Another Hong Kong we rarely see.

[john mac]

http://www.soco.org.hk/117/e.htm
Check out this link.
'Our life in West Kowloon' -- an exhibition that presents the local community, partitioned rooms, rooftop gardens, old stores and the underprivileged.
All the exhibits tell the stories of the underprivileged in Sham Shui Po, and introduce the local community's culture.
Money raise dhelps the community.
It ends next weekend.

[john mac]

When you visit, the volunteers will assist by letting an english spaeking guide explain the exhibition as you view it.
I went today, Sunday and learnt a lot about the lifestyle of many HK people in this area.

[talkbackHK]

Thanks for showing us a side of Hong Kong we never if ever see. Makes me think..

[ontheroad]

Where is this exhibit? Thanks for pointing it out to us.

[goodkarma]

You have to really scroll far down to see where the exhibits are. There are several places it seems.

[DAQUIRI]

Interesting. It was advertised in HK Magazine a while back. Am I correct that it's only open to the public over the weekend? Can I join a group if I can't make it then?

[TwistedFates]

This thread actually gives me an opportunity to do a 2 cent brain dump.

I find many expats come to Hong Kong and the first thing they seek out are western things - the bars, clubs, hang outs, etc. They want to live and do things just the way they used to. This is obviously understandable. We all do want our creature comforts certainly. Especially for those that come here through transfers and the like. But I personally (entirely my own opinion) that it is a semi illusion of HK. Hong Kong isn't only central, or MK, or shopping, etc. There's actually a lot more to Hong Kong than the western bubble. I know people who have been here for over a decade and can't communicate really well, are ignorant of all the areas north of them or even places in their own backyard, and most definitely the people. They never bothered to immerse and live the culture, preferring instead (my opinion again) to hold themselves aloft in an almost elitist fashion. This isn't a bad or good thing of course, it is just a personal choice since foreigners are held in such high regard, why not play if for all it is worth.

I live in Sheung Shui, far up in the north, I sit on mini buses to get around the N.T. with people complaining about all kinds of mundane concerns that only afflict the less wealthy. I walk around in poorer areas in the N.T. all the time just to see what's there. Hong Kong survives and thrives so well because of the economically and educationally stratified society. It is the froth of the coffee that exists in the bubble, but the real body of the coffee exists with people who live all around HK doing the ground work that props up the society.

There are lots of things that has caused me to pause and reevaluate things. The elderly lady going around looking for cardboard scraps to sell to the recycler.. I bet she never imagined in her days as a young woman that she would end up in such a circumstance. It is sometimes miserable and it is understandable why people wouldn't want to bother wanting to experience this side of HK, but I find a self effacing nobility in the "less fortunate" that is hard to describe.

So in closing, do take the time to step out of the bubble and check things out away from your comfort zone if you are interested in exploring that side of HK. It is humbling and enlightening at the same time.

[KnowItAll]

TwistedFate : Awesome post .. fancy turning that into an article we could publish -- The other side of Hong Kong?

[sunniefaith]

Thanks for the humbling reminder....A real reminder. Now...I feel a little ashamed of myself....

[TwistedFates]

TwistedFate : Awesome post .. fancy turning that into an article we could publish -- The other side of Hong Kong?

Sure thing. Give me some time to put it together.