Under the principle of “one country, two systems”, Hong Kong is defined as a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China. It borders the neighbouring city of Shenzhen immediately to the north (where I lived for two years previously) which is physically divided from Hong Kong along the Sham Chun and Sha Tau Kok rivers. I recently visited the border town of Sha Tau Kok (沙頭角) on the Hong Kong side… Read more
When people ask me what I do for a living I often struggle to explain myself – being a ‘Product Manager’ can mean a lot of different things but whether you’re building something physical like a car, or virtual like an app, a Product Manager has to be able to operate on multiple fronts to juggle business, technical, and creative demands. Read more
For any visitor new to Thailand, one of the first things you’ll notice are the small three-wheeled taxis which zip around the roads at alarming speeds with little concern for the rules of the roads. These motorised rickshaws are of course the ubiquitous tuk-tuk (ตุ๊กตุ๊ก), so-called because of the sound they make. With their brightly coloured metallic bodies and swarthy drivers they make a great subject to photograph. Read more
In post-industrial cities across the world there has been a trend of turning disused warehouses and factory spaces into creative hubs for artists. Since 2001 in Hong Kong, after many meatpacking and textile storage facilities moved to mainland China, more than 80 units in the utilitarian industrial blocks of Fo Tan district have been re-purposed and transformed into art studios, creating a vibrant if well hidden local arts scene.
After a very enjoyable morning wandering through the back streets of Yaowarat and Phahurat I arrived at Bangkok’s Chinatown via Tri Mit Road, and headed for the Chinese Arch at the Odeon Circle. Officially known as the King’s Birthday Celebration Arch, it was built by the Thai-Chinese community in 1999 to show their loyalty to the Thai royal family. Read more