Thursday March 14, 2013
Hong Kong 'snake kings' stand the test of time
HONG KONG: In a quiet corner of bustling Hong Kong, iron cages containing writhing serpents are stacked up at the entrance to an old shop that has been selling snake soup for more than a century.
Inside more than 100 wooden drawers store hundreds of snakes, with more than half of them labelled "poisonous". Customers enjoy the thick broth made from the reptile's lean meat which costs HK$45 ($6) a bowl.
The shop "She Wong Lam", which means "Snake King Lam" in the local Cantonese dialect, was started by a snake handler from mainland China and is one of the main outlets for snake soup in the southern Chinese city.
Snake soup, considered a delicacy in Hong Kong and mainland China, is a favourite winter warmer as it is believed to improve blood circulation and ward off illness.
The snake's gallbladder is said to contain the reptile's essence and is also used in a variety of Chinese medicines.
Mak Tai-kwong started working at "She Wong Lam" in 1948 and rose to become one of Hong Kong's best-known snake handlers. He continues to train younger colleagues in the trade today.
"Initially, I was very scared, but I was curious," Mak told AFP of his first attempts at handling snakes. "I was bitten by a non-poisonous snake... it was like an ant biting me, so afterwards I was no longer scared."
One of his tips on snake handling is not to hold the reptile too tightly.
"If you hold the snake tighter, it will bite you harder," Mak said.
But it could be a dying trade in Hong Kong, as some other handlers say they have no intention to pass on their businesses to the next generation.
"I don't want them to be in this line of work because first, it's harsh, second, it's difficult, and third it's dangerous," said 60-year-old Tam Kam-sun, a fourth generation snake catcher, from the "Se Wong Sun" shop.
"The next generation may not be willing to do this, they won't do this," he said as he drank a bowl of soup made from his snakes. - AFP
- Perak cops arrest seven in connection to spate of robberies
- Prosecution given until June 6 to decide on rape-marry case
- Indonesian woman falls to her death in Penang
- Former Batu Uban assemblyman withdraws defamation suit against bank executive
- Task force formed to salvage Cameron Highlands
- Stern action to be taken against the culprits
- Dept: Less than 1% of forests being illegally logged
- Take action against Kian Ming, voter told
- Second-term Selangor MB Khalid outlines his plans for development of the state
- DAP unhappy over Selangor exco positions
- MPs can earn up to RM10,000 per month
- Abdul Wahid and Paul Low taking huge pay cuts
- Organisers of Penang ceramah to be called up by police
- Stern action awaits rally-goers
- Visually-impaired Faiq swims across Penang Channel
- Instacom bags RM205m telco job in Sarawak
- BToto hopes to list business trust in Singapore end-August
- KLCI up nearly 8pt midday, O&G lead gainers
- Despite curbs, China's vast hot money triangle flourishes
- RHB Research maintains Neutral on auto sector
- Malindo Air to take off from Subang on June 3
- Affin Research lowers Petra Energy to Reduce
- Pintaras surges to all-time high on higher earnings
- MIDF Research: Return of local retail investors
- SapuraKencana drives KLCI higher in early trade
- Sino Hua-An in the black, posts RM3.33m net profit
- Malaysia-Market factors to watch on May 20(Monday)
- Maybank KE Research maintains Buy on Alam Maritim, ups TP to RM1.30
- Winning ticket for record $590.5mil Powerball lottery sold in Florida
- Rod Stewart tops UK album chart for first time in 34 years
- Golf: Johnson triumphs by one stroke at Mobile Bay LPGA
- Chong Wei urges team-mates to bounce back from shock defeat to Taiwan
- Kien Keat-Boon Heong may not play in Group C tie against Germany
- Koo-Tan’s stunning loss rocks Malaysian camp
- Kjaersfeldt ready to continue strong Danish tradition
- Sindhu shines for India after spectacular performance
- Danial shatters 100m mark as four records fall on opening day
- Pavithraa in sizzling form despite the heat
- Wee Wern relishes playing at unique venue ... a football stadium
- Coach Irving has no doubts Nicol will peak at the right time
- ‘Comeback king’ Timothy lands his second title
- KLHC to the fore again
- New Cheras velodrome may steal limelight from RM80mil Labu project
- Azlan and Zamri do Malaysia proud in ARRC race at Sentul
- Broken clutch lever costs Hafizh dearly in Le Mans
- Abdul Wahid and Paul Low taking huge pay cuts
- MPs can earn up to RM10,000 per month
- DAP unhappy over Selangor exco positions
- Take action against Kian Ming, voter told
- Stern action awaits rally-goers
- Utusan says no to AirAsia ads
- Second-term Selangor MB Khalid outlines his plans for development of the state
- English-medium schools seen as right move
- Hindraf co-founder Uthayakumar blames his sibling for polls defeat
- Task force formed to salvage Cameron Highlands
- MPs can earn up to RM10,000 per month
- Ten important items for you to prepare for the inevitable
- Abdul Wahid and Paul Low taking huge pay cuts
- Professionals warn there is too much of office space in the Klang Valley
- Take action against Kian Ming, voter told
- Should Sime Darby also demerge; big values can be created by spinning off companies
- Crest Builder adopts sell some, keep some strategy
- Stern action awaits rally-goers
- DAP unhappy over Selangor exco positions
- Despite curbs, China's vast hot money triangle flourishes
RSS
