Contrasting religions

I've been to Nan Lian Gardens several times before when I visited Hong Kong in the past.  It's a beautiful part of Hong Kong and worth the trip out from island.  Since I had now moved to Hong Kong, it seemed like a good time to visit again.

My friend Bene was new to Hong Kong and she also wanted to see more sights around the city as well.  On a cloudy day, we took the MTR out to visit.  As always, it was calm and peaceful.  There were definitely more people than I remembered from past visits, but it was still a tranquil oasis in an otherwise busy city.

We were only one MTR stop away from Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple, so we decided to stop there to have a look on our way back.  The contrast couldn't have been more dramatic.  Whereas Nan Lian is a quiet place for personal contemplating, Wong Tai Sin is a chaotic place full of noise and people.  Everywhere you turn, your senses are confronted.  People talk loudly, there is the constant rattle of the fortune telling kau chim sticks and incense wafts through the air. 

Even the colours of the place are a dramatic change.  There are bright yellows and reds everywhere in comparison to the muted greys of Nan Lian.  The atmosphere of the two places could be a world apart even though they are only separated by a single MTR stop.

I don't think many people get to see such a huge contrast in what traditional Chinese culture can be.  Personally, I prefer the understated elegance of Nan Lian far more than the bright colours of Wong Tai Sin, but I guess it's all just a matter of taste.