David Hilgier Photographs

We made our way back to the city via the Ngong Ping Cable Car. The second of three legs of transit consisting of bus, cable car and metro. The rain and low clouds a constant presence during our day on Lantau Island.

A found scene exploring the alleys and narrow streets of Tai O. Steam rises from the lunch contained in a group of bamboo steamers resting on a cart waiting for consumption.

Locals gather to review and purchase from the daily catch on the side of the waterway that runs through Tai O. The quantity of fish desired measured by a handheld scale.

Our day in Tai O was met with various states of rain. We experienced drizzle to downpour and everything in-between. The aesthetic of the village impacted by the moisture from the rainy season and its proximity to the ocean. Its constant presence expediting the weathering of everything in sight and necessitating the use of found objects as protection from its impacts.

While enjoying our lunch, once again, the rain returned as quickly as it had disappeared. Simply part of life for this time of year in Hong Kong. For us, acclamation to experiencing daily rainfall totals that rival what we receive over the course of months was required.

After exploring the narrow walkways, alleyways and streets of central Tai O, we followed Shek Tsai Po Street west from the town along the coastline of Lantau Island. For a few hours we exchanged the roar of the city center for the calmer sounds of the water meeting lands edge and the stiff breeze rustling the trees along our path.

The pathways to the heart of Tai O are occupied by numerous vendors and merchants selling everything from cuisine endemic to the region, groceries, and souvenirs. On this particular day, the overhangs of these stalls also doubled as shelter from on and off rain.

Standing out from the silver monochrome of the village, addresses are hand lettered in red paint on many of the buildings.

Escaping the canyons of skyscrapers endemic to Hong Kong was easier than I had anticipated. An hour MTA ride later and we exchanged the cacophony of the city for the relative calm of Tai O, a somewhat sleepy fishing village located on the western side of Lantau Island. A unique silver color defines the aesthetic for many of the homes of the community.

After a breakfast of pineapple buns, oatmeal, and espresso we made our way from Sheung Wan to Tai O in the midst of morning rush hour. While empathizing with those commuting to their day of work I marvel at the efficiency of the MTR in comparison to the options I have in my home town.