Hong Kong

Hong Kong was the place where my brother and me would spent the last remaining days of our travels. The setting of the showdown couldn't have been better. Hong Kong is a modern metropolis with perfect public transport, multi ethnic society, luxury, authenticity, on the Ocean, not polluted and the place where the one and only Chunking Mansion resides. The Chunkin Mansion is the place where we pre booked a room for 30$ a night for the two of us. The room was 4 square meters big had a bunk bed and smelled like rotten something. At least there was a TV. The whole block is stuffed with maybe 20 hostels. during the night African prostitutes hang out downstairs, there pimps watching over them, Western coming home drunk, Indian business men trying to sell fake DVD's and a lonely Asian security man trying to keep order.
Hong Kong is now part of China. The good thing is that it has kept almost all of their independence. They even fight Chinas oppressive regime and try to change at grassroot level. The 40000 Chinese tourists who arrive here everyday, get dropped out of their tour bus at a station were posters show the extreme human rights abuses China has done in the past and keeps practicing. Some of them look closely, others maybe afraid of spies, pass with a single view.
Hong Kong is the city of the world with the most skyscrapers in the world. Quite a title considering the competition. Hong Kong island itself is pretty upscale and houses the white expats and the newly rich of Asia. You don't have to walk on the street level anymore because there are gangways above them connecting all the major buildings. To go up the steep hillside you don't have to walk up the stairs because escalators are taking care off that for you. Over hundreds of meters they pull you up to Soho. Along the bay area these gangways are packed with female immigrants picknicking and chatting the whole day (one day there was also a huge demonstration by them for higher wages). These gangways lead into malls and after that continue to the next one. There are still some cheap places to eat, but generally it is rather sophisticated. The huge convention center on the bay is located perfectly so you can see the whole city skyline. Each evening at eight o'clock there is 15 minute laser show orchestrated from various buildings in central Hong Kong. In Kowloon there is a movie walk, which is pretty much a copy of The Walk of Fame but with Hong Kong actors. Various museums offer refuge from the heat. We checked out the Hong Kong History Museum which was impressive in size and information.
Once we also walked to the Victoria Peak which is the best hill (570m) to see down to Hong Kong City. But the top it self serves police and military purposes so it was difficult to get a view. Eventually we found what we were looking for.
The last day we went to the airport. Freddy having to go to Bangkok and me to Singapore. After three months of traveling together, awkwardly sharing beds, smelling each other and so on this was the end of the road. Brotha, it was a pleasure to travel with you and I enjoyed your company very much. Grab a cab!