散步，是很個人、很私密的事情，它可以很純粹，而我們也可以不同的眼光來散步，讓散步的過程變得更有趣。這讓我想起安西水丸喜歡一邊散步一邊看美女，從自由之丘的人妻美女、青山的時尚女模到澀谷辣妹，都一一被作者畫下來，寫成《東京美女散步》，平淡無奇的散步過程頓時變得輕鬆可愛。看書時已在想像，香港也可以有這樣的散步地圖嗎？
「每個人都可以成為『城市漫遊者』。」城市研究學者黃宇軒（Sampson）說，散步是一種取材，城市像一所博物館，予人源源不絕的靈感。「自上年疫情開始，人人都談論本地旅遊，當時我寫了一篇關於『城市散步學』的文章，鼓勵人們放慢腳步、細心觀看城市的美麗。除了介紹不同地區的散步路線，也建議大家以不同的角度來散步，例如是只看樓梯或唐樓的顏色，從中發掘屬於自己的『Ways of seeing the city』。」
Taking a stroll can be quite personal and private. A walk with no aim can be straightforward and unambiguous, but it can also be meaningful if we look at our surroundings with a new perspective. Mizumaru Anzai loved looking at beautiful women as he strolled. The stunning married women in Jiyugaoka, fashion models in Aoyama, and the young Gyaru in Shibuya became the inspiration for his book, Stunning Women’s Tokyo Stroll. He found that seemingly unremarkable strolls could, after all, be fun and interesting. As I flipped through Anzai’s book, I couldn’t stop wondering, could such a strolling map exist for Hong Kong?
“Everyone can be a ‘flâneur’.” According to Sampson Wong, a Hong Kong urbanist and artist, walking around the city is a way to generate inspiration. The city itself is like a museum, a place with endless inspiration. “Since the beginning of the pandemic last year, everyone has been talking about local tourism. I wrote an article at that time on urban strolling, trying to encourage people to slow down and observe the beauty of the city. In addition to introducing walking routes in different areas, I also suggested people take on different perspectives when they stroll. For example, they could focus on observing the stairs or the colors of tenement buildings. From that, they can discover their own ‘ways of seeing the city’.”
由附有相片的文字版散步地圖，到伴隨音樂、實地拍攝的散步影片，散步這件本來是稀鬆平常的事，忽爾被認真地談論起來。「自從疫情爆發以來，我們無法到外國旅遊，於是萌生起推介大家在家附近散步的想法，並寫了一篇關於本地散步的文章。也許在那個時候，『城市散步學』特別能觸動大家，推動我以影像的方式來製作香港的散步地圖。我找了好友Eric拍片、水金創作音樂，建立了YouTube頻道《懷疑人生就去散步》。我們參考YouTuber Kraig Adams的行山影片的拍攝手法，以第三身的角度拍攝，多了一份電影感。」
Sampson說，回想上年7月時，社會的氣氛很差，無力感特別重，讓人很沮喪。那時候，香港出現了一句「我真係好鍾意香港」的標語，使他不禁思考怎樣才能表現這份情感？「香港是一個很有趣的城市，貧富懸殊、人口密度高、新與舊和東西方文化的交匯點；每一個地方都有它自己的性格，身處其中能感受到很多東西都在變幻之中。我們希望以輕鬆的散步影片來讓我們重新連繫香港，也為時代做一個記錄。」
Starting with just simple texts and photos, to eventually including videos with background music, the walking map turns the simple act of walking into a subject of discussion. “With the outbreak of the pandemic, overseas travel is brought to a halt. The idea of promoting strolling in local neighbourhoods came to my mind and I wrote an article about it. I guess the idea of ‘urban strolling’ was particularly relatable at that time. It encouraged me to create video footage of local walks. My friend Eric did the shooting, and Shui Kam created the music. We created a YouTube channel called, When in doubt, take a walk. We made reference to the YouTuber Kraig Adams’ hiking videos, and shot our videos from a third person perspective making the outputs a bit like a movie.”
Sampson recalled that back in July of last year, the city was going through turmoil. The feeling of powerlessness was just overwhelming. It was during that time, the slogan of “I really love Hong Kong” started to appear, and he pondered how this sentiment could be personified. “Hong Kong is a very interesting city, with great disparity between rich and poor, high population density, and the juxtaposition of old and new, as well as the East and the West. Every place has its own character, and you can feel that perpetual change when you are there. We hope to reconnect the people of Hong Kong with their city using our videos. We also want to record what the city is going through.”
漫長的人生裡難免會遇到困惑的時候，「懷疑人生」幾乎是每個人在每時每刻都會遇到的事情。「當你對世界存有懷疑的時候，你便會去觀察、談論和思考多一點，試圖去尋找答案。」即使散步過後仍未找到答案，至少能讓思緒沉澱，身體自由地遊走於這城市。或許我們不能了解世界上所有事情，但我們可以細緻地、用心地觀察，這也是表現「好鍾意」的一種方式。「有人說，從影片裡看到一個以前沒看過的香港，看影片時不自覺流下淚來。」
It is inevitable to feel confused and frustrated at some points in life. “When you are in doubt about the world, you will observe, discuss, and think a little more, trying to find the answer.” Though you might not find an answer after taking a walk, it gives you a chance to roam through the city and calm your mind. We might not be able to understand everything that happens in the world, but we can opt to observe what’s happening carefully and attentively. This is also a way to show our love for the city. “Some people told us that from our videos, they saw a Hong Kong that they have never seen before. They got emotional and started crying watching the videos.”
由《懷疑人生就去土瓜灣散步》至今，已有十多條散步影片，由Sampson邀請不同的朋友作為步行者，帶領觀眾去散步。看著平靜的屋村裡，老人步履蹣跚地走著、孩童在被欄杆圍封的公園裡嬉鬧玩耍、陽光灑落水池閃閃發光，天空突然有一群白鴿飛過……寧靜和諧得彷如走進另一個平行時空。「讓我印象深刻的一次散步是去象山邨和石圍角邨吧，由何潔泓帶我們去看這個從未踏足過的地方，使我很興奮。事實上，我們不需去郊外散步，身處城市裡也會有這種震撼的感覺。曾經在拍攝的途中，有人問我們在拍些甚麼，我們回答這裡很美，他們又會感到很好奇，這是我覺得有趣的地方。」
「拍片的原意是希望提供一些散步路線作為參考，以虛擬導覽的方式引發人們去散步，由觀看影片到自己親身去走；然而它們能讓觀眾與社會情緒連結在一起是一種意外來的。」Sampson說一開始時，他想拍一些像《魚樂無窮》（Telefishion）般的慢電視，讓人放鬆之餘，也能啟發觀眾觀察多點身處的城市，發掘一個從未見過的香港。「漸漸地，我發現到走路也能如冥想般，讓身體處理我們的情緒，或許日後我們可以談論多點well being，由觀察城市到自己的內心。」由土瓜灣、石峽尾、火炭、中環到去Donki散步、屯門散步和跑步、西九跳著舞地散步，每一次都為散步帶來新的可能、新的發現。
Since the release of When in doubt, take a walk in To Kwa Wan, there have been more than a dozen videos being uploaded to the channel. These videos feature Sampson’s friends who, being the flâneur, explore different areas of Hong Kong. You can see in a seemingly peaceful housing estate the old people moving around in stumbling walks; children having fun at the park enclosed by railings; the water fountain sparkling under the shining sun as some white pigeons fly across the sky. It is so quiet and peaceful as if we are in a parallel universe. “The walk around the area of Cheung Shan Estate and Shek Wai Kok Estate is one of the most remarkable walks I’ve ever done. Willis Ho took us around and showed us places that we’ve never set foot in. It was very exciting. We discovered that, in fact, we don’t need to go for walks in the countryside. The city can also give you that stunning feeling. Once during the filming, some people asked us what we were shooting. We told them that it was just beautiful there. They got curious. This is what I find interesting.”
“The reason for making videos is to provide the general public with some recommended walking routes. The videos are like a virtual guide; it encourages people to watch the videos and eventually take a walk for real. But, it wasn’t our plan to connect the strollers with the social turmoil.” Sampson said that at the beginning, he wanted to create some slow TV programmes like Telefishion that can help people relax while at the same time be inspired to observe and rediscover their city. “I slowly discovered that walking can also be a form of meditation. It allows the body to process our emotions. Maybe we can talk more about well-being in the future; from observing the city to observing our own heart.” Whether it is a walk in To Kwa Wan, Shek Kip Mei, Fo Tan, Central, or even Donki, a run/stroll in Tuen Mun, or a dance walk in West Kowloon; each and every type of walk brings new possibilities and discoveries.
疫情下的城市，少了一分遊客的喧鬧，多了一分生活的踏實，每一次散步看到的景色也可能是一生只一次。「影片裡的步行者都是我們的好友，能夠與他們邊散步邊聊天是一件很快樂的事。我們只計劃了起點和終點，途中都是隨意地走，當下決定拍下甚麼，天黑了便停下來。」Sampson說，走著走著便會發現到從沒見過的東西。「我希望日後能辦一些大家聽著同樣的歌、一起散步的活動，一起去觀察和發掘這個城市仍然很美。」或許因為這個城市，讓陌生的你我也能連結在一起。
Without the tourists, the city seems to be more at ease during the pandemic. What you see on your walk may only happen there and then. “The flâneur in the videos are all our friends. It is a pleasure to chat with them as we stroll. We only set the starting and ending point. Anything in between was random and impromptu. We decided what to shoot as we strolled and stopped when it got dark.” Sampson said that people can always discover things they’ve never seen before during walks. “I hope that in the future we can organize some activities where everyone can walk together, listen to the same music, while observing and discovering the beauty of this city.” Perhaps strangers like you and I can be connected via this city?
