July 25; upsides of travel: when things go smoothly

Day 170

After awaking in another airport, we were ready to accomplish two main goals today:

1) find our hostel

2) get our visa

 Hong Kong and Kowloon are relatively small regions making it easy to navigate. We found our hostel with ease and were warmly greeted by the nice Filipino receptionist (I'm surprised at how large the Filipino community is here).  HOSTEL = CHECK!

chilling at the hostel 

! After refilling the wallet at a currency exchange (there is no shortage of them), we refueled  at a vegetarian restaurant for lunch, and then headed to the Visa office. At the China Resources Centre, we waited about 20 minutes outside and then 15 minutes inside. The process was surprisingly fast and easy -- ugh, I wonder why Toronto could not have been like that. With our hostel booked and visas in process so much weight (literally -backpackers bags are heavy! and metaphorically- the visa situation was getting me kind of anxious) was lifted. All we could do was relax. :) VISA = CHECK!

We met up with Catherine's friend, Eric, once more for dinner. 

delicious food.
Photo Cred: Cat

Story behind these nervous smilesThe lady who took this picture didn't realize that the doors were coming down on her. 

We had amazing food and while we were eating, Eric sneakily went to the washroom and paid for the meal. Honestly, all these nice people we meet! I.O.Us are most definitely in order.

July 6; lifestyle of the rich and famous

Day 151

Kowloon (connected to the mainland) and Hong Kong Island are conveniently connected and made easily accessible by the amazing subway system and ferry.  We took the subway to Hong Kong Island today where we first, we found lunch at a local authentic Chinese restaurant. Hong Kong people are always on the go and the restaurant we went to reflected this type of fast pace lifestyle. People were crammed into tables, ordered food quickly, scoffed down their meal, and then moved on right after.

eating wonton soup woo
Photo Cred: Cat

After lunch we explored Central, the business area.

ah silverstein! amazing!

sexist for hire ad.

We walked and walked and ended up a few subway stops down in Causeway Bay, another major shopping center in Hong Kong. Here, the streets are filled with designer stores and pedestrians stirring about. Shopping seems to be a favourite past time for some Hong Kongers.
Fact: To make space for new stores, movie theatres get changed into designer stores.

another mall

We met up with Kristie's friend's uncle whom we met at a cool bar area called Lan Kwai Fong.

There was some sort of business event going on that we were kindly invited too. Despite feeling young, under dressed and nonfinancial-ly (it was a business-y social gathering), Uncle D was great company/so funny, and welcoming. He treated us to drinks and dinner then took us on a tour of the area. Apparently the area was founded and developed by a Canadian so most of the bars and restaurants were once or still are owned by Canadians! Pretty cool. The area used to have a garbage dump as well... It sure has come a long way. As Uncle D was giving us the tour, he got waved at and called into a few bars. We went to Muse (where I actually wanted to go to since my app recommended it) when one of the people called him in,  then we made our way to dragon-I. Dragon-i was the it place for Hollywood stars, models and professional athletes to hangout during their off time. Apparently, when Ronaldo (soccer star) was there last, he was in the VIP room receiving a few unholy favours.
Ya, definitely exclusive.

This was definitely a taste of the good life. Definitely one of my favourite areas in Hong Kong thus far. Thank you for spoiling us Uncle D!

coerced into taking touristy photos.

                         

More things I learned about HK:

1) Generalization, but materialism has taken over HK. Saving face and designer goods plays a huge part of Hong Kong culture.

2)  Hong Kong people like to eat and shop. In the malls, there are no designated sitting areas. There are stores to shop in and then restaurants/cafes to sit and eat in. There's no space to do nothing.

July 5; Hello Hong Kong: TST edition

Day 151

Today, we moved hostels to a more convenient location closer to the central area. This building, like the other, was full of different types of guest houses. 

We spent the day wandering around the Tsim Sha Tsui area, which is another major shopping area,

stumbled upon Kowloon Park,

what  surprise! flamingos! 

found the pier that looks out on Hong Kong Island,

can't believe we're actually here in Hong Kong

and we kept walking and came across this pretty little area. Thought this might have been a good place to shoot wedding photos.

We met up with Cat's friend, E, for dinner. He was great company and he even treated us out for Macau style Chinese food. So nice. 

I learned three more things today:

1) Hong Kong is a hell of a materialistic world of it's own..

2) Chung King Mansion is a little ghetto in Hong Kong.  The building is heavily populated with Nepalese, African, and South Asian refugees and illegal workers. Apparently, there's a lot of sketchy things that go on in there. I wish we knew this before cause we were actually going to book our hostel there. Our hostel is in Mirador Mansion, one building away from the Chung King Mansions. Despite the sketchyness of it all, it interests me greatly. For further reading, check out: Ghetto At the Center of the World, I know I definitely will.

3) food is amazing here -- just wanted to say that again

July 4; Hello Hong Kong

Day 150

Hong Kong has different areas. There's Hong Kong Island (hustle and bustle), Kowloon (the peninsula is similar to HK Island but cheaper), and the New Territories (suburbs). 

We arrive in Hong Kong and can already tell that it's going to be so different from the mainland.  In the first hour of being there, I had a great impression already. Like, you could see the difference in the sky alone. 

The people spoke Cantonese and English fairly well, the dress was really Western, and it just seemed so much nicer. Don't get me wrong, mainland was nice but Hong Kong is just something else. We checked into our tiny hostel in Kowloon, and thank goodness we're pretty tiny too cause I couldn't see how three grown men would be able to live in the room we were given.  Hong Kong is a small, but busy place, and I guess vertical development and small spaces are the answers to accommodating more people. 

1/2 of the room

other 1/2 of the room

We went out to explore the Mong Kok district. It was a shopper's paradise. Dear divine force, help me. Also, the Mong Kok area is a popular filming location for triad movies.

funny shirt

The common assumption about going to China and eating Chinese food would be chicken balls, spring rolls, and wonton soup all day, every day. The fact of the matter is that each region has their own specialty cuisine, and if you think you're gonna get chicken balls and wonton soup everywhere in China you are very wrong. For starters, chicken balls aren't even real Chinese food.  Wonton soup is a Hong Kong specialty and it's something that we really wanted to eat, especially after hearing Lil B's Wonton Soup rap.

tastes like home!

Shrimp filled wonton soup = $25 HKD (~$3 CND)

Hong Kong is also known for its variety of street foods. I tried the curry fish balls and I will say that it tasted better than Canada's.

food happy!
Photo Cred: Cat

Bowl of curry fish balls = $10HKD (~$1.50 CND)

Within the first 10 hours of being here, I learnt 3 things:

1) Cantonese food is the best kind of Chinese food!

2) Hong Kong is full of moshisoyos

3) shopping is everywhere and it may be the death of my wallet and me. 

June 29; feeling home-y in Shanghai

Day 145

Waking up to beautiful blue skies, especially after the past days of dull grey and gloomy weather, was absolutely wonderful.To add to the good looking morning, we have a lovely patio breakfast our lovely host.

patio view

After preparing breakfast, we helped do the dishes and sweep the floor.
It's so nice to live in an actual home.
         It's so comfortably home-y.
               I can't wait to have my own place.

birds near the pond

Before exploring the city, we make a stop at the bakery to grab some food. I was never a fan of bakery food back in Canada, but I admit... I'm really enjoying it here in China. It's not that it tastes better here, but I think it's just the familiarity of it that makes me actually enjoy it.

We explore the French concession area again. The architecture and trees found in this area are not of Chinese origin (unfortunately, I didn't get pictures of the houses). Sometimes, I forget I'm in China.

Sycamore tree lined streets

And then you see Chinese people and you are reminded that you are in fact still in China.

We found a nice park where the locals were engaged in many activities like badminton, chess, Tai Chi, and even karaoke!

Kristie and I went to Carrefour to buy some ingredients to make our ever so hospitable host dinner. 2 girls who love food and have been away from a multicultural Toronto for far too long, walking into Carrefour's imported products section results to crazy squealing and uncontrollable excitement.

 On the menu tonight, fish with spaghetti and a side salad.

cooking in the kitchen =)

yuuuuum

I definitely wanna cook more when I get back :)