Living in a Concrete Jungle, literally
Several times a week, I walk up Old Peak Road to the top of what is known in Hong Kong as “The Peak.” It is not a long walk, but the steep paved path – a former road now closed to vehicular traffic – goes straight up before giving way (thankfully) to turns until it delivers you to one of the most spectacular views in Hong Kong.
As I climb up the hill, through jungle-like terrain, I often find myself humming Joni Mitchell’s classic tune, “Big Yellow Taxi,” especially the chorus: “They paved paradise, and put up a parking lot.” I can’t help myself. Anyone who has been to Hong Kong would surely notice that – except in the most remote corners – all slopes are paved. In the best example of “man versus nature,” every so often, slope crews show up at one of Hong Kong many steep hillsides and attempt to eradicate any greenery that has began to sprout – or many cases – overtake the paved hillsides.
Each slope in Hong Kong is registered and all winter, one can see slope maintenance teams scrambling from slope to slope, removing plants, sweeping, and ensuring slopes are safe and will not collapse during the rainy season, which begins May. The work crews post inspiration signs that say things like, “Safe Slopes Save Lives!” to remind passersby of the consequences of letting Hong Kong’s hills succumb to nature.
It’s true that in the old days, before Hong Kong began paving its slopes, they would – on a fairly regular basis – slide, killing many and destroying buildings. It was a serious problem that required serious action. Like many people in Hong Kong, I live on a steep slope, and while the slopes are far from beautiful, it’s surprising how quickly one adjusts, and I am thankful to the diligent teams for providing safety as they attempt to rein in Mother Nature.
My mother’s house sits on an embankment in the Seattle area. Every winter, or so it seemed when I was a girl, one of our neighbor’s embankments would slip into the road, blocking school buses and other traffic until the bull dozers could come and clear the mess. People would try different things to keep their hills in place including different types of foliage and retaining walls, but I’ll bet no one ever considered the most effective solution of all, paving the slope.
To those in Hong Kong, August means typhoons and lots of rain. Walking up Old Peak Road this time of year, one can see small plants sprouting and moss taking hold on the slopes. Time to call out the team.
Freshly paved slope:
A bit of moss…
A first sprout…
Slope registration sign:
Call in the slope crew:
That’s one for nature:
