Bookspotting: Week 34

This week I spotted the very same Roald Dahl book as last week, this time being read by a grown man waiting for the MTR. I saw a man carrying a book that looked like the 9/11 Commission Report, though it could have been a different title with a similar look. I spotted a woman reading on the MTR who had an entire box of paperback books on her lap. I saw another woman carrying what looked like an enormous leatherbound book through the Causeway Bay station, though it could have been a photo album. I've been going to a poetry event lately, and people sometimes read their own stuff and sometimes read from miscellaneous collections of poetry. I spotted six people reading books in Chinese this week, which is more than I usually see. One of the Chinese books looked like a Bible, one looked like a book of poetry, and I'm not sure about the rest. 

How about you? What are people reading in your town this week?

ANGRY WHITE PYJAMAS by Robert Twigger

THE GIST:

A washed-up English teacher decides to tackle a grueling Aikido training course for the Japanese riot police.

THE VERDICT:

This memoir describes an unusual experience by a Brit abroad. Oxford grad Twigger has used up his sense of direction and most of his money when he decides to enroll in a year-long martial arts course designed for the elite Tokyo riot police. He joins a motley crew of expats in his quest to do something with his life. In the process, he discovers the personal benefits of accomplishing something unique and difficult.

The strong point of this memoir definitely lies in the character descriptions. Twigger conjures up an interesting bunch of classmates and instructors. They have flaws, rivalries and personal triumphs that emerge as they endure the physically and mentally grueling course. Twigger explores the complicated relationship between locals and expats as he tries to understand this niche of Japanese culture. He must come to terms with disillusionment and frustration with the culture even as he comes to understand it better.

This is clearly a book that would appeal to martial arts fans and practitioners. It would also appeal to 20-somethings who are trying to sort out what they want from life. I found it hard to relate to the narrator initially because of his near total lack of direction, though this is of course something he addresses through this journey. Through this effort in persistence and hard work, he comes to be more firmly grounded and he has a better understanding of the culture that he has adopted for a season.

THE LINK:

Robert Twigger's website and blog

THE COST:

I borrowed this book from a friend.

THE QUESTION:

When have you found that doing something difficult has benefited you personally?

Mid-Autumn Festival and GIVEAWAY WINNER!

This week we celebrated the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival in Hong Kong. In place of a regular walking tour, I'm going to share some of my pictures and videos from the Tai Hang fire dragon dance and the lantern festival in Victoria Park.

In other news, Mid-Autumn Festival also marks the end of my 100 Follower Giveaway. Random.org generated the number 9, so the winner of a $15 gift certificate to Amazon.com is the 9th commentator: Kaela Chow!! Kaela, I'll be emailing you the code for your gift certificate. Thanks for being such a faithful follower of this blog since the very beginning.

Now on to the festival!

I joined the crowds gathering in Tai Hang for the fire dragon dance.

This celebration has been going on for well over 100 years.

Tai Hang was a little village troubled by evil spirits. Now it's populated by high-rises just like every other neighborhood in HK.

The dragon came to scare the spirits away from the village. Now it continues to dance in the streets, attracting tourists and locals once a year.

I caught sight of the volunteers preparing the fire dragon in a back street, filling its body with sticks of burning incense.

The fire dragon was about 220 feet long, and this was only a small section.

I went back to the main street, where stalls were selling lanterns, both traditional and battery operated.

Groups of teenagers lined the main street, holding lanterns.

These lanterns were lit by real candles. Does anyone know what this character means?

When the volunteers lifted the lanterns into the air and the drums started pounding, we knew the fire dragon was on its way.

Before we knew it, the dragon disappeared down the street again.

While we waited for it to return, we were surprised to hear the sound of bagpipes. Apparently you can't have a parade anywhere in the world without a few kilted pipers.

This was very exciting for the spectators, and the air was filled with children on their parents' shoulders.

Suddenly, the dragon returned.

When the incense burned low, the men pulled it off the dragon and passed the sticks into the crowd.

I got a few souvenirs.

This little boy was searching the ground for fallen incense...

So I gave him a few of my extras.

Then the dragon returned, newly lit, for one more dance through the streets.

As I left Tai Hang, I noticed the lanterns hanging from the eaves of several buildings.

Along with signs of normal life.

Next, I walked over to Victoria Park, past the Central Library.

There was a huge lantern festival in the park.

I saw people everywhere. The children carried intricate lanterns through the crowd, though sadly I couldn't capture them properly in the dark.

There were bigger lanterns set up too.

The biggest of all is supposed to break the Guinness World Record this year.

It sat beneath the mid-Autumn moon.

It was quite impressive.

Finally, I fought my through the crowds and left Victoria Park and the Mid-Autumn Festival behind.

Thanks for stopping by for a little piece of the festivities. I hope the videos gave you an idea of the noise and atmosphere of these events. Come back next week for a new Hong Kong walking tour!

Bookspotting: Week 33

This week I saw two Hong Kong guidebooks around town. I saw a boy in a school uniform carrying a Roald Dahl book through the MTR station. I saw a man carrying a Paul Theroux book toward the Mid-Levels Escalator, though I couldn't tell which one it was. I counted three Chinese books, and one textbook that could have been in any language. What are people reading in your town this week?

Mid-Autumn Festival is this week, and that means that my 100 FOLLOWER GIVEAWAY will be ending on the 12th. To enter to win a $15 Amazon.com gift certificate, go to the link above and tell me one book that you have spotted someone reading in public. Happy bookspotting!

THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

THE GIST:

An epistolary novel about an author who connects with a community in the Channel Islands over their shared love of reading in the aftermath of World War II.

THE VERDICT:

I bought this book to read on the beach in Bali. This review is a little late, but the book is an ideal beach read: sweet, funny, full of quirky characters, and it makes you want to read more. It is a book about the ability that literature of any kind has to bring people together. It left me wanting to talk to people about books and form a literary society of my own (I'll have to settle for this blog).

English writer Juliet is trying to think of a new book to write after her role as a wartime voice has ended. She begins corresponding with a man in Guernsey who has found a used book containing her address. She learns of a literary society that developed under the German occupation of the Channel islands, and is soon merrily exchanging letters with half a dozen inhabitants of the island town. She is drawn to their stories from afar, and soon finds herself on a boat to Guernsey. The love of reading, even though it is a new passion for most, is what ties the group together.

The epistolary style shows off the many unique voices of the characters in the book. They each have their own reasons for participating in the literary society, and they unexpectedly find themselves reveling in the joy of reading during a dark time. Their letters contain humor, rivalry, and sadness, and you can easily see why Juliet falls in love with the group. The authors weave their story through different voices, but it does not feel too fragmented and the storytelling is superb. This is a feel-good read that I can recommend unequivocally.

THE LINK:

Annie Barrows' website (includes a bio of the late Mary Ann Shaffer)

THE COST:

$10.99 for the Kindle edition

THE QUESTION:

What book has helped you connect with someone you would not otherwise know?

Walking Tour: Central

This Hong Kong walking tour takes us through Central, a district of business and luxury and walkways that span the sky. A stroll through Central feels like a jaunt into a rich and ambitious future. It is possible to walk from one side of Central to the other without ever touching the ground, but for this tour we'll start out on the pavement.

Let's begin outside the Central Oasis, a former market that will soon be converted into something new.

We are right beneath the beginning of the Mid-levels Escalator on Queens Road.

Look up Queens Road for your first glimpse of the skyscrapers.

Don't worry, there are maps along the road in case you get lost.

You'll start out by seeing cheap restaurants and shops full of necessities.

But as you walk down Queens Road you'll start to see evidence of a more expensive commercial world.

Take a peek down the road to your left. The building rising from the center is the IFC Tower, the tallest building on Hong Kong Island, shorter only than the new ICC on Kowloon side.

On your right you'll see Pedder Street, a steep corridor full of costume shops and miscellaneous knick-knack stalls. This is a popular spot for wedding photographs.

Keep walking.

On your right you'll see the H&M (my favorite store), and other international but still affordable brands.

Across the street on your left you'll see the first of a group of alleys filled with stalls selling watches, handbags, sunglasses, clothes and more.

Cross the street after you pass the H&M.

Take another look down Queens Road as you do. Can you see the first covered walkway in the distance?

You'll see the next alley, Li Yuen Street, filled with more little stalls.

Look out for the scaffolding as you continue down the road. Haven't I told you before that they are always doing work around Hong Kong?

On the right side of the road you'll see more international stores...

...and the final alley full of cheap goods.

You'll reach a corner where they are in the process of putting in HK's first GAP.

On the other side of the street, you'll see the start of the real luxury brands: Gucci...

Coach...

...and in between the two is the street that leads to Lan Kwai Fong, the famous clubbing area.

Keep walking down Queens Road, where you'll see more signs of wealth.

As you approach another corner, notice the covered walkway between the buildings.

There are signs here to help you get your bearings.

Down the street to your left you can see more office buildings and street-spanning walkways.

Cross this street and keep going down Queens Road.

When you see a row of luxury sports cars...

...you'll know you've reached the Landmark Mandarin Oriental, an extension of the famous old hotel.

Step inside the Landmark building to see the Salvador Dali sculpture...

...and yet another Gucci.

Go back out onto the street, and continue on to Ice House Street.

Cross the street, walking in the direction of the clock on the corner.

To your right you'll see sudden sub-tropical vegetation rising out of the city. This is Battery Path. If you follow it up far enough you'll eventually reach the HK Zoological and Botanical Gardens in case you need a break from the steel, brick and glass.

Today, however, we'll continue along Queens Road, beneath another walkway.

You'll be able to see the buildings of Admiralty rising up ahead.

Finally, you'll reach the HSBC building, which looks like a rocket launch pad to me.

There's another sign, showing all the places you can go from here.

But we're heading beneath the HSBC building.

Look up at the strange glass and steel interior of this distinctive building.

Since I took these pictures on a Sunday, the space beneath the building is filled with hundreds of domestic helpers enjoying their day off.

When you emerge into the sunlight on the other side of the HSBC building, you'll be greeted by one of the twin lions guarding this side.

Take one final look at this side of the building. You should be able to see the second lion in the distance.

On this side you'll find the tram lines, the dome of the legislative council building, and more high-rises.

Don't get hit by the tram as you cross the street.

Visit the stone colonnades of the legislative council building. It should look familiar.

There's a park with fountains and picnickers on this side.

Walk to the corner of Prince's Building at the edge of the park.

Then follow the side of the building to the other edge of the park.

You'll see the original Mandarin Oriental.

Turn left and walk down Chater Road. You'll see more covered walkways. I think it's about time to explore them.

On the opposite side of the road you'll see St. George's Building and Jardine House. 10 points if you know Jardine House's nickname.

If you're anything like me, you won't be able to afford to shop in this part of town.

At this point you are walking parallel to Queens Road, back in the direction you came from, so you'll cross Ice House Street again.

Every once in a while you'll see an entrance to the MTR. Central station fills much of the space beneath these buildings.

Cross the street to Chater House. It's time to enter the labyrinth of walkways that make up Central.

Take the escalator straight up from the street.

Chater House is also known as the Armani building.

It has every type of Armani store imaginable, even Armani flowers.

This is what many of the Central buildings look like inside: office towers whose bottom levels are full of luxury stores.

Enter your first walkway on the left.

Take a look at the street below.

This walkway takes you through Alexandra House.

Walk around the corner and take the next walkway on your right.

You'll be able to see the tram lines on Des Veoux road from here.

Looking back you can see the Armani building.

Now you're entering the Landmark, which we saw back on Queens Road.

This is what it looks like inside. On more than one occasion I've seen runway shows taking place in the space below. One was a Paul Smith show, if I remember correctly.

There's even a place to sit and have Sunday lunch.

Walk along the left edge of the building and then take the walkway on your left.

You can see the HSBC building from this one.

This will take you back into Alexanra House.

At this point I got a little lost in the maze...

...but when I finally recognized the Dolce & Gabana I decided it was time to take the stairs to the left...

...and finish up the tour with an overpriced cup of iced coffee.

I hope you've enjoyed another Hong Kong walking tour. Come back next week to see another side of this singular city. Don't forget to enter my 100 FOLLOWER GIVEAWAY by September 12th if you haven't already!