What a dramatic image this is for me after spending 2 weeks in Charlottetown. This is real life in the old part of Hsinchu, no white sterile meat packaging areas here. While certainly unsanitary and perhaps a health risk the Chinese habit of bringing chickens in from a farm in cages to be selected slaughtered and cleaned in full view of the customer has a certain honesty to it. At least compared to the cruel western behaviour of selective breading and cruel habit of keeping chickens in undersized cages all their lives. All hidden and unknown. In Hong Kong I stood and watched the whole procedure - it's quite quick - a couple pokes with a long pin and the chicken bleeds to death. But, I'll keep buying my chicken in Styrofoam and plastic wrapped containers. In this case I want to be lied to.
This part of Hsinchu has an extensive market area which is frequented primarily by the immediate residents of the area and older folk. It appears to be out of favour and as a result in decline. It's a great area to explore, just find city hall and go down one of the side streets near the McDonalds.
I'm off to Hong Kong tomorrow for a few days in search of something to photograph. Perhaps I'll witness this chicken slaughtering procedure again and manage to take a photograph of this morbid event.
Comments
Post a comment