Top & Middle World's largest travelator
Bottom: Walled Village in Fanling
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December 13, 2008
Yesterday we went to Fanling in the New Territories to see some old walled-villages on the Heritage Trail. These are old homes that date back as early as the late 17th century, but some of the ancestral halls were rebuilt in the mid 18th century. Large clans, in this case the Tangs, would build their homes within walls to protect themselves from outsiders. These homes, of course, have mostly been destroyed, or replaced with newer homes, and about the only thing left is the wall itself. It was a very interesting trip.
A word about Fanling: When I lived here, Fanling was just a small village but today it has grown into a large city of about 350,000. It still has a very rural-feeling and is not near as modern as some of the other districts in Hong Kong. Fanling is in northern part of the New Territories and about a couple of railroad stops before you get to Shenzhen, which is just over the Hong Kong border.
Question: Where is the longest escalator or travelator in the world? Yep, Hong Kong! It is about 2.6km long and was opened in the early ‘90’s. I’m told that it moves people from the Mid-level to Central in the morning and then reverses in the evening. The Mid-level is, as it says, about midway between Central and the Peak! It used to be the place where well-to-do lived and probably still is.
December 14th - Yesterday, in our quest to eat all around Hong Kong, we went to Causeway Bay for Vietnamese food. The restaurant was very small, but the food was good. The Spring Rolls, a little different than the Chinese Spring Rolls, were great. Also the BBQ Shrimp Paste on a Sugar Cane stick was terrific! Oh, sorry didn’t mean to tell you all that since it will probably make you hungry!
The weather is just too warm for us to be hearing Christmas music everywhere we go. But it is almost Christmas.
Speaking of Christmas, our granddaughter is doing a diorama on China, for a school project, and was asking how the Chinese celebrate Christmas. Well, they party, party and party! Christmas is a big deal here, but it is mostly commercial holiday and has little to do with a religious holiday, at least not to most. I remember when we were here we hosted a Christmas dinner at one of the local hotels for Jenny’s family and it reminded me of a New Year’s Eve party: noise makers and hats were included!
Of course since most of the population is Buddhist, maybe upwards to 90%, one wouldn’t expect a large Christian celebration of Christmas. Besides look around the States: how commercial is our Christmas?
I am not sure what you are seeing, if anything, about the current communications between Taiwan and China, but things seems to be improving. Taiwan is asking for more trade and assistance during this financial crisis, since they seem to really be hurting with the lack of orders from the States and Europe. The Premier of Taiwan, Ma ying-jeou, which incidentally, China refers to him as the “Island Leader” not Premier, seems very interested in improving relationship with China and he thinks he has a mandate from the people. We will find out in March when Taiwan has a referendum to determine if they should petition UN for membership. Should be interesting!
A word about Fanling: When I lived here, Fanling was just a small village but today it has grown into a large city of about 350,000. It still has a very rural-feeling and is not near as modern as some of the other districts in Hong Kong. Fanling is in northern part of the New Territories and about a couple of railroad stops before you get to Shenzhen, which is just over the Hong Kong border.
Question: Where is the longest escalator or travelator in the world? Yep, Hong Kong! It is about 2.6km long and was opened in the early ‘90’s. I’m told that it moves people from the Mid-level to Central in the morning and then reverses in the evening. The Mid-level is, as it says, about midway between Central and the Peak! It used to be the place where well-to-do lived and probably still is.
December 14th - Yesterday, in our quest to eat all around Hong Kong, we went to Causeway Bay for Vietnamese food. The restaurant was very small, but the food was good. The Spring Rolls, a little different than the Chinese Spring Rolls, were great. Also the BBQ Shrimp Paste on a Sugar Cane stick was terrific! Oh, sorry didn’t mean to tell you all that since it will probably make you hungry!
The weather is just too warm for us to be hearing Christmas music everywhere we go. But it is almost Christmas.
Speaking of Christmas, our granddaughter is doing a diorama on China, for a school project, and was asking how the Chinese celebrate Christmas. Well, they party, party and party! Christmas is a big deal here, but it is mostly commercial holiday and has little to do with a religious holiday, at least not to most. I remember when we were here we hosted a Christmas dinner at one of the local hotels for Jenny’s family and it reminded me of a New Year’s Eve party: noise makers and hats were included!
Of course since most of the population is Buddhist, maybe upwards to 90%, one wouldn’t expect a large Christian celebration of Christmas. Besides look around the States: how commercial is our Christmas?
I am not sure what you are seeing, if anything, about the current communications between Taiwan and China, but things seems to be improving. Taiwan is asking for more trade and assistance during this financial crisis, since they seem to really be hurting with the lack of orders from the States and Europe. The Premier of Taiwan, Ma ying-jeou, which incidentally, China refers to him as the “Island Leader” not Premier, seems very interested in improving relationship with China and he thinks he has a mandate from the people. We will find out in March when Taiwan has a referendum to determine if they should petition UN for membership. Should be interesting!
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