I See London, I See France

Michael claims that the two favorite pastimes of the Chinese people are walking such that they get in your way (it is truly maddening), and hanging their wash out to dry (it does seem to be the case).  All of the windows here have racks built in directly below.  Bedsheets, pants, undershirts, underwear and socks all hang out and flap in the afternoon breeze.  Even apartments that are right next to the escalators, surely some of the most heavily pedestrian trafficked routes in Hong Kong, hang their clothes out within touching proximity.  I am curious to see if this practice will continue once the infamous humidity rocks the island, but for now, we have joined the locals and are proudly displaying our wares.

A note on the walking -- I never thought I'd say this, but Manhattan feels really spacious and convenient to me right now.   The sidewalks here are just generally much narrower and tighter and more cramped, and compounding the problem is the sheer number of people milling about at all times.  Women (mostly) hoist their umbrellas whether it's drizzling or sunny, a combination that makes walking around Central during rush hour an exercise in dodging to avoid being jabbed in the eye.  People. here. also. walk. so. slowly.  They amble and meander without a care to the people behind them.  They block up the whole sidewalk.  To say that the whole experience tests one's patience is quite an understatement.