Before heading to Bali, I stopped by Hong Kong for one night to drop off some luggage at my best friend’s house. After a crazy month of backpacking through Indonesia, I returned to HK – and this time I stayed. Traveling by myself was such an amazing experience and I would do it again anytime – but when I arrived at S.’ place, I realized how nice and relaxing it can be to share decision making. It is a wonderful feeling to get up in the morning and to have no idea what the day might bring. Or where you’ll spend the night. Or who you will meet and where you will eat. But flying solo also means that every decision is up to you, which can get exhausting sometimes.

It felt good to know that I would sleep in the same bed for more than two nights. It felt good to know that I didn’t have to carry all my belongings with me. And the best feeling was to know that there was a fridge full of food in the kitchen.

In HK it really makes a huge difference to be with someone who knows the city like the back of their hand. I loved running around town with S., hanging out at quirky places and especially doing normal daily life things like going to the cinema. Obviously you don’t have time for that as a normal tourist. But when you spend a couple of weeks in HK with your best friend as a tour guide, there’s enough time to watch depressing movies like “l’Amour” on a rainy day without  feeling guilty for not making the most of your time. 

This is a little “green space open area” on the 9th floor of a mall, which I thought was a pretty ironic scene. In the middle of Central Hong Kong. Photos of woods printed on the walls. Free Wi-fi. People enjoying the free Wi-fi. Enjoying the “fresh air”. 

This guy was so calm and serene looking out the window. He remained like this for ages, I wonder what he was thinking about. It seemed as if he had found his private little spot in the corner of a quiet book store, in a bustling city like HK. Just like the fake woods in the mall, this scene was quite bizarre to me. But Hong Kong is a city of contrasts and I was often astonished by the bizarreness of situations.

A traditional temple in a canyon of skyscrapers.

Meet my tour guide, Schilly!

Hong Kong Park

The Lippo building 

First time in a long time that I’m wearing proper clothes.

Cable Car taking us up to Victoria Peak.

I don’t know why I think that bamboo scaffolding is the coolest thing ever, but I do…

S. and me spent a whole day in Lantau, visiting the Big Buddha and enjoying the vegetarian lunch at the monastery . It’s so nice when you spend a long time in a city and you don’t feel like you have to rush through your To Do list as quickly as possible. 

Another day spent in Sai Kung

Hong Kong is a crazy city. In so many ways. It’s unbelievably fast-paced, it’s always crowded and every single tube station is three times the size of an Austrian airport. Quite a lot to take for a small town girl like me. The Austrian brown bread and Speck I brought were really just a small thank-you gift, but I can’t thank Schilly’s family enough for having me and making my stay in Hong Kong so amazing! Her Dad’s scrambled eggs are still the best I’ve ever had… Maybe someday I’ll be back for more. With more bread and speck, of course.