During the Easter holidays I went to Hong Kong to visit my friend Ailsa (another Gateshead immigrant). It was fantastic, I guess I'd always imagined that Hong Kong would be fairly similar to Tokyo but it is very different indeed. Hong Kong is like a stretched city; all the buildings seem to be at least 20 storeys high - it reminded me of something from a graphic novel. Everyone speaks English which is very different to Tokyo and makes it a lot easy to get around but at the same time asects of Hong Kong like the little backstreets selling tradional Chinese food and wares and the heady smell of incense make it feel more like Asian city than Tokyo; it reminded me more of Bangkok in that way. While I was there I indulged in much shopping - they have Marks and Spencer! - and stocked up on some English food products (Bisto and custard powder) that I can't get here.
All over Hong Kong there are places offering reflexology and pedicures etc and my friend said I had to try the Shanghai pedicure which was quite an experience. I was settled down in a large leather arm chair, ginger tea in hand and feet soaking in a steaming, fragranced tub when this tiny Chinese man came in carrying a spot light and a roll of leather under his arm. Upon unfurling the leather I could see that it contained a variety of tools that looked suspiciously like scalpels; I suddenly began to feel very uneasy! He plucked one of my feet from it's blissful bath and held it up to the spot light whereupon he studied it carefully while making small gasping sounds - cue embarrassed, apologetic smiles. He then took one of the scalpels from its case and began scraping what seemed like layers and layers of skin from my foot - cue more embarrassed smiles. He repeated the process on my other foot before holding them both proudly up to the spot light while smiling and nodding enthusiastically at me. My feet were as smooth as the proverbial baby's bottom and I was about an inch shorter but I do highly recommend the Shanghai Pedicure.
During my stay in Hong Kong the Rugby 7s tournament was on which is where rugby union teams from all over the world compete in teams of 7s over three days. It was a brilliant event and the atmosphee in the stadium was fantastic. On the Saturday everyone in the South Stand dresses up; we were pirates but there were some other very interesting costumes such as the Smurfs and the Jamaican bob sled team!
I didn't get much time for sight seeing (shopping and rugby being the priorities!) but I will definitely be back in Hong Kong before long to see what else it has to offer.
Hong Kong
During the Easter holidays I went to Hong Kong to visit my friend Ailsa (another Gateshead immigrant). It was fantastic, I guess I'd always imagined that Hong Kong would be fairly similar to Tokyo but it is very different indeed. Hong Kong is like a stretched city; all the buildings seem to be at least 20 storeys high - it reminded me of something from a graphic novel. Everyone speaks English which is very different to Tokyo and makes it a lot easy to get around but at the same time asects of Hong Kong like the little backstreets selling tradional Chinese food and wares and the heady smell of incense make it feel more like Asian city than Tokyo; it reminded me more of Bangkok in that way. While I was there I indulged in much shopping - they have Marks and Spencer! - and stocked up on some English food products (Bisto and custard powder) that I can't get here.
All over Hong Kong there are places offering reflexology and pedicures etc and my friend said I had to try the Shanghai pedicure which was quite an experience. I was settled down in a large leather arm chair, ginger tea in hand and feet soaking in a steaming, fragranced tub when this tiny Chinese man came in carrying a spot light and a roll of leather under his arm. Upon unfurling the leather I could see that it contained a variety of tools that looked suspiciously like scalpels; I suddenly began to feel very uneasy! He plucked one of my feet from it's blissful bath and held it up to the spot light whereupon he studied it carefully while making small gasping sounds - cue embarrassed, apologetic smiles. He then took one of the scalpels from its case and began scraping what seemed like layers and layers of skin from my foot - cue more embarrassed smiles. He repeated the process on my other foot before holding them both proudly up to the spot light while smiling and nodding enthusiastically at me. My feet were as smooth as the proverbial baby's bottom and I was about an inch shorter but I do highly recommend the Shanghai Pedicure.
During my stay in Hong Kong the Rugby 7s tournament was on which is where rugby union teams from all over the world compete in teams of 7s over three days. It was a brilliant event and the atmosphee in the stadium was fantastic. On the Saturday everyone in the South Stand dresses up; we were pirates but there were some other very interesting costumes such as the Smurfs and the Jamaican bob sled team!
I didn't get much time for sight seeing (shopping and rugby being the priorities!) but I will definitely be back in Hong Kong before long to see what else it has to offer.
Posted by anna on April 13, 2008 1:59 AM
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