"Memories are like railway tracks, the traces of life's journey."
The splendid scenery along the tracks carries the history of a city and evokes unique emotions. In Hanoi, Vietnam, trains run through the narrow alleys of the urban area, passing by streets, markets, and even the back doors of residences. When a train passes, local residents or shops quickly close their doors; once it’s gone, life returns to normal.
This tradition is still preserved in Hanoi today. Currently, there are two scheduled train runs each day. Along the route, local residents live alongside the trains. When there’s no train, neighbors sit by the tracks chatting, children play on them, and when a train approaches, they calmly gather their belongings and step aside. The community is built this way.
Recently, the debate over whether to keep or scrap Hong Kong’s trams has been heated. Looking into the facts, the Hong Kong tram is actually the world’s only remaining fleet of double-decker trams. These trams have witnessed Hong Kong’s development over more than a century—from a small fishing port to an international financial hub. Over these hundred years, the tram routes have remained unchanged, but the people, events, and scenery around them have long since transformed.
"Memories are like railway tracks, the traces of life's journey."
Every city has its own vitality, and that vitality is not solely based on economic value. Over this hundred-year journey, amid fleeting glories and awakenings from dreams, we need to reflect on our own values as we move forward through these turbulent times.
Please take 5 minutes to respond to the Town Planning Board’s proposed plan to remove tram tracks:
http://www.info.gov.hk/tpb/tc/plan_application/Y_H4_10.html
Text: Daneil | A story of a half-travel journalist
Photo: Amusing Planet
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