I decided not to write a travel day post from Chengdu as it was only one flight that lasted a few hours. I flew with Hong Kong Airlines and they have the most spacious seats in economy class that I think I have ever seen. A little snack was provided even though it was a night time flight. Arriving in the dark, it wasn’t until morning that I had my first real glimpse of the city. Here are my first impressions of Kowloon Hong Kong.
Gritty is Right!
When I was doing research trying to figure out which area to stay in HK, I chose Kowloon. Even though it was being described as ‘gritty’ I knew it would be far more interesting than the shiny new, steel and glass high-rise area. Gritty, filthy and run-down, these descriptors accurately describe what I see.
Buildings are aged and the exteriors have not been maintained. So many, I can’t tell you how frequently I see this, are covered with the bamboo scaffolding, yes, the very same that was the cause of that catastrophic fire in January that killed 168 people. They look like vertical nests, traps.
Chaotic
I am staying in an unpleasant hotel located Mongkok which is one of the most densely populated areas in the world. The estimated density is 130,000 individuals per square kilometre. And it shows on the streets. Sidewalks are packed with people, everyone dodging each other as there is no natural rhythm on which side people walk. So much business is going on, delivery trucks are constantly offloading into shops and buildings. Traffic is intense and loud with honking and exhaust.
Markets
Just about everywhere I walk, I can see a market. Sometimes whole streets are closed off and both sides are lined with vendors. Colourful umbrellas cover the delicate fruits and veg providing shade, meat is being chopped up, live fish are slaughtered right there, the pieces still twitching as they hit the table. There is food literally everywhere I look. And there has to be, think about all of these people that need to be fed! It must be a never-ending influx of sustenance into the city.
Overcast
The sky is white and there are several reasons for this. Being as humid as it is and as hot, sea salt and dust particles get trapped in the water droplets. That blanket then traps the smog and pollution and that white haze is ever present. I am hoping for one blue sky day while I am visiting, mostly to see the skyline, but I won’t hold my breath. And speaking of weather, it is incredibly muggy. Within 10 minutes of leaving the hotel, I am dripping with sweat from head to toe. Its gross.
Alright, I am in for a ride here. I was not expecting quite these extremes and am feeling overwhelmed, I’m not going to lie. My hotel is less than stellar, stained carpets, worn furnishings and the size of a shoe box. Oh ya, it also reeks of mildew and mold. Anyways, I’m here, I’m in Hong Kong, lets get out and explore!
