With this being our final full day in Hong Kong, we had a number of tourist options available but with the temperature and humidity at the upper level of tolerance we opted for some quiet times in two nearby museums.
The first one we visited was the Hong Kong Museum of Art which is close to the waterfront in Tsim Sha Tsui near the Star Ferry Terminal.
The displays of art seemed to concentrate on classical Chinese paintings and lithographs particularly of the scrolled/wall hanging type. The motifs on these combined ancient calligraphy with floral themes of orchids, lotus plants and cherry blossoms; the orchidacea being the most attractive. There were seven galleries spread over six floors and during our visit the museum was very busy with many school groups in attendance. The majority of the students seemed very well behaved and were obviously enjoying the day away from formal classes even if the art work failed to appeal to their young senses. The little primary students were clearly having fun with some the teachers having given them tasks to identify things in certain paintings and then to draw them.
Ink orchid painting on fan, HK Art Museum, Hong Kong
One gallery was focussed on modern art mostly in the form of videos and multiple projections of images. Some parts were definitely weird and others thought provoking, whilst certain displays reminded us of some of the more confronting works on display at MONA in Tasmania.
We then adjourned to have coffees and a bit for lunch in the nearby HK Cultural Centre where we’d arranged to catch up with a friend of the family, Meg Sterling who has lived in Hong Kong for thirteen years.
Meg is principal flautist with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and she kindly took time out from practice to join us for an hour or so. It was delightful talking with her and hearing of her extraordinarily busy life as a mother, wife, home-owner and professional musician. To add to Meg’s complex work routine she lives quite a distance from central HK and her day thus includes a good deal of travel time.
Robyn, Meg & Corinne, HK Cultural Centre, Hong Kong
Meg beside her poster, HK Cultural Centre, Hong Kong, 30 Jun 2015
In the afternoon we visited the nearby HK Science Museum, this being a multi-level complex with over 500 displays on computers, energy, robotics, communications, health and engine technology. There were numerous interactive displays where participants were invited to push buttons and pull levers; these being vey popular with the school groups present.
A key display was the Mammoth Energy Machine that has numerous large red balls that are lifted on a continuous belt to the top floor of the building and then on release, they return to the base level via many different pathways that involve triggering gates, lights, drums and levers.
Part of mammoth energy machine, Science Museum, Hong Kong, 30 Jun 2015
The mathematics/physics section was the most interesting part with a fascinating section on mirrors and lenses. There were lots of wooden block puzzles and logic problems for us to test our brains; not always with total success we should admit!
Robyn's apartment block (Robyn is on the 29th floor), Kowloon, Hong Kong
Later in the evening we caught a train that passes under the Hong Kong Harbour and went out to dinner in the Marriott Hotel on HK Island.
The dinner was primarily to say thankyou to Bobbie for being our generous hostess for this last week as well as a pre-birthday party for her 60th which is coming up in August. The meal we had was outstanding in every regard; scrumptious food, classy wine, impeccable service and stunning views of the HK Light Shows from this very plush 49th floor restaurant.
Robyn, Tony & Corinne, Gray Restaurant, Hong Kong
View from Gray Restaurant, Hong Kong
By 22:00 we’d returned to Hung Hom and we then spent an hour or so relaxing and for the last time on this trip, taking in the glorious views of the Hong Kong night scene from Bobbie’s apartment.
Tomorrow we commence our return to Tasmania.