Saturday, June 5, 2010

Sparkle(s) (This week's Photo Hunt theme)



Compared to quite a few other people I know, I'm actually not that fond of water -- for other than drinking and cleaning with, that is! As an example, I haven't gone swimming in years, maybe decades even. And when in a seaside setting, I usually am quite content to do not much more than gaze at the sea, take photos of it and -- only if the water really is clean and clear -- dip my toes into it.

So it can seem rather ironic that a good part of my life has thus been lived on islands -- and I don't just mean large ones like the main British isle either! (For the record, I was born and lived for approximately two decades on Penang Island, spent half a year on Zanzibar Island (aka Unguja) and now reside on Hong Kong Island.)

Still, in mitigation, it's also true enough that I do like walking on waterfronts -- and have indeed spent quite a bit of time doing that and, while at it, admiring the sparkles on the water that the sun (one beautiful day out at Tai Mei Tuk) as well as artificial lighting (including from Cheung Chau's utility-designed municipal services building) sometimes create.

And even though Victoria Harbour dominates the Hong Kong tourist imagination, the truth of the matter is that views of the water are to be had in so many other parts of the territory. And, as I trust that the two photos at the top of this Photo Hunt help show, these often aren't half bad in terms of being scenic and interesting! ;b

30 comments:

Carver said...

These are both beautiful shots. I love the sparkling water. I hope you have a great weekend.

magiceye said...

beautiful images for the theme..

regarding your doubt about arabian sea It has an area of about 1,491,000 sq miles (3,862,000 sq km) and an average depth of 8,970 feet (2,734 m). The Gulf of Oman connects it with the Persian Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz, while the Gulf of Aden connects it with the Red Sea via the Strait of Mandeb. The Indus is the principal river draining into the Arabian Sea. Socotra, Lakshadweep, and other islands lie within it. Chief ports are Mumbai (Bombay), India; Karachi, Pak.; and Aden, Yemen.
sourced from Britannica Concise Encyclopedia

Anonymous said...

those are really fab shots. i was thinking to go this route but couldn't find photos. have a nice weekend.

YTSL said...

Hi Carver --

Thanks for liking both the shots and also for the weekend wish. :)

Hi magic eye --

Thanks for the geography lesson. And wow re the Indus being the principal river draining into the Arabian Sea. From its name, thought it'd drain into the Indian Ocean instead! :D

Hi ewok1993 --

Good on you for going a different route since variety is the spice of life, etc., etc.! ;b

Shoshana said...

I did something similar too.

Love these pictures of the water.

My Photo Hunt

Mommy Reads said...

My favorite blog hop is looking at sparkly things....and these waters are lovely!

Annie said...

I agree, not half bad at all. Love both of your photos. I'm not much of a swimmer either, but I do love natural water.

Have a good weekend.

Susan Demeter said...

Great photo choices for the theme! I love the water and think I would be quite happy living on an island. It is a bit odd I guess that you are not overly fond of water yet spent your life living on islands. Funny how life works sometimes. :) Happy weekend, and happy photo hunting!

jams o donnell said...

So beautiful. I love how the water shimmers like that. Have a great weekend

CRIZ LAI said...

Hmm.. as a Penangite for 2 decades and you hardly touch sea water? Amazing... :P Nice photos there! :)

http://crizcats.blogspot.com/

Kim, USA said...

That is a romantic sparkle, awesome! happy Saturday!


PhotoHunt-Sparkle

Gizelle, Vienna said...

oh, that's a really lovely take! sparkling seawater....nothing more beautiful!

ancient one said...

Great Minds think alike.... I think you have more sparkles in your water than I had in mine... Wonderful photo!

Linda said...

Beautiful...I was looking at some sparkly water pics too, but decided to go a different route! Here's mine...http://homeschoolblogger.com/prodoceo/666864/

COOKIE said...

beautiful shots....I've always loved how light reflects off water :)

Santacruzan : The Sparkle of May

Momgen said...

It looks pretty and cool. Happy hunting.

mine is here

Diana said...

Beautiful shots. I love water, except for rain. I love that while I am here in HK I can be on the water regularly. In fact I am taking the Star Ferry to Wan Chai every day to my class (unless it is raining). NYC is a made of islands too but with the exception of the Staten Island Ferry, one only goes under it or over the water. Not sure why, maybe it is due to the climate. But it seems a shame.

YTSL said...

Hi Shoshana --

Light on water can really capture us photographers' attentions, huh? ;b

Hi Mommy Reads --

Teehee at your love of all manner of sparkly things! ;)

Hi Annie --

Guess we think similarly about quite a few things! Happy weekend to you too. :)

Hi Sue --

Maybe without consciously realising it, I've found that I like island mentalities and cultures, even if not the water surrounding them that much... ;b

Hi jams --

Glad my photos managed to convey some semblance of the real beauty I got to see. :)

Hi Criz --

Okay, gotta ask: so do YOU go and swim in the sea much in Penang? If so, REALLY? They're so yuckily polluted, I've found! :S

Hi Manang Kim --

Actually, hadn't considered them romantic at all!! :O

Hi Gizelle --

Hmmm... and I love the blue waters of Austrian lakes like the Achensee. Guess the grass may be greener on the other side of the fence to us both... ;D

Hi "ancient one" --

Not to worry - yours had enough sparkle! ;D

Hi Linda --

Cool alternative route you took there! ;b

Hi Cookie --

Thanks -- and yeah that water-light combo really can be pretty beautiful. :)

Hi momgen --

Thanks -- and happy hunting to you too. :)

Hi Diana --

The Star Ferry ride is wonderful. Glad you're taking it regularly.

As for rain: well, the good thing about it is that after heavy rains here, the air often is so much clearer and cleaner.

Trekcapri said...

Hi YTSL, two wonderful photos and great choices for this week's theme. I enjoyed reading your post a lot too. I found it really interesting. Thanks so much for sharing. Have a great weekend.

Marta said...

I'm somewhat surprised that you are not fond of water especially since many of the areas you have lived are also in warm climates. But I do agree they are lovely to live near by. Both of your shots show the beauty even with utilitarian buildings.

A. said...

I share your reserve about water. :) But it does make for wonderful pictures, like yours.

Marites said...

really beautiful shots of the waters. I especially like the first one. have a nice weekend!

Alice Audrey said...

I forget Hong Kong is and island.

That first shot is fantastic! Not just the sparkly water, but the misty mountains, too. Love it.

sammawow said...

Those are both great shots with lots of sparkles! One of mine is of sparkling water too!

Gattina said...

Beautiful sparkles ! You must feel like Robinson Crusoe, he also lived on an island,lol !

Eden said...

I may have left too early when I left my first comment, so I hope this is not a duplication.

I saw many water posts today. I love your first shot. Sparkly and serene.

Mine is finally up, right here: http://www.slowtrav.com/blog/eden/

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

shimmering water, no wonder people find it a romantic walk when they walk along the waterfront.

YTSL said...

Hi Trek Capri --

Thanks for reading as well as looking. :)

Hi Marta --

Am not sure if it helps explains but two of the islands I'm most familiar with (Penang and Hong Kong) also have great hilly areas. And somehow, I find myself more attracted to going higher up in elevation than down to the water's edge... ;b

Hi A. --

And you live near water too from what I've seen -- if not the sea, then a river! ;b

Hi Marites --

That first one is from a series of really nice photos I took at Tai Mei Tuk on my first visit there. A few months ago, visited again -- and yes, took more beautiful photos. (It really is a beautiful place!)

Hi Alice Audrey --

Well, there's Hong Kong Island and then there's the territory of Hong Kong (which actually includes a peninsula (Kowloon), land beyond (The New Territories) and lots of other islands). So... ;b

Hi Sammawow --

You definitely have the greater variety of subject matter, so am glad you liked what you saw here. :)

Hi Gattina --

Thankfully, the islands I've lived on have more friendly people on them and are easier to get off when I want! :D

Hi Eden --

Thanks for returning to comment. (And yes, it does seem you left too early the first time around!) :)

Hi Ann --

Hmmm... I see beauty but not romance. I guess I just really am not a romantic person! :D

Gemma Wiseman said...

The sparkling bright waters of the sea is always a glorious sight! Lovely photos!

YTSL said...

Hi Greyscale Territory --

As the proverbial "they" say, great minds think alike and all that! ;b