conversations with either one. He tried to convince them all was fine and promised to keep in touch, cutting off any further questioning with a quick goodbye. Dave loved both of them dearly. His parents had been behind him his entire life, and he could never repay them enough.
The size of the ai rport left him in awe. It was the engineering itself that impressed the most. He had no problem finding his way around the mammoth structure. A metro line linked the airport to Hong Kong city; he went through customs, exchanged some money, bought an Airport Express pass and boarded the train. There were a few groups of tourists, and some were on their own, like Dave. The train’s comfortable seats made for a pleasant journey, and he stretched his legs and tried to clear his head.
He gazed through the windows outside, and saw a cloudy damp afternoon. A vast number of apartment buildings came into view as the train accelerated on its twenty-four minute journey. The apartment buildings were sprawled across the island, perched on steep hillsides and stretching high into the sky. This is the real urban jungle, he thought to himself.
Once t he train arrived at Central Station on Hong Kong Island, Dave stepped out eagerly into the unknown. Walking outside in the open air was like entering a sauna. Humid air mixed with a variety of smells hit him unexpectedly. Some smells were food-related and others not so pleasant and better left unknown. All of his senses were bombarded by the electric buzz of life in that densely populated place. He immediately realised that there was no such thing as personal space there as he was jostled on all sides. Yet despite the congestion, traffic flowed seamlessly. A horde of people went about their business uninterrupted, and the city appeared to function like an efficient appliance.
Dave h ailed a taxi and asked to be taken to Wan Chai district. Earl had told him that this was the place to be for someone single and wanting to be close to the action. No matter where he looked, the high-rise towers lined the skyline with elaborate and graceful architecture. He couldn’t help but see it as a testament to humanity’s vanity and ingenuity. After the taxi driver dropped him off at the Ragan Hotel, Dave checked in and took the elevator to his air-conditioned room, which had a double bed and a view of skyscrapers and concrete. He was desperately in need of a shower.
Chapter 7
Ragan Hotel was nestled between two larger buildings and was only a block away from the local fish market. Dave’s room was small and clean but stank of cigarettes and beer, prompting him to make a mental note to complain about it to reception. A fresh T-shirt, jeans and casual runners would do for a stroll through the city, he thought. At 8:00 in the evening he had no idea whether to eat and go out or just check out the city on foot. Dinner wasn’t on his mind, but maybe a massage for his stiff neck and sore joints, followed by a drink or two at a quiet bar would be a good idea. He knew he was in the right place for good and cheap massages, after all.
The freedom of s o much choice was liberating and put a smile on his face. The receptionist handed him a tourist map of Hong Kong Island and circled some well-known landmarks. The man squinted at him as if trying to judge the purpose of Dave’s visit, then pointed to Lockhart Road and Wyndham Street. ‘You will find out which you like better,’ he said, grinning. Not knowing whether the receptionist was implying anything or just being friendly, Dave thanked him for the directions.
He stepped outside into a downpour, which added to the discomfort of the high humidity. The air was thick with foul smells emanating from the fi sh market and the rubbish-flooded gutters. The streets themselves had turned into small streams from the heavy rain. As Dave walked down a narrow footpath, a car zoomed by and hit a large puddle, drenching him with a wall of water. Small consolation, he thought,
The size of the ai rport left him in awe. It was the engineering itself that impressed the most. He had no problem finding his way around the mammoth structure. A metro line linked the airport to Hong Kong city; he went through customs, exchanged some money, bought an Airport Express pass and boarded the train. There were a few groups of tourists, and some were on their own, like Dave. The train’s comfortable seats made for a pleasant journey, and he stretched his legs and tried to clear his head.
He gazed through the windows outside, and saw a cloudy damp afternoon. A vast number of apartment buildings came into view as the train accelerated on its twenty-four minute journey. The apartment buildings were sprawled across the island, perched on steep hillsides and stretching high into the sky. This is the real urban jungle, he thought to himself.
Once t he train arrived at Central Station on Hong Kong Island, Dave stepped out eagerly into the unknown. Walking outside in the open air was like entering a sauna. Humid air mixed with a variety of smells hit him unexpectedly. Some smells were food-related and others not so pleasant and better left unknown. All of his senses were bombarded by the electric buzz of life in that densely populated place. He immediately realised that there was no such thing as personal space there as he was jostled on all sides. Yet despite the congestion, traffic flowed seamlessly. A horde of people went about their business uninterrupted, and the city appeared to function like an efficient appliance.
Dave h ailed a taxi and asked to be taken to Wan Chai district. Earl had told him that this was the place to be for someone single and wanting to be close to the action. No matter where he looked, the high-rise towers lined the skyline with elaborate and graceful architecture. He couldn’t help but see it as a testament to humanity’s vanity and ingenuity. After the taxi driver dropped him off at the Ragan Hotel, Dave checked in and took the elevator to his air-conditioned room, which had a double bed and a view of skyscrapers and concrete. He was desperately in need of a shower.
Chapter 7
Ragan Hotel was nestled between two larger buildings and was only a block away from the local fish market. Dave’s room was small and clean but stank of cigarettes and beer, prompting him to make a mental note to complain about it to reception. A fresh T-shirt, jeans and casual runners would do for a stroll through the city, he thought. At 8:00 in the evening he had no idea whether to eat and go out or just check out the city on foot. Dinner wasn’t on his mind, but maybe a massage for his stiff neck and sore joints, followed by a drink or two at a quiet bar would be a good idea. He knew he was in the right place for good and cheap massages, after all.
The freedom of s o much choice was liberating and put a smile on his face. The receptionist handed him a tourist map of Hong Kong Island and circled some well-known landmarks. The man squinted at him as if trying to judge the purpose of Dave’s visit, then pointed to Lockhart Road and Wyndham Street. ‘You will find out which you like better,’ he said, grinning. Not knowing whether the receptionist was implying anything or just being friendly, Dave thanked him for the directions.
He stepped outside into a downpour, which added to the discomfort of the high humidity. The air was thick with foul smells emanating from the fi sh market and the rubbish-flooded gutters. The streets themselves had turned into small streams from the heavy rain. As Dave walked down a narrow footpath, a car zoomed by and hit a large puddle, drenching him with a wall of water. Small consolation, he thought,
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