a quick hello + a cash giveaway

I've been up and down and around this island over the past few weeks, and I have to tell you I'm exhausted. having visitors in town is always fun, but leaves me feeling like I need a vacation. am I the only one? we roamed Hsinchu on foot, took the high speed down to Kaohsuing for my first visit south, wandered Taipei, hiked through Taroko, and rode gondolas in Maokong. I love that visitors are an excuse to play tourist and try new things [and for their photography skills, as evidenced above.]

I have so much to blog about that it's tough to know where to start... as you can see it is already wednesday and I have yet to post this week! I started working on something this afternoon, a post which might include some of my most favorite temple photos ever taken. [and not a single dragon, if you can believe it.] but for some reason I just can't bring myself to publish it yet. hopefully you all will find it worth the wait once it makes an appearance.

as consolation for you today, I want to tell you about an AMAZING paypal [aka cash!] giveaway that myself and the fantastic ladies hanging out at Living In Another Language are putting on. the best news for you: if you already follow me on twitter, instagram, or bloglovin then you qualify to make additional entries below. good luck!

as Amanda says: this giveaway is open internationally, but you must have a Paypal account set up to receive the prize. make sure you read the terms and conditions below, check out the lovely sponsors, and enter daily! the more you enter, the more entries you have in the pot, and the better chances you have of winning!

 

1. SarahChristineStyle || 2. This Flooded Sky || 3. Unlocking Kiki || 4. Sky Envy || 5. Ink + Adventure || 6. Let Birds Fly || 7. The College Cosmopolitan || 8. True Colours || 9. The Mosbys in China || 10. Jillian Lorraine || 11. Bristol in my Pocket || 12. The Happy Type || 13. Living in Another Language

The first entry is (always) free, just by clicking 'enter!' Terms and Conditions listed below:
1. Giveaway is open internationally. 2. Be sure to actually do what the giveaway prompts say, because I check the winning entry thoroughly to be sure the entry is valid. 3. If the entry isn't valid I will pick a new winner. 4. Once the winner is validated and emailed, he/she has 48 hours to reply and accept the prize. If he/she does not reply within 48 hours a new winner will be selected. 5. The winner must have Paypal. Once the prize money has been transferred via Paypal, it is no longer Living in Another Language's responsibility. 6. Enter away! HAVE FUN!

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hong Kong // Victoria Peak

the view of Hong Kong from Victoria Peak is iconic. it's that image you picture when you think of the Hong Kong skyline, and it's one of the most popular photo-taking spots in the city. I visited Victoria Peak [also known as just "The Peak"] on my first visit to Hong Kong. I came away with some amazing images, but on my recent trip to HK I decided to go back to this spot and shoot while the sun was setting.

there are several options for viewing the skyline from the peak. on our last visit, we paid the extra fee for access to the SkyTerrace 428 viewing deck. this time around, I purchased a regular tram ticket [accidentally] so had to figure out another spot for shooting.

there is a free viewing deck across the plaza from the main peak building, which I settled on as my spot for the night. the main building that you walk into while exiting the tram [pictured above] boasts the highest viewing deck, but the free one offered no less of an amazing vantage point.

I set up shop next to a girl with a tripod and extremely professional-looking gear. and then I just waited for things to get dark, and had fun playing around with my various camera settings. since I was without a tripod I tried to keep my exposures less than 1/3 of a second and sort of balanced my arm on the railing.

if you find yourself in Hong Kong for any amount of time, I would absolutely recommend a trip to the peak to take in the view. though I had some unpleasant encounters on my trip to HK, this view [and the tasty tacos I had afterward] made up for it.