Hong Kong – A City of Contrasts

After the serenity and calmness of Bali we are now in the busy and bustling city of Hong Kong. Surrounded by lush green hills, the skyscrapers jostle for space in this ever growing city. Wherever you go there are buildings going up and buildings coming down. Each competing with the others to see who can be the tallest or thinnest and offer the best view. It’s a city that never sleeps and is never quiet.

We are staying once again at the Hotel Icon on the 17th floor and can see for miles across the harbour to Hong Kong Island.

On our first morning we opened the curtains to this view. Not a skyscraper in sight. A heavy fog had descended, obscuring everything. I remember these days well from when we lived here before, especially in the New Territories. They would last for days and wreak havoc with my hair.

Luckily for us the weather turned out well over the next few days.

Maybe you’re wondering who cleans all these windows and how. There was a small notice in our room informing us of window cleaning, but one I only glanced at. Good job we were both decent at the time!

Vertigo would have no place in this job!

Each morning we would have coffee in the room and enjoy the spectacular views and comment on the activity below.

Each day we would take a bus to wherever we wanted to go. There was a bus terminal around 10 minutes walk from the hotel. With google maps I could find the exact route and times as well.

A mix of old and new buildings in Central.

The photographic opportunities in Hong Kong are many and I have to stop and think, “do I already have that shot?” as they never get old.

Posted also for Lens-Artist Challenge – Cityscapes

~ Pick A Word – January 2024 ~

This month’s words are

Far Reaching
Panoramic
Scenic
All Encompassing
Wide-ranging

Simple, but tricky! I’ve searched through my archives and here’s my pick.

Far Reaching

Panoramic

Scenic

All Encompassing

Wide Ranging

Thanks to Paula @ Lost in Translation for this fun and interesting challenge. It’s great to see other bloggers selections too, which I had a peak at first to get inspiration before I did mine!

~ Which Way are you Going? ~

This week for Cee’s Which Way challenge the topic is animals. Making sure the way (road/track/path) is the main feature.

**“I don’t know if I’m coming or going”**

**The Escape Goats** – **they get blamed for everything**

~ A View Through a Web ~

I was at the park the other day with my granddaughter and this view caught my eye. I like a photo to be naturally framed.

This was taken with my Samsung S22, I didn’t edit it but did use Ribbett to frame the frame – so to speak. I like the sectioned views of the Perth Skyline.

Perfect for John’s Cellpic Sunday and Debbie’s One Word Sunday – View.

~ September Words ~

This is a challenge hosted by Paula @ Lost in Translation, asking for photos to match the words she chooses every month. It’s a new one for me and I really had to look hard through my archives for photos to match these intriguing words.

Atmospheric

Emblematic

Fractured

Touristy

Typical

Thanks Paula, I had a great time with this challenge, it took a while but a wonderful way to while away the time. It brought back many good memories of times gone by.

~ Lens-Artists Challenge – Billboards and Signs ~

This week John @ photobyjohnbo has challenged us to look for billboards and signs. They can be obvious or just a sign of something to come.

The featured photo is a sign I have in my kitchen, not that I need a sign for a glass of wine.

I’ve once again looked through my archives (it’s also a great way of weeding out rubbish!) and found a few that might fit the bill – pun intended.

I know I’ve posted the above signs before, but they still make me smile.

“Problems are not stop signs, they are guidelines” Robert H. Schuller

The two photos above are not both in France! The one on the left is in Vietnam, up in Ba’Na Hills, Da Nang. The one on the right is at Monet Gardens in Giverny. I always wonder if these distances are accurate.

“Honest disagreement is often a good sign of progress”
Mahatma Gandhi

Once again the last one of my dear hubby, looking like he’s got he’s transport sorted for a night out on the town.

for me to say Goodbye and have a great week!

🦊 Fox on a Fence 🦊

Cee has challenged us to find a topic from a photo she has posted. I’m currently in the UK visiting my parents and peering out of the window the other day, I looked straight into these eyes. It was a cold and frosty morning and this bold little thing was obviously looking for food.

Posted as part of Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge

The Ones that Got Away…almost

This week for the Lens-Artist Challenge, Tina from Travels and Trifles has asked us to post any photos that have not been posted this year. Just two rules, they must be from this year and not have been posted before. The first rule is easy but the second.. I’m hoping I haven’t posted them, but who knows.

I have been photographing doors every time I see a good one, but have not got round to posting them for Dan on his weekly challenge Dan’s Doors. Sadly the door is closed now but you know what they say:

“When one door closes, another one opens”

~ Happiness often sneaks in through a door you didn’t know you left open ~
John Barrymore

Plant lined walls in Hong Kong

♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️

The iconic Langkawi Eagle, a symbol of the island.

A big thanks to everyone who hosts challenges, it’s a wonderful way to post photos and words. Best of all though is the interaction between the fantastic bloggers on WordPress. I have made many friendships over the last few years and love chatting with you all.

Enjoying an early champagne with my son’s lovely girlfriend while out shopping yesterday. There was a free pop up Tattinger Champagne bar! Just a donation to the food bank. We weren’t going to pass up a free champagne.

Here’s hoping you all have a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year.

🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻

Australian Country Towns – Capel, Western Australia

I’ve noticed on the last few occasions travelling through these small country towns that the Councils have been doing their best to spruce them up and bring them back to life. The efforts have been so worthwhile making these small towns worth a stop or even a night’s stay.

We recently stopped at Capel for a coffee break on our way back from Dunsborough and we had a lovely walk up and down the high street, reading signs, looking at murals and enjoying a coffee in a quirky cafe.

The Capel area was originally inhabited by the Wardandi Noongar people. It was then established as a town in 1897. Historically Capel was a farming area, mostly dairy and beef. Nowadays it is very popular for hobby farms, including alpacas.

There was a real sense of community in this small town with lots going on and there was not a leaf out of place.

Capel Library

Once upon a time in a town called Capel,
I looked through the branches and guest what I saw,
Hidden deep in the Tuart Forest there was a Eucalyptus
Under the bridge by the river there lived a …pultenaea skinneri (Skinner’s Pea)

**A place to sit and while away a few moments** **and taking a rest from toiling in the fields**

We didn’t dare venture inside, imagining a butcher with a meat cleaver dripping in blood and a rifle under his arm.

Artist – Erin Rafferty

Stepping back in time!

Mosaic Mural with phrases from the local primary school children

**St. John’s Chapel, Higgins Bell Tower and Church Door**

Mother Horse and Foal sculptures outside the vets

I imagine this event would be well attended and everyone knowing each other. It would be like one big party, such fun.

Well that’s all folks and I hope you’ve enjoyed this walk along Capel High Street with me. There was so much more to see but not enough time. I will definitely be stopping here again.

I’m linking this post to PPAC hosted by Marsha and Jo’s Monday Walk.