UK Adapta Trip To Hong Kong

The T-shirt says it all....One week of trying to cram an entire country's culture into a trip as well as doing an art show with all the trimmings that go with it! Well done to the artists for keeping up with the Asian pace. Well done to 852 shop for making such a cool tee and giving us a couple for free.

There was actually too much shopping choices and we didn't have time to show them all the different styles of shopping HKG has to offer. If you need a particular item, like sneakers, then you go to sneaker street to get it. Electronics can be found in different pockets of the city, with each one specialising in one type, like cameras or for TV's.

The buildings and architecture never cease to amaze me, however many times I go back to that country. All the buildings are built using a bamboo scaffolding frame, instead of the traditional metal bars as they do in the West. The process seems to save time and money when setting up and also for building the exterior facades.

The landscape never stops changing and the harbour is actually getting narrower each year due to the high levels of land reclamation taking place on both sides of the water.

Clean lines, glass and steel extend into the skies, whilst near these buildings ground floors lies the hustle and bustle of old HKG. Street markets, old Banyan trees and tiny residences fight for the limited space that is on offer.

However, you could find calm in certain places, including my personal fave, Man Mo Temple. I came here three times over the trip to pray for a successful show and for the hope that none of the artists would get into any trouble with the law during their stay. Apart from one night of police interventions for one of D*Face's paste-ups, it looks like the praying worked!

The main local night-life area is called Mong Kok. From Karaoke, nightclubs, brothels, shopping and eating, this is still one of the most densely populated areas in the world, with more than 100,000 people per square kilometre!

You can't go to HKG without being blinded by the neon lights. Especially the ones that line Nathan Road. (A main road that runs down the length of Kowloon) This particular area is advertising karaoke and hookers for $360 HKD.

Food is damn important to HKG people. It's a definite social thing with residents 'eating-out' at least three times a week. They need their food fresh, with meat/fish/poultry that has just been killed.

This was one of the most popular streets for the artists; Cat Street (and no, not because it sells cats!) Here you could find hundreds of trinkets, from modern-day souvenirs to old antique curios. A treasure trove for Word To Mother, who is a self-confessed addict of collecting old weathered items.

Again, one of my fave streets is Goldfish street in Mong Kok. (Note the Marine Biologist in me coming out again!) It's just incredible how many species of fish and reptiles are on offer, but at the same time, really sad as they are packed into these plastic bags all day and night. I had a very emotional time that evening!

Land of computer-games and electronic fun. We all loved the blue kong on the right-hand side.

CTMA centre in Mong Kok is a toy mecca and Superman Toyshop has the boom ting when it comes to toy displays. It changes everytime I have been there which means they have loads that aren't even displayed! The whole shopping mall is a haven for figure-lovers and is definitely worth a visit.

On our final day, we tried to get some deserved rest at the beach. We were lucky that the weather in HKG was incredible throughout the duration of our stay. From the hustle and bustle of the city to the tranquility of a beach only 20 min from the centre was a godsend. I just wish we could have spent even two more days there, to try and properly soak up the sun and detox from all the debauchery of the past 6 days.

Once again, the view from our host's flat. This shot is looking straight down...45 floors down....it was enough to make every hair on your body stand at end. This was the cherry on the cake of the whole trip and I personally think that it has been engrained in the minds of everyone who was involved with the Adapta gallery excursion to HKG. I also would like to add a personal thank you to the artists for making it possible to do a show out in HKG and I would gladly host any of you again and again! Word......