Behind Open Windows

A lone man waits in the Star Ferry terminal as the metropolis of Hong Kong towers over him in the background. 

The Metropolis - II

In my previous post, I showed some images of Hong Kong from the rooftops. The images in this post were taken over the same couple of days... but from a different perspective (at sea level). All of the shots were taken while on the Star Ferry or while waiting to board the Star Ferry. Looking back at these images, I'm still shocked to see how crisp/clean the air is. There will be days when you can barely see across the harbour.

Attack of the Rubber Ducks!

The six-story-high version of the childhood bathtub favorite was set adrift in Victoria harbor prior to Hong Kong's "Art Week". While the annual art fair anchors the festivities, it is also the time of year that the city puts on its best cultural works and events... and this year, the most talked about "cultural work" was the giant rubber duck floating next to the Star Ferry Pier. Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman came up with the concept (officially called "Spreading Joy Around the World") to try and create a catalyst to connect people to public art.

Not only has the rubber duck brought happiness and joy... but it has also lead to the "Rubber Duck Stimulus". Since May 2 (the day it first arrived), rubber duck mania has ensued... attracting hundreds of thousands of people from the region and prompting businesses to launch a seemingly endless supply of duck-related products. I'm not quite sure why the rubber duck has been such a hit in Hong Kong (has already made appearances in nine other countries around the world without as much fanfare). However, it gave the city a little boost, just as it needed something.

Apparently, the rubber duck has already been knocked off by several cities in China. If you want the real rubber duck, you have to wait and see where the dutch artist takes it next.

April 24, 2011

Looking out of a window at the Star Ferry pier in Hong Kong... waiting for the boat to arrive. In the background, you can see the world famous Star Ferry... and also the IFC building on Hong Kong Island. Taking a ride on the Star Ferry is a must for any first time tourist. For the equivalent of UDS0.70, you can get one of the best views of the city as you cruise from one side to the other. It also puts you in a convenient location if you plan on going out in Lan Kwai Fong.

March 12 - March 13, 2011

Star Ferry to Central. For the equivalent of 0.70USD, you can take the Star Ferry from Kowloon to Central. It's a beautiful ride. 

Canton Road... home to on of the largest shopping malls in the world- Harbor City. The shopping mall stretches for several blocks and is home to 100s of shops, restaurants, cafes, and bars. If you're not careful, it's very easy to lose yourself inside of this mega-mall.