Quiet and Silence (This week's Photo Hunt themes)

I'm letting the photos (and signs) do the bulk of the "talking" for this entry for Sandi's and Gattinas Photo Hunts... ;)
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Stuck and Sports (This week's Photo Hunt themes)

Two weeks ago today, I was enjoying the first full day of my most recent Japan vacation. After a delicious sushi breakfast at Tsujiki Market, I headed to Shibamata, an atmospheric neighborhood out in northeastern Tokyo famous for being the home of Tora-san, the comic anti-hero protagonist of the great Yoji Yamada's 48 film Otoko wa Tsurai yo (It's Tough Being a Man) series.



The
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Around a quieter part of Lamma (as well as Hong Kong)

For those visitors with a spider phobia: don't worry, there aren't going to be any pictures of spiders -- big or small -- in this particular photo-essay.  Not because my hiking companion and I didn't see any more arachnids on our southeastern Lamma Island hike beyond Mo Tat Wan, mind.  Rather, it was that at that point about one third into our day's excursion, we had seen (and photographed) so
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Hollister Co. Hong Kong

Hollister Co., sometimes advertised as Hollister or HCo., is an American lifestyle brand by Abercrombie & Fitch Co. The concept was originally designed to attract consumers aged 14–18, at a lower price point than the parent brand. through its SoCal-inspired image and casual wear. It was ranked as the second most preferred clothing brand of US teens on a long list of actual West Coast companies in 2008 by Piper Jaffray.

Goods are given names from SoCal beaches, something which Gilly Hicks does similarly with Australian beaches. The labels proclaim Hollister Co. as “pacific merchants” established in 1922. A&F Corporate keeps HCO price points affordable to its targeted high school consumers. Being said, HCo price points are about 20% lower than its parent Abercrombie & Fitch. To maintain the SoCal theme, stores and merchandise are categorized within the divisions named “Dudes” (men) and “Bettys” (women).

Hollister Co. by Abercrombie Hong Kong Shop List:

Hollister Co.  – Festival Walk
Address: Shop UG-03, 80 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong (Location Map)
Phone: +852 2265 5000
Opening Hours : 11:00 AM – 09:00 PM
How to get there: MTR Kowloon Tong Station, Exit C

Hollister Co. – Hysan Place at Lee Gardens
Address : Hysan Place, 500 Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong (Location Map)
Phone: +852 2524 0913
Opening Hours : 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
How to get there: Central MTR Exit D

Stock Photo ID : hkdigit-20120823-132153 (flickr), hkdigit-20120827-133132, hkdigit-20120827-133132

More Hong Kong Hollister Co. Photos :

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Related posts:

1. Abercrombie & Fitch Hong Kong
2. Bape Store Hong Kong
3. Hong Kong iPad Pricing
4. H&M Grand Opening in Hong Kong

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Photos from the air

A splendid view from the plane that took me 

to my most recent vacation destination





Another shot that shows why 

I like window seats on planes :)





Still up in the air but getting closer to land...



To those who wondered: yes, I was away on holiday!  But now I'm back -- and with great memories and many pretty good photos that I'd like to share, starting with a trio of images
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1937 Typhoon: beached ship

When: The big typhoon of 1937 hit Hong Kong early morning on September 2nd.

"Several gusts exceeded 125 m.p.h., and it seems probable that the typhoon was the most violent which has ever visited the Colony." [1]

Things have settled down by the time this photo was taken, likely the following day.

Who: The spectacle has attracted a crowd of onlookers, no doubt relieved to have survived the typhoon unhurt. Many of those living at sea weren't so lucky - initial estimates said 11,000 "in native craft" were killed [2]. Thankfully the final figure was much lower, but still recorded 2,565 deaths.

Of the people we can see, my favourite is the young boy at the bow of the boat. He's wondering whether one sharp push would be enough to send it back into the sea:

What: Can anyone identify the ship?

It has a couple of distinguishing features; a gun on the front deck:

and these two Chinese characters above the bridge:

Are they "海鶖", a type of sea bird ?

Could it be a Chinese Maritimes Customs cruiser? An article in the newspapers [3], said one was washed ashore:

Along the foreshore at Laichikok were a large number of junks and several small launches washed up on the shore beside a Chinese Maritime Customs cruiser and a river steamer.

Where: The tide has gone right out, leaving wet sand in the background, so it's somewhere with shallow water. The ridge in the background looks like the hills at the back of Kowloon.

Do they match the area around Lai Chi Kok?

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Please leave a comment below if you can tell us more.

Regards, David

Trivia: Whoops! The 1st September newspaper [4] had an article titled:

Typhoon will miss H.K.

The next day's paper [5] found some good news among the death & destruction:

Catching Fish in Nathan Road

Following the flooding of the railway track, enterprising Chinese were seen "fishing" in pools of water in Nathan Road, many catches of still live fish being obtained.

Among them was one several feet long, of a breed unfamiliar to Hong kong waters, which had evidently been swept along by the typhoon for many miles.

References:

1. The Royal Observatory's report for 1937 : "The destructive typhoon of September 2nd. The typhoon passed close to the south side of Hong Kong Island on a WNW track between 3 and 4 a.m. At the Observatory the minimum barometer reading, reduced to sea level, was 29.298 inches, which is the lowest recorded since observations commenced in 1894. Several gusts exceeded 125 m.p.h., and it seems probable that the typhoon was the most violent which has ever visited the Colony."
2. The Harbour Master's report for 1937 : "The loss of life in native craft was at first estimated at about 11,000, but is now reported to be 2,565."
3. Hong Kong Sunday Herald, 1937-09-02, page 1.
4. Hong Kong Sunday Herald, 1937-09-01, page 1.
5. The China Mail, 1937-09-02, page 1.

Date picture taken (to nearest decade for older photos): 

1937

Reference: 

BA001

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Typhoon Kai-tak hits Hong Kong No. 8 Southeast Gale or Storm Signal hoisted

HONG KONG 16 August, 2012 : Here is the latest Tropical Cyclone Bulletin issued by the Hong Kong Observatory.

The No. 8 Southeast Gale or Storm Signal was issued at 10:15 p.m. HKT

This means that winds with mean speeds of 63 kilometres per hour or more are expected from the southeast quarter.

At 10 p.m., Typhoon Kai-tak was centred about 270 kilometres south of Hong Kong (near 19.9 degrees north 113.9 degrees east) and is forecast to move west-northwest at about 25 kilometres per hour in the general direction of the coast of western Guangdong.

According to the present forecast track, Kai-Tak will be closest to Hong Kong in the next few hours, skirting within 250 km south-southwest of Hong Kong. Local winds will strengthen further. Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 will stay in force for some time. The public should be on alert and pay attention to the latest news on the tropical cyclone.

In the past hour, the maximum sustained winds recorded at Tate’s Cairn and Cheung Chau were 75 and 62 kilometres per hour respectively.

Stock Photo ID : hkdigit-20120816-185845-01 (flickr)

More Hong Kong Typhoon Pictures:

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Related posts:

1. Typhoon Kai-tak threatens Hong Kong No. 3 Strong Wind Signal hoisted
2. Tropical storm Kai Tak approaches Hong Kong – Observatory issues number 1 signal
3. Typhoon Vicente hits Hong Kong – Observatory issues number 10 signal
4. Tropical Storm Doksuri No. 8 Signal is in force
5. Typhoon Vicente batter Hong Kong – Observatory issues number 9 signal
6. Standby Signal No 1 Hoisted
7. Tropical Storm Pabuk
8. No. 8 Northeast Gale or Storm Signal
9. Typhoon Vicente slamming Hong Kong – Signal No. 8 Issued
10. Typhoon Nuri Pre No. 8 Signal

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Artist finally finds use for old mooncake boxes, builds huge pagoda

by Zoe Li

When asked whether he had to consume all the mooncakes for all 600 tins to make the pagoda, Lim did not answer directly. There's a Chinese pagoda made out of 600 mooncake boxes currently on display in Hong Kong as part of William Lim's solo exhibition.

Mooncakes are the traditional food eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival when Chinese people celebrate the full moon, the harvest and family.

Lim's 4.5-meter tower is made from layers of plywood and empty tin boxes for mooncakes collected from a recycling program. It is held together by nothing but the tension of four steel cables

The pagoda is born out of Lim's triumvirate of passions: art, architecture and Hong Kong culture. 

It's fun, simple and so Chinese.

read more

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Can and Sculpture & Monuments (This week's Photo Hunt themes)

For many people, a visit to Macau is not complete without a visit to at least one of its many casinos.  For others, a visit to the former Portuguese enclave just is not complete without digging into some Macanese and Portuguese food.

As those who know me will realize, I've never actually spent a dime in a Macau casino but I've definitely enjoyed many meals and snacks in "the other SAR
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Recovery Run/Hike – Cloudy Hill, Pat Sin Leng and Plover Cove

Recovery Run/Hike – Cloudy Hill, Pat Sin Leng and Plover Cove 112 – that’s the magic number. My total mileage for last week. Two words to summarize it – “too much!” So, after having already run 44kms this week, I wanted to do a lazy 37km recovery run to give my legs a chance to [...]
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McDull: The Pork of Music (film review)

 Mcdull and friends returned to the big screen in

Mcdull: The Pork of Music :)



McDull: The Pork of Music (Hong Kong-Mainland China, 2012)

- Brian Tse, director

- Starring Cheung Ching Ching, Anthony Wong Chau San, Sandra Ng, The Pancakes 






Twenty-four years ago this year, Alice Mak
created McDull, the piglet cartoon character that has captured many
hearts in Hong Kong, Mainland
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Doraemon 3 Famous Scene

To celebrate the pre-anniversary, from 14 August to 16 September, 2012, Hong Kong Tsim Sha Tsui Harbour City hosting the 100 Years Before the Birth of Doraemon exhibition.

Three famous story scenes will be set up in different parts of Harbour City.

Goodbye, Doraemon!
Location: Gateway Boulevard

Memories of Grandma
Location: Harbour City kidX

The Night Before Nobita’s wedding
Location: Ocean Centre 4/F – The Patio

As well as the Doraemon Concept Expo: Gadgets in the Future exhibition showcasing 30 original gadgets from around the world and a pop-up Doraemon themed café located inside Harbour City’s LCX.

Furthermore, the exhibition also showcase 100 unique Doraemon figures along with 100 different pieces from his well-known repertoire of secret gadgets, all displayed outside Harbour City’s Ocean Terminal.

100 years before the birth of Doraemon Festival Exhibition details:
Date: 12 August – 16 September, 2012
Time: 11:00 – 21:00 (Monday – Sunday)
Venue: Ocean Terminal Forecourt, Harbour City and Gallery by the Harbour
Address: 3 – 27 Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, HONG KONG (Map)
Hotline: +852 2118 8666
How to get there :

• MTR Tsim Sha Tsui Station, Exit A1. Walk along Haiphong Road for approximately five minutes.
• Star Ferry from Central or Wan Chai to Tsim Sha Tsui

Stock Photo ID: hkdigit-20120817-075141(flickr), hkdigit-20120817-080629, hkdigit-20120817-080629

More Harbour City 100 years before the birth of Doraemon Festival Photos :

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Related posts:

1. Harbour City 100 years before the birth of Doraemon Festival
2. Toy to the World – Harbour City Christmas Decoration
3. Tsim Sha Tsui Mid-Autumn Thematic Lantern Exhibition
4. Urban Council Centenary Garden
5. Fishing
6. Victoria Harbour
7. The Swedish Ship Götheborg
8. Tsim Sha Tsui Container Terminal
9. Dayang Yihao
10. The Rhapsody of Hong Kong Memories Lantern Exhibition

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