have lucked out in that I hit the low rent part of the property price cycle.. yes, I count my blessings, one by one... I hope it holds so for this new millennium. :) 14th Jan 2001

Terribly late note: I've had to move to Singapore in July '03. I have lots of photos to put up, but I have to find them first, and then I'll have to scan them, resize, and html tag them... You're it!

Links to other much vastly informative and interesting Hong Kong pages!

Hong Kong - City of Life - Interactive Gallery
Web cams! See Hong Kong in foggy glory (or utter darkness :) Also sounds, photos and a multimedia gallery.
http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/interactive/index.jhtml

PhotoMann Travel Photography - Hong Kong
See clearer pictures of HK! City scenes and close-ups of life here. Send e-cards! ^_^;
http://www.photomann.com/hongkong/hongkong.htm

Dr Martin Williams: Writing, Photography and Nature Tourism in East Asia
I came across this site while searching on Google for information on hiking in Hong Kong. Dr Williams also has some fabulous photos of a side of Hong Kong seldom seen or mentioned. He also has a sense of humour. :)
http://www.drmartinwilliams.com/

Lonely Planet World Guide | Destination Hong Kong
I love Lonely Planet ever since the Taiwan guide saved my live (from extreme boredom and incomprehension) those six months I was in Tien Mou, the expatriate ghetto. Their Hong Kong online guide is also superb.
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/north_east_asia/hong_kong/

City Shopping Guide: Hong Kong
Tells you where go buy stuff, mainly girlstuff. hey, I adore guys who use makeup but they're in the minority. (pity..)
http://www.geocities.com/bsworks.geo/beauty/shoppinghk1.html

Hong Kong Screen Queens of the 60's
Some incandescent beauties of the Chinese big screen.
wei shenma yao dui ni diao yanlei..?:)
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Harbor/8097/

The Illuminated Lantern
I like the movie reviews, mainly because they are as my opinion too (bwa ha! ;), but you should go take a look because they are comprehensive and Peter Nepstad writes so well.
http://www.illuminatedlantern.com/cinema/

Another Hong Kong Movie Page -- Hong Kong links
What's a Hong Kong page without movie links?
http://www.kowloonside.com/links.html

and...
crouching tiger, hidden dragon - magic lantern, inc.
Who, what, where, why, how... wuxia, honour, love..
http://www.magiclanternpr.com/films/crouching.html