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photofeaturesphoto features 47by Elizabeth Cheung, Herman Wong and Tiffany NgaiNam Sang Wai:A Rural SanctuaryPhotos and text by Elizabeth Cheung, Herman Wong and Tiffany NgaiVarsityDEC 2009 ISSUE 113DEC 2009 ISSUE 113Varsity

48Photo features photo features 49Antony (dressed in orange) takeswedding pictures for Chan and Tsang(left to right) in Nam Sang Wai.In a city of concrete and glass, amongthe high rises and skyscrapers, HongKong people often lead harried lives.Time and again, they may yearn for thescenery of a horizon with endless green, ofa haven of serenity and calm.Nam Sang Wai provides a hideawayfrom Hong Kong’s hectic lifestyle. Everyvisitor is entranced by its soul-soothingatmosphere as soon as they step into thearea, which is just a stone’s throw from thecity, north of Yuen Long.Nam Sang Wai is an extensive wetlandarea with a luxurious growth of reeds andmangroves, and it is also the habitat ofunique wildlife in the territory, home toseagulls and black-faced spoonbills.Karen Tsang Kei-man and Edwin Chancame to Nam Sang Wai to take their weddingphotos. The pair posed on the balcony of arun-down old shack surrounded by reedsas high as a man. They held each other ina passionate embrace against the beautifulbackdrop of Nam Sang Wai.“It is our first time to visit NamSang Wai but we have seen our friends’magnificent photos taken here earlier. Theview turns out to be gorgeous and tranquil,”the bride said.Their photographer, Antony LeungWai-kwan, said: “Wedding couples usuallychoose Central, Shing Mun Reservoir orNam Sang Wai for their wedding photoshoots. But more than half of them pickedNam Sang Wai as you can hardly find ascene like this in Hong Kong.”The 30-year-old wedding photographer,who was working with a cannon-likecamera, said he liked this job because itmade him happy to capture the preciousand crucial moment for couples.Apart from courting and newly-wedcouples, Nam Sang Wai attracts manymigrant birds to stay for the winter. It isvery common to see birds resting under atree at dusk or soaring in the sky at dawn.These birds and other wildlife here alsopull in a lot of visitors.Chan Yuk-lai and Lai Kwok-hei,both 28 years old, have visited NamSang Wai more than 30 times. Equippedwith his professional camera gear, Laisaid they came to take photos of birdsand butterflies. To them, Nam Sang Waimeans a paradise of birds. “Whenever wesaw birds, we would think of the place,”said Chan.Nam Sang Wai is the paradiseof birds to Lai and Chan (leftto right), so they always comehere to shoot photos.CouRtesy of Lai kwok-heiCouRtesy of Lai kwok-heiVarsity DEC 2009 ISSUE 113DEC 2009 ISSUE 113Varsity

50 Photo featuresphoto features 51Left: Kids enjoy playing around in thestore by a pond.Right: Yen Ji-dan left a sampan afterthe shooting of the film Flash Point.The breathtaking environment notonly draws in tourists, it also keeps NamSang Wai’s inhabitants here. Walkingalong a narrow alley beside the reeds,we come across an old woman in a hutwho asked kindly, “Want some rest andget a drink?”She was affectionately greeted asGranny Mei Choi by locals and visitors.Granny Mei Choi has lived in NamSang Wai for some 30 years. She sellshome-made Chinese herbal tea fromher hut.“The air here is good. Plus notmany people come here so nobodycomes to bother me,” said Mei Choi. “Iwill stay here until the day when no onebuys my tea.”As we kept walking through thealley, we saw three young childrenfishing from the bridge outside a 50-year-old wooden store by a pond. Theysuddenly burst into exultation as one ofthem caught a fish in her hands. Theiruncle came over and praised the littlegirl for a job well done.The children’s mother Tam Maling,the sister of the store owner, beganto recount her childhood in Nam SangWai. “We loved to go fishing, flyingkites and cycling during our childhood.Sometimes we would even dive into theriver for a swim,” she said.Tam and her siblings wereborn and raised in Nam Sang Wai.She moved to the city after gettingmarried. However, she still comesback frequently and brings her kidsevery now and then. She said the kidslike the area very much.Tam added that Nam Sang Wai is apopular location for film shoots. “Themovie Flash Point was shot just overthere in this store!” said Tam proudly ofthe popular 2007 action picture. “YenJi-dan (the leading actor of the movie)left that yacht here.” She pointed at theyacht beside the store.In Nam Sang Wai, taking a twominutesampan-ride is a must-do. Anelderly couple, Mr and Mrs Chan,started rowing villagers and visitorsacross the narrow river of Nam SangWai 10 years ago.Having lived in Nam Sang Wai for 20years, Mr and Mrs Chan are devoted totheir roles. They maintain their serviceeven when typhoon signal number eightis hoisted. They do not stop unless badconditions forbid them from rowing on.The hardship and perseverance of theirtoil is shown on their calloused hands.“We have been living here overhalf a century. I love this village. Ihave no intention to move out,” saidMrs Chan.Chan has been rowing the sampanfor 10 years, bridging Nam SangWai and Yuen Long for villagers andvisitors.Varsity DEC 2009 ISSUE 113 DEC 2009 ISSUE 113Varsity

52Photo features“We have been living here over half a century. I love this village.I have no intention to move out.”Varsity DEC 2009 ISSUE 113