In the light of the approval of funding for the City’s first high-speed railway, Howzit-HongKong.com decided to take a walkabout around the West Kowloon precinct to see what it looks like before the bulldozers roll in.

I took the  new ‘pink’ West Rail Line of the MTR (Hung Hom to Tuen Mun) and got off at the brand-spanking Austin Station.  A brisk walk of about 10 minutes along Austin Road will also take you to the Elements Mall in West Kowloon.  Elements also operates a free shuttle-bus service from Hankow Road in Tsim Sha Tsui (TST, between the Peninsula Hotel and the YMCA).

The area earmarked for the new high-spreed train station is still just a vacant plot as the go-ahead for the multi-billion dollar controversial project was only received a few days ago.  I also noticed that the City Golf Club driving range is still operating, although after the go-ahead for the rail system was given, it will probably be shutting down soon.

After about 15-minutes from Austin Station I reached the entrance to the West Kowloon Cultural District.  This area can be seen from HK Island and can easily be identified by the yellow and blue MTR ventilation buildings.

The proposed District is planned as the arts and cultural hub of Hong Kong. Located at a wedge-shaped and waterfront reclaimed land west of Yau Ma Tei, the district will feature a new modern art museum, numerous theatres, concert halls and other performance venues.

When I visited there, I noticed a few people enjoying the tranquility of the area that is located on the waterfront along the western channel of Victoria harbour.  I also saw some beefy blokes running along the cycling path. 

If you walk all the way through the District, the boardwalk takes you to edge of the Western Cross-Harbour Tunnel.  A pedestrian footbridge then takes you either into the International Commerce Centre (ICC) or the brightly- coloured (orange) Elements Mall.

The base of the ICC is still being finished and construction workers can still be seen all of the precinct.

While the visit to the West Kowloon Cultural District this morning can best be categorized as a tranquil stroll through one of the hidden gems of Kowloon, I shudder to think how the area will transform once the construction companies roll in for the construction of the many arts & cultural facilities that are being planned, as well as the new high-speed railway interchange across Austin Road.

However, when all the work is done, the West Kowloon precinct should surely boast some pretty impressive structures.

Have a look at some more pictures I took this morning on our Flickr-Page as well this video:

Below, Hendersen Land’s proposal for the West Kowloon Cultural District. Read more about the West Kowloon Cultural District here

Today is Heritage Day in South Africa.  Wikipedia defines it as follows:

Heritage Day, September 24, is a Public Holiday on which South Africans across the spectrum are encouraged to celebrate their cultural heritage and the diversity of their beliefs and traditions, in the wider context of a nation that belongs to all its people.

Here in my apartment in Hong Kong, as things go in Asia, my kids are swamped daily with studies and other school-related issues.  However, as it is Heritage Day, I had them finish their homework early and right now, they are enjoying the David Kramer DVD called SongBook. 

You may remember that David was part of the most dynamic and internationally recognised duo of David Kramer & Taliep Petersen.  Together they produced the much-acclaimed musicals District Six and Ghoema, to name only two. 

On a recent trip home, this DVD became one of my most cherished purchases.  As a committed follower of Cape Town music (especially the unique genres known as Cape Jazz and Ghoema) it is one of a set of treasured items also because it helps me to explain to my kids, who basically grew up in Asia, where their forefathers came from what our culture is all about.

If you know anything about the Kramer/Petersen musicals, you will remember that it talks, through the music, about the people who arrived at the Dutch halfway station (as Cape Town was known back in the days) from as far afield as Malaysia/Java, Madagascar, Batavia, India and yes… even China.  They know about these places because of the songs in the musical.  In this unique way, SongBook is aiding the Missus and I to explain to our 2 little ones our equally unique cultural issues in a clearer and more fun way.  What makes this task all the more easy is the fact that our kids naturally took to this kind of music like ducks to water.  It is, after all… in their genes!  Right now my 9-year old son is spraying furniture polish on the lounge tiles so that he “can jive better!” (his words, not mine)

On this Heritage Day, I can just say thank you to David Kramer and (even after your sad passing) Shukran to Taliep Petersen.  Not only for making my job as an expatriate father so much easier, but also for what you have done to keep the Cape Town and by extension, the South African culture alive. 

Happy Heritage Day.