Gem of Travel

Welcome to my exciting series: Hong Kong 2023! Get ready to embark on this amazing journey with me, as I share my daily experiences. Prepare to be captivated as I bring you weekly updates filled with unforgettable moments. Feel free to leave comments with any questions or to share your favorite parts of my adventure!

I arrived in Hong Kong very early in the morning, around 6 a.m. Even though I had been traveling for 26 hours, I felt quite energized, ready to start my journey. I got an Octopus card from a kiosk in the airport and got on the train. I got off on the stop Apple maps told me to, but got very lost exiting the station. The station was located within a large shopping center, and I got completely turned around. I ended up wandering around the mall while it was closed and void of people. Eventually I found an exit, but it was on the opposite side of the center and I had to walk a long roundabout route to get back on track.

I had contacted the hostel where I was staying, and they said I could drop luggage off after 9 a.m., so I had a few hours to kill, lugging around my suitcase. I found a small cafe near the hostel for breakfast and discovered the deliciousness that is a raisin bun, as well as a cute bunny pastry. I returned to Bread Talk several times during my stay at this hostel, as it was so close and everything was delicious. I navigated to my hostel, which was the 6th floor of what was apparently a collection of hostels and apartments. After calling and buzzing the bell quite a few times, I was let into the hostel remotely and told to leave my suitcase in the hallway. Through the door, there was a small hallway with a handful of rooms and an empty reception desk. Deciding to take the chance, I left my suitcase (which had a small lock on it) in the hallway and left to explore with my stuffed backpack and purse.

I spent a few hours exploring Kowloon Park. This park is huge and absolutely gorgeous. I returned a few times, and was sad to leave it behind. They have a lily pond with a waterfall, an aviary, a character statue park, and unique statues and plants throughout.

Upon exiting the park, through a different way than I came in, I encountered a Jeff Satur billboard. I freaked out and took a ton of pictures. A woman offered to take a picture of me in front of the billboard, and I returned the favor. It turns out this was not the only Jeff Satur billboard, and we walked together to the other one. While talking, I learned she was also going to the KPWT concerts and she was peripherally involved in one of the fan groups. I followed both her and the fan group on instagram. We took some pictures, and parted ways.

For lunch, I went to what I later discovered was a chain, Cafe de Coral. It was really good and they had a great milk tea. Actually, Hong Kong had the best milk tea out of every country I went to on this trip. After lunch, I was finally able to check into the hostel. This was my first hostel experience and I was so excited.

In a word, the experience was dismal. The room was tiny with no window, the sheets were pilled, and the bathroom. Y’all. The bathroom was tiny and the shower was a hose style with a drain on the floor, right above the toilet. There was no counter to put any products on. There was one towel. The air was humid, and the only climate control was a fan hung on the corner above the desk, facing the bed. Nowhere for luggage to lay except on the floor. It was NOT the smart choice for my first night. My recommendation for everyone, is for the first night after a huge trip, spring for somewhere with a nice bathroom. You’re gonna want to take a long, thorough shower after so much travel. My drain ended up being stopped up and I flooded the bathroom and my room, because there was no barrier to trap the water in the bathroom. Thankfully, there was an attendant on duty and they helped me towel everything up and then they cleaned the shower drain.

I took a little bit after this to settle, connect to wifi, review my itinerary, and then got ready for dinner. I realized the night market was close, and walked over. Night markets were one of the things I most looked forward to. I walked around the entire market twice to make sure I saw everything. I ended up eating at a small noodle restaurant that was cheap and delicious. Deciding to shop another time, I headed back to my room, read for a bit, and went to bed.