S.R.B.C. Rockers Day 2015

I first heard about the Street Retro Bikers Club (S.R.B.C.) from Felix, the lead singer of The Boogie Playboys, and on every 3rd day of the Chinese New Year, they would have a massive gathering and go on a ride together. This year Felix invited to come join them in this annual event as I was quite into retro cultures, so I said yes without much hesitation and ditched my friends and family.

At around 12pm, the Bikers started to gather in Tsim Sha Tsui. There were about 50-60 Retro Bikes, and Bikers started chit chatting, taking photos of each other's beloved rides. I was totally amazed by the beauty of their Bikes and how many people were so well dressed for the occasion- greasy hair, leather jackets, leather pants, boots...everything you can imagine when you think of a retro biker!

Group pictures before the start of the Rockers Day 2015

The ride started at around 1:15pm from Tsim Sha Tsui and then we went all the way to Yuen Long for lunch. During the ride, I was in me mate Barry's car, taking photos while we were on the road. Although this is not my first time photographing vehicles while they are moving, this time it's a bit different and difficult because the speed was quite high and the expressway was a bit bumpy. Luckily, the Bikers were very co-operative when I gave them instructions (e.g. waving them to move closer or go slower), the photos turned out to be pretty good. 

Go Rockers!

After lunch the ride went on for a bit and we went to Taipo Industrial Area for another group photo to mark the end of the great day. It was getting late and the sun was setting, but I managed to take some portraits of my friends before it got dark. I always enjoy photographing people that has a strong character and have a story to back them up. During the 20 minutes shoot, I almost didn't give any direction on how to pose, etc, my 'models' gave me ideas and we worked together, tell a story together and create some great photos...always my favourite way to photograph a person.

Travel Note- San Francisco Day 3

Woke up pretty early due to JetLag again. Only slept for 10 hours in total for the past 2 nights. The weather in San Francisco is pretty much like the weather in Hong Kong. Warm during the day, and a bit chilly at night, and because of that, my allergic nose is being super kind to me.

Off to Montgomery Street to meet a senior of mine from HKU. We went to a nice restaurant (The Sauce...and sorry, not photos, I rarely take photos during my meals) and for about an hour and thirty minutes we talked about many things, mainly about how it feels like to work in America. Interestingly, he told me San Francisco is one of the most popular cities for homeless because of its benefits and welfare, and even the Nevada States has brought bus ticket for the homeless in their States to go to San Francisco...that's why yesterday I saw many homeless near the Financial District of SF.

After lunch I set off to de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park to check out an Keith Haring exhibition, one of the artists whom I look up to since I was young. Unlike Tate Modern, there isn't much words/description/information in the Haring Exhibition. Just his works, and a short paragraph here and there. Luckily Haring's works are relatively easy to understand, he didn't want his audience to guess what he is trying to say, he was all about communicating and spreading his message across. A lot to learn from him.

I left after the exhibition to return to town center. Apparently there are 2 exhibitions all in the same buildings that I really want to see. Songbook by Alec Soth, and an exhibition of Fan Ho, a master photographer from Hong Kong. 

Turns out that that particular building is called 49 Geary, and there are lots of Private Galleries in it. On the first Thursday of each months, most of the galleries have openings, and would invite the artist to be there. Lucky me, not only I got a chance to see the works by Alec Soth and Fan Ho, I also see works by Tokihiro Sato, a Japanese photographer who works with light and time.

It was a short day, but jetlag really caught up with me. I went back before dinner and we started preparing for the wedding that is going to take place on Saturday. Seems like I wont be going out tomorrow. But instead I will have to stay in and help out. No Travel Note tomorrow, but instead I might write something called Groomsman Note or whatever...will see.

Travel Note- San Francisco Day 2

Day 2. San Francisco. Jet-Lag.

Half awake and half asleep from 4am. Had no idea what I was doing. Just trying so hard to sleep. My head still spilt into two, and it was a terrible feeling.

Finally I got a chance to walk around in San Francisco today on my own to explore what this city is about. But first thing first, I went to J.P. Kempt, a barber hop near The Hayes to get my hair done. It took me a while to figure out how to get there, and at the end I took Uber instead (i know i am lazy)

J.P. Kempt
Great barber shop in the Bay Area.

J.P. Kempt is quite a 'hip' barber shop, very different from those glamours salons you see in Hong Kong most of the time. Everything looks neat and cool when I first walked in, its classic style decorations, equipments and the chair amazed me.

After waiting for a while, I got to sit down with the barber (Uncle Suzz), and as soon as I sat down, she asked me if I want the 'usual stuff'. Without much hesitation I said yes, 30 minutes later, boom, great hair cut!

I walked randomly around after I left the barber shop. I had about 2 hours before I got another plan, so I just find out roughly where I should head to on Google Maps and start wondering around in the city.

I started walking near The Hayes and through Market Street I walked roughly to Montgomery Street. It was a great sunny day so I enjoyed walking into some random shops here and there. Nothing too fancy around the area, but I guess I kind of understand why people love California so much.

Perhaps it's me feeling suspicious, the street made me felt a bit uneasy when as I walk along Market Street. There are a lot of homeless people around the area, some were drunk (or stoned?), the street doesn't smell too great, and there are many closed stores around so I felt a bit abandoned somehow. It's hard to imagine I am only 20 minutes away from the Financial District where there are so many luxurious stores, restaurants and things look so different.

Emptied Office in San Fran

Is this some kind of theatre/cinema?

The American Dream

Abandoned buildings attracts photographers including myself. I know they relatively 'easy' to photograph and I should avoid doing stuffs like this. But then I guess my way of seeing them can create something unique of them? I don't know, sometimes I'm just shooting what I love to shoot. I am never really a good at philosophising my works and I rarely understand those essays and articles and researches by the amazing scholars and thinkers. Me mate Kris once said sometimes doing creative things are as simply as making yourself happy. True.

At night we visited the Oracle Arena to watch the Warriors. My first NBA Experience. Didn't talk too many photos as the game was so intense. Steph Curry (one the best players in the league right now) scored 51 and it was a good W for the Warriors. 

On the way to the Arena

Our view. Amazing

Thanks my man ManHin for the tickets. Actually for those who don't know, the reason why I'm in San Francisco is because my friend whom I've known since I was an infant is getting married this weekend and I got invited to be his one of his groomsmen. This is my 2nd time being a groom...

Time Flies...this is insane. Slow down everyone.

Travel Note- San Francisco Day 1

Here I am. On the other side of the world.

It's strange, right? I got on the plane at 4pm on the 3rd of Feb; stopped a few hours in Tokyo; then now it's only 10pm on the 3rd of Feb in San Francisco. Time is funny bastard.

San Francisco Airport
Outside the airport in San Francisco

I arrived at the afternoon, took me a while to get to downtown San Fran. The BART train looks very interesting to me, like something futuristic but at the same time nostalgic. I felt like this is something how someone would imagine the future would be like back in the 80s, then design something according to their imagination, and ended up having this strange mixture of old and new.

BART train
Memory of the Future- BART Train

Got to admit there are quite a lot of 'strange people' on the stations. They are usually in their late 50s to mid 60s, looking a bit rough, and most of them talk to themselves, mumbling. Felt like London, but a bit more dangerous.

Anyway. Jet lag sucks. I feel like my head is in two places now.

Travel Note- Tokyo, San Francisco

So here I am. On the road again. This time I am going to be a groomsman of my friend whom I have known since I was a baby.

Something about this 'Travel Note'

I am never really good at writing stuffs, but maybe since I am travelling and I don't have any big plans, I might as well just write something random to make myself feel like I am doing something. In fact, I hate writing, and I have no idea where this travel note thing is going to last, nor what I will write about. Some people say if you write it down or take a photo of it, you will remember it better.

I tend to see things differently.

A month or so ago, I was alone in the subway of Taipei, and I saw a good looking girl. I wanted to say hi to her and ask her where she is going etc. But being the nervous me as I usually am, I didn't do anything, and I just took a photo of her secretly with my iPhone. Of course the photo is there, and I can look at it whenever I wanted to, but I found myself not remembering her at all, and all I have left is how I felt when I was trying to take that photo.

Photography isn't a good medium of memory. That's what I always believe.

Because of the flight, I stayed in Tokyo for a few hours before I transit to San Francisco. Tokyo has always been an interesting place to me. I spent a few good months there, been through many good times as well as terrible times. It's funny how I am at the Tokyo Airport again, but not being able to walk around and being nostalgic. So close. 

Anyway, again, I have no idea where this travel note is heading, maybe this will be the only note I write. Who knows.