I decided to fly through the air and live in the sunlight and enjoy life as much as I could.
~ Evel Knievel.
I never knew traveling was something I would really want, but here I am craving it. There is something about being in a new city, a new country, that wakes you up in a way nothing else can. Every street feels like a story you have not read yet, every sound is unfamiliar, and suddenly even the simplest things, like buying a snack or crossing the road, become small adventures.
This is a continuation of my travel to Hong Kong this December, check out the first article here. If you have not read it yet, give it a quick look, it sets the scene for everything that follows.
🏨 First Night in Tsim Sha Tsui
We stayed in a place called Li Cheng Guesthouse in the district of Tsim Sha Tsui. I must say the place is clean and well organized, which is exactly what I hoped for after a long journey. The room was a bit small, but for me it was good enough; we did not come to Hong Kong to spend our days inside a hotel room anyway. We came to see the city, and the city was waiting right outside the door.
After resting for a bit, my girlfriend and I went to a nearby money exchange to get some Hong Kong dollars, then we decided to roam a few districts riding the MTR. The ride was a breeze. I am used to railways back in the Philippines, where you often squeeze into crowded trains and hope for the best. Hong Kong’s MTR was a completely different experience: clean stations, clear signs, and trains that actually arrive on time. It felt less like commuting and more like gliding through the city.
🎮 Sham Shui Po and the Golden Computer Arcade
Our first destination was Sham Shui Po, a district that buzzes with energy, and the Golden Computer Arcade, where we went to check out game consoles. The place is a paradise for gadget lovers. Row after row of booths, each one stacked with consoles, games, and accessories, with prices that are significantly cheaper than what you would pay in large retailers.
I will admit, I was tempted to buy a Nintendo Switch there. Very tempted. The price difference was hard to ignore, and for a moment I was already imagining myself playing it back home. In the end I managed to keep my wallet in my pocket, but not without a long, hard look at those displays. Maybe next time.
🚋 Riding a Piece of History in Central
Next, we traveled to Central to ride the trams. Quick fact: trams in Hong Kong first operated in 1904, which makes them more than a century old, and they are still running to this day. The ride costs just two Hong Kong dollars end to end, which has to be one of the best bargains in the whole city.
Stepping onto that tram felt like going back in time. The wooden seats, the slow, clanking rhythm, the way the city slides by at a pace that seems almost peaceful compared to everything around it. We sat on the upper deck, watched the neon streets pass below us, and for a moment the world felt simpler. After the trams, we wandered through a few more establishments, just taking in the city, and that ended our first day in Hong Kong.
Honestly, that first day already felt like a week in the best possible way. I went to sleep tired, happy, and already looking forward to tomorrow.
To be continued…