3-25-09

 

The next morning we woke up early and began our long trip to Hong Kong. We had a really new, nice train back to Shanghai. In Shanghai, we scrounged through fast food restaurants in search of a power outlet to charge our electronics. Burger King fit the bill. I waited in a busy entrance to a market with our bags while Rachel went in for supplies (beer, ramen, chips, water). We made it onto our sleeper train to Hong Kong and were happy to see that the top two bunks were empty (nobody would be sleeping with our bags) and the two ladies below us had well-kept feet. One lady had brought a handheld radio that was astonishingly loud and persistent.

 

 

3-26-09

 

Once in Hong Kong we met another couple and had an awkward moment of simultaneously realizing that the food in the train station was out of our budgets. We split ways, then Rachel and I justified getting some McDonalds. We took an above ground subway through lush (compared to China) Hong Kong.

We found Siddharth’s (our host’s) apartment and had a moment of confusion trying to remember and or get a wireless connection to find the combination for his lock. His apartment had directions posted throughout, to help the heaps of surfers he invites to stay with him. We had a small room, I played some guitar while Rachel went out for conditioner.

 

Another Belgian couple, Nick and Joke, who were staying there as well, returned from the city. We all hung out and shared stories. They had just done some charity work in Cambodia. Siddharth came home later and we all had a short conversation about Quantum Physics because he enjoys the subject and is a professor in Information theory.

 

3-27-09

 

The next morning we headed out to see the city and had to work around the rain. We went to a cool space museum, and then the art museum. After that the rain stopped and we walked along the Avenue of Stars and up Nathan Rd. that was an especially busy area. We were happy to find a busy, diner-like restaurant and they were cool with us bringing in some Carlsburg and San Miguel beers from the 7-Eleven down the street.

After that we got lost trying to find our way back to the Avenue of Stars so we could check out the daily light show at 8pm. The buildings light up and it’s all choreographed with music. The show was underwhelming because of the mist so we went one more subway stop to watch Siddharth play unicycle hockey.

 

We ran into the Belgian couple and Siddharth on the street, said goodbye to the Nick and Joke (because they had a plane to catch) and followed Siddharth to the YMCA. There weren’t enough unicyclers to play a game so Siddharth went to do some shopping and that left me with his unicycle for about 40 minutes. It took me that long to be able to ride the thing 15 feet without falling. Very difficult, exhausting work.

 

After meeting some of his friends, he took Rachel and I to an Indian restaurant down the street. He offered to pay for our meal but we insisted on going Dutch. The meal was fantastic and we had an interesting conversation about the political status/future of Hong Kong with another couchsurfer who works in the department that draws up those international contracts.

 

Siddharth rode a long bus home with us. We talked about novels and he was nice enough to introduce us to some delicious fruits (Mangosteen and Rose Apple).

3-28-09

 

Siddharth walked us to a small bus that would take us to Debbie and Dave’s house (our next hosts). As soon as we walked off it, we had a good feeling about this little harbor town. There was an eclectic mix of Chinese, European, Malaysian, and Filipino families pushing strollers and eating at little cafés. There was the smell of plants, nature, food, and seawater. We people-watched by the city center until Debbie came to meet us. We took a short taxi back to her house so we could avoid carrying our bags in the heat. The driver charged us an extra dollar because we had bags. They drive older Toyotas with huge interiors.

 

We went up to her apartment and met Dave with a bunch of smiles. They made us feel immediately at home. I wrestled and showered affection on their excellent “Chinese village dog mutt,” Caper. We sat and talked while I fiddled with her guitar. We were happy to meet a laid back couple with a great sense of humor.

Debbie had to go to work so we followed her into town. Dave had some work to do so we killed time by walking around. First we ate Indian food on the second floor of a lofted bar that played upbeat 90’s to the delight of the Asian girls on the arms of older British men. We walked to the harbor and took in all the live seafood on display at the restaurants. Within minutes we were in an industrial part of town which was hosting an energetic flea market style extravaganza with televisions, furniture, and house decorations.

 

After that we found a quieter part of town, and just by chance, a cute little park at the top of a hill. We took pictures and went down to get some coffee. On the way, we found a country-style used book store, which was totally unlike anything we had seen for years. What a cool little town. After that we found a wine store with an excellent selection and Cuban “Romeo and Juliet” cigars for the cheapest price I’d ever seen them ($7). They also had Chimay beer . . . Whoa! The clerk told us that Hong Kong movie stars live here. Debbie and Dave later said that rent is really expensive (around $1500 a month for a decent place for two) and you need 3.5 months up front for deposit.

 

Rachel and I wanted to give Dave more time to finish his work so we bought a couple Carlsburg beers and drank them in a block-sized park that the locals cut through to get around. It got dark and we took a very cool footpath back to their place. Good conversation after that.

 

3-29-09

 

Debbie and Dave offered to show us around the island. We took a bus into town and were in the area of Nathan Rd. They showed us one of the day markets. I wanted to take a picture of a g-string with an elephant nose shooting out of it but the girl said it would cost me. No photo.

 

Then they helped us shop for a new lens for our Sony camera. Rachel has been disappointed with the zoom on it so now we have a Tamron 18-200 Macro lens that can do just about anything. It’s pretty cool. Then we ate at a porridge-type (congee) place and were still hungry so I got a street-baked-potato (not bad). We found this store with crazy intense soft-pellet airguns that looked waaaaayyy too real to be sold in the States. We ended up on ferry boat that went across the river. We got some nice shots out of it, shopped a bit, and walked though the hoards of Filipino housemaids that use their day off to socialize in make-shift picnics. This seriously stretched on unendingly.

 

Then we went to “Peddler’s market” where I bought a nice Express t-shirt for $3.50 to replace the one I was wearing that reeked of mildew. Then went to a clothing store (gotta ask Rachel for the name - H&M!!!) and the girls raved throughout it while Dave and I stood around. Then we finally made our way back, exhausted.

That night we met up for Thai food with a couple of their friends. I can’t remember their names right now (because it’s 7 days later) but they were really cool. Chris was a very relaxed Aussie with long hair and an easy smile. He had traveled a lot and told some great stories about his taxi driving days. We drank three big beers together and shared a lot of laughs.

 

3-30-09

 

The next day Rachel left for the city to get her hair colored by the professionals and Debbie went to work. That left Dave and I. Dave had some work to do so asked him if I could just chill in the background. He was cool with that, I helped myself to some pressed coffee, and four hours of website development. Dave, and his dog, Caper, joined me for some Thai food at the same place as the night before. We had a classic PC vs Mac vs Linux conversation. He likes the latter two and had a lot to teach me about both.

 

We came back, I finished the laundry, and Rachel arrived followed by a visibly tired Debbie. Rachel and I went out again for Indian food and park beers. That night when we came home, Dave and Debbie helped us organize our exodus from Hong Kong for the next morning. They were kind enough to book us a taxi and give us great directions. We are very grateful to have experienced their generosity. Thanks guys.