Hong Kong
2
Gay Hong Kong
Our plane lands and rolls slowly into the gate. The doors open and instantly the heavy, moist Asian air sweeps into the cabin. Welcome to Asia. Welcome to Hong Kong, land of biggest, longest and tallest. The biggest seated Buddha in the world. The longest single suspension bridge in the world. The tallest suspended SkyCar in the world. Pair these with the world’s most impressive skyline and you know you’ve officially arrived in the gateway to Asia, where east meets west in a brilliant show of designer brands, burger joints, hawkers and neon signs. There is really no other place like it. No doubt, the more than 100 years of British influence can be felt in the food, the manners and the attitudes. Still, Hong Kong remains a distinctly Asian city, where walking just a few blocks takes you from glittering skyscrapers to slowly eroding residential high-rise towers.
Hong Kong is a collection of islands surrounding the main hub of Hong Kong Island (both the business and residential center and very up-market), which flows brilliantly into the mainland across Victoria Harbor. Mainland Hong Kong begins with Kowloon and Tsim Sha Tsui (the glittering, refined yet rough seafront area full of cheap food, markets and neon) and leads north into the New Territories - Hong Kong’s idea of a “suburb.” From there, you’re just steps away from mainland China.