TravelNotes.org - The Online Guide to Travel Colonial Gateway - Chapter Four of Nomadic Gatherings

Nomadic Gatherings by Michel Guntern

Central, Hong Kong
Central, Hong Kong by Red John on Unsplash.

Nomadic Gatherings: Chapter Four: Colonial Gateway.

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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.

Next 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
Nomadic Gatherings - by Michel Guntern.

Nomadic Gatherings available on Kindle

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NextChapter Five: China Travel.