Shooting iron birds on the SkyDeck SkyDeck in the Aviation Discovery Centre at Chep Lap Kok Airport is the hotspot for aeroplanes lovers and photographers who want to get the best vantage spot to “shoot” iron birds in the concrete jungle of the city. “I come here upon my friend’s recommendation,” Marsh Lam Lok-fai, who has three years’ experience in photo-taking, said. “I can see planes at a closer distance and take photos from many different angles.” The open-air SkyDeck is at the highest point within the airport runway area. Visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the airport as if they were in the air traffic control tower. Amateur photographer Anthony Tsang, who also has three years’ photography experience, said the place is an excellent place for him to take photos, without being blocked by tall buildings. SkyDeck attracts not only photographers, but also those who crave a closer look at the busy take-offs and landings of planes at the airport. It offers seven 30X binoculars for visitors free of charge. As the binoculars provide a 360-degree panoramic view, visitors can see things at all angles though the binoculars are a bit hard to turn. “There are no other facilities (besides the binoculars). But I would recommend the place to my friends who like taking photos,” said Mui On-shun, who was visiting SkyDeck for the first time. Tickets cost HK$15 for adults, children and students, and HK$10 for seniors. An exciting journey begins on a 4D Extreme Screen
Another highlight of the Aviation Discovery Centre is the 4D Extreme Screen, with Asia’s largest four-dimensional screen with a height of over five storeys. Each viewer is offered a pair of sterilised 3D glasses before entering the cinema. Wearing the glasses, viewer can enter into the screen itself through three-dimensional projection technology. For example, if an insect stretches its antennae, it appears to be popping out of the screen right in front of the viewers’ very eyes. “The movie shown on the screen looks more realistic,” said Yeung Chun-ka, who watched the movie on this 4D screen for the first time. “It is different from other movie screens (in which everything looks flat).” The cinema is also equipped with seven special effects, including snow, wind, water spray, bubbles, fog, and various lighting and olfactory effects, which provide the “fourth dimension” to the viewers. A 25-year-old moviegoer, Cheung Tsz-ho said: “There was water hitting my face when the actor in the movie spurted water out of his month.” The special effects enhances viewers’ excitement, Cheung said, with the special effects, the adventure in the movie became even more thrilling. Cheung’s girlfriend Kwan Wing-yan also said: “It was like I was really experiencing the adventure myself!” The enjoyment did not affect the kids even their heads are too small for the 3D spectacles. Five-year-old Tommy said he enjoyed the movie a lot even though the 3D glasses kept slipping off. One father also held the glasses for his kid throughout the whole movie. Tickets for adults cost HK$50. While children, students and senior tickets cost HK$40. Hollywood movies may cost HK$50 to HK$70 for adults and HK$40 to HK$55 for children, students and seniors. Bookings can be made online at http://www.mclcinema.com. The Aviation Discovery Centre is located at Terminal 2, Hong Kong International Airport. Jimmy Tsang |
