Before Hong Kong’s reality became surreal there was SurrealHK creating the surreal out of Hong Kong… How there’s an exhibition… And his Facebook page SurrealHK.
Here are some of our favourites
SurrealHK
Date: 31 October – 8 November, 2020
Venue: 13A, New Street, Tai Ping Shan
Tickets: free
More info:
12-7pm
In loving memory of Elaine Chow our friend and colleague who in the early hours of the 27 October 2005 committed suicide by stepping off a building. Gone, but not forgotten!
How can it be fifteen years since that tragic evening? Our memories of Elaine remain so strong and clear. She was a wonderful, vibrant young woman, who brought joy to everyone she met.
The memory of her beaming smiling face still brings a big smile to my face and a warm glow to my heart even in the darkest of days.
The pain of her death never seems to fade.
RIP Elaine you are deeply missed.
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Tragically almost 3 people a day, on average, commit suicide in Hong Kong. It’s the unseen killer across all ages.
If you know someone who’s talking (even jokingly) about suicide talk to them.
If you’re thinking of committing suicide, you are not alone – talk to someone first. Suicide scars and destroys those you leave behind.
Samaritans Hong Kong: 2896-0000 www.samaritans.org.hk
For those who hadn’t realised the Mark6 has returned with a weekly draw schedule.
The European Space Agency (ESA) has released a trove of almost 100,000 images of the red planet. Captured by the Visual Monitoring Camera (VMC) onboard the Mars Express orbiter the images were taken between 2007 and 2020.
There are also images of the release of the Beagle 2 lander in 2003. While the images have been released for scientific study, the public can browse them as well.
The image archive has hundreds of photos of Mars taken from orbit, showing the huge range of geographical features and diverse formations found on the planet. In the collage of images here, you can see everything from dust and water over the north pole (first image, top row), to an unusual cloud formation called the Arsia Mons Elongated Cloud (second image, top row), to a double cyclone raging over the planet’s north pole (fourth image, top row), to the enormous structures of the Tharsis Volcanoes and Olympus Mons (third image, second row), to the Valles Marineris canyon system (third image, third row).
The VMC was originally intended to observe the release of the British Beagle 2 lander, transported to Mars by ESA in 2003. However the lander disappeared after its deployment and its exact fate remained unknown until 2015, when NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter’s HiRISE camera captured its location. From the images, engineers could see that Beagle 2 landed safely but failed to deploy two of its solar panels, meaning it was not able to communicate with Earth.
Despite the failure of the Beagle 2 mission, the VMC was repurposed in 2007, and has been used to capture images for various scientific papers about Mars.
Note that the images have been adjusted for sensor ‘noise’ and variations in pixel sensitivity and the results are stunning.
Image: ESA Planetary Science Archive
Following the announcement in the United States that Ruby Tuesday restaurant chain was entering what’s known as Chapter 11 Bankruptcy to ‘restructure’ it’s business.
Managing Director of Ruby Tuesday in Hong Kong Leslie Bailey released the following statement today 8 October:
“Ruby Tuesday Inc. in the US has filed for bankruptcy protection as it seeks to stabilize its finances during the pandemic. Do know that this does not affect Ruby Tuesday Hong Kong, we are an independent franchisee, and although we all share the pain of the COVID-19 pandemic, this event in the US does not impact our restaurant operations in Hong Kong.
We opened two new restaurants last year, and one in January this year. In addition to this, and to underscore our commitment and belief in Hong Kong, we continue our expansion and, we will open a new flagship restaurant before CNY.”
Ruby Tuesday Hong Kong have five restaurants in Hong Kong: Causeway Bay, Quarry Bay, Tsim Sha Tsui, Tsuen Wan, Kowloon Bay
Staycations are very popular these days, but how about a ‘flycation’?
For those who are missing flying HK Express has announced a local ‘flight to nowhere’. Known as #UOFlycation – the new 1.5-hour flight will circle the city offering a different view of the many beautiful areas of Hong Kong that we catch a glimpse of on regular arriving or departing flights.
#UOFlycation launches in November but no details of prices or schedules have been announced as yet
A broadcasting era ends on 30 November as analogue TV signals are switched off at midnight and from 1 December Hong Kong TV broadcasting becomes digital-only.
The government has advised that people still using analogue TVs (around 68 000 households based on a recent survey) should obtain digital TV receivers, or they will not be able to access free local TV programmes.
Analogue TV households who are on social assistance programmes can apply at digitaltv.hkcss.org.hk/en/ for a free digital TV set.
The Sixth India by the Bay, postponed from February, has become a slimmed-down online festival entitled India by the Bay: A Digital Series running from 15-18 October, 2020
The virtual festival features four free events and offers HongKongers an insight into Indian culture and history through film, food, yoga and conversation. The events are:
Yoga as a Way of Life | 15 October, 7pm
Yoga philosopher Daniel Simpson will present a specially designed session on the benefits of Yoga in these difficult times
Zaika: Food, Creativity and Lockdown | 16 October, 7pm
Romy Gill and Rahul Gomes Pereira in conversation with Vir Sanghvi
East West – A Legacy | 17 October, 7pm
Shubhendra Rao, disciple of Pandit Ravi Shankar celebrates the centenary of his Guru’s birth.
Churchill: Hero or Anti Hero | 18 October, 7pm
Shashi Tharoor in conversation with Mukulika Banerjee on the life and legacy of Winston Churchill, one of history’s most complex figures.
India by the Bay 2020
Date: 15-18 October, 2020
Venue: Asia Society Hong Kong Center
Tickets: free
