Saturday, May 23, 2009

Plastic (Photo Hunt revisiting of the theme)



Plastic is everywhere -- and maybe that's why it's been a Photo Hunt theme more than once. (Go here to check out (again for some of you!) my previous Photo Hunt entry!)

A glance at the first photo in this entry of one of the more traditional-looking establishments to be found in Hong Kong's Central District, however, you may not think so. And this especially so since I'm not even sure that plastic money (i.e., credit cards) are accepted at the very traditional -- and popular -- herbal shop that is the Good Spring Company.

But look at the second photo and you'll see that lots of cups of some of the staple teas brewed by the company (including sweet chrysanthemum and the much more bitter -- but even better for you -- 24 herbs tea) and housed for a time in metal urns are made of plastic-coated paper cups rather than the perhaps more expected porcelain.

And, actually, if you go back now to the first photo, you'll notice some other plastic containers about the shop along with the more old looking glass bottles and wooden drawers. So, really, plastic is everywhere. It's just that sometimes you have to look harder to find them in some places than others! ;b

47 comments:

Leslie said...

I enjoyed reading your post this week. :)

Those plastic chairs in the Piazza San Marco - they leave them out all the time, so they have to be plastic. They get wet with both rain and sea water from the tides.

RJ Flamingo said...

I think the plastic in this atmosphere is less obvious because you don't expect to see it, maybe. But it just goes to show that plastic is just *everywhere*!

Thanks for visiting me!

Anonymous said...

LOL~ Ya, given that some of their products are of high quality costing lots like birdnests,sharkfins, etc I'm sure most will pay via the plastic card!! :P

Randi said...

Very interesting post as always. I learn so much about HK and I wish I had read your blog earlier. I used to visit HK four times per year but I learn more now sitting here reading your blog...*smile*. Thanks for sharing!
Many thanks for your kind comments!

YTSL said...

Hi Leslie --

Glad you enjoyed reading the post and thanks for the explanation re the plastic chairs in the Piazza San Marco. :)

Hi RJ Flamingo --

Interesting suggestion -- there may be quite a bit of truth in that! :)

Hi Napaboaniya --

Ermm -- I don't think this is the kind of place that has shark fin -- that's more the province of dried goods establishments, particularly west of Central -- in Sheung Wan. But, ya, good point re expensive items... except have to say that in Hong Kong, people have been known to walk around with thousands of dollars CASH! :D

Hi Randi --

Wow re your visiting Hong Kong four times a year in the past! Well, maybe when you visit Hong Kong again, you can look me up and I'll take you on a photo expedition or two... ;)

Willa said...

they are all over!!!

Gattina said...

Imagine I still can remember when the first plastic things came up, I think it was in the 50th. And today what would we do without ??

Juliana said...

This week theme is easy to find isn't it ;)

My entry this week: in HERE. I hope that you can stop by as well. Thanks

Anonymous said...

Ubiquitous, I think.

Bengbeng said...

hey, hope you will have a great week ahead. :) I cancelled most of my credit cards. Too much of a hassle to keep track. I am always tempted by the free gifts they offer for application of credit cards

Anonymous said...

I remember your earlier post, of course! :) Plastic is everywhere so there was no trouble finding examples at all.

A. said...

And I'm not quite sure why blogger has suddenly taken to renaming my ID.

MaR said...

I expect porcelain to drink my tea! but plastic cups are such a practical device...

YTSL said...

Hi Willa --

Yes, they truly are ubiquitous! ;)

Hi Gattina --

Wow re the idea that there was a time when you lived without plastic...

Hi Juliana RW --

Actually, not that easy for me. When I hunted through my photo archive, found I hadn't take that many photos of plastic items! ;S

Hi Aileni --

Yes, most definitely -- for better or worse!

Hi Bengbeng --

Having a wetter weekend than I would like -- it's pouring with rain! As for credit cards: have never cancelled any of them because I don't have that many -- only ever have one at a time in my wallet! :D

Hi A. (and yes, I knew even the first time that it was you!) --

Weird but true: Maybe because plastic is everywhere, don't take that many pictures of it!

Hi Mar --

Have you drank beer from porcelain? Have drank that as well as tea using porcelain here in Hong Kong... ;)

Hootin Anni said...

Goes to show you how much I've paid attention to the Photo Hunt themes....lol.

My Plastic Photo is found HERE

Bim said...

I love both photos - so urban. The second one is my favourite - with the brightly coloured cups in the foreground. It looks like a good place to come for a short respite.

Upcountrysmiles said...

Aloha!!
Pretty pictures:) Yes plastic is everywhere in our lives. Check out my PH post http://upcountrysmiles.com -- I cover recycling.
Happy weekend!!!
Cindy O

Dragonstar said...

Yes, practically everything can be made of plastic these days - rather depressing.
That looks like a very busy and popular shop.

Tara R. said...

I actually had a difficult time with this theme because there was so many choices of plastic to choose from.

Nice shots once again this week.

Patricia said...

Lovely and colorful photos, YTSL. THough I'm not too thrilled about it - plastic is indeed everywhere.

Have a blessed weekend.

Isolated Existence. said...

Great entries and post! I like the second one best. Have a great weekend ;-)

laneerg said...

How clever! I never would have thought of plastic-coated paper cups.

Great entry!

Sue said...

Great post, and you are correct plastic is definitely a part of the modern world. Happy photo hunting :)

annalarssonphotography said...

Interesting post as always!
I always learn something when I visit your place.
Thanks for sharing with us :)

Have a great weekend!
Anna

NitWit1 said...

Great refrain of someone who remembers the topic before. It was my first try.

My post:

http://cowardscorner-nitwit1.blogspot.com/

Maddy said...

You just can't escape it. It's everywhere.
Cheers

LifeRamblings said...

plastics are everywhere now and nearly impossible not to spot.

YTSL said...

Hi Hootin' Anni --

Hmmm, didn't the plastic theme strike you as familiar before??

Hi Bim --

Re place for respite: both Hong Kong and that herbal tea shop are good. Re the latter: yeah, I've come to think that there's something about their 24 herbs tea that is like a magic elixir! ;)

Hi Upcountry Smiles --

Glad you think the pictures are pretty. Actually, was just happy if people found them interesting. :)

Hi Dragonstar --

That is a busy and popular shop. Sometimes wonder how they can stay in business because the tea on sale (in those cups) is pretty cheap. But they do a lot of business. So I guess every little dollar earned helps!

Hi Tara R. --

Sure there's lots of plastic about... but so much of it is rather mundane looking, don't you think? Hence this Photo Hunt not being as easy to figure out what to put up for than others -- at lesat for me!

Hi Patricia --

Thanks and yeah, I share your sentiments on the subject!

Hi Isolated Existence --

Thanks and well, reckon that the two photos help tell more of a story together. ;)

Hi Laneerg --

At first, thought the cups would be disqualified as they're known as paper cups but, well, you need some plastic to make sure they can hold liquids fine!

Hi Sue --

Thanks and happy Photo Hunting to you too! :)

Hi Anna --

You're welcome and thanks for your willingness to check out what I've put up to share. :)

Hi NitWit1 --

Yes, well, some of us have been Photo Hunting longer than others -- and still enjoying each week of this meme game! :)

Hi Maddy --

You make it sound like something monstrous -- and sometimes it is. And yet...

Hi Life Ramblings --

Like it or not, that does appear to be the case... :S

Marites said...

plastic cards are easier to use:)especially if on travel:)

Carver said...

This was a very interesting post for the theme. Yes plastic is indeed everywhere even when it's not obvious. Happy weekend.

PowersTwinB said...

I didnt realize that Plastic had been a wrd already used in 2007...very astute of you to catch that one! Yes, we are all surrounded by plastic...great photos! Thanks for visiting my hunt today, I really appreciate your visits

Dianne said...

Interesting post!
Thanks for visiting my blog too.

Unknown said...

are you sure this week's hunt was plastic??? Oh... Just pulling your leg... Great choice!

bonggamom said...

Yummy tea :)

Pat said...

Great post for plastic!!

Happy Weekend.

Unknown said...

Nice post and very interesting. Colorful also.

My plastics are here: http://blondesherry.blogspot.com/2009/05/photohunt-plastic.html

Sherry at EX Marks the Spot

Annie said...

Very scenic glimpses of plastic. I'd love to try some of that tea. :)

Happy weekend.

srp said...

Those teas sound so interesting and wonderful. Great post for the theme today! Mine is up here.

YTSL said...

Hi Marites --

Good point -- but, often times, my family prefers to get cash using (admittedly plastic) bank cards rather than pay on credit cards!

Hi Carver --

Thanks for reading as well as looking -- as always! :)

Hi PowerTwinsB --

To think I've been playing Photo Hunt since 2007. And scary but true: I can remember the very first theme I played -- Clean! ;b

Hi Dianne --

Thanks, and you're welcome. :)

Hi Expat Traveler --

Heheh... well if it's not plastic, lots of people are wrong -- including you as well as me! ;b

Hi Bonggamom --

The chrysanthemum tea is; the 24 herbs tea less so -- but good for you! :)

Hi Pat --

Thanks, and happy weekend to you too. :)

Hi Sherry --

Thanks!

Hi Annie --

Come over to Hong Kong and you'll be able to! :b

Hi SRP --

If you ever go to an authentic Chinese restaurant for dim sum, you should be able to order chrysanthemum tea. It's also available in "instant" form in many Chinatown stores. So check those out -- especially if there's one near you! :b

bing said...

plastic are everywhere and all over! there's something about the thought that makes me sad. it's like aliens conquering the world.

YTSL said...

Hi Bing --

Call it the price of development: i.e., the ubiquity of an artificial material that sometimes is useful yet at other times can be harmful to one's health... :S

jmb said...

I think we just take plastic so much for granted that do not notice it any more, until this week when at least some of us had to think about it.

I like your mention of using "plastic", it's even become part of our language in an unexpected way.

Tiglizzyclone said...

Interesting that plastic has been a theme for Photohunt before. Since I am relatively new to photo hunt I have been wondering about the themes. Those are great Orange plastic cups!

Thanks for your comment on mine!

mariposa said...

nice post about the theme. ;D

I'm a bit late in making my rounds, hope you have a great weekend!

Mariposa's PhotoHunt

YTSL said...

Hi jmb --

Agreed re your first batch of comments! And thanks for liking my mention of the term "plastic" in that way... ;b

Hi tiglizzyclone --

I think you can suggest themes to tnchick but have to say that thus far, I've not been very pro-active that way. Maybe I should be!

Hi Mariposa --

Thanks but uh... actually, it's already no longer the weekend over here! ;b

Plastic Cards said...

Great thinking....The uses of Plastic material is now more frequently in all over the world.

YTSL said...

Hi "Plastic Cards" --

With a moniker like yours, guess you would know! ;b