I’m not surprised by this, in our recent stay in HK, just about every taxi has been a positive experience. In fact, the kids use “Hong Kong Taxis” as the ‘standard’ by which they judge all taxis in other cities. e.g. “Oh, this taxi is clean, just like a HK taxi.”
Photo by Steve Webel
by Jasmine Williams on September 19, 2011
Hong Kong taxis were added to the top 10 ranking of world’s best taxis; London and New York cabs have been top-rated globally for the past four years.
“With the increased flag falls and better economy, taxi drivers are earning more, so they are happier in their jobs and provide better services to their passengers,” Lai Ming-hung, chairman of the Taxi and Public Light Bus Concern Group, said.
From a daily earning low of HK$200 (US$25.65) during the 2008 financial crisis, drivers are now earning between HK$400 and HK$500 a day, Lai said. He encourages drivers to be friendly to passengers – locals and visitors alike – and avoid cheating tourists to improve their public impression…
http://www.thirdage.com/news/taxis-in-hong-kong-rank-among-worlds-best_09-19-2011
The absolute best time to get amazing travel photos is quite often early in the morning. Why is this? There are many reasons, one of the big ones is the lighting. Quite simply put, the lighting in the early morning hours is more colorful and less harsh than the light in the middle of the day. A second reason to get up early is to capture the ‘true’ local culture. In even the most exploited of tourists traps, the early morning scene is quite often dramatically different than what you’d see the rest of the day. Most travelers tend to sleep in, so the early morning hours generally belong to the locals. So if you want to catch local culture, bathed in beautiful warm light, set your alarm and get out out early!
There is nothing wrong with getting a little inspiration for your photography by looking at what other photographers have done in the same location(s) you plan on visiting. The internet provides a great avenue for checking out a location before you go. A photo site like 
One of the biggest mistakes made by less seasoned travelers is that they carry far more ‘stuff’ than what they actually need. This is just as true for photographers. When going out to shoot some photos, don’t take ‘everything’ with you. Think through the location you will be photographing and think about what equipment you will likely need. Avoid carrying around gear you will never use. Not only will this allow you to be more mobile, it will also keep you from standing out too much while moving among locals. There are definitely advantages for not ‘sticking out’ when traveling, I’m sure you can think of a few without me mentioning them.
If you really want to make a dramatic improvement in your photography, you can do it by simply changing your perspective. Make a vow to not take any photos with the camera five and a half feet off the ground. There is nothing that can add more interest to your photos than bringing your camera down low to the ground or finding a tall vantage point to shoot from. In addition to ‘height’ changes, distance can also make a dramatic difference. It’s been said that the most effective and the most under-used photographer’s resource is his / her legs. Taking ten steps closer to your subject, and then taking 5 more, can dramatically alter the results of your photography. Getting closer is almost always a great thing to try when trying to step up your photography.
At some point in your travels, you will likely encounter ‘inclimate’ weather. Don’t think this means that you should put your camera in your bag and wait for the sun to come back out before taking more photos. Dramatic weather can sometimes really help set the stage for amazing photographs. Some of my favorite photos were taken with thunderstorms looming over the ocean off the shore of Phi Phi Island in Thailand or heavy snow swirling around me while standing on the Great Wall of China. Another advantage to heading out when the weather gets ‘bad’ is that most of the tourists will run for cover and you’ll be able to get photos without dozens of other tourists cluttering up your shots.
This may seem obvious, but it’s amazing to me how many ‘obnoxious’ tourists I’ve encountered in my travels. Use some common sense, be considerate of others and of the site. Nobody likes the ‘obnoxious guy’ and if that is you, you can count out getting fun portraits of locals or getting useful tips from other photographers at the site. Being considerate will not only help improve your photos, it will help pave the way for those who come behind you to also have a positive experience in that same location.