I have never really liked Kowloon - it may sound strange as Hong Kong is such a small city and yet the distinctions between two sides of the Victoria Harbour are intriguing.
To be fair, I don’t know Kowloon very well. Perhaps due to unfamiliarity, I find it difficult to relax. I was recently told that a friend from school had never been in Kowloon before she turned 18! TST is probably my limit when it comes to any street knowledge of Kowloon. Mong Kok has always been a mystery to me. Temple Street, the Jade Market, the Women’s Market all sound exciting but dangerous.
I had never been to the temple in Temple Street and that’s why we decided to explore. We followed the route recommended by the Lonely Planet Best of Hong Kong Guide (I did not buy the guidebook myself!). We spent hours wandering the Mong Kok district - Shanghai Street, Laundry Street, etc. Taking loads of photos every time we saw something old.
I was fascinated by the garden in front of the temple in Temple Street and made a point of walking around the area even though it wasn’t part of the route. We saw many interesing activities going on - people playing chess, push-up exercises, stallholders preparing for the night market, locals having lunch and chatting.
An excellent background for a story about lives in Kowloon - nothing glamorous but real!