burning ghost money, iPhones and noodles, a photo from Hong Kong, South

Photographer's Note

This photo was taken in the North Point district of Hong Kong Island.

As I was walking down the stairs of a pedestrian bridge, I could smell the smoke even before I saw the young people burning the 'paper money' on the pavement.

Chinese people regularly burn 'paper money' for dead loved ones to use in the afterlife.

And, it might also bring them good luck!

From the article, Bidding fashionable farewell to the dead (from the China Daily), I read that people are also burning 'paper' iPhones, NDSs and even Sony laptops!

One shop sold a paper effigy that looked like 'spicy noodles' for about HKD400 (USD50).

"Offering paper effigies is the best tradition in the Chinese culture," said Cheng Ming-leung, chairman of the Chinese Paper Merchants Association.

papagolf21, jhm, worldcitizen, geoant68, danos, ManuMay has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

papagolf21 (152607) 2011-05-19 3:25

Bonjour, mon ami Andrew,
Merci pour cette photographie très édifiante à tous points de vue.
Merci de nous apprendre les us et coutumes du pays.
Merci de nous enrichir grâce à ces compositions étonnantes.
Je ne m'explique pas que cette photo n'ait pas bénéficié de points !
La vie est parfois difficile à comprendre !
Amitiés.
Philippe

jhm (211738) 2011-05-19 5:15

Hello Andrew,

Nice daily life image with the three young people look for to the papers for burning.
Sharpness and clarity be superb.
Excellent composition, good presentatie, nice of colors too.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John.

geoant68 (331) 2011-05-19 8:29

Hi Andrew,
strange the custom to burn someone 'paper money' on the pavement for their dead loved ones.Excellent the snapshot that obviously is unknown in Europe.

Peter

holmertz (103762) 2011-05-19 9:00

Hello Andrew,
This is an interesting view from an ordinary street in Hong Kong. There are many details to watch, but it's your note that makes the photo really worth a good look. This shows that "a photo says more than a thousand words" is not always true.
Kind regards,
Gert

danos (110407) 2011-05-20 8:44

Hello Andrew,
nice the snapshot with the natives to burn the 'paper money' as are 'sent' to their dead loved ones to use them in their afterlife.
A custom that is not known in West.

Regards,Danos

Fis2 (172115) 2011-05-20 12:49

Witaj Andrew!
Excellent reportorial photo.
Good frame and colors.
I like sharpness.
Have a nice weekend
Krzysztof

ManuMay (36447) 2011-05-21 23:23

Hi Andrew!

Very good daily life theme, I have read your note ...and China Daily´s too...and it is clear that ancient habits are changing into modern times!! ;)

But the old feeling stays, passing throught the times...moving to modern bodies, and times...I lokie very much this specal capture and its tribute to past...Thanks!!

Have a nice day...

Manu