p/s Updates will likely be very sporadic over the next two weeks as we are bound for Europe tonight. Looking forward to spending time with the family and attending a wedding in South East England, but first I should probably get started on packing that suitcase…
Yesterday marked a one-day mid-week siesta for Hong Kong as it celebrates this year’s Dragon Boat Festival. We appropriately spent the afternoon at Stanley Beach watching the dragon boat races and bustling crowds.
I’d promised mom I would eat a rice dumpling but it completely slipped my mind so I guess I’ll have to go look for one today. Wish me luck !
First, an aphorism by famed Persian poet Saadi at the entrance.
Then a showcase of the country’s technology advancements…
… industrial progress…
… and natural resources.
There was also a little booth set up to attract foreign investment, the sort that materializes at non-trade expositions.
But the highlight of the pavilion has got to be the carpet showroom on the second floor. Persian hand-woven carpets are among the world’s finest and so do not make the cheapest souvenirs (such as this one at RMB 40,000), that I know.
But I’m rather flabbergasted by the seeming mindlessly-chosen designs.
A year’s worth of hard work by an unknown weaver somewhere in Iran, priced at RMB 46,000…
Why ??
At the cafeteria, we had tasty saffron pistachio ice cream and watched an Iranian staff endlessly water the brick floor. We tried querying the purpose of this act…
… unfortunately none of the Iranian staff spoke enough English to tell us why.
Someone’s idea of a birthday present.
Right next to the Iran Pavilion, nice touch.
Cross the pretend bridge to view the pretend Juche Tower and pretend Pyongyang cityscape.
I spoke to a North Korean for the first time. Not surprising that she could speak reasonably alright English and Mandarin.
We bought a couple of books so we have officially contributed moolah to Kim’s despotic regime.
Seems like whoever’s in charge had edited the selection of books to ensure there are none of the fervent propaganda content intended for domestic consumption I had heard so much about.
Disappointed.
