Last Stop - Hong Kong

Wow, was I happy to land in Hong Kong a few days ago! There is only so much sunshine a person can take as well as 90 degrees + temp everyday (says the girl moving to Florida). Hong Kong is a nice, cool, and cloudy change from Indonesia. Living in Hong Kong seems to me like living inside of a mall. Everywhere you go, every place you turn there is a shop. My hostel, for example, is across from Calvin Klein, above DKNY, and just to the right of Outback Steakhouse (ahh welcome back western culture!). For all you Baros's out there, don't worry - Tonny Romas is just half a block away!

My hostel is pretty unique. Land is hard to come by in this city; that is why there are still pulling a Dutchman here (reclaiming land from the sea); and a hostel surely can not afford a big hunk 'o chunk of space. So what they have done is bought several apartments around the city and converted them to 4 or 5 rooms. So my room is on the 12th floor of an apartment building (livin' with the locals), and is about the size of a broom closet. Really, it is. There is not enough room to even sit properly on the toilet! I had to study all angles before deciding the best way to use the thing. And I don't even want to get into failed attempts....

Hong Kong also has learned a lesson from Vegas, if you keep it bright all the time, maybe people will forget it is midnight and hopefully continue shopping. It is the strangest feeling to sit in a restaurant at around 8pm, look outside, and feel like it is noon because of the brightness. I have had to run outside a few times during dinner just to reassure myself it is actually nighttime and I am not going crazy. Now seeing starts is another issue. I am sure they are there, I saw an unbelievable amount in Bali, but sorry charlie, you are not going to spot one from Hong Kong!

I have spent the days walking though the city with what feels like the other 6.5 million people that live on this island. The streets and sidewalks are always packed with people! Walking through town you feel like you are on a human conveyor belt, the flow just don't stop.

I have also taken a class on Chinese Medicine, and decided that I like Western Medicine. There aint no way someone can convince me that eating deer wee-wees is good for my health! Not to mention, they are quite dear (American translation = costing major mullah). And the most popular item in Chinese medicine - Bird's Nest. That is just a fancy name for bird throw up. But it is ok if it gives you a nice compextion, right? Uh - NO! Sorry, they did not make a believer out of me.

I also took a class on Jewelry Appreciation, now that is something I can appreciate! I learned all the ways to identify the most expensive pearls and diamonds. Oh that can and will be useful information! The class was great until the teacher tried to sell me pearls. Well.. they will just have to wait until next time.

Now I am waiting for the laser and light show - its a Christmas special. Whew-hoo! Stay tuned for the picts.