Hong Kong Wednesday!

I was having a hard time trying to think of what to talk about today. Has living in Hong Kong become so routine to me that I don't know what other people would like to hear about? (Obviously.) But I did think of one thing that I absolutely love in HK, that I think many other cities would seriously benefit from having.

It's called the Octopus Card. (I think "Octopus" because it has so many different uses, just like an octopus has arms.)

It's a credit card sized card that you can put money on to, and use it for things like paying bus fare, MTR (subway-underground) fare, buying groceries, buying things at 7-11, some fast food places, and even in some public phone booths! You just wave it over the card reader and it automatically deducts the correct amount. The Octopus card is so popular that there are over 10 million cards in circulation, but only about 7 million people in HK! (I think we have 5). It's so great for paying bus fare because you don't have to worry about having exact change. And considering that the majority of people here use busses as their main form of transportation (including us), it is really convenient. When you notice the money getting low in it, you just go to a 7-11 or Circle K or the grocery store etc, and add more to it.

So simple, so easy, and FABULOUS!

(Taking requests: What do you want to learn about Hong Kong? What do you want to know about day to day life? What kind of pictures do you want to see? Let me know!!)