Dr. Radiaki Posted July 14, 2008 Report Share Posted July 14, 2008 I found this wonderful picture through reddit.com Ain't free enterprise grand? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mammon Posted July 14, 2008 Report Share Posted July 14, 2008 I found this wonderful picture through reddit.com Ain't free enterprise grand? Looks confusing.... and fun. You know, Asian cities always look interesting... like towns here bore the hell out of me. You have to drive everywhere and everything looks the same. The Asian cities have all these signs, and pedestrian friendly streets and all of this stuff going on. That's how cities should be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JASKN Posted July 14, 2008 Report Share Posted July 14, 2008 The Asian cities have all these signs, and pedestrian friendly streets and all of this stuff going on. That's how cities should be.Get yourself to some larger American cities, Mammon! I imagine that image is a familiar sight to all of the locals, and doesn't seem much more interesting, as a sight, than what you're familiar with. But there must be a helluva lot more to do in Hong Kong, as far as activities go, than in common American Suburbia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eriatarka Posted July 14, 2008 Report Share Posted July 14, 2008 Its like Las Vegas without the sense of irony. Might be fun to go to on holiday, but definitely wouldnt want to live there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grant Posted July 14, 2008 Report Share Posted July 14, 2008 http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3123/266577...2ce40d278_o.jpg This photo of HK was submitted to Digg 7 hours ago. Looks awesome. Though still no where near as beautiful as NY. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JASKN Posted July 14, 2008 Report Share Posted July 14, 2008 Though still no where near as beautiful as NY.I find Hong Kong to be more beautiful than New York, but New York is more impressive just due to its vastness. New York buildings are very old, generally, while Hong Kong is definitely a "newer" city, and as such I don't think New York's beauty can compare. Besides that, Hong Kong has the benefit of a more interesting landscape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
athena glaukopis Posted July 14, 2008 Report Share Posted July 14, 2008 Though still no where near as beautiful as NY. To each their own, I would say Hong Kong is infinitely more beautiful than NY. NY is just a crowded, dirty island. Hong Kong is a living, thriving example of capitalism in real-time. In New York, only the corpse of the city remains as evidence of what it once was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eriatarka Posted July 14, 2008 Report Share Posted July 14, 2008 (edited) http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3123/266577...2ce40d278_o.jpg This photo of HK was submitted to Digg 7 hours ago. Looks awesome. Though still no where near as beautiful as NY. Wow, thats very beautiful. I think I may actually prefer it to New York - as JASKN said, New York buildings tend to look a lot older (although not old enough to give a sense of history in the way that the buildings of Oxford/Edinburgh/London etc do), while that looks futuristic and awesome. The landscape is great too - few places can compete with that. Edited July 14, 2008 by eriatarka Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Sophia~ Posted July 14, 2008 Report Share Posted July 14, 2008 We also have some great buildings here in Vancouver. And that is how the whole city looks like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMartins Posted July 14, 2008 Report Share Posted July 14, 2008 (edited) That's a fantastic picture, Dr. Radiaki. A great find. I've always been partial to this picture of Hong Kong, but the one you posted is my new favourite. If only to put things in contrast, I present to you Oslo, the capital of the "People's State of Norway". This is in fact the center of downtown Oslo -- the very best that Norway has to offer. Edited July 14, 2008 by JMartins Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle Posted August 17, 2008 Report Share Posted August 17, 2008 I believe the photo of Norway is best. Artistic beauty aside, both Hong Kong and New York are too cluttered in areas, the cities aren't nearly efficent enough for their purposes. But I must argue, as I was born and raised in Seattle, that smaller cities are by far my favorite. You have the advantage of resource and beauty without the overkill of shoving everything into as little space as possible. Toronto is a nicely organized city as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moebius Posted August 17, 2008 Report Share Posted August 17, 2008 Artistic beauty aside, both Hong Kong and New York are too cluttered in areas, the cities aren't nearly efficent enough for their purposes. I'm not sure what you mean by "purposes", but Hong Kong is pretty damn efficient as far as packing as many people as you can in a city. Last time I was there I was struck by how tightly packed the people lived -- huge blocks of apartment complexes stretching as far as the eye can see. The speed with which they build skyscrapers is pretty insane also. Older buildings and strips are continually demolished and a huge building erected on top of it. You blink, and like sand patterns on a desert dune the entire cityscape is completely changed. Must be nice to be that one small state-enforced financial nozzle where all the international hot money pass through into and out of China. Honestly though it's one of those places that I would hate to live in without either a penthouse apartment or a big house at least 20-30 minutes away from downtown. I cannot stand waking up and being unable to see the sun because you are surrounded by high-rises in all directions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tenure Posted August 17, 2008 Report Share Posted August 17, 2008 Oslo is an ugly, sin of city. Now, Voss, that's a little town up outside of Bergen, and Voss is beautiful. One of, if not the, best little town I've ever been to. Grant's submission captures pretty well why I like Hong Kong especially - besides obviously how new and grand everything is, it's how it's all coasting about on these islands, with this lovely mixture of steel and glass, and grass and water. That first picture though, man, trust me, as fun as it all looks, it's confusing as hell trying to find your way down a Hong Kong street. You'd think with all those signs it would make things easier, but... no. Anyway, I'll just submit a few photos of Hong Kong when I was there. Judge for yourself: The traffic speeding at night time: A rainy evening down a quiet street: A hazy day (I should note, that's not smog, but humid air): A sense of walking through the streets: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidOdden Posted August 17, 2008 Report Share Posted August 17, 2008 (edited) Oslo is an ugly, sin of city.Ka du sa? I have just one word for you -- Manchester, esp. Friday nightNow, Voss, that's a little town up outside of Bergen, and Voss is beautiful. One of, if not the, best little town I've ever been to.Ikke så verst. Here's a nicer place at midnite and noon, and looking down from the hill. (Forgot the porch shot). Edited August 17, 2008 by DavidOdden Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle Posted August 17, 2008 Report Share Posted August 17, 2008 That first picture though, man, trust me, as fun as it all looks, it's confusing as hell trying to find your way down a Hong Kong street. You'd think with all those signs it would make things easier, but... no. I think the purpose of a city is to be a vast collection of resources; but if I'm a businessman and it takes me twenty minutes to get to my office; thats not very efficent. In smaller cities, the sidewalks are only packed in the tourist areas as opposed to the larger demands of a city like New York, where there are so many people, everywhere is packed. Thats as best as I can clarify for how I would determine a city efficent or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devils_Advocate Posted August 17, 2008 Report Share Posted August 17, 2008 Looks confusing.... and fun. You know, Asian cities always look interesting... like towns here bore the hell out of me. You have to drive everywhere and everything looks the same. The Asian cities have all these signs, and pedestrian friendly streets and all of this stuff going on. That's how cities should be. I have lots and lots of dreams, stretching from earning my first hundred dollars at the end of next week to becoming one of the first Objectivist Politicians ever, but having a penthouse in Hong Kong has always been at the top. To each their own, I would say Hong Kong is infinitely more beautiful than NY. NY is just a crowded, dirty island. Hong Kong is a living, thriving example of capitalism in real-time. In New York, only the corpse of the city remains as evidence of what it once was. I think Hong Kong, and most Asian cities, tend to be more beautiful, but I still like New York. New York has some impressive skyscrapers, and Times Square at night is beautiful. The moment I'm done with college, I'm moving there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moebius Posted August 18, 2008 Report Share Posted August 18, 2008 I think the purpose of a city is to be a vast collection of resources; but if I'm a businessman and it takes me twenty minutes to get to my office; thats not very efficent. In smaller cities, the sidewalks are only packed in the tourist areas as opposed to the larger demands of a city like New York, where there are so many people, everywhere is packed. Thats as best as I can clarify for how I would determine a city efficent or not. Seems like your only concern is traveling time. As far as traffic goes, Hong Kong's is actually well organized and relatively smooth. There are traffic jams during rush hour, but then that is true for all major cities. If you are talking about the speed with which resources can transfer -financial instruments, land, commodities- I'd say Hong Kong is pretty much as efficient as you are going to get. Hong Kong itself does not have many factories for production. It is a city that exists almost solely to wheel and deal -- its main (and more or less only) industries are finance, real estate, and sea port. Supply and demand from across the world congregate on this small island to trade. Smaller cities are worse in that sense due to the sheer numbers game. Lower population and fewer connections mean that much more resources need to be spent matching supply to demand, transaction costs that usually mean a great deal to low end consumers or small businesses. That is why for as long as mankind has civilization, resources has shifted toward places where populations congregate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rearden_Steel Posted August 18, 2008 Report Share Posted August 18, 2008 Parts of Hong Kong are Beautiful, but some parts of it are unimaginably poor and ugly. I hate to sound like a damn socialist or commie but the contrast of rich and poor in Hong Kong are very dramatic. A 200 million dollar high-rise one block, dilapidated shack being held up by bamboo the next. Plus, they have major sewage problems and the whole city smell like poo. Don’t get me wrong though, I love Hong Kong.The few of the city from Victoria bay is astonishing. However, I do prefer New York and a few other cities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tenure Posted August 18, 2008 Report Share Posted August 18, 2008 Yeah, RS, that's the first thing that hit me once I got into Hong Kong city. Alongside the rich Bankers are poor guys pushing along carts of recyclables for some cash. You've got to take this city in its context though - these people were all poor beforehand, thanks in no small part to Chinese government (for a wonderfully ironic representation of this, see Kennedy Town, where the tax-funded Chinese Embassy building sits proudly amongst the poorD housing projects). Hong Kong has inherited all this poverty and its growing and expanding in wealth as fast as it can. It is much like the early New York: there's tons of poor people flocking in, wanting to make more money, but it's going to take time for all that wealth to build up and start working its way down. This is why I want to go back in, say, 10 years, when I think it will be dramatically different (assuming there is no dramatic political change). I never noticed any sewage problem or bad smell, except out on the docks, at loading bays and stuff. Those places reeked. David: Hmm, yeah, I suppose, it's nice, but I'm more for the greenery: http://photos-b.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-...310985_5902.jpg http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-...310986_6209.jpg What town were your pics from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zip Posted August 18, 2008 Report Share Posted August 18, 2008 Since we seem to be showing our cities... A small section of Ottawa; http://www.mccullagh.org/db9/1ds2-5/downto...ttawa-night.jpg The buildings are rather squat because of an Ottawa by-law that prevents any building in the downtown core to be higher than the Peace Tower. Parliament, with the Peace Tower front and center; http://www.kinsilclose.com/imageLibrary/Pa...ings-Ottawa.jpg Looking East from Parliament Hill; http://lh3.ggpht.com/_L-A4yBLH0zY/SFaO-84p...wa+city+(3).JPG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinDW78 Posted August 18, 2008 Report Share Posted August 18, 2008 The buildings are rather squat because of an Ottawa by-law that prevents any building in the downtown core to be higher than the Peace Tower. There is something similiar here in Salt Lake City that prevents any building in the city being taller than the Mormom Church headquarters building. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zip Posted August 18, 2008 Report Share Posted August 18, 2008 There is something similiar here in Salt Lake City that prevents any building in the city being taller than the Mormom Church headquarters building. ooh, as far as stupid city ordinances go... you win Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tenure Posted August 18, 2008 Report Share Posted August 18, 2008 Yeah, Paris has height-caps which they've finally started relaxing in the last few years. I think the idea was that nothing could be taller than the Eiffel Tower. Thinking as a civil servant, I would opt rather than to stop growth of the city that way, just to put a small tax on everything and build a massive new Eiffel tower, a mile high, and put that as the new cap, as a challenge for people to reach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinDW78 Posted August 18, 2008 Report Share Posted August 18, 2008 Uh.. Problem solved? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K-Mac Posted November 26, 2008 Report Share Posted November 26, 2008 This striking image came in my National Geographic weekly enewsletter. Awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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