Colonial Gateway - Chapter Four of Nomadic Gatherings
Nomadic Gatherings by Michel Guntern
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Nomadic Gatherings: Chapter Four: Colonial Gateway.
Between the modern financial offices of Central Hong Kong, old trams trundled along Des Voeux Road, and peddlers tinkled bicycle bells almost unaware of the diesel-fuelled double-decker buses behind them.
No-one stood still for a moment in Hong Kong. I had to get a visa for China.
1.
Landing in Hong Kong:
The South China Sea and Fragrant Harbour were names I had romanticised
about. Colonial Hong Kong; trade-winds and pirates; a Gateway to China.
2. Around Hong Kong:
The floating restaurants were still an attraction at Aberdeen, although
many of the Sampan dwellers had been re-located.
3. People's Republic of China:
Customs formalities were completed at Hong Kong station as Express Train
98 waited to ceremoniously transport us into The People's Republic of
China.
4. Green Tea of China:
The Express didn't travel much faster than a tube train, but at least it
didn't stop at all the outlying, passenger-laden platforms. After Lo Wu,
China.
5. British in Canton:
The British foreign secretary ordered the attack on Canton, which was to
signal the start of the first Opium War, and the indirect fall of the
Qing dynasty.
6. Guangzhou:
The station was only good for same-day tickets, if I wanted a sleeper in
a few days it would be better to try the China International Travel
Service (CITS).
7. Change Money:
Change money. Hong Kong Dollar, FEC? I heard the phrase about ten times
within a minute. I shrugged them off and set out to find the Dong Fang
Hotel.
8. Fresh Food in China:
The Chinese shop for their fresh produce early in the mornings; so fresh
that the animals still breathed, jumped, wriggled, or tried to fly away.
9. Guangzhou Zoo:
The panda slept all afternoon, and as I tried to take a picture or write
a few notes, I was more of a curiosity than the animals themselves.
10. Going
Bananas:
Bunches of ripening yellow hung from kiosks, lay spread-out on mats on
the floor. There were more bananas in baskets and even on the back of
bikes.
11. Along The Pearl River:
In the shade of trees, across from the city, barbers gave a uniform cut
in the open-air. Older men sat around picking their toes, spitting, or
playing cards.
12. Attracting a Crowd:
There were nods of approval and sighs of comprehension. I was sure that
the older people understood a lot more than they were prepared to let
on.
13.
The Foreign Bookstore:
I looked in at the Foreign bookstore and made a note of some of the
titles on display.
Nomadic Gatherings
- by Michel Guntern.
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Chapter Five:
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