I was roaming around with my Canon 40D, a companion that weighs nearly as much as my wife. For some reason, known only to the mucky-mucks, the public promenade area of my apartment development is undergoing a facelift. It has been torn up for weeks. The staccato pounding of dueling jackhammers is an unpleasant sound to wake to.

When it’s done I’m sure the promenade area will be lovely, a place for old people to exercise, children to run, and couples to sit upon a bench, waiting for dark to sneak a peck on the cheek.

I happened upon some workers laying interlocking brick. It was late afternoon and the light was good. I waited until the woman turned her head, catching the ray

of light that strayed past the buildings and main gate. It’s hard to be inconspicuous when you’re white, wearing a terminally ugly shirt, and carrying a large camera.

I had just been shooting in the shade and ISO setting on the Canon 40D was set way too high (my bad). If it had been set properly, and if I had a Canon EF 70-200 f/2.8 USM IS zoom lens, the image would be much better. Yeah, I’m the king of excuses.

I’m off to Macau today. I’ve seen what British colonialism did to Hong Kong, now I’ll observe the Portuguese variety.

And, as The Captain and Tennille often do: Here’s the music.

Update: The taxi driver thought the extra 5 kuai he would make driving me to the ferry terminal, via downtown during the morning rush, would be a good idea. Traffic, and his greed, prevented me from visiting Macau.

Below Pottinger Peak, with misty Mount Parker in the distance, is The Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, on Hong Kong Island. Cape Collision Road, near Chai Wan, is home to seven cemeteries: Muslims, Buddhists, Catholics, Sihks, fallen soldiers, and those not buried on consecrated ground, rest within walking distance of each other. Cape Collision Road is also home to two correction institutions.

Heng Fa Chuen, next to Chai Wan on Hong Kong Island’s northeast shore is home to Lei Yun Mun Fort and the Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence. It was this fort that valiantly tried to stop the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong Island in December 1941. The fort fell on December 19. Many of its defenders are buried at the nearby Sai Wan War Cemetery.

Captured: July 11, 2008.

Anything but drab. Near Nathan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR.
Captured: June 22, 2008.

spacer

I haven’t posted a self-portrait in a week or two. My vanity must be on the wane. No, that’s not true. You’re not vain when you know you’re the coolest man in China. A snarky blogger recently called The Stevo “tasty vittles.” I’ll take that as the ultimate compliment.

If you view this image large you may notice my ensemble. A purple plaid shirt and camouflage shorts is Stevo’s China Wear at its finest. My rationale is simple: I’m going to be stared at any way, I might as well be entertaining to look at. If you saw some of the clothes in Mrs. Stevo’s closet my above look would seem tame.

Clothes shopping, actually all shopping in China, is cheap. Instead of buying used clothing (as I did in Canada) I can now afford the ugliest of un-preowned shirts. I’ll take you shopping in China, if you visit, I know some place with reasonably attractive garments, and a great tailor.

Captured: July 23, 2008.

Not many tourist go to the night market. By not many I mean none. I think the only foreigners that wander the dongxi-laden stalls are brought by me.

The factory girls and young cool men with big hair and faded jean, in Shenzhen to make their fortune, stare and giggle. The too-friendly merchants smile wide at the strange visitors that make more in a month than the bulk of their customers do in six.

Eating at the night market is an adventure. Fried breads, fresh fruit, dumplings, roast chicken, and barbecued items are available, and eaten from small rickety tables while seated on wee plastic stools.

A Trinidadian, above, surveys the food at a Night Market BBQ stall. Octopus, shrimp, lamb, chicken, mushrooms and strange vegetables, all on a stick, make the decision a difficult one.

Captured: June 23, 2008.

spacer

This is a little something I’m messing around with. Mrs. Stevo spent the afternoon shopping (that’s not much of a shock) and I was short a model. Never being one to shy away from the camera, I stood in her stead.

The point of this will become apparent when the project, something really cool, is complete. For now, make do with a stocky, red-tinted Stevo, instead of a petite Asian beauty.

The symbol on the door is the Chinese symbol for Double Happiness. It is seen in the homes of newlyweds and used a great deal at Chinese weddings. (There are still several in our apartment nearly two years after the wedding.) There’s a great story behind the symbol, look for it here in the near future.

Captured: July 18, 2008.

____________________
Specs:

Camera: Canon EOS 40D

Shutter Speed: 1/100

Aperture: F/10

ISO: 320

Canon Speedlite 580 EX II with Remote Trigger.

double happiness symbol: orietaloutpost.com

space