Oasis in the city

Another post from Hong Kong.

Bordering on Nathan Road in the Tsim Sha Tsui tourist district is Kowloon Park, a green space that makes a lovely respite from the hustle of the city. Of course, I was immediately caught up in admiring the plantings, especially the skillful way in which pleasing views were created, even in this relatively small park.

Who could resist this pagoda with plantings of azalea?

We wandered through the park, stopping to rest on a bench and to watch a man moving through his martial arts practice.

The Chinese of Hong Kong have a flair of using space. In this park, there were quiet corners where retired men could gather to discuss the issues of the day.  In this open area, parents share lunch with their children, little people bouncing in bright sweatsuits and munching their sandwiches. Across the way, women work their way through exercise machines that are discretely screened by hedging -- like an outdoor "Curves". For everyone passing through and stopping in the park, it is a safe and peaceful place to find a quiet moment. 

If you look at a map of Hong Kong, you will discover there are pockets of green space everywhere, like tiny perfect oases in the city.  The Chinese here have a landscaping style that calls for intense cultivation, exactly what you would expect in a place were land is limited.  I admire this way of planting very much. A picture of a single, glorious flower (which I still hope to identify) was my beautiful take-away as we continued our explorations of the city.