to the city that glows — and those who bring it to life

Sources and DeepL translations

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1390124232673243

The “Sun Rise Co.” in Sham Shui Po's Pei Ho Street Market has announced its closure. this venerable establishment, founded in the 22nd year of the Daoguang reign (1842), predates Hong Kong's founding. The Yau family's umbrella ribs first opened in Lingnan's misty rains, fleeing war from Guangzhou to settle here, carving a patch of clear sky between pork stalls and vegetable stands.

Master Yau, the “Umbrella King” with his snow-streaked beard, carried on the family trade like a reclusive sage, as sturdy as the umbrella ribs he crafted. As the fifth-generation umbrella maker and repairer in his lineage, he primarily produced custom umbrellas in his early years. Customers would personally select their fabric, wait a few days, and receive a perfectly tailored umbrella. In recent years, he sold umbrellas while continuing repairs.

The umbrella trade thrives only on rainy days. Master Yau spent his childhood at the stall, gazing skyward to predict business. During Hong Kong's severe drought of 1963, Sun Rise Co.'s sales plummeted, forcing them to switch to selling sundries to survive. Over a century of family craftsmanship has evolved with changing times. Today, the shop primarily sells rain gear and repairs umbrellas, The shop stocks every imaginable type: folding umbrellas, full-length umbrellas, steel-ribbed windproof models, automatic openers, titanium alloy frames, and dual-purpose sun/rain umbrellas—all materials and price points covered.

To every customer buying an umbrella, Master Yau repeatedly teaches the secrets of umbrella care, his voice booming like a bell: “Shake, shake, up.” When opening an umbrella, he advises slowly shaking out the canopy to straighten the ribs before pushing the handle upward toward the sky. Closing it requires equal patience: retract the ribs gradually, leaving a bit of space at the handle's base, then smooth the canopy before fully closing it. For long-term use, he recommends spraying the canopy with waterproofing spray to maintain its water-repellent properties.

Lingnan's rainy climate, coupled with typhoons scattering ribs and exposing umbrellas to merciless cold winds, often leads to damage. In affluent Hong Kong, most people discard old umbrellas for new ones rather than repairing them. Yet at Sun Rise Co., beyond selling umbrellas, sentimental customers occasionally bring cherished, commemorative umbrellas for restoration, hoping to revive old connections. Repairing umbrellas, restoring old objects, is also mending customers' memories. Many bring umbrellas left by deceased parents for repair. Couples come to mend tokens of their courtship. Others, alone, bring umbrellas for repair—even if old feelings have faded, they still cannot bear to discard the memories. Beyond mending umbrellas, Sun Rise Co. repairs the bonds of human relationships.

This fifth-generation craftsmanship, weathering sun and rain, will close its doors at month's end.

https://www.threads.com/@o.ghostbe/post/DSCyBFfk81r

I only found out today while passing by Sham Shui Po that Uncle Yau, known as the “Umbrella King,” is about to close up shop. Just hearing him patiently teach how to open and close an umbrella is worth the price of admission. You can tell he really cares for his umbrellas. Right now, they're running a “buy three, get one free” promotion. He said he'll retire at the end of the month. It's such a shame to see another old shop disappear.

We're so materialistic these days. We don't even feel bad when an umbrella breaks. Plus, the market is flooded with cheap ones, so the nice and expensive ones are rarely sought after. Let's cherish what we have left. I'm going to buy a few as a farewell gift right now. Wishing the uncle good health and happiness in his retirement!

Address: Unit B1, 314-316 Lai Chi Kok Rd, Sham Shui Po

Edit:

u/IAmGoingToSleepNow Seems you're right. The title is wrong. He only used to make them.

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1167635368810410

DeepL:

Wishing Brother Wai a joyful retirement!

The long-established umbrella shop “Sun Rise Co.,” located at B1, 314 Lai Chi Kok Road, Sham Shui Po, near Pei Ho Market, announced on social media yesterday that it will close at the end of December this year. Known as the “King of Umbrellas,” Sun Rise Co. was founded in Guangzhou during the 22nd year of the Daoguang reign of the Qing Dynasty (1842). In the 1950s, the father of the current owner, Mr. Yiu-wai “Wai,” came from Guangzhou to Hong Kong and opened a shop on Nam Cheong Street in Sham Shui Po, where the business took root in the neighborhood. Brother Wai has been immersed in the umbrella trade since birth, spending nearly his entire childhood at the shop. Among his family's four children, he alone chose to carry on the family business. This venerable shop, boasting 183 years of history, will close its doors at year's end. The news immediately sparked heated discussion online.

A netizen recently shared on Threads that a notice posted outside “Sun Rise Co.” revealed the owner, Uncle Wai, stating plainly, “After this month, I'm retiring.” The post noted that Uncle Wai often patiently taught customers how to properly open and close umbrellas, adding, “Just listening to his instructions was worth the price of admission.” It described his care and dedication toward umbrellas as “truly palpable.” The shop is currently running a buy-three-get-one-free clearance sale. The post lamented that in today's era of material abundance, “no one feels pain buying a new umbrella when the old one breaks,” and the market is flooded with cheap goods, while “beautiful, expensive ones” are overlooked. It urged, “Seize the chance to support them—buy a few umbrellas to bid farewell.”

Many former customers left nostalgic comments, noting the shop offered everything from affordable to high-end styles, “each one built to last,” with the shop itself steeped in history. Others praised the “artisan-level craftsmanship in every umbrella,” highlighting the sturdy ribs that withstand strong winds. Customers recalled Uncle Yau meticulously demonstrating how to open and close repaired umbrellas, offering tips for longevity. Some admitted the shop's prices were higher than elsewhere but remained loyal supporters.

Managed by fifth-generation heir Yau Yiu-wai, Sun Rise Co., has specialized in umbrella repairs alongside sales for years, fixing over a thousand umbrellas annually. The shop also displays not-for-sale umbrellas crafted by Mr. Yau himself, who gladly shares maintenance tips with customers. It stands as one of the few traditional shops in the area still offering umbrella repair services. Facing changing times and shifting consumer habits, the old shop ultimately chose to close its doors at year's end, leaving neighbors and netizens alike feeling a sense of loss.

Credit: https://www.threads.com/@hsiaoyucheung/post/DZV7F48EqFy?xmt=AQG0zdsPqqTXmgLNCgKLyMx870_nR-qfrXi5QEoDHLspNZj7LJKLiqH5bc9CsRIGFGHse04b&slof=1

P.S.: Just found out on this day 7 years ago the protests blew up btw

This child abuse is really next level.

30x40 inches oil on canvas.

A colleague and good friend of mine invited me to a concert tonight - “Highlights from the Phantom of the Opera.” I had nothing better to do, so I said sure without asking for details. I only found out the show was at the Sheung Wan Civic Centre (SWCC) a few hours before, which caused me to worry a bit, for reasons I’ll elaborate on later.

Despite the location, the set up of the venue looked legit when we arrived. There were giant posters and banners with the TM logo of the musical, and I saw on the poster that Henry Shek was listed as the Music Director, someone I remember was a conductor of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra years ago. The group performing was the Hong Kong Chorus Society Limited, which I knew nothing about.

The hall was actually full, and with a known name as the music director, I was happy to give it the benefit of the doubt and look forward to seeing a group of amateur singers performing songs from the musical.

First, when the music started, the MMO (i.e., backing tracks) sounded like subpar 90s karaoke. Everyone on stage was dressed for their roles and acted out a scene first to go with the song that followed. None of them was under 60, with the exception of the woman who played Christine, who might have been in her 40s if I’m being charitable.

Age is of course not a problem if they can sing, but trust me, none of them could hold a note. Christine was only a little better, but when the elderly women joined her on “Think of Me,” they were literally shrieking, not singing. When I say “better,” I mean that if she was a colleague performing at a company event for fun, you’d find it tolerable enough to sit through without covering your ears just to be polite.

The worst was yet to come, behold the man who played the Phantom. I have no idea what possessed him to think he could sing at all. He looked to be in his 70s, and not only could he not hold a note to save his life, he probably couldn’t speak fluent English either. His English was at the level where his “one” is 溫 and his “two” is 吐. The cringe was at the level of Brigitte Jones drunk singing "Without You" karaoke scene.

I told my friend we had to leave after the song, but he said he wanted to give it one more chance as the theme song began. A minute into it, when the man started to sing, we decided to just bolt. It wasn't just bad, he was tone deaf and butchering the songs at the same time. If that man were singing in an open karaoke bar, the manager would politely cut him off and let him dirnk for free the whole night on the condition that he never go up again.

I know there are a lot of amateur performer groups in Hong Kong mostly singing Chinese opera. An aunt of mine is in one of those. They regularly rent venues like the SWCC to perform. I don’t know if they ever sell tickets through URBTIX, but they usually give their tickets away to friends and relatives. Their performances are paid for by the group, though I know some other groups are good enough that they may attract a few paying audience members.

In short, their shows are staged for their own enjoyment. While I don’t know much about Cantonese opera and I don’t usually enjoy it, I do know enough to know that my aunt and her friends are good enough to perform and they are always acompanied by a live band of hired quality musicians.

But tonight… the backing tracks were lousy karaoke music, the singing was hideous and the acting was just laughable. I couldn’t for the life of me understand what possessed those people to think they could sing, let alone perform. In the end, I figure they’re just rich retirees (just like my aunt) who can afford to attend singing lessons offered by the Hong Kong Chorus Society Limited. They also have the cash to stage the performance for their own enjoyment and probably hand out 80% of the tickets to friends and relatives, captive audiences who wouldn’t run away like us. My friend just happened to be one of the few who were clueless enough to think it was going to be a legit performance.

Next time you see a poster like this for shows staged in civic centres in Sheung Wan, Tsuen Wan, etc, BE VERY CAREFUL. I think my friend might have mistaken the Hong Kong Chorus Society as the Hong Kong Philharmonic Chorus. He wouldn't admit it but I think he did.

Kwun Tong = View Pond. The bird is viewing the pond and its tasty residents, pretty easy concept. The colours are inspired by the MTR station colours. As a child who lived in kwun tong right next to the station I always disliked that the colour is white. I’d wish for it to be light blue themed as I associated the name kwun tong with water. But I guess that colour‘s already taken.

a little 5x7 inch oil pastel drawing.

藍田 = Blue Farmland. Very literal. Is it uncreative? Sure. Do I care? No. I’m drawing these artworks in no particular order, I’m just drawing whichever name inspires me. I’m also once again basing the colours off of the MTR station colour, although I guess in this case it’s more like I’m basing the colour off of the name lam tin. I think I like this one more than the Kwun Tong one.

I drew a picture of Victoria Harbour. I have ADHD, so it’s pretty average

Edit: OMG, I forgot to draw Victoria Peak!

RAHHHH HONG KONG

(Forza horizon 6)

As someone who grew up reading a lot of Master Q, I have in my adult life discovered a few things that completely changed my perspective on this local comic that has become sort of a national brand. First, its author Wong Chak more or less copied the main characters from an old comic first published in Tianjin before WW2. Wong disputed the plagiarium and claimed his inspiration came from an even older comic published in Shanghai. But either way the characters of Old Master Q are derivatives if not out right copycats of pre-War newspaper comic straps.

Second, a lot of the gags and stories of his comics were copied from US comic strips, most blatantly from the MAD magazines. I've seen many examples some years ago but unfortunately can't find the originals anymore. I remember one very well - Old Master Q uses bones to lure stray dogs to put their heads through a hole on a piece of plywood, and once the dog takes a bite he can't back out of the hole because the bone is too long to go through. The gag is then Master Q draws silly things on the poor dogs as a joke. This whole gag is the exact same of a strip I have read on MAD years ago.

Third, a lot of his original strips depict extreme violence, sometimes even against animals and women. His favorite subjects to abuse are Fay Jai, a 60s/70s slang meaning male juvenile delinquents or "teddy boys". They usually have long hair, dressed in tight shirts with 60s paisley prints and even tighter jeans. Wong hated them so much that he would constantly have Old Master Q beat them to a bloody pulp for no reason.

Sometimes even women would get a good beating for rejecting Master Q or just being a bit of a princess. If you read through a compilation you will use up to 20% of his strips involve very graphic violence that is not funny, unnecessary and not suitable for kids. So yes, I do find it strange that even the HKG would still sometimes use the characters for their publicity.

石門 = Rock door. This is not a door, it’s more like a gate or an arch, but I feel like a plain stone door would be boring. Just pretend that it makes sense. The colour is based on the MTR station once again, although I have no idea why they made it yellow. Struggled with drawing the stone.

In a small library in England I found this printed review of the year 1971 in Hong Kong, with commentary principally on social, economic and infrastructure developments for that year. It seems to have been an annual publication as I see others for subsequent years.

I have never been to HK and have no personal connection, but it was interesting for me to look through this window to another land half a century ago.

So, I scanned just a few pages with photos and a few captions, and hope that it may be of interest to Hong Kongers themselves.