Surviving Hong Kong, Lesson One

Do you remember that game, Tetris?  Well, every time you walk outside in Hong Kong, you are basically playing a live version of that game.  Walking on the street, inside a MTR station, and trying to squeeze onto a train, the rules of Tetris apply.  You're constantly trying to fit into a small, awkward space.  And if you mess up, a taxi runs over your foot or the train door closes on your face. 

 

The intersection of Staunton and Aberdeen

 



I'm sure this picture doesn't paint a proper picture of how important the principles of Tetris are on the streets of Hong Kong, but this is a spot right by my apartment.  It's the intersection of two one way streets, which street has the right-of-way seems to depend on the time of day.  And there are always people, including myself, trying to weave in and out of the cars.  It was one of these times, when I was trying to weave around three cars all trying to be first in line, that I remembered the game Tetris.  You're just trying to find the quickest way to fit in between the cars before they try to run you over.  But, after a few days, you'll learn how to dart in and out of traffic like a pro!

In other news, Art and I went to the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery the other weekend.

The walk up to the Monastery is lined with Buddhas

 

I told Art to keep track of all the Buddhas we passed, to make sure there really were 10,000, but he lost count...

 

Until next time!