Pearl of the East

I thought I wouldn't like Hong Kong.
I thought I'd find it too noisy. Too crowded. Too messy.
I thought I'd struggle communicating with the locals.

Well, I thought wrong.

I surprised myself, actually.The discussions in Cantonese, the local din as I savour my meals, the 'cha chan teng' I found myself drawn to....I seem to blend right in.

And in a strange way, the country reminds me alot of my beloved Penang, albeit on a much, much larger scale. Come to think of it, it is like a hybrid of Penang and Singapore. Maybe that's why I fitted in so well.

Today, a close friend asked me the million dollar question:
Would I choose to live in Hong Kong or in Taiwan?

Without batting an eyelash, I answered "Hong Kong!". Just because it is more vibrant, it is more happening, it offers more career opportunities, it is just so much more exciting.

Then I sat down to think about it. Hard.
And I realised I changed my mind.

After spending a night thinking, I changed my answer due to below reasons.

• Better quality of life in Taiwan (less stressful)
• More civilized people in Taiwan (there are just way too many immigrants from mainland China in Hong Kong). People in Taiwan are warmer and friendlier. More willing to stop whatever they are doing to help you out. In Hong Kong, it's more a dog-eat-dog's world.
• Better air quality in Taiwan. I have yet to see clear skies in my one week in Hong Kong. Everyday is hazy like there is a perpetual open fire burning somewhere. Strange thing is, there is no smell. Just low visibility.

Of course there are other areas that Hong Kong rated higher than Taiwan in my books but I guess it's all about a balancing act. Which are more important, which are just nice-to-haves.

I will end this post with this breath-taking picture of the city's nightline.