The Flickr Oceanparklandscaping Image Generatr

Another view of the cable cars crawling along the U turn platform to pick up passengers. Jan/ Feb. 2012.

The cars never stop completely: they slow down to a crawl and you have to jump into a moving car. Fortunately, the boarding platform is pretty long, at least long enough to board six people comfortably in each car. Jan/ Feb. 2012.

I was initially the sole occupant of my car. However, much later, a nice Chinese family comprising of a lady, a guy and their lovely little daughter ran and got in, almost as an after thought. Jan/ Feb. 2012.

A closer view of the 'Dive Into a Float-- Cool Zone' cold drinks stall: (yes, I managed!) I had missed photographing it in 2002. I said 'gotcha!' after I shot this. It hadn't changed much in these ten years. Jan/ Feb. 2012.

The nice Chinese family I shared my car with offered to take my picture inside the car. Well, why not? The sunlight on my face and the side lighting were a happy co-incidence: an art kind of photograph perhaps? The South China sea is in the backkground. HK, Jan/ Feb. 2012

Signage inside the cable car. I cannot tell you how happy I was to be able to ride the cable car at last. On my 2002 visit, the service had been suspended due to the launching of Cyclone warning 1. This time, the wait to ride from the lower to upper levels was around 2hr 30min, due to mainland Chinese tourists having invaded HK in force, and en masse. I joined the line for the cable car ride down out of sheer boredom and exhaustion (it had been a long day), for there was no way I could wade through all that humanity looking for the Ocean Express stop. I eventually made it to the cable car in a little under an hour. HK, Jan/Feb. 2012

Another view of the South China sea and the Aberdeen district on Hong Kong Island. I was crouching dangerously close to a large porta cabin housing a large diesel generator to get this picture. Half the viewing areas were blocked by it, the open areas had small balconies, with families waiting in queue to have themselves photographed, and the path was inclining steeply downwards at that point, meaning just one or two usable balconies. It was a long wait. (HK, Jan/ Feb. 2012)

Another view of moi inside the cable car as we move several hundred feet above the South China sea. HK, Jan/ Feb. 2012

Game over folks, time to go home now. Vantage points have been taken over by restaurants and cafes, so if you want the view, eat something here, and pay a premium, by thunder! This distant shot of the South China sea is taken from the queue (I'd been standing for over an hour in this queue!) for the cable car. Yipee, caught the cable car at last! Jan/ Feb. 2012.

Amidst a lot of messy and noisy construction work, the huge crowds and an inconveniently placed larger than life diesel generator was this viewpoint with a very pleasant view of the South China sea. The cable cars in the foreground were ferrying tourists between the upper and lower levels of the park. I had to really wait to get this view, folks were posing in the tiny look out balconies all the time. Jan/ Feb. 2012.

A closer view. A large crowd has gathered here to witness the Chinese New Year Lion Dance and cultural show, which will be performed on the red stage which you see to the left. Ocean Park 35th Anniversary dances were performed there as well. See videos of both these in the Videos folder. Jan/ Feb. 2012.

They pitch for your money until the very end! A colourful gift shop at the very exit of the Ocean Park. Most folks appeared to be too tired to take a look. In a way, it might be a good idea too, in case you want to pick up a momento as an after thought. Right next to the shop is the exit, where smiling hostesses/ hosts greet you true airline style with 'thank you for your visit' etc. You probably won't believe this, despite my grumbling about the none too pleasant changes, less than user friendly renovations, and the surging masses of mainland tourists, I was actually feeling bad leaving the Ocean Park, and wanted to linger there for some more time. I didn't though, for I had Stanley lined up after this! Jan/ Feb. 2012.

It was an edifying experience to wade through the massive sea of humanity! All you can see is bobbing heads, I thought the whole of mainland China was here, and that the island would actually sink at some point! It wasn't a very pleasant experience, I can tell you that. Jan/ Feb. 2012.

It was an edifying experience to wade through all those teeming millions (or so it seemed!). Two massive groups are passing each other here. I was really standing out as the only non Chinese in the crowd! Jan/ Feb. 2012.

View of the South China sea from the cable car. That was some height! I've put up a video of the ride in my videos folder. Jan/ Feb. 2012.

I'd missed photographing this 'Cool Zone' shop when I'd visited in 2002, and fortunately, this was one of the very few things in the Ocean Park that had not really changed. I thought I had to satisfy myself with this distant shot due to the gazillion people in front of, and behind me. And yes, I'm referring to the stall at the far end. Poor composition, if you ask me! Jan/ Feb. 2012.

A colourful bunch of hot air balloons gave a festive feel to the Ocean Park that day. The balloon in the immediate foreground bears the Ocean Park logo: a seal in a sailor suit. This is an intersection of sorts, the roundabout embedded on the pavement directs people to various exhibits, which is why this patch looks sort of empty. The crowds were awful actually, see subsequent photos.

In the end, I followed the simple formula of give and take. An Asian lady (Japanese, filipina?) was trying to take pictures of her elderly mother against the sea backdrop. I waited several minutes. Her mother couldn't take her daughter's picture though. I then offered to take a picture of both of them together, something which was very eagerly received by both the ladies. In return, the young lady offered to take my picture, so here I am. Jan/ Feb. 2012.

On the way, I pass this chap selling hot rice sticks. Someone had just bought several, and a group of Chinese were engaging the vendor completely, so all I could manage was this shot. You do see a couple of those hot rice sticks if you look closely though. Jan/ Feb. 2012.

I was initially pissed off at the narrow, strip like viewing window at the far end of this enclosure, were there was panda, showing his rear end to the surging crowds there. He was very close to the viewing glass. I decided to avoid going there until the crowds have thinned out somewhat. But then, I was in luck. Another panda suddenly appeared on my side of the enclosure. He was gone before I could zoom in though. Oh well, but I at least got him. HK, Jan/ Feb. 2012