HongKong - City of Life
It’s been 17 years ago since I stepped my feet on HongKong. Back then, HongKong was only a transit before my journey to United States. It was also my last opportunity to meet my late uncle after almost 15 years living separately. At the time, HongKong was not a very elegant place. The streets were dirty and the city looked a little bit in grey and narrow. It was like what we can see right now in Glodok, Jakarta. [caption id="attachment_142131" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="HongKong Boat"][/caption] But now, HongKong is a different place to visit. It’s really a city of life. When we landed on HongKong International Airport (Winner of 2001-2005 Skytrax) located in Chek Lap Kok, we could see how good and convenience the arrangement for foreign visitors to visit this city. And, if we got on taxi on our way to Kowloon, we would be provided a very fantastic and modern view of the city all the way. We would pass the Tsing Ma Bridges–the sixth largest suspension bridge. And, we would see a gimmick of light from windows of a series of high rise apartments and office buildings in far sight. It’s really a blue kind of sight in a city night. Before coming to HongKong, we thought Jakarta was already the most crowded place in the whole world. And, HongKong is really a small area with so many population of people. How they managed to stay in such a crowded place? It might be a very inconvenient to stay there. But the thought was wrong. Apparently, we can stay in a nice but small apartment in Nathan Rd near a famous Kimberley Rd in Tsim Sha Tsui. I had stayed in the same area, even in the same building 17 years back. The Visual of memorable neon lights and crowds of Kowloon was not easily removed from this mind. Nathan Road is considered as the backbone of Kowloon that is always bustling with the buzz of urban life. [caption id="attachment_142133" align="alignright" width="300" caption="HongKong at Night"][/caption] Tsim Sha Tsui is one of the heavenly shopping centers in HongKong. One that was new to me is Knutsford Steps where the narrow alleys between the apartments and building, they built a hang out place consisting of western-food restaurants and cafes. It’s a creative idea, in fact. In area of Tsim Sha Tsui lived almost until dawn. At 1-2 AM in the morning, the subway just stopped to operate and at this late hour, many men and women just walked home or to cafe nearby conveniently without afraid of being mugged or robbed. It was a very safe place to live. The shopping centers here usually opened at 10 am to midnight. Seven Eleven Stores, a Japanese franchise mini markets, were abundant in this area and opened 24 hours a day. In the night, a group of youngsters (usually teens) just walked along the street on their way to Night Club, Bar or just sightseeing. On several occasions, policemen would stop them and body-checked them. Apparently, it was a common sight in the night in HongKong. HongKong is like a magnet to the earthly attachment. It’s the Island for youth and materialism, but a little painful for an elderly people. In the time of my visit, A local newspaper was running a story about elders in HongKong who has risen in number, but no decent place to accommodate them. In the middle of area, there are lying a Kowloon Park where we could find an elderly HKGers walking every morning, to do some tai-chi or just walking around. The Park is located between Tsim Sha Tsui and Harbor City and becoming a relaxing oasis int he middle of an urban life. It’s not really a park actually (compare to Central Park, NY) because too many concretes compare to plants. Beside this giant park, there is a big mosque.But HongKong provided (so far) the best cuisine the world could offer (If U like Chinese Foods). The food is incredibly delicious. The Shrimps can be tasted "crunchy" because of their freshness. My favorite is of course, a variety of noodle soups. Wow, when I got back from HongKong, a friend of mine treated me eating in Imperial Chefs, Jakarta, a restaurant that provided HongKong Style Food. But the taste was different, much-much different. HongKong Foods were much-much better taste. Moving around in HongKong was relatively easy because of their transportation system, including subway system which was convenient, safe and fast. It’s the "cheapest" way compare to Taxi fare. But in the rush hour, we could see how fast people of HongKong moving from one place to another place. It’s so orderly, fastly and mechanically. It’s was nasty busy. [caption id="attachment_142137" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Noodle Soup"][/caption] HongKong has lost its tradition except for their food (art). It almost loses its root. Even, by the time I visited HK, a local newspaper running a story about the worrisome of China Government of the fate of elderly people in HongKong. Where they should be located since their children were reluctant to take care of them. It’s contrary to Chinese Culture as suggested by Confucius of respecting and treating parents accordingly. The losing roots from its own culture, demand HKGers to work harder to compete with other place to attract investors (investment), traders (commerce) and visitors (tourism) like Singapore where both are neck-to-neck becoming the centre of Asia. HKGers do without realize that if they go back to their culture root and maintain its tradition, they will easily "sell" it like what Bali has done. And, with this added value, HKGers don’t have to work this kind of hardship because they can provide a uniqueness of the culture instead of a commodity of modern world which many countries have offered, too. Although, HKGers enjoy a freedom of religion, worships, and also many "house of pray," you will find nothing except materialism and earthly-but-temporary happiness in this country. The spiritualism here is very dry. HongKong is like a magnet of the earthly attachment. I, myself, had a problem to meditate in the night before sleeping. Idle Energy inside was seemed to refuse to calm down. But, in the morning, it was easy to enter meditative mind effortless. [caption id="attachment_142136" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="HongKong - City of Light"][/caption] HongKong is very attractive and tempted but I haven’t found any strong connection between myself and this land. An occasional visit will be lovely and entertaining, but a permanent stay will be a painful bore, I think.
