Where Dreams Begin

For many, the airport is the place where their samples or finished products are taken to their customers, where they send their children abroad for studies or where they welcome their customers or clients or the return of their family BA's. BSC's, MA's, MBA's or PhD's . For me, it's the place where I could briefly leave behind all my files and all my worries at the office and start thinking again about my family overseas and about renewing old friendship abroad. But it can also be a place where I can meet new acquaintances and the starting point where dreams of magnificent snow-capped mountains, silvery lakes, green or red forests, exotic buildings, quaint customs may take wings along with the rumble of the jet engines. In the past week, when Hong Kong shivered in one of the chilliest  Chinese New Years for decades, I also shivered in my down jacket in Yunnan.

This is where my dream began

Another view of the link or break between work and fun.

I was not alone.

There were people everywhere,

including people who can hardly walk.

There were interesting shadows everywhere on the ground



beside the elevator



in front of shop windows,



 on the polished surface of the floor tiles. Some of them are more regular than others.

The floor tiles can tell us who is walking around.



what the roof above them may look like.

But some of such shadows are quite faint, especially where the surface of the floor tiles are dented or damaged or simply dirty.



I am always fascinated by what I find on the surfaces of the window panes.  In their own ways, they are perfect for reflecting what is around them. They can become the site of an endless combination of the most surprising patterns.



They can superimpose the reflection of one part of the building on to those of another,

what is inside the building with what is outside..



What is inside, what is outside and what is a reflection of what's outside may often create very very complex patterns.

They can also reflect the shape of the buildings around them,



the trees and other equipment on the surrounding buildings, albeit in very distorted forms.



It is the same with the windows on the outside. But there one can see what is inside, what is outside as well as the reflection of what is outside.

The sun also plays a part in creating shadows.

A huge arrow created by the sun

Another arrow

A complex pattern of lines, triangles, trapezia and circles.

There are variations in shape, size, pattern and contrasts in brightness and shadows.

There can also be complex patterns between the structural members of various parts of the airport

The canopy of the airport itself is a source of many geometric patterns with progressively darker hues.

The roof of the passenger alighting area outside the airport

Even there, one finds reflections

But there can also be many patterns in the interior decorations of some of the shops or restaurants inside the airport too.

The changing shapes of shadows created by the sun may also add to the existing patterns.

A complex play of both internal and external lighting.

Some of the patterns are completely artificial but no less interesting.

But there is simply nothing to match the beauty of Nature.

The complexity of its patterns.



The delicacy of its surfaces

Or the contrast in both its shape and color. Is that why they placed such flowers inside the airport?