The first view of Hong Kong is what you imagine explorers of the 16th or 17th century had seen when they first spotted land. A black smudge in the hazy horizon. Before you can see the iconic superbuildings of Hong Kong, you see somewhat wild-looking mountains with sharp peaks and jagged sides. The island, from a few thousand feet in the sky, looks rather untamed.My immediate impressions of Hong Kong were not quite so dramatic. After having traveled a bit, one city seemed to blend into another. First impressions were typically of similarities to other places I had been. Now, a few days in, Hong Kong is revealing the unfamiliar, the foreign, the exotic. More than a massive Chinatown, Hong Kong is a city of complicated tunnels, pedestrian bridges, and walkways. During the day, every part of Hong Kong feels like Times Square in New York. It is useless to get upset about getting your shoulder bumped here. How the island hasn't just sunk into the sea from the crushing weight of people and buildings, I have no idea.
First shot of Hong Kong (on Lantau Island)More observations from the first week to come...
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