Hello from Hong Kong

Postcards from Asia, Part 15

Dear friends,

Hong Kong is vastly different from Japan. At first, I missed the quiet chaos of Japan’s larger cities. But sometimes, you want grit. You want the bewildering fullness of life, indifferent waitstaff, raw movement. And, you definitely want the food.

HK is a lot like NYC in that way. You think all the people, grime, and hustle won’t work, but it not only does, you learn to thrive in it.

My first few days in Hong Kong, I was inexplicably exhausted. I’d had weeks of changing landscapes, rules to learn, and logistics to plan. The uncertainty of the future and my place in it was starting to catch up to me.

Victoria Harbor skyline

But, I began to get my bearings. I visited the Temple Street Night Market with a Basque woman I met at my hostel, and we checked out Victoria Harbor and saw the statue honoring Bruce Lee. A few days later, I had the privilege of meeting fellow Substacker Franco Wong and his beautiful family who welcomed me into their home for dinner.

With Substack writer Franco and his sweet family

I went on an epic hike to Dragon’s Back, Big Wave Bay, and Shek O’ Beach, a day trek with gorgeous views.

Dragon’s Back hike

And, after 15 years of friendship, I got to visit my friend Kim’s family for a mini high school reunion. Kim and I met during my junior year when he came to study on a cultural exchange and got put in the middle of nowhere, Texas.

With Kim and Rainbow

At the time, I had no idea the frenetic and pulsating place Kim came from; he was simply my new friend who introduced me to the wonders of milk tea and Asian markets. Kim and I stayed in contact after school, and he and his wife Rainbow even came to Texas to visit twice. Now, it was my turn to meet Kim’s family and see the place where he grew up.

I got to walk through Kim’s old neighborhood, try the different foods he and Rainbow loved, and spend time with his parents, grandmother, and their cute dog who wore a Pikachu-onesie.

Dinner with Kim’s family

We visited Tai-O, a fishing village a couple hours outside of the city, and Rainbow told us about a grilled squid snack she had there when she was a kid. We tried the squid while wandering around the village, taking photos and reminiscing about old times.

Tai-O Village

I realized in the midst of travel fatigue and world weariness that I was having fun. Hong Kong was alive, energetic, befuddling, and just plain fun.

Bruce Lee statue

It could be because I was comfortable with my high school friend, his wife and family, who made me feel welcome and loved. Or, it could be the city itself, so full of life and hustle and West meets East meets old meets modern.

Sitting next to my friend’s 92-year-old grandma, waiting for our steaming plate of pork intestines, laughing and talking with Kim’s family who complimented me on my eagerness to try every food put in front of me…This is why I travel.

Kim and his sweet grandma whose personality reminds me of my late grandmother

The people make the place and getting to experience this side of Hong Kong with Kim and his family has been one of the best parts of my trip so far.

Until next time,

Ash