Jakarta or Hong Kong?

This sea of colorful headscarves is from a Islamic gathering in the Victoria Park, not a common sight in HK at all. This photo only shows about one-third of the whole grass field taken up by the gathering and walking among them I truly felt I was in Jakarta or Kuala Lumpur. Today is a theme day for Daily Photo bloggers and we are to post photo of our city which looks like another city, but I'm sick yesterday and today so this is an archive photo. Tags: street scene|Victoria Park|Jakarta|Islamic|Hong Kong|photos|daily life

Claustrophobia

This is taken in Central at an entrance to the underground (officially MTR/Mass Transit Railway) and I like the colors and the pattern of the stairs. Some DP blogs have posted photos on undergrounds in their cities and I really want to post some of HK's too. Afterall, the MTR is part of many HK people's daily life with some 2.5 million trips made per day. I just need some time to overcome certain non-technical problem I have. In the meantime, Wiki has more info and photos...:p Tags: MTR|underground|Causeway Bay|Hong Kong|photos|daily life

Fear of height

I never had fear of height until I saw this shoe in a shop in Central. I can't understand it. I can't even understand the people who can understand it ;p and I just don't have the acrobatic skill :-)...Do you? Tags: shoes|shopping|show window|Central|Hong Kong|photos|daily life

Follow my words!

This is part of the Temple Fair where visitors write their wishes on cards and tied them on pillars along a decorated corridor. Some "popular" wishes include happiness, health, youth, beauty or winning the lottery. This one shown here says, in Chinese: "my husband follows my words" I couldn't help but LOL... ;-) Click here for the daytime view. Tags: Central|Temple Fair|wishes|Hong Kong|photos|daily life

Temple Fair at night

Thanks to Menggarang of Moscow in my eyes who reminded me that the Temple Fair would look nice at night. I grabbed my camera, took a ride to the waterfront last night and took many photos. Here you are looking at some traditional decorative billboards which are used to announce festivals, birthdays and weddings(mostly in villages nowadays). Click here to see a daytime view and the night time view of yesterday's photo. Tags: Central|Temple Fair|traditional|festivals|night scene|Hong Kong|photos|daily life

Temple Fair in Central

We are back to Central because there's a Temple Fair at the waterfront. Here we have a traditional worship podium side by side with a symbol of technology (the 88-storey International Finance Centre 2 also seen in photos on April 9 & 16). The Temple Fair is an event organised by the Tourism Board, and from what I saw, the locals are equally interested in it. See a Google Earth image or more about the Temple Fair. Tags: Central|Temple Fair|waterfront|International Finance Centre|tourists|Hong Kong|photos|daily life

Fashion boutique in TST

TST offers more than just brandname stores. There are countless outlet stores and moderately priced boutiques like this one. And they display nothing but the trendiest items that some feel obliged to get. For the ladies, click to have a look of the shoes these girls are pointing at and another store front ;-) Our last shopping stop before we leave TST because there is something interesting going on in Central that I want to show you. (Finally got this published very late because of a Blogger problem...) Tags: Tsimshatsui|shopping|boutiques|Hong Kong|photos|daily life

Local life by the harbor

I remember clearly what we learned at school about how the Victoria Harbor brought about the growth of HK from a fishing port to an international city. We love the harbor...and here's just a few examples of how local people enjoy a sunny day by it...(those two guys are fishing...no license required except at the reservoirs in HK; and this part of TST waterfront is facing directly at Causeway Bay, and you can still see the mountains behind.) Tags: Tsimshatsui|Victoria Harbour|Causeway Bay|Hong Kong|photos|daily life

Avenue of Stars

Enough about shopping? It is so sunny today that I went to TST and took another round of photos. Here's a beautiful view of the harbor and the skyline of the eastern part of the HK island. I took this photo at the section of waterfront promenade called Avenue of Stars. Can you tell who he is from the silhouette of his statue? Tags: Tsimshatsui|Victoria Harbour|Bruce Lee|Avenue of Stars|Hong Kong|photos|daily life

Closer to paradise?

Bob of Barcelona DP sometimes leaves comments that make me chuckle...and here's what he wrote referring to the title of yesterday's post: "my limited brain finds it hard to understand "shopping" and "paradise" together in the same sentence:-)". I took this photo further down Peking Road along Fendi and Miu Miu stores, the street is lined with big flower pots and it is also a good spot for people watching . Does that make shopping and paradise closer? But no, I don't have her phone number ;-) Hello is acting up today so the photo is pixelised... Tags: Tsimshatsui|Peking Road|Prada|Miu Miu|shopping|Hong Kong|photos|daily life

Shopping paradise

Tsimshatsui is like a big shopping mall with hotels and restaurants. Comparing to Causeway Bay, I guess the shops are more of luxury international labels such as Dior, Dunhill (yes, it is Jude Law in yesterday's photo) and a. Testoni as seen in this photo taken at Peking Road. In the foreground is one of the many flower boxes put on the street by a shopping mall nearby. (I just got back from a few days in Taipei and thanks to Nicola for posting for me in the past week; also I'm trying hard to catch up on DP blogs...) Tags: Tsimshatsui|shopping|Causeway Bay|Dior|Dunhill|Peking Road|Hong Kong|photos|daily life

On the streets of TST

We are outside on the streets of TST now. This area is the "mecca" of tourists (none seen in this photo though) and a colorful high-end shopping area. Like Causeway Bay shown in February, there are lots of advertising billboards here. Have you seen this "Dunhill" ad? Do you know the name of the movie star whose eyes are hidden behind the tree branches? Thanks to Nicola for sending this post. Tags: Tsimshatsui|street scene|Dunhill|Jude Law|Hong Kong|photos|daily life

Inside the Cultural Centre

We are at the foyer of the Cultural Centre and here's an i-D magazine exhibition presented as part of the Hong Kong International Film Festival. Well...both the Film Festival and exhibition end tomorrow so, sorry, it is too late to rush over to HK now :-) Thanks to Nicola for sending this post. Tags: Tsimshatsui|Cultural Centre|i-D magazine|exhibition|Film Festival|Hong Kong|photos|daily life

A popular photo spot

We are outside the Hong Kong Cultural Centre and this is a very popular photo spot. The four sides of the Cultural Centre are designed with these arches and very often there are some newly-weds taking photos since there is a marraige registery nearby. We'll go into the Cultural Center and see what's on tomorrow... Thanks to Nicola for sending this post. Tags: Tsimshatsui|Hong Kong Cultural Centre|Hong Kong|photos|daily life

Pollution and fog

We have unboard and are standing at the waterfront, looking back to the Hong Kong island. In my April 10th post I described the International Finance Centre as "ugly" and maybe this photo can explain why I think so, it kind of spoils the skyline...Another thing is that it is very hazy, partly because April is usually humid and foggy, but largely because HK is very polluted now. Thanks to Nicola for sending this post. Tags: Victoria Harbor|International Finance Centre|Star Ferry|pollution|Hong Kong|Hong Kong|photos|daily life

On the ferry

A private moment in a corner of the ferry Tags: Tsimshatsui|ferry|Victoria Harbour|Hong Kong|photos|daily life

Tsimshatsui waterfront

Finally, we are approaching Tsimshatsui!! ;-). The landmark of TST's waterfront is undoubtedly the Clock Tower and the HK Cultural Centre (the beige color curved structure, we'll go inside later). The location of the Cultural Centre used to be a railway station and the clock tower is all that is left after its removal. You can also see the Star Ferry pier on the left, that's where we are going to unboard. Thanks to Nicola for sending this post. Tags: Tsimshatsui|waterfront|clock tower|cultural centre|pier|Hong Kong|photos|daily life

Victoria Harbor

So we are on the ferry and half way across the harbor! Like I mentioned the ferries are green and white (click here) but I saw this one-of-its-kind ferry which uses the theme of HK's overseas promotion campaign. In the background is the waterfront of Wanchai district (of HK island), the wing-like structure is the HK Exhibition and Convention Centre. And since the ferry ride is so popular among tourists, this photo is also a very "touristy" one. Tags: Tsimshatsui|Victoria Harbour|ferry|exhibition and convention centre|Hong Kong|photos|daily life

Boarding the ferry

This is the way to and from the gangplank. To the adventurous, boarding and unboarding can be exciting when waters in the harbor is choppy and the gangplank is jumping up and down a lot...To me, I never noticed before that this walkway is so colorful. OK, we will actually be on the ferry and see the harbor tomorrow ;-) Tags: Tsimshatsui|Central|ferry|Hong Kong|photos|daily life

Star Ferry

Green is the signature color of this century-old ferry service and it is on the ferries as well as the clock tower yesterday. Enter from under the clock tower, walk up the stairs, pay the HK$2.2 fee (about 30 cents US) and you can board the 8-minute ferry ride to Tsimshatsui. Our trip continues tomorrow. Someone asked yesterday whether Central is the old downtown. In fact, Central is the heart of HK plus an administrative, political, financial and business center; while other "city centers" such as Causeway Bay, Mongkok or Tsimshatsui are more the shopping and entertainment centers. Tags: Causeway Bay|Central|Tsimshatsui|Wanchai|ferry|clock tower|Hong Kong|photos|daily life

Let's go to Tsimshatsui

I have to confess, in the past 2 months I have never shown anything outside of Hong Kong island :-). So, in the next few days, we'll cross the harbor by ferry and go to the Tsimshatsui district. To show where the pier is, the easiest way is to show this (ugly) skyscraper -- the 88-storey IFC which is right by the pier on the waterfront. See the clock tower? This is where we'll board the ferry and cross the harbor tomorrow. (HK can be loosely divided in 4 parts, from south to north: HK island, Kowloon peninsula, the New Territories which is directly connected with mainland China; and a number of islands around the city.) Tags: Tsimshatsui|Central|IFC|clock tower|ferry|pier|Hong Kong|photos|daily life

Once a haunted mansion

This beautiful arched verandah is of a historical building in High Street which has been restored in 2001 as a community complex. Built in 1891, it had been different things to local people through the past 110 years, such as nurses' quarters, mental hospital, hiding place for drug addicts and haunted mansion (to curious teenagers). Why haunted mansion? Check out these photos of the building before and after restoration and at night time. If you are really interested, here's more information on its history. Tags: High street|heritage building|haunted mansion|art|Hong Kong|photos|daily life

People in colors

Actually the square (see yesterday's photo) was kind of busy with other people and a few things going on. See the lady in pink jacket? She's also taking photos so I wouldn't be surprised if there is a photo of me taking photo in a blog somewhere... :-) Tags: Central|City Hall|public art|street scene|Hong Kong|photos|daily life

The gentleman in red

I walked past the City Hall yesterday and saw these gentlemen enjoying a relaxing moment in the square. For the first time in the history of this blog, I asked for permission to take photo, and one of them gladly said yes. His companions did not seem disturbed anywaz. Tags: Central|City Hall|street scene|public art|Hong Kong|photos|daily life

Branching out

Back to trees! I didn't notice what kind of tree this is but the baby branch definitely got my attention -- a celebration of life, a sure sign of spring...(or even summer -- yesterday the temperature hit 28C!) Tags: Park|tree|summer|new life|Hong Kong|photos|daily life

Tribute

Today's photo is a tribute to Constable Tsang whose death last month has saddened HK and as shown in these frontpages, his official full honour police funeral yesterday was extensively covered. The 33-year old police officer was shot by an attacker who plotted to rob police firearm. Badly wounded, Tsang fired 5 shots (all on target) to kill the attacker and in turn, saved his partner. He even managed to put his pistol back to holster, then called for help before he collapsed. With bagpipe tunes, Taoist prayers, salutes, a HK flag on his casket and a police wagon refitted hearse, Tsang's funeral was attended by top government officials, politicians and many citizens. It was later revealed that the attacker was responsible for two other murders and a bank robbery; Tsang's heroic act has deterred more deaths and crimes.

Temple of banyan tree

This is another big banyan trees on the other side of the KGV Memorial Park (see yesterday's photo) and the reddish bunch of sticks are remains of incense. I don't know the background to this practice but it is probably of the older generation to pay tribute to things with considerable history. Click here to see the whole tree. Tags: tree|banyan|park|traditions|street scene|Hong Kong|photos|daily life

Cathedral of banyan trees

How long will it take for a small plant to grow as big as these banyan trees? I took this photo just before it got completely dark one evening at the King George V Memorial Park. And I love these big old banyan trees and how they form a tranquil corner by lining up on both sides like pillars in a cathedral. If you know the Lord of the Rings you can easily guess which one is my favorite creature in the story :-) Tags: tree|banyan|park|cathedral|Hong Kong|photos|daily life

Springing up

Not sure what that person had in mind when he painted the weeds with the wall and pipe. But whatever he meant to do, he did not kill this little plant...look closer and you'll see a small leaf coming out which seems to have a strong will to live on... Happy spring and have a good sunday! Tags: nature|plant|spring|Hong Kong|photos|daily life

Party time

Another discovery because of this blog and just in time for April Fool's Day. This is a sidewalk vendor of party gear in Central. It seems to have lots of fun stuff -- hats, masks, moustaches, fake noses, gloves and costumes, and maybe I can find a pair of funky glasses and wig to match those of Amande's. :-) Tags: Central|party|costumes|toys|street scene|Hong Kong|photos|daily life