Hong Kong is a place where you can wander around the streets for years and there’s always something different, and you always experience new delicious food.

That’s exactly what happened when I got the chance as I’ve always wanted to have a nice hot bowl of Hong Kong noodles. So two weeks into my trip I was wandering amongst the graffiti strewn alleyways, surprisingly comfortable as nothing really seemed very scary about it.

A cup of coffee in one hand as models from all around the world walk past me; I don’t know why but everybody in Hong Kong was beautiful, old and young everybody seemed very cultured. I loved it! Eventually I made it to the hole-in-the-wall restaurant that must be about as old is Hong Kong itself! As I open the door it creaked as if it didn’t wanna have me inside but I eventually made it in and found it to be aged in a very beautiful way.

It looks like one of those old New York delis with signs and posters from a different era – all the old signs are beautiful Chinese models offering cup of Coca-Cola or good luck signs that look like they’re 20 years old and covered in dust. It’s a beautiful place. I walked up to the counter and a very kind young woman asked me what I’d like in very good English. I asked her if I could have a nice hot bowl of noodles and a lemon coffee – I’ve never heard of lemon coffee but apparently it is a very common way to drink your coffee in Hong Kong. I pay her and she tells me I can sit wherever I want so I go straight to the corner where I can see everybody eating and enjoying their meals.

That’s one of my favourite parts about eating in restaurants in other countries – you can people-watch, seeing them living their lives and enjoying themselves and their favourite meal, or enjoy a nice cold beer on a hot day. You realize people are the same everywhere you go, it’s quite beautiful. I quickly snap back to reality you when she gives me my noodles and coffee. I say thank you and can smell the bitterness of the black coffee and the fattiness of the soup broth. The second she drops it is quite delicious and I can see my reflection in the black coffee except it’s obstructed by huge hunk of lemon sitting in it, poppin up and down like a life preserver in an ocean.

I take a sip of the coffee and it’s actually quite delicious. “I have to remember that,” I think to myself. Then I dig into the noodles. I take my chopsticks and bring up some of the noodles into my mouth. They’re perfectly cooked with just the right amount of give. I quickly take a spoon and try some of the broth and it’s delicious, a perfect blend of sweet, salty, sour and fatty – I’m in heaven! Actually in a hole-in-the-wall restaurant you can find beauty everywhere. After about fifteen minutes I finish my bowl of noodles and I start slowly drinking my coffee whilst reading, it’s an amazing experience to sit down and enjoy yourself at a restaurant.

I hope to do more and more. But eventually I know it’s time for me to get going so I finish off my coffee leaving the lemon just sitting there, I stand up and wave to the waitress, telling her thank you as I go on another adventure. I just hope that you guys really do enjoy reading this post and it made me realize how much I love Hong Kong. My thoughts and prayers are with Hong Kong and the difficulties that are going on right now.