8/12 Hong Kong... Feet?

Don't worry, I didn't get Hong Kong feet, it's just that finally did I stepped on to Hong Kong soil and was one more step closer to home.

I booked a taxi yesterday, about 380000 DUN to the airport, but since I was eager to go to Hong Kong, that money didn't really bother me. I woke at 5, and couldn't get back to sleep, so I repacked my bags and waited until 7 before getting on the taxi.

I was early to arrive at the airport, and extreme lucky was I to have connected my phone with wifi, only in time to see my dad's message about my changed flight. I quickly changed to the next lane, the airport was crowded and the Vietnam clerks were slow as hell, dealing only a couple travelers for almost 40 minutes. At last it was my turn and I was requested to see my visa to Hong Kong, they were a little befuddled by the paper, for it didn't really look like visa, it's cool that they gave in in the end and I was ready at the boarding gate.

Arriving at Hong Kong at approximately 1:35 PM, I just couldn't be more excited.

I had been to Hong Kong before, when I was just a kid, but most of the memories had faded, so it sure felt good to revisit it again.

(I changed the rest of my Vietnam Dun and another 100 USD for 1038 Hong Kong Dollars. Fee and Traffic Fare weren't cheap in this city, so it's best to be prepared)

I got the Octopus card (a card that worked for buses, taxis and even convenience stores)as soon as I got off the plane, and took the A21 bus to Chien Sha Tsui. Chien Sha Tsui was just next to Mongkok, which were the two most prosper places in Hong Kong. They were also full of foreigners especially Indians. I booked my Hotel, the Reliance Hotel on the Internet and it was located in the Chong Qing Building, well, speaking of Chong Qing Building, most won't recommend the place for travelers to stay, for it's pretty messy in there, and could be dangerous for single person who was traveling alone.

I couldn't find Reliance Hotel inside the building, it was so crowded! All of the dwellers were dark-skinned, and no Hong Kong locals were to be seen! What... I thought that I had just arrived at a Mandarin speaking country, but here I was, surrounded by Indians, again.

At last I asked for the direction and entered one of the elevators, it was small, crowded, and moving in a painful speed. I dashed out as soon as it hit the 13th floor and saw the sign that said Reliance Hotel lying on top of a crappy door.

It was locked...

I didn't have their phone number, had no Internet connection and no one around to ask on this flat. I had no choice but to wait.

It was after 20 minutes or so before the elevator door sprung open and out came a backpacker. He walked toward me and waved me hello, warmly. He introduced him as Dani from England, and we started chatting in order to pass the time. He said that he hadn't book a room yet and was hopefully to find one here in Chong Qing Building. (Dani's majored in History and had decided to come to China for a year to study and experience.) 

While we were getting to each other better, a sweaty woman arrived at the door and said that there were no empty room. Dani had no choice but to bid me farewell. However, we crossed fingers about hanging out at the Mc Donald's just across the street 6 pm tonight.

As for me, the sweaty woman opened up a room for me, told me some of the rules and I was finally left alone to recover, and enjoy my stay... before another man barged inside and told me to follow him. He was the real host of the Reliance Hotel and he said that I had moved into the wrong room. So I had no choice but to follow him, got led down the elevator to the first floor, took another elevator to 16th, and was welcomed to my new room. It was small, but at least fully equipped; the width of the room was the same as a single bed's width, and the length, the length of the bed plus a table and a small bathroom. Anyway, it's pretty fine for a single traveler like me.

Meeting up with Dani at 6 at night, and he continued to share about his life in England, and what he encountered after coming to China. He persuaded me to have dinner at a small noodle booth by the road, it was okay, and we went window shopping at Mongkok, having a taste of its prosperity. When the clock hit eight, Dani suggested that we go and pay one of the bars a visit. Since it was raining like cats and dogs outside, I considered it a good idea to go in for some shelter. Dani was so excited when we entered one of the bars and was hit by a sudden sound wave, we ordered a beer that costed 50 HKD each, before Dani hit the dance floor and started to wiggle.

After a while, he came back for a refill and made his way to the dance floor again, before requesting me to the floor and had some fun together. I was a little bit shy at first, to dance, or to wiggle in the public, but after all, no one was even looking! So I just had a great time XD

But not so good for Dani, he had been having too much beer and too many action, he finally threw up outside the alley and I had to support him back to where he was staying.

I was pretty exhausted after this crazy night, waited for the elevator and was glad to be back to my dorm. I met the host of Reliance Hotel on my way back and he caught me asking whether I played poker. I nodded and he brought me to the 17th floor to join him, his wife and some friends for a few games. (He was from Argentina, by the way)

Hong Kong had been raining the whole day, and the ceiling of my room leaked; the toilet is broken, some of the sockets were dead and the hair driver just won't work! I still slept soundly with a smile, for I would be going home in only a few more days.