Hong Kong Trip 2012

[peterm1]

Back in 2012 I spent a little over a week in Hong Kong, which as you might expect for a member of RFF, I put to good use making some photographic images. Hong Kong is a God-sent for any photographer who wants to wander the streets - and in my time there I hardly scratched the surface. I know there are many opportunities I missed.

It occurred to me today as I looked back over shots from that trip, that while I undoubtedly have posted a few on this forum I have never posted a larger collection of those shots. The selection appearing here is still only a small part of the overall number taken. Of course the city itself features prominently as does its famous harbour but I managed to squeeze in some street shooting as well.

I hope you enjoy some of these at least.

Streets and People

The City

The Harbour

 

[Yokosuka Mike]

An excellent set, Peter, unmistakably your work, well done!

When I was in the Navy I made many port visits to Hong Kong. In those days it was my most favorite place on earth. Your picture of the Star Ferry brings back memories. The last time I was there it was still under British control. I haven’t had any interest in returning since the lease ran out and control was returned to China; probably my loss but there it is.

All the best,
Mike

 

[peterm1]

An excellent set, Peter, unmistakably your work, well done!

When I was in the Navy I made many port visits to Hong Kong. In those days it was my most favorite place on earth. Your picture of the Star Ferry brings back memories. The last time I was there it was still under British control. I haven’t had any interest in returning since the lease ran out and control was returned to China; probably my loss but there it is.

All the best,
Mike

Thanks Mike, much appreciated.

I feel much the same about HK as you do (or did). I was there was 1 week after the hand over in 1998 which was an interesting experience - tourists stayed away in droves due to fear that the Chinese People's Liberation Army was about to march down Nathan Road or whatever. I had the impression I was about the only tourist in HK in that particular week. I have been back a couple of times since - the last being in 2012 and each time I have had a ball. I don't quite know why I like it so much other than that it has a certain "buzz" and even now, a certain romance about it. It must have been quite something during the time it was a British protectorate. I suppose that part of the charm for me are my father's stories of his adventures in HK with his buddies: the Bottoms Up club (suggestive name :^) ) Hari's Bar etc. He told me about these many years later when I was adult and he was old and reminiscing about good times and party times of his youth. I imagine that if you were a navy man you would have some good stories too.

The Star Ferry ride is the best couple of bucks you can spend on earth. It is like nothing else.

 

[Ted Striker]

The Star Ferry ride is the best couple of bucks you can spend on earth. It is like nothing else.

Couple of HK dollars. Is USD, it's all of 25 cents to ride the Star Ferry. You can't buy that type of scenery for less than a dollar anywhere!


I've been to Hong Kong over 30 times and agree, it's a great place to shoot with a camera. Outside of Japan, it's my favorite place to bring a camera.

 

[Archiver]

Man, I love Hong Kong. I've been there a few times over the years and visit friends, one of whom is an avid camera/rangefinder/Leica enthusiast. He takes me to obscure camera shops and we shoot street together. Last time, we did a long photo walk through Quarry Bay to see Montane Mansion, and ended up at Hysan Place shopping centre and Times Square. Happy days.

For me, Hong Kong has unique visual texture which is a combination of old Chinese signage, stained buildings from the 70s and 80s, new glossy apartment buildings and a flurry of shops. I grew up watching movies like The Man With The Golden Gun and 80s HK action cinema, so I was thrilled to discover that it looked and felt pretty much as the movies showed.

peterm1, that first picture of the cook in the congee restaurant - look at the menu printed on the front of the shop: 'FRESH MICED DEEF CONGEE'. Love it!

 

[peterm1]

Man, I love Hong Kong. I've been there a few times over the years and visit friends, one of whom is an avid camera/rangefinder/Leica enthusiast. He takes me to obscure camera shops and we shoot street together. Last time, we did a long photo walk through Quarry Bay to see Montane Mansion, and ended up at Hysan Place shopping centre and Times Square. Happy days.

For me, Hong Kong has unique visual texture which is a combination of old Chinese signage, stained buildings from the 70s and 80s, new glossy apartment buildings and a flurry of shops. I grew up watching movies like The Man With The Golden Gun and 80s HK action cinema, so I was thrilled to discover that it looked and felt pretty much as the movies showed.

peterm1, that first picture of the cook in the congee restaurant - look at the menu printed on the front of the shop: 'FRESH MICED DEEF CONGEE'. Love it!

Reference your last sentence, yes I took a whole series of photos of those wonderful Chinese English signs......

- Water bottles with "Pocari Sweat" on the label (What the heck is a Pocari and why would you want to drink it's sweat? And why does it sweat so much- is it nervous?) 🙂
- Chunkee Stationery (Wouldn't that be difficult to write on?)
- O.K. Property Agency (Surely that is a bad name for any business - just OK.......really ?)
- Sun and Moon Property Agency (This is more what I am used to with property agents in Australia who will usually offer you the sun and the moon in their promises in order to make a sale and get thier
commission).
- On a food sign outside a restaurant a sign for a dish named "Seaweed Fourple" (Is that how they really spell fore-play in China? And more importantly, how on earth does one do it? And why in a restaurant?)
- A restaurant named "Chu Fat Restaurant" (Another not very good naming choice for the health conscious eating public)
- A building in Tsim Sha Tsui named (and I exaggerate not one iota and have the photo to prove it) "Fook Kiu Mansion". (I think the owner has a sly sense of humor).
- A sign advertising what looks like some kind of high tech cooking pot being held by a young woman, the only English word on the sign being "Nipple-sili" (I don't think I will even attempt to interpret that one)
- A sign at a restaurant advertising "Octopus balls" (Well I did once hear what was said to be a true story about a school-child writing in a natural history exam that octopuses catch their food using their testicles so maybe..........)

There are millions of signs in Hong Kong. A surprising number have messages on them like these. It is part of the charm and joy of visiting there to find humor in such silliness in our interpretation.

On a less frivolous note and regarding your comment about camera shops I found this video recently about a Hong Kong based guy named Jeffo Wong who has a superb collection of lenses. He mentioned for example that in addition to all his other stuff he has over 400 cine lenses converted to Leica LTM or Leica M mount. Anyone who is susceptible to G.A.S. would be well advised to avert their eyes. IMMEDIATELY!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bbUutOk9PA

His Flickr page of gear photos and photos made with them

https://www.flickr.com/photos/44264

Like you I love Hong Kong. No other place is quite like it.

 

[Archiver]

@peterm1 - no doubt you saw the many massage shops in Hong Kong. I have it on good authority that if a massage shop has a sign with a foot outline that has a smiley face in it, then that shops offers to make your uhhhhh 'feet' happy. If you know what I mean. ;-) No doubt there is such a place in Fook Kiu Mansion.

 

[peterm1]

@peterm1 - no doubt you saw the many massage shops in Hong Kong. I have it on good authority that if a massage shop has a sign with a foot outline that has a smiley face in it, then that shops offers to make your uhhhhh 'feet' happy. If you know what I mean. ;-) No doubt there is such a place in Fook Kiu Mansion.

Hahahaha 😀

But I am an :angel:

Wink 😉