A Soundscape of Big Wave Bay

Every Friday, my weekday off, I wake up early, to take the MTR to Wan Chai station. From there, I hike to to Big Wave Bay, a small beach close to Shek O and the only beach on Hong Kong Island where one can Surf. My Friday at Big Wave Bay, is a day of self indulgence, including a hike, multiple surf sessions intermitted by naps on the beach and a delicious lunch at one of the local restaurants/surf-shops before I take the bus back.

It is this daily ritual, that I chose to be the focus of my soundscape study. I decided to start my ambisonic recordings on the hiking trail towards Big wave bay. In that way, I present my recordings chronologically, the trail recordings are followed by recordings from the village surrounding the beach. After that I recorded the beach itself, approaching the water until I am knee deep in the water (unfortunately I was not able to advance any further into the water, or record the surfing, since the ambisonic microphone I used is not waterproof). I also venture into a lagoon that is situated behind a massive rock, blocking a lot of the oceanic sounds, which creates a very uniq sonic environment featuring very isolated water sounds. After that I walke across the beach, where I also recorded the half hourly (or so) government announcement, that dictates Covid 19 regulations to the beach goers. The last recording is from within a restaurant, where I ate lunch.

When playing back, the recordings I realised, how in contrast to sonic environment of bustling City, apart from the obvious differences (like traffic noises), I could hear way more people speaking English than in the rest of Hong Kong. At the same time, the construction noises that I recorded in the villages, as well as the government announcement, also stick out and disturb the otherwise very harmonious sonic environment of Big Wave Bay. The announcement in particular, for me is an in-ignorable reminder, that I am still in Hong Kong, despite the lack of noise pollution and idyllic sonic scene I am embedded in at Big Wave Bay. I believe that in another project I could extend this soundscape, starting my journey from my house doors or from Chai Wan station to highlight the contrast between the north and south side of Hong Kong Island.