48 Hours

I can see why things about Hong Kong are frequently named express. The bus drivers swoop in and out of lanes, cutting off other drivers like they're in a Miata instead of a double decker. People walk NY-style in the street and the trains come ever 2-3 minutes no matter where you're going and at what time. I appreciate the train frequency since I'm trying to see as much as I can in my exactly 48 hours of leisure. Despite the quickie visit, I opt to stay in, sleeping peacefully high above the hustle of the popular Jordan Road (where'd they get that name I wonder?). I'm always telling my best Type-A friend, "girl even the sun sets" so I wisely take my own advice. Monday is non-stop sightseeing. I picked up a camera last day in Vietnam and even though it's disposable, I'm designing shots like I'm Gordon Parks, capturing all the angles of the Tien Tran statue, the "Big Buddha" that's perched high above the Po Lin Monastery, asking people to take my photo and telling them precisely where to stand so they can get me and Buddha in the tiny Fuji frame. If anyone's ever seen the statue of Christ in South America, this is similar, except Buddha's bronze not stone. I spend hours here, having lunch at the monastery, offering prayers and walking along the Wisdom Path and hiking so high into the hills that I'm now looking downward towards the Buddha, the Shein King reservoir--all that's left of a former fishing village--is only barely visible in the overcast sky. I buy some things to remind me of this sacred place busy with people seeking refuge in the ancient teachings symbolized here. Inspired, I rush to an online cafe to find a yoga class. I'm looking forward to another class not in English. But after climbing some San Francisco lookin' hills, I arrive sweaty and spent only to have the little young thing at Pure Yoga with his blue contacts tell me the class started a few minutes ago and I can't go in. Breathe Tajamika. He pushes me towards another class but after a 30 min uphill climb and discovering this is the Banana Republic of Yoga with classes at $35, I realize the "yoga" was just getting there and keeping a cool head while I was lost. I thank everyone graciously and find me some dinner in Lang Kwai Fon, the Vegas meets SohO district and last stop, a stroll through the popular outdoor Nite Market open until midnight.