Trip Report: Hong Kong and Macau

One of the best things about living in Vietnam is the ability to fly out of the country for a weekend and experience an entirely different culture. Living in California, I'd get excited about going to San Francisco or Las Vegas, but it's basically the same shit, different setting. Whereas, when you go to somewhere like Cambodia, you're gonna have to adapt to a entirely different language, different food, and different people.

Recently, David and I were invited to Hong Kong to see Maroon 5. We decided to wing it, less because of the concert, but because I wanted to take David on an adventure and out of his everyday rut. Instead of having to write two different trip reports, we thought it'd be better if we put our conversational thoughts into words and shared with you the two different perspectives of our recent trip. One from a person who's been to Hong Kong numerous times, and the other from a newbie.

SH: So, David? Since this is the first time you were traveling to Hong Kong, what was your initial impression of the city? I remembered my first trip 4 years ago; I was excited that I was leaving Vietnam for an actual metropolitan city, albeit one with way too many Chinese people that couldn't speak English.

DL: I think one of the advantages of living in Vietnam is the accessibility to neighboring countries. A lot of my friends in Saigon, including you, have traveled to Hong Kong before and do so on a regular basis. I just remember sitting at the computer a few weeks ago, just solemnly on the computer and you pretty much booked our flights on the spot. It's the neurotic impulsivity I've come to expect and appreciate about you. But anyway, something clicked, and I said fuck it, lets go.

My first impressions of the city were pretty much comparing it to what I've seen and known, most notably New York. It's one of those great metropolitan city with high rises and just a buffet of things to feast your eyes upon. But everything seem to flow better in this city. The streets were labyrinthine, sure, but I'm sure if I acclimated myself to Hong Kong enough I could somehow find a method to the madness. But yeah, I agree, it was one of the first times I've been in an environment where little English was spoken. I didn't realize what an ignorant American I am, ha. I was really giddy with excitement though, most likely because I got the opportunity to shop. Shopping in Saigon sucks.

How about you? When you stepped off the plane, how was your excitement level compared to how it was four years ago? What'd you want to do, see, etc.?

SH: If it took you going to Hong Kong to realize the dearth of shopping options in Vietnam then you, sir, have been enjoying Ben Thanh Market too much. Honestly, going to Hong Kong doesn't really excite me much anymore, not like Bangkok or Manila. The one thing I can truly say I was anticipating was McDonalds. It's no surprise that the first thing we ate was a 10 piece Chicken McNugget meal. But since I haven't had it for so long, my stomach couldn't take much and I had to take a Serena William-looking pile of shit.

I know you enjoyed McDonalds just as me because I saw the twinkle in your eyes. What'd you think of Tim Ho Wan, the one starred Michelin dim sum restaurant that we waited in line for 2.5 hours for?

First Stop: The Golden Arches

DL: OK, before I go anywhere with this, did you really just compare your shit to Serena Williams? Sighhhh.

The penchant for shopping died with me long ago but then resurrected itself in Hong Kong. Thank you, Hong Kong! Now that you mention it, I prefer a Bangkok over a Hong Kong because it's the perfect blend of the down-and-dirty charm of Vietnam and the more refined super-city appeal of Hong Kong. We've talked about it. Now I'm just waiting for the move. Need I tempt you?

Back in the States, I never ate McDonalds. In fact, I preached against the McDonalds choir for some time. But like they say, you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone. It was so good to have it in Hong Kong. You should know...you were getting annoyed with me recommending McDonalds for every meal.

I was actually kind of disappointed at myself about Tim Ho Wan. We had planned to go there, get a reservation ticket, and kind of scour the city while we wait for our turn to sit and eat. I remember it being the first meal of the day and the 2+ hours of waiting was a bit daunting on my growling stomach. So where do we go? McDonalds! Normally, I digest my food really fast and am ready to go eat again in about 1-1.5 hours but I think the sausage egg McMuffin had other plans. The stubborn bastard stuck around in my stomach. We got to Tim Ho Wan, filled our order card (being a bit overzealous), and waited while the Chinese lady screamed at our confused faces. Fucking language barriers. When we sat down and the fried pork bun came out, I took my first bite and realized that, fuck, I'm still kind of full from McDonalds. This didn't matter because the food just kept coming out. Altogether, about 20 items. We made a pact to try at least a little of everything but then reality set in and our resolve weakened. Next thing you know, I'm looking for the quickest tennis court to drop a Serena Williams, if you will.

The food was good but probably didn't warrant the wait people went through to get in. What'd you think of the overall food experience in Hong Kong? Better than Panda Express? And was there something in Hong Kong that you wish we did that we didn't get to? For me, my regret was that we didn't take the public MTR more. And that we got to the Maroon 5 concert late. C'est la vie.

Waiting outside in the rain

The sole reason why we're here

Hungry patrons enviously watch us eat

Foooooooooooooooooood

Ha Cao

Ban Bao

Something I can't remember

Siu Mai

Food just kept stacking up

SH: Hey, if your shit is black, ugly, and big enough to hit a 125 MPH serve; it's a Serena Williams shit.

Yeah, I'm equally disappointed in us that we couldn't fully appreciate the charm of Tim Ho Wan. What impressed me the most, though, was the fact that the whole meal only cost $20, or $10 per person per Michelin star. No where else in the world will you be able to find that.

I'm also disappointed that we couldn't find time to visit Bo Innovation and Lung King Heen, the two restaraunts I was most excited about. I guess we shouldn't have wasted so much time shopping at Uniqlo. Oh well, it'll be something I can look forward to next time I visit Hong Kong.

The Maroon 5 concert, though, was pretty dope. They're actually pretty good live. That Adam Levine; he's "Qua Man."

Now comes the real question at hand. Was the Macau sauna everything I said it would be and more? Wouldn't it be the place God would vacation at? I would ask your opinion about Macau as a whole, but I know you barely even saw the city since we spent 99.9% of the time in the place where I would like my cremated ashes to be dispersed.

The exact point where I got my first boner

Serenading us with "She Will be Loved"

Two Lost Souls

DL: Yeah, I've been to a few Michelin rated restaurants in my time and a whole meal for two people that costs $20 is unheard of. I feel like a bandit. It would've been pretty awesome to explore the other restaurants as well. Hong Kong is one of the cities of the world known for its culinary prominence and I feel like we shortchanged ourselves by repeatedly going to McDonalds and shopping. But yeah, "things-to-do" for the next time I'm out there.

The 3 story H&M

It was awesome to see Maroon 5 in Hong Kong, to be honest. I grew up in that LA music scene when those guys were just an upstart band as Kara's Flowers and Maroon. To see them go from playing in front of a 20-person crowd to playing at sold-out arenas, it's really an awesome thing to see. Respect to those guys and their success.

Ah, Macau. Macau's not a real place. Actually, I shouldn't talk about Macau like I saw the damn place. My experiences were restricted to the confines of the sauna at the Rio. That place is an oasis where guilty pleasures become the standard. I've never been waited on like that before. There was nothing there that I wanted and I couldn't have. Now I know what the hell it feels like to be one of the girls in our "The Professional Girlfriend" posts. God vacations there, I'm sure of it. He also overslept with us and smited the airport into letting us check in, and be on the plane within 17 minutes. Thank you God for not letting me miss my flight. And I'm sorry for whatever sins I committed this past weekend

Football sized sauna

Where we slept for 12 hours

SH: We're definitely spend more than 15 hours in Macau next time we go there. I would have loved to take you the casinos and show you the poker rooms in the Wynn and Lisboa. Plus you gotta see the sheer size of The Venetian; the things grandiose. What are you doing next weekend?

SH and DL