For the first time on our journey, we feel we have found a place where we could actually live.
Don't get me wrong, the other places have been wondrous, awe-inspiring, majestic and utterly beautiful, but none of them have made us feel like home. They say that Hong Kong is the place where Asia meets the world, that the city is more like the rest of the world than the orher cities of China. Maybe that's part of the explanation as to why we feel at home, but Hong Kong is also more of a cohesive city than Beijing, Xian, Shenzhen and Guilin, all of which we have visited up until now. It has a feel and an identity of its own.
Hong Kong was, for 113 years, a part of the largest, modern empire of them all. The British snatched it from China after the Opium Wars and with the exception of World War II, the sun never set here until the British were forced to give it back in 1997. Remnants of their rule can be seen everywhere; in names of places and people, architecture, traffic rules, fashion and shops. Moreover, many people speak English (for a speech example, find an interview with Jackie Chan on Youtube).
There are a few things you definitely must do in Hong Kong. Take the Star Ferry across Victoria Harbour (costs 2.5 HK dollars, which is slightly more than two SEK) at 8 pm. This will give you the best seating possible for the Symphony of Lights, a laser show displayed on the skyscrapers. Take the Metro to Tung Chung and grab a bus for Lin Po monastery with the world's largest sitting Buddha. A tram will take you to Victoria Peak with a fantastic view of the city. Also, see the Man Mo temple which stands on what used to be the border between the immigrated population and the native Chinese. To separate two population groups this way was a common tactic of the British to make sure they could keep control.
Tomorrow we move on to another former British colony. We leave for Delhi in India.
The Victoria Harbour waterfront
Sky scrapers
Sundown from Victoria Peak
Slightly bigger Buddha without plastic wrapping
While traversing Victoria Harbour
At Stanley Beach
At IKEA Causeway Bay
Vi lever så lika liv nuförtiden. Igår var jag också på IKEA!
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