Three days in Asia's World City while in transit home for the holidays. This multicultural gateway is a complete 180 from PNG, a sophisticated metropolis where culture is respected and cutting edge technology embraced. Its vibrant, bustling, developed, everything that PNG is not. It has superb infrastructure with efficent transport. The leather seats and wood grain interior on the airport shuttle were a far cry from Madang's PMV buses where the doors fall off!
Close to midnight I arrived at my 4 Star hotel (less than US 100), but unlike Madang's empty dark streets, this city never sleeps! The lights, the 360 degree harbor skyline, trendy night spots, night markets and street hustlers selling "genuine copy watches" and "real copy handbags"...and windows without bars! For the first time in months, I could walk around without feeling marred down with tension and fear.
The first night I endulged in luxuries by taking a long, leisurely shower. I stood there letting the water wash PNG from my body and mind. Then I turned on the flatscreen and ordered room service from my fluffy bed!
The next morning I strolled the streets and popped into a coffee shop for an espresso and bagel..savoring each bite as I people watched from the cafe window front. Appearances are evidently important, no tatty second hand clothes here. These trendy, multicultural people hop in and out oft the subway and shops wearing the latest high end fashion. Gucci suits, Coach bags, and knee high boots.
Kowloon is a shoppers paradise. From shopping centers boasting names such as Vivian Westwood, Prada, Tiffany to bargain markets selling packaged plastic bangles, chopsticks and silk bags. Each shop I entered, I walked out wearing the new leaving behind the old for the trash! Every other store flashed neon lights with the latest high tech inovation. Nikon, Canon, Sony...my eyes were bulging from my head! And obviously the hustlers could see "easy target" written clearly across my face. Long story short, after hours of what I thought was bargaining, I found out that I was ripped completely off. When I finally found my way back to the one of hundreds of shops along Nathan Road, they would only refund 70% of my money! I left without my bargain Hong Kong electronics, but with a very expensive lesson learned.
The next day, in an attempt to avoid the endless choices of products and brands, I ventured out to Hong Kong Island. Subway and tram to The Peak, Hong Kong's largest tourist attraction overlooking the entire city and Victoria Harbor. The city was particularly buzzing with people and events for the 2009 Asian Games. Museums, cultural dances, martial arts. After a ferry across the harbor, I walked along the waterfront waiting for the worlds largest permanent light and sound show. Each night at 8:00 over 40 buildings along the 360 degrees of harbor skyline is illuminated by a laser light show. It was incredible!
Boasting the title of "Culinary capital of Asia" Hong Kong has thousands of resturants. Chinese traditional dishes, Japanese sushi bars, Balinese and Indian cuisines. (And of course a McDonalds and Starbucks on every corner) I particularly enjoyed the fresh sashimi and sushi...and Japanese beers and sake!
Hong Kong has now become one of my favorite cities, a real feast for my senses!
Close to midnight I arrived at my 4 Star hotel (less than US 100), but unlike Madang's empty dark streets, this city never sleeps! The lights, the 360 degree harbor skyline, trendy night spots, night markets and street hustlers selling "genuine copy watches" and "real copy handbags"...and windows without bars! For the first time in months, I could walk around without feeling marred down with tension and fear.
The first night I endulged in luxuries by taking a long, leisurely shower. I stood there letting the water wash PNG from my body and mind. Then I turned on the flatscreen and ordered room service from my fluffy bed!
The next morning I strolled the streets and popped into a coffee shop for an espresso and bagel..savoring each bite as I people watched from the cafe window front. Appearances are evidently important, no tatty second hand clothes here. These trendy, multicultural people hop in and out oft the subway and shops wearing the latest high end fashion. Gucci suits, Coach bags, and knee high boots.
Kowloon is a shoppers paradise. From shopping centers boasting names such as Vivian Westwood, Prada, Tiffany to bargain markets selling packaged plastic bangles, chopsticks and silk bags. Each shop I entered, I walked out wearing the new leaving behind the old for the trash! Every other store flashed neon lights with the latest high tech inovation. Nikon, Canon, Sony...my eyes were bulging from my head! And obviously the hustlers could see "easy target" written clearly across my face. Long story short, after hours of what I thought was bargaining, I found out that I was ripped completely off. When I finally found my way back to the one of hundreds of shops along Nathan Road, they would only refund 70% of my money! I left without my bargain Hong Kong electronics, but with a very expensive lesson learned.
The next day, in an attempt to avoid the endless choices of products and brands, I ventured out to Hong Kong Island. Subway and tram to The Peak, Hong Kong's largest tourist attraction overlooking the entire city and Victoria Harbor. The city was particularly buzzing with people and events for the 2009 Asian Games. Museums, cultural dances, martial arts. After a ferry across the harbor, I walked along the waterfront waiting for the worlds largest permanent light and sound show. Each night at 8:00 over 40 buildings along the 360 degrees of harbor skyline is illuminated by a laser light show. It was incredible!
Boasting the title of "Culinary capital of Asia" Hong Kong has thousands of resturants. Chinese traditional dishes, Japanese sushi bars, Balinese and Indian cuisines. (And of course a McDonalds and Starbucks on every corner) I particularly enjoyed the fresh sashimi and sushi...and Japanese beers and sake!
Hong Kong has now become one of my favorite cities, a real feast for my senses!
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