Hong Kong/ Macau
hong kong/ Macau
A camera without weather sealing makes me far too anxious.
This trip really drove that point home for me.
On my usual days off, I never bothered to take my camera out in the rain, and on recent trips, I’d been lucky enough to avoid bad weather altogether.
But this time was different.
Throughout the trip, it was mostly cloudy with occasional rain—and at times, it poured relentlessly.
I visited Hong Kong in early May.
It was only after booking my flight that I learned May marks the start of the rainy season there.
I didn’t think too much about it at the time, but the forecast was rain—and sure enough, it rained. A lot.
When traveling, I can’t imagine not taking photos, but the downpour was relentless.
Most modern cameras these days are weather-sealed, but the Leica M11 isn’t.
On the outside, it looks tough and solid, but in reality, it’s as delicate as a bedridden princess.
I couldn’t bring myself to leave that “princess” out in the rain, but I also knew I’d regret it if I didn’t take any shots.
So I spent the trip constantly worrying about the risk of damage, all the while nervously pressing the shutter.
Hong Kong and Macau have a fascinating mix of contrasts: the chaotic energy you’d expect from China, the European atmosphere inherited from their British and Portuguese colonial past, and the polished side of a modern casino and financial hub.
It turned out to be a wonderful place for wandering the streets with a camera in hand.
This trip was chosen simply because there’s a direct flight from Fukuoka, and though the rain gave me some trouble, I still enjoyed it immensely.
And the food—every single Chinese dish I had was absolutely delicious.
Even though I can eat Chinese food back home, having it in its “home ground” made it taste so much better.
The sense of being in another country adds something intangible, but powerful, to the experience of taste.
