Seasick and Hungover

Oh My God I'm Gonna Die!

That's what I thought the entire boat trip to Hong Kong. It was like a roller coaster ride, and not in a good way! We were moving up and down over the waves so much that no matter how comfortable the seat was (they should provide seat belts), I soon felt queasy and dizzy and wanting to throw up. It was the worst feeling I had since my terrible hangover back in July. But I haven't had anything to eat since breakfast that I felt hungry at the same time. So, I got myself some tuna sandwich and water to ease the dizziness. Yeah, I'm weird like that.

The whole hell boat trip lasted for more than an hour. Thank Angelina Jolie it's a one-way trip, so I didn't have to go through with it again. And more thank Angelina Jolie that none of my seatmates emptied their stomachs all over me, either! Anyway, it was already dark by the time we reached Hong Kong territory. Too bad I didn't have the window seat, would have been nice to see my favorite skyline in the world get closer and closer to view.

As expected, it was freezing outside, so I hurriedly walked towards the ferry terminal (pretty huge) to get my passport stamped, get a room for the night, and go out and have fun! So, after all the formalities which went pretty quickly, I took a cab, told the driver to take me to Paterson Street in the Causeway Bay area, and crossed my fingers that walking for several minutes won't be necessary to find my chosen abode, Hong Kong Hostel. So, when the driver told me after just a few minutes that we're on Paterson, I was like, no way! We were at an effin shopping area with lots of people carrying shopping bags, and bright and shiny stores on both side of the street. This can't be the correct location, I thought. They were high-end stores, and it's highly unlikely that there's a hostel in that area. I don't know, maybe my idea of a hostel and where it's normally located is based on my experience around Southeast Asia.

However, the driver said that it's the only Paterson Street in Causeway Bay, and he pointed to the building on the right side (No. 47 Paterson Building), comparing it to the address I gave him (No. 47 Paterson Street). So, I just gave up, paid him, and tried to figure out how I could find the hostel (still not believing I was in the right place). Now why didn't I ask for a map back at the ferry terminal? Life would've been easier! And besides, all the people there looked like they're in a hurry, shopping and all. I was too shy to ask anybody where the effin hostel was, until finally, I looked up and lo and behold! The bright and shiny stores were the only bright and shiny part of the buildings that they're in. In fact, all the buildings on Paterson were quite old and in need of fresh paint! I could be in the right place, after all!

So, I gave Paterson Building a try. First mistake - door won't open. You need to know some codes to enter the door. Such modernity! Well excuse me, we don't have that shit in Manila. So, I felt discouraged again. I didn't have the hostel's number, and I was pretty sure the people around me didn't, either. But it's getting damn cold, so I approached a young lady (maybe my age) and asked her for assistance. She confirmed that it's the right building and HK Hostel's in the third floor. And it's just my luck that she lives in the building, so she entered the code and asked me to go with her since she's getting something in her apartment. Awesome!

So, I found the hostel, looked for a dorm room, paid for the night, and checked in. Then, one of the hostel's staff took me to another building across the street called Kingston where my room was located. As soon as I got settled, I went back to Paterson to check my e-mail (free internet for guests), got the number of a friend (Daniel from Holland) I was meeting in HK, then went straight to my best friend's place for some chicken nuggets, fries, and Coke! Heaven! Then, going back to my building, I made mistake number two - using the code for Paterson, which apparently doesn't work for Kingston (no-brainer, really). I tried at least 5 times to enter Kingston, looking really stupid and helpless to the guard and the passersby before I realized it's not gonna work, and finally gave up. So I had to go back to Paterson and asked for the code which, as it turned out, was my room number and already written on the business card that I had with me.

So, after surviving all the hullabaloo, I contacted Dan and we agreed to meet at his hotel after midnight for some drinks. Still had a couple of hours left, so I took a nap to recharge my batteries.

Oh My God I'm Gonna Dance!

Daniel called me at around a quarter to one in the morning. So I went to take a shower and made mistake number three - I'm sure you're seeing a pattern of stupidity here, and I blame the cold - forgetting to turn the heater switch on which, in fairness to me, I didn't know existed! So, while freezing my ass off inside the bathroom for several minutes waiting for the effin water to get hot, I somehow heard my roommate talking from outside the bathroom door, so I turned off the shower and learned that there's a switch and it's outside, but he good-heartedly switched it on for me. Great!

So, shower was a success, although I spent more time waiting for the water to get hot than actually showering. Then, I hurriedly went outside to get a cab, wishing that I had a map with me so that I could just walk my way to Daniel's hotel and didn't have to spend money on cabs. Anyway, I was able to get a taxi right away (there were plenty waiting right at Paterson Street) and told the driver to take me to Empire Hotel on Hennessy Road. He seemed not sure where it was, so when he pulled over at the hotel, I wasn't sure we're in the right place, either. But, Daniel and his friend happened to arrive at the same time, and although I've never met either of them in person, I immediately recognized Daniel's face. So, we introduced ourselves (his friend's name is Pim) and the rest is history.

The guys informed me that we're at HK's red light district, and that they're gonna take me to a club that's famous for expats for reasons that I'd rather not mention. Of course, my friends were quick to clarify that they only go there because they like people-watching, and since I'm into that too, I said why not. As soon as we entered the club, I quickly saw what they meant. However, the guys, after ordering our drinks, instantly hit the dance floor, and demanded that I do so as well. Therein lies the problem - I can't dance. I just can't, period. They said no, every one can dance, and I said yes I do 'dance' in clubs too (and looks stupid doing it), but they are dancers so I'm kinda hesitant to do my thing in front of them. But, the music was good, and pretty soon, I let my guard down and moved to the beat. Oh yeah!

During the whole night, I never ran out of Heineken (I think I had 5), and they guys, their Budweiser. We met, danced with, and talked to several Filipina girls that I just happen to guess were Filipinas based on their looks, and between the dancing, people-watching, bantering, and taking pictures, we all had a great night! On hindsight, it was a sad, sad place considering all that's going on there, but I didn't go out to change people's lives and win a Nobel prize. I was there to have fun, and that's exactly what I did! At past 3AM, it was time to move to another place.

The next place we went to also had its share of 'buyers' and 'sellers', but it looked wholesome and more tame compared to the last one. It had a live band playing rock songs that you can dance to, and guess what, the band's Filipino as well! I think I had another beer and by that time, I was already feeling numb, which is my signal that I'm drunk already. Still having fun, though! But, reality bites, and soon we decided to call it a night. Daniel and Pim still had to get up early (if they could sleep at all) to go to Macau, so they walked back to their hotel while I took a cab again back to Paterson. When I got there, I saw that McDonald's still open, so I got myself some sausage mcmuffin with egg, and hash browns (with Coke, of course), and met a few more Filipinos who were also there to eat after a night of debauchery. What a night!

And so, that's how my first night in HK went. Beats the crap out of Macau, for sure! Now, time to sleep and get some energy for the next day's task - sightseeing!!!