看花看鳥看金魚 鬧市中的動植物街 Flowers and animals in busy streets (Data Limit Caution with plenty photos)

Last weekend I went to the Flower Market, Bird Street and Goldfish Street in Mongkok. I thought it was a good chance for me to visit the market where I haven’t go for year. And at the end, as you can see my last post of drawing, I sticked with the old idea of drawing cotton flowers, haha. It was still a very very nice weekend, though very hot. I would like to share some beautiful flowers and CAUTION of large data load of images

上星期我去了旺角的花墟、雀仔街和金魚街。其實一開始是想借繪畫比賽來逛一下久違了的花墟，怎料順便也把另外兩條街也走完，變成了花鳥魚之日。好風花雪月的感覺。雖然最後也是沒畫到花墟的花兒，但是也過了一個美好的週末。提醒：下面有大量圖片，小心數據用量：）

Flower Market

I went Flower Market from Prince Edward Station although we always say it is Mongkok Flower Market:P Passing the Fa Yuen St., there is Flower Market on the right hand side.

雖然說旺角花墟，我們也可以從太子地鐵站出發步行過去。經過了花園街對面就是今天的目的地了。

There is a big chain brand store named Brighten on the street at the entry of the street. It is like a super market of artificial flowers and home related decorations. There are noice of “welcome photo”, not “no photo”! A aggressive promotion strategy may be, haha.
街頭有一家搶眼的大型花卉店。一整條街都看到它的專門分店，有花卉用品、鮮花、盆栽等等。它家有一個有趣的地方是有標示「歡迎拍照」，到底是被拍到放棄了禁令還是進攻的一著呢？明顯它很成功，我拍個不亦樂乎也放到網上了，哈！

Here is the paradise of flowers and interior decoration lovers:) There was a group of ladies florists students having a field trip.
是插花和室內裝飾愛好者的天堂沒錯，看到少女插花團在這裡聽講解。

Don't forget vast is also important! Cage in garden or window decoration also a good choice. Flowers looks much more fragile in the cage.
別忘記了花瓶，適合的花瓶也很重要。如果有多點空間或者是為店舖裝飾，可以試一下鳥籠。在籠裡的花朵更令人憐愛。

Leaving the super store. There are some small traditional flower shops. This kind of shops match my feeling of Flower Market better:P Some of them also do wholesale. Flowers, foliage plants, and bouquet can be found here. Every year's Valentine's Day, news report will interview shop owners and customers here. Talk about this year's price, what flowers do they choose, this year's trends, etc. A bouquets price on Valentine's Day is higher then normal at least 10-20%, it can be USD100+.
離開這豪華的店，接著是這種小型花店。這種店比較接近我對花墟的主觀印象:P 它們有些也做批發的。除了花，也有觀葉植物和花束。每年的情人節，記者都會來這裡訪問幾個老闆和客人。問他們今年的花價、潮流等。這天的花都比平日貴大概一兩成。普通的一束鮮花可以賣上千元HKD @@

I was walking along this street, the Flower Market St.
就是沿著這條街散步

Then, I entered another branch of the first superstore. Here is fresh flowers :D One of the best things of going flowers shops is that the temperature is so comfortable x)
然後我去了它家的鮮花店。花店們都有在控制室溫，內裡很涼爽。在外面逛到熱時走進店內避避暑

I spent for a long time here and exploring different flowers. Attracted by the colour, shapes, and smell. I believe many other customers were like me, get lost in the beauty of flowers.
店不太但逛很久。不同形狀和顏色的花，我想這裡的顧客也跟我一樣迷失在小小花海裡

It is called Artichoke from Mediterranean region. Left side is the bud and can be used as ingredient. And the right side is flowers. um.. I think no one would buy it here and cook, haha. I like the shape and want to try its taste~
這叫亞竹枝，它主要分佈於地中海。左邊的花蕾是可以吃的，而右邊是開了的花。應該沒有人會在這裡買回家煮吧？我被它的形狀電到，好喜歡它，又想吃吃看。

I was attracted by this too, called Stachys lanata, also "Lamb's ears", lovely). Fur-like hair coating melts my heart TT. Like touching a cat ears<3
這叫棉毛水蘇，也叫羊耳石蠶。偷摸了它一下，手感好像在貓咪的耳朵（我未摸過羊耳...）心都融化掉～

Walk a few steps there is a shop selling large scale plants and many cute small foliage plants. The staff was asking customer details about the home environment, and provides professional advice!
幾步之隔是一家賣觀葉盆栽的店，小樹到小盆栽都有。門口剛好有客人買了東西要載回家，店員叔叔在「問長問短」，其實是想了解客人的裁種環境，再提供意見。

The right one is called Zygosicyos pubescens. The number 3800 is the price in HKD @@!! It was thought to be extinct until 1990, but found again now. The name written in Chinese is not the scientific name, but "福布袋", which means blessing and fortune bag.
右邊這一株叫柔毛沙葫蘆。3800是它的價錢！它的外形跟價錢都很吸引。它曾經在1990年前一度被認定滅絕了的品種，而幸運地現在又見它的縱影。而店家給它的名稱叫「福布袋」，是因為它的珍貴，還有外型像銀包才得到這名字吧？

Trendy succulent plants and Tillandsia, which has a nickname called "air pineapple". It doesn't need soil and grows in air, fit lazy people x)
最近人氣人旺的多肉盆栽，還有鐡蘭。不過人們比較多叫它「空氣菠蘿(鳳梨)」吧～它只要一點點水，在空中也能生長，懶人植物～哈

Big stores have different kinds of plants like a warehouse. Small stores have their way to survive. Like this one, selling selected plants. It focuses on the arrangement of plants that make a stylish corner for your home. You can find some ideas here. (Shop name : Wah King Garden Art)
這家超大型的花店用品種多和貨量大取勝，而一路上其他的小店舖也有它們的生存之道。小舖特意挑選比較特別的別種，也花很多心思在店面擺設，在這裡可以找到不同的靈感，佈置家中綠化小角～

Keep walking. There is a shop of tray planting! The beauty of oriental planting.
繼續走！看到很多盆景，喜歡點東方之美的話可以它捧回家培養。

A shop on the corner of the cross street. Half of it is a flower shop. The other half is a fruit shop. Gifts from plants :)
走到中段橫街看看，這家一半賣花一半賣果，好完滿的感覺。

An traditional school uniform shop. Usually it serves schools in the same district. Has whole collection of uniforms and the parts, e.g. buttons, ties, socks. I believe not only me had imagined the mannequins will talk at night…
突然出現了一家校服舖。這種舖主要賣當區的學校的校服和配件，像領帶，鈕扣，襪子。然後這些人偶晚上會動吧？（你看她們在聊天了）

Bird Street 雀仔街

At the end of the Flower Market, there is the Bird Street. In the past, it was placed in other place. The one you see now is a replacement. The original street was replaced by a big shopping mall, Langham Place. Having a bird as pet is a typical hobby of senior gentlemen in Hong Kong in the past. Groups of retired men in parks holding cages or hang it on trees and talking with each other was an ordinary scene till early 90’s. Also, in tee cafe or restaurants, people having dim sum, tasting tea with their birds. (Imagining the @laodr teahouse and all gentlemen holding a bird cage…)
在花墟街盡頭有園舖街雀鳥公園。這是為90年代舊址重建而起的，而原本的雀仔街就變成了今天的朗豪坊大型酒店商場。至九十年代末，在公園裡常見到成群的叔伯拿著鳥籠賞鳥和聊天。又，在地道茶樓裡一個個鳥籠掛在空中，人們就在下邊吃點心品品茶。（幻想老道茶館的客倌們拿著鳥籠的情景）

At the entrance a talkative parrot welcomes every one.
在口入處有一隻會講話的鸚鵡歡迎遊人。

Birds foods, cage, tools, toys etc, all what you need for you birds can be found here. The owners chatting with regular customers. A scene of human warmth.
這裡關於養雀的東西應有盡有，鳥糧、鳥籠、玩具，通通都可以在這裡找到。舖頭的老闆跟熟客聊得興起，聊日常聊心得，很地道人情味的畫面。

The bird is not escaping. Customers ask the owner to take specific one, hold it on hand to see if it is “the one”.
選鳥時，可以問老闆拿出來看，放手上摸摸牠，但好像不是人人都能輕鬆做到。

An owner is playing with his bird. Kissing the bird endlessly.
這位老闆拿著鸚鵡不停地吻。

The end of the Bird Street. I went back to the Flower St. though the back street. There are some wild habitants.
看完雀仔街，拐彎回到花墟。走小徑途中發現這裡也聚居了一群鴿，是被雀仔街吸引過來的嗎？

I rushed back and brought a mint and some seeds. I like herbs. This was the uncountable times that I tried to plant something “eatable” at home. If fail this time, I will buy the air pineapple even though I can’t eat it. It was evening and the shops were tidying up the front door.
已經日落時間，花店都開始收捨了。我忽忽買了一盆薄荷葉和種子（種能吃的比較爽）。種子是一些傳說中很容易種的品種，像䓤跟小麥草。如果這也種不了，下次只衝空氣菠蘿喇！

Goldfish Street

Then had a look of the Goldfish Street. The official name is “Tung Choi St.”, which means Ipomoea aquatica, a vegetable name. Around 1950’s, at the place where became the Mongkok East Station, there were hawkers selling goldfish and worms. Later in 1970’s there was a boom of goldfish and the group of hawkers moved here. Furthermore, the time of selling of hawkers was restricted, it made them the idea of running a store and continue the business. Actually there are also pet shops like dog, cat, hamster. It is interesting that people feed goldfish not only they like it. Some people buy goldfish for Fungshui reason. They believe that the fish can bring good luck and encounter bad luck.
反正都來了，不看白不看～去金魚街吧。它的正式名字其實是通菜街，反而是菜名不是魚名。在50年代小販在現在旺角東火車站的位置賣金魚和魚糧。後來在70年代興起養魚熱，他們也搬到現時這條街。加上因為小販經營時間有限制，人們直接開起舖來，就形成了今天的金魚街。這裡不只有魚，也有一些貓狗等等的寵物店。有趣的是，有些人養金魚其實不是為了興趣。相信風水的人會買金魚來帶動運氣和擋煞。

Back to the starting point and walk though half of the Garden Street. And I bring you to see goldfish.
先回今天的起點，走半條花園街，金魚街就在旁邊出現:D

Like Bird St. people can find all tools they need for the fish.
像雀仔街，這裡的養魚設備五花八門，比芭比娃娃屋更講究～

Because of high rental, many of them are moving to upper floor. And there also reptiles shops, like turtle, snake, gecko. I like geckos, I always wish them live in my home and eat all cockroaches.
為了節省租金，好些店都開在樓上。除了魚類，爬蟲類，例如龜、蛇、守宮等，也有不少粉絲，我特喜歡四腳蛇！因為牠會吃掉家裡的甲由(原字「曱甴」，即蟑螂。字誤，因為很多人常常忘記輸入碼，懶得找所以用甲由代替，漸漸變成流行語)

Ring the bell with fish stickers first, and the shop staff will unlock the gate for you.
有些在私人大廈裡，要按門鈴通知店員解鎖開門。

The neon light of the tank makes me think of the photographer/director Mika Ninagawa. Flowers and goldfish with high contrast and vivd color is the signature of the work.
這些霓虹燈水族箱令我想起了一位有名的攝影師/導演蜷川實花。花和金魚常常在她的作品中出現，色彩斑斕配合得宜不落俗套；或者俗給你看，但能俗得有格調，令我一看難忘。

Here, I didn’t see a wild fish habitant. And no kissing the fishes. (The reptiles may be) But their passion is reflected on the setting of tanks, decorations, foods etc.
在這裡應該看到不野生的魚，也沒有親吻魚兒的老闆吧(或者吻蜥蜴好了)。不過看著琳琅滿目的水族用品，愛好者們真愛啊。

The smell of stinky tofu marked the end of the day.
最後，在街尾的臭豆腐結束了今天的花鳥魚趴趴走了。

Epilogue 後記

Although at the end I chose not the flowers I saw in the market, this is worth going and I had a relax and refreshing afternoon there. Again some difficult questions. The plants and pets, all are not “natural”. All of them are being grown as products. I don’t think we should free those birds and pets in shops back to the nature. Adoption, or buy from reliable and trustable shop which won’t abuse pets. Once started having a pet, look after them for whole life. Try the best to make the flower arrangement and adore the beauty of flowers. Again, I am trying to find some conclusion to soothe myself. :’-)

最後雖然沒惜到花，只惜到一盆綠葉，也是個優悠的下午喇～不過，我又想奇怪的問題了。今天看的全都是人工「造」出來的商品。我不是說要立刻放生牠們，畢竟隨便放生也不負責任。(也有不少人到處找浪浪回去養，認為城市生活不適合牠們，硬要給一個「家」)不過既然要養，就領養，或者去不會虐待動物的店買。養了就要養牠一生一世，花養了也誠心欣賞它的美！（找美麗的安慰給自己退場）


Thank you for loading to the end x) Happy Friday is coming:P
謝謝花了這麼多數據看到現在，Happy Friday is coming囉～

Reference :

Bird Street / Zygosicyos pubescens / Zygosicyos pubescens / Artichoke / Stachys lanata