Rough Groove

HK: A beautiful city

Hongkong is just a beautiful world city (as the tourism adverts tell you). Seeing it first hand, I do agree. In such a small territory, about 7 million people populate its habitable spaces. There are lots of impressive buildings, temples, a clash of both old and new. A harmony of east and west. From food, culture, heritage, business, this city has it all. What even strikes me is that even if this former British colony is abuzz with modernity, it has protected natural areas and environmental reserves. Forest is very much close to the city’s center and I think, its a good example of how environmentalists can make a difference. The city is also clean, very organized with efficient transport system.

Left, a view from the Kadoorie Farms showing the modern buildings and high rise condominiums that is a common sight in much of Hongkong. These residential condominiums are really prime space for much of the about 7 million people inhabiting this city. Right, a view of the buildings in Hongkong Is. as well as the Ocean Terminal.

At the Avenue of stars, this small structure houses Bruce Lee memorabilia and information while a view of the famous skyline in Hongkong Island can be seen, right.

What’s Hongkong without the obiquitous night markets and shopping areas. Left and right, the Ladies market is so popular that during the time we went to this place, it was just teeming with people from different walks of life, from different races. There lots of shops to chose from and many were having a sale. I mean, a real sale with 60 - 80% off unlike those here in the country that are just usually 5 - 20% off.

Relive my posts on Hongkong:

Out of the country
Last night in HK
HK: I’m impressed
Back from HK
1st SEA Lepidoptera Conservation Symposium
HK: Chek Lap Kok
HK: Transport
HK: Central
HK: People watching
Series 39: Hongkong
HK: Wong Kar Wai movies
Series 40: Hongkong International Airport

HK: Chek Lap Kok

An engineering marvel, they flattened a small island and expanded it to have Hongkong’s premier international airport. Its a beautiful structure, huge and expansive and really impresses passengers especially like me who’ve only seen a few international airports. Bangkok’s former international airport, Don Muang, Singapore’s Changi or our very own NAIA just doesn’t compare. But the Centennial Terminal does make heads turn but on a smaller scale compared with Chek Lap Kok.

Arrivals and departures (left and right) greet passengers. From the plane, one has to walk or ride on these motorized walkways to get to the immigration counters while for the latter, after disembarking on the Airport Express MTR, this cavernous hall for checking in just fills the senses.

Baggage area for arriving passengers. You must listen to the flight attendant giving you instructions on where to get your checked in bags or else you’ll have to find it that might entail walking back and forth in this very wide hall.

Maybe to further illustrate its immensity, a rail coach ferries passengers from the arrival area to the immigration/baggage counters (left). Right, this hall leads to the taxi/bus stations.

Relive my posts on Hongkong:

Out of the country
Last night in HK
HK: I’m impressed
Back from HK
1st SEA Lepidoptera Conservation Symposium
HK: A beautiful city
HK: Transport
HK: Central
HK: People watching
Series 39: Hongkong
HK: Wong Kar Wai movies
Series 40: Hongkong International Airport

1st SEA Lepidoptera Conservation Symposium

The 1st South East Asian Lepidoptera Conservation Symposium was just recently held in Hongkong last 4 - 8 September (last week) and through the generosity of Lydia, enabled me to participate in this worthwhile endeavor. Lepidoptera is basically the family of insects that comprises the butterflies and moths. In the South East Asian scenario, there is a need to focus on the conservation as well as research on these beautiful creatures which unfortunately, are very much under threat with habitat destruction. This symposium wanted to address these concerns as well as setup a centralized and concerted effort for research and education among individuals and groups concerned with Southeast Asian Lepidoptera. Participants came from different parts of Asia, Europe and Australia and gave their inputs, expertise as well as update on what is currently happening in their respective countries.

During the symposium, field trips were conducted and one of the areas we visited was the Fung Yuen Butterfly Reserve. An abandoned agricultural land that was then frequented by collectors from other countries, it was “saved” and converted into a butterfly reserve that showcased not only the butterflies of Hongkong but more so on how concerned individuals and volunteers can help make a difference in educating people about the environment, importance of these insects in habitat conservation. Right, a beautiful Spindasis syama feeding on nectar.

During one of the discussion panels, the symposium speakers taking and addressing questions from the audience. Rigth, Lydia Robledo of the Philippine Butterfly Habitat Conservation Society looks on Dr. Yen Sheng Horn answering a question on diurnal moths.

Left, ongoing symposium with a poster by Dr. Jan Beck from Brunei. Right, the participants posing at the end of the event.

Relive my posts on Hongkong:

Out of the country
Last night in HK
HK: I’m impressed
Back from HK
HK: Chek Lap Kok
HK: A beautiful city
HK: Transport
HK: Central
HK: People watching
Series 39: Hongkong
HK: Wong Kar Wai movies
Series 40: Hongkong International Airport

Back from HK

I arrived back home last night very much tired from the day’s travel. Just imagine lugging around a heavy knapsack and camera gear, usually standing in the KCR (Kowloon - Canton Rail) and MTR and walking the length of Chek Lap Kok (Hongkong International Airport) to reach gate 40. My feet were killing me and my shoulders were aching from the load.

After arriving in Mongkok (check my previous blog entry) rain just poured heavily without letup that I was, so to speak, trapped in the MTR system. Last minute shopping/check was almost impossible due to this that I didn’t have any choice but to proceed to the airport. When I arrived in Central, the transit point for the MTR for the airport, the rains stopped for a while and just enough for me to take some shots of Statue Square wherein during Sundays, thousands of Filipino and Indonesian domestic helpers congregate and keep up with each other’s stories during their only day off.

It was already around 4pm and initially, my plan was to get to Tsing Yi MTR station and take a bus from there to conserve my dwindling Hongkong dollars. Unfortunately, upon reaching it, I was told that the bus station was too far. Without any choice, I took the Airport Express, a first class MTR coach with plush seats and TV monitors at each back but, god, the cost is HK$60! Luckily, I still had around HK$250 that I was preparing for my departure tax and other expenses.

After checking in, the route to gate 40 was just too far but have to contend with it. By 1920H, boarded the Cebu Pacific flight that took me to Manila. Rain was pouring when I left and when I landed in, it was still raining. But its just good to be back home and meet my lalabs

Note: Cebu Pacific’s MLA-HK-MLA is really on the cheap side. What they provide is just C2 Tea drink, a highly sugared beverage and water upon request for the more or less 2 hour flight. A small instant cup noodle is sold for PHP50 or US$1 or HK$10 (actual grocery price in the Philippines is less than PHP15) and nothing else! They defend this by saying that they’re providing cheap fares. C’mon, is that cup noodle too expensive to add? Also, as I was seated at an exit row, the stewardess who gave the instructions re what to do in case of an emergency had just bad diction. And to think that she’s on an international flight!

Relive my posts on Hongkong:

Out of the country
Last night in HK
HK: I’m impressed
1st SEA Lepidoptera Conservation Symposium
HK: Chek Lap Kok
HK: A beautiful city
HK: Transport
HK: Central
HK: People watching
Series 39: Hongkong
HK: Wong Kar Wai movies
Series 40: Hongkong International Airport

HK: I’m impressed

Wow! I’m just impressed of this city. I’m currently posting this entry in the high speed free broadband internet station at the MTR (that’s the equivalent of the Philippine’s MRT) station in Kowloon Tong.

I’m now on my way to Mongkok to check out the shops there for some pasalubongs and later, got to find a copy of Wong Kar-Wai’s Chunking Express in one of the video stores. After which, if the rain will stop, will proceed to Central to check out the buildings before proceeding to Chek Lap Kok for my return flight, 1940H.

Relive my posts on Hongkong:

Out of the country
Last night in HK
Back from HK
1st SEA Lepidoptera Conservation Symposium
HK: Chek Lap Kok
HK: A beautiful city
HK: Transport
HK: Central
HK: People watching
Series 39: Hongkong
HK: Wong Kar Wai movies
Series 40: Hongkong International Airport