“If you’re too free, you’re like the way Hong Kong is now. It’s very chaotic.”
– Jackie Chan
On my recent business trip from Guangzhou, I decided to pass through Hong Kong on the way back home. It was my first time there and it certainly made a lasting impression.
Hong Kong is expensive. Make no mistake, the cost of living is steep but then again, you can see the value that you get in terms of the services and infrastructure that keeps the city humming and thrumming.
In order to escape from all the modernity and the shadows cast by tall buildings, I took the 5.7 km Ngong Ping Cable car to an older and more traditional side of Hong Kong. A side that reminds us of where all success is founded, a deep respect for culture and roots. I got to visit the old clock tower, the giant statue of Buddha and museum as well as the Po Lin Monetary, Tai O fishing village and Ngong Ping village. After the hustle and bustle of the city, the tranquillity and hush of the mountains was a relief. I can understand why many chose the hills as their sanctuary back in the olden days. I can imagine that centuries before, the stillness of the air, the magnificence of the view and contemplative nature of the surroundings would have offered plenty of sanctuary to souls in need of peace. It does not escape me that in our modern world, we always need a reality check, an opportunity to commune with nature and remember that we are all truly one with the Earth.
This was more of a pass-through-and-have-a-look type of trip so I wasn’t in holiday mode per-se. I did, however, take time to enjoy the scenery, the food and the culture. The skyscrapers were impressive, in terms of their size and number. Having lived in Dubai for half a decade, it was not lost to me what an achievement it was to have so much commercial enterprise and livelihood concentrated in such a relatively small area.
I suppose that all this tranquillity was shattered the moment the little boat we took stalled in the middle of our trip to see dolphins. It was sorted in a minute but, it was a reminder to me that that with all our modern technology and conveniences, we often forget that we are at the mercy of machinery and creations of mankind. I remember wryly thinking this as the boat got started again and we eventually did get to see the dolphins; graceful, sleek and cheeky.
I found Hong Kong to be a thriving metropolis, where many are lost to the trappings of modern life but, where those in the know cling to the remnants of their culture, and the peace of mind that it gives them. The shopping was fun, but so was the visit to the hills. I suppose one needs to find that which appeals the most. The beauty is that with Hong Kong, you can have the best of both worlds, at a price 🙂
Did I mention it was sunny but cold? Next time I’ll carry a brolly and a winter jacket!