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 |