Fotoeins Fotografie

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Posts from the ‘Photography’ category

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New Zealand: TranzAlpine train from Christchurch to Greymouth

After experiencing various aspects of Christchurch (one, two, three, and four), it’s time to make the journey over to the muchly-anticipated Westland on the South Island of New Zealand.


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Hyde Park, Sydney, Australia

Sydney: Sunday bubbles in Hyde Park

It’s a beautiful Sunday, halfway into a long Labour Day holiday-weekend in the Australian states of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. The early-spring day brings sun, blue skies, and a very reasonable temperature of +21C/70F.

Located in the City centre, Hyde Park is not only the oldest park in Sydney, but also the oldest park in Australia. The area was originally used as a staging ground for soldiers, and in 1810, was officially recognized as a “common” (open land for public use). Then-governor Macquarie named the common after Hyde Park in London, England.

On this afternoon, there are many in Hyde Park : some are here for the art exhibition; some are enjoying a picnic or a suntan on the grass; some are out with their baby strollers; and others have their cameras to photograph the day. A gentleman next to the Archibald Fountain is blowing soap bubbles large and small, to the joy of young and old alike. The tip jar is getting some joy, as the curious stop, watch, and part with some coins.

And so it goes, the streams of soapy spheres on a sunny Sunday in Sydney’s Hyde Park.

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Tung Po, Java Road Cooked Food Centre, North Point, Hong Kong

Hong Kong: dining magic at North Point’s Tung Po

1 Sep 2022: Tung Po forced to close after 30 years in business: Tatler Asia.


If you’re in Hong Kong, one thing you should do is make reservations at Tung Po in North Point (北角) for a truly local dining experience. Reservations are especially recommended as the place is packed solid by 7pm.

Why should you care?

As a “dai pai dong” which has moved indoors into the Java Road Cooked Food Centre, Tung Po Kitchen has excellent fresh seafood, is recommended by many, and frequented by locals. The place opens for dinner between 530 and 545pm, and within an hour to two, the floor is full of people, the noise levels are so high it’s hard to hear the person in front of you, and the food keeps coming and coming and coming …

You should care, because this is a place where locals come to eat.

I care, because my sister had been to Tung Po before, and she satisfied my request to dine at this well-reviewed joint.

We decided to keep things “light” by ordering only the following four items:

  • black squid-ink noodle,
  • oyster omelette,
  • deep fried spicy prawns with garlic, and
  • soup with Chinese zucchini, green pea vermicelli, chinese mushroom, dried shrimp, and ginger.

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New Zealand: Coastal Pacific train from Picton to Christchurch

Previously: on board the Interislander ferry to cross New Zealand’s Cook Strait from Wellington on the North Island to Picton on the South Island.

There are cheaper or faster ways to travel between Wellington and Christchurch. But I love boats, and I love trains. So, an alternative is a trip with KiwiRail Scenic Journeys, combining boat and train. After 3.5 hours, the ferry across Cook Strait arrives in Picton at 1140am. I make my way out of the ferry terminal, and walk the short path to the train station nearby. My luggage on the ferry is automatically transferred onto the train, as I’ve paid for both legs of the trip in its entirety.

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