China | Greater Bay Area Sightings project

I was returning to China and Guangdong Province, 11 months after the last trip. However, on this trip we would also be visiting Hong Kong and Macau. We were collaborating with US-based Chinese-American WCETV and China-based GDTV (Guangdong Television) to document what GDTV was calling Greater Bay Area Sightings. The Greater Bay Area is a huge bay surrounded by mega cities Guangzhao, Shenzhen and others including the former British colony of Hong Kong and the Portuguese colony of Macau.

Our first stop was Hong Kong after a stop-0ver in Taipei where we joined up with our WCETV hosts Billy and Grace Chung. The weird thing is that the last time I was in Kong Kong - some 56 years ago - a typhoon was approaching. And this time Super Typhoon Ragasa was headed towards the Greater Bay Area and was due to hit in three days. For the typhoon, back in the mid 1960s, we were on one of the USS President Lines ships heading to the Philippines where I was living with my mom and four of my brothers and sisters. We decided to stay on the ship which headed out to sea to face the typhoon. We were practically the only passengers on board and I remember being tossed about quite a bit and lots of breaking china. For a kid of seven years old, it was actually alot of fun.

Day One | Hong Kong

It was pouring rain when we arrived. We were given some heavy duty rain gear and had lunch before Ringo and I headed out to the horse racecourse |

Taking photos at the racecourse was a challenged. First of all, it was pouring rain. Second, it was very humid and hot. So after seeking shelter inside the air-conditioned betting areas, I would go back out for the start of the next race and my glasses and camera lens would fog up. Nonetheless, I got some OK photos and it brought back memories of covering horse racing at Santa Anita in Los Angeles. The only thing, and I almost missed the first race finish, is that they race clockwise in Hong Kong - guess it must have to do with it having been a British colony where one drives on the opposite of the road and also horses race in the other direction.

Stopped at the Night Market which was almost empty. I was hoping to acquire a wooden junk model - my dad had bought us a couple and I remember being entertained and frustrated at the same time with the intricate rigging and sails. However, it appears those are no longer made and fetch quite a price for collectors. I saw one on eBay for $1,600. I like to buy street art and came across Newman and his paintings and ended up buying one of a junk in Hong Kong harbor |

Took the metro back to the hotel and met up for dinner |

After dinner, the others wanted to check out the Night Market, so I decided to stroll back to the hotel via the iconic Tsim Sha Tsui Public Pier with its dramatic views of Hong Kong harbor | lots of people doing selfies and some professional photo shoots of young people dressed up |

Day Two | Hong Kong

The sun was out when I went for a little walk along the Avenue of the Stars before meeting up for breakfast with the team. Even at 8am it was very hot and humid. The Hong Kong harbor scene and skyscraper skyline is quite impressive |

We were then suppose to visit the M+ Museum, but it was closed so we wondered around and came across some women doing synchronized dancing with rackets |

Back on the bus we travelled under the bay to the other side of Hong Kong Harbor and visited some sites including the modern architectural skyscraper standout - The Henderson Building |

We took the Star Ferry which, once I stepped on board, brought back memories from my youth - it's still the same ferry from 50 plus years ago | then a double decker bus - top deck, of course - ride through town |

After a twisty drive up to The Peak we waited for sunset at a spectacular view point overlooking Hong Kong |

We had a great hot pot dinner with our hosts Billy and Grace, Billy's sister Candy and her British husband Steve. He was an aviation engineer and after retiring has collected and restores classic cars including a Rolls Royce, Alvis and Aston-Martin. I asked him if he could have any car what would it be and he answered "a Rolls Royce Silver Ghost". Another weird coincidence - my dad bought a Silver Ghost when he was stationed in Rhodesia in the early sixties, but sold it to buy a home in Virginia.

Day Three | Macau | Shenzhen

With the typhoon approaching and expected to hit Macau, we had to cut short our planned overnight stay to just a few hours. We wanted to get back over to mainland China and away from the epicenter before they closed the bridges over the Greater Bay Area.

First stop was the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino which had the same lion that the Las Vegas MGM Grand Hotel and Casino once had - except I'm told that instead of a roaring lion with an open mouth, the Macau site has it's mouth closed. Apparently it is bad feng shui.

Much of the casino area was relatively deserted as the hours counted down for Typhoon Ragasa's arrival |

With only a few hours to visit the former Portuguese colony we headed to the old town |

I was hoping to see my friend David Hartung who used to be a news photographer in southern California, but moved to Asia decades ago to pursue culinary photography. He was having a photo exhibition and book launch gathering - though postponed because of the typhoon - on Sichuan cuisine.

So, we only had a few hours in Macau. Though a very brief visit it was amazing how much it reminded me of visits to Portugal some 40 years ago - colorful colonial buildings, blue ceramic tiles and narrow, cobblestone streets |

So we crossed into mainland China and took another very long bridge-tunnel complex to reach Shenzhen. After checking into the hotel, we had time to check out the Zhongshan-Shenzhen Bridge that we had just crossed over.

Day Four | Shenzhen | Typhoon Ragasa

With the typhoon warming at it's maximum - an 8 - we hunkered down at the hotel to wait it out. There was no restaurant at the hotel and yesterday we had eaten cold MacDonald's take-out when we arrived. To get us through the typhoon because all restaurants were closed we were supplied with instant noodle soups. However, the breakfast staff felt bad for us and prepared us a delicious steamed vegetable lunch. We were located on the periphery of the typhoon and though it did rain and there were some gusts of winds, it was a relatively mild storm compared to the typhoons I experienced - not only in Hong Kong harbor, but also where I lived in Bagiou, the Philippines.

It did hit Taiwan hard where a number of deaths were reported and there was some tidal flooding in Macau. A viral video showed people in an urban area catching fish in the flooded streets |

Day Five | Shenzhen

As part of the six themes of the trip - technology - we were taken to a robotics manufacturing place. I expected a large company with automated assembly machines, but instead there were a handful of workers manually assembling robots and even soldering circuit boards - it was very hands on type of stuff. I did enjoy being hooked up and playing with the fighting robots |

It was on and off pouring rain so we checked out a few malls |

The electronics mall was huge ... some six floors and full of stuff | some of the cameras with large file sizes were very inexpensive |

We were scheduled to go to an art area where artists copy classic painting, but instead went to the Sea World Culture and Arts Center. It was late, so no art or culture - just a nice bay view. David Hartung called and we chatted and he showed me a new toy camera he bought called the Chuzhao. I ended up buying a few and have been taking pictures with it - see Taipei blog.

Day Six | Shenzhen | Guangzhou

Started the day off visiting the rooftop of a building where drones are launch for a food delivery service. I took a few photos and then wondered around the rooftop and did some reflection photos |

Then a high speed train to Guangzhou. With our business class tickets we were given slippers and a snack pack. The Chinese high speed trains are such a pleasure - very quiet and I enjoy just looking out at the scenery |

Next up, was a visit to the Axion electric vehicle manufacturing plant. Super interesting - first time I've been to an assembly line factory. Their top-of-the-line Hyptec SUV which gets 800 kms to a charge sells for between 20 and 35 thousand dollars.

I haven't mentioned the food, but every day we've had just incredible meals.

Day Seven | Guangzhou

We started - with what turned out to be a long day full of photosm - in the Yong Qing Fang district with an embroidery demonstration. It was early in the day and it was quite quiet, so I broke away and started wondering the back streets of the old city of Guangzhou |

We ended up spending quite a bit of time in the old downtown area. It is a very picturesque and historic district.

Here are some scenes from the old city which has a canal winding through it, bridges and the outdoor opera house and it's gardens |

and some characters |

I always like visiting a museum or two when traveling and on this trip the M+ Museum in Hong Kong was closed, so we checked out some museums along the water front - Guangdong Cultural Heritage Museum and the Art Museum. Beautiful architectural buildings both inside and out. And very well presented displays |

and now the Art Museum |

We had an absolutely great lunch on Shamian Island which is another picturesque colonial concession-era island. We had spent a bunch of time on the last visit - too many photo ops and lots of people doing selfies - so I was glad that we needed to head off if we were going to make sunset from the bridge |

We arrived a little early for sunset and hung out at a skate park under the bridge and took in the sites along the river park |

and then the sunset - which turned out to be dramatic but in a subtle way |

and then a welcome late night dinner after a long day |

Day Eight | Guangzhou Port

First stop - a self-driving company where Nick and I took a tour of Nansha in a driverless car. It did a great job even cruising fast on highways and managing in minor congestions |

Weather was threatening, and after a cafeteria lunch at the Guangzhou Port employees mess hall, we took our metal trays to a private room with a huge circular table. We visited the automated port and control room |

We needed to submit pictures from our visit for tomorrow's interviews at GDTV, so we headed back |

So after submitting our images we checked out downtown Guangzhou |

Day Nine | Guangdong | last day | interview time

The day started with us getting all dressed up for the big interviews at GDTV. We waited in a cafe in the building which looked out on a nice interior garden with a pond, as we each took turns being interviewed |

Next up on the agenda was a presentation with the Guangzhou photographers which was called China-US Photographers' Dialogue and Exchange Conference. We all made our presentations and talked a bit about the photos. Minnie was the moderator and pretty much used notes from our pre-interviews to translate our talks into Chinese |

It was a really fun gathering. I always like getting together with colleagues and talking shop - though much of the talking was with hand gestures and with the assistance of Billy, Grace and the GDTV crew |

The gatherings and interviews ended up taking all day, so after returning to the hotel we decided to check out the mall nearby and have some dinner there and do some last minute shopping |

Another China trip winds down. As always it was quite an adventure, especially with the early specter of super Typhoon Ragasa bearing down on us. It was great to spend some time in Hong Kong - in our family's early life history, it factored quite a bit - not only with our visits there on our way to the Philippines, but also my aunt met her husband there and my cousins lived their in the early years of their lives. The glimpse of Macau peeked my interest. Met some great people and shared lots of stories.

Parting shots |

Photo Exhibit opening | Arcadia | California

Only two weeks after we arrived back, WCETV and GDTV arranged a photo exhibition of our efforts that was titled " The Future We See". It took place at Santa Anita Mall center court in Arcadia and the theme was Flowing, Unseen, Tech-driven, Unique, Resilent and Enjoyable - FUTURE |

and some press coverage |