Hong Kong, The Future Now?

Sensory Overload and Second Impressions
I returned to Hong Kong this past September, and like my first visit, it hit me hard—much like New York City did the first time. That same manic energy, the jet lag-fuelled high, the desperate need to absorb everything before it disappeared. I ran around in the heat and humidity like a maniac, afraid to slow down in case I missed something.

The result? A stack of good photos… but no real thread. Nothing to hang a story on—just isolated moments from a city that doesn’t sleep.

Round Two: Mong Kok Madness
My second trip was calmer, relatively. I was thinking more in terms of photo essays than snapshots. I stayed up in Mong Kok this time, far from the ex-pat gloss of Tsim Sha Tsui or The Island. If you think those areas are buzzing, Mong Kok is another level: a riot of neon, noise, and sheer human mass.

Most nights ended with exhaustion and strange sleep schedules—often two dinners, the second usually at the all-night food market, which I can’t recommend enough.

Love the Grit, Skip the Border Towns
There’s something compelling about Hong Kong’s balancing act—the glossy, high-tech “future now” vibe colliding with gritty street-level chaos. Personally, I like cities that feel worn in and a little pungent. One day, I took the train up toward the Chinese border to explore other towns. Mistake. Rainy, grey, and filled with soulless housing blocks—it was bleak enough to feel like my spirit had been extracted and shipped off to Shenzhen.

I couldn’t wait to get back to Kowloon, where the chaos at least comes with character. Hong Kong may be manic, but it’s alive. And that’s something.