km x km

Roots

The Hong Kong Museum of History is the best museum I've been to in recent memory. I didn't expect much, especially after visiting the historical sites in mainland China, but I was really pleasantly surprised.

The difference between seeing something like the Great Wall and experiencing the museum's "Hong Kong Story" is the latter is personal. I didn't grow up with my parents telling stories about the Great Wall or Forbidden City. I grew up with stories about their school days and my grandma's anger towards the Japanese because of their brutal occupation during WWII. So, my visit in the Museum of History was an informative and at times, an emotional glimpse into where my parents (and in turn, where I) came from. By the last film, as I watched footage of the 1997 British handover to China, I got a little teary.

I really recommend this museum to everyone, whether you have roots in Hong Kong or not. The installations are really well done, often interactive pieces with sound. It's also so cheap! Free on Wednesday or $10 HKD (less than $2 CND).

Photo: A Japanese propaganda poster asking British troops and Hong Kongers to surrender to the Japanese forces since "it is certain that Hong Kong will be smashed into pieces from the air."

My mom says I'm cool

This is me sitting in front of our Langham Place Hotel room. Great view of Mong Kok and I'm so cool I need sunglasses.

Hong Kong fish market

In Mong Kok, there's a "Fish Market" street. Here, most of the establishments are fish vendors, aquariums, etc.

The view from here

The Hong Kong side skyscape from a Hong Kong Museum of Art window. Look at the little people working on the boardwalk below. I like their hats.

KFC

KFC is the most recognizable and most popular Western fast-food chain in Beijing. McDonald's stands no chance against the chicken meister, Kernal Sanders, but look! The Kernal is Chinese. Where are you now Ronald?!

Bikes

No one has a bike lock in Beijing, they just leave their bicycles unattended and it's not like bike theft isn't a problem.

The Great Wall

I'm boring

My stay at the gorgeous Langham Place hotel is over and now I'm crashing with my good friend, Con, in Happy Valley on Hong Kong island. This neighbourhood is unlike any other part of Hong Kong I've seen. It's less urbanized, up the mountain and there's lot of greenery. It reminds me a bit more of home, but only because the space is more open.

I've spent the past few days contemplating my future, over-eating in the company of family and friends, and riding the MTR (which is taking over Montreal's Metro as my favourite public transportation system). I spent a little bit of time back in Lam Kwai Fong today but tomorrow I hope to walk around, find some galleries and do a little solo adventuring. Hopefully, the weather will co-operate. I'm sorry there isn't anything exciting to report but that's because I've been boring this week.

Kosmosis

I'm drinking the best cup of coffee I've had in a long time and of all the places to have a good cup of plain ole coffee, I didn't think I'd find it at a cafe in Hong Kong. The place is called Kosmo, and this franchaise, on the corner of Lam Kwai Fong, is full of ex-pats from around the world. The Caucasian redhead behind the counter is from Australia and speaks decent Cantonese. He's the first white guy I've seen converse in Cantonese and I can't help but watch and listen with intrigue. The Torontonian girl who borrowed my power adapter's phone just rang, her ringtone is "We wish you a merry Christmas."

It's just the place I've been looking for (minus the bad ringtone). There's free broadband Internet and I'm drinking delicious Swiss chocolate "organic Well-bean coffee" blend. Half coffee bean and half soy bean, this is supposed to be good for me. Connie's meeting me here and after her colonics appointment she'll probably appreciate the "healthy lifestyle cafe."

Back in Hong Kong

It's a rainy Thursday in Hong Kong. I'm feeling lethargic and don't really want to go anywhere. One reason is I'm tired. The other reason is that this is a really sweet hotel and our room is so awesome I don't want to leave. I'm thinking of living here untili my Visa maxes out completely and then...I dunno.

I left mainland China with mixed feelings and I'm still digesting everything. I left glad that I had the opportunity to see, with my own eyes, the spectacular history; but I also left with guilt. Guilt because I have so much more than these people and my ancestors before me. Guilt because the 1 and a half hour Chinese massage I received in Chengde was only 100 RBG (about $16 CDN) and given to me by a local girl I suspect wasn't even 19-years-old. She works 12-14 hours a day and survives on tips. She could be me and I could be her, and for these reasons, I'm still uncomfortable with my time in China and still, even now in Hong Kong.

At this moment, I just want to lie in my bed back at home and watch a good movie with a homey from home. It would be a nice break from the big eight-course dinners and crowded city streets. Then Scotty could beam me back here after I got enough rest.

But now, Mom's waiting for me to do more shopping with her.