It's different, but that's OK.

I am sometimes amazed at some of the differences in HKG and Vancouver.
I know it's not fair to compare cities. There is already enough rivalry out there, and I need not contribute. But it's hard not to say or think "in Vancouver, it's 'this' way", or "wow, you'd never see that in Canada."

Some recent observations (not complaints):

1. Everybody smokes. This is a smoker's paradise. Even the wait staff in restaurants smoke while they wait on you. Today, I was in a nice lounge, and 3 older Chinese men lit up nasty cigars and started puffing, and blowing smoke my way. My clothes stink of smoke every day.
   
2. Cockroaches. Everywhere. Nuff said.
   
3. There is a job for everyone. A few days ago, I saw one of those people that was power-washing the street pavement. Nothing unusual there, except while he was washing the pavement, he had 2 helpers holding up panels so that the water would not spray the pedestrians.
   
4. Clubs are super expensive. I visited a club tonight and paid $260 HKD. I didn't think much of it at the time, but later I did the math, ans I was shocked. That works out to $40. Sure you get a free drink. But come on! $40 for an entry? That's robbery.
   
5. Hurry up and wait. This city of Hong Kong has a lot of people. And the traffic moves quite slowly. Even the foot traffic moves slowly. Walking from the end of one block to the other requires careful navigation of slow grannies, delivery carts, large groups of friends that are oblivious to the size they occupy, and cars/taxis that wield supreme power.
   
6. Birds. Where are they? They seem quite absent here. In Vancouver, they are everywhere. Here they are very rare. Maybe the cockroaches ate them all.
   
7. Circle K and 7-11 are everywhere. Seriously. It seems on most streets, both stores are present, side by side. Then, directly across the street, there is another pair. I think there are 6 of them in a one block radius of my hotel.
   
8. Mass transit rules here. The MTR is super efficient and reliable. You can scoot across town (underground) in a few short minutes. The longest part of your journey would be winding you way down through the labyrinth of the MTR station, dropping 4 or 5 stories underground. The actual trip is merely minutes. And it's cheap. I really can't imagine why anyone would want to own a car here.
   

I like Hong Kong, don't get me wrong. It's a lovely city, and one that I could see myself living in, comfortably. And I know that when you leave the comfort zone of the existence you previously had, you need to learn to accept change. I am willing to do that. But sometimes, it's hard not to notice the small things, and realize how much I took for granted back in 'the old country'.