Saturday, April 14, 2012

Sturdy and Home (This week's Photo Hunt themes)

 
 

When most people in the world think of Hong Kong, they tend to conjure up vistas filled with high rise buildings -- some of which house offices and shops, others of which are home to a substantial number of the Big Lychee's slightly over 7 million inhabitants.  Images, in short, akin to the top most picture in my entry this week for  Sandi's and Gattina's Photo Hunts (albeit minus the green foreground that came from my having taken that photographs from within the borders of a Hong Kong country park!).

Others will think of Victoria Peak, Hong Kong Island's highest hill, and the views to be found from there. For many locals, the Peak (as it tends to be more simply referred to here) also stands as the residential and social summit of Hong Kong.  So it strikes me as somewhat ironic -- and also rather funny -- that few of the homes on it look deemed worthy of photographing -- not least because while sturdy enough, they really don't stand out that much architecturally or aesthetically.  (To get an idea what I mean, see the middle shot of my three photographs.)

For the fact of the matter is that it's location much more than building construction itself that really determines their attractiveness, prices and such here in Hong Kong.  And even while the sturdy homes in my bottom photo are located in an agriculturally fertile area, they are miles cheaper than anything to be found on The Peak -- and not because they are more modest looking either but, instead, because of their location out in the northwestern New Territories that's not far from the historically rich (but now much less so) Kam Tin (whose name translates from Cantonese as Gold Field) but inconveniently distanced from the central business district and associated high density and cosmopolitan commercial areas of Asia's World City.

23 comments:

MaR said...

Yes, your first shot is exactly the picture I have in mind when I hear about Hong Kong. Impressive architecture because of the height of those buildings, nothing else! Enjoyed your post, happy weekend!

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

was listening to a chinese song a young man sang on China's Chinese New Year.

he bought a cardigan for his mum.
He said, don't be too precious and not wear it. Bu yaw bu sir teck , Bu na lai choun.

I Lol, think of my very expensive and hardly used bag which turned useless to mould.

Do you know the singer?

eastcoastlife said...

Singapore's going to be like HK one day. We are a tiny island with a projected population of 6.5 million in the future our homes have no where to build except to go up. :)

YTSL said...

Hi Mar --

I think people also find impressive how close the buildings can be to one another... ;b

Hi Ann --

Sorry, no... don't know the song or the singer! Actually... I don't know too many Mandarin language songs -- especially if they're not sung by Teresa Teng, Tsai Chin or Faye Wong! ;(

Hi Ecl Tan --

Actually, I think there's less rural/non-built up areas in Singapore than Hong Kong already! Remember that some 40% of Hong Kong still is countryside, much of it country park area!

Hootin Anni said...

Amazing architecture...especially that first image. Wow....beautiful scene too.

STURDY LEGS

Happy weekend.

Carver said...

I like the look of the rural home in the last shot. That is interesting that the homes with a view aren't more unique. I also associate the top shot with what I think of Hong Kong looking like although I've never been there. Bill was in Hong Kong some when he was in the navy so I've seen his photos from the late 1960s early 1970s. I've visited your blog and seen movies and other sources to get a sense of the changes since he was there.

The nesting boxes/birdhouses I provide are used each year for nesting and are pretty seasonal. After the babies are grown they leave the boxes until next season. I have a lot of year round birds but I think they mostly go to the trees and overgrown bushes for shelter.

Trekcapri said...

Hi YTSL, that first photo is amazing. Here in LA county we have 9 million but we are so spread out but it looks like in Hong Kong it's concentrated. Those high rises are amazing, and I like the landscape around it.Looks like the second photo is a version of our Hollywood Hills which is prime real estate here. Interesting to compare. Great post for this week's two themes.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Susan Demeter said...

When I think of Hong Kong I too think of high rises, and crowds. Great pics and always fun to learn new stuff here :)

Gattina said...

These look like beehouses ! But when there is no choice because of lack of land ...

peppylady (Dora) said...

Since I stop in at your blog and learn about the hiking area in Hong Kong but before that I wouldn't image any open space there.
Homes around here main thing is for weather it doesn't hurt to have a little extra insulation....coffee is on.

Sandi @the WhistleStop Cafe said...

I'm glad you recognized Victoria Station... It hasn't changed in years!

magiceye said...

lovely takes!

sarah bailey knight said...

Hi ytsl,

Nice photos.

I beg to differ with your comment about the apartment complex in the middle photo. I find the architecture interesting as the corners of the buildings look slightly rounded, the vertical rather than horizontal window divides and the staggered heights of the different apartments remind me of somthing out of a fairy tale. Also and this may be the way the light hits the complex and the angle of the photo (both I like a lot) but I thought of frosting(like on a cake) when I first saw the photo.

LifeRamblings said...

i like the perspective of the first photo. Hong Kong is especially breathtaking at night when the buildings are beautifully lit up.

Kim, USA said...

Wow that is fascinating views!

Home

YTSL said...

Hi Hootin Anni --

Am glad you see the beauty in that first photo. I think many people just get shocked at the sight of so many (tall) buildings in one photo! ;b

Hi Carver --

Places with views are definitely much sought after here -- particularly ones with views of Victoria Harbour -- and so much so that places with views generally are higher priced than those without! But you're also right in that there are tons of places with views in Hong Kong. :)

Hi Trekcapri --

Agree re LA feeling like a more spread out city than Hong Kong. At the same time, Hong Kong *is* not just a city but also a territory -- so some people do live miles away from others. As for The Peak: I think it's more like Beverley Hills and Bel Air in terms of its exclusivity. ;b

Hi Sue --

There's no doubting that there are lots of high rises in Hong Kong and crowded spaces too... which is why I treasure my hikes so much since they give me temporary respite from crowds! ;b

Hi Gattina --

Teeheehee at your comment. Am gathering that such dwellings would be nightmarish for you to contemplate living in, huh? ;b

Hi peppylady --

I'm glad that you're finding out about Hong Kong, including its hiking spaces, via my blog. Insulation is not as much a consideration here since even though we do have winters, they are mild in comparison to such as those in the American Midwest. Indeed, good ventilation is something I treasure more here! ;b

Hi Sandi --

Actually, am not sure I'd have recognized Victoria Station if you hadn't pointed it out on your entry! It has been *that* long since I last passed through it...

Hi magiceyes --

Thanks! :)

Hi sbk --

I'm glad you do appreciate the main building in my second photo. I actually do think they look nice too -- but also have to admit to expecting less modest structures to be gracing Victoria Peak! ;b

Hi Life Ramblings --

I think Hong Kong can be breathtaking during the day as well as night -- so long as the sky and air is clear! ;b

Hi Kim --

Am glad you find the views fascinating. :)

A. said...

That first picture is EXACTLY how I imagine Hong Kong, but more so! All I can say is, Wow! I actually quite like the middle picture of Victoria Peak.

katherine said...

gorgeous photos you have.love the first one.

btw thanks for the lovely comment.

CherryPie said...

I love the perspective of that top photo.

keeyit said...

HK always crowded with high rise building...

YTSL said...

Hi A. --

I guess I figured right about people's image of Hong Kong. Re the second photo: I do like that view -- which is why I took it! ;b

Hi Katherine --

Thanks and you're welcome. :)

Hi CherryPie --

I think some people are put off/feel overwhelmed by it -- but I like it too. :)

Hi Keeyit --

Actually, Hong Kong is NOT always crowded with high rise buildings. If my two bottom photos didn't show that, trust that my hiking photo essays will do that. ;(

Jerry said...

yup, I do think of tall buildings whenever I think of Hong kong - you pictures are a nice remnder that there is more to the area that buildings!

YTSL said...

Hi Jerry --

I'm glad to learn that my photos help to remind you that there's more to Hong Kong than buildings. Incidentally, I went on a hike in Hong Kong earlier today where there weren't any buildings to be seen for miles -- and people too (besides my two hiking friends and me) for at least half of the hike! :b