Water Taxi Anyone?

While in China I was enjoying the beauty of Hangzhou which has been a favorite retreat for people of prominence and imperial rulers for centuries. The splendor of Hangzhou is centered on and around the greatness of the massive West Lake, the largest part of West Lake is known as the Outer Lake and it is bounded by the North Inner Lake, Yuehu Lake, West Inner Lake and Lesser South Lake. Now you can see why I spent so much time on this lake and I have posted several images taken here and the cool ting is no two photos look like the same location either. The water taxi or tour boat was a relaxing way to take in the entire lake this boat trip took about 45 mins and we saw why this lake is so popular that boast 20 million visitors a year, not bad, that's like a good amusement park in America's visitor count. West Lake is a great place to spend a day you can enjoy a peaceful bike ride around the lake or take a boat either way you can’t go wrong on this must see while in Hangzhou.  

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All images and words © Bill Hamilton, All rights reserved, copying and or distributing these images without my permission is strictly prohibited.

The Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge

The Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge is a double-decker bridge across the Yangtze River and its upper deck is part of the China National Highway 104, the lower deck is the railway passage. This bridge is massive and impressive. This day it was overcast and light rain the entire day, but it was still worth the visit. This bridge is also one of the premier destinations for suicide which is not part of any tour group I’m sure. Nanjing is a very busy and it’s an important city commerce hub, but the real treat of Nanjing is the people and old world charm of this historical city. 

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All images and words © Bill Hamilton, All rights reserved, copying and or distributing these images without my permission is strictly prohibited.

 

Fisherman's Wharf in Taiwan

If you want a nice afternoon of relaxation and sightseeing just hop a jet to Taiwan and take the bullet train to Kaohsiung and go directly you the fisherman's wharf. If you hike up to the top of the hill and you will find a beautiful little outdoor cafe where you can grab a drink and a snack, but the real treat is the view of the wharf. If hiking up 1,000's of steps to catch the view is not your thing you can just walk around the fishing boats and you can find a small cafe where you can sit outside and enjoy the fresh sea breeze and close your eyes and just imagine your back 200 years before cars and motor scooters became the noise that drown out nature and the relaxing sounds of the ocean. 

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Sign of the Times or Just Gibberish?

Is this the sign of the times or just gibberish? When I got off the train in Danshui Taiwan my first reaction was WTF? Where am I going from this point and then of course you follow the crowd or if you’re lucky like me you’re traveling with someone who speaks and reads the language and you navigate from there. If you don’t have a local guide, you learn to ask strangers for help and read maps even in languages you don't understand. This got me thinking about people who risk everything to migrate to a foreign land where they don't know anybody and don't speak the predominate language of that new country and they risk it all for the chance at a new and better life for themselves and their families, man what guts and faith that must take. You wonder are things so bad where they are coming from and what made them so desperate to feel they have no options left, or on the flip side do they have a dream so big, so consuming, and so strong they don't view this as a huge risk because their faith is so huge, so strong that this is their calling it's no longer a risk but the only path for their life. Have you ever had a passion so strong that you went against the dominate belief or the general condenses that you were willing to risk a sure thing and risk the safety of what you were taught and threw caution to the wind and followed your heart, your passion, your dream because your faith in God and yourself was enough that the fear left you and it was replaced with a calm and clarity of what your future might be? If you haven't had that voice inside you, I hope and pray that one day you too will find your calling, your passion, and your reason for being.

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Saturday in the park...

A Walk in Paradise

There is nothing more relaxing than a quiet walk on a beach either in the early morning or at sunset; this photo taken in the early morning on Coronado Island in San Diego. It’s not a secret to anyone who knows me or reads my blog “I Love Coronado Island”; I truly believe that it’s near perfect for my personality and desires. I love the surf, I love Islands, I love sailboats in a quaint little harbor, I love great food, and Coronado has all this plus the greatest hotel on earth, The Hotel Del Coronado. Go visit and take your personal walk in paradise. 

To view my gallery visit www.billhamiltonmedia.com. All images © Bill Hamilton, All rights reserved, copying and or distributing these images without my permission is strictly prohibited.

Parade Floats Are Cool

Parade floats are cool for so many reasons, first; just the sheer creation of the concept of the float and how it works all the engineering that goes into the float, second; the creative minds who think up the float design that is the finished product that we see with all the colors, lights, music, the visual elements, and thirdly; to me the execution of all aspects of the float experience the people who put all the bells and whistles together so we can enjoy the float rolling down the road during the parade. This float I captured during The Texas State Fair and this was to highlight the Chinese Lantern exhibit they had at the fair grounds. I love the colors and just the delight to experience these modern marvels every year at the State Fair of Texas nightly parade.

To view my gallery visit www.billhamiltonmedia.com. All images © Bill Hamilton, All rights reserved, copying and or distributing these images without my permission is strictly prohibited.