Musings of an Idiot

Farewell Hong Kong, Hello Mumbai

This morning I woke up at 5AM and couldn't go back to sleep, so I got ready and went roaming the city wanting to see what it was like so early in the morning. It was pretty deserted at first but as the city picked up momentum it started buzzing again. Before all of that I went to the waterfront and got some cool photographs. People running, exercising and chilling plus the homeless sleeping there combined with newspaper deliveries getting sorted to be sent to different corners of the city.



Any trip to Hong Kong isn't complete without having 'dim sum' - HK style breakfast where you order different kinds of dumplings and enjoy their different flavours and textures as they are served. I didn't have the time for a traditional dim sum since it takes time and I didn't want to be under time pressure. So I caught the bus to the airport and before checking in and going through the customs, I decided to check out one of the restaurants in the non-restricted area since they are supposed to be only slightly more expensive than the ones in the city but much cheaper than the restaurants in the restricted area. And my first dim sum experience was awesome - I ordered 4 different kinds of dumplings and each of them had a very different taste and it was a very enjoyable experience. It is again something you do as a group since it is supposed to make it more fun but I enjoyed it as much alone. I haven't tasted similar quality of dumplings back home and it is definitely a must do if you are visiting Hong Kong.

After the breakfast I checked in and went through the customs and typed the first part of the blog at the airport - which has free internet throughout unlike Auckland airport where you have to pay to get onto the net - which shows the difference in the value placed on customer experience. I wish Auckland Airport would take a cue from HK airport and do something about enhancing traveller experience.

Finishing off this blog on the flight to Mumbai and I must say that the Hong Kong experience has been very different from last time and I managed to do almost everything I had planned and some. It has amazing food, the public transportation is fantastic and cheap and it is a city that's alive and on the move all the time but I don't know if I would be able to live here because it is polluted, it is a little too materialistic which causes immense social pressure and then there is the question of living in small spaces.

It always comes down to trade-offs between lifestyle and money and I know where I stand on that matter. Macau is good for a day trip or if you are into gambling but other than that I didn't find much to love about it {besides the Portuguese architecture and food}. Next stop - Mumbai.

Amit

Labels: Hong Kong, Travel

posted by Amit @ 12:47 PM