Jordan

Friday night after work and school, we went to the Jordan neighborhood and strolled through the celebrated Temple Street night markets. One block after another, merchants had set up tightly-packed, makeshift booths. They were set up in the street with the backs of the booths against the curb. Shoppers had their choice of walking down either sidewalk or down the center of the streets which was only six feet wide due to all the booths.

Merchants were selling everything from t-shirts to jewelry to reproduction artwork to Bruce Lee bobble heads (I was tempted). The place was packed with people -half of whom were non-Chinese. The Temple Street night market is a destination for locals and tourists alike. The street corners tended to be dominated by restaurants whose tables spilled out into the intersections.

We jostled with the crowds and slowly shopped our way down Temple Street. The girls and Julie found a piece of jewelry to give as a birthday gift to the teacher with whom I share a classroom. Both Julie and Annika needed watches. They ended up buying five watches for US$13.00. I circled back around and gave those Bruce Lee bobble heads a second look; but I was also giving serious thought to that “Bruce Lee is my Homeboy” t-shirt.

A couple of times we had to hustle the girls past a booth or two. Nothing horrible, just not exactly -shall we say- family fare.

We only made it halfway up Temple Street and down one side street. There is plenty more to explore, but that will have to wait for another evening.

-Jack

About the Picture: Kobe Bryant and Mao playing cards. Mao has been co-opted by the capitalist system here in Hong Kong. While the merchants of Hong Kong may not be into Maoist theory, they will never pass up an opportunity to make a buck. And there is a niche market here for The Chairman. A few weeks ago, I saw a picture window in the front of the store with mannequins and other decorations that could have been from Any Street, U.S.A. except for right smack dab in the center was a big poster of Mao. Mao Zedong hawking sneakers. He must be rolling over in his anti-capitalist coffin.