Typical Catch-Up

I thought I had a good trend of at least updating this thing like twice a month... but, apparently not.

So, yeah... I went to Hong Kong during Golden Week.

Such a great opportunity came to me and I just couldn't miss out on it.

It's quite inexplicable how great a feeling it is to be able to travel... without worries or money or time... or whatever holding you back.

So, besides the great experience of travelling... it's good to know that I am officially in a comfortable enough position in life where I can do things for me... things that go beyond simply buying materialistic stuff...

There basically is no greater thing than being able to travel through this beautiful world and being able to take in and experience the different people and cultures that we have about us.

That being said... I dislike Hong Kong...

... heh heh...

Don't get me wrong... I really enjoyed my experience in Hong Kong and had a great time. But, it also occurred to me that Hong Kong falls in the category of crazy, hectic, busy, huge cities whose lifestyle does not quite fit in with my lax, slow-paced nature.

So far in this category: New York City, Tokyo... and now Hong Kong.

... heh heh...

Besides that... I kind of had this image of Hong Kong from looking at pictures online. Obviously, I should've know better than to think websites would post regular, everyday pictures.

Let me just start off with how polluted Hong Kong is... smog, smog and more smog. The whole 5 days I was there... not a clear, blue sky was seen at all.

Though, I heard it's not so much Hong Kong's fault as it is the rest of China. I was there... and I see how there really isn't much of the factories and industry to get it that polluted.

Next... the smell sometimes... oh man the smell. I don't know how to compare it... but, it didn't help that my hostel was next to this area the reeked like "OH MAN!"

But... yeah... that being said... the rest is pretty positive.

I enjoyed taking in the sights and culture and new food. The people were a bit on the pushy, borderline rude... but, that's typical of big cities really.

I also got to travel to Macau during my trip since it was only an hour ferry ride away. Man... talk about living in luxury.

Macau is basically known for gambling... and thus it shows with all the big hotels and neon lights and casinos and whatnot.

Much much more cleaner too... or so I think from the 4 hours I spent there. Didn't really get to enjoy much scenery since I mostly spent the time in Macau doubling my $700 HK to $1400 HK. Yeah... don't get excited like I did.

I miscalculated how much I had actually won when I cashed out... so... the $800-$900 American I thought I had won... turned out to be a mere $80-$90 American... heh heh. But, hey... money is money.

And... looking back at the situation... it wasn't like things were expensive in Hong Kong to begin with. I bought a shirt for less than $4 American... an LED belt for like less than $15 American... so... pretty good overall.

Mostly... I'm just glad I got to finally venture out of Japan and experience the other Asian cultures around this part of the world.

Have to remind myself to take advantage of the opportunity now since it won't be much long before I'm busy with my career... and who knows what kind of money and time I'll be lacking at that point.

So, overall... I'd just like to say how grateful I am of my travels to Hong Kong and Macau... and how glad I am that I'm becoming quite the passport stamp whore!