Going Downhill in Hong Kong!

Hong Kong is busy. We’re staying in Causeway Bay which I’ve learned is the most congested part of Hong Kong. Funny thing is half of this island is a National Park. And anything is a 30 minute cab ride away. The city rolls with steel and glass high rises from the Hong Kong bay uphill to Victoria Peak, the highest point of the island. As in any urban landscape the city is divided into small sections. The Central District is exactly that — the center of the city. Complete with a Bank of America and other financial powerhouses providing a gateway to do business with China and the rest of Asia.

With all the people hustling and bustling in Causeway Bay, Central, Soho and more I found it interesting that the metro (MTR), busses, hotel elevators and even throughout Hong Kong’s new and very architecturally impressive convention center the painful use of watered down Muzak. I guess it’s simply an attempt to soothe and create a sonic peaceful ambiance. But it’s enough to make me sick.

The cabs are rather interesting. Red with white roofs. And when you flag a cab down the driver pushes an eject button and bam, the door flies open. Just climb in. When you reach the destination and have paid your fair eject again.

This night we decided to start our night life adventure toward the top of the hill near central in SoHo. Littered with nice shops, cafes and a full range of ethnic restaurants the area seems to cater to ex-pats — a sea of round eyes unlike anywhere else in Asia — as expected after more the 150 years of British rule.

Starting in SoHo for a cocktail where we were quite surprised to have a second martini dropped on the table the second the first was downed. In a thick Asian accent the gal said two for one. A guess happy hour. As the adage goes, we starting going downhill from there. Thai food in the Lan Kwai Fong district followed by more drinks at Insomnia, a club featuring a really good cover band from the Philiippines. Here the streets are closed every night and you can roam from club to club. And if you haven’t finished your beer or cocktail it’s fine to take it with you onto the streets. Just can’t take into the next bar.

And it went downhill from there. Next we hoofed it to Wan Chai where more clubs, strip clubs and bars that tend to have a bunch of Southeast Asian women waiting around. Many of these women work as domestic help and look to connect with new friends — sailors, travelers or ex-pats looking to cure their own symptoms of the ‘Asian Flu’.

After roaming the streets, bars and feeding on the energy of the Hong Kong evening Bryan and I fell into our beds in our hotel around 5am. Geeeeeez. I better stort making moves toward China. This could get crazy.

Photos: (1) Nightlife scene in Lan Kwai Fong; (2) Live music at Insomnia; (3) Tan from Tan from Thailand, girlfriend of our host these evening, Michael.