從意大利回來後, 便迷上了看Lonely Planet, 無論我有沒有打算去那個地方. Lonely Planet 多字少圖, 嚇怕無數 traveler. 不過, Lonely Planet 能夠兼顧任何traveler 所需, 無論在准備或在當地遇上問題便有其功用. 而且其文筆極其幽默, 正如 Lonely Planet 的 TV Series 般.
突然想看 Lonely Planet 怎樣寫香港, 十分驚訝, to a certain extent, 比西西的《浮城誌異》還精彩.
以下是東方之珠@Lonely Planet的 excerpt:
中國銀行(The Bank of Chine Building):
- The Bank of China building had to be larger than the nearby Hong Kong Shanghai Bank Building, as it represented the power in town (PRC) and did its best to dwarf the symbol of exiting tower(UK).
- One angle of the building cuts across the former governor’s residence and this way used by some people to explain the run of bad luck that afflicted Chris Pattern and his two predecessors.
重慶大廈(Chunking Mansion)
- Chunking Mansions is like a medieval town that has been under permanent siege since the 1600s, surrounded by a netherworld of sleaze and horrifying odours.
- Don’t seek sanctuary in the lift unless you gave to; these are like steel coffins on cables.
- Once you pay, there are no refunds. If that cheap room suddenly becomes ‘not available’, threaten to call the police.
山頂(The Peak):
- Developers couldn’t resist throwing up the Peak Galleria, an overblown, overpriced four level shopping plaza, the Peak Tower, looking like a huge titanium anvil, is a further questionable addition to the Peak skyline.
- Legend has it that the illuminated foot-hills of Central were the inspiration behind the film Blade Runner.
- The Peak Galleria is designed to withstand the winds of over 270km/h, theoretically more than the maximum velocity of a typhoon.
玉器市場(Jade Market)
- A few sellers are reasonably honest and will quote a decent price; with other you may have to engage in a marathon bargaining session just to get items down to shopping mall prices.
尖東海傍(The Promenade)
- You’ll find yourself accompanied by lovers, joggers, musicians, photographers with tripods and, believe it or not, people fishing right off the Promenade
.
香港藝術館(Hong Kong Museum of Art)
- The exhibits are quite tastefully displayed, giving one the feeling that funding isn’t a major problem for this particular museum.
海運大廈(Ocean Terminal)
-Incurable shoppers would be in seventh heaven, and non-shoppers in the third circle of hell.
-There always seems to be an ocean liner moored there full of elderly millionaires.
動植物公園(Zoological& Botanical Gardens)
- The zoo is surprisingly comprehensive and is also one of the world’s leading centres for captive breeding of endangered species. (It’s absolutely unbelievable for me).
香港公園(Hong Kong Park)
- This is one of the most unusual parks in the world – it was deliberately designed to look anything but natural, emphasizing synthetic creations such as its fountain plaza, greenhouse, aviary, artificial waterfall…….
最後, Lonely Planet 還嚴選了幾部香港電影給 Travelers, 他們的心水都幾特別但獨到…….
疆屍先生 (林正英道長一出, Dracula 收得)
黃飛鴻2
玉蒲團 (港式pornography在世界上已是萬中無一, 選玉蒲團更見Lonely Planet真知卓見)
新不了情 (你可以幫我買砵仔糕嗎?)
重案組
重慶森林 (夢中人……..California Dreaming)
甜蜜蜜 (Comrades, it’s really almost a love story)
古惑仔 (Once upon a time in Hong Kong, really)
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