IN THE BAY OF PERFUME, HONK KONG: Susie Wang left her charm, in this corner of China, including islands and secluded temples scented

She are not Susie Wong, but the peculiarity of the routes that she offers us is an incredible charm. The editors of the Meeting Benches is extremely grateful for the contribution that publishing this woman of China (Hong Kong provides our readers. For friends who want to contribute: info@meetingbenches.com

An evening cruise of at least four hours, with Susie – preferably not on a junk – with evening dancing and dinner on board. Maybe you want to know why not on a junk. Obvious. Small boats “dancing too much” of the sea, and I have brought in a ship well established, the “Pearl of Hong Kong.” Welcome to China, welcome in my home town Hong Kong, the old “Bay of Perfumes.” You have chosen travel by air, but when you come back, choose the train (the one that starts from Canton), with the advantage of gradually perceive the nuances of landscapes and people. My home is great, we are all Chinese, but in Hong Kong we breathe smells different (not only in financial and industrial).

We are 2,000 miles from Beijing, in a subtropical area of 1,070 sq km, including islands and rural areas, heavily populated areas (the district of Mong Kok, to the highest density of residents in the world), and many more sleepy (such as the village Shek O, on the east coast), anchored a few houses full of ancient traditions. What you see was known as the Port of Aberdeen, but now the huge number of “sampan” is no longer the old coat button on the water, because those who lived on the little boat, now living in high-rise buildings around the bay . In our horizons, we also have a marvelous hill – Mount Tai Mo Shan, 958 meters high – and also a beautiful archipelago of 235 islands – scattered in the South China Sea – fortunately, no more pirates.

Among the faces of his millions of people, you can not recognize those of Yueh or Tanka, the Hoklo and Hakka, but those human beings – living on boats and piers, or practicing agriculture – are in the DNA of each of us even in mine. Hong Kong is an autonomous region of China, its British colonial past, is a visible reminder, and the Chinese Cultural Revolution did not affect our ancient traditions. Look at the windows of the houses, you will see tiny mirrors to eight faces (to deflect evil influences). Look carefully at our homes, remembering that each of them has been built following the teachings of the “fung shui”, that is, the relationship that buildings have on the water and the wind. Inside each of those houses, nothing is placed randomly, because the ornaments combine the requirements of balance masculine and feminine (yin and yang).

Yes. We are superstitious, always. We consider the intrinsic value of the numbers. For example, the “3” is linked to the life, and the “9” to eternity. We do not like the number “4”, We bestow our temples (Buddhist, Taoist or Confucian) of “chem”, the sticks of fortune, to tune in on our expectations of luck and prosperity. Even inside our homes (shops and offices), we light candles and burn incense, and we can choose from a wide array of fortune-tellers and astrologers, also a lucky number for betting, horse racing.

On this tour of the western district of the city, I’ll take you to the Taoist Temple of Man Po (the oldest in the island), and you look, nestled among the many colors and clouds of incense. Now, a nice walk in Hollywood Road and Cat Street, to look around in curiosity and antiques. If you wish, we can also go to Bonham Strand (to see the sellers of snakes). Quiet, delicious food that is very attractive to us in the middle of winter, not now. Central District (our financial heart), you can see the tall towers of Exchange Square, Hong Kong Bank of China and Bank. Inside the garden of oleander – remarkably intact – will keep the Government House, formerly used by the British rulers. I’m sorry, really, they can not show you the show in the morning, near the Zoo. You would certainly admired the “boxing show of the shadows”, the slow movements of the morning, between six and eight.

Wanchai is no longer a haven for sailors and Susie Wong is gone. If you want, I can take you to the Temple Wong Tai, but only if you want to look in your destiny. In the southern part of the city, is one of the favorite destinations of Victoria Peak – 554 meters high, reached by cable car – for a breathtaking view of the bay, but if you’re hungry, a good restaurant. Going down, I want to hire a “sampan-taxi” to take you in the Bay of Aberdeen, between the floating restaurants and fishermen’s houses. Before sunset, we will be on the beach at Deep Water Bay, and we will try to get to Repulse Bay to the peninsula of Stanley and the village of Shek O. Do not ask me why, write your why, when overflights that dream, where he lives Susie, returning to your home.