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Old view of Ha Long Bay


Old view of Ha Long Bay
Photo Information
Copyright: Jan jasmis (jasmis) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2931 W: 618 N: 3223] (39860)
Genre: Places
Medium: Black & White
Date Taken: 1988-03
Categories: Daily Life, Nature, Transportation
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Old B&W images [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-03-06 4:04
Viewed: 1033
Points: 32
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Halong Bay is a body of water of approximately 1,500 square kilometres in north Vietnam with a 120 kilometre coastline, in the Gulf of Tonkin near the border with China, and 170 kilometres east of Hanoi. "Vịnh Hạ Long" — Halong Bay — means "Bay of the Descending Dragon" in the Vietnamese language. Hạ means "descending" and Long means "dragon" in Sino-Vietnamese.

The bay consists of a dense cluster of 1,969 limestone monolithic islands, each topped with thick jungle vegetation, which rise spectacularly from the ocean. Several of the islands are hollow, with enormous caves. Hang Đầu Gỗ (Wooden stakes Cave) is the largest grotto in the Halong area. French tourists visited in the late 19th century, and named the cave Grotte des Merveilles. Its three large chambers contain large numerous stalactites and stalagmites (as well as 19th century French graffiti). There are two bigger islands, Tuan Chau and Cat Ba, that have permanent inhabitants. Both of them have tourist facilities, including hotels and beaches. There are a number of wonderful beaches on the smaller islands.

Some of the islands support floating villages of fishermen, who ply the shallow waters for 200 species of fish and 450 different kinds of mollusks. Many of the islands have acquired their names as a result of interpretation of their unusual shapes: such names include Voi Islet (elephant), Ga Choi Islet (fighting cock), and Mai Nha Islet (roof). 989 of the islands have been given names. Birds and animals including bantams, antelopes, monkeys, and iguanas also live on some of the islands.

The bay was World Heritage listed by UNESCO at the 18th meeting of the Committee of the World Heritages of UNESCO (in Thailand on December 17th, 1994). It is one of Vietnam's most popular tourist destinations.[1]


The Kissing RocksLocal legend says that long ago when the Vietnamese were fighting Chinese invaders, the gods sent a family of dragons to help defend the land. This family of dragons descended upon what is now Ha Long Bay (hence the name "Bay of Descending Dragons") and began spitting out jewels and jade. These jewels turned into the islands and islets dotting the bay, linking together to form barriers against the invaders. The people kept their land safe and formed what later became the country of Vietnam. A modern legend claims that a creature named the tarasque still lives in the bay.[2]

History shows that Halong Bay has been the setting for local naval battles against Vietnam's coastal neighbours. On three occasions in the labyrinth of channels in Bach Dang river near the islands the Vietnamese army stopped the Chinese from landing. In 1288 General Tran Hung Dao stopped Mongol ships from sailing up the nearby Bach Dang River by placing steel-tipped wooden stakes at high tide, sinking the Mongol Dubhai Khan's fleet.

During the Vietnam War, many of the channels between the islands were heavily mined by the navy of the United States, some of which pose a threat to shipping to this day. On October 8th, 2006 it was featured on the Amazing Race 10.

The surrounding land region of Halong City is rich with high grade coal deposits (anthracite), and is operated by the Vietnamese government.

In the 1997 James Bond film "Tomorrow Never Dies", James and Wai Lin attempt to chase down Elliot Carver played by Jonathan Pryce in the Halong Bay area.
(from Wikipedia)
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Photo taken in 1988 with Zenith TTL camera on ORWO dia film and then scanned with Microtek FilmScan 3600 and PP in PS converted to sepia.
kiwi_explorer, ninaL, vinicio, isabela_sor, Thanhnguyen has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To vinicio: !jasmis 1 03-06 08:05
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Jan,
Excellent use of sepia format to 'age' the photo and at the same time hide the noise created by the scanning. The picture is quite interesting from historical perspective complimented by the wonderful notes. Excellent documentary ... well done!
Cheers,
Renier

  • Great 
  • ninaL Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1811 W: 254 N: 1936] (16185)
  • [2007-03-06 4:29]

Widze, ze oboje bawimy sie w stare pocztowki, z taka roznica, ze twoje zdjecia sa naprawde stare ;). Dobra kompozycja, odpowiednia sepia. Pozdrawiam. Grazyna.

  • Great 
  • Fakir Gold Star Critiquer [C: 145 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-03-06 5:09]

Incredible mood of an old post-card. Superb sepia works here very well. Scenery is quite outstanding. This photo could be taken in the beginning of XX century I presume.
Regards.

  • Great 
  • faubry Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3687 W: 359 N: 4449] (28891)
  • [2007-03-06 5:47]

bonjour Jan, sperb panaromic and sepia picture.. old phoyo from this place, but very welll captured by scan, bravo and thanks
francine

  • Great 
  • bibik Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 199 W: 25 N: 14] (2774)
  • [2007-03-06 7:57]

This is really outstanding photo. Like an old postcard, indeed. Something in the past but impressive today.
Bye.

Excellent note and beautiful old style image Jan, compliments, another pearl to add to my theme about old images, thanks a lot.
Have a nice day
Ciao
Vinicio

An old great documentary shot,Jan.Looks like an very very old post card.We've made a great and fascinating trip in the past with your help,dear friend
Regards
Isabela

  • Great 
  • Fis2 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2561 W: 141 N: 1678] (34549)
  • [2007-03-06 11:55]

Czesc Janek!
Szkoda, ze musisz ukrywac po sepia te wartosciowe zdjecia, ale nie ma rady czas zrobil swoje. Milo sie oglada takie obrazy. Ciekawe miejsce dobrze pokazane.
Pozdrawiam
Krzysztof

  • Great 
  • mark88 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 239 W: 45 N: 96] (5671)
  • [2007-03-06 12:38]

Bardzo dobrze, że pokazujesz archiwalne zdjęcia. Dzięki sepii, wyglądają na dużo starsze niż są w rzeczywistości. Interesujące miejsce, wypasiony opis.
Pozdrawiam.

salut jan
une photo d'un autre temps super rétro avec ce grain et ce N&Bqui n'a pas viré au sépia, belle technique
amitiés
gilbert

  • Great 
  • tabora Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1200 W: 297 N: 1581] (12719)
  • [2007-03-06 15:29]

Bonsoir jan,
Joli traitement du grain, un noir et blanc qui vire légèrement au sépia qui donne un cachet très rétro au cliché.
A+ Joseph

  • Great 
  • jinju Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3167 W: 96 N: 1601] (14241)
  • [2007-03-06 20:38]

wysoki kontrast, mozna by powiedzie ze technicznie nie idealne, ale co tam, ta niedoskonalosc swietnie tu dziala. Poprpstu uwielbiam takie stare dokumenty

(nie cierpie wstawianych informacji z wikipedii, nigdy ich nie czytam)
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skaliste twory w glebi wygladaja niczym chrupki ryzowe wstawione w makiete...w sumie niewiele widac co sie tam dzieje na tych lodziach, ale to chyba nie ma znaczenia..nie o to chodzi w tym zdjeciu, moim zdaniem, mysle ze najwazniejsze jest tutaj ulozenie calosci - tych lodzi wzgledem siebie, lodzi wzgledem skal...orientalna wersja "rejs'u"? (tfuuu. niepoprawny politycznie film, beeee, wyrezyserowany przez szpiega niedobrego, strasznego wroga obywateli....)
j.

  • Great 
  • Graal Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4877 W: 132 N: 525] (44865)
  • [2007-03-07 2:16]

Tutaj kolejna fajna stylizacja na stara fotografie a przeciez ona taka jest, tyle lat. Brawo za prace nad nota rowniez.
Pozdr. Al.

  • Great 
  • cessy Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2257 W: 99 N: 2341] (13569)
  • [2007-03-08 17:00]

looks like a classic painting, very excellent choice of tones
I like the light and dark here

  • Great 
  • Angshu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5164 W: 175 N: 8023] (26140)
  • [2007-03-09 22:40]

Hello Jan
Your PP work has certainly aged the photograph. But the view is excellent with the boat in the FG against the famous limestone karsts. The ripples of the waters in the FG is excellent. Love the feel here
Regards
Angshu

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