Miguel's Bachelor Party - Day 2 - Hong Kong

The presence of style in architecture, clothing, and modernization is clearly visible in Hong Kong. With a large ominous glow remaining from British rule, the influence is still clearly there. More importantly, Hong Kong has a style of its own that accepted these influences, but hasn't been dominated by them.

However, covering that glamour is a blanket of polluted air that has worn down the look of the buildings and the views over years. One just has to look beyond the film to see the great bustle behind it.

Since we were in Hong Kong in March, the air still had a sting of cold in it, reminding everyone that winter was in command and slowly losing the same battle to spring. The reminder came to the three of us, when we chose (I like to say, forgot) to not bring sweaters on our first major day on the island and the district of Kowloon. As we crossed Victoria's Harbor via boat, we quickly admitted defeat and arranged our agenda for a shopping spree that would include three sweaters.

As we walked off the boat, we were invited to see the fast pace modernization of the infrastructure that looked like a complete transformation of the roadways. This was only a hint of what had already been completed on Canton Road in Kowloon.

We started to walk through the Beverly Hills of Kowloon. Amazingly renovated, this part of Kowloon is slowly choking out poverty and anything old with high-end luxury stores lined up on a theme park architected street.

That provoked us even more to go to H&M for our "temporary" sweaters. What was even more fitting is that we all practically matched.

We were officially set to complete the rest of our first day. Armed with warmth, our next stop at Sam's Tailors was one of the most important stops for the trip.  A huge benefit of this trip was to have our wedding suits custom made.  Believe me when I say, if you need a custom suit, or want one, and you think the price of the plane ticket is not worth it.  Think again.  Spend $1500 and up in the US for a custom suit or spend $500 in Hong Kong for the same material. Your plane ticket is covered in the difference.

After our long day, it was time to head home with a dangerous combination of encouragements to doze off. Lack of sleep, check. Finally warm, check. I nearly fell asleep in the train. I made it back to the place just in time for a power nap, because the day wasn't over.

We were heading into Lan Kwai Fong (D'Aguilar Street, off of Central) to start the drinking festivities. Lan Kwai Fong is the Mecca of stupid drinking for tourists as well. Packed with other traveling hooligans in search of Irish pubs, international quick eats, and non-descript clubs; this is where we were introduced to the new and improved Bobby. As Bobby puts it, "I come alive in the night time." Oh, and he did the whole trip. A need no longer existed for Miguel and I to figure out a way to keep him on pace with us. He showed us that we would be keeping up with him for the rest of the trip.

Bobby set the pace for the night and the trip when he said, "I'm going exploring." He put on his hoodie, scouted out the clubs, and chose our next decision, which surely was not going to be home.

A monster is awakened and one night defines the rest of the trip. Night time or not, we were all about to come alive for this experience.


Full Album for Hong Kong