Notes » May 2009

Noah's (Theme) Park

Hong Kong's "full-size replica" (ooooh, aaaah) of Noah's Ark in Ma Wan Park is almost ready for visitors.

The project director said, believe it or not, and with a straight face: "We think this is different from anything else in Hong Kong." But then that's not the first dumb thing said in relation to the park. He went on to say: "The feeling in here is of love and harmony."

Yes, I get all warm and fuzzy when I daydream of God drowning all of mankind, save one family whose patriarch was a drunkard in addition to being one heck of a carpenter. Forgive me if I sound a wee bit cynical, but I have difficulty with the concept that today's earthly population is a result of massive inbreeding.

But I digress.

Hong Kong's Secretary for Development said that "people should see the bigger picture and focus on the complex's themes of 'family, nature and moral values'." To that end families will first encounter:

... 67 life-size sculptures of some of the world's most threatened species in the Ark Garden. Inside, there will be films, an interactive children's museum called the Treasure House ... and an Ark Life Education House. The top floor of the ark is Noah's Resort, with hostel and hotel-style accommodation, while the Adventureland park outside features ropes and swings.

Because the Bible says that the first thing Noah did after landing the ark was put his family to work building a 5-star hotel, and children should know that if they aspire to be the next generation of Hong Kong developers. Doesn't it?

As for the nature angle, what message are they sending: that mankind has managed to kill off many of the species God went to all that trouble to save? That human beings need to be wiped out a second time to give the critters a fighting chance? That might explain all the animal-based viruses of late.

I'm not against the lesson of the ark tale, that human beings should strive not to be wicked, but couldn't the developers have selected a meaningful (and more culturally relevant) story of moral values from China's 6,000 years of civilisation upon which to base their park?

« Apathy is a Virus « Archive » Oof! »

Friend Finder