A stingray red curry, with young pepper, and rice, with five spiced egg (in Thai, called “Kai Pa Loh”), at 35 baht a plate, together with a cup of ice coffee - 15 baht. A meal at Au To Ko Fresh Market near Jatuchak Weekend Market, in Bangkok, with an open-air atmosphere, a meal for a change that I appreciate.
Pracob Cooparat
Soi Aree Samphan 5
Bangkok, Thailand
Friday, January 29, 2010
10:00-12:00 hrs, I lectured at the Faculty of Education, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, to a group of around 15 doctoral students majoring in Higher Education, on the topic “Leaders in Higher Education for the Digital Age.”
Picture - Dr. Pansak Polsaram, the man on the right side.
Picture - Students in the class, noticeably only one male student in the class. Dr. Pansak Polsaram was on the right side of the picture.
Picture - Students in the class
12:00-13:00 hrs, I had lunch with Dr Pansak Polsaram, a faculty member in the Faculty of Education, then rushed back home to be ready to go to Mo Chit Terminal. I was able to take the 15:40 hrs bus to Muang Surin, Surin Province. I am on the bus now, and expect to arrive at Muang Surin Bus Station at 23:00 hrs, which is not the usual time for my traveling. Though I may be at the hotel later than my usual time but I will be ok for I still have time to sleep.
My schedule during February will be quite tight and until the Mid of March 2010, then I plan to be in the United States - where I will be traveling away from New York City for at least 3 weeks. This will include my going back to universities I studied for my graduate program. These included The U of Oklahoma at Norman, the Emporia State University, Emporia- Kansas, the University of Kansas, Lawrence - Kansas, and all the places I used to study and spent my 7 years in Midwest America.
Then I will be back to Bangkok by the beginning of June 2010.
Pracob Cooparat
Soi Aree Samphan 5
BKK, Thailand
Picture - Prapaporn Boonplord
| Name (English): | Miss. Prapaporn Boonplord |
| Name (Thai): | นางสาว ประภาพร บุญปลอด |
| Address: | 3 M. 7 T.Prakkrnd Pranakhornsriauyuttaya |
|
| Auyutta 13000 , |
| Telephone: | [Home] 0-44528033 |
|
| [Mobile] 0-40382882, 0864610247 |
| E-Mail: | |
|
| praparporn@gmail.com |
| Webpage: | http://prapaporn-b.blogspot.com/ |
| Birth Date: | Jan 19, 1977 Age 33 | |
| Birth Place: | Bangkok, Thailand | |
| Marital Status: | Single | |
| Health: | Excellent | |
| Religion: | Buddhism | |
| Nationality: | Thai | |
| Hobbies: | Reading, Swimming, Internet Surfing | |
| Height/
| 179 cm., | |
- Public Relations Officer: At Surindra Rajabhat University, Surin, Thailand
- Dissemination Technical Officer : At Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation: DNP
- Instructor And Computer Technical Officer : At Business Computer Program, Faculty of Management science, Surindra Rajabhat University, Surin, Thailand
- การจัดการงานเลขานุการและธุรการด้วยคอมพิวเตอร์
(Computer Application In Secretarial Management)
- การจัดการธุรกิจด้วยคอมพิวเตอร์ (Business Management With Computer Applications)
- ระบบสารสนเทศสำหรับผู้บริหาร
(Management Information System for Managers)
- การจัดการของคงคลังด้วยคอมพิวเตอร์
(Computer Applications in Inventory Management)
- สัมมนาทางคอมพิวเตอร์ธุรกิจ
(Seminar in Computer Business)
- การเตรียมฝึกประสบการณ์วิชาชีพการบริหารธุรกิจ
(Preparation for Profession Experiences in Business Administration)
- 2003 - 2005 Master of Mass Communication Technology
Ramkhamhaeng University, Bangkok, Thailand
Major: Mass Communication Technology
G.P.A: 3.55 (Honor)
- 1994 - 1998 Bachelor of Atrs
Ramkhamhaeng University, Bangkok, Thailand
Major: Mass Communication
G.P.A.: 2.51
- 1987 - 1994 Mathayom Seuksa 6 (M.6)
Surawittyachan School , Muang District, Surin Province
Major: of Art
G.P.A.: 84%
- 1981- 1987 Prathom Seuksa 6 (P.6)
Anuban Surin School ,Muang Surin, Surin Province
G.P.A.: 82%
- Qualified as the Test Manager/Invigilator of ICDL (International Computer Driving Licence)
- Qualified as the trainer for ICDL (Passing 4 modules of ICDL – with also MS Excel)
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, internet and email applications.
- Progress Software (4thGL)
- Administration and Management
- Microsoft Office Professional
- ได้รับทุนอุดหนุนการศึกษา เป็นทุนการศึกษาในโครงการเครือข่ายเชิงกลยุทธ์เพื่อการผลิตและพัฒนาอาจารย์ในสถาบันอุดมศึกษา (Strategic scholarships Fellowships Frontier Research Network) สนับสนุนทุนตลอดระยะเวลาที่ศึกษาอยู่ในระดับปริญญาดุษฎีบัณฑิต สาขาวิชาความเป็นผู้นำและการบริหารการศึกษา มหาวิทยาลัยราชภัฏสุรินทร์
Awarded a scholarship with the “Strategic Scholarship/Fellowhips Frontier Research Network” toward studying for a doctoral program in Educational Leadership and Administration at Surindra Rajabhat University (SRRU), the Office of Higher Education Commission, Ministry of Education, Thailand
During next 12 months, she will be working on the following academic plan under the supervision of Asso Prof Dr. Pracob Cooparat, director of the Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership and Administration:
1. Need to pass the CU-TEP at 500 scores, or Password 5.0 prior to going abroad, need experiences in working with English speaking associates.
2. Assigned as the volunteer for “the South E-san Society”, in collaboration with the SpringBoard For Asia Foundation
3. Internship in Educational Leadership and Administration focusing on the Staff Development and International Collaboration for Higher Education Development in Thailand (2-3 months) with an institution with collaboration with the SpringBoard For Asia Foundation (SB4AF)
4. Working on a dissertation proposal on, “Toward Internationalization of Rajabhat Universities in Thailand.” To be submitted at the end of Academic Year 2009
5. With possible on the job training with scholars or professionals in the related fields in the United Kingdom”
- • นักวิจัยเรื่อง “อินเทอร์เน็ต : เทคโนโลยีการสื่อสารเพื่อการพัฒนาโรงเรียน”
Research experiences: “Internet and Information and Communication Technology for Schools”
- หัวหน้าคณะวิจัยเรื่อง “ข้อเสนอเชิงยุทธศาสตร์เพื่อพัฒนาคณะวิทยาการจัดการมหาวิทยาลัยราชภัฏสุรินทร์”
Head of research group on, “Strategies for the Development of the Faculty of Management Sciences, Surindra Rajabhat University (SRRU),
Picture SIFF performing art at Surindra Rajabhat University (SRRU)
Picture SIFF performing art at Surindra Rajabhat University (SRRU)
Dear Son
in NYC, USA
Last night, I just came back from Surin and arrived home around 23:30 hrs. I went to bed right away. Mom just came back from her trip to Udon Thani province in the upper northeast region, by plane and got an airport limousine from Suvarnabhumi Airport back home. She arrived home not much earlier than me.
During Sunday and Monday, it was quite a 2 tiring days at Surindra Rajabhat University (SRRU), for I had to do the editing for 7 of my students’ presentation in English during the SIFF International Festival at SRRU.
On Sunday, it took me from 9:00 am in the morning till 16:30 hrs in the afternoon. Then I went back to the hotel, and spent 6 hours of writing my own essay presentation of 6 pages to be delivered on Monday.
On Monday, I presented my paper in the morning. In the afternoon, I had to chair a meeting to decide the Qualifying Examination results of 6 doctoral students, of my class. I had only 4 hours of sleep during the night before, so in the afternoon, I was very tired. Thanks god, everything was going on fine. I am alive, no heart attack – just plain tired. It was tiring but fruitful. I usually was not this busy, but when the situation required, I could still be focused and did my job effectively.
I did not have much energy left to participate effectively in the Fifth SIFF Festival at Surindra Rajabhat University. There were hundreds of professors and students from various parts of the world coming to SRRU to participate in the SIFF (Surin International Folklore Festival) during January 14-24, 2010. I regreted that I could not participate in the event much more for I was so exhausted, and had to come back to Bangkok to do my other things.
Dr. Michael Stanner a friend of mine, a distinguished biologist, himself coordinated to bring 31 young performers and teachers from Israel to participate in the event. I told him to take a lot of photograph and then I will spend the time with some of my students to do the writing to share information about arts and culture. Next year, I will plan in advance to help supervise the academic professors and graduate students to present their papers at this Annual International Festival.
The Festival was amazing for a mid-sized university like Surindra Rajabhat University (about 7000 enrollments, in the town of 40,000 people) to really be able to host the distinguished festival like SIFF. There were professors, students in arts and culture from so many nations in the world like - Lao PDR, Cambodia, Taiwan, Vietnam, Finland, Lithuania, Italy, Srilanka, India including Thai Ahom from India, China, Philippines, Cameroon, Israel,
You can look at the pictures and some explanation in Thai from http://www.srru.ac.th/org/siff/
On Monday after finishing my assignment, at 16:30 hrs, I took a first class air-conditioned bus from Muang Surin and it took about 6 hours and 40 minutes to get to Mo Chit Bus Terminal in Bangkok.
On Tuesday, after 6 hours of deep sleep, I woke up fresh and ready to do something else.
Picture - Beginning with a big glass of blended karrot with added fresh milk
Picture - Papaya, colorful yellow red, and delicious
Picture - A plate of scrambled eggs from 2 fresh eggs on top of an unsalted piece of ham, and topped with ketchup, artistically spread by me
Picture - Finish with a cup of coffee with milk, with no sugar
Picture - My breakfast as usual - but through my eyes of a very good mood
Breakfast – 2 scrambled eggs, on the top of a piece of unsalted ham, and topped with colorful red ketchup. No bread.
The meal was cooked by Uan, our local domestic helper
Consumer – Dad
Mom – just skip usual breakfast, and had a cup of black coffee, no sugar.
Palm - still a sleeper
Temperature - 25 c, perfect, what a wonderful morning
After our breakfast, I, mom, and Na Chan would go to visit our land site at Samut Prakan Province, just 40 km from our home at Aree Samphan in Bangkok.
If you got my letter, it may be your coming night time. So good night son.
Dad at Home
Aree Samphan
Bangkok, Thailand
Dear Son
in NYC, USA
On Sunday, January 17, 2010, in front of Pechkasem Hotel, Muang Surin, Surin Province, while I was about to have my quick dinner with Aj Thaworn Porsom, a doctoral student at Surindra Rajabhat Universiry (SRRU), we met one of our frequent visitors who would like to have a dinner. Unfortunately, he/she was too big to get into the restaurant. He/she may have a home at the Elephant Village, about one hour drive from our hotel in Muang Surin.
Picture - A young elephant in front of Pechkasem Hotel, Muang District, Surin Province
When you come to Thailand, we may go to visit our big friends at their home, the Elephant Village at Ban Ta Klang, Surin Province.
This elephant village at Ban Ta Klang on Highway No. 214 (Chom Phra-Ta Tum) can be reached by going to Km. 36 and left for 22 kilometers. The locals here are called the Suai people. They are skilled in capturing, training and raising elephants. An elephant museum here displays a complete elephant skeleton, its organs, tools used to capture elephants, elephant-raising techniques, and the history and development of Surin elephants.
Have a good time in New York, while I and mom will have a good morning in Thailand.
Dad at Home
Aree Samphan
Bangkok, Thailand
Picture - Varanus salvator Michael Stanner
Dear friends I am writing this message in an internet cafe in Khon Kaen. In a few days I shall be back in the Surin Rajabhat University (SRRU), and later on - in Bangkok and finally back in Israel. Michael Stanner
Several days ago I was fortunate to have a unique (so I think) observation on the feeding behavior of Varanus salvator in the Lumpini Park in Bangkok. The monitor (ca. 140 cm total length + probably another 10 cm of missing tail-tip) was engaged in eating a ca. 40 cm suckermouth catfish (see below).
Picture - Suckermouth catfish
I always thought that just like snakes, monitor lizards always swallow their prey wholly, and for that purpose they are also equipped with cranial-kinetic capabilities - less developed than in snakes, but more developed than in other lizards. At first the monitor tore a hole in the skin and bore its head into the body like a vulture eating softer inner parts. Then it ripped the body with its jaws using its forefeet for assistance, eating smaller chunks of meat at a time - just like mammalian carnivores. After that it succeeded in severing the vertebrae column and separated the hind part of the body (ca. 10 cm + the tail fin) and swallowed it wholly in an anterior-posterior orientation in less than one minute. All in all, it was quite impressive - I don't think that I could cut off the hind part of the body without an ax or a big knife. What was left of the fish at the end of the meal was most of the head, especially the dorsal part of it that is particularly hard and covered with bony shields, and about 10 cm of the anterior spinal cord that remained attached to the head. After that the monitor left the fish, defecated and started with a typical varanid foraging behavior activity for ca. 5 min eating smaller chunks of meat and other leftovers that were scattered in the immediate vicinity, and then dived into the Khlong (water canal) and disappeared in the water. The observation lasted more than an hour and I carried it out from a distance of 3-4 m. The monitor usually ignored me completely, nevertheless it seemed that my presence did create a minor disturbance - once in a while it stopped eating and observed me and the surroundings motionless for 5-30 sec, and then resumed eating. Twice it moved 3-5 m away from me trying to continue with the eating activity behind vegetation and a fence. I recorded all the details in my notebook, as well as took several pictures and short videos. In terms of varanid feeding behavior, it was indeed a very interesting and enlightening observation, and that in spite of the fact that it is well known that Varanus komodoensis occasionally preys on domestic and feral cattle and water buffaloes that obviously cannot be swallowed wholly, but I have always tended to treat Varanus komodoensis as a category of its own somewhat detached from other varanids. I have never seen such a behavior in Varanus griseus, but I can't rule it out. Morphologically I see no reason why Varanus griseus (or other medium-sized varanids that are strong enough) would not use such prey-handling techniques. In that respect, if I remember correctly, unlike snakes whose teeth are posteriorily curved, conical and round in transverse-section, hence - adapted only for holding the prey in place and preventing it from sliding out of the mouth during the process of swallowing, Varanus teeth are laterally compressed and serrated, hence - adapted also for cutting and tearing off pieces of the prey. After my return to Israel I intend to check it out again, either in the literature and/or under the binocular. Later on that day I learned that the fish was a suckermouth catfish - probably Hypostomus plecostomus, but I am still not sure of the exact identification because there might be more than one species in Thailand.
Suckermouth catfish is actually an introduced omnivorous fish from South America that causes havoc in local Thai ecosystems. It was introduced to Thailand as a cleaning (janitor) fish for aquaria for easing the lives of aquarium owners and sparing them the nuisance involved in cleaning the aquarium. When the fish grew and became too big they released it in local fresh water ecosystems (water canals, ponds, swamps, rivers, etc.) and in a few years it succeeded to spread all over Thailand eating fish-eggs (including eggs of commercially-important fish). Surprisingly, Thais that will readily eat anything that moves, don't eat suckermouth catfish claiming that its flesh is not tasty. If that's so, it is even more interesting, because (as you already know) Varanus salvator, which is by far the most loathed animal in Thailand may now have a chance to change its negative image, become the main biological controller of suckermouth catfish, and thus - become the saver of the Thai fresh-water ecosystems.
All the best and cheers - Michael.
P.S. If you conclude from my emails that I have a lot of free time, you are right - never had so much of it.
Picture - Suckermouth Catfish
|
Picture - Barber Chair
Pracob Cooparat
E-mail: pracob@sb4af.org
One evening while I was in Surin, Surin Province, I was free enough to have time to find some place to have my haircut. The bellboy at the hotel advised me there was a barbershop not very far from the hotel. So I did according to his advice, walked about 200 meters from the hotel and I really found a barbershop. It was dark then, and I was a bit worried whether the barbershop was still opened.
I went into the shop, which was opened. The women in the shop greeted me before I said any words, “Hi, darling”. She spoke in English, and I was a little bit surprise with the kind of welcoming words. Then I asked her in Thai, “Whether the shop is still opened?”. She exclaimed in Thai, “Oh my god,” and at the same time, she slapped at my shoulder very hard. She said she thought I was a “farang”. A farang (Thai: ฝรั่ง) is the generic Thai word for a foreigner of European ancestry. For some black Americans, Thais may call them “Black Farang”. Generally farang is a neutral word. While I walked at night in Muang Surin, the Samlor (Tricycle drivers) always mistakenly called me in English, “Hey, you”, for they thought I was a farang, for my size of 1.83 metre tall, and with white hair, and did not see my complexion clearly, or may be they were drunk at the night time.
The lady barber still had a lot of laughter for her surprise and mistaken me as a farang. I sat at the barber chair, and let her do the haircut. Noticeably, she was in good mood and talked quite a bit. I told her I want “medium cut” not too short and not too long. During the hair cutting, she told me about herself and her past background, that she was a Cambodian born in Phnom Penh, during the Vietnam War, she as a refugee fled across the Thai border.
After using the electric hair cutter trimming my hair on my left side of the head, she said, “Forgive me, for I was drunk today.” Her neighbors gave her free feast for the Children Day, with liquor she could not refuse. I began to realize that she was really drunk, but it was too late for me to go anywhere for the hair cutting was going on. I comforted my self that even she was drunk but with 20 years of experiences in the business, my hair cutting should be OK.
She told me furthermore, then 20 years back, during the time Cambodia was under the ruling of Pol Pot government and the Khmer Rouge, she learned man-hair cutting from the refugee camp, and that was a good place for practicing, for there were a lot of Thai soldiers as well as refugees in the camp. She showed me the price she got from her instructor for being the first in her class of Hair Cutting Skills, it was a pair of scissors, which is quite old and rusty, but definitely, it should be a good pride for her.
She settled down in Muang Surin and had her own small barber shop. Her business used to be more active, but now her employees, fellow female haircutters were all gone, got married with farangs, and gone abroad. So now she was the only one barber in the shop. Telling her experiences in the barber shop business, I felt a little bit better, though some time she was still blurred, couldn’t find her scissors she just used a moment ago.
I was right, she could do her job even she was still drunk. I told her that just cutting is OK, “I usually did not need shaving for I will usually do it at home.” It was my pre-cautionary routine to avoid risks of contacting HIVs, for not requesting any shaving at any barber shop. Furthermore, when the barber was drunk, it will not be a good time to have shaving with sharp razor.
Picture - Pracob Cooparat
You looked at my picture after the haircut. Not bad. Isn't it? The cost of haircut was 60 baht, I tipped her another 40 baht for I was not injured in the process, and came out of the shop safe and satisfied.
The picture you see is the one I took while did some minor shopping at a 7-Eleven convenient store in Muang Surin. I did put some jel to make my hair more controlled, but make me look more old-fashioned, like my father about 50 years ago.
The followings are some of the family brainstorming:
Efficiency
Food at the cost of HKD 50 around Crossway Bay, the most expensive places
Fast, speed
Serving food
Hotel reception
Transportation
Infra-Structure
- HKIA
- MTR
- Hong Kong trams
- Airport Express
- Taxis
- Street for vehicles
Walkways for people
Have less crossroads for people to walk
You are likely to walk under or over the streets
Diversity
Under the principle of "one country, two systems", Hong Kong runs on economic and political systems different from those of mainland China.[11] Hong Kong is one of the world's leading international financial centres, with a major capitalist service economy characterised by low taxation, free trade and minimum government intervention under the ethos of positive non-interventionism.[12] The Hong Kong dollar is the 9th most traded currency in the world.[13]
Under the British Rules
Hong Kong's independent judiciary functions under the common law framework.[14] Its political system is governed by the Basic Law of Hong Kong, its constitutional document. It has a burgeoning multi-party system, and its legislature is partly elected through universal suffrage. The Chief Executive of Hong Kong is the head of government.[15]
Vertical
Double decked buses
Double decked trams
High rise buildings
Oriental Democracy
One country, two system - Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao Chinaization - trilingual vs internationalization Commercialization - Macao, Hong Kong Disney World, Low cost - hkd 70 per day for room, hkd 12 per meal Cleanliness
Infrastructure- bridging between buildings, less pedestrian walks, airport, MTR, ferry, tramps, one-stop non-stop Good governance - anti corruption, good education, bearable conflict, democratization,
Pracob Cooparat
134 Soi Aree Samphan 5
Phaholyothin Rd
Bangkok, Thailand 10400
Hong Kong has a highly developed and sophisticated transport network, encompassing both public and private transport. Over 90% of the daily journeys are on public transport, making it the highest rate in the world.[1]
Picture - Octopus card
Since 1997, an electronic money system, namely the Octopus card, has been introduced to provide an alternative to the traditional banknotes and coins. Available for purchase in every station of the Mass Transit Railway system, the Octopus card is now a means of payment for not only public transport (such as trains, buses, trams, ferries and minibuses), but also widely used at parking meters, convenience stores, supermarkets, fast-food restaurants, and some vending machines. (Wikipedia, 2009)
Notes: There should be a coordinated plan for Bangkok to integrate all mass transport system - all lines of mass rapid transit system, buses, microbuses to facililate Bangkokians to commuting daily with less use of personal cars.
Escalators and moving pavements
Picture - Central-Mid-Levels escalator
The differences between Hong Kong and other global cities like New York, Londaon, or Paris, are that Hong Kong is noticeably dominated by steep, hilly terrain, which required the development of unusual methods of transport up and down the slopes. In Central and Western district, there is an extensive system of zero-fare escalators and moving pavements.
The Mid-levels Escalator is the longest outdoor covered escalator system in the world,[2] operating downhill until 10 am for commuters going to work, and then operating uphill until midnight.[3]
The Mid-levels Escalator consists of 20 escalators and 3 moving pavements. It is 800 metres long,[4] and climbs 135 vertical metres.[5] Total travel time is approximately 25 minutes,[2] but most people walk while the escalator moves to shorten the travel time. Due to its vertical climb, the same distance is equivalent to several miles of zigzagging roads if travelled by car. Daily traffic exceeds 35,000 people. It has been operating since 1993 and cost HK$ 240 million (USD $30 million) to build.
A second Mid-Levels escalator set is planned in Sai Ying Pun.
Rail Transport
There are two kinds of rail transport in Hong Kong - one is between Hong Kong and other cities, and the other is the internal rail system of Hong Kong.
Picture - Beijing-Kowloon Through Train, hauled by
a SS8 electric locomotive, passing through
Tai Po Market Station in Hong Kong
Picture - A train at Tai Wai Station of the MTR East Rail Line
MTR
Hong Kong has an extensive train network. Public transport trains are operated by the MTR Corporation Limited. The MTR operates the metro network within inner urban Hong Kong, Kowloon Peninsula and northern part of Hong Kong Island with newly developed areas, Tsuen Wan, Tseung Kwan O, Tung Chung, Hong Kong Disneyland, the Hong Kong International Airport, the northeastern and northwestern parts of the New Territories. The Hong Kong Tramways operates a tram service exclusively on northern Hong Kong Island. The Peak Tram connects Central, Hong Kong's central business district, with the Victoria Peak.
Notes: MTR in Hong Kong is not as large as the Subway of New York City (MTA), but they can serve the comparable size of population, when integrated with other means of transporation - buses, light rails, light buses, taxis, etc.
Picture - MTR or Hong Kong subway during rush hours
Picture - Natti on the MTR
Picture - Pracob on the MTR, working on the
There are all together ten lines in the MTR system, with a total of 83 railway stations and 68 light rail stops. The ten lines are East Rail Line, Kwun Tong Line, Tsuen Wan Line, Island Line, Tung Chung Line, Tseung Kwan O Line, West Rail Line, Ma On Shan Line, the Airport Express and the Disneyland Resort Line. Eight of the lines provide ordinary metro services, whereas the Airport Express provides a direct link from the Hong Kong International Airport into the city centre, while the Disneyland Resort Line exclusively takes passengers to Hong Kong Disneyland.
Picture - Light Rail in Hong Kong, looks more like a tram.
The Light Rail possesses many characteristics of a tramway, including running on streets with other traffic (at grades) on some of its tracks and providing services for the public in New Territories West, including Tuen Mun and Yuen Long.
All trains and most MTR stations are air conditioned.
Tram Ways
Picture - Hong Kong Tramways, double deckers
The Hong Kong Tramways is the tram (streetcar) system run exclusively with double deckers.[6] The electric tram system was proposed in 1881;[7] however nobody was willing to invest in a system at the time. In August 1901, the Second Tramway Bill was introduced and passed into law as the 1902 Tramway Ordinance. Hong Kong Tramway Electric Company Limited, a British company, was authorised to take the responsibilities in construction and daily operation. In 1904, the tram system first got into service. It was soon taken over by another company, Electric Tranction Company of Hong Kong Limited and then the name was changed to Hong Kong Tramways Company Limited in 1910.
The rail system is 13 kilometres (8.1 miles) long,[8] with a total track length of 30 km (18.6 miles),[9] and it runs together with other vehicles on the street. Its operation relies on the 550V direct current (d.c.) from the overhead cables, on 3'6" gauge (1067 mm) tracks. The trams provide service to only parts of Hong Kong Island: they run on a double track along the northern coast of Hong Kong Island from Kennedy Town to Shau Kei Wan, with a single clockwise-running track of about 3 kilometres (1.9 miles) around Happy Valley Racecourse.
Funicular railways
Picture - Peak Tram in Hong Kong
The Peak Tram is a funicular railway service which was inaugurated in 1888. It carries both tourists and residents to the upper levels of Hong Kong Island. It provides the most direct route to Victoria Peak and offers scenic views over Victoria Harbour and the skyscrapers of Hong Kong.
Picture - A view of Hong Kong at night, from Victoria Peak
(High definition downloaded from Wikipeida)
Airport people-mover system
Picture - The Kong Kong International Airport (HKIA)
Picture - Hong Kong International Airport Automated People Mover
The Hong Kong International Airport Automated People Mover is a driverless people-mover system located within the Hong Kong International Airport in Chek Lap Kok. It operates in two "segments". For departures, the train runs from Terminal 2 to the East Hall to the West Hall. For arrivals, the train runs only from the West Hall to the East Hall, where all passengers must disembark for immigration, customs, and baggage claim. Operation of the first segment was commenced in 1998, and the operation of the second segment was commenced in early 2007.
Border-crossing trains
Inter-city train services crossing the Hong Kong-China border (often known as through trains) are jointly operated by Hong Kong's MTR Corporation and the Ministry of Railways of the People's Republic of China. Currently, Hung Hom Station (formerly known as Kowloon Station in Hong Kong, and Jiulong Station in China) is the only station in Hong Kong where passenger can catch these border-crossing trains. Passengers have to go through immigration and custom inspections before boarding a border-crossing train. There are currently three border-crossing train services:
Between Hong Kong and Beijing (Beijing-Kowloon Through Train)
Between Hong Kong and Shanghai (Shanghai-Kowloon Through Train)
Between Hong Kong and Guangzhou (Guangzhou-Kowloon Through Train)
A new border-crossing service, namely the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, has been proposed. A new train station, West Kowloon Terminus, will be built in Hong Kong to be served by this new railway.
Picture - Bus lane in Hong Kong
Road transport
Buses
Picture - A low-floor double-decker bus with wheelchair accessibility
Bus services have a long history in Hong Kong. In 2009, five companies operate franchised public bus services. There are also a variety of non-franchised public buses services, including feeder bus services to railway stations operated by the railway companies, and residents' services for residential estates (particularly those in the New Territories).
Founded in 1933, the Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Limited (KMB) is one of the largest privately-owned public bus operators in the world.[10] KMB's fleet consist of about 4,300 buses on 420 routes and a staff of over 13,000 people. In 1979, Citybus began its operation in Hong Kong with one double-decker, providing shuttle service for the Hong Kong dockyard. It later expanded into operating a residential bus route between City One, Shatin and Kowloon Tong MTR station. New World First Bus Services Limited was established in 1998, taking over China Motor Bus's franchise to provide bus services on Hong Kong Island together with Citybus. NWFB's owner company later bought Citybus, but the two companies have basically been operating independently.Public light buses
Picture - Public light bus
Public light buses (小巴) (widely referred to as minibuses, or sometimes maxicabs, a de facto share taxi) run the length and breadth of Hong Kong, through areas which the standard bus lines can not or do not reach as frequently, quickly or directly. Minibuses carry a maximum of 16 passengers; no standees are allowed.
The Hong Kong Transport Department (HKTD) allows and licenses the operation of two types of public light buses - (1) green minibuses that have route numbers, stop at designated stops (many routes have hail and ride sections along which passengers can board and exit anywhere unless it's a no-stopping zone) and whom have their fares, service and frequency regulated by the HKTD; and (2) red minibuses that may or may not have regular routes, may or may not be numbered, may or may not have fixed stops and whose fares and service levels are not regulated by HKTD.[11]
Red minibuses do often provide more convenient supplementary transport for riders not served by green minibuses or other public buses, and are thus quite popular. Where green minibus drivers are paid fixed wages to drive their routes, red minibus drivers often rely on their pick-up fares for a living and thus are often seen to be more aggressive drivers. The prevalence of aggressive driving has resulted in the HKTD making it mandatory for Hong Kong minibuses to be equipped with large read-out speedometers which allow passengers to track the speed at which minibus drivers operate. Currently, if minibuses exceed 80 km/h, the speedometer will sound an audible warning signal (begin beeping) to the driver and passengers. If the minibus exceeds 100 km/h, the beeping will turn into a sustained tone. However, it is almost without exception that this warning signal is ignored by both the driver and passengers.
The HKTD has also regulated, after a series of minibus accidents, that all new minibuses brought into service after August 2005 must have safety belts installed, and riders must use safety belts when there is one.
Taxi
As of April 2005, there were 18,138 taxis in Hong Kong, operating in three distinct (but slightly overlapping) geographical areas, and distinguished by their colour. Of these, 15,250 are red urban taxis, 2,838 green New Territories taxis, and 50 blue Lantau taxis.[12] Every day, they serve 1.1 million, 207,900, and 1,400 passengers respectively. Taxis carry an average of one million passengers each day, occupying about 12% of the daily patronage carried by all modes of public transport in Hong Kong.
Most of the taxis in Hong Kong run on LPG (liquified petroleum gas) to reduce emissions. In August 2000 a one-off cash grant was paid to taxi owners who replaced their diesel taxi with an LPG one. Since August 2001, all newly purchased taxis run on LPG. By the end of 2003, over 99.8% of the taxi fleet in Hong Kong ran on LPG.[13]
Taxi fares are charged according to the taximeter; however, additional charges on the fare table may apply, such as road tolls and luggage fees. Urban taxis are the most expensive, while Lantau taxis are the cheapest. The standard of service among different kinds of taxis is mostly the same. The reason for having three types of taxis is to ensure service availability in less populated regions, as running in the urban centre is considered to be more profitable.
Private Cars
There are 517,000 cars licensed in Hong Kong, 64% of which are privately owned. As of 2003 the US Department of State reports that there are 523,767 licensed vehicles in Hong Kong and about 1,911 kilometres of roads, or 274 vehicles per kilometre of road. In terms of private car ownership, the number of cars per capita is half that of Singapore and one-third that of Taiwan. Private cars are most popular in newly developed areas such as Lantau and areas near the boundary with mainland China, as there are fewer public transportation options, and more parking spaces compared to other areas of Hong Kong.
Most cars are right hand drive models, from Japanese or European manufacturers. Hong Kong does not allow left hand drive vehicles to be primarily registered in Hong Kong. However, Hong Kong registered vehicles may apply for secondary mainland Chinese registration plates, and these can be driven across the border to mainland China; likewise, left-hand drive cars seen in Hong Kong are usually primarily registered in mainland China and carry supplementary Hong Kong registration plates.
Cars are subjected to a first-time registration tax, which varies from 35% to over 100%, based on the size and value of the car. The level of vehicle taxation was increased by a law passed on 2 June 1982 to discourage private car ownership,[14] and also as an incentive to buy smaller, more efficient cars, as these have less tax levied on them. First-time registration tax was doubled, annual licensing fees were increased by 300%, and $0.7 duty was imposed on each litre of on light oils.[15]
In addition to the heavy traffic at times, parking may be problematic. Due to high urban density, there are not many filling stations; Petrol in Hong Kong averages around US$1.55 per litre, of which over half the cost is taxes.[16] It was suggested in the news that that the government had deliberately impeded the use of new environmentally friendly diesel engines by allowing only light goods vehicles to be fuelled by diesel. While it cannot be determined why exactly the government does not allow private cars to be fuelled by diesel, it has been pointed out that the government does receive a tax that is 150% of the actual fuel cost. This is mostly to discourage car ownership for environmental reasons.[17]
There is a waiting list for local driving tests, while a full (private car) driving licence valid for 10 years costs around US$115. Residents of Hong Kong holding licences issued by other Chinese authorities and some foreign countries can get a Hong Kong driving licence exempt from tests if they can adequately show that they obtained their licence while residing in the place concerned (common proofs are school transcripts or employer's documentation). Some private car owners, known as white card drivers, provide a taxi service for a nominal fee.
Ferries
Picture - Cotai Jet sailing between Hong Kong and Macau
Picture - TurboJET's Jetfoil (model Boeing 929)
Picture - The cruise-ship pier at Ocean Terminal
is also a port of entry to Hong Kong.
Picture - Tsim Sha Tsui Pier, a pier for Star Ferry services
Gondola lift
Picture - Gondola Lift in Hong Kong
There are two gondola lift systems in Hong Kong:
Ocean Park, Hong Kong Island - A 1.5 km in-park cable car system between Nam Long Shan Headland and Wong Chuk Hang, opened in 1977.
Ngong Ping Cable Car on Lantau Island, a 5.7 km cableway between Tung Chung MTR station and Ngong Ping Terminal near Po Lin Monastery, opened on 18 September 2006.
Ports and harbours
Picture - the port of Hong Kong
The port of Hong Kong has always been a key factor in the development and prosperity of the special administrative region, which is strategically located on the Far East trade routes and is in the geographical centre of the fast-developing Asia-Pacific Basin. The sheltered harbour provides good access and a safe haven for vessels calling at the port from around the world. In terms of tonnage of shipping using its facilities, cargo handled and the number of passengers carried, Hong Kong is undoubtedly one of the major ports of the world.
The Victoria Harbour is one of the busiest ports in the world.[18] An average of 220,000 ships visit the harbour each year, including both oceanliners and river vessels, for both goods and passengers. The container port in Hong Kong is one of the busiest in the world.[19] The Kwai Chung Terminal operates 24 hours a day. Together with other facilities in Victoria Harbour, they handled more than 20 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) in 2005.[20] Some 400 container liners serve Hong Kong weekly, connecting to over 500 destinations around the world.
Hong Kong has a fully active international airport. The famous former Kai Tak International Airport retired in favour of the recently constructed Hong Kong International Airport, also known as Chek Lap Kok International Airport. The airport now serves as a transport hub for East Asia, and as the hub for Cathay Pacific Airways, Dragonair, Hong Kong Express, Hong Kong Airlines (former CR Airways), and Air Hong Kong. Ferry services link the airport with several piers in Pearl River Delta, where immigrations and customs are exempted.
As of March 2009, the airport is the third busiest airport for passenger traffic,[21] and second busiest airport for cargo traffic in the world.[22] It is popular with travellers — from 2001 to 2005 and 2007-2008 Hong Kong International Airport has been voted the World's Best Airport in an annual survey of several million passengers worldwide by Skytrax.
According to the Guinness World Records, the passenger terminal of the HKIA was the world's largest airport terminal upon opening, and is at present the world's third largest airport terminal building, with a covered area of 550,000 m² and recently increased to 570,000 m².[23] The Airport Core Programme was the most expensive airport project in the world.[24]
Shek Kong Airfield, located near Yuen Long, is a military airfield for the People's Liberation Army, which is of limited operating capabilities due to surrounding terrains. The only aircraft operating on the airfield are PLA's Z-9 helicopters, which is the license-built version of the Eurocopter Dauphin.
Heliports
Picture - Heliport at the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal
Hong Kong has three heliports. Shun Tak Heliport (ICAO: VHST) is located in the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal, by the Shun Tak Centre, in Sheung Wan, on Hong Kong Island. Another is located in Southwest Kowloon, near Kowloon station. The other is located inside Hong Kong International Airport.
Heli Express operates regular helicopter service between Macao Heliport (ICAO:VMMH) on the Macau Ferry Terminal in Macau and the Shun Tak Helipot. There are around 16 flights daily. Flights take approximately 20 minutes in the eight-seater aircraft.
There are also a number of helipads across the territory, including the roof of the Peninsula Hotel (which is the only rooftop helipad in the territory, excluding the rooftop heliport of Shun Tak Centre and those in hospitals) and Cheung Chau Island, between Tung Wan Beach and Kwun Yam Beach.
Highways
There are a total of 1,831 km of paved highways in Hong Kong. These roads are built to British standards with maximum of three lanes with hard shoulders.
There are 9 roads classified as highways in Hong Kong and re-numbered from 1 to 9 in 2004. Route 1 to 3 are in north-south direction and crossing three Cross-Harbour Tunnels while others are in east-west direction:
CCTV Cameras
There are 120 CCTV cameras monitoring traffic on these highways and connecting roads which is available on demand (now TV) and on Transport Department's Website.
Highways in Hong Kong use two types of barrier system for divided highways. Older roads use metal guard rails and newer roads use the British Concrete step barrier.
All signage on highways and roads in Hong Kong are bilingual (traditional Chinese below and English above). Street signs use black text on a white background. Highway and directional signage are white lettering on blue or green background.
Bus lanes
A bus lane on Gloucester Road in Wan Chai, with the words "bus lane" painted in English and "巴士綫" in Chinese
There are approximately 22 km of bus priority lanes in Hong Kong.
Bridges and tunnels
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Picture - Tsing Ma Bridge, part of Route 8,
is the world's longest rail and road suspension bridges.
Picture - Kap Shui Mun Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge
connecting Ma Wan and Lantau Island, and is also part of Route 8.
There are 15 vehicular tunnels (3 currently under construction) in Hong Kong. They include three cross-harbour tunnels and nine road tunnels.
Picture - The entrance of the Cross-Harbour Tunnel,
which is part of Route 1, in Hung Hom, Kowloon
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