Saturday, December 8, 2007

Long (This week's Photo Hunt theme)



On 15 October, 1994, the subject of this week's Photo Hunt entry was officially opened to the public here in Hong Kong. To this day, the half mile long Central Mid-Levels Escalator (or Travelator, as it is popularly known) -- one of whose ends is in the business section of Central, with the other being in the more residential Mid-Levels -- remains the world's longest outdoor covered escalator system.

The first time I caught sight of this long and very distinctive public transport option was in a quirky and enchanting -- and highly recommended -- movie called Chungking Express. Although it wasn't until I came to Hong Kong and rode on the Travelator that I truly understood what it was as well as appreciated its length, I will also admit that pretty much every time I go on this Travelator (which is fairly regularly, since my favorite pub in the territory is located near it!), I get to thinking of that 1994 Wong Kar Wai work which, among other things, has the distinction of containing my favorite actress' final feature film appearance. In other words: It's one of those parts of the Fragrant Harbour that help make me often feel that I'm moving around, working and living in a giant as well as wonderful movie set! :)

27 comments:

A. said...

How fascinating! I had no idea this existed. I didn't even realise Hong Kong was so hilly. Well I should have known, I've seen your photos after all, but it didn't penetrate my consciousness that the city itself would be hilly:)

Gattina said...

How interesting ! they should built some travelators here too ! especially for me I am sooo lazy when it comes to walk, lol !

Dragonheart, Merlin, Devi, and Chloe said...

Wow! That sounds very cool! I'd never heard of an outdoor escalator before. Thanks for sharing!

Pelfy said...

Hoo-huu!! I've seen a long long escalator in Ocean Park a few years back. Thanks for sharing this as well (=

Janet said...

wow, that's amazing and a great idea, too!

Thanks for visiting!

kljs said...

I would love to go and visit Hong Kong one day.....
Nice shot for the long theme......

http://kennyljs.com/

lissa said...

You make me want to go to Hong Kong or maybe live there for a couple of month.

As always another interesting Photohunt. The structure reminds of the Great Walls of China.

Thanks for visiting my photohunt. Have a great week!

Anonymous said...

interesting. i do wish to see hongkong someday.

re my belt, yup i do wear that often. thanks for the visit!

alpha
http://alphadf.11penguin.net/2007/12/08/photohunt-long/

maryt/theteach said...

Gee, that's makes getting around easy! Thanks for posting it!

Come visit me at Answers to the Questions and Deb has cruise pix up at Deb's blog

Mommy Lutchi said...

great and interesting shots...Mine is up at 4 Seasons and
2 Cents Worth . Hope u can visit me too. Happy Hunting.

jams o donnell said...

I did not know about this before. I wonder who rhought of such a massive taravolator. Have a great weekend

YTSL said...

Hi a. --

Yes, Hong Kong really is a very hilly place... :)

Hi Gattina --

Just so you (and others) know: So successful/popular has the travelator been that they're planning a second travelator for Hong Kong... :)

Hi dragonheart --

Hong Kong does seem to have a thing for escalators, outdoors as well as indoors. ;b

Hi Pelfy --

Sounds like you've been to Ocean Park far more recently than me... :)

If you visit once more, can you please leave your blog URL? Would love to reciprocate and visit you but blogger isn't too helpful in providing me with your blog URL... :S

Hi Janet --

Yep, agreed that the travelator's a great idea! :)

Hi kljs --

Hong Kong isn't too far away from Malaysia. So... :)

Hi Lissa --

Can definitely recommend the visiting and living part. Hong Kong really is a great place! :)

Hi Alpha --

Hmmm, maybe I should get HK Tourism Board affiliations/sponsorship... ;b

Hi the teach --

However do you find time to maintain all those blogs?! ;o

Hi 2 cents --

Have been having a happy time photo hunting. This week seems to have really drawn the creative instincts out of people in terms of choices of subject matter! :)

Hi jams o donnell --

Living here, you can forget that many people in the world don't know about the travelator's existence, etc. Glad to be able to help spread the word about it and other interesting aspects of Hong Kong... :)

alisonwonderland said...

wow! someday i'll visit Hong Kong and ride this!

thanks for stopping by!

Mindy said...

Great pictures! Thanks for visiting my site too!

jmb said...

What a spectacular thing that is. You never seem to have trouble finding something interesting in Hong Kong to fit the theme and to show us.

**"Liza"** said...

Very interesting!that is sure a long way to walk..Mine is up too

Anna said...

this is a very nice photos thanks for sharing it...Mine is up too:
Every Beat Of My Heart

TeacherJulie said...

That sure saves a lot of walking :) HK really is very modern.

Have a great Sunday! :)

Julie
http://teacherjulie.com/2007/12/07/photo-hunt-long/

peppylady (Dora) said...

What interesting picture. Mine up too.

Chen said...

Didn't know about this lengthy Escalator till i read your post :)

Natalie said...

That's really great! I had never heard of that before.

My LONG picture is up too! :)

YTSL said...

Hi Alisonwonderland --

Hope you will stop by in Hong Kong some day... :)

Hi Mindy V. --

Thanks and you're welcome! :)

Hi jmb --

Yes, well, there really does seem to be much that's interesting in Hong Kong... ;b

Hi Liza --

And you do have to walk it sometimes since it only goes one way at any one time (i.e., down during the morning commute and up afterwards)!

Hi Anna and peppylady --

Thanks! :)

Hi Julie --

Parts of HK are very modern and first world but there are other parts that are quite traditional and still other parts that are very wild. In short: it can feel like it has it all! :b

Hi Chen and Natalie --

Glad to be able to provide you with some new info! :)

Willow said...

I was coming out of the MTR at Causeway Bay and the escalator I took up to the street level was LONG. Freaky, scary, long. haha.

Ramon Jose said...

hey, nice take on this week's theme! why didn't I think of that? I have a photo of that escalator too.

thanks for visiting.

YTSL said...

Hi Willow --

The MTR escalator(s) at Causeway Bay aren't the longest around. Try, for example, the MTR escalators at Fortress Hill. Other long escalators are those at Times Square in Causeway Bay and Langham Place. ;b

Hi Monaco --

It'd be quite something if you also had used your travelator photos! :)

Stefan S said...

even Batman went there :)

YTSL said...

Hi Stefan S. --

To be honest, the fact that Faye Wong and Takeshi Kaneshiro have is something that excites me more! ;b