I’ve left India behind and I’m on my way to Hong Kong, my last stop on my world tour. I’ve been to Hong Kong once before, but I was only about 4 years old, my parents studied abroad there for a semester. I managed to save up for three months by eating only ramen noodles just so I could afford the 900 dollar ticket. I had just started full time at my job and I didn’t have any vacation time, so I could only afford a 6 day trip, 2 of those days were used in flight, leaving me only 4 days to spend in Hong Kong.
I had a friend pick me up at the airport and take me to a Hong Kong Hotel and then on to shopping and sight seeing. In someway, this place seemed familiar, I know I was only 4, but I can tell I’ve been here before. I’m glad my friend knows her way around, I know I’d be all stressed out with trying to figure our where to go and how to find a place or getting lost or ripped off. So, having a friend in Hong Kong is a very good thing.
The first day, she took me to Ocean Park, it’s Hong Kong’s theme park and a cross between six flags and a zoo, but it has some spectacular views of the mountains and the ocean. The park has Pandas and I remember when my parents took me here to see the pandas. It was starting to rain, but it wanted to see the Pandas, so my friend went to find shelter while I stood, getting soaking wet to just watch the Pandas, their so cute. The rain stopped and my friend came back and laughed at me. This made me homesick, remembering how my parents took me here.
Hong Kong is so fascinating. It’s a juxtaposition of western and eastern cultures. Hong Kong’s also a shopping mecca, stores, markets, and malls are everywhere. It’s really amazing how the population can support just how many shops that are here, there are tons. The food is fantastic, which is good because I have a weakness for Japanese and Chinese food. Today, after the theme park, my friend took me to a Japanese restaurant that served Takoyaki, octopus balls, they are so delicious.
The best part about Hong Kong, after coming from India, is there are no cows in the road!
Related posts: