The next stop on my journey home was to Hong Kong.
Hong Kong has been a city that I’ve wanted to visit for a
long time, and I got round to it this week. One of the first things I did there was go to the Hong Kong Museum
of History. I knew nothing about Hong Kong other than it was part of the
British Empire at some stage in the past. As to be expected, Britain invaded
the land despite being greatly outnumbered (100,000 to 20,000) by the Chinese. The
shy numbers didn’t stop the Brits claiming the land, and even made the Chinese
pay compensation to the British for the loss of naval soldiers during the invasion. I
felt some pride that a small island nation could take on the world and win, but
you also realise that maybe we weren’t the most liked around that time.
The British influence lasts till this day. There are 34,000
British expats in Hong Kong and going for a few beers on Saturday night in Lan
Kwai Fong made me feel like I was home. It even felt like Magaluf (another
British territory), it wouldn’t have been out of place to have those annoying
reps approaching you. “Alright, lads? Where are you going tonight? $5 for a
cocktail, a shot of Sambuca, and a Jaegerbomb”. The only thing different was
the price - £7 for a pint. £7! So Karl and I eventually found a quaint little place
called "7-Eleven", and we were drinking a local tipple called "cans of Stella".
After being in Asia for so long, many people have an image of
a stereotypical British man. Hugh Grant and Benedict Cumberbatch have done us
all a favour, but in reality the Brits in Hong Kong are letting us down. They’re
less like Hugh Grant and more like Grant Mitchell.
We did some touristy stuff. We went to Lantau Island, Victoria
Peak, crossed the bay on the Star Ferry, went to Nan Lian Garden, and even took
in a football game.
 |
| Nan Lian Garden |
 |
| Lantau Island |
 |
| A junk boat on Victoria Harbour |
 |
| The view from the top of Victoria Peak |
Macao, on the other hand, is billed as “the Vegas of Asia” so I had high hopes.
It was once occupied by the Portuguese so it has a different European vibe than
Hong Kong. We did some sightseeing before dark and the Fortaleza do Monte is
mediocre. When on top of the fort you can see the “real” Macao that isn’t
luxurious hotels and casinos. The majority of Macao is actually pretty dire.
Another “must see” of Macao is the ruins of St. Paul’s Church. I thought this
was a bit of a con, when the majority of the city is in ruins the church
becomes less special.
We headed to the Cotai Strip (the good bit) and it does have
some resemblance to Las Vegas. Huge hotels, luxurious shopping malls, and the
like, but it’s not the same. I’m not a serious gambler, so when I went to Vegas
I made sure that the value I was gambling was less than I was getting in
complimentary whisky. In Macao everyone’s a serious gambler. There are no free
drinks, terrible mid-week nightlife, mostly high stakes gambling, and no assistance.
I put some money down on the tables, but it was a waste. I was out of cash after
about three spins of roulette. My gambling experience in Macao didn’t even last
as long as my first sexual experience. At least with my first sexual experience
I left with a smile on my face and some change in my pocket.
 |
| Drinking in The Venetian |
 |
| The Cotai Strip of Macao |
