This post will finally wrap up my Southeast Asia travels. From Siem Reap, I transferred flights in Bangkok and then hopped on another plane to Hong Kong, where I met up with Emily and coincidentally 6 other Fulbright friends. I saw one of them at Incheon Airport and upon exchanging travel itineraries, we realized that we'd be in Hong Kong at the same time. Once I touched down in Hong Kong, I was greeted with warm, enveloping hugs from my long-lost friends and breezy, temperate 60 degree weather - a much needed change from the brutal 90 degree heat. It was late afternoon by the time I arrived, so I quickly dropped off my bag and then we all headed to dinner around the bustling Central Station area.
We settled upon an authentic-looking, quasi-fancy Chinese place to eat. There were so many options on the menu that it was a little overwhelming. Eventually, we all settled on some entrees and everything tasted quite delicious. But little did I know that I would acquire a debilitating stomach bug that would have me running to the bathroom for almost 2 weeks. Maybe I had it coming - I had gone ten days in Southeast Asia with virtually no stomach problems and I suppose that I was overdue for an unpleasant encounter. Looking back, I can probably trace my illness back to that restaurant. The waitress misunderstood our request for water bottles and quickly refilled our glasses with warm tap water before we could object. Not the best way to start the visit, but we didn't let that stop us from experiencing the new terrain.
After dinner, we wanted to walk off our food babies so we headed to the Central Mid-level Escalators, the longest outdoor escalator system in the world. Being that the terrain of Hong Kong Island is super hilly and steep, the escalators provide a convenient and unique commute between the Western and Central Districts. Covering a half mile in total distance, the escalators literally seem to go on forever. Tons of restaurants, bars, and shops line the route, making it fun to peer down and people watch from above.
The following day, Emily had to wake up bright and early to take the MCATs (they're not offered in Korea, so she made a vacation out of it). The rest of us slept in and then met up for brunch. We were all craving dim sum, so we wandered around asking random strangers where to find a dim sum restaurant. I'm not sure how we did it, but we eventually ended up at this huge dim sum place in a shopping complex. Being that we were the only foreigners there, I think we found a pretty authentic place.
Of course, that meant that no one there spoke English and their menu was only written in Cantonese. Relying on pictures and pointing to what people at adjacent tables were eating, we somehow managed to order a ton of delicious food. It was an interesting experience, to say the least. There were a couple adventurous types at our table who decided to try pork knuckle. When it finally came out, it reeked of some rancid, putrid smell and was coated in the most unappetizing layer of, what can only be described as, blubber. I'm amazed that they actually finished the whole thing. Props to the rest of us for not puking at the mere sight and smell of it.
After our meal, we caught back up with Emily who had just finished her five hour exam. The girl's a trooper. Then we strolled along to the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens. My time in Hong Kong was a lot more laid-back and spontaneous than my other trips. In Malaysia, Thailand, and Cambodia, there was a lot of stuff that we had wanted to see and do, so our schedule was tightly packed and planned to the hour. However, in Hong Kong, there wasn't that same sense of urgency, so we just enjoyed each others' company and wandered around.
There are over 1000 species of plants and several animal exhibits on display at the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens. It's certainly not very large or particularly impressive, but it was a nice way to spend the afternoon. More than 125 years old, this nature reserve stands in direct contrast to the hundreds of towering commercial buildings that loom in the downtown area. Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated areas in the world. With that statistic comes a highly developed transportation network with public transport traveling rate exceeding 90 percent, the highest in the world, and the recognition of having 7650 skyscrapers, the most in the world. Hong Kong seems to be a place that's constantly breaking world records.
After the Zoological and Botanical Gardens, our big group split up and went separate ways. I, as expected, joined the shopping subgroup and we took the subway over to the Kowloon peninsula on the other side of the Victoria Harbor. There, we hit up Granville Road, a trendy, fun shopping area lined with a ton of local designers and cheap clothing boutiques. I was a little depressed to see the price tags, not because they were particularly expensive, by any means. But just because in comparison to Southeast Asia, I wasn't used to paying "real" prices (comparable to Korea or America) again. Nonetheless, I ended up with a new dress, blouse, and pair of flats.
After a while, we started heading back towards the harbor and found a spot to watch A Symphony of Lights, a multicolored neon light show that occurs daily at 8:00pm for ten minutes. In keeping with the world record theme, A Symphony of Lights is the World's Largest Permanent Light and Sound Show according to the Guinness Book of World Records.
A Symphony of Lights certainly lives up to this title. This spectacular multimedia show combines lights, music, and narration, while employing over 40 key waterfront buildings. The facades of skyscrapers are decked out in lights that, at the flick of a switch, glow in a myriad of colors that mimic Hong Kong’s colorful and bustling atmosphere. The choreographed lights and lasers were a little tacky and anti-climatic, but it was worth checking out for Hong Kong's incredible skyline.
After the light show, we decided to check out Hong Kong's renowned nightlife. Apparently, the only place worth visiting is Lan Kwai Fong, a buzzing centre of bars, clubs, and Western-style restaurants. I was amazed by how many foreigners there were in this little square of cobblestone streets; perhaps more than I've seen anywhere else in Asia, thus far. Somehow, we ended up dancing barefoot in the street and having the time of our lives. At one point, a super flamboyant bartender led the crowd in choreographed dance movements. It was a colorful memory that I will surely never forget.
The next day, we woke up and once again, had dim sum for brunch. This time, instead of wandering around, we consulted the Lonely Planet travel guide and headed straight to Maxim's Palace City located in the City Hall building. The dim sum there may not be the best or the cheapest, but you have to go for the atmosphere and history. Dining at this restaurant was an amazing experience, one that you must do if you ever visit Hong Kong.
This is old-school dim sum establishment, where all the favorites are pushed around in heated carts, or clear glass trolleys, so that you can see what everything looks like before you order. There was a wide variety of dishes and we made it a point to try one of almost everything. Everything was delicious, especially the barbecue pork buns and dumplings. The decor of this restaurant was surreal with beautiful, sparking chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and a view overlooking the harbor.
After brunch, we waddled, quite literally, over to a nearby bus stop and took the bus up to Victoria Peak. The Peak, as it's known to locals, is Hong Kong's most popular tourist attraction. Seven million people visit every year and take advantage of the two giant shopping centres, Peak Galleria and Peak Tower. Moreover, Peak Tower boasts the largest 360 degree viewing platform: The Sky Terrace 428.
Perched 428 metres above sea level, the Sky Terrace 428 offers spectacular panoramic views of the vibrant city. It's amazing to see the Hong Kong skyline from up there. The view overlooking Central, Victoria Harbor, and surrounding islands was absolutely stunning. I took a ton of photos up there. Of course, Emily and I also managed to push all the lovey couples out of the way and snap a photo in front of the oversized heart.
After that, we had a leisurely afternoon. We drank overpriced caffeinated beverages and people watched. Then we did a little more shopping around the Central area. In the evening, we just walked around and ate delicious Vietnamese food. It was a great, relaxing way to spend my last full day of traveling.
After that, we had a leisurely afternoon. We drank overpriced caffeinated beverages and people watched. Then we did a little more shopping around the Central area. In the evening, we just walked around and ate delicious Vietnamese food. It was a great, relaxing way to spend my last full day of traveling.
On a side note, I learned during my time traveling around Asia that I am extremely ambiguous looking, in terms of my nationality. There is no doubt that I am of Asian decent, but no matter where I go, locals will assume that I am "one of them." In Korea, I am frequently mistaken for Chinese or Japanese, even before I open my mouth and prove my foreignness that way. In Malaysia, locals speak to me in Malay; in Thailand, I am greeted in Thai; the same applies in both Cambodia and Hong Kong. I don't know whether to take it as a compliment or not. But it's interesting to know that, unlike when I was studying abroad in Europe, I can easily fit in wherever I go in Asia. ^_~
By the time I returned back to Korea, my backpack and heart felt twice as full. This two-week trek around Southeast Asia surpassed my expectations. It was so amazing to explore a part of the world that I had never seen before. What an incredible opportunity I've been given. Not only am I spending my year in my motherland, learning the language, soaking in the culture, and making a difference at my school; I also get 2 full months of paid vacation to see and experience the world. I suppose that's what being a cultural ambassador is all about. I am so lucky to be living this incredible life. Thanks for coming on this journey with me.
But it's interesting to know that, unlike when I was studying abroad in Europe, I can easily fit in wherever I go in Asia. ^_~
ReplyDelete#Ignorant Dutch people
Your trip sounds amazing!