Only in the Kong.

After over 8 months living in Hong Kong, I still shake my head in amazement (/disbelief/frustration) at many of the things I've never quite gotten used to.  Here is just a small sample of the things that seem to happen, only in the Kong.

1) Nap time in Ikea

There has yet to be a trip to Ikea where someone isn't sleeping somewhere in the store.  My two favourites are the man who sought out a blanket from a near by display to cuddle up on the couch, and this other woman who took 'testing the mattress comfort' to a whole new level.  The strangest thing is that people here don't seem to mind.  Loitering is expected.  Whole families will hang out in the AC in the summer, and heating in the winter, filling living room displays, kitchen tables and, yes, napping.

2) Belching
As far as I can tell, the only proper etiquette rule with belching is 'let 'er rip'.  Buses, streets, restaurants... just giver'.

3) Taxi Land
There are about 50% more taxis in Hong Kong than in New York City.  Think of the sea of yellow cabs in NYC, then change the colour to red, and add a bunch more... it's taxi land.  Just last weekend, a taxi driver demanded we scream along with a Stevie Wonder song into his CB radio... I'm sure all other drivers appreciated his enthusiasm.

4) Red Rover
People, especially but not limited to school aged girls, love to walk arm in arm in chains of up to four people wide.  When navigating a ridiculously packed sidewalk in Causeway Bay or Central, I have to calm my childhood conditioning which makes me ache to scream out "red rover, red rover, you call the big white chick over", then run right into them at full speed.  Who does that?  Blocking all foot traffic in both directions, and thinks they can get away with it?

5) Cursing Ladies
There are little old ladies, sitting on plastic stools under an overpass on my old walk home from Cantonese classes (which I no longer take).  These wrinkly ladies can be hired for a small fee to place curses on anyone who has wronged you or competed to take your husband's promotion, or was rude to you.  Needless to say, I was extra conscious not to cut people off when walking near this set up... not that I believe in curses, but who wants to tempt fate?

6) Protest Celebration Day
July 1st marked the day HK was turned back over to China from the Brits, 15 years ago.  That is what has resulted in HK being an SAR (Special Administrative Region), allowing it to play by 'other rules' than communist China for 50 years before it is a fully integrated Chinese city.  Needless to say, many Honkies who like their rights and freedoms are none-too-happy with this handover.  July 1st is a hilarious day here where the government funds huge fireworks displays and celebratory events while the people pour into the streets in mass protests against 'red China'.  [To us, the fireworks marked a lovely Canada Day.]

7) Deliveries via City Bus
Cars are expensive to own here (very expensive to park given the limited real estate), so even some small companies opt to do deliveries via public transit.

8) Refrigeration Optional
It blows my mind that we haven't gotten sick more (Foley has had food poisoning once, thanks to a Thai restaurant), considering the meat delivery systems here leave much to be desired in 40+ degree heat.

9) Cheap Rub Downs 
Just last night I went out with a couple of girlfriends for a nice dinner and uber cheap massages, something we have vowed to do more often.  Foot massage places are plentiful here, and most are very reasonably priced (around $25 - $30CAD for an hour of massage, though you can find much cheaper if you aren't concerned about hygiene).  It's a relaxing way to end a day, a wonderful way to take a break in your day, and it's a part of the local culture that I am really starting to love.

10) 20 Minutes to Anywhere

One amazing thing about Hong Kong, is that in under 20 minutes you can taxi from downtown insanity to the beautiful beaches on the South side of the Island.  In a short walk you can escape the midlevels and walk all the way up through greenery to the Peak and have gorgeous views of tropical forests and city skylines.  And in a 20 minute ferry ride from Central HK you can be on one of many outlying islands soaking up massively different cultural pockets, beaches and stunning views.