Hong Kong

Misadventures In An Asian City

Hong Kong is quite a place, and I've been fortunate to get 3 trips over there from a former employer of mine. Once you get used to the time change, culture shock, odd attitudes and weird customs, it really can be quite fun. Posted below are email updates that I sent back over the years, as there really is no other way to capture the moment than by reliving it.

Update: 8/23/06

So I'm sitting here watching the rain fall over Victoria Harbour, thankful as hell to be back in Hong Kong. After our excursion up to Shenzhen, China yesterday, I've about had all I can take. Let me tell you, crossing the border into China is an intimidating experience. They have this huge concrete moat with guard towers, the whole place is 'decorated' with razor wire, security cameras, bunker-looking buildings, and a bunch of little Chinese military dudes with REAL bad attitudes. Felt like James Bond was going to bust through the ceiling at any minute. They have no A/C so it's kind of like punishment as you move through the immigration line "SINGER FIRE", and get stared up and down by this little Chinese girl who doesn't like anyone and stamps your passport so hard you'd think it would break the desk. Charming, really.

Welcome to China. Now don't do anything wrong, try not to get mugged, and get the hell out of here as soon as you can... but before you leave buy some pirated DVDs and a girl or three. And this is the nice part of town.

Update: 8/20/06

The weather is amazingly disgusting, you literally do not even want to walk outside. Just in walking the 40 yards from the hotel to the train station yesterday, we were *literally* soaked through our clothes with sweat. Despite this, we did venture out to Po Lin Monastery, site of the "Big Buddha" Tian Tan. He is over 100 feet tall, and sits at the top of 300 steps (remember the weather) so it was somewhat exhausting of a climb. Poor Jim wasn't fairing too well in the heat, but he made it. We had fried noodles, salty dumplings stuffed with mushrooms, and fried vegetable rolls out at the monastery, it was very tasty.

I'm finding it very easy to get around, amid Jim's pensiveness and Dan's general carefree temperament. Public transit here is a cinch, and with the Octopus cards I found (electronic payment system that is accepted just about everywhere), it's a piece of cake. Trains, buses, and ferries are thoughtfully laid out, run frequently, and are very efficient. Honestly this is the first public transit system I've ridden that makes New York's look like a ratty joke, usually it's the other way around.

Updated:  Saturday, August 26, 2006

Hong Kong 2005

Photos from my first trip to Hong Kong in March 2005. All photos taken on Nikon N80 / Kodak Elitechrome

Hong Kong Night View Hong Kong Night View Temple St Night Market Temple St Night Market Knock Off Handbags
Temple Street Night Market Beads & Jewelry Night Street View Night Street View Hong Kong Central, Night View
Hong Kong Construction Star Ferry Terminal Chinese Exports

Hong Kong 2006

Photos from the trip with Dan and Jim. Mostly, of the big Buddha, also some night shots.

Dan On The Airplane Made Good Progress Dan At The Ferry Another Beautiful Summer Day Silvermine Bay Bus Stop
Dan Is Too Happy Tian Tan Stairway To Heaven Buddha Under Haze The Po Lin Monastery
Dan And Jim From the Top Offerings It's a Long Way Down Po Lin Gates
Incense Burning Po Lin Temples Temple Interior Temple Interior Incense Burning
Po Lin Tea Gardens Feng Shui Night At Tsim Sha Tsui Hong Kong Central Skyline Hong Kong Driving With Jim
Dan Takin' Photos Chinky Truck Tunnels Near Jingkou Freeway Into Shenzhen Meat Beef!

Hong Kong 2007 - A Sunday Afternoon In Central

My third visit to the Fragrant Harbour was in November 2007, and the weather could not have been more pleasant. I took a Sunday afternoon and rode the ferry over to Central to go shopping and explore the city! It was among the most pleasant experiences I've ever had. Nikon D200.

Self Portrait At The BP Tsim Tsa Tsui Mike at Kowloon City Park Beijing Olympics Countdown Clock Prevent Avian Flu
Kowloon City Park Nathan Road Nathan Road Buildings Mirador Mansions The Chungking Mansions
Star Ferry Star Ferry New Land The Fragrant Harbour Domestic Workers Afternoon Off
Central, Hong Kong The Escalators Side Streets From Above Going Up! Excellent Hong Kong Architecture
The Escalators Apartment Blocks Hong Kong Escalators Retirement In Hong Kong Central Markets
Choose Your Fake Watch! Monotony Of Daily Life Shopping For Purses Finding Your Way Final Sale!
Hong Kong Trolleys Hong Kong Trolley View Classic Hong Kong Central The Changing Hong Kong Skyline The Star Ferry Seats
The Star Ferry Seats Tsim Tsa Tsui Clock Tower Hong Kong Sunset