Why I canceled my dream trip and booked a flight home instead — Hong Kong, end of July. I love this atmosphere. Hot evenings, music, boat parties, lightness. I love it. In two weeks I’m flying to the Philippines. In a month — Australia. Melbourne, Sydney, Daintree Rainforest, Great Barrier Reef. Offline. My time. It’s […]

What happens when you stop forcing things — northern Hong Kong, Sunday afternoon. I’m wrapping up a conference that’s been running for the last three days. Around 400 people. I had a goal: talk to one of the visiting speakers. But I look over and he’s being praised by a group of people near the

What a screaming waiter in Hong Kong taught me about authenticity — January. Hong Kong, a street bar in Central. One I’d visited a few times before. I’m trying to get the attention of one of the waitresses — but at that moment her coworker starts screaming at me in Chinese. So loudly. If you’ve

What the most interesting people in my life have in common “Oh, really — the price is lower than condoms at 7-Eleven.” “Me? Buying condoms? I wouldn’t know where to start.” A self-assured, good-looking man answers with a mock-bashful look. We’re sitting with a group of friends at a bar on the open street space

My worst day in Hong Kong became my best — and honestly, Hong Kong is the kind of city that wins you over from day one. Even when day one is a complete disaster. For many people, what I experienced at the start would have been a sign they’d chosen the wrong destination entirely. If