(Sent: Fri, December 12, 2003 9:58 am)

After visiting China for my 32hrs I had one night back in Hong Kong. Since I had been almost falling asleep due to lack of sleep over the last few nights I thought it would be wise to find an early bed for the night.

While still in China, I booked my accommodation at a hostel in Causeway Bay in Hong Kong using my trusty worldwide roaming mobile phone (which I later found out does not roam in Korea). Once I found the subway in Kowloon I was set and with a swipe of my prized Octopus Card I was on my way.

Accommmodation

Reaching my accommodation on the third floor of a highrise, I discover no one can speak English. To solve this problem the staff call a number and speak to a mystery man. Through heavily accented English we work out a room for me and the staff kindly take me there.

In the lift and up 8 levels reaches my floor. Here we enter another guest house, which obviously sublets to the hostel I booked through. I am eagerly shown the "plush" private room with shower and toilet and TV. It is very nice actually if you discount the fact that the shower and toilet share the same cubicle. I ended up sitting on the toilet to shower since the room was only the size of the toilet bowl anyway. Fortunately the whole floor of the place was designed as a shower basin. A really bizarre setup, but it worked.

Leaving Home

Sleep came easily being as tired as I was, and my alarm sounded far too soon. I pack and find my way down to the street where I wander in search of a subway entrance. As I find an entrance, I look around wistfully for the last time at this amazing city that managed to endear itself to me during my stay, almost feeling like home if that were possible.

Reflections

There are so many amazing things about Hong Kong. The subways that are so easy to navigate. The incredible strength of so many skyscrapers in such a small space and the amazing spectacle of human achievement that this displays. The incredible mix of different cultures and languages. The ability to find anything you want or need within a few blocks of wherever you may be. The wonderful Chinese people that make up most of Hong Kong.

Yes, it is an amazing place. Not beautiful. Not peaceful. Not restful. But amazing it is. I will always remember these things about this place. It is an adventure to be there.

But now, I am off to South Korea to see Won.