HK Night Photography Trip

Hong Kong Night Photography

Hong Kong is definitely a city that lights up at night. One of the most interesting things you can do is to take pictures of the city at night using a variety of exposures around key landmarks and building. See below a selections of my pictures taken recently.

Photographs

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Sharp's Peak - Sai Kung

Sharp Peak - why is the a must do hike

While Dragon's Back is a family hike, if you are after a challenge and some spectacular vistas across Hong Kong you have to do Sharp's Peak. Sharp's Peak is located deep inside the Sai Kung Peninsula and it is a task by itself to get there from Central Hong Kong. But do it - you wont be disappointed. The views and challenge will leave your senses overwhelmed and with the satisfaction of conquering something major.

The hike is not one for children, as its a strenuous walk and something beyond most young (<10) kids. I would say teenagers can do it but pick your conditions well. I went on a dry day but this peak is not something you want to be doing even in mildly wet conditions. Also its a tough hike so you'll need to be reasonably fit else be ready for aches and pains the next day.

My last words on wisdom - wear hiking shoes as I walked up in warn out trainers (running shoes) and I was slipping a lot on the gravel slopes coming down hill. In some ways getting up is the easy part.

Getting there

We took the MTR to Hang Hau on the Tsueng Kwan O line. From the station we went into the bus station and took the 101M minibus to Sai Kung town center. From Sai Kung we took a taxi to Pak Tam Au.

The hike

You want to be following the Maclehose Trail Stage 2 in reverse from Pak Tam Au. The trail is a part and its mostly flat to start with. The path for part of the tail runs along side

Walking the Maclehose Trail Stage 2 in reverse

The trail will start to ascend and you will come to a resting point where it will point out the diversion you will need to take up to Sharp's Peak. This is roughly half way to Tai Long Wan. You'll basically be climbing a busy path mostly stairs to start off with and then it flattens out as you head towards Sharp's Peak.

Sharp's Peak Revealing itself

You basically follow the path as weaves it way around the hills before the mountain itself. As you get closer to the upper parts of the mountain it will start to get steeper. The picture below capture the vistas and the terrain.

Vista to Sharp's Peak

Looking down the cliff side

Looking down toward Tai Long Wan beaches

You can go to the top or around the peak

The views from the top

From the top of Sharp's peak looking down at the turquoise waters below

Not much at he top apart from geographic marker

Looking down at more turquoise waters

The way down - not easy believe me

The route down is difficult and crosses a number of smaller hills. I took longer descending than ascending.The trail leads down to the beaches of Tai Long Wan

Beach is getting closer we descend more

Vista Looking back on the descent

Tail Long Wan Beach

The Tai Long Wan beaches are the best beaches in Hong Kong probably because they are so remote. The easiest way to get there is to follow stage 2 of the MacLehose trail (don't take the Sharp's Peak detour)

A relatively empty beach - time for bare feet and pulled up trousers

Tail Long Wan - vista

We crossed from Beach to Beach over the rocks there is a well defined path

Beautiful Tai Long Wan

Going Home

You have three options for going home walk back along the Maclehose trail  back to Pak Tam Au or as we did get a boat from Tai Long Wan to Sai Kung. A good option for late in the day. You can get tickets from the restaurant on the last beach.

Terrain

Rough Terrain - get ready on all four limbs

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Lantau Peak Hike

You'll know there are some spectacular and challenging walks in Hong Kong. This is something you would not expect when you're presented with the bright lights of Hong Kong Island or the neon of Nathan Road, Kowloon.

This post covers the Lantau Peak hike I did. The drive behind doing was that it is the second biggest peak in Hong Kong and presented a challenge that my body was looking for on a weekend. I think anyone reasonably fit can do the walk.

Getting there

When living on Hong Kong Island the key challenge is getting there or anywhere on Lantau apart from the airport. I took the train to Tung Chung and then a bus (M3) to Pak Kung Au. The stop is not easy for the first timer to pick out but the bus ascends over a hill about half way up there is a stop and that where you get off. Follow it on some mapping software if you're unsure.

The Pak Kung Au stop spoils you for choice you can take Lantau Trail Stage 3 : Pak Kung Au over Lantau Peak to Ngong Ping or you can take Trail 2 going backwards up Sunset peak. I went on a clear day and the views would be spectacular from both.

Ascent to Lantau Peak

There is a clear sign telling you which way to go. The signs on this route are easy to follow and you're basically walking from marker 18 on the Lantau Trail up to Marker 26. You can pick out the trail see below. It was being guarded by some fairly fierce looking animals. I had to be careful.

Guardians of the Lantau Trail

Spoit for choice : Sunset peak or Lantau Peak. Lantau Peak today

The ascent starts straight away and its thankless stair climbing exercise for the next 90 minutes. The stairs are big (some knee high) so pace yourself as its like this for most of the way to the top.

Stair at the start of the ascent, its list this all the way

Thankfully alongside the constant steps that you're negotiating you will see some spectacular scenery. So stop and take your time to admire the beauty.

This is the target : Lantau Peak from the bottom

Looking back at Sunset Peak

The view down to Tung Cheung on the right

As you go higher the vistas open up even further and you can see towards Pui O and the villages below. And further out are islands floating in the South China Sea.

Vista looking back at Sunset Peak and out to the South China Sea

Some of the vegetation along the way

Its a long haul to the top, it never gets close enough

Keep going and at the top you'll be rewarded with this.

Looking down from Lantau Peak, towards Shui Hau Village

Looking down to Shek Pik Reservoir from the top.

Then once over Lantau Peak the Buddha comes into view and its an interesting climb down with some really steep steps.

Zoomed in view of the Buddha and Ngong Ping Village

The trail winds it way down and ends at the wisdom path in Ngong Ping Village. Here are some shots of the the wisdom path.

Wisdom Path Ngong Ping Village

What better way then to have some vegetarian food at the Giant Buddha restaurant. The entire walk should take about 2.5 hours. I took about 3.5 as I was taking a lot of pictures as it was a great day.

Information on the trail 

I found the link below quite useful Lantau Trail Map. There is a lot of information out there on google. Most a lot better than mine.

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Hong Kong : Art Asia (No Country)

Asia Art Society : No Country Contemporary Art for Asia and South East Asia

Went to the Asia Art Society on Justice drive to visit the UBS exhibition No Country : Contemporary Art from Asia and South East Asia. Quite a small exhibition of art work. Below are links to pictures from some of the notable art works.

The sculpture below is by Andrew Nguyen’s Enemy’s Enemy: Monument to a Monument (2012), it commemorates a Buddhist monk in Vietnam who set himself on fire (self immolation). The piece brings together sport in the form of a baseball bat and religion the carving of the monk.

One of the more interesting exhibits was a work by Reza Afsina where he narrates verses from the bible (him being a Muslim) and slaps himself pretty hard from what it seems. I cant find a link to the video but it look very real. The point ? Bringing religions together while highlighting justice, retribution and various others. Unfortunately my brain didn't catch that and only saw someone slapping themselves very hard. Judging by the other visitor the point was lost on us, hope it wasn't too painful!

Its an interesting aside if you live in Hong Kong and the exhibition runs until Feb 2014.

Quite and interesting museum to visit - I found the Buddha statue outside fascinating.

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