Me Vs. Hong Kong

Wow...how long has it been since my last post? I know, I know, I have been slacking on the blog and I will blame that on the many obstacles that I have had to go through since my arrival. I had a bit of a rough start but things started to become a lot smoother as the days passed, that is until about the first week and a half in. Basically, if it could go wrong...it did. I was getting used to the farm life but there was one thing that made it impossible for me to fully enjoy, bed bugs. Yes, the worst thing ever! They attacked my body to the point where I felt like I was going to die.

 

I don't know what it is but when it comes to getting bit by insects, out of a whole group of 20 people, you can expect to find me with the most bites. Never having experience dealing with these critters led me to think that my first couple bites were just fleas but by the end of the week, I was covered in them. I moved out immediately, left all contaminated stuff there and booked myself in a brand new hostel located back in the city.

 During my second week, I spent most of my time traveling to and from the farm, disinfecting, throwing things away, buying new things, sterilizing and really just healing from all the bites. Exhausted and frustrated, I still had yet to see anything of Hong Kong. I needed an escape to balance out the stress and hatred I was feeling. This is where the nightlife came in, it had become my normal life and I had become nocturnal.

Coming "home" anywhere from 4am-9am became a routine and all around unhealthy but at the same time, I was living the same lifestyle as the people that I was surrounded by. Most of my friends either have lived here or have just moved here, so they were into going out and exploring everything Hong Kong had to offer (everything that was non-touristy). This was my escape. I was longing for comfort and stability, two things which aren't necessarily a part of a traveler's life and here I am only a month and a half into my trip and already exhausted. To add to everything, the most important tool that I have with me decided to take a swim in the middle of the night...my iPhone. Leaving me without a way to take my pictures, blog, check currencies, and really anything that has to deal with communication. By this point, I had become vulnerable, which led to another unfortunate situation. I had met a con-man, one who tried to play off of my friend and I to take our money. Fortunately, as I pieced things together here and there with my friend, it all started to make sense and by the time we realized he was using both of us to play out his stories and lies, I felt so embarrassed to have fallen for the little part that I believed. It just goes to show that even though there are good people out there, you always have to beware of those who will take anything from you during times when you are at your lowest. Money doesn't come for free and if it sounds to good to be true, then it is. Hong Kong: 3 Monica: 0