In case if you didn't know, I'm Asian American. Yep — squinty eyes with a Bostonian personality. I was adopted from a rural village in China and brought into the arms of my adoptive parents at only 6 months old. Although I was born in China, I have never been out of the states since. Only a couple weeks ago, my dream to flee the states had finally come true! And where else to ignite my longing for travel than Hong Kong!
As an international traveling newbie, who else to better ask for travel and packing advice than from my friends, family, and boyfriend. To be honest, I felt stupid asking all of these questions at the time but then I realized it's better to ask and double or triple check what/what not to pack than to simply "wing it." As I sit on the plane back to the states, and yes I already miss the excitement of experiencing a world outside of the states in case if you're wondering, here's a list of 12 things you should know when visiting Hong Kong (if you ever do, which you should, btw).
1. Pack lots of tank tops and shorts
Since Hong Kong is near the water, there's a 100% chance you will suffer from the humidity. Imagine yourself stepping outside from your North Pole air-conditioned hotel into a ziplock bag of hot, barely breathable air. On top of that, expect to sweat after ten steps of walking in the city. I'd definitely recommend bringing light material tank tops, breathable t-shirts like Nike's Dri-fit and their sports shorts.
2. You’re not in white country anymore
Unlike being surrounded mainly by Caucasians in most states, you will see Asians around you. Everywhere you look. You might be thinking, "Lianne, why on God's green earth would you be mentioning this?" Although I look Asian on the outside, I would mainly associate myself as a white American on the inside. And since I grew up in the United States, I was surrounded by white people 95% of the time. Needless to say, I definitely wasn't used to the sight of people with the same hair colors and the same Asian facial features. Kind of a weird culture shock, don't you think?
3. Not every Asian is the same
I have heard some people say, or joke, about how all Asians look the same. Newsflash people: this is fake news. For example, the Chinese have more of open, almond-shaped eyes than the Japanese or Koreans. Koreans tend to have squintier eyes and small lips.
4. Expect to see a smorgasbord of brand whores
For some reason, the popular fashion trend of Hong Kong was to wear a whole outfit of high-end designers. You might see one person wear a body full of Nike or Adidas apparel. You might see someone wear a combination of Betsy Johnson and Ralph Lauren. Or the sore thumb who wears a Supreme hat, a Gucci bomber jacket, a vintage Adidas top, H and M jeans, tights or lace ankle socks, and Christian Louboutin pumps. And to top it all of, if you didn't think it could get any better, an Hermès bag with handkerchief hung. This may sound hyperbolic, but it looked like couture throw up.
5. The handbag game in Hong Kong is strong
Everywhere I looked, handbags or purses (call it what you will) either were made by a high-end designer or had some ridiculous design on them.
6. Hong Kong men aren’t afraid to flaunt their man bags
Man wearing a man bag
Yes, you heard me— man bag. It definitely is a thing. No, not the traditional satchels, messenger bags, or briefcases but fashionable cross body bags. Although it looks hilarious, yes I chuckled a few times when I walked past them or waiting for the subway, these men at least look responsible and sensible carrying their stuff around.
7. Expect to take at least two showers a day
For the four days I stayed in Hong Kong, there was maybe one day where I only took one shower. The humidity, which you feel like you are slammed against wicked hot air once you step outside, makes you sweat buckets. Or maybe gallons, at least that was what it felt like during my trip.
8. Carry an umbrella with you at all times
As I have mentioned numerous times, Hong Kong gets wicked hot in the summer. Sweltering hot. For the first couple of days, I noticed locals had their umbrellas out and flaunted them off like it was the trendiest thing since sliced bread. I thought it was the weirdest thing because umbrellas shield us from the rain. But these local knew what was up— these umbrellas were also a shield from the sun, genius! I'd definitely say this is an excellent alternative to a hat if you didn't bring one and also has a broader protection range from the sun's rays.
9. Know the “universal way” to ask for the check at restaurants.
You remember that scene from the second or third Harry Potter movie when the students have to do the "swish and flick" spell— also known as wingardium leviosa for you Potter fans out there. It's very similar to getting the attention of a waiter when you want your bill: raise your hand in the air and pretend you're scribbling your name in the air with an imaginary pen and voila! At first, I felt weird making this gesture while in Hong Kong, but it actually is very common and isn't rude at all.
10. Stand your guard while waiting in line
This may sound weird, but the Asian population in Hong Kong are aggressive people when it comes to standing in line. Some people may try to cut you, push you, shove you, and even trample you depending on the situation. There are 7, 432,847 people living in Hong Kong currently, so clearly not overwhelming right? Although this is rude to the American eye, it is a way of life and is part of the Hong Kong/Asian culture. Since there's a massive population living in a territory of China, the limited access to resources and the responsibility to make sure public transportation is still efficient can be daunting, nevertheless. While I waited in line for security at the Hong Kong airport, an elderly woman tried to nonchalantly cut in front of me while I had put something away in my bag. Being the blunt person I am, I said: "hey, I'm with him (pointing to my boyfriend)." She said "oh, okay, okay" and let me through into my rightful spot. In this case, it is okay to do the same as the locals do.
11. Get yo self an octopus card
Similar to getting a subway station card in the states, the Octopus card is a subway card for Hong Kong's subway system and also its public transportation. In addition to being handy for public transit, you can also use it as a payment method in some stores in Hong Kong. Definitely killing two birds with one stone, to say the least!
12. Stray from the main stream tourist attractions
Although doing the mainstream or "must see" tourist attractions can be neat, doing things on the beaten path can also be just as much fun too! For example, my boyfriend's dad wanted to visit this place called Lan Kwai Fong because of its rooftop bar and club atmosphere. Hi owner a few days later, he wandered around Hong Kong and found this one area he called "The Road of Treasures," which had unique, ancient antiques that were most likely worth thousands of dollars. In this case, the quote "Not all who wander are lost" really comes into play here.
Not every place is the same, in terms of cultural norms and beliefs/traditions, but the ability to experience and widen our cultural perspectives is what matters most. In the words of Benjamin Disraeli, "I have seen more than I remember, and remember more than I have seen."
