I am all shopped out. I never thought I would say this – but Hong Kong has shopped me out.

I don’t think I could live in this city. Good food, good shopping but I can’t really run outside. There are nice views in this island city, and lots of gorgeous places I am sure on the many little islands…but I miss Vancouver with its grass and clean air!

Gosh what am I going to do in Toronto!? If Toronto is a global city like Hong Kong, with food, shopping, culture and humidity…I better learn to play more indoor sports.

To be honest, I am a little homesick already. I never thought I was ever much of a homebody but I am. I miss my cat and my family. I think it’s also knowing that when I come back, I will only be home again for three weeks before going to Toronto for grad school. A big part of me is thinking this is it, do this trip and do grad school and then settle somewhere in Metro Vancouver with a job and a down payment for a house. It’s not so much the “stuff” but I think I want to start a family of my own soon too. I guess family has become more and more important to me, or maybe it’s because I had never given it much of a place of importance in my heart until now. I don’t know how it will all work out, I pray for God’s leading and I am so thankful for a supportive family.

I almost didn’t want to go on this trip right before I left, which is my normal reaction to things. Five days in, already I feel like each day has been a hundred like Sean said it would be in traveling. My brain and my heart can’t help it but my eyes and my thoughts run across politics, social welfare and the like with every new scene in Hong Kong. How accessible is the city for the disadvantaged? (do you know how FAST the escalators on the MTR go? I am still afraid of tripping) Is the city designed with a socially conscious mindset? (much more green, probably because it has to be) What is the prevailing ideology? (ummm..anyplace where your head of state is called “Chief Executive”…says something) I can’t help but to think of these questions…probably makes me a not so fun travel partner, or maybe, depending who you are I suppose. I just spent some time looking up information on the government’s website just to see what the official documents say. “Non-compulsory contributions” to social welfare and all. Everyone says that Hong Kong is the capitalists’ dream, with personal income tax rates capped at 16% (which is around the lowest bracket in Canada), also very local corporate taxes and no sales tax (which is great for shopping). It’s like HK’s welfare is so different than the one I know, paid by for taxes. With its religious schools (my mom and grandmother taught at Christian schools in HK) and hospitals, there is so much more private philanthropy here and I like that because people care when they make these investments. The government is probably the worse provider of social services but we also need the government (or so my neo-liberal ideology has taught me to think) to regulate and to stimulate. It’s a delicate dance I think, when it comes down to it nonetheless…lots of thoughts…

Again, I realize I really need my Anna time. So my time journaling everyday continues, in order to preserve my sanity and the sanity of those who have the pleasure of traveling with me.


This is KFC in HK...they have chicken wings! And Portgeuse egg tarts!


This is a Shogun burger meal (sooo Japanese style paddy with an egg!) at McDonald's with a side of corn. I also had a green tea and red bean ice cream sundae the other day....Micky D's...the king of globalization with its brand recognition and localization...! Starbucks here also has mango frappes!