Yesterday, Denny and I went to Hong Kong. Denny booked the airplane of 5, Feb for Kenya. We decided to go to Hong Kong two days earlier and have a short trip there. Last time we visited Hong Kong was 2018. 4 years have passed. The 4 years witnessed many significant events which brought Hong Kong great changes. 1 year after we visted Hong Kong in 2018, the Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill Movement happened. The protest lasted nearly a year, from spring to winter. In the winter came the pandemic of 3 years during which we were restricted from entering Hong Kong. Last November, the strict covid policy was removed suddenly and therefore we had this chance to visit Hong Kong.
The journey is very short. Only 1 and half days.
The places I visited:
1. Bang Bang 70s: a vintage store. I want to buy a gift for ShunShun in Hong Kong. She likes earrings. I discovered this store in Little Red Pocket. I bought two pairs of earrings there. As the store owner introduced them to me, the earrings were designed by a Swedish designer who left the earrings to the store owner before returning to Sweden. The store owner and I talked a lot about the politics.
2. The White Noise Records: 聆音察理。The background music in the store is great.
3. 序言书室：The elevator is still as confusing as in 2018…
Things I bought:
1. a MySim card in 7-11: $33
2. a mask: $5
3. medicines：$813.
4. two pairs of earings: $960
5. two books by Eileen Chang: $40
Interesting people I encountered:
1. the owner of Bang Bang 70s.
2. a Canadian old man waiting for taxi.
3. a Ethiopian young man buying fish balls wiht me.
Other observations:
1. the process of entering Hong Kong is very smooth.
2. Alipay can be used in MTR and most stores. WeChat Pay can be used too, but not as widely as Alipay. Keeping some cash is important.
3. You can live in Hong Kong with Mandarine. But if you want to work there, you must be able to speak Cantonese.