When:  July 2014               Weather: Hot, muggy, 30C, grade 3 storm

Leica M240/35mm summilux,  M Monochrom/50APO summicron

In HK for a weekend and stayed at the Intercontinental Hotel on Kowloon side…having stayed in the swankier hotels on the HK side(but with no view) I much preferred the Intercon for its unparalleled location on the actual waterfront of Kowloon with its uninterrupted view of the HK harbour vista.

The Intercontinental HK

view of HK from the Intercontinental Hotel

Beautiful even in B&W

Just outside the hotel is the Avenue of the Stars, where Asian film stars are immortalised by having a star embedded in the ground with their names and palm prints, a la Hollywood. It’s an interesting walk with great harbour views…even if a storm was looming..

harbourside of intercontinental hotel

Avenue of the Stars

HK of course once had a thriving film industry

a tribute to film

the harobour teems with tugs and boats of all description with kites flying overhead

kung fu and HK

But one of the things that any visitor must do is take the Star Ferry, a veritable HK institution for the short ride between Kowloon and HK island; it costs only HK$3.40 and is just the best way to see the harbour whilst crossing the water….

fisherman at the Star Ferry terminal

The waiting area to board the ferry

Boarding

Seating on the ferry

The Star Ferry

the storm gathering momentum as it rolled into HK from the left

spectacular buildings

Level 3 storm meant that the rain came in horizontally

And we got wet even under shelter

HK..the city that never sleeps…full of life!