I have been in Hong Kong for the last three days or so and I am off to Bangkok on Tuesday.  Hong Kong is one crazy place, packed with people, pollution and an interesting convergence of Chinese and Western culture.  The city is not large by any means, but is home to some 7 million people, packing 160,000 people in per square km.  I would like to see mainland China to compare the different ways of life as I have a feeling they are very different.  I have seen more Starbucks here than I have on a walk through Manhattan.

The Hong Kong youth culture is very open.  I am often approached by young 20 somethings who are curious about where I am from and what my life is like back in Baltimore, although most have never heard of Baltimore.  They dress with great style and I have found myself wondering through shopping malls and street side stores picking up some of the local flair.  Clothes are very inexpensive compared to the U.S.  A friend of mine here is a chef at a luxury hotel and I had the chance to spend the day at the hotel having lunch and wondering through the area which was very different experience compared to the area I am staying in.  There are many different parts to the city ranging from posh luxury shopping and hotels to areas primarily of Western influence to areas of small inexpensive Chinese food stands and locals.  I am looking forward Bangkok and will post again soon.