Category Archives: 2026

2026

Smashing Villains

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After three years, I wasn’t intending to reinstate my travel website. But I couldn’t resist sharing an amazing encounter of a third kind.

I’m currently on an extended trip to do family research in Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Zhongshan, China.

Arriving in Hong Kong after seven years’ absence has been an intense, overwhelming experience. I had not expected to see such refreshing changes, the exquisite sense of taste, (that has always been here), the sophisticated blend of Western and Asian culture.

My most curious adventure was about to begin!

Villain Hitting under Canal Road Flyover

Waiting for dinner buddy Peter in the lobby of the hotel where I am staying, I noticed a large, colorful, backlit map. It provided a good orientation to the Causeway Bay Area where I was staying. But a curious landmark caught my eye.

What was #2, the “Villain Hitting under Canal Road Flyover”??? In my seven years of living here in the late 70’s and early 80’s, I had never heard of it. The site was just down the road from the hotel, If anything couldn’t be more cryptic, it was this one.

Map of Local Landmarks in the Causeway Bay Area next to Hotel

Peter had no idea what this curiously titled landmark was either. After living in Hong Kong for over 45 years, He was just as baffled as I was. We agreed simultaneously to find out. We temporarily abandoned our dinner plans and made our way down the street under the concrete overpass. We arrived at the Canal Road Flyover, exactly where the location was advertised.

A hawker and group of women were busy welcoming guests. They asked us to identify who we wanted to purge and whether it was a male or female. We paid a fee of $50 (about $6 US) each. We randomly chose a purger who took our paper note.

The purger industriously used a wooden slipper to beat the heck out of the paper effigy
We were asked to bow three times as the purger purged the paper effigy some more.
Our lovely purger instructed us to put burning incense sticks in urns at the altar
We were asked to bow three times. No messing around, let’s just cut to the chase.
Drums and fire and brimstone to purge the unwanted
She stuffed the remains of purgee under the lion and burned the spirits away
Peter wanted to make sure that his mane didn’t fly away with the spirits
Voila. gone. Fait Accompli!
Amuses Bouches

On the left above, cool machines that dry your wet umbrellas

Right photo: Overhead lighting at pedestrian intersections make sure those reading their phones know it’s a red light!!!

Have you seen these anywhere else in the world?!?

Sensory Overload
Set lunch at Crystal Jade in Times Square

Ah. Sublime food. Delicate flavors. Comforting set lunch of dan-dan noodles in curry, succulent eggplant appetizer with oyster sauce, lotus root with chicken gizzards for protein, and a side dish of fresh sautéed choi sum. Topped with warm or cold soya milk. Mwah!!