night view of Hong Kong City!
Lunch at ShenZhen: Sea Cucumbers! (or sea slugs)...lots of collagen! good for your skin :p
I arrived ShenZhen (city in mainland China that is next to HK) on Sunday afternoon, because there's no direct flight from Guiyang to HK, then I took the shuttle bus across the boarder. Family friend dropped me off at Huang Gang port (blue arrow on tope of the pic), I had to first pass the Mainland custom to "get out of the country", then took a Huang bus (yellow bus), getting off and pass the entry custom of Hong Kong to "get in" Hong Kong. Then Huang bus again to take me to train station, and you can get around Hong Kong basically anywhere from there.
Taxi to Sheung Shui (where i live) is only about 20 min, but cost $35 HKD ($4 USD which is not a lot to the Americans eye, but indeed A LOT more than mainland China's taxi-probably cost $2 USD).
In order for me to get to Sha Tin (where the hospital and the race track located), I have to first take a taxi or a mini bus to the train station, fortunately, I don't have to transfer trains. Takes me about 45 min to get to Sha Tin station, and there is a bus designated to run between the jockey club (hospital, track, dorms) and the station to transport its employees. Takes me about an hour each day to get to Sha Tin. BUT ! because I am shadowing the ambulantory vet, they usually come by the riding school (where I live) to pick me up and our day starts at the riding school. I hardly went to the hospital in the past couple weeks...
Even though HK is consider part of China now after 1997, it is considered as a special district, and Chinese government promise to keep the regulations and way it runs its own government same as before (British rules) for the next 50 years. There was a huge concern back in 1997 when HK first return to China's jurisdiction, concern about the government have too much influence and would change the economic status of HK. Now, 13 years have passed, I would say the Chinese influence is still there, but not as severe (or should I say...not as much) as all other cities in Mainland China. There is freedom of speech here, so technically I could access my blog from HK, but I think because I am using the Jockey club's company computer, it is blocked from worker's access. That was a bummer. I was ready to write down everything I am experiencing here. But I found ways to write down my thoughts in e-mail, now I am posting it online.
First impression of Hong Kong is...it's HOT!!! and humid. Not as bad as Houston, but I am definitely walking a whole lot more than when I am in the states, I guess that makes you more aware of the temperature. The actual temperature while my stays fluctuate between 27-30 degree Celsius, but humidity stays around 75-80%. Most of the private cars runs on road are either Mercedes or Lexus, sometimes BMW, it's no coincidence, soon you will realize this is part of the Asian mentality. just keep reading :D
First night at Hong Kong, off the street, there is the Lamborghini!! I am not a car fanatic, but I've never seen one in real life! Got to take a pic of it. It was just parked outside street restaurants...wonder who drove it...:D
I tried my best to cover a lot aspect of this trip, let people able to experience Hong Kong without physically being here. But to be honest, Hong Kong is quiet a friendly city to travelers. To experience the best part of HK, you got to come here yourself. You can get around town speaking only English, most people can have conversation and help you around with English. Lots of foreigners worked here are from either Europe or Australia/New Zealand, probably due to its only 16% income tax attractiveness. There aren’t a lot Americans I’ve encountered, probably because the tax law in States still applies to overseas Americans, which means no matter where American works, they still pay same amount of tax and possibly plus the local tax. People work here get Chinese holidays off, traditional and non-traditional (those that established after PRC was established), AND british holidays. Vets from the Jockey Club gets average of 5-6 weeks off during the year beside the public holidays, but of course they work hard during the rest 46 weeks.
random pic of the trip:
Ambulance cop bike. All traffic polic ride bike instead driving a car, I guess they never worries to get stucked in traffic.
Don't worry, I didn't get hurt, it was just at a touristy spot, there was an emergency, so I snap the camera just like a true tourist!
fishball!!! According to the tour book, each month, Hong Kong consume over one million such balls. You can find those in Chinese super market here in States, texture is the same, but it's the soup that they cooked in made it so tasty and special to the locals.
Nice gentlemen where I bought the 75 cent USD fishball from...I tried to relocate him ever since the first night I found him...couldn't any more...his ambulatory ability is amazing!
