Misty
Misty view of Hong Kong, from a boat, in the waters between the main island and Kowloon...
I like boat trips, so whenever there's the possibility I go for it. This was my first trip to Hong Kong and I liked the city a lot. It was this abudant mix of traditional Chinese with western, all neatly packaged in a free democracy. We went again in 2013, which was equally enjoyable.
But now no more.
The cut down protests for more democracy, their draconian 'security law' stifling the free press and the 'zero covid' measures, all combined and under pressure of China, doesn't appeal. I don't want to be too pessimistic, but I really feel that the happy and free Hong Kong I captured on my trips doesn't exist anymore.
Not to say a holiday there won't be enjoyable (at the time of writing - June 2022 - it's still impossible to get in anyway), but for me the lure is gone.
See also the previous snippet, with a first impression of Hong Kong, written in 2011...
Leica M9 with Leica Summilux 50mm f/1.4
Hong Kong - 21 March 2011
Misty view of Hong Kong, from a boat, in the waters between the main island and Kowloon...
I like boat trips, so whenever there's the possibility I go for it. This was my first trip to Hong Kong and I liked the city a lot. It was this abudant mix of traditional Chinese with western, all neatly packaged in a free democracy. We went again in 2013, which was equally enjoyable.
But now no more.
The cut down protests for more democracy, their draconian 'security law' stifling the free press and the 'zero covid' measures, all combined and under pressure of China, doesn't appeal. I don't want to be too pessimistic, but I really feel that the happy and free Hong Kong I captured on my trips doesn't exist anymore.
Not to say a holiday there won't be enjoyable (at the time of writing - June 2022 - it's still impossible to get in anyway), but for me the lure is gone.
See also the previous snippet, with a first impression of Hong Kong, written in 2011...
Leica M9 with Leica Summilux 50mm f/1.4
Hong Kong - 21 March 2011
I like boat trips, so whenever there's the possibility I go for it. This was my first trip to Hong Kong and I liked the city a lot. It was this abudant mix of traditional Chinese with western, all neatly packaged in a free democracy. We went again in 2013, which was equally enjoyable.
But now no more.
The cut down protests for more democracy, their draconian 'security law' stifling the free press and the 'zero covid' measures, all combined and under pressure of China, doesn't appeal. I don't want to be too pessimistic, but I really feel that the happy and free Hong Kong I captured on my trips doesn't exist anymore.
Not to say a holiday there won't be enjoyable (at the time of writing - June 2022 - it's still impossible to get in anyway), but for me the lure is gone.
See also the previous snippet, with a first impression of Hong Kong, written in 2011...
Leica M9 with Leica Summilux 50mm f/1.4
Hong Kong - 21 March 2011