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The subways are clean, efficient and effortless
The ferry system is kind of charming; the Star Ferry (which is the one I take everyday) doesn’t have a set schedule or capacity quotas to “set sail” so you ultimately never wait more than five minutes for a ferry and the minute the crowd is on, the plank comes up and you’re on your way.
Did I also mention cheap? A cross harbor ferry is HK$2.20 (29 cents for those doing the math), a twenty minute drive from Kowloon (my office) to home (Central) is about HK$90 (about $12 US), and the subway under the harbor is about HK$5 (about 60 cents)
So while my mother will freak out that I’ve been to the hospital twice since I moved here (damn peanut allergy and another trip that doesn’t need public scrutiny), I feel the need to share the experience. The only negative (besides of course having to go in the first place) was that my allergic reaction happened within two weeks of me arriving so I had absolutely no clue where the closest hospital was or what my insurance was. My face puffy, hives visible on my arms, and throat closing up, I went on-line and googled “Hong Kong hospitals”. Taking this approach in the states would no doubt land you at “county general, Cabrini Green” circa 1984, but in Hong Kong there is no inner city, so there was no chance of me hanging out in the waiting area with druggies, gunshot victims or irate gang members. Getting to the hospital was a chore as well. At that point, I hadn’t learned to pronounce English words in the Chinese way. Mix that with my generally frantic nature and ever-swelling cheeks and I can guarantee you that my driver just wanted the fare to be over. The hospital itself was like a moderately priced chain motel in middle-America; wood paneled, brass trimmed and slightly cluttered with unnecessary decorative items. It certainly didn’t give you that sterile clinical feeling you get in malpractice-suit-weary hospitals of the US. I made my way to outpatient services on the 1st floor; 1 12x12 waiting room with about two people and a few nurses. They took my name, gave me paperwork and told me my insurance was no good for their clinic. I didn’t even bother to question that. Within five minutes I was with a young doctor who asked some basic questions, accepted the diagnosis I had given to myself, wrote me a prescription and sent me back to the waiting room. Two minutes later, I was given my bill, handed over HK$180 and received my prescription. I panicked – where was I to get a prescription filled at 1:00am? Downstairs apparently, I walked to the ground floor and up to a pharmacy window. The lady was waiting for me, handed over my little plastic baggy of pills and bid me adieu. Apparently I had already paid for the drugs in my bill. Okay, let me recap what this means – in 25 minutes and $24 US dollars (including roundtrip cab fare) I got to the hospital, was treated by an actual doctor, given drugs, and taken home. All of this in what I found out later was one of the public hospitals that snobby ex-pats tend to avoid for private care. Let’s just say when I had my second issue I had no problem making a return trip to Hong Kong “county general”!
Octupus Card
This is ingenious – essentially you have a pre-paid card that you swipe and use at a million places in city.
MTR
Ferries
7-11
Circle K
Starbucks
McDonalds
Post Office
Vending Machines
And all of these places will add money to your card at any time, AND you’re even allowed a one time overdraft so your day doesn’t get slowed down. American corporations and the government should be ashamed they have not figured this one out – Americans being the ultimate capitalists and all!
Hong Kong "county general" It really does look a little like a rundown hotel....
Government
I have one word for all of my experiences in government buildings; civilized
You come in to a clearly marked building, know exactly where to go, know exactly which forms to fill out, take a number, get called efficiently to your station and then, get this, one person has all the authority and all the equipment to get everything done that you need to get done. Here is what I mean. I had to get my Hong Kong ID card; I called and made an appointment (1 minute); I arrived 5 minutes prior to my appointment on the 7th floor, was greeted with a half-smile (I won’t pretend that government workers in China are all cheery, but certainly not as bitter and disenfranchised as their American counterparts), given a number and told to sit in a waiting area (an orderly, clean place filled with people). After about five minutes my number, which I had been staring at as it moved up a rank every few seconds, finally moved into the “we’re ready for you at desk# 27” spot. I sat down at desk #27 in front of a twenty-something year old women (yes, the Chinese twenty-something population is willing to work for “the man”), she took my digital thumbprints (at her desk!), my digital picture (at her desk!), got my signature, ask me three questions and sent me to another waiting area a few feet ahead with the same flat screen mounted. Three minutes later my number once again shifted into a desk spot and I walked to desk #77, some level of military guy asked me four or so question, had me prove my digital thumbprints (at his desk!), and then gave me a temporary Hong Kong ID card with the instructions to come back during office hours exactly 30 days later. I left the building and hopped on the Wanchai ferry and was back at my desk an hour after the trip started. Thirty days later I arrived with my temporary papers, handed them over, did the thumbprint thing and was handed my official card. Finito. Seriously – can Intel or Microsoft just donate some stuff to our government……Hong Kong has proved that there is a better way!
Domestic Helpers
City Super
I don’t mean to sound so uppity, but my domestic helper is a peach -- she cleans, picks up my groceries, does laundry, picks up fresh flowers, will cook if I ask her, mails things……..
For all my Portland and Minneapolis friends reading, City Super is basically like Zupans (PDX) or Lunds (MPLS), with all the tasty prepared foods for those of us who don’t cook, ridiculously expensive import items like olives, cheese….. on top of that -- amazing buyers who offer the coolest selection of stationary, beauty supplies, books, wines and spirits. They even have a concierge that will deliver, help you special order from around the world……oh and they carry extra sharp Tillamook cheddar. Me so happy……..
