When on that Sunday morning of May I left my place for Hong Kong at dawn I couldn’t understand a lot. What I knew was that I was going very far from here. Almost by accident. Completely unprepared. For a landscape design in a city that up to a month before was totally unknown to me. Going to the East is, for me, the real essence of travelling. And I’ve dreamt to go to China – one day – many times. by the Orient-Express. Dressed in a brown tweed suit with high heels and a Louis Vuitton luggage. I imagined all the miles on the tracks as part of the journey itself. Instead I went by plane without planning. Only 12 hours to be in a place I did not know anything about. A reality made of deep contrasts. Of huge buildings taller than 50 stories. And of tiny details. Of places completely depersonalized and others with such a strong identity…to be displayed, performed, almost screamed. An irrepressible nature alternated with tiny and dark streets where the tall buildings filtered the light and the sky was visible only looking up the top.
The East for me is not only the other side of the world. It’s that part of the world where I try to leave my mind as long as possible, when I go home.
Quando quella domenica mattina di maggio sono partita per Hong Kong all’alba non capivo molto. Ma sapevo che stavo andando parecchio lontano da qui. Quasi per caso. Completamente impreparata. Per un progetto di paesaggio in una città fino a un mese del tutto sconosciuta. L’Oriente rappresenta per me la vera essenza del viaggiare. E io che sognavo di andare in Cina, un giorno con l’Orient-Express. Vestita con un tailleur di tweed marrone, i tacchi alti e un baule di Louis Vuitton. Immaginavo i chilometri passati sui binari come parte integrante di quel viaggio. E invece ci sono andata all’improvviso in aereo. 12 ore per trovarmi in un posto del quale non conoscevo nulla. In una realtà fatta di contrasti profondi. Di edifici enormi alti più di 50 piani. E di piccolissimi dettagli. Di luoghi spersonalizzati e altri con un’identità così forte da essere mostrata, esibita, quasi strillata. Di una natura prorompente e di costruzioni talmente dense da lasciare poco spazio a terra per le strade. In quelle strade i palazzi alti filtrano la luce. La nascondono quasi completamente finché non guardi in alto verso il cielo.
L’Oriente per me non è solo l’altra parte del mondo. E’ la parte del mondo dove cerco di lasciare la mente il più a lungo possibile quando torno a casa.
Comments
28 Responses to “The East love”
Just beautiful!
It was hard to select few pics…It’s strange I miss a place so far and so different from my country! I want to go there again! xxx
You pics are amazing. I got to see things I never saw before. Thanks for sharing 🙂
sono stata ad HK una volta per due giorni, di passaggio. Ho avuto sensazioni cosi’ differenti e forti e voglio tornarci!! 🙂
Io sono stata 4 giorni e una decina in Cina! Hong Kong mi ha scioccato. E’ una NYC ancora più forte e contrastata. Per non parlare dello shopping sfrenato :D! anche io voglio tornarci asap! xxx
Your pictures just made me miss China so badly!
Love them!
Have you been there? I have been to Japan first and I thought I would have never appreciated China….but it wasn’t true…I loved it!
Great photos!
Ciao! That’s cute to read and know you appreciate :D!
enjoy your day!
xxx
Nice photos
I think that if you take pics of something you like it’s simpler! muah
Great post dear ! Love the pictures !
XX Luba
:: Well Living Blog :: gourmet experiences with Buglarian roses
http://very-well-living.blogspot.com
Ciao Luba!
I’m still working for that project these days…so I’m, in some way, still there!
The pictures are so evocative – I’d love to visit someday.
It definitely worths a visit! just go :D!
China love!!!! Great pictures girl! xxx
Ei! that’s cute to read! The landscape, the city, everything was cute, but the shopping time was superior! LOL! have a great day my friend! xxx
Amazing photos! I’m visiting HK next year! Can’t wait!
I’m sure you’ll love it! And be prepared for the shopping! 😀
Wow, do you still live there? What are you doing there? It’s also my dream to experience Hong Kong or Singapore before it’s too late!
Ciao janet & george! No I’m in Italy now, but I’m still working for that project. It’s a landscape project regarding the improvement of a riverbank. HK is not China, but it’s something amazing and crazy you cannot imagine until you try :D!
I’ve always wanted to go to China and thanks so much for sharing your pictures!
Ciao Marie, bellissime foto e deve essere fantastico e gigantesco………. HK è sicuramente sulla mia lista ! Xoxo
thanks for sharing your impressions, I am just back from HK and share your feelings completely.. it’s a fairytale land of contrasts, need to go back one day
Exactly love that definition of a fairytale. There’s something magic…it sounds like a dream…I want to go back right now 😀
Dio che spettacolo! La resa delle fotografie completa le tue parole.
oh WOW! che commento! breve, conciso e diretto! è come un pezzo di ghiaccio che scivola lungo la schiena! In senso buono, ovviamente! 😛
🙂