Going shopping in Kowloon

What a day!

We left our apartment at 10:00am heading out for a day of shopping for house furnishings. We took a bus, two ferries, walked a LOT, ate some lunch, took the MTR (subway train), and walked through this really crowded industrial area till we found the address, searched around in the building, found and rode up the Odd floor only elevator, and finally out onto the 21 floor into a pleasant used furniture store. We spent a couple hours looking around and left with bed frames bought for everyone, a dining room table and chairs, desks for everyone and a couple cute odds and ends. This wonderful little store will arrange for it all to be delivered to our new apartment on the day we move in next week.

Then we rode the MTR across town, walked through a huge mall and rode a bus to the IKEA store. I talked with them about delivery to Discovery Bay, which is difficult due to restrictions on delivery vehicles into our little town. I talked with several workers who all gave me different days and times the store could deliver to us. I was sort of able to determine that IKEA can only deliver on certain days. They can deliver AND assemble later in the month, like another two weeks later. SO, it will be better for me to arrange for someone to come pick up our necessary items from IKEA and wait on IKEA to deliver the rest. We walked through IKEA, looked at the necessary items and left with our exhausted selves to fight again another day. We took another long train ride, then a double decker bus ride home right to our little temporary apartment. SO glad to see it after 17,750 steps....Or 7 miles of walking.

I have some observations to make in general about this place. In no particular order...

There are elevators that only go to the odd floors...and the even floors, not to both. Weird...

Hong Kong citizens have a different view of personal space. They will cut in front of you in a hot second. They will crowd onto the train even when you are sure no more space remains.

These are the most connected people I've ever seen. Free wifi on the buses, the trains, the ferries, and in shops and restaurants. The folks my age and younger are on their phones all.the.time. Seriously...it's kind of shocking.

There are lots more fat people here than I thought I'd see.

There are squat toilets and sitting toilets everywhere. And toilet paper dispensers as you walk in the doors of the washrooms....NOT in the stalls, but just inside the main door. Now, HOW do they know how much toilet paper they are gonna use?

Hong Kong children go all over without their parents. Not uncommon to see 7-8 year olds at the grocery store shopping alone.

This is a very diverse city. I've seen Anglos from many countries, Asians from many countries, Arabs, Indians, and Africans. Amazing how many different people are here.

There are many accommodations for the elderly and the disabled. Special seats set aside for the elderly on all public transport and I have seen young people are constantly giving up their seats for their elders or for young pregnant women.

Someone is always trying to sell something here. Street hawkers will follow you and shove a coupon in your hand. Some of the streets are one big ole violation of personal space.

And sometimes, in the middle of the craziest day, a child makes a huge step forward. This child, the pickiest of eaters, the one I've never forced to eat things, and the one I've worried would starve here.... Well, today at the Mongolian BBQ, he bypassed the pizza, just glanced at the rice, and went straight for the ramen style noodles and fresh meat and sauce and ate himself a big bowl of Mongolian BBQ and loved it. He has always needed to choose for himself and I have always defended him in his choices. I've said many times that I wasn't concerned about his pickiness...that he should be allowed to decide for himself and eat whatever he chooses to eat. His taste buds would mature and he would be fine. Stop picking on Paul...he's going to be fine. I always said it, but I was frankly beginning to not quite believe it....till today.

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