I am now officially the Chungking Mansions' Rat: going in and out of every little hallway/stairwell/opening etc... People really DO NOT want to get their photos taken. I've made a few friends...mostly from India/Bangladesh that let me photograph them and are even trying to let me photograph their apartment but are unable to come through (they usually live with many people whom they must get permission). There are a lot of illigel immigrants so it is understandable. I really can't think of many things that are legal in this place: copy watches, copy phones, hashish, prostitution, any drug you can think of, rip-off brand clothing. I can't see anything wrong with their tailor made suits for around 20USD -- seems to be legal.
There was a fight today and I had to be sneaky about the photos -- in this situation it was a great time to snap away at all the people while avoiding the police. Didn't get up close and personal with the guy who was injured...just caught the end of the action it looked like. I guess I'm being a little pessimistic about this project but may just be getting a little cabin fever.
Anyway this british guy I've been hanging out with during the day (also a vegetarian) was talking about an interesting concept. He said, "This place has it's own weather -- it's always raining, even when it's nice."
I've been thinking about that because a lot of people refer to Chungking Mansions as Chungking Island: it's self sufficient and you can literally get ANYTHING here -- you don't ever have to leave if you don't want -- there are even frickin banks! The rain he's referring to are the external air conditioners which drip on everybody that's walking down Nathan Rd. On the 3rd floor you can walk out in this central area that goes between all of the buildings and it seriously sounds like it's raining!
Chungking Mansions: the living, breathing, organism.
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