China 1998 - Part One: Hong Kong & Guilin

dougburnett Wyświetlono: 754 razy 2003-11-22 16:11:55

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Every Chinese city seemed to have a night market.They were setup temporarily in the streets for evening shoppers.
Hong Kong

Every Chinese city seemed to have a night market. They were setup temporarily in the streets for evening shoppers. There, under bare light bulbs, you will find all manner of consumer and tourist goods. The Temple Street market in Hong Kong was one of the best. In the crowded, noisy streets I found everything from silk shirts to fake Rolex watches; from plastic shoes to porno CD-ROMs; from fresh fruit to kids toys. There was also fried, steamed and grilled food. This last item added a tempting aroma to the night air. The worst things were the little boxes that chirped - they had an electronic cricket inside. I heard this mind-numbing sound in every market I visited.
By far the most interesting thing about the Temple Street market was the little lane where fortunetellers and astrologers set up shop. I found them sitting on the curb in earnest consultation with groups of Chinese. The results were written onto sheets of paper, which were then burned. This last step must have been very important as I saw one well-dressed man on his knees fanning the flames until the paper was consumed.

Sunday, April 5, 1998

I arrived in Hong Kong about 10:30 in the evening. The first flight, from Detroit to Narita, Japan, had been about 13 hours. Then after a 3-hour layover, it was 5 more hours to Hong Kong. I slept most of the way to Japan and on the last leg I had the good fortune of sit next to a young businessman from Hong Kong. I was so interested in our conversation - he was telling me about the hand-over and what it was like to live and work there now - that I was surprised when they announced that we were making our final approach into Hong Kong.

I quickly cleared Immigration and Customs, mere formalities made quicker by the fact that I was carrying all my luggage on my back. Next I went to reconfirm my onward flight. Upstairs in the departure hall I asked one of the guards where the Dragonair desk was. It only took a minute to find it and reconfirm.

I still hadn't decided whether to take a taxi or bus to my hotel but I would have to go back down stairs to do either. As I was heading toward the stairs I looked outside and noticed a lone taxi out there. That decided it. I walked out and showed the driver the photocopy I had made of my hotel name in Chinese. This is essential - very few drivers speak or read English.

The driver nodded that he understood and I jumped in. It was only about a 15 minute ride (48 HK$ - $6.50) from the airport to my hotel, the Salisbury YMCA. The hotel is located at the southern tip of Tsim Shat Sui, a crowded, business district just opposite Hong Kong Island. I checked in, brushed my teeth and jumped in bed - I was dead tired.

Strona: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

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