Suspiciously welcoming Tai O cats (Long!)

Hi all,

I've recently returned to London after another stint of working out in
Hong Kong. Weather was good (apart from a typhoon) and I got to
explore Taipei, which has been on my list of things to do for a year
or so.

While in HK, I went over to Lantau island, and visited a little
village called Tai O. It's very traditional Chinese, with self-built
homes lining a small concrete path. It's on the waterfront, as well,
and the path leads down to the sea and to the most fantastic Buddhist
temple. It's traffic free, apart from bicycles.

I was hiking with a few friends, and because I'm chivalrous (or
possibly, easily intimidated) I was carrying the group's backpack.
Walking through Tai O, we were inundated with cats. Tattered old
bruisers hopped down from their perches and twined round my ankles.
Tiny kittens popped out from under houses and tried to sit on my feet.
Svelte and small tabby-and-white moggies scampered and miaowed. I have
never felt so popular! Most of them would follow for a little way, and
then slink off the path again, only to be replaced by more cats.

I wondered if they were a little like the locals - who were also
taking a curious look at the pale, tall, round-eyed visitors. Or
perhaps I was simply a walking cat-magnet.

At the end of the path, we rested, and one of my friends retrieved a
paper bag from the depths of the rucksack. It was a snack for us.
Great pungent slabs of dried and flavoured squid. Suddenly it all
became clear!

On entering the temple, we were treated to a splendid example of a
well-trained catslave. The custodian of the temple was a small,
knowledgeable Chinese gentleman. As soon as we arrived, the temple
cats struck up a terrible howling. One - a tiny ginger girl - was
indoors, stationed at an empty food bowl. The other, who was a larger
tabby with only one eye, hung around outside the back door. They both
bellowed the unmistakable, demanding miaows of a hungry cat.

The custodian tutted, and gave them both a handful of food. Silence
reigned. They ate, and then sat inscrutably watching my Chinese
friends performing the incense rituals.

Until, that is, some new people entered the temple. Suddenly the
desolate wails of starving cats rang through the air again. In an
almost Pavlovian reaction, the custodian handed out food. Five minutes
later, some more worshippers arrived, and the performance was
repeated.

Almost makes you believe in re-incarnation... the cats were clearly on
a higher plane

Cheers
Al.

Alphonse, great stories and pics of HongKong's cats. Welcome back.
Jazz & his mama

--

Irulan
from the stars we came, to the stars we return
from now until the end of time


"Alphonze" wrote in message
m...
Hi all,

I've recently returned to London after another stint of working out in
Hong Kong. Weather was good (apart from a typhoon) and I got to
explore Taipei, which has been on my list of things to do for a year
or so.

While in HK, I went over to Lantau island, and visited a little
village called Tai O. It's very traditional Chinese, with self-built
homes lining a small concrete path. It's on the waterfront, as well,
and the path leads down to the sea and to the most fantastic Buddhist
temple. It's traffic free, apart from bicycles.

I was hiking with a few friends, and because I'm chivalrous (or
possibly, easily intimidated) I was carrying the group's backpack.
Walking through Tai O, we were inundated with cats. Tattered old
bruisers hopped down from their perches and twined round my ankles.
Tiny kittens popped out from under houses and tried to sit on my feet.
Svelte and small tabby-and-white moggies scampered and miaowed. I have
never felt so popular! Most of them would follow for a little way, and
then slink off the path again, only to be replaced by more cats.

I wondered if they were a little like the locals - who were also
taking a curious look at the pale, tall, round-eyed visitors. Or
perhaps I was simply a walking cat-magnet.

At the end of the path, we rested, and one of my friends retrieved a
paper bag from the depths of the rucksack. It was a snack for us.
Great pungent slabs of dried and flavoured squid. Suddenly it all
became clear!

On entering the temple, we were treated to a splendid example of a
well-trained catslave. The custodian of the temple was a small,
knowledgeable Chinese gentleman. As soon as we arrived, the temple
cats struck up a terrible howling. One - a tiny ginger girl - was
indoors, stationed at an empty food bowl. The other, who was a larger
tabby with only one eye, hung around outside the back door. They both
bellowed the unmistakable, demanding miaows of a hungry cat.

The custodian tutted, and gave them both a handful of food. Silence
reigned. They ate, and then sat inscrutably watching my Chinese
friends performing the incense rituals.

Until, that is, some new people entered the temple. Suddenly the
desolate wails of starving cats rang through the air again. In an
almost Pavlovian reaction, the custodian handed out food. Five minutes
later, some more worshippers arrived, and the performance was
repeated.

Almost makes you believe in re-incarnation... the cats were clearly on
a higher plane

Cheers
Al.

"Alphonze" wrote

I've recently returned to London after another stint of working out in
Hong Kong.

Welcome back, Al, and LOL at your story. Those temple cats certainly seem to
have reached a higher form of existence. Loved the pics, too.

--
Marina, Frank and Nikki
marina (dot) kurten (at) pp (dot) inet (dot) fi

Great story! Thanks.
Best wishes,
--
Polonca & Soncek

"Alphonze" wrote in message
m...
Hi all,

I've recently returned to London after another stint of working out in
Hong Kong. snip

in article , Alphonze at
wrote on 9/22/03 8:17 AM:

Hi all,

I've recently returned to London after another stint of working out in
Hong Kong. Weather was good (apart from a typhoon) and I got to
explore Taipei, which has been on my list of things to do for a year
or so.

While in HK, I went over to Lantau island, and visited a little
village called Tai O. It's very traditional Chinese, with self-built
homes lining a small concrete path. It's on the waterfront, as well,
and the path leads down to the sea and to the most fantastic Buddhist
temple. It's traffic free, apart from bicycles.

I was hiking with a few friends, and because I'm chivalrous (or
possibly, easily intimidated) I was carrying the group's backpack.
Walking through Tai O, we were inundated with cats. Tattered old
bruisers hopped down from their perches and twined round my ankles.
Tiny kittens popped out from under houses and tried to sit on my feet.
Svelte and small tabby-and-white moggies scampered and miaowed. I have
never felt so popular! Most of them would follow for a little way, and
then slink off the path again, only to be replaced by more cats.

I wondered if they were a little like the locals - who were also
taking a curious look at the pale, tall, round-eyed visitors. Or
perhaps I was simply a walking cat-magnet.

At the end of the path, we rested, and one of my friends retrieved a
paper bag from the depths of the rucksack. It was a snack for us.
Great pungent slabs of dried and flavoured squid. Suddenly it all
became clear!

On entering the temple, we were treated to a splendid example of a
well-trained catslave. The custodian of the temple was a small,
knowledgeable Chinese gentleman. As soon as we arrived, the temple
cats struck up a terrible howling. One - a tiny ginger girl - was
indoors, stationed at an empty food bowl. The other, who was a larger
tabby with only one eye, hung around outside the back door. They both
bellowed the unmistakable, demanding miaows of a hungry cat.

The custodian tutted, and gave them both a handful of food. Silence
reigned. They ate, and then sat inscrutably watching my Chinese
friends performing the incense rituals.

Until, that is, some new people entered the temple. Suddenly the
desolate wails of starving cats rang through the air again. In an
almost Pavlovian reaction, the custodian handed out food. Five minutes
later, some more worshippers arrived, and the performance was
repeated.

Almost makes you believe in re-incarnation... the cats were clearly on
a higher plane

Cheers
Al.

LOL!!