I had written a similar experience about Mumbai which can be seen here. And now when I am a proud Hong Konger, I wish to show this beautiful country from my eyes. And if you were doubting my grammar, pl feel to check it here.
A for Air Con dripping- Just like we have birds’ droppings
everywhere else in the world, we have Air Conditioner drippings in Hong Kong.
Walk like a king on Queen’s Road flaunting your Gucci shirt and Jimmy Choo
shoes but you can’t stop grinning when suddenly something drops on your head
without notice!
.
B for Black. So when Bruce Wayne (in Batman) asked Morgan Freeman: “Does it come
in black”, he was being Hong Kong at heart. Black - a Hong
Konger feels the most comfortable in it. All you in the stores and on the road is Black!
C for Chung King Mansion- Need Indian spices/ Nigerian curry/ Portugese pudding, cheapest guest
houses/ weed? At any point of time, you’ll find a minimum of 120 nationalities
staying together in this building. A ‘Can do lah!” answer to all your troubles.
D for Dragon. Throughout Hong Kong dragons are
pampered because they are thought to be super-intelligent and benevolent
creatures. Any festival/ ritual (even calendar)
is incomplete without a Dragon. Wherever visitors gaze in Hong Kong, they can
see a "dragon. Kowloon itself means
Nine Dragons.
E for Elderly. Well, Hong Kong has none! There is none
between the age ranges of 25-60 years. You stop aging after you reach 25 until
you reach 60. So all you see is either girls or grannies. Hong Kong is a young
city where mothers and daughters are sisters growing young every day.
F for Four. Four in HK is the Thirteen of the West. Say this
word to anyone at the new year and relations break. There are no
4th floors in the buildings. Pronounced as “Sei” meaning “die/ death”.
Beware!
G for Gwailo- Gwailo is a ‘positively’ racist word. Gwailo means
a ‘white’. Though actually translates into being a ‘white ghost’ but all
gwailoes enjoy the charisma and happily call themselves so.
H for Hiking. Either you love it, or you are fed up of it or you
have planned to do it every weekend or you are the one writing about it. But
there is none here who has never tried it. This is the most common activity for
an average Hong Konger after surfing Groupon deals and playing Candy Crush.
I for I-Phone. They say that there are two religions in Hong
Kong. One, is I-Phone and second is ‘Whatever it is..!!’. Where else in the world will the train stations announce "Don't keep your eyes only on the mobile phone"
J for Jade- The Chinese good-luck charm. For the rest of the
world, diamonds may be girls’ best friends, but in HK, jade rules. Depicts beauty and purity. Newborns receive jade bracelet from grandma. And people wear new amulets each year based on their zodiac
signs as per ancient Chinese almanac.
K for ‘Kung hei Faat choi’. Everyone learns to say this during Chinese new year. Translated as ‘congratulations on getting rich’ while
exchanging ‘Lai C’ the red packet containing money. Customary to give it to the
watchmen/ maids. But secretly everyone fancies receiving it as it signifies
incoming wealth.
L for LKF. The magnet of the city. The only place where an
average Hong Konger never ‘plans’ to go but ends up going. The plans are
generally impromptu and strike rate of ideas increases post mid-night after a
few heavy drinks. Clocks lose their count and tensions of Life go for a stroll
when one enters LKF.
Tip: Post 3 am, you can see the Seven Wonders of the World here.
M for M goi. The most international word of Hong Kong that can
be used as a suffix in every situation comfortably. M goi expresses your
gratitude, your concern and courtesy.
N for Neon Signs. Only in Hong Kong will you find 'Light Pollution'. HK never sleeps. Its Neon lights famous for being lit 24/7 present a harbour of brightly colored lights.
O for Octopus! The smart cards of Hong Kong. Keep your credit
cards and wallets overflowing cash in your pockets. Octopus can be used in
trains/ buses/ shops/ ferries and what not (except cabs). Easily re-chargeable
almost everywhere and even can be linked to your Credit card conveniently for
auto- recharge.
P for Pork- I don’t know why it has not been crowned as the
National animal of the nation yet. Be it Pork bread/ pork burritos/ (I wonder
if Porsche design was inspired from this) or the jewelry/ key rings or smileys.
Pork rules the world of creativity here.
Q for Queen’s culture. The Hong Kong kings woos and pays to the
Hong Kong queens to get married! Queen’s road is costlier and more vibrant than
King’s road. Can you believe it?
R for Red. The luckiest color of the land. Red lanterns/ red
posters/ calenders on every door. If it is red, it is safe. Wearing red is auspicious. If you shy away with red, you can pick up red vests/ briefs from street markets.
S for Saloon- You can die of hunger/ thirst/ tsunami but you
will never die of messy hair or unshaven cheeks. Move around anywhere and all
you see are hair saloons and all of them understand your bad hair days.
T for Typhoon. Interestingly, every Hong Konger instead
of being afraid, loves it! You get an early day off, extra sleep and leisure at
work waiting for Hong Kong Observatory to hoist Typhon Signal 8.
U for UK. Hong Kong’s foster mother. Some say, Hong
Kong is more English than England. You see the shadows of the mother in her
daughter’s architecture, street names, judiciary, culture and yes, a number of
British Passport holders who have never been to Britain!
V for Victoria Harbour. Even if you see this panoramic
view from your desk every morning, it never gets old. A silent ‘wow’ pops up. And at least once in your life time, it is/ was your wall paper.
W for Wai- One word that scares you to death! “Wai” is how you greet
someone on phone in Chinese. Hence if you are Cantonese-less and hear ‘wai’, be
prepared to get assaulted!
X for Xcitement. Excitement for an approaching long weekend.
Either you have booked your flights for getaways, or you end up making tall plans of
shopping, barbeque, camping but end up being a couch potato and download
movies.
Y- Yum cha! Yum cha is an invitation to eat out though literally
translated as ‘drink tea’. An average Hong Konger eats out everyday. And
talking of cha (tea)…the variety shouldn’t surprise you... Black teas, Flavored
teas, Herbal Teas, Compressed teas, Flower Teas to name some. Visit a shop/
saloon/ friend. You are handed a cup of tea in hand before you are asked the
purpose of your visit.
Z- Zero Crime. Hong Kong is outstandingly safe. Whether
moving in trains/buses/trams as a local or clicking pictures posing as
tourists. Move with full wallets or null clothes. None bothers. Police officers
patrol many areas and are very helpful (and strong…though looks may be
deceptive).
