Hong Kong is ridiculously cool

I think I've figured it out. I thought it would be like NYC in Asia, fast paced and futuristic. But really it has all the culture and architecture and business, etc., but none of the stress. The people here are friendly, it is safe at any hour, and everyone is lounging and hanging out in the parks! It's amazing really, and much less expensive than first thought. However, we haven't bought a damn thing because the markets seem to be full of mostly junky stuff. But really, it's cheap here, for instance, yesterday we rode at least 1 train, 2 trams, 1 taxi, hostel buses to the mountain, a tram to Victoria Peak, and 3-4 metros for under 20 bucks.
Today we hiked around Lamma Island, which is a nice coastal walk through old villages and beaches away from the city, yet very accessible. Kind of like Cinque Terra. The ferry is a great way to get around as well, as you get to see the skyline from every angle.
Victoria Peak last night was even better than expected, but to tell the truth the view from our 8 dollar hostel was almost as good. But you can't beat a nice overpriced drink overlooking the city as the buildings begin to light up the sky around the harbor. It prompted immediate discussions of why the hell more people don't move here...like us. NYC is all concrete with one big park (granted, it's wonderful); HK is a metropolis set against the backdrop of layers of awe-inspiring architecture, islands and majestic mountains. Dating here would be very easy I think.
We're off to have dinner now with Scott's great Aunt, should be great. You can't beat a free meal, no matter how little you're spending. Tonight we'll either stay in Stanley (southern part of the island) or on Lantau near the giant Buddha. We plan to do a sunrise hike to Lantau's famous peak. But there's not much time left here - we leave for Denpasar Thursday. Perhaps there will be better internet access there. In HK internet cafes don't exist, it's unexpected. You gotta find a cafe with a few computers that will give you a few minutes for free. So that's all for now.