3rd World Living: Chunking Mansions

Good Ole Chunking Mansions. AKA THE CHUNK. Used to stay here when I was a lowly free-lance english teacher and had to make Visa runs to Hong Kong every 90 days. Honestly, it’s one of the most fascinating buildings I’ve ever been to as it’s more or less a small city contained within one gigantic concrete block. You can find all sorts of stuff inside; restaurants, clubs, hotels, meth, clothing stores, ladies of the night, and a shit load of electronic shops selling cheap phones and sim cards. According to the BBC, in 2008, about 20% of mobile phones in use in sub-Saharan Africa had been sold in Chungking Mansions. #WhoaThatsWeird.

One time when I was lost and trying to find my guest house I came across a legit factory filled with women making clothes on the 10th floor.  Speaking of which, it took me SIX HOURS to find my guest house. I ended up just giving up and having to wait outside on the street until  I saw someone I recognized. Place is an absolute MAZE.

Well anyways it was fun going back for nostalgia’s sake but I can say with 99% certainty this will be my last time staying at the Chunk. I’m at a stage in my life where I need breathing space in my accommodations. Or at the very least a window that lets you see outside and doesn’t open up to the shaft that Emperor Palpatine was tossed down in Return of the Jedi…