Day 197: First Day in Hong Kong — Another Laundry Experience — Heavenly Soup Dumplings — Harbor City Mall
Hong Kong is… a lot. People, skyscrapers, shopping, busses, smells, humidity. It’s simply a lot of everything in a relatively small space.
We only got a taste last night as we drove in from the airport and everything seemed so peaceful as we took in the water view from our 10th floor hotel room.
But as we ventured out today, midday on a summer Sunday, and the city just hits you in the face.
But we’re New Yorkers. So while the senses are attacked from all sides there is something familiar and comfortable about it.
The kids seemed to just take it in stride… maybe everything except the humidity. We always talk about DC being really humid. Today would be the most humid day in 3 years in DC. The city is a total sweat box.
We had breakfast at the hotel and then did school — aiming for 4 straight days of schooling this week.
We were desperate to get some laundry done. Everything was dirty and smelled like our Mongolian ger. I got a few recs from the Consierge which kicked off yet another Laundry Adventure.
We walked to a nearby playground so the kids could run and climb a bit. I then headed off in search of the closest recommended laundromat that did wash and fold.
This is the second time that I’ve headed out, sweating my ass off, with burning forearms and cramping hands holding all of our clothes… without a clear destination. Not a good plan.
Well I actually did have a destination but I wasn’t sure exactly where it was, or whether it was open.
After wondering around these back alleys off Nathan Road, dropping the bags to look at Google Maps and asking for help from three different people I found the place but it was closed. Luckily a security guard nearby pointed me in the direction of another option, which I finally found with help from a guy trying to sell me custom suits.
Ironically the second place was actually the name of the original place I was searching for: Quick Quick Laundry, which is exactly what I needed.
It was operated by two little ladies in a TINY space with two washers and two dryers and laundry stacked up almost to the ceiling. They said I could have it back at 6pm today. Score!
I met back up with Margaret and the kids and we went to Cheung Hing Kee Shanghai Pan Fried Buns. The pork and pork + shrimp soup dumplings were insanely good.
With full bellies we walked over to Harbor City mall. It’s the largest mall in Hong Kong and holy moly was it packed!
We wondered around people watching and stopping in shoe stores, clothing stores, Toys R US and a bookstore.
I picked up some new Adidas. I wore my Boost almost every day — working out, touring, on all 50+ flights. They served me well but it was time to thank them for their service (h/t Mari Kondo). I picked up a new pair of the same shoe in black.
Toys R Us was a sight to behold. It’s one of the only remaining stores that hasn’t been shut down due to their bankruptcy and you can see why. It was shoulder to shoulder like Whole Foods on Super Bowl Sunday. We got James a transformer and Willa a Shopkin plus a few workbooks for school.
I picked up the laundry on the way home. Is there a better feeling than having all of your dirty clothes suddenly clean? Nope.
We ordered dinner by the pool — hummus and pita, chicken skewers and hot dogs for the kids — while Willa and James made rafts out of pool noodles and kick boards.
We finished the day watching the HK Island light show from our room.
I called my mom and dad to check in — they were having breakfast a world away on the deck in Annapolis. Seeing Lobsy in China soon!
