June 10-11, Hong Kong: Exploring an Asian Metropolis

We did our best to see Hong Kong in our short time here. Our first full day was spent seeing some of the more touristy sites. Causeway Bay, for example, where Alex and Chris picked up a sportcoat each, and some shoes to boot, and the busy Mong Kok, known for its discount cell-phone markets, where Alex and I perused the selection. Here’s Alex in the busy electronic sdistrict:

By far, however, the biggest negative of Hong Kong has been the heat – a stifling, humid temperature that marks this season in this tropical area. It’s rained pretty consistently and kept us from taking in the best views of the city. For example, we took a tram up to Victoria’s Peak, an area that overlooks the city Skyline. But it was too foggy at the top to see anything!
We have, however, made the most of things. The food has been nothing short of outstanding; we splurged at the Shangri-La hotel one night for a dinner buffet similar to our brunch in Shanghai, and had a great dim-sum lunch at a place recommended by the New York Times. Here’s Chris, hard at work on a dim-sum platter:


This city’s skyline is by far the most impressive of any I’ve ever seen, especially at night. Its location, on the water and built into a mountain, along with its shape (the city is very long horizontally as you look at it, but barely a mile deep) means that the long skyline is bolstered by buildings rising up behind buildings, in a condensed, well-lit hodgepodge of colored lights and modern designs.

We also did the touristy things, taking the Star Ferry across the harbor for a daytime view from a boat of the center of Hong Kong. Here's one photo:
But some of the things that were the most enjoyable, or funny, or downright ridiculous don't really fit into the narrative. For example, we had a lot of fun talking about this haircut during our dim-sum lunch:

I'm sorry, any way you cut it, that is just ridiculous. I believe it was Alex who said that we could remove that cut from the girl and put it on any cross-country trucker and it would be more appropriate. (I added: or anywhere in Russia)

We spent a couple of great nights out in various bar districts, and met some terrific people - from a couple of nice Japanese 20-somethings from Okinowa, to Avery and her friends at Insomnia. Like New York, HK is a city that seems to never shut down as long as you're in the right area - and from our 5 AM nights to our 6 AM mornings, we certainly we able to view this firsthand.

We're in the airport here - it's now the morning of the 12th - and our flight to Bangkok is boarding now. Hong Kong international is by far the nicest airport I've ever flown through; clean, free wireless, good restaurants, and just well planned. We're getting on a double-decker plane (the first Alex and I have ever flown on) and headed through Bangkok to Phuket. More from our next country!

Mike