Travel Challenge: the street markets of Tai O, Hong Kong
Today’s post comes courtesy of Ailsa and her weekly photo challenge. This week’s challenge? Street markets! These photos were taken during our anniversary trip to Hong Kong last October.
Tai O is a village in Lantau Island, an island that is also home to Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong Disneyland, and the Po Lin monastery.
I will never understand why people need these things to remember a trip to the beach 🙁 Please note the triton shell that’s really NOT supposed to be there. Be a responsible tourist: don’t buy shells and starfish as souvenirs!And these too! Who in their right mind would want a wall hanging made from pufferfish? 🙁The non-depressing part of our rounds through Tai O: freshly grilled oysters and prawns with cheese. Gawd they were so good but so expensive as well.
17 Replies to “Travel Challenge: the street markets of Tai O, Hong Kong”
Actually… I didn’t like what they did with quite a lot of the shells 🙁 First, they collected endangered species (like the triton shell). Second, aggressive shell collecting for selling to tourists leads to overharvesting. Did you know that majority of the shells that shops in Florida sell to tourists actually come from the Philippines? 🙁
Thank you for the compliment and for your support for sustainable tourism 😀 One of my favorite conservation slogans is “When the buying stops, the killing can too”.
And it’s so true too, without the demand, the suppliers will stop supplying. One of my favourite slogans comes from Chief Seattle: Take only memories, leave nothing but footprints. xxx
love all the uses of shells!
Actually… I didn’t like what they did with quite a lot of the shells 🙁 First, they collected endangered species (like the triton shell). Second, aggressive shell collecting for selling to tourists leads to overharvesting. Did you know that majority of the shells that shops in Florida sell to tourists actually come from the Philippines? 🙁
Yikes – although I’m not totally surprised. A lot of the shells we saw in Hawaii came from other places, too!
Wonderful post, and I did not know that about the shells. Thanks for the heads up, I am a huge supporter of sustainable tourism. xxx
Thank you for the compliment and for your support for sustainable tourism 😀 One of my favorite conservation slogans is “When the buying stops, the killing can too”.
And it’s so true too, without the demand, the suppliers will stop supplying. One of my favourite slogans comes from Chief Seattle: Take only memories, leave nothing but footprints. xxx
I have fond memories of HongKong.
Lovely pictures. 🙂
Thank you very much! What were you doing in Hong Kong?
I liked your photos and I understand your point. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you very much 🙂 I hope I didn’t come off as too preachy but sustainable tourism is something I feel very passionate about.
Not at all. Eventually the ocean would be empty and the beaches stripped of seashells.
This week’s travel challenge is a tricky one, but I bet you’re up to it! xxx Ailsa http://wheresmybackpack.com/2012/06/01/rhythm/
How much for grilled oysters ?
I actually don’t remember. Ack. Sorry about that. But rest assured that they were very expensive for someone on a budget.