August 9th
Imagine a string of tree covered mountains tops poking out of the South China Sea, a medley of peaks and inlets. Then stretch out Manhattan around the shoreline - a forest of glass towers reaching almost 1000 feet in height, below traffic choked highways and neon lit shopping malls teeming with traffic and people - Hong Kong is astonishing.
Whereas Tokyo was cool and corporate, Hong Kong is mercantile and sassy. People are stylish, but in a very individualised way, it feels very Western and familiar compared to Japan.. And my god - do they shop!
In amongst this polished consumer paradise small patches of old Hong Kong survive, narrow alleys with pawn shops, massage parlours and Chinese herbalist and acupuncturists rubbing shoulders with Gucci, Tommy Hilfiger and Bvlgari franchises.
Is this the future for the ‘haves’ - a consumerist, designer filtered Utopia? What will become of all the ‘have nots’ who work for subsidence wages across the globe to keep the dream alive for the few?
All that being said it is impossible not to gasp in astonishment at this powerhouse of a city, part Bladerunner, part Gotham City, part post-modernism personified. Amazing, alluring, and discomforting.
That’s before you mention the food…I am getting better with chopsticks, and am now only slightly more messy than the local three year olds.
Good news - Qantas have traced Laura’s bag - it’s still in Brisbane - they’re flying it to Hong Kong overnight tonight and delivering it to the hotel tomorrow -
See you both soon - Sarah, we need to work out how to pick you up on Friday - I’ll try to give you a ring tomorrow morning - Tuesday evening, UK time.
Bye for now,
Love
Dad, Mum and Laura
