I initially wanted to go to a major shopping mall using my usual route, but I decided to take a detour after seeing heavy riot police presence along the way.
Met a granny when I was trying to get to that mall via another way. She said she is forgetful, that she is 86 and has been coming out every day. She talked about a girl she met another day. That girl got beaten on the back of her head with a baton by police and felt dizzy. Granny said she regret not being able to help at the scene. She then talked about her husband, a former patriot who became disillusioned.
After a while I said goodbye to that granny and continued walking.
When I finally get to the mall, I stayed and walked around. Took some photos and videos here and there.
One thing that struck me was the change in sentiment. Back in January 1, after the march was abruptly cancelled at the police's request. People were all trying leave. On one of the footbridge leading to a pier I heard someone saying loudly, "if anyone want to swear at the police, go down there and do it in front of them, not on here. Don't make us targets."
Today, a few middle aged persons stood at an elevated passage way overlooking some riot police on the ground about 20 meters away. They flipped the bird at the police. One of them allowed me to photograph his hand.
Saw some pro-democracy lawmakers making speeches in front of a circle of journalists
And, there was a march.
A few days ago I got my first experience of coming face to face with an occupation force when a riot police officer ordered me to leave the footbridge they had cordoned off, "You! Get down over there!". Today I didn't stay long enough. Another day of mass arrests, another day the families and friends left feeling worried and helpless by the news that their children got arrested by the police.
At another shopping center, I overheard a middle aged woman saying to her colleague, "the state will do fine without the young people, it can kill them all."
"Only because the young people who get killed are not your children" I thought.