Saturday, February 19, 2011

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



Victoria Harbour is one of Hong Kong's greatest assets, a jewel that people marvel at, no matter how many times they visit the city. People come from all over the world to see and admire it. Thus states the Hong Kong Tourism Board website about the natural landform harbor situated between Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula whose naturally deep and sheltered waters teem with activity and shores offer up many scenic waterfront views.

For some years now, there has been cries about over-reclamation of land around Victoria Harbour and jokes made about how some day soon, reclamation will make for people being able to walk across it. (As it currently stands, ferry rides across it takes mere minutes.) But reclamation goes on -- like it has for decades now. (Indeed, much of the current waterfront areas along Victoria Harbour -- and quite some meters of space back (including all the way to Queen's Road on Hong Kong Island) -- is reclaimed land.)

Yet amidst all the area's hustle and bustle of on-going reclamation efforts and otherwise, there continues to be places where moments of tranquility can be grasped or at least glimpsed -- places where individuals (like the fellows viewed in silhouette in this Photo Hunt entry) can go for a bit of quiet time away from the madding crowd. Often times, it's with fishing gear -- sometimes not much more than a fishing line minus rod but with hooked bait at one end -- in hand. At other times, it's just to gaze out at the waters and land not so far across.

For my part, I welcome the various photo opportunities that Victoria Harbour offers -- and that even though my apartment doesn't have a much vaunted "harbor view", it's close enough to the harbor front that views like these literally are within walking distance from it. :)

35 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow... those are breathtaking, YTSL! Definitely worth framing. :D

Susan Demeter said...

Terrific shots, and it does look like some peaceful, tranquil spots can be found :)

Carver said...

It looks like you could walk across that water and it also looks like it's covered in tiny jewels. These are breathtaking shots and wonderful silhouettes. I hope you have a happy weekend.

eastcoastlife said...

I have been to Hong Kong so many times but have yet to visit Victoria Harbour. :P

Anonymous said...

nothing beats a silhouette next to a glistening water. excellent.

YTSL said...

Hi duriandave --

Glad you like the shots. And hmmm re the framing suggestion. Now you've got me mulling the idea... ;b

Hi Sue --

Thanks and yes indeedy. :)

Hi Carver --

I know what you mean about that water looking solid. I think that at times when looking at it -- and also that the water can't be too deep... how looks can deceive! ;D

Hi EastCoastLife --

Are you sure??? And if so, have you just gone under Victoria Harbour on the MTR or via a cross-harbour tunnel then?! :O

Hi ewok1993 --

Add sunset (or sunrise) and... truly viola! ;b

Hi azahar --

Thanks!

magiceye said...

gorgeous takes on the theme!!

Julie said...

Makes me want to go swimming at the beach asap :)

EG CameraGirl said...

Beautiful photos, the silhouettes and the sparkling golden water!

Mine:
Silhouettes

janine said...

another perfect shot for this week;s theme..my i love silhoutte shots and i love yours too..

mine is up

http://moms-journey.com/2011/02/18/silhouettes.aspx

see you..

Kim, USA said...

I like how the water glitters under the sun. Love it!
Silhouette

LifeRamblings said...

so peaceful and serene. these are great silhouettes.

In response to your question, the 3rd pic was captured at Santorini and just like you, i like the 2nd pic best too.

Trekcapri said...

Hi YTSL, lovely shots. I can see why this would be a place away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Its very beautiful. I also found your background information on Victoria harbor very interesting. Thanks so much for sharing. Have a great weekend!

jams o donnell said...

Superb photos. As ever you provide a glimpse into the Hong Kong we may never have known existed.

Happy weekend

YTSL said...

Hi magiceye --

Thanks, glad you like them. :)

Hi Julie --

Come to think of it, it *was* a nice warm sunset evening when I took that photo -- good beach weather! ;D

Hi EG Wow --

Glad you like the photos on so many counts! ;b

Hi Janine --

Actually wondered if I'd have good shots for this theme but, as it turns out, I did find a couple of photos in my photo archive that were suitable for the theme *and* have never been posted on this blog before in the bargain! :D

Hi Kim, USA --

Yeah, I like that effect too. :)

Hi Life Ramblings --

Believe it or not, those photos were taken in the middle of the city. So probably not quiet but yeah, it does look serene! ;b

And thanks for the answering my query re your Photo Hunt entry for this week. :)

Hi TrekCapri --

You're welcome re the sharing and thanks for reading as well as looking. Appreciate it. :)

Hi jams --

Thanks once more -- and hope I'm not getting *too* predictable just yet! ;b

Sreisaat said...

YTSL, these are fantastic silhouettes! Love the shimmering waves, the mountains and buildings in the background - so serene. It's a shame that spots and views you captured will no longer be there once the reclamation has been done.

Eden said...

What wonderful photos you have there. Love the HongKong skyline too!

alejna said...

Beautiful shots, Y. And I found your discussion of the reclamation really interesting, too.

How lucky you are to live within walking distance of such a beautiful place!

MaR said...

It looks beautiful, your shots are great!!
Thanks for your words :)
silhouette

Unknown said...

i've crossed the harbor through the ferry many times when i visited HK. looking towards the convention center from Kowloon remains as my most vivid image of HK.

Marta said...

Lovely silhouettes. It is a good thing that HK doesn't have that many earthquakes. Much of Seattle's waterfront is reclaimed and it is so dangerous during an earthquake. You are also lucky to have a short walk to gorgeous views.

Annie said...

Gorgeous photos, both of them. You are lucky to be within walking distance of such a magical place. Have a great weekend!

srp said...

Water and sun and oh, the lovely way it changes everything and makes them magical. Very nice.
Mine is here.

Isolated Existence. said...

Gorgeous photos!

YTSL said...

Hi Sreisaat --

Take the glass is half full approach: where I was taking the photo from is itself reclaimed land. So... ;b

Hi Eden --

Re the skyline in the photo: that's just a tiny bit... and the triangular one on the right is actually the much maligned Hong Kong Cultural Centre! :D

Hi Alejna --

Thanks for reading as well as looking. And yeah, have to say that many a times -- including when I'm on board the Star Ferry heading back home from a performance at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre -- I do find myself feeling lucky to be living in Hong Kong as a whole. :)

Hi Mar --

Thanks for appreciating my words as well as my photos. :)

Hi Luna Miranda --

Gather that you too are a fan of the Star Ferry. Also, when I used to visit Hong Kong and stay in a hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui, I'd make it a ritual to stroll down to the harbour front the first evening of my visit to take in the sights from there -- highly recommended! :)

Hi Marta --

Indeed -- and touch wood! -- re Hong Kong not having too many earthquakes!!!

Hi Annie --

Thanks -- and hope you have a good weekend too. :)

Hi srp --

So true!!! :)

Hi Isolated Existence --

Thanks! :)

Marites said...

great shots! it looks so peaceful, no one would know it's Victoria Harbour:) happy weekend!

Anonymous said...

Great shots - it looks like a beautiful area to hang out.

YTSL said...

Hi Marites --

Thanks and hope you had a good weekend too. :)

Hi JDeQ --

Where I took the photos actually is far from the most beautiful part of Victoria Harbour -- but it's because Victoria Harbour really does have many scenic parts to it. :)

Colin Campbell said...

Beautiful.

YTSL said...

Hi Colin --

Glad you find the photos so! :)

Maya said...

YTSL, your blog has shown me a side of Hong Kong I never knew existed! I'm a little late this week, but trying to get back into the blogging world.

YTSL said...

Hi Maya --

I hope that when you come over to Hong Kong to visit, you'll get beyond the usual tourist areas into parts of "my" Hong Kong. As for visiting late (to this blog entry and also re your planned future visit to Hong Kong): better late than never! :b

Anonymous said...

thanks for sharing this useful information

Travel Hong Kong said...

hong kong is nice~~~

YTSL said...

Hi Anonymous --

You're welcome.

Hi "Travel Hong Kong" --

Yes, it really can be. :)