Rice is Nice

I got a bit of a late start today, but I decided that I wasn't going to brave the hiking trails that I still hope to conquer some day. I wasn't feeling quite 100%. So, I figured that this would be an ideal day, and Hong Kong an ideal place, to catch up on some gift shopping. I set out for Hollywood Road in Central. I didn't find the first store I'd hoped to find. It just wasn't where it was supposed to be. And after about 15 minutes in the heat, I was already drenched. It was clear, hot, and humid. Last year when I was here, I hiked Lamma when it was overcast, hot, and humid, and sweated more than I did farther south in Asia. For whatever reason, the Hong Kong heat is hard to beat. Perhaps the buildings reflect it all and the concrete traps it. I don't know.

So I made my way farther along Hollywood Road, hoping I'd come across a store that sold old but not valuable bric-a-brac with an East-meets-West tinge. Instead, the street was lined with galleries selling contemporary and ancient Chinese art. On the mainland, much of what was advertised was illegal to export. And if you did find that on the mainland, there would be little chance that it would be authentic anyway. But somehow, Tang dynasty horses and stuff (I can, by now, identify that dynasty, and some others, by sight) make their way here, for wealthy collectors to acquire. So I only saw things that I hope to have later in life.

I met up with Rahul, a friend of a friend with whom I also met up last spring, and some of his American and British friends (including a delegation from the Body Shop) for some high-end dim sum at the Renaissance Harbour View. And then Rahul, his cousin and I went out to Causeway Bay, Queens Road East, and other areas looking for gifts and souvenirs. Some places, such as Goods of Desire (GOD) are great, and ought to be available in the US. That place in particular is a bit like an Asian IKEA, yet far more appealing. But the area in general was just swarmed with locals doing weekend shopping. There was hardly room to move. But eventually, we went in too many places as the cousin was intent on finding a "hanging dragon," though I'm not really sure what that meant.

Stephen and I took our Mr. and Mrs. A for dinner in Repulse Bay (their choice), and saw the south side of the Island. It's a beautiful choice and I can see why the Hong Kong residents would only settle for other beautiful cities and wind up in places like Vancouver. If you can have beaches, mountains, greenery, and fine dining within a few yards of each other, why not?