International Traveling

One of the pitfalls of living in Dhaka is that, because there is essentially zero tourist industry, it is hard to get in and out of the country. Most airlines only fly into the country a few times a week, and British Airways just canceled their non-stop from London to Dhaka for lack of interest. 10 days before I was scheduled to leave Dhaka in December, Thai Airways decided to cancel all flights on Tuesday and Fridays in and out of Dhaka. As a result my flight was canceled and I had to be re-routed through Hong Kong. I almost missed my flight because United had botched the re-ticketing, and I had to buy a new, very expensive ticket. Luckily United refunded me, but a special surprise was waiting on the back end when I handed my ticket information to the agent in Bangkok when I was returning to Dhaka. Apparently United had also rescheduled the back end without telling me, so I missed the first day of school, arriving a day later than planned.

In both cases, the turmoil produced some good sightseeing opportunities for me. I ended up with four hours in Hong Kong to explore the Central area and get my first world jitters out of the way. I won't soon forget the simple amusement I felt, walking the clean streets of Hong Kong's posh hillside area, smelling fresh produce, seeing the serious business people in their suits and dresses, headed down hill for work.

I recommend Hong Kong to anyone, it gave me the feel of New York, San Francisco and London smashed together with a distinct Chinese flavor. There is a great combination of pastel colored skinny apartments rising into the sky and hyperfuturistic office and public buildings. Here are some pictures:

That magical market where I first smelled fresh food, not trash and filth!

Hong Kong is all canyons, the tight streets walled in by apartments buildings stacked together

A bleary-eyed traveler outside an acupuncturist