We’re leaving for the mainland later this morning – A and I are off to Guangzhou and then, uninclined to spend a great deal of time in that supposedly mess of a Chinese city, immediately off on an overnight train to Guilin where we will cruise down the Li River. It’s been a helluva time in Hong Kong and has reaffirmed for me, yet again, the interconnectedness of us all and the latent potential in each new conversation with a stranger.
THe amazing carrot cake at LIFE
Ann and I arrived here two days ago from Taipei, checked into the hotel and set off to explore. We had lunch at Life, the vegetarian restaurant recommended to me by friends and yogis alike. Revived by a few veggie sandwiches, we caught a bus to the Star Ferry and set off for Kowloon, the crazy part of Hong Kong. Roaming Nathan Road, the tourist-trap thoroughfare of electronics, jewelry, and other stuff, A and I felt grateful for deciding to stay on HK Island. Mild in comparison to Bangkok night market hastling, the plethora of Indian men trying to pull us into our shops and small Asian women whispering “Gucci! Prada! You want?”, were nonetheless still remarkably irritating. Perhaps it was the lack of caffeine that day that contributed to our annyance, so we decided a Starbucks run was in order.
A few hours later found us in the Long Kwai Fung area of HK island, meeting my friend D and his HK friend, M, for a Sangria and some middle eastern food. It’s always interesting to see your friends outside of their usual context and seeing D outside of Taipei was great fun. He took us for the best Lebanese food of my life. That is quite the claim, I realize, but it’s true. The creamy hummus, the soft pita, the chunks of fish, the fresh grilled cheese…..I was taking it all in, so that when, in a few days, I would be confronted with bits-of-animal stews, I could remember just how yummy the non-Chinese food was.
The quest for eating western in Hong Kong continued into the next day, as I rather illogically deemed that filling my system up with yummy, healthy western options would somehow spare me the anticipated stomach ailments. We ate at Life again, ate at a bread and soup place, and downed Mexican nachos at Taco Loco. Convinced of my digestive invincibility yesterday, I ate with relish. Unfortunately, my stomach apparently did not love something in that mix. Bu hao.
The potential upside was the fate factor of meeting (at Taco Loco) an expat woman who lives in Beijing. Perhaps overly friendly, she invited A and I to stay at her 5,000 square foot apartment in Beijing while we’re there. A and I are still weighing the potential upsides of staying with her (saving money, having her driver cart us around town, nice dinners, etc.) vs. the downsides (three days of conversations with this Texan woman and the obligations that come with staying with someone). The jury’s still out.
The beach at Stanley
Digestive issues aside, yesterday was a feat of exploration. From the bus ride to Stanley, a great beach and market area that involves a twisty-turny terrifying double-decker bus ride, to the view of HK at night from the top of the mountain at Sky Tower, we breathed in the city.
THe double-decker buses
In just a bit now, we’ll be off to breakfast and then on to the Guangzhou express train. Or rather, A will be having breakfast and I will be mentally imbibing the delectable spread.
1 Comment
June 13, 2009 at 12:09 pm
Gracie and I decided last night on the couch that we love living vicariouly through your posts. I can’t wait until you make your way back to the states so I can hug you – but have fun in the East in the meantime.
P.S. – Zion is ringing bells right now in honor of the crash victims. The town is throwing a party to raise money for a memorial. I am crying over these bells. How messed up is this?