THE HAIRY GIRAFFE… IN HONG KONG & MACAu
After three days in Hong Kong and Macau, it’s time to reflect. How did we experience this journey? What were our joys, disappointments, questions, doubts, and discoveries? This is not merely an assessment of a country but rather of a trip—how we perceived it individually and subjectively.
 We are François and Benjamin, Canadian and French giraffe hairstylists and travel enthusiasts. On this blog, discover our travels, tips, moods, and everything you need to become a giraffe hairstylist and embark on travelling the world. An honest blog with photos guaranteed 100% unfiltered and untouched. |
François’ Travel Reflections
Hong Kong and Macau were the sixth destination on our world tour. It was also a preamble to our Chinese experience. As we are fans of very large cities, Hong Kong was a must-visit for us. We love cities with tall buildings, urban life, streets filled with people, and sensory stimuli everywhere. We are fans of cities like New York or Seoul that are dynamic and offer a unique experience to visitors. So, we were eager to discover Hong Kong, the Chinese megacity.
At first glance, Hong Kong has nothing to envy from other major cities. Skyscrapers are omnipresent and compose the very identity of the city. The vast port ensures a significant influx of money and adds to the scenery. Various green spaces allow for relaxation and rejuvenation before facing the city’s frenetic pace again. Hong Kong also offers some really cool places. I’m thinking especially of Victoria Peak, which offers a breathtaking high-altitude view of the forest of buildings below. I’m also thinking of the Avenue of Stars, which allows you to admire the skyline and become familiar with Hong Kong cinema stars.
However, walking the streets of Hong Kong is less enjoyable than walking the streets of New York or Seoul. Firstly, the locals make the experience less pleasant. Besides not necessarily being very welcoming or friendly, they are always in a rush. Regardless of the time of day, the vast majority of them move swiftly, akin to Alice’s White Rabbit. This speed and the feeling that things need to happen quickly are present every day and can be unsettling for tourists who often need more time to do things. In some restaurants, for example, we have very little time to order (and decipher a menu in Chinese), otherwise the server becomes impatient (and orders for you according to some comments read on the internet). Once the meal is finished, there’s no time to linger and chat for hours; you have to vacate your seat.
In the streets, people walk fast and jostle if necessary. The escalators also operate faster to bring Hong Kong residents to their destinations more quickly. Naturally, in this atmosphere, we find ourselves almost running as much as if we were also going to work.
Certainly, people running in their daily lives are everywhere in the world. They are in New York. They are in Seoul. However, I felt less of a need to run myself when I visited these cities. Perhaps it’s because these cities are larger and allow for a dispersion of the population, so that these hurried workers blend into the crowd? Maybe it’s also because these cities offer more things to do and see, allowing tourists to lead their lives parallel to those of the locals?
That’s precisely what Hong Kong lacks, things to do. There are very few skyscrapers with impressive architecture. So, we spend less time looking up at them and taking photos. There are no lively and vibrant neighborhoods where we tourists feel like strolling around. There’s no Times Square or Myeongdong in Hong Kong. Yes, okay, there’s Disneyland, but it’s not the same thing. A day at Disney isn’t comparable to a day spent wandering around 5th Avenue and the streets of SoHo or Greenwich. The experience isn’t the same for a lover of big cities.
It’s also because we were starting to feel a bit bored after two days in Hong Kong that we decided to spend a day in Macau, which wasn’t originally planned. Macau is nothing like its counterpart. It doesn’t offer the very big city vibe. However, it does provide a Mediterranean experience inherited from its Portuguese colonization. There’s a true soul in the old town. While its casinos inevitably have a very artificial and papier-mâché side, the overall experience is genuine and especially provides plenty to do for several hours (or several days if you have gambling tendencies). The atmosphere is also slower, calmer, and more festive. Paradoxically, I have more memorable memories of my time in Macau than in Hong Kong. Perhaps it’s because the latter left me wanting more.
Are Hong Kong & Macau Worth Visiting?
Hong Kong and Macau are not, in my opinion, standalone destinations. By that, I mean I don’t see the point of taking time off, hopping on a plane, and spending a few days there. However, if a layover or business trip takes you to this part of China, it’s worth stopping by for a while. You can enjoy a variety of flavors, take some photos, and perhaps become a millionaire.
Check out Benjamin’s Travel Reflections:
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