the hong of the kong - culture shock

I've had the fortune of visiting both Montreal and Hong Kong this year...both places where I've grown up. The funny thing is, they are DRASTICALLY different. Montreal is uber laid-back - most of my time was spent on patios with friends, having a beer, strolling around the old port, leisurely spending time. People are happy to spend their paycheques and splurge on good wine and good food - so even if you're not financially..."abundant", you still live a semi-luxurious life.

Hong Kong, on the other hand, is a city bustling with people trying to get to places...there is no stopping, no resting, and rarely do I witness people "enjoying life". Actually, I've just heard a lot of complaining about how mundane life is due to the busyness of work (pretty much all my relatives work on the weekends).
The most obvious example of this cultural divergence is the food industry. Fast food is dominant here in HK (but that doesn't mean that the food isn't good). Most culinary institutions intend for you to eat and GO (emphasis on the GO), and the lack of washrooms in most restaurants should be adequate proof for this. I love love love the food here, but I do lament the lack of time to enjoy it.

Anyways, just some brain farts all the way from Asia :) More to come!