To be Fair

The Canal Street Junk Market

Canal Street might be famous for its villian hitting business, but what attracted me the most each time I walk to work are the junk stalls mended by several groups of old ladies, in their 70s with silvery hair and traditional blue san-fu. I marvelled at what they have on offer on their plastic mats, and how they see values in items we have discarded. Amongst the spread of merchandise, is an old magazine with a very young Cheong Mun Yik on the cover, grinning innocently revealing her two buck teeth. A red dino stuffed toy, a baby bath basin, belts of various designs, lady shoes with ornamented heels and a pair of sunflower flip flop, old umbrellas and many different types of tuppleware. Several morning ago I saw an old lady peddler examining a piece of lacy underwear she was offering for sale. May be she has never worn such a beautiful lingerie in her entire life.

I have a lot of admiration and respect for these ladies. In such a competitive world of Hong Kong, they found a way to survive. They could have chosen to be in the old folk's home or even beg. Instead they found their own community and a way to survive.

posted by Vegie @ 4:29 PM