There is not too much to say. It is another overcrowded asian city. Although, everything is very, very effiicient and getting around on the subway is very easy. Listen up ladies: If you like to shop this is the place to be. Probably a little better than Tokyo, because it has Mainland China to import from right across the way and definitely not as expensive. When I was in High School in DC, a lot of the rich girls I knew, would come her with their mother to shop. The reason why is that this island has been under British control since 1851 and has a very British way of life. That means even though it is connected to Mainland China, it is very much westernized. So they wear the same clothes, and have a penchant for consumerism just like US citizens. In every subway stop there seems to be any retail store you can think of.... Why do you need a Cartier and a Hermes in the subway stop (as opposed to a proper store in the mall; is Cartier jewelry or a Hermes scarf really an impulsive buy on your way home from work on the subway)? It wouldn't be there if someone was buying this crap! The shopping at the Temple Street market was excellent because you could haggle and get good deals on almost anything you wanted. However there is a lot of fake merchandise in the outdoor markets, so be careful if you want authentic merchandise. It is very raw down there, with high rise ghettos right next to the market that look like Cabrini Green in Chicago! This is one of the most densly populated places on earth, so you will feel claustephobic when walking or on the subway. Carmen and I tried to find a place to eat in the outdoor market, but I chickened out. Visions of drying laundry hanging from 40 story balconies over my fish or crab just wasn't that appealing to me! The pollution was also starting to affect me, I wasn't feeling so good after trekking all over the city all day. Of course Carmen was undeterred. For those of you who know her, she was in full hunt mode, like the female leader of a lion pride, she was pointing out her prey. "Look, there is a duck in the window. Oooh, how about that wildabeast carcass in the middle of street!" She is so greedy yall; and can be very dangerous when she is hungry. So I made the quick decision to remind her of nice restaraunts that we saw near our hotel (they were indoors in the ac). I could tell by the look on her face, she had already imagined what she would eat when we got there, then sprung into action,
"OK let's move. The subway station is this one block up and to the left. Get it into gear!"
My response, " Please don't run, I have on dress shoes!"
Carmen,"Ok, you are gonna get left dammitt".
"Ok baby I'm doing my best, you know I have old sports injuries". I gotta make those excuses or she'll leave me for dead somewhere while she is on the hunt! You'll never starve when you're with Carmen......:)
If you are not very adventurous and want to feel Asia, this is a good place to start. There are night clubs and shopping just like he US. You can get a burger anywhere, and have a nice dinner at Ruth Chris' Steakhouse. It is the crossroads between the far east and the west. There is no jungle and very safe, with malls and suburbia. Not my cup of tea, but I know many of my friends would enjoy this city because its close enough to the American way of life that you get almost anything you want from home right here in the city. They have Disneyworld, Taco Bell, Burger King, and Toys R Us! So ladies save some room in your bags, because you will be buying a lot. Fake quality LV purses go for $15!
Check out the rest of the pictures from Hong Kong by clicking here
Holla later headed to the Phillippines tommorow...
Peace and Hairgrease:)
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Hey Carmen and Bruce, I am enjoying following you around the world. Bruce the stories about your diving experiences were great. I got some good hearty laughs about them. I just wish I could see those colors you described about the coral reefs and the different fish. Look forward to more.
ReplyDeleteLove Dad(in Atlanta)