Big in HK
I finally caught up on the jet lag — 12 hours, as bad as it gets. I don’t have any pictures yet, but I’ve shown you Wan Chai before. Hard to explain really, but there’s something cool about the narrow streets bordered by 60+ floor filthy tile-clad buildings, complete with dripping A/C units and hanging laundry, or those uninspiring restaurants flanked by a british pub and a tire repair shop the size of my bathroom where a 70 year old waiter/chef/handyman/retired gangster greets you in three languages, one of which you realize after 3 seconds is surprisingly familiar.
This kind of “east meets west” quality makes HK a special place in Asia, kinda like an improbable versus mix that turns out really great (after exactly 1 minute — hint, hint).
This is an especially apt track for this trip by the way — if you’ve seen the original Groovejet music video you’ll know it plays heavily on the “jet set” stereotype, a.k.a. the prototypical clubbing douchebag, which I happened to encounter while checking in in Toronto — standing in the Business line of course, complete with spikey hair, an Italian tux jacket, untucked shirt and designer jeans and the ubiquitous oversized D&G shades on — inside the terminal.
Another thing I like about the Wan Chai area specifically is its particular brand of retro modernity. Unlike most of its mainland Chinese counterparts, central HK came of age a while ago, and I feel it shows urban patterns and a general look and feel more akin to those of Tokyo or some Western metropolises. Only much, much funkier.
Maybe that’s why I’ve been on an 80’s trip since I got here.
yeah, an obvious choice, but it just fits so well — I’m sure Wan Chai is pretty much an unescapable hell to a lot of working girls unfortunately, and I feel a bit dirty myself for simply appreciating its urban grittyness.
He looks like he’s been doing even more coke in this one… only makes it more appropriate I guess.
Speaking of 80’s, did I mention how much HK reminds me of Blade Runner?
Simply the most awesome movie ever. And one of the best soundtracks too — second only to Shaft maybe. But I guess Shaft would be more Baltimore than HK even.
I guess I could also throw in the next best thing to Vangelis — Theme for Great Cities, by the early Simple Minds
Unlikely as it may seem, they were actually a pretty edgy band before they turned into U2.1
Travel round, I travel round…