10 top things about Hong Kong (pt. 3)

#3. The Markets of Tai Po

In all of my travels throughout Hong Kong, from Central to Mong Kok, from Lan Kwai Fong to Kowloon – by far my favorite place is the old market of Tai Po.  Located in the New Territories just  a few minutes from HKIed, Old Tai Po is like stepping back in time.  Street venders sell food, tea time specials abound, and little shops litter every corner.  Smack dab in the middle of all this is a tiny temple, a river, and little old ladies playing gambling games beneath bridges.  Tai Po also has a Mega Mall, which is full of shops, houses a great Vietnamese restaurant, and has just about everything you need.  Rather than the full bustle of Central Hong Kong, Tai Po is a slower paced gem of the New Territories. 

#2. Cantonese.

Imagine a world in which you can say “cow” and it means cow.  And then, if you change your voice to be higher pitch and say “cow”, it means horse.  Then, change it so you have a deep voice and it means goat.  Sounds not so bad, eh?  Now, imagine that you do that and they mean completely different things, like dog, lamp post, and cow.  Oh, and you can have a rising tone and a falling tone, which also mean other things. Now, you have words that say if you did something in the past, different classifiers for words (you say ‘go’ in front of round things and people, but ‘jek’ in front of pens and long objects.  Oh..and there are about 15 other ones too).  Now, if you say something out of pitch, use the wrong classifier, or say things in an odd order – no one understands you.  If they do, they will immediately answer you so quickly that only the Micro Machine Man has a chance of guessing what they said.  Now, you are getting closer to understanding Cantonese.

#1.  The Green Mini-Bus.

Hands down, one of the best experiences in Hong Kong is a thrilling ride on a mini-bus.  These speed demons cross all over Hong Kong, offering a bargain fare and a quick trip.  But, this deal might cost you years of life.  Seemingly exempt from any and all traffic laws and courtesy, these green machines blaze through crosswalks, zip into tight spots, and jostle you like a British nanny.  You will swear that you have boarded a bus hell bent – particularly if you brave them later at night.  These metal buckets do come with seatbelts, but my advice is to hold on tight and hope.

10 top things about Hong Kong (pt. 2)

#7.  Fashion Statements.

Fashion in Hong Kong is unique.  The requisite fashion expected in a major city is here – a stroll through Central, particularly during the prime time hours, reveals fancy suited men and high class dresses.  Immediately next to this, however, is a style all a person’s own.  They may be sporting a trucker hat, with an oversized shirt, and tights.  Anime haircuts, unique leggings, bright make-up – nothing is off limits in Hong Kong. Once, while at a restaurant, I saw a woman wearing an Egyptian inspired outfit, with large sunglasses and even larger golden jewelry.  Strangely, she didn’t seem out of place at all.  Each person seems freer here to express themselves through clothing than any other place I’ve been.  That said, sometimes it’s just odd.

#6. Sweating.

That’s right, pure hard core sweating.  Imagine a New Mexico heat wave with Arkansas humidity, and you still aren’t even close to Hong Kong.  My first night here, I had no AC (my card wouldn’t work) – and I simply felt like I was suffocating in my sleep.  I can walk down the hallway of the dormitory and have to change shirts upon returning to my room.  Sometimes, the outside air feels like a thin blanket placed over you. With this, though, comes blasting air conditioning that chills bones.  Every establishment you enter seems to have the AC set to maximum.  This results in your body freaking out constantly, as you go from shop to shop, restaurant to food stop, from oppressive heat to mini-freezers.

#5. Canto-pop.

Arkansans have country music, Bulgarians have Chalga, and Hong Kong has Canto-pop.  This has become a particularly humorous thing for me, as I had to sing some Cantonese songs for an Hall orientation game.  A popular gameshow in parts of Asia, non-native Cantonese speakers listen to a song, attempt to sing what they are hearing, and contestants attempt to guess what song they are singing.  Once I got over my self-conciousness, it was quite fun.  I even danced to a Cookies song (it’s hard not to).  So, listen and try to sing!

#4.  The Food.

Like shopping, the food is everywhere.  The high competition also ensures that most of it is really good and really cheap.  But really, the most amazing thing is the variety.  I have eaten Indian, Turkish, Italian, Chinese, and Vietnamese in just a short few weeks.  While I am waiting for those odd foods Cantonese cuisine is famous for (I have been promised chicken feet at some point), the shear plenty of venues here is amazing.  Be prepared to see multiple entries based simply around food…

Up next – the top 3!

10 top things about Hong Kong (pt.1)

I realized a few days ago how little I have written about Hong Kong and what I have enjoyed here.  This city is forever bustling, which makes it hard to catch everything and even more difficult to find a moment to write.  But, a typhoon has arrived, which has given me a breather and some free time.  So, I’m going to start a three part piece on the top 10 things I love about Hong Kong as of right now.  These are not the best 10 things in Hong Kong, the things you should do or see, or anything like that, just 10 random items that are different from my experiences in the states or overseas or that I enjoy about Hong Kong.

#10. Typhoons

I thought Arkansans freaked out when flurries of snow hit the ground.  Their reaction is nothing when compared to Hong Kong and typhoons.  When the typhoon reaches the magic number 8 rating, everyone is basically given a holiday. Don’t ask me to explain the number system, which goes arbitrarily from 1 to 3 to 8, 9 and then 10. While this means that you get a glorious day off of work, if you are outside the main metro system it also means you are stuck where you are.  This is the case in Tai Po. Having a day off is great, but being stuck in a dorm has its difficulties.  This is particularly true when the typhoon basically resembles a tiny storm with strong wind.  AND, if you haven’t adequately prepared, you’ll be eating 7-11 convenience store food, since the canteen and restaurants are closed. My recommendation is the chicken and celery sandwich with some prawn flavored crackers. 

#9. 7-11, Pizza Hut, KFC, and McDonalds

Speaking of 7-11, they are EVERYWHERE here. There can easily be one on every corner, even on the same street. Not as gas stations, mind you, but as little convenience stores.  Looking for other American outlets?  Well, Pizza Hut, KFC, and McDonalds have all made it to Hong Kong.  But, be prepared for a classier version of these fast food giants.  Apparently, Pizza Hut has cast itself in the role of a fine dining institution while KFC and McDonalds have attempted to follow.  I doubt they actually can compare to the deliciousness of other foods here, but the competition has forced them to answer the call of a higher class of food. The McCafe has also made its bold foray into Hong Kong, apparently offering tasty sandwiches and coffees.  I haven’t eaten at any of these yet, but I suspect I will.  

#8. Shopping

This place is a shopper’s paradise and a spendthrift’s enabler.  If you want it, and you are willing to dig, you can buy it in Hong Kong.  Multi-story shopping complexes, streets of venders, and hustling entrepreneurs are packed so tightly in areas that maneuvering them can often be daunting and exhausting. While you can find anything you want, too often one feels the need to buy something every time you go out.  It is impossible to avoid shopping in this city, which makes it the most convenient but potentially expensive place I have ever been.

These are pretty tame, but be prepared #7 to #4 will spice it up for sure.  Up next, some pictures.