January 17, day 7

Hong Kong Museum of Art was GORGEOUS! I wish I had an entire day to spend there. This was basically my sentiment on a lot of things we did on this trip, but now I know what I need to do when I get back. I'm not much of an artist and I don't really understand art, but there was something so strikingly beautiful about the simplicity of Chinese art. I bought myself some rice paper and brushes early in the week and plan on giving a shot at some Chinese painting. We'll see what happens. :-)

The heritage museum was, well, another flop. I went to the Cantonese Opera and really tried so hard to enjoy it but I just couldn't. It probably would have been much easier to if I knew what was being said, but I could not get accustomed to the music! Although the history behind it is really interesting. It's funny that it was a street art, and usually when you think of street art you imagine the poor starving artist, but these performers were rich! So why was it a street art? Why not get a nice revenue to perform in? Why bother setting up on the street and carrying around all of those elaborate (AND GORGEOUS!!!) costumes??? Hmmm....more research I need to do. :-P

Lastly was the Chinese Orchestra. THIS IS THE BEST THING THAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE PLANET!!! As I mentioned in my last post, even being a music student I get so bored in Western performances and don't really listen to Western classical music that often, but this was so REFRESHING! It was like a breath of fresh air after all the orchestra performances I've been to and all the classical music I've had to listen to in my classes. Not to say that all of that isn't important, but there's other important stuff out there that we don't even acknowledge (or, in my case, know of its existence!!!). That appalling!!! Needless to say, I stocked up on CDs and DVDs and am planning to do an entire unit on this stuff with my kids some day. We need more of this in our schools and the orchestra needs to come to the States.