Saturday, February 7, 2009

Bridges (This week's Photo Hunt theme)




When people think of bridges, chances are they're thinking of bridges over water. To be sure, Hong Kong does have excellent examples of these, including the Tsing Ma Bridge that is the world's longest-span suspension bridge with an overall length of 2.2 kilometers and nearby Ting Kau Bridge (that optical illusion has caused to appear to be the larger of the two in my photo of them in this blog entry).

Hong Kong being a vertical-oriented (no pun intended!) city though, it also has more than its fair share of overhead bridges over broad and narrow roads and streets, especially in high density sections of the territory like Causeway Bay. So I figured that my Photo Hunt entry would be incomplete without a couple of pictures of these pedestrian walkways, however modest looking they may be. :)

57 comments:

PowersTwinB said...

well I think you did wonderful with this weeks theme word! I never knew there were overhead bridges like that, but it sure makes sense with overpopulated streets! Thank you for visiting my photo hunt tonight! you're sweet!

Anonymous said...

Hi YTSL, nice photos this week. That first one is very beautiful with the optical illusion. And high-rise pedestrian bridges are unusual! Happy weekend.

Carver said...

I think bridges that cross buildings are so useful and interesting. The first bridge is also beautiful. This is a fun theme. I hope you have a great weekend.

Napaboaniya.Elaine Ling said...

Yup! I remember it isn't uncommon to spot a couple of buildings linked up together via overhead bridges in HK.
Happy weekend!

SASSY MOM said...

those are wonderful collection of photos, thanks for sharing. Happy Weekend!

Claudia said...

Great choices...Love them.

eastcoastlife said...

Just like in Singapore, you tend to see more overhead bridges in such small cities. :)

Corey~living and loving said...

Such a variety of bridges. :) well done.
Happy Weekend!

bonggamom said...

Hong Kong is all about the people, so I think your choice of pedestrian bridges did capture a lot of the city's character. Well done!

Mira said...

I've got a photo of Tsing Ma Bridge too! I guess overhead walkways are very practical and convenient, they help ease traffic on the streets. Nice take on the theme. Here's mine http://www.mirasblog.com/2009/02/photo-hunt-6-bridge.html

Anonymous said...

Very cool!

Boston has a few of those enclosed pedestrian bridges, too. I always find it fun to walk between buildings over the traffic. I also appreciate their shelter when the weather is nasty.

CRIZ LAI said...

Hmm... Why am I seeing so many identical Penang Bridge everywhere.. haha. :P

http://crizcats.blogspot.com/

YTSL said...

Hi PowersTwinB --

Thank you for the sweet comments that brought a smile to my face! :)

Hi Annie -

Actually, pedestrian overhead bridges are really common in Hong Kong. Still, have to say that I continue to find them fascinating and have photos of quite a few of them, so was glad a Photo Hunt came up in which I could make use of a couple of those shots! :)

Hi Carver --

To add to your comments: I do love bridges as photo subjects since they can be beautiful and interesting as well as useful. :)

Hi Napaboaniya --

Yeah, one can walk miles without one's feet touching the ground via pedestrian bridges and connected buildings in parts of Hong Kong! :)

Hi Sassy Mom --

Thanks for enjoying my sharing! :)

Hi Claudia --

Thanks, I'm glad. :)

Hi EastCoastLife --

Small cities? Would consider Singapore and Hong Kong to be large citie! ;b

Hi Corey~living and loving --

Thanks and happy weekend to you too! :)

Hi Bonggamom --

Glad you think I captured Hong Kong's character through the photos. :)

Hi Mira --

So you have re the Tsing Ma Bridge! (And yes, I found that out when visiting!) ;)

Hi Alejna --

Absolutely. Covered pedestrian overhead bridges are great in bad weather!

Hi Criz --

Hmmm... I think you're being somewhat ethnocentric. After all, Penang didn't invent the idea of the suspension bridge, you know... ;D

Mira said...

Hey thanks for the correction of my 'bridge', lol. It was an honest mistake. I was multi-tasking while posting so I didn't notice, yikes! I visit HK every year since 1993, my brother and his family are based there. They've moved several times, but it seems they're liking it in NT. Where are you from?

Gattina said...

Very interesting selection of bridges !

Anonymous said...

Great variety of bridges! I think walkways count, too. I am so glad someone invented them!

Anonymous said...

saves space and visually stimulating

Anonymous said...

Foot bridges made life easier because it lessened foot traffic on the road and its safer too :)

Happy weekend!

jmb said...

All these different bridges make HK so unique and I always love to see what you have found for us.

In answer to your question, False Creek, a narrow inlet off Vancouver Harbour is so because it goes nowhere and ends not long after the last photo in my set of bridges. Captain Vancouver thought it would go somewhere but it did not and thus it was named False Creek.

Yes the Granville Island brewing company is still there.

Happy weekend to you YTSL.

LifeRamblings said...

hi YTSL, great selection of photos for PH. the human traffic seems endless, so the choice of overhead bridges are practical and safe.

have a great weekend! :)

Anonymous said...

Don't know why those pedestrian bridges haven't caught on in the west—it's such great urban planning.

And of course, it wouldn't be a comment form me if I didn't tie it back to HK movies, right? I immediately think of the teaser trailer for Johnnie To's Exiled, which was mostly just a shot of a car crossing a bridge (with the surprising choice of American post-rockers Explosions in the Sky on the soundtrack), and of course pivotal scenes from Tiger on Beat and One Night in Mongkok involving the footbridges you mentioned. Also, Karen Mok's video for the song 'Cold Rain' prominently featured the distinctive circular footbridge over Yee Wo Street!

jams o donnell said...

Great shots. I like the connectig bridges between buildings. Happy weekend!

Anonymous said...

Nice collection - it is extraordinary how few pictures of bridges I have. Not even bridges of ships.

Anonymous said...

That first picture is truly spectacular! I've seen pedestrian bridges like that but I can't think where. Certainly not Hong King I'm afraid. Maybe one day....

Anonymous said...

Wow, I am impressed

Dragonstar said...

I love the last photo showing all those pedestrian bridges - wonderful perspective and so different.

Lene said...

Great collection of bridges. The first bridge is breathtakeing :)

Have a nice day :)

Colin Campbell said...

Great collection of bridges. Loved the people mover bridges.

Gypsy at heart said...

Good take on the theme!

http://wanderingwonderinggypsy.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

Good takes on the theme!

Hootin Anni said...

Three great photos...I especially like the first one.

Come on over and see my bridge photo[s]. Two photos, but one bridge.

Happy Hunting.

YTSL said...

Hi again Mira --

You're welcome re the correction. The 'problem' is that now my comments on that entry in your blog might not make sense to people reading it! :S

(And to answer your question: I'm originally from Penang, Malaysia.)

Hi Gattina --

Thanks! :)

Hi Barbara H --

Well, especially when they hang over empty space, figure that walkways do indeed count as bridges!

Hi Isaiah --

Agreed!

Hi Julie --

Studies have also shown that it's less polluting to be above than on the side of traffic...

Hi JMB --

Thanks for visiting again and again and again -- and enjoying doing so. Thanks too for answering my queries re Vancouver in relation to your "bridges" entry. :)

Hi Life Ramblings --

Overhead bridges definitely do serve a purpose in places like Hong Kong! :)

Hi Jason --

Have never seen a trailer for "Exiled" but it's interesting that you associate it with bridges. And "Tiger on the Beat" I can't remember much of except for Chow Yun-fat's character's appalling treatment of Nina Li Chi's. But "One Nite in Mongkok" -- not only do I remember the bridge(s) there but also know where they are in real life! :b

And re the bridge in Karen Mok's video: I think I learnt about that through your "Jason in HK" blog! :D

Hi jams o donnell --

Thanks and happy weekend to you too! :)

Hi Aileni --

Funny, as bridges are among the things I'm attracted to take pictures of. (Steps are another! Reflections a third...)

Hi A. --

Yes, you most definitely should come and visit Hong Kong one day. Have a feeling you'd like it quite a bit. :)

Hi KISSEDALOTATOADS --

Impressed by it all? :b

Hi Dragonstar --

I often have to remind myself to look up when walking around Hong Kong. In that case, I'm glad I did. Otherwise, might not have noticed those overhead bridges even while walking right under them!

Hi Lene --

Glad you like the photos. Re the first photo: am especially proud of it because I took it from a moving bus! :)

Hi Colin Campbell --

Teehehee re the terming of those pedestrian bridges "people movers". For a *real* people mover, check out the Central-Mid-levels travelator! :b

Hi Gypsy at Heart --

Thanks!

Hi June --

Thanks too and sorry I can't seem to leave comments on your blog. I visited but I wonder if your blog host just can't deal with Mozilla Firefox (which I use)!

Hi Hootin' Anni --

Okay, am heading over now to check out your Photo Hunt entry... ;b

Anonymous said...

great photos. Very good take on this week's theme.

Happy weekend!

Anonymous said...

The bridges in the first photo are almost ethereal...

The "city bridges" always make me think of futuristic movies where vast cities are layered with them.

I am not a "bridge person"... I have a terrible fear of heights and a special fear of bridges. Although it has tempered somewhat over the years, mine comes from a terrible bridge collapse, here in Ottawa. A number of construction workers were killed. One was never found in all the rubble. When they rebuilt the bridge in question, every time I went near or over it, I got the "willies".

Perhaps I should have taken a photo of that bridge.

Instead, this is mine... and another tragedy: http://mudpuddle.wordpress.com/2009/02/04/photohunter-bridges/

SnoopyTheGoon said...

Excellent choices and great shots.

Have a nice weekend.

Bengbeng said...

Just to say hi :) lots of political intrique happening in our country

dianasfaria.com said...

I like your bridge selection. The pedestrian bridges are especially interesting.

YTSL said...

Hi Candi --

Thanks, and happy weekend to you too! :)

Hi Mudhooks --

Thank you for your detailed comments. Sorry to hear of your fear of heights and bridges. Actually, have a bit of a fear of heights myself -- something I realize when out hiking and face steep descents -- though not as bad as others I know (including two good friends of mine and also my sister).

Hi "Snoopy the Goon" --

Long time no see. Welcome back! :)

Hi Bengbeng --

I think it's beyond intrigue now and more unrest, I'm afraid. So sad. It's such a beautiful country. Don't want people to ruin it! :S

Hi Lily Hydrangea --

Thanks, glad you like my choices of photos. :)

Anonymous said...

Your shots almost make me miss the big city ;-)
I love to people watch from a pedestrian bridge!

Randi said...

I love the overhead walkways in HK especially when it´s hot.
Great choices!
Happy weekend!

Brita said...

Great shots for the theme. The first one is beautiful, but it's nice to see the other bridges too. Never knew there was so many of them.

KayeDean said...

Great selection of bridges. Have a great weekend.

Anonymous said...

Great shots!!

Happy Weekend.

Anonymous said...

I have updated my post,. come on by and check it out. You can actually see the fine detail of the wall mural.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for your comment on mine! Most appreciated!

Anonymous said...

I love the suspension bridge. My photo entry has the third longest suspension bridge located in the state of Michigan in the U.S.

Your first bridge has such a delicate look about it and yet it has to be super strong. Wow!

You can find mine at:
Photo Hunt . Stop by if you have a moment!

Anonymous said...

Great photos! And it adds good variety to the theme with the overhead bridges :D

Anonymous said...

So you've been to Elgin, IL. Wow - small world. I actually live in a suburb north of Elgin but in the Chicago area all the suburbs blend into each other anyway.

Thanks for visiting my photo hunt.

YTSL said...

Hi JC --

The wonderful thing about Hong Kong is that I live in a very urban area but, like I plan to later today, still can head out to a country park to hike by public transportation... :)

Hi Randi --

Yes, overhead walkways really do seem to be cooler, whether air-conditioned or not! :b

Hi Brita --

Glad you appreciate my idea of showing more than bridges over water. :)

Hi SandyM204, and Pat too --

Thanks, and happy weekend to you too!

Hi again KISSEDALOTATOADS --

Glad you got new, way clearer pictures of the bridge and mural. :)

Hi Mudhooks --

You're welcome, and thanks for returning to thank me! :b

Hi JyLnC --

Now I'm wondering which Chicago suburb you live in as I may have visited that too since I went to college in Beloit, over on the Wisconsin-Illinois border! :)

Hi Easy Dessert --

Thanks! (BTW, are you Photo Hunting? If so, sorry, couldn't find your entry on your blog!)

ewaffle said...

Lovely images, as always.

One US midwestern city with a very extensive skybridge system is Minneapolis, MN. The necessity there wasn't the population density but the frigid winters. A combination of low temperatures and buildings creating a venturi effect made it actually painful to be outside in downtown Minneapolis for 3 months of the year.

YTSL said...

Hi ewaffle --

Thanks! And although I've never visited, know about Minnesota's cold conditions. At college in the Siberia of America that's Wisconsin, we were told, "Minnesota's even colder than here!" ;b

Anonymous said...

You raise an excellent point and I certainly enjoyed seeing the photos you shared this week. I learned a thing or two as well and that's always a good thing. I shared 'bridges' at both Sacred Ruminations and Happily Retired Gal this weekend.
Hugs and blessings,

sammawow said...

I like your bridge pictures. I would particularly love to see that first one! Great choices for the theme!

YTSL said...

Hi "Happily retired gal" --

Glad to be able to do my bit to help bridge the information gap between cultures! ;)

Hi Sammawow --

Thanks and hope you can come over some day to Hong Kong to see those bridges for yourself. :)

Angela said...

Wow, great bridges!

This photohunt was perfect for me. http://angela.quarantinemb.com/?p=608

Brine Queen said...

Nice bridges. The different types sure helped mix things up a bit.

Thanks for stopping by.

YTSL said...

Hi Angela --

Yeah, this "bridges" theme really does look to have been well suited for you! :)

Hi Brine Queen --

Yep -- as the proverbial "they" say, variety is the spice of life, after all. :)