Vignettes of the World
In Chinese, Shenzhen is also known as Pengcheng, meaning “The City of Peng.” The Dapeng Fortress is where this other name of Shenzhen comes from. Its full name Dapeng Suocheng refers to the military nature of the ancient city. For the word “suo” is a …
The Lion Rock is a very popular trail in Hong Kong, but I have never had the opportunity to walk it. On this wonderful winter day I joined a group hike and had a wonderful time seeing 360 views in this somewhat midway point of …
The Hong Kong Ballet performed The Great Gatsby a couple months ago. When I saw the introduction of the production, I learned about the preparation for the costumes. The program materials showed such sophisticated presentation of the costumes that I bought the ticket right away.
I saw the show in early November. This may have been my first time seeing a performance by the Hong Kong Ballet and it was fantastic.
The love story of Jay Gatsby came to life in a lavish reproduction that really brought forth the polarizing undercurrents of human desires and social class that characterized the Jazz Age in 1920s America. The show was meant to bring about “aspiration and disillusionment, romantic hope and moral failing, set against the landscape of wealth and idle dissipation.” And certainly, it did not disappoint.
The show was not just a ballet. It was a musical that featured ballet as the medium to convey a work of literature representative of the glory and the gloom of an exceptional time in history. When the curtain was drawn Nick Carroway appeared first in a narration that introduced the audience to the story. The performance then moved forward in a rapid pace to introduce each of the main characters, with Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan at the forefront.
In terms of character development, however, I found the choreography of Myrtle being the most memorable in the show. Her dance was sensual, sexy with a beauty that exuded decadence at the same time, luring the audience into all kinds of imagination about this character. And as we all know, she was the tragic character whose death would spark the revenge by her husband George to kill Jay Gatsby in the end.
Photo: Myrtle and Buchanan
Nick Carroway’s brief monologues would appear throughout the show to give the narrative context for the audience, and the actor has delivered this aspect of the show well, staying true to the typical elegance in original author F. Scott Fitzgerald’s writing.
Certainly, ballet was a good form of art to bring out the elegance of 1920s, which by now is considered a classic era. Yet the 1920s being known also as the “Roaring 20s,” the notable strands of sentiments that symbolize this age were also suitable for other forms of dance, and the creators of the show did explore the creative room that the subject matter presents. Besides the classical ballet, I observed also jazz and tap dancing. Of course, the flapper and Charleston dances were also featured as the epitome of the era’s spirit of new money, materialism and social class divisions.
These different forms of dance were incorporated well into the narrative, and it was a great show because it presented the story and front and centre, with the dance as both the form and substance for plot development. I thought the New York street parade scene that appeared in the earlier part of the show was exceptionally staged, fully embodying the vivacity of a city blessed, even then in the 1920s, with a diversity of life within the homogeneity ideal of the melting pot.
This scene of frivolity would come to mind again when Mrytle’s own living space with George at the “Valley of Ashes,” which was essentially a garbage dump, was staged. In significant contrast, the show lends sympathy to the forgotten class living in desolation, bringing into full play the central tensions that drive the development of the story.
Photo: Daisy and Jay
There was a live band of seven jazz players playing throughout the show, with music director Billy Novick composing the ballet’s score and also performing. Vocalists blues singer E. Faye Butler and James Seol sang through the iconic scenes of upper class parties and brought forth a deliberate sense of authenticity.
Overall, the Hong Kong Ballet has made an all-rounded and exceptional production with the Great Gatsby. Every aspect of the performance showed creativity, thoughtfulness and faithfulness to the original story. I thought the greatest success of the show was the innovative fusion of different forms of art, in its music, choreography, costume design, narration and staging. The front stage actors and the backstage staff have performed perfectly well and created a great cultural experience for the audience.
Given this great experience, I would certainly sign up for more shows by the Hong Kong Ballet in the future.
The Program of The Great Gatsby.
Let us pause here for a much-loved topic: the wonders of Uzbek food. Before going to Uzbekistan, I had no knowledge whatsoever of the food that Uzbeks eat. I figured that, first, as long as I do not have craving for pork (and I do …
We were greeted with exceptional hospitality as soon as we arrived at Bukhara. By the time we checked in to the Oasis Boutique, it was dusk hour. On our way to the restaurant, we met a group of ladies from four generations of a family. …
Before arriving in Buhkara, we would also be making a stop at the town of Nurota to see some ancient ruins. This part of the journey was simple.
We went up to the Nur Fortress to see what was supposedly a military installation built at the command of Alexander the Great around 329-327 BC. There was also a mosque that was newly built in its vicinity.
Nur, meaning “light” and “ota,” meaning father, together the name Nurota means “light father.” It refers to a meteorite event that occurred and the tale was passed down by the local folkloric tradition. It was said that a meteorite fell into this spot 40,000 years ago. Yet the founding of this town was traced back to the times of Alexander the Great, who commanded a general to build a fortress here, before he would go on to his conquest of Bactria and Sogdiana. Eventually, Alexander the Great would make it to Bukhara himself from Nurota.
But what was Alexander the Great doing in Uzbekistan? He spent two years in Uzbekistan raging a campaign against the Achaemenid Persian Empire. His campaign would take him to far places in this part of the world. At one point he did seize Samarkand, and he had also established his stronghold in modern-day Tajikistan. His warfare in this part of Asia was not always so smooth, however. That is because the tribal troops here engaged in nomadic warfare, to which the great historic warrior had to develop new tactics. He was, still, by and large successful.
According to the Wikipedia, “in 334 BC, he invaded the Achaemenid Persian Empire and began a series of campaigns that lasted for 10 years. Following his conquest of Asia Minor, Alexander broke the power of Achaemenid Persia in a series of decisive battles.” His forces would also reach India eventually.
Finally, it was believed that Alexander the Great took a princess named Roxane as his wife, and made an alliance with the local ruler Oxyartes. A number of distinguished families in the region still claim their descent from this union.
It was believed that the Nur Fortress was built by Alexander the Great in 329-237 BC, as such also founding the City of Nurota. Sitting at a hilltop, the Nur Fortress offers aerial views of the whole city and the vast expanse of land afar.
The locals also credit Alexander the Great for constructing a water system from a spring several kilometers away into the city known as the kariz. In fact, this same water system is still in service for the city today.
The Nurota mosques are traditionally revered by pilgrims as the town was also considered sacred during Uzbekistan’s Islamic times. Hazrat Ali, the son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad, is said to have struck the ground here with his staff and out came the Chashma Spring. The Chashma spring runs within the city and it is welled in a holy spring pool next to the Mosque Chill Ustun.
When we were there in spring 2023, parts of the Mosque Chill Ustun were still under construction. With this, we were happy to have seen Nurota and went ahead to Bukhara, like Alexander the Greater did.
Advantour.com, Nurata, Uzbekistan.
Central Asia Guide on Nurota.
Sophie Ibbotson, Uzbekistan, Bradt Travel Guide (2020) at 214.
The Wikipedia on Alexander the Great.
We would be going to Bukhara on a private car in a five-hour drive from the Syyod Camp. We bid farewell to the staff at the camp and headed over to see the two wonders of Uzbekistan: the Kyzylkum Desert and Lake Aydarkul. Its sheer …
Hung Lau, meaning “Red House,” is a lesser-known historic building tucked away in the hinterland of Tuen Mun. It has a special place in the history of Hong Kong. Although its significance is not widely known, it bears a critical remembrance as a home base …
The netizens of Hong Kong are very familiar with Hung Heung Lo Fung, a vantage point that is perfect for viewing and taking photographs of Hong Kong’s famous harbor skyline. At an altitude of 228 meters, the small peak provides unobstructed views on the west side of the Victoria Harbor. It also shows the somewhat less pleasing views on the east.
Photos: A Panorama of Hong Kong’s Skyline on the Western Side
Photo: View of the East Side of Victoria Harbor at Hung Heung Lo Fung
For the hiking of this day I chose the hard way up the Hung Heung Lo Fung, and I will share about this way below. I do not recommend the hiking route that I took, however. For the purpose of simply climbing 228 meters to see the views, there is no need to do it my way.
There is a very convenient shortcut from the city up to Hung Heung Lo Fung. From Paterson Street in Causeway Bay, take Green Top Minibus Route 25 to Braemar Hill.
Get off at the final stop, then walk toward the St. Joan of Arc Secondary School. At the end of Braemar Hill Road, there is a set of stairs leading down first and then up. Keep on climbing for about 10-15 minutes, and you will arrive at the path that will lead you to Hung Heung Lo Fung. Once you finish climbing this flight of stairs, make a right. Keep on going for about three minutes, and the path up Hung Heung Lo Fung will be on your right when you come across the first intersection.
Note that, once you are up, there are two viewing points. When you arrive at the first one, just look up and you will see the signpost above you. Find your way up that signpost for even more significant views.
Map: The Easy Way Up (the Purple Line)
For the purpose of hiking a significant way to Hung Heung Lo Fung, I began the walk from Quarry Bay and went westward toward the Braemar Hill area. The difficult part came in a small, unnamed hill somewhere in between, where I had to engage on all fours to climb, with a pathway that was somewhat obscure. I did clock in quite a bit of exercise within a very agreeable weather that day, however. I was glad that I did eventually make it back to civilization.
I shall not share the way on this entry, for somewhere along I myself did not know which way I went and how I made it back. However, when I was still on the right track in the earlier sections of the walk, I did visit an interesting heritage site.
The heritage site of Woodside lies on Mount Parker at the beginning of this trail. The Swire Group built it during the 1920s, originally intended to house the quarters for the European staff in the mid-management of the Swire Group.
The red brick building features two stories with an arched veranda. The foundation is built from granite, and the interiors were fitted with wooden floors and staircases and window frames. The original building had two separate sections.
The first Woodside was destroyed by the Japanese forces during WWII. The Swire Group then restored the building between 1947 and 1951. During this restoration, the former two separate sections were joined together. In 1972, when the Taikoo Sugar Factor closed, the building became vacant.
The building has been restored and managed by the Hong Kong Government since 1976. Since 2012, it opened its doors for public visits as the Woodside Biodiversity Education Centre. Please note that the museum closes on Tuesdays except on public holidays. I happened to visit on a Tuesday so I did not get to see the exhibits. Please check the opening hours of the Biodiversity Education Centre here.
The Woodside is a Grade II Historic Building in Hong Kong. The address of Woodside is 50 Mount Parker Road. To visit, head up from Quarry Bay MTR station toward Mount Parker Road and walk on a gentle incline for some 15 to 20 minutes.
Photos: Mount Parker Road on the Way Up to the Woodside and the Sign for Woodside
Some of the views along this path were quite nice.
The Wikipedia on the Woodside (Chin).
We spent a day and a half hiking with Mr. S and he shared quite a bit about his thoughts on the world as an Uzbek. I had this incredible privilege to learn about some current affairs in this region, which is not widely known …