I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to Hong Kong with my daughter, Aya. This was my
third visit to the city, so I was familiar with much of it, yet there was still
an air of excitement as we headed to Macau—my first time there (featured in the
right half of the photos).
On our way from the airport to the heart of Hong Kong, we happened upon a
station called Kowloon and decided to disembark. I learned that it’s located on
the site of the former Kowloon Airport (formerly Kai Tak Airport). My first
visit to Hong Kong was when I was 20 years old. The airport, right in the heart
of the city, and the once-infamous Kowloon Walled City left a lasting impression
on me. Today, the area has transformed into a park and home to the National
Palace Museum. While it’s impeccably maintained, a part of me misses the old,
unique atmosphere that once defined it.
The bus ride from Hong Kong to Macau took 2.5 hours. We passed through
immigration twice, showing our passports, but this minor inconvenience didn’t
dampen our spirits. Macau exceeded all my expectations. Its immense scale
could easily rival Las Vegas, but it was the attitude of some of the more
aggressive Chinese people in the city that felt unsettling.
I’m not sure if a fourth trip to Hong Kong will be in my future, but one thing
is certain—the city remains as vibrant and bustling as it was 25 years ago and
this time.
