Flexible (This week's Photo Hunt theme)

Living in what one Hong Kong newspaper has referred to as Bamboo City, it's really hard to go beyond the flexible bamboo when thinking of what to feature in this week's Photo Hunt entry. And why, I hear those of you who've never been to Hong Kong -- and don't have the time or inclination to check out the linked article from The Standard -- and can't quite figure out the photos in this blog post ask, is the Fragrant Harbour also referred to as Bamboo City?

Short answer: Because pretty much at any time of the day or year, the observer out for a stroll in the built-up areas of Hong Kong will easily come across buildings in the process of being built or renovated that are effectively encased in bamboo scaffolding (like the ones in the top two photos). Also, while it can look really insane (to wit: the bottom two photos, one of which shows the bottom of the scaffolding not being rooted in the ground...), there really is a logic and method to the supposed madness, as the following excerpts from the above referenced article show:-

Bamboo scaffolding is an example of natural materials put to ingenious use. Steel scaffolding may have advantages in strength and standardised quality but bamboo wins out in other ways...

Bamboo is more flexible than steel. It can be slightly bent to fit building contours... [Additionally, b]ecause of its properties bamboo is not rigid, so weaknesses can be detected before actually collapsing. Also bamboo is about eight times lighter than steel and it floats. Well-kept scaffolding can be used over and over again for about two years but then has to be disposed of... Bamboo scaffolding isn't necessarily dangerous... It is a cost-effective traditional craft that should be preserved and improved.