They say “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”. In order to avoid falling into the same trap as Jack, I endeavour to get out and about whenever time allows during my stay in China. So far this has been hardly at all, thanks to work commitments and two typhoons that caused widespread disruption in this part of the world last week. On Thursday I was drenched from head to toe three times by Sarika, and yesterday I was trapped inside a draughty building full of Christmas trees whilst Haima roared by. Worse things happen at sea.
I am sorry to report that the area where I am currently working, Dongguan, is a relentlessly unattractive place. The degree to which the landscape has been mutilated by indiscriminate quarrying, ugly buildings, brutal expressways and wanton dumping never fails to depress me. Although there is ample wealth here (albeit far from equally distributed), natural environments and open spaces are often given scant attention. My hotel is situated on the shores of Songshan Lake, which is apparently quite beautiful. I’d confirm that if I could ever see it through the smog. The China of willow pattern plates, majestic mountains and foaming river gorges continues to elude me.
It’s easy to appreciate why many travellers prefer to stay in Hong Kong when doing business in China. Whilst not immune from pollution, general standards of cleanliness and care for the public domain are much higher. Parks and gardens are scarce by London standards, but “countryside” (this description never sounds quite right to me when associated with Hong Kong) is never far away. I rarely get much further than Kowloon Park, situated next to my hotel, which at weekends is frequented by thousands of local people and tourists enjoying picnics in the shade of camphor and banyan trees. It’s uplifting to see a park being used well, and respectfully.
As I have described before, there is a lot to see and do here, from taking a swim in the public pools, admiring the flamingoes, taking a nap, watching colourful demonstrations of lion dancing, picnicking, reading, exercising and bird watching, to contemplating an extensive collection of sculpture. As for me, I am just happy to get out of my hotel room to enjoy the company of others in a place full of trees, flowers, chatter and laughter.
Wishing you all an excellent weekend, wherever you may be. TFG.
Categories: Flowers, Foliage, Musings, Photography, Plants, Travel, Tropical Gardens
Hope the storms and the smog improves but thanks for posting your photos it looks very colourful”
Here in China the smog is awful Anne, combined with which the air is saturated with moisture after the typhoons. I can hardly see a thing this morning!
I always particularly enjoy your HK posts, Dan. They bring back a raft of (mostly happy) memories, including the suffocating blanket of seasonal smog on the mainland.
I think we are lucky in Britain with our parks and green spaces.
It is a shame that you have little opportunity to get into the mainline and see the delights which are in fact there. True, the smog never seems to lift – but in the real countryside it is atmospheric rather than filthy!
Really enjoy looking at your beautiful photographs, Dan. I have recently had to downsize from a quarter-acre garden to an 18ft. square courtyard and (thanks to advanced age and decrepitude!) am unlikely to be travelling very far in future. So it’s lovely to be able to explore different gardens around the world through your eyes…