Kowloon Park
Kowloon Park, Tsim Sha Tsui,
Kowloon Just steps from one of
the biggest high-end fashion malls in Hong Kong is Kowloon
Park which covers thirty-three acres. Soon inside we found seating and
spread out our booty from the bakery. Bear chose a pork
roll, literally three pork fillets in a roll for the princely sum of two
pounds. I settled with a fluffy cheese thing and we both followed with an apple
bake. Along the main walkway at
the entrance were seasonal
additions.
Site map also in Braille. There are seven distinct areas
including a public swimming pool, museum (contained in a couple of the original
barrack buildings), aviary, water birds, maze, fountains and paths with the city
skyscrapers all around the edge.
Much rested and well fed
we began to bimble. A formal area to our left and one
of the huge fountains to our
right,
The water park, a flock of American flamingos was a bit
of a surprise.
A wall adornment on the way up to the aviary. Yellow heads chatted happily. A couple of galah, chaps we loved in Australia.
The seven flights were huge arranged around a central keepers hub, we moved from seat to seat as we took in each collection. We watched a keeper throw bits of banana up to her charge, an enormous rhino hornbill, who clucked at her and caught most of the bits. I say clucked, sounds more like a bark. (Lovely to see all feathers in top condition).
The back of the park, a water feature and looking from the aviaries we spotted a mini-McD’s, time for an ice cream.
Ice cream in hand we settled by the maze, to our right some old friends first seen in the Caribbean.
We saw a couple of wedding shoots – loved the bridal trainers......
The Hong Kong Orchid Tree - (Bauhinia x blakeana) of the class Caesalpiniaccae. A closer look at one of the tree orchids - my favourite of the day.
We quickly bypassed the Sculpture Garden and followed the high path to the Chinese Garden.
A well-contained banyan except for one root that had set off
along a crack in the path. We saw loads of gardeners keeping the plants in tip-top condition. The only ‘scruffy’ bit was a
pond in a far corner.
A pavilion in the middle of a
bridge.
Loads of chaps at a regional meeting.
Bear's favourite was this magnificent Chinese banyan - (Ficus microcarpa).
Back to the water
park and a thoughtfully named black-necked
swan...... We sat and watched the
birds. The Park stands where Whitfield Barracks used
to be, more than seventy buildings were demolished and the Park opened in
1970.
Our final fountain and pond.
A regal palm with a cheeky bloom peeping
out.
Seems somewhat incredible that at the end of this prettily potted path we will be tipped out into one of the busiest streets in Hong Kong – Nathan Road.
ALL IN ALL A WONDERFUL WAY TO WHILE AWAY THE AFTERNOON A PEACEFUL OASIS IN A VERY BUSY CITY |