Living amongst giants and dragon boats

Living amongst tall buildings is both exhilarating and oppressive, and it is strange being confronted with the gigantic after living in London where the buildings are on a more human scale. London also has tall buildings, but in Hong Kong it is the massing in close proximity of so many of these giants that swallow space and light. The L-shaped building on the left is actually an upside down U - and is part of the new government building lining the new waterfront. Over the years, what was the official colonial government buildings around Statue Square and the waterfront esplanade that used to be called the Praya, have receded deeper into the belly of the city as land reclamation pushed the water's edge further and further into Victoria Harbour. This new complex again provides government with a prestigious location overlooking the harbour and Kowloon.To get a better idea of the design, visit the Tamar Building Project's Design site. It is quite a clever design and allows the city behind to be connected to the water. Most probably good feng shui as well.

http://www.admwing.gov.hk/tamar/eng/design.htm

Many people visit the outlying islands on weekends and it is good to come up for some air that is not pumped through ducts. We visited Lamma and took the ferry from Pier 4.The island is slightly scruffy and untidy, adding to its charm. Unfortunately industrial sites mar the countryside and they are dotted across the island - no industrial zoning that contains the eyesores to one place. There were youngsters practicing for the Dragon Boat race on 6 June. The boat was very elegant and the drum they beat was huge. Had delicious salt and pepper prawns and something new for us, squilla, a local mantis shrimp, that has a very delicate texture and taste and beautiful white and black colouring. 

http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/events/festival-dragon-boat-racing.html