Hong Kong
Hi again,
After counting down for months, the day finally arrived for me to hop on a flight to meet my fellow ELA/Delta Gamma/Northwestern alum, Becca, in Hong Kong. We have become very close friends since the start of our program two years ago and were eager to plan a trip together in Asia. She is currently on her rotation in Shanghai and when we looked at a map (and considered ease of entry with visas) Hong Kong was the obvious choice for our weekend getaway.
My flight to Hong Kong was a red eye and I landed at the giant Hong Kong International airport at around the same time that Becca landed. We could not have planned it any better! While we trekked across the airport to meet each other I had to make a pitstop at Starbucks. I was looking forward to enjoying iced latte in Hong Kong because I cannot have those in India without getting sick. If you know me well, you know that I love all iced coffee drinks, so the past four months have been quite the test for me. I have to say that an iced latte has truly never tasted so good. It also helped me to get over the sleepiness of my flight and losing three hours!
We embraced the adventure and used public transit to get from the airport to Central Hong Kong, where we were staying. One of the most noticeable things about our trip is just how independent we have both become during our international rotations. Before coming to India, the thought of landing alone in a foreign country where I do not speak the language would have been a very daunting task. We were completely at ease with the uncertainty and excited by the thrill of not knowing much about where we were. Among many learnings from my rotation here in Mumbai, I can say that my confidence in navigating "the unknown", whether that be a subway in Hong Kong or the Hindu menu at an Indian restaurant, is now deeply embedded in me.
Speaking of navigating, over the weekend we traveled by tram, train, ferry, cable car, trolley, and escalator! We ate local food and even found some of our favorites from home. Hong Kong is very unique because it has both its own culture and the cultures of the many ex-pats who reside there. It was simultaneously familiar and unfamiliar. Some of the highlights from our weekend had to be Lantau Island, exploring the escalators, and our tram ride to Victoria Peak.
Lantau Island is home to The Big Buddha and Po Lin Monastery, among other things. To get there from our hotel we had to first take the subway and then purchased tickets for the cable cars that would take us to the island itself. We opted to get the all-glass car on our way there and did not realize that the floor of the car would be completely transparent, too. The views were absolutely incredible and we had a few moments where we looked out in awe of both the surroundings.We were out of our element and perfectly at peace with it.
Upon reaching the island with sweaty palms (see the photo below to understand why) we trekked up the steps to The Big Buddha, which was, indeed, big! We also walked to The Po Lin Monastery to see the wonderful architecture and worship areas. The entire island was covered in a layer of fog that day, which made the buildings and statues seem even more spectacular. The humidity was palpable throughout the entire weekend in Hong Kong, so we were very much in need of some food and water during our trip to Lantau. Rather than choose the "safe" option of Subway, we ventured over to a small noodle shop, where we had a delicious lunch. Much to the amusement of the locals in the restaurant, I ate my entire order of kimchi rice with chopsticks!
Throughout the weekend we used the escalators in the middle of the city to take us to different "levels". Hong Kong is very hilly and therefore to access many of the streets requires walking up steep sidewalks. The city has escalators that everyone uses to climb upwards. Then, you just get off at the street where you need to go. They were not only incredibly convenient in terms of guiding us to the most popular areas, but also a lifesaver when the humidity got the best of us and we were exhausted. We could grab dinner and drinks along the escalator route and be back to our hotel within 15 minutes. Talk about efficiency!
One final highlight was our last day,when we made the visit to Victoria Peak. We were proud that we not only navigated ourselves to the trolley to reach the peak, but that we were at ease with the crowds that morning. India is very crowded, but in my daily life I am not necessarily in the middle of a large group of people standing on top of one another. We waited for the trolley in a sea of at least 100 people in the Hong Kong humidity and it did not even phase us. When the trolley arrived there was no sense of order in terms of getting on, instead, Becca and I held onto one another and rushed for the door. We made in and it was so worth it! The ride to the top was scenic and a wonderful way to end our trip. We took in the sights (including two French Bulldogs) and then headed back down in the trolley to a very authentic Hong Kong lunch before we departed for the airport.
The weekend in Hong Kong was an eye-opening experience for me, providing a glimpse into what life is like in another part of Asia. Becca and I made memories that I will never forget and I cannot wait to see her again in July...this time at graduation back in the U.S.!
Cheers,
B
Inside the Hong Kong Subway
The Tramways
Elevators
In our cable car to Lantau Island
The view from our cable car
Big Buddha
Close up!
Po Lin Monastery
Yummy lunch
The light show in Hong Kong
View from the ferry
Victoria Peak
Ending our weekend with famous pork buns