Our first stop was Man Mo Temple. Built in 1847, Man Mo is one of Hong Kong's older temples. During the Chinese New Year, we heard lots of noise coming from Man Mo, as worshipers beat drums and clashed cymbals to scare away evil spirits. During out visit there were many people bringing offerings and lighting incense.
The incense coils are an interesting sight. Inside each one is a slip of paper with writing - maybe a wish or a prayer? There are hundreds of them burning at any one time, making the inside of the temple very smoky.
Incense coils in Man Mo Temple
Inside Man Mo Temple
Incense coils in Man Mo Temple
Due in part to its small land area, Hong Kong is a city of continuous renewal, where the old is torn down to make way for the new. Recently there have been quite a few articles in local publications lamenting the demise of local street eateries and outdoor markets, which are being pushed out to make way for high rise commercial and residential buildings.
Typical street scene in Sheung Wan
Noodle shop
Outdoor Market
Fresh Produce
The produce stalls had a lot of tasty looking fruits and vegetables. Unfortunately, most of this produce comes from China and there have been news reports stating that random inspections of this kind of produce often show very high levels of pesticides and chemicals. Therefore, we usually stick to produce imported from Australia, New Zealand, Europe, or the US.
Fresh Seafood
Poultry Shop
Tropical Flowers
Feather Boas and Wigs on sale on Pottinger Street
On the midlevels escalator - the longest covered escalator system in the world. According to Wikipedia, more than 45,000 people use this each day.
Elgin Street in SoHo - home to a wide variety of trendy restaurants.
The food may be tasty, but there aren't many dining bargains to be found here:
Typical prices (US$):
Hamburger & Fries - $15
12oz Steak - $28
Burrito - $11
Lamb Chop w/Cous Cous - $26
Irish Stew - $12
Pad Thai - $12
Glass of Wine or Beer - $7
Chicken Vindaloo - $12
1 comment:
These are exceedingly good and informative pictures. Given the price of food, I don't think that I would eat out very often. Congratulations on your very excellent "blog!"
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