Friday, February 10, 2006 12:16:55 PM
Hong Kong was definitely something of a peculiar contrast that I absolutely loved. We drove into the city to find huge New York type billboards in English, with the only Asian pop playing at my request on the TV in my hotel room. Everywhere around me was the combination of an almost derelict building held together with bamboo right next to a glass sky rise with impeccable architecture. The buildings were so tall and close together that people could probably jump from one building to another-bamboo scaffolding and all. Everyone is surprisingly happy, so much so that the local MTV had absolutely no angry/girlpower/breakup songs. I'm still not used to what the locals call “smelly tofu” as it induces my so very Canadian appetite to turn over on itself but I would still gladly walk the streets to voices of “Hello missykopywatchy”. i thought they were speaking cantonese until i realized they were proclaiming that they could copy any watch i wanted. We went to the back ally of a back ally for some shady purse deals, which was an experience on its own. I would have taken a picture but if someone saw they might have had my head for dinner with fishballs.
With that said, this is really my type of city. For the first time in my life I felt tall or next to average, until I came across 2 foreigners that were "North American size" and reality hit. The shopping was absolutely amazing…and people aren’t afraid to be unconformists. Where as in North America you see everyone in the current Paris-induced style and anything eccentric is just considered weird, this is the only city I’ve seen where you can dress as funky as you want and you can express your personal style. Everything around is colorful and happy and bright, and there is room for every type of personality. You see unique clothes at every corner in small little boutiques and shoes almost line the streets. They actually have a whole block full of running shoe stores...i think it was called Running Shoe Street. The Cosmetics industry is the largest industry as everyone strives to be the beautiful color of rice paper with rosy cheeks and pink lips. Asian men are well dressed, while the women are all petite, beautiful, and stylish. All you see are Mercedes, Toyotas, and Ferraris. Unlike Asians in Canada, not one Honda Civic in sight! However intersections dont work the same...if a car sees a pedestrian in front of it, it first speeds up and then honks when you're about to be hit...you learn pretty quickly to dodge the vehicles and do quick distance perception calculations.
Stanley Market - Great trinkets, not very great food
All in all it was an amazing trip. We got to see Victoria Peak and eat at a swanky restaurant on the peak, and we saw Repulse Bay which is probably the most space I saw in HK that wasnt occupied by cars, concrete or people.
Repulse Bay
Times Square in Causeway Bay was awesome shopping but i wouldnt advise that anyone try the questionable "minced meat sandwhich" in the allies of Stanley Market....i speak from experience. Shady side street food mixed with winding roads and the stench of smelly tofu is no tourist's day in the park. Well, on to Brissy!
