Saturday, May 4, 2013

Under and Something upside down (This week's Photo Hunt themes)


Pretty much every day that I'm in Hong Kong, I spend some time underwater as well as underground.  This is because my regular work commute involves being on a bus whose route includes the Cross Harbour Tunnel (that goes underneath Victoria Harbour) as well as taking a Mass Transit Railway (MTR) train (whose carriages are far more crowded during rush hour than the one in the picture above!) along an underground route.

Small wonder then that I regularly crave being in the wild outdoors -- or at least somewhere green and scenic -- at least once a week!  While my preference is to get this by way of hiking, quite a few Hong Kongers prefer more sedentary pursuits like birdwatching and fishing.  

I regularly encounter birdwatching enthusiasts and anglers while out hiking in Hong Kong. For example, Luk Keng attracts its share of both since it borders Starling Inlet, a tidal bay that contains the largest egretry in Hong Kong, and also is home to some fish ponds open to the public.  

And it was at scenic Luk Keng where I took the third photo from the top in this entry for Sandi's and Gattina's Photo Hunts this week: one with upside down reflections of some fishing enthusiasts out that day along with such as the nearby colorful umbrellas offering some shelter from the sun. :)

15 comments:

Carver said...

You have some great shots for the themes. I know it's great to get outside for hikes. Happy Weekend.

eastcoastlife said...

When I took the MTR in Hong Kong, it was always packed.

Singapore is not any better, taking the MRT here is like being in a can of sardines :P

Furries said...

Great photos, especially the one for upside down.

magiceye said...

Cool takes

Gattina said...

Nice combination of both themes !

Trekcapri said...

Hi YTSL, it's so nice to have the weekends to enjoy the outdoors. I love the third photo with the people fishing and the colorful umbrellas and reflections. What a great photo. It looks so peaceful.

Have a wonderful weekend.

LifeRamblings said...

nice shots especially the last one with the reflection!

YTSL said...

Hi Carver --

Glad you like the photos and happy weekend to you too. :)

Hi EastCoastLife --

If you travel during rush hour and in the area of Hong Kong where most visitors go, then chances are high that the MTR's going to be packed. But there really are times and places when the carriage can look like what you see in my photo -- no Photoshopping tricks were utilized for that picture! ;b

Hi The Indulged Furries --

Thanks -- and yeah, I like the last photo best myself too when considering them in aesthetic terms. :)

Hi magiceye --

Thanks!

Hi Gattina --

Thanks, am glad you think so. :)

Hi Trekcapri --

I love non-working weekends -- period. Hope you have a good non-working weekend too. :)

Hi LifeRamblings --

Thanks, and ya, I think that 3rd photo is most people's favorite of this bunch. :)

Anonymous said...

Great shots for this week's theme. Imagine what your commute would have been like if those tunnels did not exist?

Have a super weekend.

sarah bailey knight said...

hi ytsl,

Interesting Photo Hunt. I really like the third photo-its composition, subject matter and those umbrellas are wonderful and their refection too.

YTSL said...

Hi JDeQ --

If there weren't any cross-harbour tunnels (there currently are three for buses and such), I imagine I'd have to take a ferry... or move to another part of Hong Kong! ;b

Hi sarah sbk --

I like how that 3rd photo came out too! :)

peppylady (Dora) said...

I've never been on under-ground train or a subway. There no mass transit here not even Taxi service.
As for your question on our ….$3.65 an hour -- isn't that below the legal minimum wage?
In some states if the worker is going to receive tips the employer doesn't have to pay minimum wage...
The President candidate Herman Cain (nine nine nine guy) got a law pass that if regular minimum wage goes up it doesn't mean tips workers get raise.
Idaho uses federal minimum which means it's $7.25 an hour.

Thanks for stopping by and the coffee is on.

Annie said...

Happy colors on those umbrellas. Nice photos. Hope you are having a great weekend!

Sandi @the WhistleStop Cafe said...

We both went to the underground...
Happy Hunting~

YTSL said...

Hi peppylady --

I don't think I could ever live in a place without public transportation as I really don't like driving. OTOH, I get the feeling that Idaho doesn't have traffic jams like in the places I dislike driving - so I guess it'd even out!

Re the salaries: no wonder in the US, people expect tips! Whereas in other countries, tips are supposed to be given only for extra good service (though in Hong Kong, many restaurants do level a 10% "service charge" on customers).

Hi Annie --

Those umbrellas really add something extra to the picture, right? Hope you have a good weekend too. :)

Hi Sandi --

Yep we did -- except you went on a tube and I on the MTR! :)