Finally -- an Update!

I realize that I have been on the World Tour for almost six days now and have no posted a single update. For this, apologize. For the length of this post to come, I again apologize. But I ask you bear with me. I guess Hong Kongers (as they like to be called; the adjective "Chinese" offends them) are a wired people, and thus have little use for full-service internet cafes. I have been keeping in touch with my life for 15 minutes at a time thanks to the free internet at Pacfic Coffee Company, but that is not enough time for a significant blog update.

At any rate ... we made it to Hong Kong in one piece, although that one piece had been folded and contorted several times over in order to squeeze into the United Economy seats. I have flown First and Business class on trans-Pacific United flights and found them to be absolutely fantastic places to fly. I have flow JAL and Lufthansa Economy on Trans-Pac and Trans-Atalantic, respective, routes. They were also great flights. There were individual monitors to keep me entertained, and prevented my view from being blocked by those around me. There was decent food and friendly flight attendants.

Anyone who has flown United Economy on domestic routes knows that the flight attendants are not always pleasant, the seats are tiny, the planes smell funny, and the food stinks. This goes double for international flights. I was actually appalled by how poorly United treats passengers in Economy. I remember something about the marketing edge to be "efficient, inexpensive accommodation," but I didn't realize that meant the shittiest seats ever. I have learned my lesson and will never fly United economy on an international flight again (well, except to Ho Chi Minh tomorrow evening because that flight has already been booked). Chalk it up to Chapter 11 putting a damper on United's fleet upgrade plans, but this airline flies old, tired, and outdated 747s. Word is coach is a lot better on the 777s, but with the 747s making up the majoring of the company's fleet, why can't they put forth a better effort? I guess money talks, and these are cheap tickets. They're just not for me.

*****

On a lighter note, I've been having a blast in Hong Kong. Our hostel is located in Chung King Mansions, which we have since learned is the "ghetto of Hong Kong." There is a whole host of unsavory activities that go on deep within the bowels of Chung King, but so far, I have been blissfully ignorant of what Nicole, my friend studying here, calls "rampant crime". There is a staircase that lets out into a small magazine market that I have been taking to get to and from my room, and the worst that I've encountered thus far is the occasional hash dealer looking to make a buck. Nothing I haven't seen elsewhere ....

We explored Hong Kong island on the first full day in town, and had a great time taking the Peak Tram up to "The Peak" to get a great view of the city's famous skyline. The botanic garden and zoological park was also a great experience, not only because of its beauty, but also because it's free. We have also taken a cable car to see a GIANT, and when I say giant, I really mean humongous, statue of Buddha on Lantau Island. This thing is a freak. It sits on top of a mountain and has to be at least a hundred feet tall. It makes me wonder whether visitors are devout Buddhists, or if they're just looking for a Ripley's-style freak show.

Our adventures in Hong Kong have of course brought us around many streets and through quite a few markets, and the one major observation I have had about this city is that, in general, it looks run down. For as shady as Chung King is alleged to be, there are countless towers in Hong Kong that look, well, neglected. Every looks old and ill-mainatained, with rusted air conditioning units barely hanging onto their mountings. It almost reminds me of the documentaries they show about ghettoes in African cities. Inside, many of the buildings are perfectly suitable to everyday life and work, but the outsides just look so glum. We were walking through Causeway Bay, one of the highest-rent neighborhoods in Hong Kong, and to be honest, if I didn't know any better I'd think I were in a bad neighborhood. Of course, this isn't to say anything bad about the city. It's just a strange phenomenon and I wonder what it is about the local mentality that makes it this way.

One final thought, really, before I sign off for the afternoon. The money here is wacky. I have three twenty-dollar-bills in my pocket right now. One was printed by HSBC, one by Bank of China (Hong Kong) and by Standard Chartered Bank. WTF? How can there be at least three banks printing currency? Isn't there chaos? Isn't there counterfeiting? What's the deal? I figure each bank must be allowed to print money to account for all the cash they have on deposit, but without a single standard, how do you know you're holding real money? I do enjoy the fact, however, that instead of haveing presidents or famous people from history, the banks publish their logo and and generally a picture of their respetive tower on the bills. I guess it must just be a true testament of the strength of capitalism.