NEVER MIND THE QUALITY

FEEL THE WIDTH
LIVING IN HONG KONG - PERSONAL COMMENTARY & OPINION
Eating Out Fashion Statements
I had lunch the other day in a place in Festival Walk called King's Palace Congee & Noodle Bar. It was very disappointing. I ordered "Char Siu Fan" (Chinese Roast Pork with Rice) which is listed as a speciality, and they even have special bowls for this dish. But it was mediocre at best. As is the whole place. In fact there are noodle and congee shops all over Hong Kong which are far better in every way than this place. Just because they have expensive decor, call the place a "Bar" and obviously pay high rent for being in Festival Walk, doesn't mean that they are any good. The chinaware is chipped and cracked, the sauce containers, salt, pepper etc. on the table are dirty and in need of a good clean. The staff are uninterested and have no idea what Customer Service is all about. They slouch around dragging their feet as they move and give the appearance that they have just reluctantly got out of bed. If you're looking for a place to eat in Festival Walk which gives good service and value for money, don't go to King's Palace Congee & Noodle Bar. In the 1950's children from all levels of society - and many adults also - wore the multi-purpose shoes that were called "Pumps". Made of thin canvas with rounded rubber-capped toes, laced through 2 or 3 pairs of eyelets and with thin rubber soles, they came in a choice of colours - white or black. They were made in China. They were one level above the other famous Chinese footwear "Flip-Flops". They were worn every day by the children of the less well off instead of leather shoes. Those children who did have leather shoes wore "Pumps" for PT class and for any kind of sport they played.(In those days it was called "Physical Training" - it didn't become "Physical Education" until more enlightened times.)
If the family could afford them, then a pair of "Bumpers" was a treat.Similar to rubber-soled "Deck Shoes",they lacked the finer finish; having a thick rubber "bumper" binding the sole to the canvas upper. They also came in a choice of colours - navy blue or khaki green. Also multi-purpose, they were used for more "dressy" occasions.

And then there was the ultimate. A pair of "American Baseball Boots". Usually two-tone; black canvas with white trimmings and laces, multi-purpose, they were worn to "show off" and to add wings to the feet of those children lucky enough to be bought a pair. They were particularly good for playing football if real leather football boots were too expensive. It didn't matter that they didn't have studs in the soles; nor that your toes got crushed each time you kicked the ball really hard. They looked good!!

The other day whilst riding on the MTR (the Hongkong Subway), I noticed one young man and one teenage girl seated opposite me, each wearing a pair of name brand "Fashion" trainers. Both were blue in colour and both were NIKE shoes. The train carriage was relatively empty during this off-peak journey so it was easy to look around at the other passengers. No less than 6 were "sporting" similar shoes. None of them was dressed as though going to play a sport. None carried a sports bag bulging with sports gear. They were obviously making a "Fashion Statement". Why else wear a pair of name brand sports shoes that don't have laces, have bits of coloured plastic attached which would definitely fall off if the wearer jumped up and down a lot or chased a ball, and are coloured blue/green/red/orange etc.? In the 30C plus heat of a Hong Kong summer day, feet encased in such shoes must be getting the feet equivalent of a Turkish steam bath - except that they would probably emerge smelling like...
But what does that matter? Wearing a pair of NIKE shoes called "Air Moc", "Air Presto Chanjo", "Air Solo Slide" or "Air Flight posite" says something. Wearing a pair of REEBOK shoes called "Classic Marathon CLS" or "Funk" also says something. As does wearing a pair of CONVERSE "Platform Mules","Mules" or "Thongs" say something. Perhaps only the people who wear such shoes know what that "something" is? I certainly don't.
"Pumps" are still worn,as are the classically styled baseball boots. Though I don't believe that wearing a pair of "Pumps" could be regarded as making a "Fashion Statement". Wearing "Classic" baseball boots certainly is.
LINKS:
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NIKE
REEBOK
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www.festivalwalk.com.hk
Email:
yellow_peril_hk@yahoo.com.hk