don't judge me by the color of my skin

Hong Kong skyline from ferry to Kowloon

Hong Kong is fast becoming one of my favorite cities, at least in Asia Pacific. Perhaps some of it has to do with the people and lifestyle that may be akin to New York City as noted in another lifetime. But then again, it's got a whole different personality of its own. There are a diversity of activities, social scenes, transportation modes, shopping and eating establishments. Although it has the topography similar to San Francisco, it is a very easy walking city, combined with a natural stair master.

corner of Hollywood Road

However, like Vietnam, it has its fair share of local vs. foreigner/expat bars. Of course, an Asian woman in one of the latter bars runs the risk of being mistaken and treated as a 'working girl,' which I quickly experienced, whereby a friend had to come to my rescue and almost started a brawl.  I can now see why the locals prefer to hang out in their own establishments. Yet, unlike Vietnam, the local establishments tend to be just as much fun and have a very modern atmosphere and vibe. In fact, they had a better underground scene.

In Wan Chai, my friend and I ran into some gorgeous colored women. Asians, in general, are blatantly discriminatory against black people. Some of this may have stemmed from the view that darker skin (see the quest for snow white) is poor/rural/uneducated. I have also heard a theory that it has to do with the larger physique, thus Asians are naturally fearful of blacks. However, Americans and Europeans generally have larger physiques as well, and their fearfulness results in the demure Asian rather than aggressive derision. 

These ladies were not allowed in any establishment, except for one, which required them to be escorted by a man. As one of the ladies noted, if she is escorted by a man to sit and drink, she would not be making any money as she could not pick up other men. Plus, she had the self confidence and respect for herself to note that she would not want to be anywhere that she was not fully accepted for all of her. For those who may think that they were not allowed in the establishments because they were working girls, Hong Kong is very similar to Vietnam in that these women are pretty much allowed in any establishment, and Wan Chai bars were filled with Asian working girls while their darker counterparts were relegated to the wall outside.

And to my friend's credit, he ended up escorting them to the few places they were allowed to enter to party with them, after I retired at 4 am. Despite my offer for them to use him to take them anywhere while we were out, they were respectful, and refused my offer, lest they tarnished others' views of me for being seen with them. Of course, they didn't really know me if they thought that was a concern for me; however, I was proud of my friend for coming back to them and showing them a modicum of respect.