There are huge similarities between Singapore and Hong Kong, for sure.
On my first day, I found myself staring at the esplanade, the pearl centre, and the peninsula plaza in Tsim Sha Tsui - the urban area in Kowloon district equivalent to the marina area in Singapore. The high-rise residential buildings are on average 40 floors - even higher than those in Singapore - to meet their housing demands and maximise space.
Our people are similar too, though I'd say Hong Kong people dress a lot plainer. The HK traveller I met in Marrakech is right. There is not a single happy spirit in central HK - you can feel one when you meet one. I encountered so many grumpy, impatient and curt people on the streets, in the stores and especially in eateries. The service crew probably thought that I and most other tourists do not understand Cantonese and hence they uttered rude words freely. I don't think I can ever make HK my home. My HK friends, too, share that they would not want to live here for the rest of their lives.
Like Singapore, there are many foreigners - not just the whites but also Indians, Muslims, Japanese and the Filipinos especially. I asked my friend Charity about it and she said that HK engages even more Filipino helpers than Singapore. When I was exploring the city by myself, I noted that her words are very true. On a typical Sunday, the Filipino females lay their mats by the riverside and chill together, enjoying what's left of their one-day break.
In terms of food, I went to check out the cafes and realised that in Hong Kong, you pay more to eat less. The food in HK is generally more expensive than in Singapore. Their red bean ice is HK$18, which is SG$3.20. Crazy.
I also met Terri, a friend I made in Paris. We ate at a widely acclaimed meat house. 35- duck and shaorou rice. 8 - coke. Then, she brought me to HKU, her school. We talked about HK democracy protest - the Umbrella Movement and also how the Chinese central govt interferes with judicial independence. She lamented to me about how HK society is twisted and harbours no social values.. And she walked me to see the "Democracy wall" in HKU.
Here, the students expressed their unhappiness with the incumbent appointed chairman. She told me that this chairman is very incapable and has low qualifications. An influential law professor that is popular among the students was denied chairmanship because it is feared that his authority would constrain the government's control over HKU. According to Terri, the government installs close personnel in the board of directors. It is important because there are a lot of political activists from HKU. She also shared with me a funny story about how a Mainland student asked a ridiculous question at a student's forum. "You want to promote HK independence, but have you asked your parents?" L O L. That's like asking "you are gay, but have you asked your parents?" Such a scenario, though seemingly a joke, accurately reflects the political culture in China. It is a parenting style of government similar to the paternalistic Singapore under LKY - coddled and disciplined. There is no individual before family - everything one does has to be in the interests of the family that can extend up to 6 degrees of separation.
Here, the students expressed their unhappiness with the incumbent appointed chairman. She told me that this chairman is very incapable and has low qualifications. An influential law professor that is popular among the students was denied chairmanship because it is feared that his authority would constrain the government's control over HKU. According to Terri, the government installs close personnel in the board of directors. It is important because there are a lot of political activists from HKU. She also shared with me a funny story about how a Mainland student asked a ridiculous question at a student's forum. "You want to promote HK independence, but have you asked your parents?" L O L. That's like asking "you are gay, but have you asked your parents?" Such a scenario, though seemingly a joke, accurately reflects the political culture in China. It is a parenting style of government similar to the paternalistic Singapore under LKY - coddled and disciplined. There is no individual before family - everything one does has to be in the interests of the family that can extend up to 6 degrees of separation.
Hi
The nature aspect of Hong Kong is alright. I took a cable car to Lantau island and on the way I thought, heights never bother me mmmmm. The car went up high enough for me to see the mist and I really appreciate the nature's doing. I also went to the Victoria habour to feel the breeze and basically to enjoy the city from the peripheral point of view. I always feel like a third-person anyway, always to observe and never to experience from within the situation. The harbour was unsurprisingly infested with tourists. The weather was slightly foggy, so it appeared less impressive than expected. But it's still nice to see hills at the back of the buildings - the blend of nature and man-made structures. It reminded me of the landscape of Barcelona, though it really couldn't measure up to the latter. The waves were really rough. I like waves. To me, they symbolize an undying force.
I also made it to Dragon's back for hiking, followed by chilling at the beach with charity. I always love my conversations with her. Again, we talked about Hong Kong people. According to her, people here like to do things mid-way. Basically, they cannot commit themselves to a cause. They like to complain, start a protest which fizzles out and that's it. They travel, come back and complain again. People here are not very happy. They work day by day for a paycheck and occasionally escape somewhere else. Well, from a political perspective, it is hard for them to make any concrete changes. Autonomy is really limited and even considered faux when you are in a dragon's nest.
Partying was alright at Lan Kwai Fong. We drank at several places before entering the clubs - mainly captured in the video below. Honestly, these are the two people that remind me that my exchange's real. The things they are willing to do for me and have done for me - such as taking time off to accompany me amidst finals and also being with me at the airport from 1-5am despite having work at 10am the next day - constantly teach me to never settle for anything less.
Hong Kong 2016 from Yong Huey Chyi on Vimeo.
