HONG KONG --- THE CITY OF LIFE

Hong Kong is the place where I was brought up. Therefore, there is a love between us. Every time I go back to HK, I have different feelings. Last year, I went to HK for a short trip. I felt that the people were very sad. They seemed that they lost their hope and energy after the Asian crisis. However, the atmosphere changed completely this year. Just after I had landed on the new Hong Kong International Airport, I felt the energetic life of Hong Kong. I was amazed by the huge construction of the new airport, airport railway.... When I went out with friends, shopping areas like Mongkok and Causeway Bay were crowded with people. They might not have strong consumption power. However, they were looked happy and satisfied. Perhaps, everyone learnt not to rely on materialistic happiness. Mental peacefulness seemed to be more important than materialistic enjoyment. Apart from the new airport, there are also new shopping malls like Maritime Square (in Tsing Yi). All these new malls symbolizes a recovery from the hardest time.

Just in front of the "Old Town" of the Maritime Square.

The lorry is part of a buffet restaurant

Throughout the whole trip, I made many new friends. In the flight from Seoul to Hong Kong, I met a flight atendant. His name is Johnson.

Me, Johnson and Mariko

It is a kind of fate that I can be his friend. How did I know him? When I was in the flight from Korea, Johnson was in charge of my section. I noticed he was a very pleasant attendant. He talked to passengers politely, and he had a pleasant smile to everyone. Then, I decided to vote him for the best crew of the month. However, I did not get his name in the airplane because I found it was quite embrassing of asking someone's name in front of other people. So, I talked to myself, "if I meet him in the arrival hall, I would ask him." You cannot believe that I could meet him in the Airport Express train! You know, it is not easy to meet someone again after all the immigration, baggage claims and customs processes. Then, we talked a lot in the train and we exchanged our email addresses and phone numbers.

The next day, I called him out for a drink. He and his girl friend, Mariko, had a dim sum tea with me. After the tea, I took subway to have a dinner with a friend. Unfortunately, my friend had something important to do, and could not have dinner with me. So, I went back to the mall where I had tea with Johnson and Mariko (J & M) to walk around. I met them there again! Then, they invited me to their place for a dinner. I bothered them for the whole evening! I left their home about 00:00am!

Few days after the dinner, I went to Singapore. I could not believe that I met Johnson again on the day I was coming back! Although we took the same Airport train, we were in different compartment. When I was walking towards the transfer platform in Tsing Yi Station, I saw Johnson again! So, we had a drink in the McDonald's.

Is it sort of fate? I have never met a person so many times without planning! I really appreciate their nice and friendly personalities. Hopefully, I can see them in Vancouver soon!

"We are Hong Kong, the City of Life."

I could feel your heartbeat.

Thanks for giving me some many unforgettable memories.

I am sure I will visit you again!

[Back to Travel] [Next to Korea]