The two faces of Causeway Bay

I walked from Wanchai to Causeway Bay today. I was on a quest to get beach shoes for Prince PTT's upcoming excursion and wasn't sure where I was going. Sometimes these acidental meanderings uncover some amazing sides of Hong Kong. 

I've often watched ladies under the Goose Neck Bridge feed chunks of meat to their paper tigers. I've seen similar groups do it in Sheung Wan as well. Naturally, I had to investigate. 

According to my research, the ladies are performing a Cantonese custom called Da Sui Yan (or 'beating petty little people' ie. hostile parties). Since the White Tiger usually hides itself in damp and hidden places to hunt its prey, the favourite place for the ritual is a cross-roads or, in the case of the Goose Neck Bridge, below a bridge.  

A piece of raw pork smeared with pig’s blood is placed in the paper tiger’s mouth, symbolically feeding the tiger. When it is full, it will not hurt people.

Next, a piece of fatty meat (or pork lard) will be used to wipe the mouth of the paper tiger. By doing so, it is said that the White Tiger’s mouth is so oily that it “cannot open its mouth to gossip”.

Apparently at some point in the ritual, you then beat your petty person with your shoes... The old ladies on the right in the below photo are hence professional 'beaters' and the younger ones sitting opposite are clients holding grudges against petty people. 

Imagine the twists in the story if 'Gossip Girl' was set in Hong Kong!

Pawning is big business in Hong Kong. Note the privacy screen for the customer. So apt for the Chinese and their paranoia about 'losing face'. Imagine if your mate spotted you pawning your Rolex!  The "pawnee" has to hand their items up to be pawned. They say this is for security but I think there has to be a slight humiliation level involved.

Remind me not to go to this restaurant. Note our friend doing the washing up from the lunch service in the back alley.

Don't think I was in a back street somewhere, this was across the road!

Yours,

Pseudo Tai Tai xx

Peak Walk - Spring 2012

I thought you might be interested to see why I get so excited with blue skies at this time of the year...

Here was my Peak walk this morning after I dropped Prince PTT off at school....

As you can see, Hong Kong city has all but disappeared...

The Peak Tram tracks on the way to the clouds...

And down again...

Beautiful yet eerie.... Plus with nothing but mist for days on end I get slightly claustrophobic...

Yours,

Pseudo Tai Tai xxx

The Forest Behind the City

As often as possible I walk up The Peak once I’ve dropped Prince and Princess PTT to school. I either go up the Morning Trail (easy but long) or up Old Peak Road (short yet hard).

Old Peak Road roughly follows The Peak Tram line…

I like listening to the Australian Hamish and Andy Podcast if the humidity isn’t too high and my ear buds thingies don’t keep falling out of my ears. If you are a regular Peak walker, I’m the one you may think is that crazy girl laughing to herself.

The view from the top of Old Peak Road…

My other amusement whilst trying to heave myself up the hill is to watch how the HK locals exercise.

Let me say they are hardcore…

You have a few different categories to look out for:

1. Backward: Apparently walking backwards unwinds the Chi. These fanatics walk the whole way backwards with compact mirror in hand to guide them

2. Slappers: No not those sort or Slappers! This category slaps their hands constantly to the alternate sides of their back. The really serious whip themselves with a towel

3. Yelpers: Rarely spotted but quite amusing when you do! They literally yell themselves up the peak. Whether its motivation or some Chi thing I’m not sure.

4. Musicians: With Pan pipe in hand they serenade you up the trails. Particularly beautiful in Winter when the upper part is shrouded in mist.

5. Arctic Dressers: When I’m still skipping up the trails in my short shorts and tank tops, many of the locals are embracing fleece, scarves and ear warmers. They seem to dress by the month, not by the temperature.

6. The Dog Walkers: How do they fit these dogs into their apartments? These are not lap dogs they are serious ‘need a couple of square miles to run in’ dogs!

7. The Older Fitness Fanatics: My favourite category and also the most consistent. Everyday I see people of 60 + years walking up these challenging trails with ease. It puts most Australian oldies to shame. No wonder the Chinese live so long!

Let me know if you spot anymore…

The HK Peak walks are very surprising for anyone that’s only previously done a quickie 3 day shopping trip here… People just don’t expect such wild vegetation so close to the City.

The trail:

Who would have though eh?

Yours,

Pseudo Tai Tai xxx