Macau, Hong Kong & Shenzhen

I don’t have too much time to do phone blogging on this trip, so I guess I’ll just go on and do a little commentary on the photos I post on this article. So, made a trip in 4 days to 3 countries… first Macau to see the casinos, but made a 7am walkaround the city centre as well, then Hong Kong for the Chinese New Year where its mostly about eating and staying around Mongkok area, and a day trip to Shenzhen for some cheap shopping.

Macau:

Everyone knows the ruins of St Paul’s Church in Macau. This was taken at 7am during my morning walk where there are not that many people around. (Leica M6, Summicron 35mm f2, Neopan 400, HC110B)

At that time in the morning, most people in the street sounded like Filipinos. I did also notice them in the casino, mostly working there. I’m assuming that they have their free time in the morning. I like this shot, although I think its a little underexposed. (Leica M6, Summicron 35mm f2, Neopan 400, HC110B)

This picture of the motorcycles parked on the roadside was one of the small streets on the way to Rua du Felicidade (I’m sure the spelling is a little out). Reminds me very much of Taipei where the little modern scooters are all over the place. (Leica M6, Summicron 35mm f2, Neopan 400, HC110B)

Just love those joss sticks hanging on the ceilling, and the general ambience of this alley. Cleaner than the usual alley I see in Shanghai, China. (Leica M6, Summicron 35mm f2, Neopan 400, HC110B)

Really strange to be in a place that has portugese and chinese writings on every signboard. The overall place is a little like Malacca in Malaysia, also with Portugese influences. (Leica M6, Summicron 35mm f2, Neopan 400, HC110B)

Hong Kong:

Standard timing photos first. Most of these photos were taken around Mongkok, since that’s the area in HK that’s still full of people during the Chinese New Year holidays.

Even full of tourists. However, I dont know what a broadband seller in the photo has to say. Either selling something or giving directions. (Leica M6, Summicron 50mm f2, Neopan 400, HC110B)

Mongkok was so busy during that time, you have to squeeze to move around the sidewalks. Lucky most of the roads are made pedestrian-only in that area. (Leica M6, Summicron 50mm f2, Neopan 400, HC110B)

No problem getting food on the street in Hong Kong during the holidays. They’re plentiful. (Leica M6, Summicron 50mm f2, Neopan 400, HC110B)

And getting public transportation during the holidays were relatively easy. (Leica M6, Summicron 50mm f2, Neopan 400, HC110B)

The following pictures were taken at 5am around Mongkok area. Why? Its too boring to shoot during the time when most tourists are up, so I decided to try some ungodly hour to see the character of the place.

Mongkok at 5am. Totally devoid of any traffic, except for buses to ferry staff to the depot and some delivery trucks. For sure there were taxis also working at this time, but its not usual to see the streets of Hong Kong lit this! (Leica M6, Summicron 35mm f2, Neopan 1600, HC110B)

But this being Hong Kong, you can always find something to eat in town. (Leica M6, Summicron 35mm f2, Neopan 1600, HC110B)

… And some taxis are operating as well. Since there are no traffic on the street they do go really really fast! (Leica M6, Summicron 35mm f2, Neopan 1600, HC110B)

But not the drunks on the street, they’re everywhere but not moving that quickly. Even my camera was moving faster than them, thus the motion blur. (Leica M6, Summicron 35mm f2, Neopan 1600, HC110B)

And there are plenty of impromptu beds lying around in the streets of Mongkok for anyone to take a short nap till the sun comes out… (Leica M6, Summicron 35mm f2, Neopan 1600, HC110B)

… And the stores shutters opens again for another new business day. (Leica M6, Summicron 35mm f2, Neopan 1600, HC110B)

Shenzhen, China:

And finally Shenzhen, where I went through just half a roll with the rangefinder…

You can tell that you’re in China when you see street vendors like her. They’d be out of place in Hong Kong. (Leica M6, Summicron 50mm f2, Neopan 400, HC110B)