Concert For Her Fans

Denise Ho is planing to go ahead with the concert that Lancome had cancelled

Lancome may have scrapped a mini concert for Denise Ho Wan-see this weekend, but the singer-songwriter is determined the show must go on.

She will perform pretty much the same time and same place for not only ticket holders, but anyone who wants to support her.

It will be held in the hipster PoHo area in Sheung Wan

It will be held on Sunday starting at 3.30pm in the hipster PoHo area, or Po Hing Fong and Tai Ping Shan streets, while a five-hour program called "The Beauty of WE" begins at noon.

On her Facebook page, Ho said that she, as well as cafes and stores in PoHo, invited "all daring people who share their belief to respond to suppression and fear with music, culture, individuality and firmness".

Stores featuring leather, pottery and floral workshops would be held on that day, and offering discounts too.

Ho said the program would be "free from politics, slogans, banners, placards, organizations... and big conglomerates".

The original poster with the event sponsored by Lancome

It's interesting Ho is still doing the show, because she probably won't be making any money out of it, though she will be helping to generate business in the area.

However, in terms of public relations, it's a bonus for Ho because she's giving the incident some closure, which her fans, and outraged Hong Kong citizens can participate in and finish on a high note (so to speak).

Wandering Sheung Wan and Taiping Shan

Clever frontage for a bar hidden behind this "shop" supposedly selling chops

Last Sunday after a delicious dim sum in Sai Ying Pun, some relatives and I walked around the Sheung Wan and Taiping Shan area.

Several piggies lined up with roast ducks too!

We saw a mix of old and new which juxtapose so well together, making Hong Kong a unique place to live in. As we walked along the start of Hollywood Road from the west, we saw a pine of pig carcasses hanging in a row on steel hooks.

One relative, who was visiting had to get a picture and I encouraged her to walk inside. The middle-aged men standing or sitting around invited us to come in, but warned the floor was slippery thanks to all the pig lard on the floor! Hanging above the carcasses were roast ducks too!

A cheerful mandarin tree plant

After climbing up hills and steps, we arrived in Taiping Shan. One deceptive shop front is Mrs Pound, or Pong Tai Tai in Chinese. In front is a display of all kinds of chops and rectangular-shaped stones that can be carved with Chinese characters.

But in fact this "shop" is a front for a bar inside -- if you can figure out how to get in. The hint is to press one of the buttons in the glass display...

Further along I spotted a cute mandarin orange tree plant in a small pot holder by a store front. What a wonderful way to liven up a space!

We also spotted a new restaurant that opened, and had a hand written sign apologizing for the slow service because of Chinese New Year. It looked cozy inside with an international menu. It may be a spot we come back to try.

An artistic homage to Dr Sun Yat-sen

Finally along Bridges Street, a wonderful colourful mosaic featuring Dr Sun Yat-sen in the top left corner and various buildings and street scenes of Hong Kong during the early 20th century.