We ♥ Hong Kong!

Life in China the past several weeks has been crazy busy and it shows no signs of slowing down!  In between work and life in Guangzhou (GZ), I have been on the road exploring nearby sights - including Hong Kong!  Just a short two hour train ride from GZ, there are sure to be more trips to Hong Kong in my future.  It's an impressive and incredibly international city with a population of just over 7 million people situated both on the mainland and comprised of about 265 islands scattered about the South China Sea. Combining the sea, the city, the mountains, and the smaller islands makes Hong Kong an interesting place to explore and I certainly did not fit everything in to the 2 days that I was there but here is a bit of what I was able to experience...

Travelling went smoothly.  You do have to pass through customs when travelling between China and Hong Kong as Hong Kong is a SAR (Special Administrative Region) of China.  Here’s a very very brief history of Hong Kong for you:  Following China’s defeat in the Opium War (1839- 1842), the British took control of what would later become Hong Kong.  They called it the City of Victoria.  Fast forward to the 20^th century, Hong Kong was attacked by the Japanese during WWII and was surrendered by its British and Canadian defenders on December 25, 1941.  They called it “Black Christmas.”  After WWII, Hong Kong recovered and its population grew with an influx of Chinese moving to escape the Chinese Civil War.  In 1984, with the Sino-British Joint Declaration, the United Kingdom and China agreed to transfer the sovereignty of Hong Kong back to China on July 1, 1997 under the stipulation that it would remain autonomous as a Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China (therefore retain its laws, free-market economy, etc.) for at least 50 years…  Here lies the tension and the questions about the future relations between Hong Kong and mainland China.  From my brief time spent in China and my one visit to Hong Kong thus far, it seems Hong Kong does not at all claim to be a part of China but China most definitely claims to have Hong Kong…but enough on history and current relations!

We stayed at ChungKing Mansion in the Kowloon area (see map!).  I did my research ahead of time – it had some reviews that portrayed it as a pretty seedy place and then it had great reviews if you were looking for a budget hostel in Hong Kong (and I agree with the latter).  I failed to take a real picture so let me try to paint one for you.  A gigantic building with 16 floors, shops occupy the ground floor, and various hostels occupy the rest of the building, and a large African and Indian population mingles, loiters, works, hangs around, however you would like to put it, at the entrance to the building 24/7 doing their absolute best to sell you that Rolex watch that you have always been wanting at the best price you could ever imagine.  Or the same for a wallet or a handbag.  So if you’re in the market for a Rolex, or a new wallet, or a new purse, then you know where to go.  One man was incredibly appalled at my lack of interest in buying a purse and said something along the lines of "WHAT?! NO HANDBAG?! But every lady need one!  Come here I show you!" 
  
Perhaps the highlight of all of Hong Kong (I'm being sarcastic here...but seriously) was the cleanliness of the city!  Plus these awesome signs (see below) posted around the city reminding everyone and MLC (MainLandChina-ers as we dubbed them) to not spit in public totally put a smile on my face :) I had two full fun filled day sans hocking going on around me.  It was so great.  And spitting among other things really does spread germs so as far as I'm concerned MLC should totally adopt this no spitting policy.

Next, the true highlight - seeing the city from Victoria's Peak!  We enjoyed the tram ride to the top of the peak and then enjoyed the awesome view...

 

 The Hong Kong travel crew! Me, Ashley (bottom), and Molly (right)!

 

After a day spent at the peak taking in one of the most vertical cities in the world, we spent the evening strolling through the Temple Street Night Market where my purchases included a new pair of sunglasses (because if you know me at all I can’t keep a pair of sunglasses to save my life and I’ll never spend more than $10 on a pair) and a silk painting of Hong Kong that now gives color to the white walls in my bedroom. 

 Temple Street Night Market

The next day we caught a ferry to Lantau Island (the island that is also home to Hong Kong Disney World) seeking out a beach on which to “starfish” or, you know, just lay sprawled out on the sand in the sun.  We found a beach it just wasn’t quite as sunny as we would have liked.  No worries though…

On the way to the ferry we found this giant teacup set and stopped for a photo op!

Silvermine Beach in Mui Wo, Lantau Island, Hong Kong

New sunglasses with mirrored lenses are perfect for fun selfies!

 
We caught the ferry back to Hong Kong Island and came across the most delicious fish and chips place…one of the absolute best things about travelling is the food!  Or maybe the people?  Okay, I would say the people AND the food!  Two of the greatest things about travelling.  Anyways, in the case of China, I have found that I get really excited for western food.  I have definitely found food that I enjoy in China but I can only take so much rice and noodles before I just want something that is a bit more like home.  And fish and chips is by no means an American thing but it hit the spot anyways.  I think maybe from the countless times I ate it in Australia.  The guy working at this place, ironically enough, was from Sydney and he gave us some tips on where to enjoy our last night out in Hong Kong…lucky for us, Wednesday night is ladies night in Wan Chai!  

So we watched the famous Hong Kong light show that night and then headed to Wan Chai excited for food and drinks!  First, the food.  We wandered around a bit before deciding on a small Thai place just off the street.  I wouldn’t exactly call it a restaurant but it wasn’t street food either.  It was appropriately named “Thai Hut.”  It had a grand total of 3 tables.  All of which were occupied.  While we stood waiting to order, there were two (I think British) men at the table in front of us that told us that they were almost done and that we could have their table when they finished.  One of the women workers at the place commented then that the table would be given to two Thai women that were standing next to us and that I guess were there before us.  It didn’t matter.  The British (?) men left, the two Thai ladies sat down, and then they asked for extra chairs and invited us to join them for dinner!  They proceeded to give us recommendations on the food and then let us try what they had ordered.  They were beyond nice and apparently friendly is just the Thai way!  After dinner and conversation, they got up to leave, told us to enjoy our night in HK, to be safe, and that dinner was on them!  Again, the best thing about traveling – the people and the food!  Especially when the people you meet are as kind, warm, and generous as those two ladies.  

 

Hong Kong by night!

Next, the drinks! We wandered into Rio, a bar/club advertising free drinks for ladies night.  The band that was playing was acoustic and we weren’t sure we were feeling the atmosphere at first but decided we would stay and enjoy a free drink before moving along.  We never moved along...the acoustic band turned out to be great and we ended up meeting and talking to the band members, all of whom were originally from the Philippines.  I even ended up singing a song with them!  I’ve never even done karaoke, let alone get up and sing with a live band!  Maybe instead of being a teacher, I really came to China to become a singer?!

Needless to say..we loved Hong Kong!  And it definitely gets high ratings in my book as a must visit city!  We barely scratched the surface of all there is to do and see and explore there and we are already planning a trip back.

The story of Macau and maybe even a post on teaching Chinese kiddos…since that is why I’m here in the first place…coming soon! :)