December 27th – 30th, 2014

Hong Kong: a vibrant city of layers and murals and escalators and noodles.

Also, an assault to the senses. This may have been exacerbated by the fact that we accidentally stayed in the dried food district, which consistently smelled like bad soup. But the threat of fainting at any moment really kept you on your feet among the crowds.

I’m also still not 100% convinced it’s a real life city; rather a seriously over-achieving kid’s giant Lego set. Crazier things have happened, right?

Hong Kong was also the first place in a while where I can distinctly remember feeling culture shock. I think it was around day 3 or 4, but Brittany had wanted to go to this locals-only dim sum place for breakfast for a few days now. The kind of place where you enter through a bakery off an alley, go up a sketchy elevator, and are greeted to dining chaos in a stiflingly short-ceilinged room.

Clearly, no one there spoke English and ordering was a matter of flagging down a lady with a cart and pointing at something that looked familiar, or not. Chicken feet probably being among the more recognizable items. After a few action-packed days of trying all sorts of foreign and exotic things, at that moment, all that finally sounded exhausting. The previous day, we had bravely eaten breakfast at a hole in the wall place where I had a bowl of something that can only be described as paste with a floating egg. Sadly, no photos.

So I told Brittany that I needed to go get a cappuccino and an egg-based scramble followed by a reflexology foot massage, and that I’d meet her in a few hours and she could tell me all about it. As a testament to her ultimate travel companion-ship, she understood, gave me $40 from our pooled funds, bid me good luck, and thrust herself into the food frenzy.

Sometimes, even in the midst of a country so foreign to your own, creature comforts go a long way. I left that city energized, inspired, and ready to take on whatever else Asia had to throw at me.

Welcome to the Far East, lady.

Passing through the “suburbs”

We took these double decker trams around the heart of the city for hours, for the equivalent of $0.50 each.

This photo was literally taken by me with my head and camera out the front window, so it’s appropriate here.

Brittany managed to find a fellow “Cars” enthusiast.

Aforementioned dim sum adventure that I did not partake in, but still found enjoyment in this photo by Brittany. Is that corn bread?!

I did partake in these dumplings. They were dumlicious.

In Asia, as one does.

The destination of the Peak funicular railway!

Getting our hiking/nature fix outside the city bustle. Breathtaking views around every bend didn’t hurt.

Hong Kong hipsters.

Man Mo Temple. Definitely worth a visit.

Slow-burning incense cones.

I really loved the bamboo scaffolding.

Pro tip: do not mess with the women who Tai Chi at dusk.