There is a giant new shopping mall (or something that looks like it) going up near the waterfront. We couldn't find any particular entrance to it, but by being in that area we discovered the Hong Kong Avenue of the Stars. It was excellent and Danny will be totally jealous when he sees the picture of me next to the bronze Bruce Lee. I've been told that that area is also a good place to see the Symphony of Lights for free, so I might end up there later this week in order to see the performance. Maybe even Claudelle and I will watch it if Blake doesn't show up for dinner with us.
Later, we made a trip back up Nathan Road and explored some of the "shopping malls" that they have here. Americans would be shocked to see these places. There are tiny little stalls from which people will conduct every kind of business: from take-it-away food stalls, to nail salons, hair dressings, fashion stores, and everything. To convey the economy of space in Hong Kong is difficult, if not next to impossible. It made me think about the things that often have to be done to convince others that a person is successful or merits your time, even simply to shop at his or her store, and how that varies across cultures.
For example, in many of the Asian companies that we went to, the CEO will sit in an "office" that is really just a slightly bigger desk with all the other cubicles of his workmen. In America, the CEO often has a private office, where he can think and collect his thoughts. Privacy and its availability are a sign of success in America. On the other hand, the number four is considered extremely bad, and space on the fourth floor of any building will sell at a discount. On the other hand, "eight" is an extremely lucky number and will sell for extra. Offices with a front facing water are suppose to allow money to flow in, while offices with a back facing water are suppose to have money flowing out. In America, superstitions don't really influence prices that much. In Asia, people will even pay extra in order to buy something with lucky number "8" on it.
Anyway, I managed to buy some traveler's sized body wash and shampoo as my hostel doesn't have any (obviously, you're living on the cheap). It's really interesting shopping around Hong Kong because you really have a mixture of male beauty types. Many prefer the athletic, masculine man and often show harsh and rugged Americans. Others prefer the more effeminate line, and will show Americans or Asians with leaner bodies, longer hair, and more boyish faces. Most interestingly are the Filipinos. Many of them are able to run the line between androgynous and masculine. I'm not sure how it works, but they often have the harsh lines of a masculine American with the more subtle androgynous features of many Asians. The Spanish may have done many bad things with their Empire, but they definitely left something good to look at in their wake.
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