Photos From The Road: Hong Kong Island And Victoria Peak
Okay, let’s get this straight, it was a sad affair leaving the Philippines!
Even one full month of travelling around this country isn’t enough to even begin to explore all of the 7000 plus islands the Philippines has to offer, it’s such a diverse and beautiful place.
But now I’ve left the Philippines behind, and I’ve landed in Hong Kong. I’ve never been to this city before – I have been to mainland China, but Hong Kong is a different beast altogether – and already I am being drawn in by this multi cultural urban melting pot.
As much I loved the Philippines and was sad to see it flying past out of the Cebu Pacific plane’s window, being in Hong Kong for just a few days has already reminded me of how frustrating travel can sometimes be in the Philippines, and I’m primarily talking about internet. Anyone who has travelled there will know what I’m talking about, and how refreshing it is to now be somewhere with super fast Wifi and 7-11’s on every street corner. It sure makes the life of a blogger much, much easier.
So after four weeks of struggling to upload pictures and to write articles on my phone using slow 3G in the Philippines – that’s the price you pay for beautiful beaches and tropical islands! – I am now in Hong Kong enjoying the frantic street life and actually being productive on the blog again.
It’s impossible though to compare Hong Kong to the Philippines, that just can’t happen, they are such very different places and so unique in their own ways. What I can do, is to take you on a photographic journey through the streets of Hong Kong Island and to the top of Victoria Peak.
Hong Kong Island And Victoria Peak
Hong Kong is one mad, busy, crowded city and I love it so far. The pace of life is fast, the streets are always full no matter what the hour is and everything seems to be ordered in a beautifully chaotic manner. It’s an urban photographers dream, with colonial buildings mixing with sparkling skyscrapers and an abundance of Chinese heritage and culture. Every street is different in Hong Kong, and you can never quite tell what will be awaiting you around the next corner.
I’ve been staying on the Kowloon side of Hong Kong, and although I’ve been busy working away and making use of the high speed internet to keep my career as a Digital Nomad going, I took the day off yesterday to cross the river and to explore Hong Kong Island. This is the centre of Hong Kong, where the British first set up shop and where the Hong Kong government – or is it China? – now run things. It’s an urban maze of glinting offices and high rise company headquarters.
To the east of central Hong Kong I found things began to get more Chinese and more local, with small shops fronts, narrow alleyways filled with market stalls and eateries and colourful apartment buildings framing the scene.
Hong Kong Island is also the place to find some of the best panoramic viewpoints over the entire city.
Towering above the apartment buildings and skyscrapers is Victoria Peak, 500 metres above sea level and perfectly positioned to give a bird’s eye view of the sprawling, densely packed metropolis below.
Spread out below is Hong Kong Island, across the river is Kowloon and far off in the distance are the New Territories and eventually, mainland China.
From the heights of Victoria Peak, I began to realise just how green Hong Kong really is. Amongst the narrow streets and shade of the apartment buildings it’s difficult to appreciate the mountains, islands and green landscapes that surround the urban areas, but from Victoria Peak, you can see for miles from the mountain top, across all of Hong Kong, both urban and wild.
I’ll be in Hong Kong for the next few days, exploring the other areas of this huge city and if I have the time I’ll be taking the ferry across to neighbouring Macau too. Then I’ll be leaving Asia, and flying back home to England!
All Words and Photographs by Richard Collett
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