by Franchesca Woodman
1. Hong Kong is a dynamic urban center where East meets West
When I first arrived to Hong Kong I was so amazed by how much it reminded me of London, New York, and other large urban cities. The pace and rhythm of the people felt like I was in a race, I was panting just to keep up with the elderly lady beside me. I was surrounded by interconnecting buildings, dwarfed by skyscrapers and crisscrossing highways, endless shopping malls, people and technology everywhere. But I soon noticed the historic buildings and temples of old Hong Kong integrated between modern structures. I smelt the delicious food from the many restaurants and the incense burning from the numerous shrines. I began to understand that Hong Kong is a beautiful blend of people and culture, of old and new and a city where the East meets the West.
2. Learn a new language
Everywhere you go in Hong Kong you have signs in both Chinese and English. All the announcements in the MTR are in three languages: Cantonese, Mandarin and English. You’ll quickly learn a few basic local ways of greeting people… Thank you, Mgoi Sai!
3. Experience the diversity
Diversity is everywhere in Hong Kong, you can jump from the mountains to the beach in no time, ride a ferry, hop on the bus and arrive home on the MTR. You can go hiking, sailing, to the theater, listen to live music or run a marathon. You will see an Asian face speaking perfect British English or a western face speaking in Cantonese. Got a big appetite? Go and enjoy the delicious variety foods such as seafood, dim sum, traditional noodles, spicy noodles, kebabs, curries, Japanese, Korean, pizza. From exotic restaurants to the street selling ‘hawkers’ serving delicious food, there’s fast food chains and coffee houses…it’s food 24/7 you will never go hungry here. Hong Kong is Asia’s World City!
4. Easy access to nearby countries
From Hong Kong you can cross the border to China in no time, take a ferry to Macau or travel by plane to other southeastern countries with ease. Hong Kong’s airport is one of the most important and busiest hubs in the whole world. More than half of the world’s population live less than a four hour flight from Hong Kong. Hong Kong is the Gateway to China and the World!
5. Safe to travel, safe on the street
Hong Kong is one of the safest places I know. I’ve lived all my life watching my back, keeping an eye out for thieves due to living in New York as a child and being robbed in whilst living in South America as an adult. Here the actual people in the street tell you to be careful. You can walk through the streets in the middle of the night on Hong Kong Island and feel totally safe. With shops open 24/7 and overnight buses that continue to connect every point of the city through the night, Hong Kong is truly a city that never sleeps!
So why not come to Hong kong to do your DTS. You will be in a safe environment, knowing God and making Him known in one of the most diverse urban cities in the world. Experience it yourself and tell others about it!!!
Find out more about DTS here
