Revisiting Hong Kong after two decades – The pearl of the orient

Reflections on Rediscovering Hong Kong: Observations Through an Adult Lens

Victoria Harbour at night — Photo by author

Recently, I had the opportunity to revisit one of the very first countries I travelled to as a child. At the age of eight, I remember boarding a plane, accompanied and cared for by a kind flight attendant on my first-ever solo trip. The destination was Hong Kong, where my father was working at the time. My mother couldn’t join me due to her health, making this brief yet monumental journey all the more significant.

As a child, the world feels vast and magical. Hand in hand with my father, I remember Hong Kong as a dazzling wonderland, though the memories are vague and tinged with the haze of childhood. That trip lasted an entire month, which is perhaps why it remains so vivid in my mind. Revisiting this city two decades later; however, has made me realize how selective and rose-tinted childhood memories can be.

Jordan, Kowloon — Photo by author

This time, my stay in Hong Kong was much shorter — just a week. Unlike my previous trip, where I stayed on the iconic Peak, I didn’t have time to revisit that area. Instead, I stayed in Kowloon. Strangely, I had no recollection of Kowloon…