Just back from another weekend in HK. We had a specific purpose on this trip; visit Santa, do a little shopping and watch the Nutcracker ballet. Of course, interspersed with that was food.
Some advice for those thinking of traveling to the fragrant harbor during this time of year; don't. There are a few reasons why I caution against it.
One, the crowds are unbearable. Mainland China tourists have overrun the territory carrying bucket loads of cash to buy all sorts of luxury items (more on that later). In the old days, we used to 'escape' China for a weekend of normalcy. That normalcy included eating, shopping, and just enjoying some time as a family together in a park or walking the streets, without being served lousy food, horrible service, or being followed and stared at while we are trying to enjoy some time together. HK always gave us that relief. It's not there anymore.
Second, most of the new shops and malls that are opening seem to be all high-end luxury good brands; Louis Vitton, Prada, Chanel, or, luxury department stores, such as Lane Crawford. The tourist flock to these places and wait in line just to get inside. I cannot afford anything in these places...and it seems as though the shops for regular folk are being squeezed out (Marks & Spencer and McDonald's dumped from Pacific Place in favor of Lane Crawford, for instance) in favor of these high priced designer brands.
So, as you walk down the street, there are thousands of tourists carrying their designer shopping bags full of stuff. Most of this is bought with cash. It is not uncommon to see these people with large shoulder bags or pulling a small suitcase. Generally, they are full of cash and they are buying stuff like nobody's business. And then, you look at how these same people are dressed. Clash of fashion and styles...but they have their designer stuff that they can brag about back home.
The one saving grace for HK are some of the activities we like to do, that tend to pull us away from the hoards of tourists for snips of time. Dining out at favorite and familiar restaurants in Soho and TST. HK is one of the most international of cities in terms of its food choices...you can get anything from anywhere. On this weekend, we had Italian, Mexican and good old American steak and baked potato. The service is exceptional in most restaurants, and the food has always been good...maybe not what you would expect at home, but its good.
Another fun thing to do is go for a walk around either Hong Kong or Kowloon park. In the old days, we used to do this out of necessity for Expat Son, who needed to burn of energy. I took him up to Kowloon park to the old playground this weekend, after we finished our shopping. He was the biggest kid...and he sort of felt out of place...but he had some fun for a short while. Many memories of watching him run and run on those play structures...and he remembered most of them too. And, although the park is loaded with people and kids, they are generally local families out to run the kids of some energy. It is a pleasant 'city kid' thing to do. I feel relaxed in this crowded atmosphere...because it is somewhat normal with families and kids.
But, with each passing trip into HK, I find it more and more disappointing. The number of mainland tourists has turned the place into China-south. With that come the habits of Chinese (spitting, yelling at each other, crowding, cutting in line...general rudeness) that we used to 'escape' to HK for in the first place. HK no longer has the old European flavor it had...it is becoming more and more like the mainland. And, frankly, that is not a good thing.
Wow, Louis Vitton. I think I found that bag in Beijing Lu the other day...there were a couple from Louis Vuitton too. Weird. :D
Posted by: FlyRice | December 19, 2007 at 07:17 AM