Hong Kong - North Point Markets

The most happy veg seller I have ever come across - and I am amazed at the variety he has on offer!

Known in Cantonese dialect as "Pak Kak", North Point offers one of the most interesting corners you can visit in Hong Kong.    Min Nan is also a popular language for this hub of small business, as many people of Hokkien descent settled here after escaping from political upheaval in south-east Asia.    Another group, comprising Shanghainese, came here after the Communist Revolution of 1949;  their legacy includes the Sunbeam Theatre offering Chines opera performances and the Kiangsu and Chekiang Primary School, the first educational institution to offer instruction in Putonghua (or Mandarin).  North Point was also used for a prisoner of war camp by the Imperial Japanese Army.   The Hong Kong Electric Company also set up a significant power station in the early years of the 20th century.

Fresh and delectable seafood can come hard by or are charged at expensive prices in the world's largest cities,  but at North Point, one cannot help buying some.

Housewives, maids and others are like the early birds who can pick the best "worms" - in this case, the freshest, the best looking and the better quality produce.

The best culinary delights here can be traditional, authentic and down to earth.    We saw desserts  (or Tong Sui), hot pots, custard tarts, roast meats, egg waffles, stir fry veg, steamed seafood, snacks, biscuits, dumplings, preserved eggs and more.    A good option is to also head to Java Road, where the Cooked Food Centre distinguishes itself by the Tung Po Restaurant.

On the other side of the foodie spectrum, the Michelin Star winning Lei Gardens has a branch in North Point offering delectable Yum Cha sessions.   Yue Restaurant at the City Garden Hotel is also noted for reliable Cantonese cooking with quality standards.    

In China, the use of red coloured lights accompany the butchers - and this can be seen as well in south-east Asia.

The wide variety of fruits on sale in North Point - bananas from Fujian, cherries from the USA, rambutans from the Equator, longans and citrus fruits.

Located on the eastern districts of Hong Kong Island itself, North Point is not difficult to get to - we just jumped on to the two level and narrow classic Trams that have been operating for untold years.     As our Tram approached North Point itself, I could feel the buzz, the crowdedness and the vibes in even more intensity.   As the Tram was about to turn into a curve, we got off - mind your head on the narrow stairs if you are coming down from the upper level.     We were fortunate to just step out at the start of the street with the markets - Chun Yueng Street.

I was truly captivated by the eyes of this crab variety - the seafood is so fresh we came across an active fish shaking water all over the customers!

No raw chicken meats are sold outdoors in Hong Kong - and their absence is so noticeable in North Point.   The ghastly experience with SARS more than a decade ago, coupled with the penchant for bird flu to raise its ugly head during the cooler winter months - has made the SAR Government very strict about the handling of chicken meat.

You can also get to North Point on the MTR subway lines  (Island Line or Tseung Kwan O Line).

North Point is a walk about place -  apart from the markets, try covering at least Java Road, Tin Hau Temple Road , Tsat Tsz Mui Road, Tong Shui Road and Wharf Road.  There are also other educational institutions of note in North Point -   the Hong Kong Japanese School and the Chinese International School are both on Braemar Hill.

The North Point markets do remind me of Shantou streets, in a city up the coast of Guangdong.   There is an adrenalin of the people moving about and working, buying and selling, walking and watching - all this can at times be lost in large swaths of territories and nations which have less urgency and more comfort in the course of daily life.    I can envisage that the residents here may not need to cook, as in other parts of Hong Kong where freshly cooked food is so easily accessible - and there is no need to keep a fridge or freezer at home.  We dropped by a pop up shop selling IT accessories - and the lady was friendly in attending to us.    There may not be many fancy contemporary hipster barista cafes at North Point - I did not come across any - but it is all right, for the delights of North Point continue to be unique in a fast changing world.

Fishballs, rolled yummies with bean curd skins, calamari, octopus, dried shrimp and more -  some of the essential ingredients in southern Chinese cooking.

Asian vegetables are now mostly sourced from Guangdong province.

FOMO

It finally happened. There is an acronym now out there in the US media called FOMO or the Fear of Missing Out.

Singaporeans have long recognised this phenomenon for many years and they call it KIASU or literally, Fear of Losing. 

This attitude expresses itself vehemently in missing out of buying the latest smart phone, wear accessory or not having the latest lifestyle icon.  Brits may have called it KUWT J or Keeping Up With The Jonesies.  In minor manifestations, it can show in simple things like getting the latest freebies from a retail commercial campaign or being able to secure an item of limited releases. In big time symptoms, it articulates as being seen at the latest glamour events, frolicking with the powers that be and  making a sensation of it all.

It can be viewed as an expression of the herd mentality. It seems to oppose the uniqueness an individual may aspire. Why does someone want some thing that everybody else does or already have? This Fear of missing out dissipates fast once an individual afflicted with this condition gets it, sees it or participates in it. Then the condition manifests itself for another object or status of desire. So the desire and affliction can never end, especially when commercial interests incessantly feed it.

It can lead to uncontrollable crowds, turning up real early or paying unnecessary money for it.   FOMO is essentially a disease of not being able to let go or detach one from temporal things of desire. Marketing campaigners love it, exploit this condition and suavely reach their business revenue goals by escalating feelings of FOMO. 

Individuals caught up in FOMO do not stop to think for themselves. Like being caught up in a giant hype of rip wave of desire, comparison and self obsession, the only way is to mentally and spiritually wake up and ask " Do I need this?"    Recovery and relief can be seen in cases of opting out of society all together, like moving from super city hype to a seaside or mountain.     This was what is referred to as escaping from the rat race, as the demands of FOMO accelerate not just for resources like money but also on mental well being and a loss of touch with one's inner Mojo.

When FOMO is applied to a product, the old fashioned adage of "Why replace it when it ain't broke?" is trashed and replaced by "Why Not Get it when it is Hot?".     When FOMO is applied to a competitive environment, it appears as a trait or characteristic to ensure one is, or feels, that one is always ahead of the pack, in a strongly perceived need to win.    Good for cave dwelling societies where strange and powerful beasts roam to threaten a human being and his or her family.    Contemporary beasts in society taunt individuals as they compare what they already have with what they should have, or what the neighbours, not just physically but in cyberspace,  suggest they acquire.

If thousands have  taken ship cruises, FOMO affected individuals can be personally convinced to join the lemmings to the docks, so to speak.     Occasionally, the voice of reason and personal preference can speak out - why get stuck into a confined space for weeks, with the risks of not getting on with any of the passengers and there is a cost to secure freedom for just a day by utilising the opportunity to go on land?   If millions are now sleeping in bed with their latest gadgets, do we not need to follow them and instead think for our selves in better securing our privacy, more time of chill out and reduce interaction with robots, software and machines?


Sufferers of FOMO are indoctrinated from young - and unless infused with other purposeful values, spiral deeper into a society that believes in growing numbers forever.    If they take a moment to realise the beauty, value and meaning of not following the latest trends and pressures, salvation may be at hand and a first step to stop the madness has begun.


It does not matter if you hear that a person has done this, went there or got something.   What is important is what truly gives you joy -  mentally, physically and spiritually.   If you did not get a fresh tree for this coming Christmas, it may not matter as much as the time you spent bonding with each family member this past year.     If the latest gadget only has improvements that its competitor already has, acknowledge this and walk away, away from the line of eager beavers willing to part with their hard earned dollars.    If you are not there at some hyped event with your peers, you are not square, just not available and perhaps wiser.


If you missed out on some offer, another will come.  Take time in a private corner to imagine and ponder why it was so critical not to miss out.   If your child misses out on that scholarship, consider the possibility that you may have saved him a life of a strait jacket corporate life - and offered him an opportunity of doing what she or he really wants.   Together, you may have liberated the people who count in your life from the traps of temporal temptations, moving targets and strings of a puppet controlled by parties who do not really care fro you.

Crunch Time for Aussie Mortgages

Increasing numbers of Australian households in regional areas and suburbs outside capital cities are facing mortgage repayment stress. The Sunshine Coast in south east Queensland and Mandurah outside Perth are examples. 

It was recently stated that Aussies on average owe twice in debt for every dollar of income. Ten years ago, the interbank rate set by the Reserve Bank was 7.25 percent, today it is only 1.5 per cent. Any future increase in this interbank rate could prove to be the tipping point for the continuing ability of mortgage borrowers to repay their loans, which can have amounts ballooned by interest. 

Throw in the accelerating prices asked for properties, especially in Sydney and Melbourne. Are there therefore all the ingredients for a perfect financial storm to occur amongst those who borrow from the banks? Average personal incomes have stalled whilst house prices have Sky rocketed. 

After around thirty years since the last technical recession in Australia, it is sad and surprising that there is a significant risk of mortgage stress. Are banks still applying the one third ability to repay rule to customers, as they chase the lucrative home loans market and use a strong commission payment arrangement to raise mortgage numbers - of course not!

On the other hand, increased prices of properties do mean rising amounts of easy revenue for government levels like councils and state governments in terms of stamp duty and land tax. 

Is the banking industry then partly responsible for creating this mortgage stress? Are financial planners, brokers and advisors encouraging individuals to borrow more on the belief that the equity in their properties will always increase as prices keep on rising? Will the bubble burst, or will there be a never ending flow of funds from overseas pushing into high property prices, due to attractive migration and education opportunities in this country?

Consumption seems to drive economic drivers in Australia. There is no longer added value from creating real things in this nation, as manufacturing declines are not set off by significant contributions in bio technology, automated innovation, programming code niches and cyberspace start ups. The economy primarily depends on the varying demand for mineral resources, Government spending, retail buying and housing statistics to continue the nation's economic growth and revenue streams. 

Will house prices continue to rise forever? What goes up will usually have to come down, if just temporarily. In the meantime, are many home borrowers over extended on their ability to repay if and when banks call in their loans, to cover their exposure between reduced property market values and outstanding mortgage amounts owing to the banks.

It is said banks never take any major risks lending to you - you as the borrower have the burden mostly to yourself.

The Extent of Fresh Foods Consumed

If quality of life also means access to and consumption of more fresh food in daily practice, then the statistics for packaged food use is a surprise.

In 2016, the top nation spending most of packaged food is Norway, which purchased around twice the amount per capita in fast food obsessed USA. Western nations figure high in packaged food which are mostly sourced in supermarkets, petrol stations and 24 hour corner grocery chains. 

Japan is ranked number 7 in this category, which can be contradictory to its national high age living expectancy, but which can also be explained by a high proportion of its society experiencing a rigorous and demanding urban lifestyle dependent on convenient packaged foods, like from sophisticated vending machines. 

Australia at number ten is no surprise. I have often observed the dominance of processed food on the shelves of the major supermarkets of packaged food, many laden with sugar, most with brightly coloured designs and placed at strategic locations in the layout. There has been an effort to expand fresh food options like sushi, fruit and veg. Admirable is the availability of free fruit for kids in supermarkets in New Zealand.

The inequities in income and purchasing power can come into play for buying more packaged foods. Fresh food is on average more expensive and has a shorter shelf life. 

With packaged food comes the question of how seriously consumers read the detail on the labels. In recent years, packaged food sizes have shrunk for many products despite retaining the same retail price. There is the interesting aspect of extent of disclosure of the source of the packaged offering. As consumers emphasise more on effects on health from manufactured food, small retailers and big chains do continue to provide more information, but it is what is not disclosed that has risen to be of concern.

The arrival of cheaper per unit but more bulk buying models like Costco in new markets and nations can also add to the spend on packaged foods. Bottled drinks, dried fruit and nuts, cooking essentials, frozen options and lollies are often captivating buys for growing families.

The standard of living measure obviously does not just mean more fresh produce but is more of a holistic measure of choice, convenience and cultural options. 

Connecting or Dividing - Reckon for Yourself

There can be a significant and important difference of experience at the grassroots as opposed to what media, politicians and those with agendas want us to believe.

Pronouncements can be made by specific parties to divide, alienate, separate, unify or bond. These can make real impact, true, invalidated or false, on the perceptions and feelings of individuals and groups. The efficiency of social media can amplify the outcomes, whether of benefit or disadvantage to a society's short term or long term interests. 

It was refreshing for me recently to have an opportunity to test reality at the grassroots in one particular nation. One interesting way is to chat with every Uber, private or taxicab driver you come across. These drivers do interact with various individuals who may be silent, talkative or in between in conversation level whilst being their passengers. The opinions of such drivers can provide clearer and more accurate trends happening out there, instead of sifting from skewed and small samples from so called professional survey takers. 

Another opportunity arose in talking with retail workers when making purchases or buying a meal. Do they instinctively smile at you despite the language barrier? Do they try to pull a fast one even if sharing the same culture and language? How is business? How is your day? Do you look forward to quitting time today? Is anyone of a particular background not really fulfilling the stereotyped perceptions and hype emphasised by certain parties with a purpose? 

In a cosmopolitan world, we allow for and try to understand differences, especially in nurturing a diverse nation. What is remarkable is that there can be a quantifiable level of camaraderie in interaction between persons brought up with differences in religion, social experience and access to economic benefits. Politics, power play and competition can accentuate differences but human nature also wants to connect, share and be reasonable.

"You've got to be taught,
To hate and fear,
You've got to be taught,
From year to year,
It's got to be drummed,
In your dear little ear,
You've got to be carefully taught!"

That is how Rodgers and Hammerstein articulated racism more than half a century ago to song and dance in the much acclaimed musical "South Pacific". How true do those words still ring true in today's world. Not just in terms of racism, but also in the tensions and dynamics of political shades, religious beliefs and social hierarchies. 

As more societies become increasingly diverse, it is vital for individuals and countries to increasingly think for themselves and not be proverbial lemmings in their hearts following the leads of others who are more vocal, dominant and aggressive. 

Greater mobility, better technology and increased fusion in many aspects of life will pose to each of us to think carefully about the answer to the quintessential question - are we not all human beings?