Coda

Not much planned for the day. I had finished all my shopping the night before, including a visit to Temple Street Markets in Kowloon for some minor items like reading glasses. Besides breakfast the only other business in the morning was a haircut at a Wanchai barber. I checked in my backpack at Central, to be transported to the airport separately, after giving up the room just before midday, so that I could wander during the afternoon with only a daypack as encumbrance.


The night before I had an acceptable dinner at an eatery on Nathan Road. I had noticed that they served all day dim sum also, so I made a note to come back for lunch. It was a disappointment. The food was insipid. That was the reason it wasn't crowded, besides being open day and night. It's a place for people who just want a quick bite. Australia really does have good dim sum as many chefs have come here from HK.


In the afternoon I had planned to have a look at former site of the Kowloon Walled City, which was a little piece of Kowloon excluded from British jurisdiction. After the end of WWII, the flood of refugees from China to this political anomaly created a extremely densely populated and squalid area which became a hotbed of criminal activity until brought under control in the late 70s. Even after crime was brought under control, unlicensed doctors and dentists practised and the sanitary conditions continued to be horrible so after the Sino-British joint declaration, the governments started its demolition in 1987. Today the site is a park and museum.


However during my stroll through One IFC, I had noticed an arthouse cinema playing foreign films. The 2009 French rom-com De Vrais Mesonges had caught my attention and I decided that I preferred to spend the afternoon in an aircon cinema instead of walking around and getting a bit sweaty, even though it was a cool day, because I wouldn't have any change of clothing until I reached home. Besides, the Walled City will still be there the next time I visit. I enjoyed the film very much. Audrey Tautou is not just a graceful actress but also a funny comedienne.


After the film I picked up a couple of CDs from a shop in IFC, and caught the express to the airport. I had dinner in the airport as there was a good selection of restaurants there and also free WiFi. Locating a seat with a nearby power point was a bit trickier though. Close to midnight I boarded the flight and that was the end of my holiday.