Escalating priorities

Hong Kong, Wednesday 4 November

I took my weary eyes to the sun terrace for a couple of hours and opened them long enough to see one or two stimulating poolside sights that brightened them a little. Sunglasses are under rated as a girl’s best friend.

Inspired, I caught the bus into town and headed to Causeway Bay for a bit of a dig around. I made it as far as Sogo, a department store of notable brands and good value, before a re-arrangement of plans meant I needed to get to Central. I jumped onto the MTR and was where I had to be in 15 minutes. There is no Metro etiquette about letting passengers off first here; when it’s busy it is a free for all. I am still amazed how quickly a little pushing and shoving becomes ‘natural’. It is the only way to ensure you are not the only left standing on the platform when the doors close. I guess with 7 million people and the majority of those living in the new Territories, which is where I am, there is lots of commuting to be done. Time and space are precious commodities and neither is given away lightly.

Central is the commercial hub of the city and where there are business people there are shops for business people. Shimmering glass fronted office buildings tower over slick shopping Plaza’s and also little pieces of Hong Kong’s history. There is not a lot of Colonial architecture left in Hong Kong but one or two of the remaining buildings down town remind me that much has changed here. The Central Police Station is a brick monstrosity slap bang in the middle, built in 1859. It is currently being gutted and will become a high rise with a three storey Victorian façade. It is completely latticed in bamboo, the scaffolding of choice still used here. I guess ACC practices have a little way to go yet.

I picked up a couple of items from favourite shops and our plan was to go to Mongkok as the Auckland Girl had seen my favourite Salomon walking shoes in some shop at the back of an alley off a lane up a side street . By early evening though I had lost the stamina necessary to take on Mongkok (I will just have to use the shoes I bought in Rome more) so instead after a gin we took the infamous escalator to the Mid Levels. I have never been all the way to the top of the escalator, Robinson Road is not far from the Peak, there is usually a distraction, and then walked back down to Soho (South Of HOllywood Rd) for a look see.

I like Soho. It is basically a street per level of shopping, restaurants and bars and is popular with Chinese and expats alike. As the night progresses patrons spill out onto the picturesque streets heading to their next stop. We ended up having Italian for dinner at a place neither of us had been. (A shot of walnut and mushroom soup to start, compliments of the chef then veal wrapped in pancetta with jus served with a square polenta cake and grilled eggplant lightly mashed and something else I have forgotten followed by what can only be described as chocolate Eskimo Pie doused in cocoa with fresh orange segments and orange syrup all harmonized with a light Pinot Grigio from the Veneza region :-). It was OK. And then it was time for home.

We walked back into Queens Road and caught the bus home. A lot of people sleep on the bus home and a few are always on their phones. We talked and again nearly missed the stop and because we were on the upper deck were propelled towards the staircase as the bus slowed to stop. I was glad to be getting off right then after the shopping bags in my left hand which I used when I lunged towards the hand rail swung out of control, the corners straight into the face of a sleeping commuter. Ouch. Naturally he was stunned; I was graciously apologetic but could see it was time to go and flew down the stairs before the eruption of his distress caught up with my ears. I suspect I can read what he said to me on my Tee shirt.

Pic is Peel St, Soho.