Approximately 3 months ago, I packed up my carry-on sized pack and hopped on a flight to the other side of the globe. With one sweater, my sneakers, my swimsuit and my camera, I was ready to take on the world.
After flying for 16+ hours, I finally landed in Hong Kong International Airport where I had splurged on a car to take me to my hostel. That’s one thing I don’t mind splurging on! Traveling is exhausting and upon arrival I like to get to my accommodation stress free (especially after long haul flights). This made the sweaty, exhausted girl in her Patagonia sweater a little more comfortable landing in Asia alone.
I stayed at The Mahjong hostel which was in a less touristy part of Hong Kong that I really enjoyed. I had a top bunk in a 10 bed dorm. But the beds were almost designed like pods so I felt like I had my own space – I had a safe and outlet in my bunk. With no locker I kept my pack at the foot of my bed and locked my valuables in the safe. The internet was good, the hostel was clean and the there were basic kitchen necessities. So when I found some gluten free bread and peanut butter, I thought I hit the jackpot. Here are some pictures of the street outside of my hostel:
After a well needed nap and shower, I headed out to meet my friend who was studying in the city. Having allergies and eating abroad especially in Asia proved to be quite challenging but I did my best. My first night in Hong Kong I went to Mana! a vegan restaurant in Central serving up burgers, wraps and salads. The vegan burger, yams and garlic sauce really hit the spot. This jet lagged girl didn’t last long that evening and hit the hay relatively early. I was excited to see what I would discover during my 8-night stay in this bustling city.
Arriving in Hong Kong was a big adjustment. It’s by far the busiest place I’ve ever been to. Most of the time I crossed the street with hundreds of people. It was a complete 180 from the quaint, extremely small Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia. For that – I was grateful. The smells, sounds and sights were foreign to me. In my opinion, being somewhere completely new is important for us because it gives us perspective. I was thrilled to be in a new environment.
xoxo,
linds
Check out the next leg of the adventure: Insider’s Guide to Hong Kong
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