One of the things I love about film is being transported to places I have never seen, been, or even imaged. My latest trip was to Hong Kong while I was at Hollywood Drive-In with Grace, Henry and Alice. We were there to see “The Transformers: Age of Extinction.” All I have say about the movie is that Rotten Tomatoes gave it * , one star. Generous as far as I am concerned! Henry, the ten year old described it saying, ” I am not sure what the story was, but it sure was action packed!”
Part of the filming was in Hong Kong and I saw these apartments which resembled boxes constructed on layers of other boxes as high as the eye can behold!
If I have seen pictures of this before, I didn’t remember. I learn by association and the only place, I remember at all similar is the Bario in Naples , Italy, where I have walked looking up at the buildings rising from the darkness to touch the sky. I had to see more of this urban living and googled it when I got home.
Today, I am sharing what I discovered. First are these shots of the cubicle living. Some of these spaces are for more than one person.
![hong-kong-cubicle-dwellers-3[5]](https://talesalongtheway.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/hong-kong-cubicle-dwellers-35.jpg)
![hong-kong-cubicle-dwellers-2[9]](https://talesalongtheway.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/hong-kong-cubicle-dwellers-29.jpg)
![hong-kong-cubicle-dwellers-2[2]](https://talesalongtheway.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/hong-kong-cubicle-dwellers-22.jpg)
And then when I thought it couldn’t be worse, I found the video below about “cage living!”
Lord have mercy!
Have you seen pictures of this before? Have you been to Hong Kong? Are there other places in the world where you have seen such density of people? I don’t think in India there is such density or at least not organized in this manner.(India has many people living on the streets and large families living together in a small space.) We also saw people living in boxes on the streets of Cairo, years ago. How should the international problem of urban poverty be handled? Any thoughts ?
TalesAlongTheWay 
This is very heartbreaking indeed 😞
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It is indeed. Almost unbelievable!
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How incredibly sad that anyone should live like this. And we complain about our little problems so loudly – puts things into perspective.
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What a great observation ! Thank you . . . .
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In a similar vein, have you ever heard about Kowloon Walled City? It’s a fascinating, if sad, story.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kowloon_Walled_City
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Oh thank you so much for sending this. I have never seen or heard about it either. I noticed in the article that there was much resistance from the residents about leaving. I think this is usual though unbelievable to us. It was their home and they knew no other. There is a place in Italy that I am familiar with Matera Sussi….where people were found living in caves with their animals in the 1960s! They didn’t want electricity and plumbing, they just wanted to keep the life they knew. I am sure I spelled that wrong, but I will as the professor! Thanks so much !
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Wow, people in cages.
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I was utterly amazed at this. . .had no idea of it!
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Maybe it’s not such a small world after all…
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No pun intended. . . .right?
No one has written to correct these pictures. . . . I am a capitalist . . . and unashamed of that but this is over the top. . . way over. “The root of all evil is the LOVE of money!”
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Oh yes, I’d agree. People usually pursue money in life to the exclusion of all else when they don’t have anything else worth living for.
The capitalist system just works better than any alternative in terms of reducing poverty and attaching ideas to self-interest, as I see it.
I appreciate the post, and keep traveling and experiencing new things!
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You are sweet but I got idea from this post from horrible Transformers movie! I am always amazed that you one of the intellectual bloggers fool with my little blog. You need to travel with your bro to India or some wonderful place. It will get in your blood!!
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“Intellectual’ bloggers. I like that.
Nothing wrong with enjoying a movie, now Bell.
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I took grandkids to drive -in to see Transformers ! Save your money!!! Oops , I forgot you are a guy. . . You probably like the chases and explosions and such!!!
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Depends on the movie. I’ve come to appreciate good story-telling, dialogue and character development with my explosions.
I’m a sucker for a car chase though
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Car chase is a guy thing. I love period films, foreign ones especially British. Husband says they are like watching paint dry!
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Listen, I assume you are Scottish or Irish. Am I right ? Going either country or to Britain are great first trips. We loved our time there and also Wales. Language is understandable , friendly people . . . Very welcoming .
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I spent three days in Hong Kong back in ’89. Never saw this side. My best memory of Hong Kong was an afternoon I spent in a bar playing blackjack with the owner, an elderly lady whose English was far and away better than my Chinese. I had some photos, but alas, lost them years ago when I left my last wife.
Wonderful post Annet.
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LOL ! Oh Lance, it seems to me that lots of your memories are of women and bars! Just saying. . . . .
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Hahaha! Yep. I guess it does appear so.
😉
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😎
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I get that everyone on this blog was dismayed by these pics…I wasn’t. Happiness isn’t dictated by the size of your dwelling. They are acclimated to living in those circumstances. They can open the door and walk out at will. My best friend with end stage emphysema said she would trade places with any one of them.
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Patrica, thank you for your comment. I guess , we in the west ohten judge the rest of the world by our standard of living. I see that in India, too. Many people in this world have so litlle and are grateful fo that and we have so much and always want more. You might like my post called Incredible India. Blessings to your friend!
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