Exploring Hong Kong Island

During my week-long visit to Hong Kong, I had the chance to explore the island on two different occasions. The first walk I did on my own the morning after I arrived from Boston; the second took place a week later with a group of friends right before I had to go home.

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A large crowd has gathered at Causeway Bay's famous Tin Hau temple, just around the corner from the Metropark hotel.
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Tomorrow would be the birthday of Tin Hau, the sea goddess, so it's a busy week for the temple.
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Women light incense at the Tin Hau temple.
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Incense coils burn overhead at the temple.
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Bringing offerings to Tin Hau.
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Burning incense obscures a man praying at the temple.
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Women gather for breakfast at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay.
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A morning street market in Causeway Bay.
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Spices and dry goods for sale.
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Shopping for durian in the market.

"I soon spied a small market area -- two or three blocks' worth of shops selling fresh produce, meats, fish and dry goods. The smell of durian permeated the air -- the world's worst smelling fruit was reaching the peak of its season, and you could see the large, spiky fruit in almost every shop. On two occasions, shop owners beckoned out to me asking if I wanted to try some. 'English like durian!' one of them said proudly with a devious grin. 'Yes, but Americans think it taste like old onions,' I said back to her...."
(From Andy's blog, Exploring Hong Kong)

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Durian is perhaps the worst smelling fruit in the world, reminiscent of rotten onions.
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An unlit neon sign above the market.
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A view of Central from the highway overpass near Causeway Bay.
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The Bank of China building in Central.
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An alleyway in Hong Kong's Sheung Wan neigbhorhood.
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A hazy afternoon view from the Peak, one of the highest points on the island.
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One of the many fun icons scattered around Hong Kong.
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Keep clean, everyone!
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Chinese worshippers pray at the Pak Sing ancestral shrine in Sheung Wan.
See the video!
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Lan Kwai Fong, Hong Kong's famous pub district, is packed with evening revelers.
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Suzanne, Andy and Marcelo share a minibus taxi from Cyberport to Causeway Bay following the end of the conference.
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Suzanne Stein visits the tailor to try on one of the pinstripe suits she ordered.
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One eyebrow up apparently means approval.
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Thousands of Filipino maids, or amahs, picnic in the atrium of the HSBC building.
See the video!

"The entire atrium was jammed with thousands of women, encamped on the marble floor atop their favorite blankets. Women were having lunch, gossiping, cutting each other's hair, doing their nails, cutting coupons, you name it. And all of them were talking at once, creating collective cackle that echoed throughout the hall. I took a couple of video clips to capture the scene, along with a few still photos that I'm sure did it much less justice...."
(From Andy's blog, Last Day in Hong Kong)

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Andy, Marcelo and Louise visiting the Peak.
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Today's a much clearer view than my previous visit.

view from the peak

Click to see the full-size panorama.
Also available in Quicktime VR (QTVR) format.

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Andy, Marcelo, Louise and Suzanne.
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Louise takes a picture of the view with her camera phone.
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At a restaurant on the Peak, a bartender skewers some fruit while a waiter picks up dessert.


Monastery of 10,000 Buddhas | Victoria Harbor & the Star Ferry | Exploring Hong Kong | The Man Mo Temple
Cyberport and the Science Park | Global Alliance | The ICT Summit | Lamma Island

Andy's Hong Kong Journal

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