Somewhere that feels like a return to a part of me, my history, and somewhere that I will always be curious… what if I grew up here instead of America?

What Hong Kong means to me:

My mom is actually from Hong Kong, she grew up there for 10 years before coming to America by boat. She told me stories of Hong Kong, and we even visited there when I was a child. The first time I went there I remembered my brother climbing up alleyways, eating roast duck at a hole in the wall set-up restaurant behind a building in an alley. We lived off 7/11 ramen and loved that most people spoke English as well. We returned a year or two later, and had a taxi driver that couldn’t read or write. Although we had our hotel written in Chinese on paper from a travel agent, we ended up 2 miles away from our hotel and walked tirelessly with our suitcases and luggage. My brother and I used to sneak out while my parents slept and go buy ramen at the nearby 7/11.

As an adult I finally returned while on my way back from Japan. I had a long 10hour layover flying from Okinawa to California. I planned this of course- had my carry-on checked to go all the way to California while I temporarily leave to Hong Kong and only had my enormous backpack that I always bring for my travels.

After a boost of confidence in my hiking capabilities in Japan and my over-confidence in getting a lot of shit done in 10hours I thought I could hike two mountains and soak in a swimming hole by the beach in Hong Kong during my layover. Honestly if I didn’t spend so much time chatting with a store owner in the city, I probably could have. So here’s how my first time back in Hong Kong went:

My first plan was to go visit my mom’s old home. A few years back, my mom and her sisters went to visit their old home. It’s apparently still accessible and they all took a photo in front of the door. I decided I wanted to see where my mom grew up too. I took an Uber there, soaked in the city life in awe- even though it being just exactly as I remembered. I had a greater respect for what it was now that I’m an adult. It’s right in the heart of the city, so I turned around and around looking for the right place. After a bit of confusion I used Google Translate to ask if there were condo/apartments upstairs to a local selling magazines in front of the said address. At first he said no but then I typed this whole thing explaining my mom used to live there and I wanted to visit and then he said yes I can go up there. It felt weird just casually walking up to peoples’ homes, and not really knowing anyone there. The floor numbers were kind of messed up so I ended up going all the way to the rooftop by accident… which kind of felt like I was trespassing someone’s home LOL.

I didn’t want to get in trouble or accidentally run into someone and be awkward so I scurried on down, unsure if this really was the right place. My mom told me a story of how when she was young once she laid on rooftop penthouse, right on the edge. The neighbours called the cops on her and she got in trouble for it. When I stood on the rooftop I was like, huh, is this where that happened?

As I was on my way down I noticed a store on one of the floors. It was a crystal store, of course so my kind of store. I was excited to check out the shop and the crystals and also that a crystal shop was in the same building as where my mom lived. When I came into the store I put my heavy bag down and asked the clerk, “Do you live here?” He spoke English, and explained to me that he grew up here and lives in the building. I told him the story about my mom, and he happily engaged in a conversation about the building, how old it is, and how different it must be from back then. He even pulled up some photos of the same street/building in the 1960’s and it sure did look different. I of course purchased probably too many crystal cuffs but I was happy to support his business and thank him for his help.

I was ready to leave when he said, “Hold on, let me close the store. I’ll bring you up to your mom’s old home.” and he went with me to help find the exact door it was. I’m not sure if we figured out which one it was, I tried comparing my mom’s photo to the options in front of me and think we found it but it was a different floor than what my mom said. He also took me to the rooftop where I got more time to look around and really see the penthouse area where my mom spent a lot of time.

Eventually I headed off to explore a little more of the city since it has been so long since I was last there, took the local’s advice for some view points and walked around. Got kicked out of somewhere I wasn’t supposed to be and then decided to do a hike (?!).

Well, it was quite a stretch but I somehow thought I could achieve this race against the setting sun. I Ubered to Ap Lei Chau, and started my hike. The difference between my usual hikes and this one was that I wasn’t traveling with my little hiking backpack I was hiking with my enormous pink backpack that’s stuffed to the max with travel supplies since I was on the way back home from traveling in Japan. It was very heavy, and the material it’s made out of is very sweat provoking. Not to mention the weather in Hong Kong is hotter than balls and humid…

It’s not like I’ve never done hikes in hot, humid, Southeast Asian countries before, but I’ve definitely always regretted it. Plus I didn’t realize that this hike was not summiting one but TWO mountains in a row and then going down to the sandbar, finding the swimming hole was an additional thing and then I was supposed to hike up and down the two mountains again to get back to an area where I can Uber back to the airport. The hike? Totally doable! This day? Probably not the smartest move I’ve made in my life. A mom and daughter hikers on their way back recommended leaving my bag somewhere and doing the hike without the heavy thing. Since my whole life was in there I took it a bit further, but eventually ditched it in a place where I could at least see it from the bottom of the first mountain. I didn’t make it all the way down but I was determined. A kind male hiker was seriously concerned about me and actually gave me his headlamp since I was being stubborn and not backing down from trying to get further in the hike. He actually knocked some sense in me even though I tried to continue, I went a little further down and then had to hike up and down the first mountain back. I actually did have a little time to spare so I walked around the local shopping mall. I think the 7/11 worker was shocked at how fast I chugged my orange juice and immediately bought another bottle of water and chugged that too.

It really should have stopped here, but since I was upset about not completing my hike and since I was back in the city, surely calling an Uber wouldn’t be an issue. Another local did mention that there were going to be fireworks at 9pm, and I thought, Oh cool! I’ll catch that just before I leave then catch an Uber back to the airport. Easy peasy!

As it turns out, it was People’s Republic of China day and majority of the city streets were closed. I was like Ohhhhhh shiiiitttttttt. I was already here and paid for the Uber so I at least tried to run to the area where the fireworks were (which never went off for the time I was there). Immediately it felt like I was at a concert and stuck in a tight sea of people pushing and shoving. All I wanted…was to get out before I get trampled and injured…so I found a way out and called an Uber to the airport. Where I had to sprint 20 minutes to the nearest pickup point which I missed two drivers and panicked I wouldn’t make it to my flight. Eventually things worked out and I made it there and peacefully made it back to California.

So that was my long layover in Hong Kong, my first time in a while being there. It was fun and chaotic just like every other day of my life lol.

I returned to Hong Kong in 2024 on my way back to my second home in Australia. This was a whole mission and crazy last minute thing that happened that I’ll explain on my Toronto Canada page. Anyway, in conclusion I had a 6 hour layover in Hong Kong before arriving in Australia. The last time I was there, I regretted not just going to Stanley and chilling at the beach like I did when I was little. I told myself I would do just that the next time I’m in Hong Kong.

This actually isn’t at all what I did. Since the layover was shorter, I didn’t want to risk being too far from the airport and it was also 4:30am and had to be back around 8am to be safe for my 11am flight to Australia. I asked my friends from Hong Kong and friends that visited HK before what they recommended for a short layover and since it would literally be the end of the world if I missed my flight to Australia, I wanted to play it extra safe. I looked around at the closest beaches and I really wanted to go further and deeper to a more secluded area- but decided that was not the move right now lol.

I ended up in Discovery Bay, what a day. I remembered Discovery Bay when I arrived. It was 4:30am and there was definitely a sign saying no cars driving on the road and my taxi definitely drove all the way down the road…so many roads…he wasn’t supposed to…but hey man I’m not the local here so…

Eventually the cops come running out taking pictures of his car and I’m just like…”I’m sorry…is everything okay? Can I go?” and he smiled and told me everything was okay and proceeded to talk with the cops while I question what the hell I’m doing out here and how secluded and how little taxis there. Now completely worried about how the fuck I’m supposed to get back to the airport, I continue heading to the beach which was kind of dead and lame. I was too worried about my way back and missing my flight- like of all flights I cannot miss my flight back to Australia especially since my bags were going there already. I met a paddleboarder on the way who actually watched the taxi driver get in trouble with the police, and I asked him, how the hell do I go back?

Thankfully he was super helpful, told me the bus I needed to take, where to take it, and that I can get a taxi there. However, I didn’t have any cash for the bus or for the taxi. I was just calling taxis through Uber (which is common in the city) but if you hail a taxi you need to have cash (and probably speak Cantonese they are pretty rude haha). Fortunately this guy asked some runners for some spare change for me and I got enough coins for the bus (even though they’re not supposed to accept coins anymore they still lowkey do, but if you are traveling to HK get an Octopus card, you can get it in your Apple Wallet too but I didn’t want to because I was only there for a few hours). Didn’t really get to enjoy the beach, but I did enjoy my 7/11 meal I got at the airport 7/11. I remembered the ready to go meals being so cheap and delicious, I got a mushroom chicken rice bowl and a salmon roe onigiri and they have a whole cooking station for people to warm up their meals. I missed these easy meals in Asia. I sat on a swing set on the beach and ate my meal before heading to the bus station and finding my way to the plaza to catch a taxi (which I was so terrified of not being able to find one I booked one an hour in advance- highly recommend!). I walked around Discovery Bay a bit (it was actually quite easy to catch the bus and make my way there) and then located my Uber and successfully made it back to the airport and made my flight. Actually was quite early and sat around for a bit, but nevertheless made it to my destination.

Next time I go back to HK, I’ll be visiting Stanley and many other nature spots on Lantau Island. And I’ll finish that hike in Ap Lei Chau. Some day, when I have more time. People are kind of rude, but there are lots of tourists and English speakers. It’s also very hot and humid there lol.