From the Outback, to the Jungle, then down to the Sea.

Thursday 18th August was get together time again. Peter and I went out to dinner with five of my former workmates in the Outback Restaurant in Causeway Bay. This, as you may have guessed, is an Australian themed chain restaurant. Peter, who doesn't eat much nowadays, was happy with his big blokes (large beers) and Aussie fries. I also had a big bloke and Alice Springs chicken. I was too busy talking to remember to photograph the food. It was lovely to catch up with people once again.

All of us together.

Peter and Linda.

Yang, Jason and I.

Linda, Suman and Jonathan.

Yang and Jason.

Yang with her seafood pasta.

Suman and Jonathan.

Linda and Suman.

Suman and Jonathan.

Today, after being stuck in most of the week, first because it was so hot and then because of a typhoon, I headed out to the IFC Building in Central. I wanted to take a look at 'The Wild Wonders' Exhibition. This is an entire jungle filled with origami animals such as sloths, tapirs, crocodiles, tamarins, toucans and jaguars.

The Wild Wonders were created by Stickyline. Stickyline are two local Hong Kong paper craft artists, Mic Leong and Soilworm Lai, who got together in 2011. Since then, they have created many art installations, giant sculptures and stage productions from paper, using folding and layering techniques. 'The Wild Wonders' Exhibition came complete with jungle sounds and moving models. I personally loved it.

The Wild Wonders Information.

An area of jungle.

Passing human for size comparison.

The Jaguar.

The Jaguar.

The Crocodile.

The Crocodile.

The Tapir.

The Tapir.

The Tapir.

The Toucans.

The golden lion tamarin.

The golden lion tamarin.

The golden lion tamarin.

The sloth.

After that, although it was a very hot day, I took a walk along the waterfront from the star ferry pier in Central to the exhibition centre in Wan Chai. I started from the area next to the Maritime Museum and Hong Kong's big wheel.

On the harbour outside the Maritime Museum.

The Hong Kong Observation Wheel.

At the moment there are several different art events going on along the shores of Victoria Harbour. Today I looked at those in Tamar. There are others in Hung Hom and in Tsim Sha Tsui. I may try to get to these later. The ones I saw today were on the theme of Art in Science.

The Arts in Science exhibition was in Tamar Park in front of the government headquarters. At first I thought the exhibition was being dismantled and that I had arrived on its last day. Later, when I got back home, I discovered the exhibition continues until December. I then realized that some of the exhibition had been roped off, covered up, or had workmen all round it, as we have just had a force eight typhoon and parts of the exhibition were damaged during it. The workmen, that I thought were dismantling things, were actually repairing them.

Government headquarters in Tamar in the background.

This one is so shiny it made me think of Christmas at first.

But it's actually based on different kinds of coral. It is called 'Coral Fractals'.

Coral Fractals.

Coral Fractals.

This one is called 'Loving Home'.

Loving Home.

I guess this is something to do with planets. It is called 'Obscure Bond'.

Obscure Bond. I loved all the bright colours.

This one is called 'Scenic Rockery'.

This is 'Eternal Light of a Seashell'. I thought this was being newly laid out, but actually I think it was being repaired.

Eternal Light of a Seashell.

When I read up on 'Water Capsule Submarine' later, it seems you are to imagine you are inside a raindrop and look at the view as if from under water. I did not know this at the time. My main perception, as I wandered the exhibit was how mind numbingly hot it was inside it.

Water Capsule Submarine.

Inside Water Capsule Submarine.

Inside Water Capsule Submarine.

The next exhibit was called 'In the Wind'. From the pictures I saw in the exhibition's online brochure, there should be different shaped objects on the end of each spike, but ironically they seem to have all blown off in the number eight typhoon.

This is called 'In the Wind'.

In the Wind.

At one point I noticed a sign saying 'The Connector'. This refers to a pathway between Admiralty’s Tamar Park and Hong Kong Convention Centre in Wan Chai. The Connector has been done up on the theme of summer beach parties and includes a fake beach, deck chairs, palm trees and summer themed miniatures.

Connector.

Connector.

I guess this one is all about enjoying summer picnics.

This is a seating area done up as Victoria Harbour beach complete with fake sand, sandcastles and a flamingo.

On the summer theme palm trees and sunglasses.

Hong Kong Miniatures Art in front of the harbour.

Hong Kong Miniatures.

Fairy Picnic Table.

Art on the waterfront.

Fisherman.

Beach fun.

Inside beach fun.

What's on the telly today?

I also noticed various signs for an Olympic Virtual Run. Virtual, as due to COVID regulations here, large gatherings are banned. I'm not entirely sure how a virtual run works, but it does an attractive sign post.

2022 Olympics Day.

Olympic Day.

There were also some signs celebrating twenty-five years since the handover of Hong Kong to China. There are various exhibits related to this dotted around the city.

25th Anniversary.

This is celebrating 25 years since the handover.

I walked as far as the exhibition centre in Wan Chai. I would have loved to walk further, but it was just too hot. I had a look at the golden Bauhinia, symbol of Hong Kong in front of the exhibition centre. It's on our flags and on our money. I also saw the Aqua Luna, a beautiful red-sailed Chinese junk which offers tours of the harbour.

Exhibition Centre.

Golden Bauhinia.

Chinese and Hong Kong flags.

The Aqua Luna Junk outside the Exhibition Centre.

At this point I could have headed to the MTR in Wan Chai, but I wanted to return to the IFC and shop in City super Supermarket. Peter had ordered me to come home brandishing a baguette, so I retraced my steps before heading home.