Since I recovered, I go out every morning for breakfast. I walk down the street and get myself something. Either fried eggs with ham and toast, or juk with friend bread, or sesame balls, fresh soy milk. Then I go around the block to see the old people practicing Tai Chi or Chi Gong. Today I saw two new born babies being brought home. I love the mornings in Hong Kong. Before people get busy, when people are still slow and groggy.
I would like to take photos of them. But here, there is a real issue with privacy, people get incredibly upset if you do. It comes from the times in China, when you don’t know what people might to with your image, you don’t know who is in charge of your persons. I always want to do a set of photos of the block area I live in. First, Second, Third, High Street, East, West and Center Street. The names themselves alludes to the history.
This area was created by the colonial government in response to the massive immigration at the turn of the century from China to Hong Kong. A refugee containment area. So it’s the center of old Hong Kong. It’s the first stop at the Sun Yat Sen (Father of Modern China) Trail. It’s the home of the haunted house and one of the first parks in the city. When I am sad, I forget that. When I feel better, I am always so pleased that this is where I ended up living. The minute I saw this apartment, I felt in incredible pull to it. From my bed room I can see nearly all the different buildings I grew up in. I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else in HK, even though I would really like a bigger place.
Yan Sham-Shackleton Online 