Day 2, From Talking Markets to Walking Markets – APCO, Flora, Fauna, Shamwow and Mao

This morning my classmates and I met with Mark Michaelson, a senior counselor at APCO Worldwide. Mr. Michaelson talked about the public affairs and government relations work that APCO does in Hong Kong to help us better understand the important working relationships between businesses and the HK government. He provided us with great insight into HK as a commerce center – and how and why HK has become an international gateway for so many global businesses. We then promptly indulged in another lunch of epic proportions.

My classmates, Irma and Francesca, had the great idea to go to the markets in Kowloon for the rest of the day. We started at the flower market, walking through the maze of vendor stands, admiring some of the most amazing flower arrangements and displays, and taking in the sight of thousands of exotic plants and flowers. Next was the bird market (Karen would have freaked out) – hundreds of birds flying overhead, squawking in cages, and carried along on vendors arms. We managed to make it out of the bird market poop-free and without a single pigeon sighting. Then we ended up in the pet market – dozens of stores with everything from dogs and cats to goldfish and chinchillas. The ladies market was the biggest market, although more than half of it was filled with bras…heaping piles of them. The biggest hit at this market was the Chinese Shamwow Guy doing live product demonstrations. We rounded out the evening with a great dinner at “Eat Together” and a trip through the Night Market which amused us with its vast offerings of sex toys, decorated themed and novelty man thongs, Mao memorabilia and Hello Kitty everything.

After a full day at the markets, I finally found a really special piece of junk that I just had to have: a truly awesome, absolute kitch Mao clock…he waves his red book with every tick of the second hand. Victorious.

All in all, a wonderfully exciting and exhausting day getting better acquainted with our new city. Tomorrow we are off to Macau!

Enjoy pictures of the markets and Kowloon below!