Hong Kong

HONG KONG - Chingland

Hong Kong was the final destination of our three week gallivanting across Southeast Asia. We reunited with our FOC (Friends of China) brethren from across China at a retreat center and got to forge and strengthen some friendships with some amazing and selfless people.

I didn't know what to expect from Hong Kong. This is what I did know:

1. "Batman the Dark Knight" shot a few scenes in Hong Kong. May Heath Ledger rest in peace...

2. The island was a British colony until 1997.

3. One of my best friends, Ruby calls the HK home.

4. Hong Kong rhymes with King Kong.


This is all I knew. Here's what I learned:


1. "Batman the Dark Knight" shot a few scenes in HK. The tallest building on the skyline is affectionately called, "The Batman Building." Health Ledger is not resting there...

2. The island was a British colony until 1997, which means that HK is China raised by British parents. That means that it is cleaner, the people are more polite (no spitting (the fine is $1,000), no honking, no yelling, "Fuyarrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!" at restaurants when you need the waiter or bill), people drive on the left side of the road, and their is religious freedom (check out ALS: Asia Lutheran Seminary - a fantastic place with fantastic people). Chingland: where China and England collide.

3. I got to meet and eat with Ruby's awesome family and go to her church and her house and she got to show me around her town.

4. Hong Kong still rhymes with King Kong.



In keeping with the tradition passed down from the ancient Nordic marauder Erik the Red, the men of FOC let their mustaches bud and blossom in all their manly glory. We grew out our staches in training, but that was like a preseason game - this was the Super Bowl of facial hair. In China, 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit, but to the manly men who teach English and share the Water across this grand land, 2011 is the Year of the Stache.

After a four days in the HK I was hooked. I'll be back; but maybe sans stache...

- m -