This morning was my first ever trip to work by bus and MTR (subway). I figured after a week of taking taxis from my apartment to the office, it was time to travel with the locals. I do live in Hong Kong for the next five months after all. I did have some help this morning. A colleague of mine from work lives on my street, so we met up and he led me onto the right bus, showed me where to get out, what train to take and the way to walk to work. It was about a 40 minutes trip. So far so good.
This evening, after an intense day at work I decided that I would make the trip on my own. I told my colleague about this and he said, "Oh - actually it's a different route home, you should take the #720 bus, it goes all the way to the Mid-levels and will drop you off right near the Mid-level escalators, but don't get on the #720A." My colleague even walked me to the bus stop. Things began to go downhill when he left me to my own devices. I got on a bus that I still really think was the #720. The thing is, there was a massive line waiting for the bus and only a few people got onto the one I got onto. That should have been my first clue. My second clue should have been the fact that there were no visible expats on the bus with me and there a LOT of expats that live in my area. Before I knew it I was in a part of Hong Kong that I can't even describe to you - alley night markets, rows and rows on food huts with fresh cooking on the street and then we arrived at a dark bus terminal. The bus driver turned off the lights on the bus and left the bus. Hmmmmm.....I think I am lost I thought to myself. So I got off the bus, found another driver, pointed to the sign and said, "#720 to Central, yes?" and then motioned furiously at the bus. "Grunt, grunt," he said. Okay, I must be on the right track. So I hopped on the bus again and before I knew it, I was right back where I started.
My next option was to take the route I travelled this morning, but in reverse. I got on the subway - no problem, got off at the subway stop, no problem. Now I needed to catch a bus again. But where do I catch that bus, it's going in the opposite direction? I was able to find my way across the busy street, popped into Mrs. Fields cookies for a mid-adventure treat, and then waited for what I thought was my bus. As I boarded the bus I realized again, this is not my bus. After a while I decided, well I might as well get off and try to find my way home by foot. I walked through the zoo (scary at night btw), walked across busy non-pedestrian roads, walked up stairs, under bridges, down quiet streets and then --A BAR!!!! A BAR I RECOGNIZE!!! Yes! I knew then I was safe. I soon found the Mid-Levels escalator and then I knew my way home. Two hours later I walked into the comfort and sanctuary of my apartment. Thing is, it wasn't time wasted. The only way to truly get to know a city is to get lost in it...but maybe not by bus.
My current playlist
House - Trevor Hall
If it Kills Me - Jason Mraz
The Heart's A Lonely Hunter - Thievery Corporation
A Well Respected Man - The Kinks
Between Two Lungs - Florence and the Machine
Jackdaw - David Grey
Reggae Got Soul - Toots & The Maytals
Time after Time - Cyndi Lauper
Careless Love - $100
Ask - The Smiths
Sugarcane - Missy Higgins
Wheat Kings - TragicallyHip
Picture of Jesus - Ben Harper
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