Hong Kong, the Chungking Mansion

Anyone who has spent more than a week in Hong Kong has probably experienced the Chungking Mansion.  It is by no means a "mansion."  It's a mansion's worst nightmare.  The first few floors are filled with African and Sri Lankan vendors selling everything from snacks to dvd players.  The floors above are all backpacking hostels. 

I arrived at the Chungking Mansion in a cab from the train station.  It was pouring rain so navigating the wet tile floor with my 40 pound backback was absolutely trecherous.  While I was trying not to face plant, everyone offered me a place to stay.  All these guys have these plastic fold up pictures of their "hotel," that look nothing like the actual dump they are trying to lure you to.  I went with some people I met on the train up to one hostel, by far the dirtiest place I've ever been in my life.  I left immediately after looking at the room and bumped into my friend Mark.  (We did the Trans-Siberian together, I knew he was in HK, we were going to meet up later.)  Together, we found the Dragon Inn (on the third floor) which is by far the best place I stayed in HK for cheap (I think it was about $20/night.)  The Inn is next to the Taj Mahal, a really good Indian restaurant.

One night Mark and I got back to our room from dinner.  The fire alarm went off.  The Mansion would be a firefighters worst nightmare, the building is impossible to navigate, I got lost in it almost everyday.  Mark and I left our room and walked into the hallway.  A naked British man was running in the lobby area screaming "FIRE FIRE FIRE."  No joke.  I told him he should probably get dressed.  So Mark and I went outside.  I don't think anyone else bothered to notice the alarm.

The best part of staying in the Chungking Mansion is hearing people's reactions to it.  I grabbed lunch with one of my dad's work collegues in downtown HK.  We were in a packed elevator leaving the building.  Grace asked me where I was staying.  It was dead silent.  I sort of whispered "the Chungking Mansion."  Everyone in the elevator went: "oooo...."  Later I got an email from my dad: "where exactly are you staying?  If you need more money I can send it to you.  Please don't stay in these places, this is making me nervous."  I told my dad that I'd be happy to move to the Peninsula which is just down the street from the mansion.  The Peninsula is argueably the most luxurious hotel in Asia, and probably $400 a night.

I'm glad I stayed in the mansion.  It could never be charming, but it is definitely one of those "been there, done that" places.