Travel Photography Blog by Nisa Maier and Ulli Maier. » Camping

The Umbrella Movement In Hong Kong: We Were There.

Nisa — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 11:51:03 +0000

Of course we knew about the Hong Kong protests when booking our flight, yet our main agenda for the trip was to document as many (wet) markets as possible. The Umbrella Movement was not at the top of our priority list. It was actually by accident that we found ourselves in the centre of a large group gathering on 26 October 2014.

How it all started.

The Hong Kong protests (or Umbrella Movement) began in September 2014. Activists protested outside the Hong Kong Government headquarters and occupied several major city intersections. The reason for this was because of China’s Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress decision on the proposed election forms, which states that a committee out of 1.200 people would elect two to three electoral candidates before the general public could vote on them.

The Hong Kong Federation of Students, lead by Joshua Wong started protesting against this decision on 22 September. Their demand: A full democracy; protesters want the right to nominate and directly elect the head of the Hong Kong government.

My Encounter With The Protests.

We arrived in Hong Kong at the end of October, and even though things have calmed down a bit, major streets were still occupied. We got to realize this immediately, since on the way from the airport to the city, the bus had to take a detour due to the fact that Nathan Road up in Monk Kok was occupied by protesters who camped in the middle of the street.

As Monk Kok is one of the best areas to explore (Goldfish street, Bird market, etc.), it didn’t take long to experience it with our own eyes. On the other hand, we were suddenly right in the centre of a huge gathering on Hong Kong Island; Admiralty to be precise. Let the photos below speak for themselves…

A large encampment of Umbrella Movement protesters in Hong Kong’s Admiralty district, home to the city’s main government offices.

The protesters use umbrellas to protect themselves from police pepper spray. The umbrellas became a symbol of the movement and gave it its nickname.

It’s hard to believe for how long the Umbrella Movement protesters have barricaded themselves in the financial district of Hong Kong.

A four character sign saying “In the light of honesty” becomes part of a barricade in Admiralty, Hong Kong.

On the mainland, Mong Kok district is the area where protesters have set up their camps.

Nathan Road in Mong Kok has become home to the protesters of the Umbrella Movement.

The Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong entered a new phase as police took assertive action to clear protests camps in the Mong Kok district.

Protesters of the Umbrella Movement cut off traffic in Mong Kok with rubbish bins.

The camsites of the Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong have also become a major tourist attraction…

Some Q & A’s.

Why the umbrellas?

The protesters use umbrellas to protect themselves from police pepper spray. The umbrellas became a symbol of the movement and gave it its nickname.

Does everyone in Hong Kong support this movement?

No. Especially the older generation is actively opposed to the protests because they are afraid of antagonizing China.

Why doesn’t China just let Hong Kong have more freedom?

The Communist Party insists on maintaining political control of Hong Kong. It isn’t about to let the most international city choose its own leader. In case an opponent of the Communist Party gets elected, this person might become an advertisement to the rest of China and the possibility of a democratic change is not on their agenda at all.

What happens next?

Nobody really knows for sure. But one thing is certain: Hong Kong’s democratic movement has only just started. The Umbrella Movement has morphed into a defining generational moment, and the impact will be felt even stronger in 2027 than in today.

Travelling Through Africa In The Early 70’s.

Ulli — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 10:44:32 +0000

If you’ve read our “About Us” page, you might have seen that we have been travelling the world for quite some time. Ulli: “Since I have been travelling from the early 70’s, when all those modern gadgets were not yet invented, travelling overland through remote and unexplored regions of the black continent was a privilege for only a hand full of people. Today a lot of regions that I explored by 4×4 truck with the simple method of a compass and map, are no longer accessible, at least not without an unease feeling. Back then, with Nisa in tow, the little white girl opened doors to the grimmest police officer just with her smile.”

I would now like to show you a couple of photos of these Africa-adventures. I think it’s really fascinating to see the difference to our travels today…even though we’re still as adventurous & crazy.

Travelling through the Congo was a real adventure (Baby Nisa in tow).

Fishermen pulling in the catch near Lome in Togo.

An approaching sand storm in the Sahara desert, Niger.

Pygmees in the Ituri Forest in the Congo.

Working conditions at Apapa harbour in Laos, Nigeria.

A bunch of kids in Rwanda.

Little Nisa & and an African boy in the Sudan.

Black & white kids kissing in the Sudan – this is our most viewed picture by the way…

This crowd in Morocco wanted to be photographed really badly :)

That’s what I call “being stuck in the mud” at Lake Magadi in Kenya.

Camping in the middle of the Sahara desert in the Sudan (again with baby Nisa in the picture).

Our companion while travelling through Africa was an Unimog truck.

Wild animals in Kenya, Africa.

Masai boys posing for us in Kenya, Africa.

On our first journey through Africa, we went with an old Graef & Stift truck.

Travelling through the Serengeti in Africa.

The Unimog was a great car for travelling Africa back in the days. Here we are in the Kalahari desert.

Camping In The Sahara Desert Of Sudan, Africa.

Nisa — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 08:11:02 +0000

The biggest camp ground in the world with no neighbours in a 500km radius (approx. 5 days in each direction), no GPS and SAT phones invented those days (1987), you had to be smart and witty to find your way. We crossed the Egypt-Sudan border illegally, here it was the first night stop after driving non-stop for the whole day, not to be caught by border patrols. The motorbikes always checked faster upon the route, we waited together every 10km and I was responsible for the right direction.

Camping in the middle of the Sahara desert back in the early 70s.