The true meaning of "population density"

You haven't experienced population density until you've been to Hong Kong. New York is fast, Karachi is teeming, London is bustling, but Hong Kong is just plain crowded. I don't have classes on Sunday, so Saeeda and I decided to take a walking stroll to better acquaint ourselves with the city we'll be calling home for the next few months. The first step in doing so was to get away from the glitz and glamour of downtown, where the high prices and concentrated population of foreigners ensure that you have to go elsewhere for the authentic "Chinese" experience.

Kowloon, however, is another matter. Situated north of Hong Kong island, Kowloon is the tip of the Asian peninsula that comes tantalizingly close to Hong Kong island. Kowloon is also where many of the locals live, and it makes for a fascinating walk. We started our journey at the Flower Market, which as the name aptly describes, is full of flower stalls and vendors. Here we saw the interesting "nipple fruit tree" ... once you see the picture, it makes sense

Located around the corner from the Flower Market is the Bird Garden. Not only are there rows of stores displaying brightly colored birds everywhere, but this is also where old men will bring their pet birds for display. This cockatoo took a distinct interest in my camera.


Continuing our trek across themed marketplaces, we next chanced upon the Fish Market, where, surprise surprise, were streets full of stores selling pet fish.

It was right around this time when I began to become aware of the immense press of humanity all around us. Actually, I'm surprised I was able to ignore it for so long, but perhaps the excitement of checking out new places had me distracted for a while. You can see from the few pictures I was able to snap from higher ground that there are people everywhere. Everywhere. Personal space is a non-existent luxury. Someone is either riding your butt, or you are riding theirs. For the US readers of this blog, picture Black Friday (the busiest shopping day of the year, falling after the Thanksgiving holiday), or perhaps New Year's Eve on Times Square. Now imagine that much crowding on an every day basis, and you begin to get the idea.

We survived the population crush intact to make our way back south towards the harbour, where we watched the Hong Kong skyline light up in the nightly Light Festival. Every night at 8pm all of Hong Kong's skyscrapers light up and blink in time to music that is piped through loudspeakers on a promenade called the Avenue of the Stars (Hong Kong's answer to LA's Walk of Fame).

I have to say that Hong Kong's skyline is beautiful. But although impressive, it doesn't compare in terms of breathtaking beauty with that of Chicago. That's right, Chicago. Eat your heart out NYC.