Note: This story originally appeared on my Substack page. I have decided to re-share it here as I cannot keep up with Substack, this blog, and two jobs at the same time anymore. For those of you who haven’t read the story before – or heard me retell it to you in person – I hope you enjoy it.
The sun was shining on us as we climbed the 268 steps toward the Tian Tan (Altar of Heaven) Big Buddha on Lantau Island, Hong Kong. Paul and I are among the first tourists to climb the stairs in the irenic quiet of morning.
Sunset, somewhere between Denver and Scottsbluff.
After stuffing ourselves on the free dinner buffet, Paul and I returned to our room. We were tired. We wanted to go home. We needed to get ready for the next day, just in case our flight was canceled again.
Since I wasn’t going to be eating again tonight, I went into the hotel bathroom to brush my teeth. “Damn it,” I yelled. “I don’t have any toothpaste.” That audible thought was quickly followed by another. I didn’t have any deodorant left either.
I had carefully planned my trip, as I do all trips, so that I don’t have to carry toothpaste or deodorant back home with me. That least space for more chocolate, which is more important. Fortunately, the hotel had free toothbrushes and toothpaste. They did not have deodorant.
“It’s okay,” I thought to myself. “I’ll just be sitting on a plane for most of the next day. What could go wrong?”
Not our plane, but another United plane being pulled somewhere. It’s probably broken, too.
Paul and I arrived at the Hong Kong airport three hours ahead of time for our flight home. We waited forty-five minutes for the United check-in desk to open to get our boarding passes. For whatever reason, the self-serve kiosks were not working. The last fifteen minutes of our wait I tried to calm myself.
One by one, United employees came out to their desks, but didn’t open. Logically, I know there is plenty of time to get the passes, pass through security and get to our gate, but my heart rate is already increasing. I bow my head and stare at my shoes, tracing the lines that make up the shoe’s design. I close my eyes and take several deep breaths to calm myself.
The deep breaths don’t really calm me. They are a distraction to keep me from screaming. I really only start to feel better when Paul says, “Okay, now I’m starting to get annoyed.”
I’m sure it is, but I’m not fond of seafood.
After spending six hours going through my photos of food, cropping them down to manageable sizes and putting cutlines on each one, I realized I ate a lot of stuff in Hong Kong and Macau. Some of it, I wish I had with me right now so I could eat more. Some of it, I’m glad I tried it, but never again.
Waffles or egg puffs? I really want them all.
Vacations are a time to learn, have new adventures, and see what the world has to offer. Whenever I go on vacation, I look at the different types of foods I can try, but I also like to see what kind of snacks people eat in their part of the world. Here is a selection of things I found.
This is the best sign I saw in all of Hong Kong.
Whenever I go on vacation, signs at my destination always catch my eye. Since I am always armed with a camera, I take a picture of whatever it is that has piqued my interest. Here is a selection of those photographs.
Welcome to the Wetland Park.
The Hong Kong Wetland Park is located in Tin Shui Wai in the northwestern part of the New Territories. It took a little more than an hour to reach the site to from Kowloon. It was necessary to take the MTR, then light rail and then walk five minutes to arrive at our destination.
Part of the Macau skyline.
The most densely populated area in the world also wagers more dollars in a single year than all of Las Vegas. Casinos are everywhere. It is the pre-eminent gambling capital of the world. We came for the history.
Until 1999, Macau was a Portuguese colony. Portuguese traders began settling in Macau in the 1550s. It eventually became a colony before it was transferred back to China on 20 December 1999.
Most people who come here visit to try their hand with lady luck. We came for the scenery.
The entrance to the Temple Street Market.
The Temple Street Market in Kowloon is a few subway stops away from our hotel, but it is not a place where I would normally go. It is one of the busiest flea markets around.
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