David Hilgier Photographs

The rain followed us from Hong Kong to Tokyo. At least initially, as we made our way through the streets and alleyways of Harajuku.

Superlatives are relative. There is no greatest city in the world as many proclaim. Within each exist their own unique characteristics that make them great. Favorites on the other hand are understandable. Returning to Tokyo, I am grateful, humbled and ecstatic to be back in a favorite of mine. On our first morning of this return to the city, we head to Harajuku, an area of the city we had yet to explore. We take few photos at Tokyu Plaza before moving on to our next stop.

Our time in Hong Kong ended as it began with a morning walk around Sheung Wan. We wandered through the streets lined with produce vendors sipping our morning tea and reminiscing about our time exploring the city and the territory’s outskirts. Sad to leave but excited for our next destination. I look forward to the day I get to return to this place and for the change to experience how it will remain the same and how it will inevitably evolve from the point which I got to explore it.

We ended our night by watching the passers by on the streets below from the Central Mid-Levels Escalators. For some, a Saturday night out just beginning, for others it draws to a close.

As the streets of Kowloon exponentially descend from the chaos of midday, an individual makes one last errand stop for the day.

The continual cycle of a day in the city draws to its inevitable close. A street market in Kowloon progresses towards that temporary moment of pause. Some vendors making their last deals of the day while other wrap up a few last chores before heading home. In a few short hours the process will start again.

One of my reasons for visiting Hong Kong was to provide myself the opportunity to view first hand the plethora of signage that serve as a cornerstone of the visual definition of the city. Somewhere near the Temple Street Night Market we found this collection of neon and LED signs. Their predominately red and green color palette casting a moody luminance onto the surrounding buildings and street below.

A public light bus driver takes a brief break before returning to ferrying his passengers through the streets of Hong Kong.

A couple tends to their produce stand. A story that I extrapolate in my mind, I encounter them in their daily process of the upkeep of their business and their corner of Hong Kong. Partners in life and partners in business.

Two brave the relentless rain as they make their way through Central, Hong Kong. We try our best to stay dry utilizing the covered elevated walkways to get from point a to b.