To really get away from the skyscrapers though, all one need to do is get onto a ferry. With over 10 piers right in the heart of Central, ferries departs regularly to take passengers to other outlying islands, where people can enjoy that feeling of vacation by travelling over 20 minutes away.
This weekend, I did both. On Sat, I walked a few minutes away from my 19-storied apartment building and embarked on the Wan Chai Gap hike to the peak. Unfortunately, I got lost at the Aberdeen Park, but that itself was a treat. With reservoirs and trails all over the park, we walked past open bbq pits where people brought their own supplies and enjoyed the weather. Through the park, we could've hiked all the way up to the peak if we found it properly. Unfortunately, we were too lazy.
On Sunday, I took a ferry from Pier 3 to Discovery Bay on Lantau island. It is amazing how big a difference 20 minutes is. Discovery Bay is a peaceful suburbia that closely resembles the U.S. in the 50s, with golf carts driving around because of restrictions on emissions. It's an extremely expat and wealthy neighborhood, with only the wealthiest of Hong Kong residents capable of affording a life there. From Discovery Bay (or Disco Bay or D Bay by the locals), I embarked on a 2.5 hour hike, walking through different monasteries, peaks, and sights around and ending in Mui Wo. There, we sat by a beachside bar called China Beach Club. Ran by a bunch of hippie expats, everyone there was so relaxed and peaceful, giving a distinct feeling of vacation and peace. We enjoyed hummus, fried dumplings, and apple crumble with vanilla ice cream.
The hike, however, also revealed the social caste system that is deeply embedded at Discovery Bay. On the trail, we walked by "villages" where the Filipino domestic helpers live. Instead of the fancy condos and posh gardens, they live in what I would effectively call shacks. Small, crumbling, and seems incredibly unsafe. It highlights the in-your-face social inequalities that is ever so prevalent here in Hong Kong. Just 10 minutes ago, we were walking by where the most wealthy of Hong Kong residents would live, seeing their spectacular living. The inequality in Hong Kong can be unnerving, given the amount of Filipino helpers that sit around on the streets on Sundays. It's a sight to behold. When visitor comes, they usually think there's a protest. However, it's simply because they have no where else to go on their one free day. The streets, underpasses, and stairwells, are the only place where they can congregate and hang out with their friends.
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