A trip to Hong Kong (part 5 – more sights from Kowloon)

/ TRAVEL

Following on from my previous post, here are some further observations when out and about in Kowloon.

Convenience stores are everywhere - Circle K, 7-11 and Wellcome are the main ones. Note the enticing “Azuki bakery” in the middle.
Small plazas and arcades (same thing) run off the main roads and house a variety of mom-and-pop general stores, restaurants and other miscellaneous shops
Tourists from China love gold and have sent prices sky rocketing
Traffic drives on the left, though there are many one-way streets. A horrible pneumatic drill like sound signals the time to cross (confusing at a crossroads!). The markings on the road are also liable to confuse – a tourist next to me subconsciously took the arrow to mean the direction of traffic and almost got knocked over. Most locals don’t jaywalk.
A massive mahjong parlour, opposite the northern gate of Temple Street. These parlours are members only, and the games are played for money
Pedestrians have to make way for these carts transporting goods to shops. Why don’t we see more of these in the West?
A robot patiently waiting to take a tray of food to a customer’s table
Ugly stairwell entrances leading to poky apartments, but businesses are also sometimes located on the lower floors.
Stairs have short treads and high steps than I’m used to
The history museum in Kowloon is highly spoken of, but is currently under renovation. The only section currently open to the public resembled more a science museum, great fun for kids. The theme of the temporary exhibition is pure propaganda, and we can expect the renovated museum to be much more in this vein.