A Trip to Civilization

Every once in a while we need to get out of China. This weekend we had an opportunity to do just that. Even though Hong Kong is still considered China, it's nothing like the mainland China I know.

Still Third World

I still think of mainland China as a third world country. Even though some parts are modern, such as Shanghai and Beijing, most of it is very rural. China is still building up it's infrastructure. And even though more and more rural people are becoming millionaires, many still act like farmers.

For example they hold their kids over the bushes in public areas to use the toilet. They hack and spit onto the sidewalks and toss trash everywhere. The other day the school classroom looked like a trash heap. It was hard for me to even imagine how it could have become so bad, unless a trash truck backed up and dumped its load.

Hong Kong

But Hong Kong is very civil. The vendors smile and say "Thank You" when they give change. They look like they really enjoy serving me. The cars and busses observe all lights and drive in their own lanes. People also wait at "Don't Walk" signs. It's all so organized, exactly what I'd expect of a civil country.

...dave
Everyone is kneaded out of the same dough but not baked in the same oven. –Yiddish Proverb