Karen Irene Thal - Beijing to Hong Kong

Leaving Beijing this afternoon was bittersweet because in our week long visit we had barely scratched the surface of things and never have I been more convinced that a City harbored secrets worth uncovering than this one.  In the morning, and just prior to our airport run, we visited the Master Card arena as our last stop.  This venue, built as a training center for the Beijing Olympics, has since found a sponsor (hence the name) and is being retrofitted for concerts and other world class events at a considerable cost.  Although impressive, the facility now stands empty much of the year because the mentality of the local population, without any indigenous league sports and unfamiliar with imported entertainment such as Disney on Ice, are less easily upgraded apparently. 

On the way to the airport, any lingering nostalgia was shortly eclipsed by the overwhelming excitement at the thought of visiting Hong Kong.  It is truly astonishing that until landing here, and unlike the famous cities of Europe, I had no stock images of Hong Kong to draw from which may actually have fueled my growing sense of anticipation.   The three and a half hour flight consequently proved excruciating.  We are here now.  From what I have seen on the train ride in and like Beijing, it is the scale of things that is particularly impressive.  Row after row of towering apartment blocks, a port that seems, like the lighted city skyline to stretch on forever.  I expect the next week will live up to expectations completely.