travel: HK, 13 May

There are some cities to grow up in, some to make a living in and others to romance and relax in. My personnel list of such cities is almost endless, and I have been relatively lucky, in my short life, to have experience a good number of them. To me, I have marked 2 cities to establish that I have made it in my career life: Hong Kong and New York City.

New York City: 5 days in Apr 2000
Hong Kong: half of 2003; and unknowingly, every year hence in 2004, 2005 and 2006 again - even for a day trip, I cannot resist crossing over to Hong Kong just for the sake of seeing the familiar sights, the language spoken and the whole buzz on the streets.

My shop-savvy local friend discovered this in HK during my 2006 visit there. This girlfriend of mine bought 9 pairs of shoes in a 5 day whirlwind attack of HK. I have completely taken my hat off her...

Hong Kong Industrial Centre - a wholesale, trading and manufacturing garment factory site
How to get there: MTR; Tsuen Wan Line - Lai Chi Kok Station Exit C

So it was a former boring wholesale, trading and manufacturing garment factory site, but some smart one established a gazzilion little stores on the lower floors now vying for retail business. There were shoe shops, Korean fashion, fantasy jeans and etc. It was a shopping girl/ bargain hunters' dream materialising.

In reality, quite a number of shops there remain true to its wholesale and trading roots, so they will put out signs "not for retail". Think about it, at least 50-70% of all so those nice street clothes in your city probably passed thru' these HKers one point another. Just a FYI, this failure of all womanhood walked away without buying a single item. I was simply overwhelmed ><