Hong KongMapApril Televisions have become so affordable that you can now install them in elevator floors. ![]() Hong Kong still has the same heavy car traffic. ![]() And pedestrian traffic. ![]() Pictograms warn about the harm of spitting in public places. ![]() A subway entrance sign. ![]() A street advertisement demonstrating the range of ailments which the establishment purports to cure. ![]() I was in Hong Kong last April for an expo. I had some spare time, so I ventured out into the city, but got caught in a sudden torrential downpour near the central subway station. Attempting to find a cab was futile. By chance, I found myself in front of a Marks & Spencer, where I would ordinarily never set foot on a normal sunny day. But now, having nothing better to do, I went in. Went downstairs. Wandered over into the men’s footwear section. To kill some time, I randomly pointed out a pair of moccasin-like shoes and asked the salesperson if they had them in size 13. Just something I like to do for kicks—there’s never anything available in that size in Asia. Ever. Neither shoes nor socks. The salesperson brought out a box. The shoes fit. A year went by. Those Airflex shoes are the best thing I’ve ever worn in my entire life. They’re lightweight, dirt- and crud-resistant, comfortable, roomy, and generally awesome. I bought them thinking I would toss them in a month, but found myself unable to part with them under any circumstances. Summer, fall, spring—I wore them all the time. Although their age started to show after a while, there was simply nothing I could replace them with. And here I am again in Hong Kong. I go to the central station. Walk into Marks & Spencer. Go down into the basement and over to the men’s department. And there they are. There they are, my precious! I buy what turns out to be the last pair. I come back to my hotel. Take a final goodbye photo. A historical encounter. ![]() I leave behind my old pair, which has withstood the test of time and continents. You’ve fulfilled your purpose. You’ve done a great job. Now a new, identical pair can continue to carry the torch. I check out of the hotel. A mural. ![]() I go to China. Every subway station has a special station superintendent standing on the platform. ![]()
Neon-green bricks are embedded into the floor at a ![]() Train station. City. Hotel. Train station. Shenzhen. I go to Guangzhou. I come back. Then Hong Kong again. I return to the same hotel. The receptionist says, “You left a pair of brown shoes here last time, we’ll send them up to your room.” This makes me smile. My dear old comfy shoes. You’ve come back to me. Now I can wear the new pair when I need to look more presentable, and the old ones will come with me on my next trip to Africa. |
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