Around The World w/Scott 2011: These are the days of My Life

Well i guess I needed a nap after my 6 weeks in Thailand. For a old guy I guess like alot of things my recuperation takes a bit longer these days. I arrived in Hong Kong on Monday and literally slept my way to Wednesday morning. i kinda rememeber going out to the golden arches for sustenance. But all I remember is the HK$29.00 big mac meal deal. What....HK$29.00 for a hamburger, fries and drink. Note to self...call broker and buy the arches....quick before my panic over the AU $9.00 meal deal. Anyway, if you need sleep you sleep. When you identify that the mattress that you have been unconscious on for a good 36 hours is actually the box spring. I guess that by buying a mattress and box spring set actually can be split to accommodate two twin bun beds it is why the nightly rate is a mere US$25/night.

I decided to take the local bus from the airport to my lodging and was pleasantly surprised by the nicely appointed double decker bus that I have previously encountered in AU & NZ backpacker environment. These buses have a large storage space for luggage and then the upper deck for passengers. I got the direction to my Wang Fath Hostel. I got confused in the HK airport and was about to be put on the limousine for a HK price of my first condo...not much but still a little exorbitant. My bus was less than US$12. Not bad considering my lodging was on stop 13 which crosses from the New Territories where the airport is, over to Kowloon and then to Hong Kong Island. The bus ride was under 30 minutes and the bus stop was right at the end of Patterson street which is the address of my Hostel...that I selected the night before my flight from Thailand. No pre-planning for me...go with the flow...Thanks to Norman it went smoothly. He was a wee bit hesitant but then i went Hostel in AU and NZ so I was ready for anything...or so I thought. My street; Patterson, is on what is called fashion row which means there is every designer label that you can imagine...Armani, Calvin Klein and the list goes on and I think I have stepped into a fashion dream. So I saunter as gracefully as one can with a huge roller suitcase and backpack on my back. I retract saunter and insert lug my worldly belonging past the neuvo riche shops, as I could shop there but for my arms were already full and I was hardly dressed for high end shopping. These are the type of shops that look down on the under dressed as not potential to have their clothing draped on such an unworthy body. I can't blame them...I did fly business class and did lotion and ointment myself to the level that business class allows but i dress for comfort definitely not style for traveling.

I found my doorway of 47 Patterson and well read the posted flyer on the door which much to my surprise advised me that anything over the 2nd floor was residential use only and any improper use...explicitly defined as hostel; was against the association guidelines. Guess where my lodging (hostel) was...you guess right if you said the 3rd floor. Welcome to the land of rules and regulations that are not followed or are independently ignored or found a way to work around. More on that later. It makes me smile to know that I am in Hong Kong, China which along with Macao has it's own currency and the rest of China has another. I have alot to learn about the South East Asia and it's may social, political and environmental differences. Let's not get into the languages because so far everyone has their own dialect and a few of those are British, Irish, Danish, Welsh, Aussie and a few other dialects that seem to confuse the heck out of me. So hard to interpret the many English interpretations.

Well the journey to the 3rd floor was without hazard and check in with Stanley (Stan) went without a hitch. I have since been informed that the hostel has been and is under renovations which has resulted in a very nice, extremely conveniently located, ultimately priced right and of course with a nice staff that gives you proper directions (direct, swift and not repeated so pay attention) but gets the job done. I am in a mixed dorm, 3 guys and a girl who are from UK, AU & Spain. So far all are very nice, sound sleepers, no one snores and we all tend to rise early so no roommate challenges. I sat with the UK girl till around lunch time today ans she advised that Wednesdays are free museum access days so guess where I high tailed it for my first foray into the city of Hong Kong. Stan advised that the MTR stop was around the corner and that the second stop and change to the red line for one stop. It seemed easy enough so off I went. I have since learned that it is easier to get an octopus card that you can top up as needed and then not have to continue to purchase one way train tickets. Live and learn...so tomorrow I know better. The Museum of Art was right on the bay so as you traverse the escalators from floor to floor you see the most amazing panoramic views of the working harbour. The design is much the same as the Sydney Harbor with a great pedestrian causeway that includes a famous Hongalot of Changs, Chans, Wongs and other unfamiliar Chinese celebrities. I spent a couple of hours just people watching. Fascinating the stream of humanity, locals, expats, tourists...all with a different and sometimes entertaining sense of fashion but they do like their designer labels and shoes oh the love of shoes...both the guys and the girls. A wonderful day was had by one and all.

As I was walking backward to find the MTR station which of course i missed as the HK streets do not I repeat do not lack an abundance of signage. So overwhelming that Las Vegas strip ain't got nothing on the streets of Hong Kong. So yeah, I passed the MTR station and was aimlessly roaming down Nathan Road and finally decided to ask a nice concierge; yes the malls have them as well as a nicely dressed, white gloved handsome man to open the door for you. Neiman's and Nordstrom's have some lessons to learn about customer service. I received not only a map that was patiently drawn directly back the way i came to the MTR stop but I was looking a little scruffy since my last haircut...rememeber the free haircut I received in New Zealand over 60 days ago...I asked for a referral for a haircut and was walked down the street...talk about service; to the hair salon. Well for a mere HK$88 I got a cool haircut. I panicked as I was given a book of Asian hairstyles...which at this date in time is in a very much longer spiky style. NOT; I repeat not my style. needless to say i had a really cool stylist who when I said I needed easy, not spiky, relatively conservative, easy to do daily without styling potions he did exactly what i asked. I'm HOT get over it.

Found my way home and will venture out tomorrow revived, relaxed, and energized to visit the Buddha of HK and ride the Sky tram to get there. I'm excited and looking forward to a great Hong Kong adventure. Stay tuned and enjoy.