Winnie Chau meets six obsessive Hong Kong hobbyists.

Yo-Yo Effect
The humble yo-yo has been around since 500 BC, but it’s still as popular as ever. “Thanks to a recent Japanese cartoon, the craze has made a comeback,” says the Honorary Chairman and co-founder of Hong Kong Yo-Yo Fan Club, Ken Wong. Wong, who is also a member of an international performance team, has been a yo-yo player since primary school. His club holds annual yo-yo contests and an outdoor workshop in Sha Tin Central Park every Sunday, attracting players of all levels, from beginners to professionals.
Another veteran spinner, Yiu Siu-ho, warns eager beginners not to rush when learning the game: “It’s common to see beginners rushing through all the basics. Many can’t wait to spin a professional metal yo-yo. This can be dangerous, since every advanced technique is built on the basics.” During his ten years’ experience, the 22-year-old has seen plenty of mishaps, including his own. “I often break the lamp in my flat from time to time,” he says. 

Start your yo-yo diet:
Hong Kong Yo Yo Fan Club
www.hkyyfc.org.hk

Hong Kong Yo Yo Pro Shop
Shop No 275, In’s Point Arcade 534-538 Nathan Rd., Yau Ma Tei, 2384 8505
Daily 2:30-8:30pm

Eraserhead
Kelly is a housewife, happily married with a three-year-old daughter. Everything seems pretty ordinary, save for the fact that she is obsessed with erasers. It all began when Kelly received her first set of erasers from the Daimaru Department store when she was five. “My dad has always wanted me to develop a hobby of some sort,” says Kelly. Well, now she certainly has one. The 34-year-old is busy running an eraser-swapping website, and when she’s not organizing her collection, she’s busy buying and selling rubbers on eBay and Yahoo Auctions.
Collecting erasers is a surprisingly costly pastime, and not everyone can afford the obsession, in terms of both money and space. Kelly’s collection ranges from miniature erasers to a massive, pillow-sized one. “Eraser collectors in Hong Kong are much less obsessive compared to those in Japan,” explains the Hong Kong native who is currently living in Shikoku with her Japanese husband. But it may be a hobby that’s fading fast, as some say quality erasers are swiftly disappearing as manufacturing moves from Japan to China.
 
Get rubbed up right at www.isumi-eraser.com. Collectable erasers also available at most good stationers.

Tricked Out
Tin Ho hated magic during his childhood. Seeing the tricks as, well, simple tricks, Ho thought that magic was nothing more than a lie and a gag. Until about four years ago. That’s when the 24-year-old saw the most professional magic performance he had ever seen, and he has been hooked ever since. “I’m extremely obsessive. I spend half of my income and 90 percent of my leisure time on magic,” he says. And when he’s not doing that, he’s still surrounded with the stuff, as he works in a magic shop. Most of Ho’s customers are male. “Kids and adults alike, they’re all fascinated by magic tricks.”
Albert Tam, Chairman of the Magicians’ Association of Hong Kong, take a different view of the male-dominated pursuit. “Girls are often under the impression that magic is a macho interest. They tend to consider themselves part of the audience,” says the full-time magician who has been conjuring since 1967. “And because there is no systematic way to learn magic, self-discipline is the key,” explains Tam, who also recommends aspiring magicians join the non-profit Magician’s Association. “Though we don’t offer any classes, it is a good place to mingle with and learn from like-minded people.”

Make some magic:
J-Magic
Shop No.13, Basement, Ginza Plaza, 501-515 Jaffe Rd., Causeway Bay, 9301-1584, Daily 5-11pm.

Magicians’ Association of Hong Kong
www.magic.org.hk

Bus Boys
When Peter Kwok was 8 years old, there were no home computers. Nor were there many toys to play with. With little to occupy his time, Kwok decided to start traveling on double-decker buses for fun. “Every time I got on a bus, I headed straight to the front seat,” recalls the owner of the 80M bus-model shop chain. “But gone are the days when buses skipped stops and people were jam-packed inside.” After having witnessed the changes in the local bus service, Kwok decided to publish books on the subject. He also recalls his childhood, when he used to buy model buses to play with. “There were no official model buses on the market,” He says. “The first collection wasn’t released until around 1993. I used to play with toy buses which cost me as little as 5 cents.”
Kwok has over one thousand bus models in his collection, in addition to his seven bus-model shops. According to him, there are over one thousand die-hard bus fans in Hong Kong. But Kwok only considers his passion a hobby rather than an obsession. “I don’t think I’m that addicted. The more extreme ones hunt down bus engines. Some can even recite all the bus routes in Hong Kong.”

Get your buses here: 
80M Bus Model Shop (Flagship Store)
Shop 229-231, 2/F, Pioneer Shopping Centre, 750 Nathan Rd., Mongkok, 2381 8168
Daily 12:30-9pm, www.80mbusmodel.com (check their site for online purchase and other branch locations)

Bus Fan World
www.busfanworld.org

Tramspotting
There are fewer tram collectors in Hong Kong than bus collectors, but that is mainly because there are fewer models available. Eric Lee found a way to satisfy his enthusiasm for trams by making his own models. From vintage to modern, double-decker to single-decker, Eric personalizes his movable tram models and sets them against various backgrounds. Lee is also the founder of www.mytramway.com and “Tram’s Friend”, a locally registered organization that holds regular gatherings with other tram enthusiasts.
It usually takes Eric up to two months to complete a tram model and there are over ten handmade models in his current collection, but Eric does not think he is obsessive. “I think it is pretty normal for anyone to have a hobby.”

Where to start tram-spotting:
www.hktramways.com
www.hkrs.org.hk
www.mytramways.com
(in Chinese only)

Pathological Pool Playing
“It’s not just a game,” says Sarah Prior, when asked why she is so hooked on the pool table. The 24-year-old started playing the game at the age of nine. It is unusual for a young girl to pick up the game, let alone become addicted. Prior recalls how it all started. “I once went to a bar with my dad, and he taught me how to shoot pool. The adults in the bar were eager to teach me and it made me think that pool was something amazing.”
According to Prior, billiards is less gender-specific than commonly believed. “It’s a sport where men have no advantage over women, and vice versa,” she explains. Despite her father’s full support, playing pool has cost Prior more than just the money on the table. “I completely ignored my GCSEs and failed all subjects,” reveals Prior, who often plays in 24-hour streaks. “My obsession scares people off too.” That said, she only rates herself a seven out of ten in terms of obsessiveness.
Although it’s health benefits are probably negated by the amount of beer consumed during a game, you can still reap some rewards. “It tests your patience and concentration,” says Prior.  Beginner classes are available at South China Athletic Association (Private lessons in English available upon request).

Where to poke some balls:
South China Athletic Association
88 Caroline Hill Rd., Causeway Bay, 2576-1272
www.scaa.org.hk

Joe’s Billiards & Bar
2/F, King’s Hotel, 303 Jaffe Rd., Wan Chai, 3188-1470
Daily, 11am-5am
www.joesbilliards.com