another island in the south china seas

while the skyline may have completely changed over the decades, this view still brings back memories of my childhood

this is a view from the new central piers perhaps a couple of hundred meters north of the previous ferry pier

the infamous reclamation continues at a furious clip

there is joy in some of the simple parts of a day - like watching a chef prepare your lunch of barbeque pork over a plate of rice

or window shopping in one of the mega malls in this city - shown here, a YSL cubular store

traffic on a windy saturday night

a day trip north across the harbor

took a train and a bus to a sleepy fishing village where boats bob lazily on a green-blue sea and fishing birds circle overhead

for one such bird lunch is just a split second away

a fishing boat commandeered by two pirate sea dogs

leisure craft moored and resting on the glassy water of the village marina

a signature event in this town - fishermen selling their catch from their boats to dry-landers on the waterfront walkway

a buffet of fresh live seafood delicacies on display at an outdoor restaurant along the main promenade - the paneopea abrupta looks absolutely mouthwatering as does the siliqua patula ...

my first visit to this island destination

my day starts off with a meal of soup

in a modern cafe with pictures of days past

one of the numerous hotels that cater to visitors to this island

window shopping along the main road

yet another large hotel on this island

expressions of modern city life has crept into historic sections of this city center - graffiti of questionable aesthetic content

a tray of snack food being prepared for sale along the roadside

a merchant handing out free samples of candies and cured meats in front of his store in a well-travelled alleyway

recent pics from my trips

sometimes i enjoy eating a simple bowl of noodles - preferably one with a pound of beef

a high-ceiling'ed office building lobby in an industrial part of town

truth be yold, i actually dont remember what this was, but i do remember that it was very good

a wall of glass hearts forms a display showcase in a museum of contemporary art

a costumed department store employee in a trendy region handing out samples

a clothing shop storefront late into a weeknight

a ferocious lion preying on shoppers in the middle of the city

the usual hotel room with a view high above the city

i guess i came too early - or more likely it was too hot for lunching in the open and muggy air

cantonese restaurant entrance with a retro chic entrance way

a subway line runs through a small department store plaza on a sunday afternoon

a familiar view of a city skyline with surrounding southeastern mountains to the right

signs advertising all the usual trappings of modern city life

short journey to the old country

triphd from when nine on Vimeo.

this is a link to a hd slideshow of pics from this trip - go ahead an click on the fullscreen button

ofcourse if you have a broadband connection you can turn on HD, which will link you to go to vimeo for a clearer show

it is most quiet on long walks in the chilly winter mornings through ceremonial palatial grounds

strolling past buildings that once

were royal residences and government halls

and gate towers to this prosperous city

a panoramic west view over the city that reaches beyond the horizon

there is a familiar characteristic feel to woods in this part of the world that is plain to see but harder to describe in words

in heavily inhabited regions of the city, tourists yearn to capture photographic moments on their cellphones and cameras

the winter sun bears down upon city dwellers emerging from miles and miles of an expanse of subways, train stations and underground shopping mall towns

a makeshift ice rink in the center of town provides a festive nighttime diversion to a few children

although one universally acknowledge pasttime of shopping in vast and trendy shopping venues is always a viable choice for young and old at almost all hours of the day

a visually understated facade of a coffeeshop with a succinct expression of attitude in an area frequented by students from a nearby liberal arts university

a fortune teller works late into the night providing empty guidance for the needing insomniac

elderly men gather at this park every day to enjoy the company of each other in games of go or in conversation

faces of elderly men commemorated in present form and in stone

time passes ever so slowly

this year's macys' christmas window dressing had dogs in reindeer motif

a painting by a modern asian artist on display at a local museum 
drowning my sorrows at a local tequila bar frequented by locals 

graffiti dressing up a wall in an otherwise rundown neighborhood