Hong Kong: Part 1

So this will be my first "personal" post of 2010. I went to Hong Kong this Christmas break. It was a lot of fun, and definitely a lot different from spending the holidays in Vancouver. First of all, the weather. In the Lower Mainland, it's always cold and rainy. This year, it didn't even snow. In Hong Kong, it was mostly cloudy and the temperature was around 15 degrees. A couple days it was over 20!
Also, everyone takes public transit there. The MTR, Hong Kong's subway, is always packed. Hong Kong has a genius system called Octopus. You get this card, which is similar to a debit card. You scan it at the gate of a MTR station and then scan it when you leave. You can also use it to buy drinks from vending machines or use it at stores like 7-Eleven. I like this idea. I think it would be a good idea for BC. Also, you can buy iPod shuffles and umbrellas in vending machines. I thought that was weird.
Everything is way cheaper in Hong Kong too. A meal here is usually about 7 dollars, plus tax. In Hong Kong, it usually ranges from 25-30 Hong Kong Dollars, which is about 4 dollars Canadian. Also, there isn't any tax. I bought a lot of clothes in Hong Kong.
The restaurants are a lot different too. At most restaurants, you order your food at a counter, then you get a receipt and you wait for your food at a food counter. It gave the restaurants more of a fast-food feel, which was weird.
The night scene is way different as well. Everyone is wide awake at 10 and the malls are still open. One mall that I went to was open 24 hours a day! The food courts are full too. One time, after I had dinner with family, I went on the street and it was so bright it was like an artificial daytime. There are just as many things to do at night as there is during the day.
I guess I should stop now. This is the longest blog I've ever written. I will finish my thoughts on HK in a second blog. Tim Cheung, signing off.