Sampling the World

July 21

I flew back to the US from Hong Kong–connecting in Japan. I took a picture in the Tokyo airport just for Chad!

July 22

I arrived at LAX. The officer who took the customs forms congratulated me on my four-month journey. Yay. It was quite the journey. I’m glad I made time for it.

Two people asked me for money at the exit of the airport at LAX–one for some children and another for Scientology. I gave money for the children because I needed to break a 20. It seemed false, but I really needed to break that 20. No one pestered me for lodging.

I felt like a homeless bum, walking around with a huge backpack and scruffy hair. I had no home, no hotel reservation, no job, little savings, and no car. But I wasn’t worried. I could crash with parents (in Las Vegas) and friends (in LA) while I figured out what to do for income.

I didn’t want to return to my previous employer because they were a Microsoft shop (programming in C#). I wanted to shift my focus to open source technologies and languages (like Python and Ruby). However, I had little experience with open source. So it might be a little difficult to pick up where I left off–money-wise.

I took the ferry to Lamma Island today. It is one of the major islands of Hong Kong. And no motor vehicles are allowed there. I walked from one end of it to the other. I had a lobster lunch there. I caught the ferry back to Hong Kong.

I got my fortune told by an old man, dressed business casual.

Here are the notes I took:

Make a design business–something beautiful. [I thought maybe web design]. Women are comfortable with me because the right side of my face is larger. Therefore, my future wife will be nervous about other women.

I might work for a big company now that is going down, but with me it will go back up.

I should learn to be a good swimmer. I should get married ASAP. I will have good female helper from 25-36. Don’t do anything risky in a year ending in 6 or 7. Wife will be aggressive and stubborn. Rich in old age. Confident. Clever. Southwest USA is good. Good to live by sea, but be careful of the rough waters. Lucky numbers are 2 and 4. Can be successful leader, but take one step at a time.

I got the fortune just for the experience. It was fun to do once.

I viewed the Hong Kong skyline at night from the Kowloon waterfront. A girl from the mainland China chatted me up. Her English was okay. She said she studied English for four years in high school, four years in college (majored in English), and two years in post-grad college (masters in English). However, she had never been to an English-speaking country. Her English was only mediocre after ten years of learning. Lesson learned: if you want to learn a language, go where it’s spoken!

Hong Kong central was littered with Phillipino women! The were all–over–the–place: parks, courtyards, sidewalks, and a few streets. They posted up with blankets, bottled drinks, and food. It’s Sunday: their day of rest and catching up. I read that Phillipinos are welcomed into Hong Kong’s service industry (e.g. house maids).

I gave myself a tour today. I saw the exquisite tea musuem. I bussed around the beautiful, lush island over to the bustling Stanley Market. Then I headed back to Kowloon for some urban walking.

Hong Kong is a beautiful, lively city and I would like to return someday. I also love how 87% of the population uses public transit to get around. I’ve really grown to love public transit over my four-month trip.

July 17

I had a long two days ahead of me. I would spend most of today in Brunei, fly to Malaysia in the evening, then fly to Hong Kong early the next morning. I only had three days in Hong Kong, so I’d likely push myself not to catch up on sleep.

I landed in the Kuala Lumpur airport at 11pm, and my flight to Hong Kong was at 7am. So, I’d have to be back at the airport by 5am. I wanted to get a good night’s rest, but the timing was bad.

Unfortunately, the airport is an hour outside of town. There were only a few hotels around and those were all booked. It would be a waste of time and energy to taxi into the city for only a few hours sleep. So, I decided to stay at the airport and sleep on the floor.

It was the first time I’d slept at an airport. I wasn’t prepared. It took me an hour to find a good spot and get comfortable. I probably slept about 2 hours. I looked forward to sleeping on the morning plane to Hong Kong.

July 18

Now mind you. I hadn’t gotten a good night’s rest. And I hadn’t cut my hair in four months. When I got off that plane at 11am in Hong Kong, they had officers waiting in the plane’s connector tunnel. First up was an officer and a drug-sniffing dog. I passed by them fine. I had nothing to hide.

It struck me though. I wondered what has been happening in Hong Kong (or with flights from KL) that they required a drug-sniffing dog. I’ve never seen that level of security in an airport before. You couldn’t avoid the dog because of the narrow tunnel.

I turned the corner and saw about eight men in black nylon coats–resembling the DEA in the US. I walked with confidence. But alas I was stopped. Again, I had nothing to hide. But I must have looked sketchy to them–with my scraggly hair, bloodshot eyes, and humble fashion. If only I had gotten some good sleep.

The agent asked to see my passport. He grilled me for what seemed like five minutes.

“Where are you going?”

“Hong Kong,” I said.

“Why are you here?”

“To see a friend from college. And general tourism; it’s my first time here.”

“Where are you staying?”

“Chungking Mansion.”

The Chungking Mansion is a low-cost high-rise building. It attracts both legitimate business (i.e. room rentals, food stands, currency exchange) and illegitimate ones (i.e. selling fake goods, selling drugs, etc). It is a massive 17-story building, so the good and bad can be well separated. It has a bit of history in Hong Kong. And I wanted to stay there for the experience. Might as well, while I’m young, solo, and on a low-budget trip. However, the agent must have feared I was going there for the wrong reasons.

“Did you make a reservation?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“I want to inspect the rooms first and find a clean one.”

“How long will you be here?”

“Four days.”

“Where is your onward ticket?”

“I purchased it online. I don’t have a paper copy.”

“Where do you go next?”

“The USA with a connection in Tokyo’s airport.”

He closed my passport, handed it to me, and watched other passengers exiting the plane.

I starting walking again. Ugh. This was my first taste of China, and it was quite sour.

I was impressed by Hong Kong from the airport. It was modern and clean. I was back in the 1st-world! I felt spoiled. I had been roughing it for most of the trip. It was a low-budget trip. I headed over to the mini-mart in the airport and bought myself a lemon tea. I got on a 1st-class city bus to Kowloon (north of central Hong Kong).

I got off at the Chungking Mansion and was immediately hassled by four guys. There are many lodgings within the building. Most rooms are micro-apartments–an apartment within an apartment. For example, someone owns a five bedroom apartment and leases each room separately. The common area (living room and kitchen) is either small or non-existent.

I found a room from my guidebook that turned out to be a great deal. $11/night for three nights on the 16th floor, overlooking the main street. The room was ultra-small, but fine for my needs (that is sleeping). And, oh man, did I ever sleep. I slept the whole afternoon.

I met up with two friends from USC, Bhavna and Shammin, in central Hong Kong. They introduced me to dim sum, duck, and other Hong Kong cuisine. Wow, it was so good. I love Hong Kong food.

I was hoping to tour Macau tomorrow, but they said the ferries might be closed because a strong typhoon was approaching that night. Shucks.

I spoke with a tour guide today. Her English was impressive. She showed me all the great tours from her brochure. However, all the prices were high (1st-world prices). Unfortunately, I wouldn’t be doing any sort of tour in Brunei. The tours were expensive and so were rental cars. If I wanted to explore this island, Borneo, I’d probably do it in the Malaysian part where it’d be much cheaper.

She diverted the subject to the Sultan. She asserted that he took care of his citizens. He provided free education, medical, dental, and retirement funds for all citizens. Brunei’s bountiful oil sites are the source of the country’s wealth.

Then she restrained herself. She said it was illegal to talk about the Sultan.

I asked, even if it’s positive?

She said, yes, even still. It is illegal no matter what.

It’s unfortunate that Bruneians have 1st-world riches but lack 1st-world freedoms.