Kowloon Park

Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Thu 27 Dec 2018 23:57
Kowloon Park, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
 
 
 
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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.
 
 
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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.
 
 
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Much rested and well fed we began to bimble. A formal area to our left and one of the huge fountains to our right,
 
 
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The water park, a flock of American flamingos was a bit of a surprise.
 
 
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A wall adornment on the way up to the aviary. Yellow heads chatted happily. A couple of galah, chaps we loved in Australia.

 

 

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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).

 

 

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The back of the park, a water feature and looking from the aviaries we spotted a mini-McD’s, time for an ice cream.

 

 

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Ice cream in hand we settled by the maze, to our right some old friends first seen in the Caribbean.

 

 

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We saw a couple of wedding shoots – loved the bridal trainers......

 

 

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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.

 

 

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We quickly bypassed the Sculpture Garden and followed the high path to the Chinese Garden.

 

 

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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.
 
 
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A pavilion in the middle of a bridge.
 
 
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Loads of chaps at a regional meeting.
 
 
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Bear's favourite was this magnificent Chinese banyan - (Ficus microcarpa).

 

 

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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.
 
 
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Our final fountain and pond.
 
 
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A regal palm with a cheeky bloom peeping out.
 
 
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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