Empty and Water (This week's Photo Hunt themes)

On my birthday this year, I decided to go spend a few hours in a place by the water that I know is beautiful and was banking would get me away from the crowds that Hong Kong is infamous for.  And sure enough, when I went for what's only my second time to Tai Tau Chau, an island joined to the Shek O Headland by a sturdy painted bridge, I found it to be empty of people besides myself.  

No lie: I didn't see another person the whole time that I was on the admittedly small island.  And if truth be told, I actually would have welcomed seeing a few people around!  For the thing is that although Tai Tau Chau's geographically really close to civilization, it can feel like a very rugged world away -- what with it literally being such a rocky place for the most part, with intimidating-looking cliffs that are pounded pretty loudly by foam-creating, froth-churning waves.

Looking back, I should have taken advantage of how empty the island was of people to do such as further de-stress by yelling, shouting and screaming out the way that people in many a Korean movie and drama often go to the river to do (and a friend at boarding school had taught me to do -- thereby inspiring me to organize communal screams during my time at Beloit College!).  But then, that would have involved disturbing the peace and quiet of the place where the loudest sounds I heard while that made by pounding waves, the birds that have their home on the island, and my feet as they pounded along the concreted trails (some sections of which come with railings on one side) to be found on Tai Tau Chau -- and at that point in time, I didn't particularly want that to happen.

So I contented myself for the most part by enjoying the refreshing breezes that waft over much of the island, drinking in the sights and taking photos, including of scenic spots where land and water meet -- and in so doing, came away with some images that I think work pretty well for both Sandi's and Gattina's Photo Hunts this week. :)