Ripples (This week's Photo Hunt theme)

Typhoons are strong hurricane-strength tropical cyclones that occur in the northwestern Pacific Ocean that surrounds much of East Asia and nearby/associated bodies of water such as the South China Sea. Taking their name from the Cantonese tai fong (trans., big wind), they regularly occur and pay visits during the summer to the part of the world in which Hong Kong is situated.

In view of factors such as much of Hong Kong bordering or being surrounded by lots of water and a significal percentage of its population historically being boat-dwellers as well as seafarers, the territory has an elaborate system for dealing with typhoons that includes the construction and continued existence of official typhoon shelters. Shelters against rough seas, they are where -- and yes, we're finally getting there! ;) -- small waves and ripples are the rule rather than exception.

More specifically, this week's Photo Hunt's are of the typhoon shelters at Causeway Bay (upper photo) and Shau Kei Wan (lower photo). As befits it being in the vicinity of the very private Royal Hong Kong Yacht, Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter is home to luxury boats along with more modest craft (and -- it seems from my photo -- wild birds!). In contrast, Shau Kei Wan's Typhoon Shelter is home to traditional Chinese fishing boats -- which themselves pose quite a visual contrast to the many high rise apartment buildings to be found on the Hong Kong Island as well as Kowloon side of Victoria Harbour!