hong kong surprise

I’ve often said that, more than anything, what I like most about Hong Kong is not knowing what may be around the next corner. Even if I’ve been around that corner several times before. And it happened again a few days ago—in my own neighbourhood!

The area between Sha Tau Kok Road, the only road out of Fanling to the east, and Lau Shui Heung Road, a relatively minor road that heads off (eventually) into the mountains to the south, is densely populated by rural Hong Kong standards, although there are just two named villages: Kwan Tei and Fu Tei Pai (‘fruity pie’). Paula and I frequently walk through the area, which has a maze of paths and alleyways, after eating breakfast in Queen’s Hill Public Housing Estate.

One path that we hadn’t walked along for quite some time brings us to the eastern end of the single road that leads through Fu Tei Pai. I couldn’t help but notice that there was some construction taking place here, although to what end I couldn’t begin to guess. Not more housing though. And I was immediately struck by the gaudy colours that had been painted on the wall on the right: alternating bands of yellow, pink and blue (the construction site is on the left):

You probably can’t make out the giraffes on the left, so here they are in closer detail:

A short distance past the giraffes is the entrance to a car park, with a horse all saddled up and ready to ride:

Immediately to the right of the entrance to the car park, we came across these strange creatures, which I’m unable to identify with certainty:

…although my guesses are (from left to right) a lion or similar big cat, a crocodile (standing on its hind legs) and two rhinoceroses, which have hatches on their backs, for some unknown reason.

A rough translation of the Chinese writing is as follows:

This path is closed. There is a fierce dog. Please do not enter. If you do, the consequences are your responsibility.

This is a closer look at the two blue elephants on the right:

In case you thought that one of the creatures to the left of the elephants is a bear, not a crocodile, check out my final photo:

The horse is just around the corner to the left.

And that’s my Hong Kong surprise. I cannot predict when the next one will occur.