Hong Kong at a Glance

Hong Kong strikes me as a city teeming with industrialization and commercialization. Its streets are full of cars pushing toward their destinations. Its blocks are filled with towering skyscrapers casting perpetual shadows. As if these shadows weren’t enough, the city chronically suffers from low visibility and haze due to pollution. Nevertheless, daily life continues within its walls.

I didn’t see a lot of the Hong Kong outside of taxis and corporate offices. I did, however, get a chance to try Hong Kong’s very own Uber! It was interesting to see how differently it worked overseas. After submitting a request, I watched the icon of my Uber car making its way toward me, getting stuck in traffic, and making some wrong turns. After 13 minutes, I was picked up by a gentleman named Enrique (I know, right?). Aside from the boxier cars and longer wait times, Uber of HK was very much like Uber of home.

In between long meetings at the office and jet-lagged sleep at the hotel, I visited a couple fun places. At Central’s International Finance Center, I walked among the crazy tall skyscrapers and checked out the gentrified, touristy IFC mall. I tried going up to the top to see the view, but apparently the highest floor of unrestricted access is at a bank on the 55th floor. Forget that; I wanted to go to the top top! One night for dinner, I stopped by Kowloon’s popular seafood village, Lei Yue Mun, and had a my share of crustaceans and fish. If you’re ever in the area, I’d recommend the mantis shrimp and steamed fish and…and pretty much anything else if you’re into seafood! Beware the prices, though, as popular restaurants tend to steer tourists toward more expensive items on the menu.

Next time I’m in HK, I’ll have to see what else I can do and where else I can go. Any recommendations?

Hong Kong, Standard Issue

Welcome to Kowloon, Hong Kong! It was my first time ever visiting, and while I didn’t get a chance to experience much of the HK life, I got my fair share of the urban scene in between work and seafood. The streets are hustly, they’re bustly, they’re full shops selling camera gear and medicinal herbs. Because those two go hand in hand. At least in Hong Kong…

Speaking of which, I apologize for the scarcity of posts. The traveling, business, and jet lag have made it a bit difficult to post with my regular frequency. Since this was my first time traveling since I started blogging, I expect to get better as I adapt to writing and posting while abroad. Any useful tips are welcome!

Hallgrímskirkja

In Reykjavik, the northernmost capital city in the world, you can find this insane church — Hallgrímskirkja. Its construction began in 1945 but did not end until a long-winded 38 years later. At 244 ft (73m) tall, it juts straight up and into the sky, practically turning the city into a giant sundial. Its geometric, jagged structure paired with its smooth, tapering curves, gives it a unique aesthetic not seen anywhere else in the world.

Inside the church is a large, mechanical action pipe organ. Its 5275 pipes combine to form a massive, 49 ft (15m) tall musical instrument. Hop onto the elevator to the top of the church, and you’ll find a small observatory providing some of the best views of Reykjavik.

Nature, Man, Sky, and Land

A crossing of lights, natural and artificial.

A meeting of the soft and the hard.

An intersection of nature and man, of sky and land.

Terminal View

As the rain departed and the sun broke through the clouds, the hills of Osaka revealed themselves. It was a pleasant view from the airport terminal, and the last thing I saw before I left Osaka.

Mondays

Am I right?!

Kegon Falls

Kegon Falls is situated near Lake Chuzenji in Nikko National Park, a popular place to visit in Japan during Fall. As the thousands of maple trees change colors in timed synchronization, Nikko’s foliage turns from a uniform green to a fiery combination of bright yellows, oranges, and reds throughout the entire region. On a clear day, a spattering of warm, Autumn colors can be see at the top of the falls. As one of Japan’s 3 tallest waterfalls, Kegon’s waters plunge down 97m (318 ft) before hitting the bottom and joining with a wide curtain of smaller falls. I always preferred spring over fall, but now I might need to reconsider…

Jiufen Cat

Cats are quite popular in the area of Jiufen, living on the mountainside with the people. Here you can even find a large store dedicated to all things cat, located beyond a small pink hallway off of the steep main steps. You won’t miss the ancient pictograms adorning the walls of the passage, portraying the long lost, lethal art of kitty kung fu.

This Jiufen cat was spotted sitting on a box, tending to business of the utmost importance. Skillfully blessing its fists, it was preparing them for the battle ahead. The others will pay for their misgivings; come nightfall, there would be BLOOD.

A Good Time

When in the company of friends and alcohol, you know you’re having a good time when the only thing in focus is the lip of your glass. But don’t tempt the hangover gods.

Orchids Abloom

After 18 months of care and a warm early spring, my small orchids finally bloomed. I added a microUSB connector for scale :D