It’s funny really, a year or so ago when I first went to Hong Kong, I believed it to be a fantastic place with super low prices. Indeed, I was considering moving here - tech heaven as it were.

Last December I returned, again, I also thought it was a good place, though the prices seemed a little higher this time.

And now let’s roll into now … after living in Taiwan for almost a year, a return to the Tech Island and what do we think?

OH MY GOD IT’S EXPENSIVE HERE!

It’s funny really how everything is put into perspective. Living in Japan made me believe that prices in Asia were almost on-par with the UK (albiet a little cheaper), technology certainly wasn’t cheap there - which was why coming to Hong Kong was also a refreshing change.

But alas, Taiwan has really blown that magic out of the water. No longer is HK the place to come to buy cheap electrical items, hell, I can get them cheaper at the electronics store next to my house (AND it’s a chain store!!).

Going out for food too … yikes! Walking around last night, I wanted to go back to the Indian I found so favourable last christmas. I remembered the location well enough, up the big hill - and indeed there it was. What I hadn’t remembered so well however was the sky high pricing - 3 pounds 50 for a curry and chips, plus 70p for a can of sprite .. WTF?!?

Maybe I’m just being spoilt living in Taiwan (ha, never thought I’d say that!) - but what I do know is, coming back home is going to be a reality check and a half (just how much is a London bus these days anyway, I’m sure it’s not going to beat the 22p of Taipei!)

Actually, just to end this on a happy note - I’m delighted to inform you all that the game centers haven’t increased in price - thus I’m still able to go and play all the latest games for a mere 6p a shot …. bliss!

(That reminds me, it’s still 16 HKD to the pound - impressive seeing as everywhere else in Asia the pound has crashed - the poor pound vs TWD rate dropped from 67 to a miserable 60!! Although that in itself is a bit of good news, it was 58 at one point!!!)

Wow - what a night last time, unbelieveable amount of fun and new exeriences gained

The day started off normally enough, I got out of the hotel quite late and headed back to Shuim Shai Po (sp) to the Golden Computer Arcade to have a look for Tom’s camcorder and any other nick nacks that might be around.

Didn’t really have any success, though did get to see loads of new gadgets - thing is though, I can’t really buy anything as I have no where to put it, really just keep all my purchasing to a minimum. That’s one of the bad things about travelling I guess - I would love to buy a fancy projector and new PC - but really it would be pointless.

I was still feeling a bit rough from the night before too and by the time it got to 6ish I was dying for curry. I remember seeing an Indian place near my hotel, so I set off back there (I was meeting one of the guys from the hostel at 8 - so didn’t have too much time). An hour later though, I still hadn’t found the place, so had to settle on Spaghetti House and a creamy mushroom bake type thing. Pricing wasn’t too bad, but nothing special…..

Got back to the hotel at around 7:45 and got online to try and find an event for the evening - which turned out not to be too hard, as almost straight away, an event at “Tribeca” came up, billed as “Dance Event with Open Bar” - sorted

Waited around until 10 for the guy to come back, however he didn’t return, so decided to just leave anyway a “go it alone”. After checking where the place was, I was slightly amused to find out it was in the same area as yesterday’s “prostitute pickup” - Wan Chai - so made a mental note to be more careful of who I spoke to when out this time … haha

Within 20 minutes from leaving the hotel, I’d taken the MTR, made a short walk - and was now standing outside the venue … result … all that was left to do was pay my 220HK$ (14 quid) entrance fee and walk in ….. to a completely empty club …. doh! I wasn’t worried as such, as I knew it would get busier later, it just meant it was going to be harder to meet people (you can’t really go up to people in an empty club and say “hello” - that’s just weird - you need to bump into them at the bar or something).

An hour or so (and a few drinks) later - I was still sitting in my little corner, when a large group of (and not meant rudely, but can’t think of a better word) what looked like gang members walked in, complete in baseball hats, baggy clothes, gold chains etc etc … the kind of people you would probably cross over the street from if you saw them out walking. They all sat on my left, except for one guy who sat down on my right - and that proceeded to start up conversation with me! He turned out to be a really cool guy, introducing me to all the other friends he was there with (around 13-15 of them) who, when you spoke to them, also turned out to be really down to earth …. never judge a book and all that…

Fantastic, just the break I had needed - instant friends Haha … even better, when I told them I lived in Japan - I was suddenly seen in an even different light, as, they all admitted it was their dream to sleep with a Japanese girl - I was like a God …. haha (though I don’t know what they are complaining about, HK girls are HOT…)

The night was going pretty well after this - until after about 50 minutes when suddenly the music stopped, all the lights went on and a mass of police all burst in! We were then all told to line up against the wall and stay silent… though it did get quieter, we could still murmer to each other - at least enough so I could ask what was going on.

Aparently this happens a lot, but no one knows why. They say it’s just the HK Police flexing their muscles because they are bored and have nothing else to do. Indeed, it didn’t seem like they did much. After about 45 minutes, they did start coming around and IDing everyone, but to my knowledge, no one was searched or anything, we just all showed ID (well I showed my Japanese card - they told me next time to bring my passport) and that was that - with the music coming back on shortly after they left (however, the openbar, which was due to close at 2am - DIDN’T get extended )

We soon got back into the swing of things, meeting up with even more people, including a girl called “Moffy” which must be the coolest girls name EVER, and a guy called Larry, who deserves his own paragraph….

So Larry (who I had got chatting with whilst in the police lineup) was telling me how he doesn’t really come to Hong Kong clubs very much and prefers Chinese ones. “Oh?” I said - and he began to explain…..

“For 50HK$ you can get the boat over to mainland China, it takes about one hour. Once you get there, for around 150-300HK$ (Like 20 quid) you can choose any woman you like and have her until the evening - after which you pay your 50$ for the boat back and be home by 10 ….. I’m going tomorrow, you want to come?”

Huh?!?!

Yup, it seems the sex trade is still alive and kicking in China - apparently due to all the poor country workers who need to make money somehow. You also get a complete custom selection - “Any age you want - 16 y/o no problem. Fat, thin. Large chest, small chest. You can decide! Worried about disease, pay extra 100$ and you can have a virgin…. oh and discount if you want more than one. Or if you want girlfriend, 500$ for a whole week - she’ll stay with you the whole time - do anything you want.” - all I could say was “Wow…. err….”, before he chimed in with “If you try and you’re not happy, I’LL PAY FOR YOU” - I declined his kind offer (though made a note of his email, should I ever return in different circumstances … lol)

(True to his word, when I woke up this morning I had a text asking if I was sure I didn’t want to go …)

Anyway, back to the club … the police intrusion hadn’t done anything to really dishearten anyone and the rest of the night was spent happily dancing around and getting drunk with my new friends - ending rather too early I thought at 4:30.

So all that was left was the journey home, nothing special here then …. not quite ….

The station wasn’t open yet so I had to go and find a taxi. I knew the best place to get them was from outside the bar from yesterday (yikes) - so off I set…. ah, should have followed my own advice really….

On walking down a side alley to get to the main street I was approached by an older woman (maybe 40 or so) who started to ask me if I wanted a massage. I’ve got quite good at avoiding these people, so wasn’t too worried - however she was a bit more persistant and came right up to me and tried to kiss me asking me again if I wanted anything. I said no again (although admittedly not in the most sharp of tones) and tried to walk around her - at which point she (rather friendly, no malice intended I’m sure) then took ahold of and started to fondle my meat’n'two veg, asking me “are you *really* sure?”.

….

I did what any self respecting man would do, and ran off down the alley - with her shouting after me “where are you going?? you don’t want good time??” - not with you love, when I could have 5 young Chinese for the same price …

I love Hong Kong.

Just back from the travel agents to go and pay for my ticket home for christmas.

What had started out as a very good value £348 - unfortunately rose quite a lot, when the airport tax went from an estimated modest £90 - up to an actual whopping £198 - thus bringing the total flight cost to £456

Anyway, tears aside, here is the schedule:

• Thursday December 13th : Cathay Pacific #CX465 (1415 / 1605)
• Tuesday December 18th : British Airways #BA28 (01:10 / 0620)
• Tuesday February 5th : British Airways #BA27 (2155 / 1750 +1)
• Wednesday February 6th : Cathay Pacific #CX468 (2000 / 2135)

Which means I get yet another holiday this year, this time in Hong Kong for 5 days - just need to sort out a relatively cheap hotel or hostel and that’s all sorted.

And also sorry dad about the landing time - there weren’t any other flights available, though I’ll understand if it’s too early and you want me to get a train…. honest