I can’t seem to find the words and I’m not sure that photos I took will describe the “shock and awe” that I had when I showed up this afternoon. I will say that Hong Kong is what I think my “touristy” side needed after the Philippines. It’s just the first day, but I’ve been pretty much just stunned by the area that my guesthouse is in. It’s a shopping district and it appears to be a tourist area if the number of westerners I’ve seen walking around is any indication.

Hmm, I think the amount of people is what first stunned me when I got off the airport bus. There were people everywhere I looked, they were shopping, walking, waiting, and doing nearly anything else you can think of. Then I think I was amazed by the “organized chaos” all around me. It seemed chaotic to me, but everyone else had no problems doing whatever they wanted to do or go wherever they wanted to go. I’ve noticed that the people here seem to take crowds in stride something that I would have a hard time with. It’s like Christmas shopping in a mall 365 days a year, shoulder to shoulder wherever you go.

Everything from leaving Manila this morning to arriving at my hotel/guesthouse here in Hong Kong went very smoothly. So smoothly that I don’t even have anything to say about it. I guess I could say that it was raining again in Manila so I’m glad that I was getting out. The experience of getting from the airport in Hong Kong to the city was pretty cool as well. I’d seen the buildings that we passed so many times that I felt that I had been here before. The same thing kind of happened at night when all the neon lights came on. There was something about it that seemed familiar to me.

On a sadder note, I’ve lost the “celebrity” status that I had in the Philippines. Where it seemed the Filippino’s just liked me for being an American/Westerner the residents of Hong Kong I don’t think even see me. I guess I should just be happy that I got to experience the feeling of being so welcomed as the Filippino people welcomed me.