Swan Song for Hong Kong

About 10 months ago, I had been in Singapore for about 2 weeks – new job, new country, new life. I was sitting on the bed of my Singapore hotel room, overlooking the City Hall district with a view of the Singapore Flyer in the distance. I was semi-frustrated with work and life. I was slightly depressed and felt emotionally incoherent.

Now, it’s the last night of my Hong Kong holiday trip – great company, reminiscent location, distinctly new memories. I’m sitting here, in my Hong Kong hotel room over looking Nathan Road with Mongkok in the distance. Jumee’s asleep already and I am here, hanging on to last few hours of my escape to this expressive urban-Asian paradise.

I love Hong Kong and I don’t want to fly back to reality.

Maybe it’s because I have fond memories of Hong Kong (from last year and the from my youth – mostly Ocean Park and Toys R Us and some random tiring adventures in Mongkok with Mom)… Or maybe my experiences with this metropolitan playground have just been too skewed towards fun, and are ridiculously biasing my perceptions… Or maybe its because deep deep deep down, I know Singapore’s not really cutting it for me (Yes, I know I have to give it time – blah blah blah – I am giving SG a chance! Promise! And I will continue to for at least another year or so, I think). Whatever the case, I am drawn to the sordidly sexy yet, sophisticatedly sleek microcosm of a town that is Hong Kong.

The last time I visited HK was a about a year ago with my mom and 3 brothers (sadly Margaux and Chuck couldn’t make it). All of my previous trips have always been with family. This trip was different, this was the first time I really experienced Hong Kong as an independent adult… and man was it amazing. Granted the shopping and touristy stuff were still there (Another!. H&M, Uniclo, Harbor City/Ocean Terminal, Soho, Hollywood Rd, etc). But man was the night life is amazing! Only really went to Lan Kwai Fong and Causeway Bay… but shit dude, Dragon Eye and Volar were topnotch in my book.

I think Hong Kong is a great bustling metropolis functioning in both aged eastern heritage and progressive western pulsations. The city is true to form with its international capacity and baller mentality, and it is brimming with explosive excitement and go-get ‘em energy. So as I heavy-heartedly say goodbye to this magical city, I make a pact with myself to one day live life here. It may take a few years but Hong Kong, I’ll be back and one of these days it’ll be to stay for a while! That’s a promise.