The main language spoken in Hong Kong is Cantonese, which is one of the seven main dialects of Chinese. Hong Kong is an international city, so many primary schools actually teach Cantonese and English simultaneously. Mandarin has also become a widespread language due to the influx of migrants from mainland China. I can usually get by with my English or Mandarin, but locals perfer Cantonese above all else.
Hong Kong dollars are most often used here, but a lot of the currency is now digital. I use the Octopus card very frequently, mainly for transportation, buying snacks at convenience stores and at some restaurants. I also use my travel credit card if I do not want to use cash or Octopus. There are lots of local apps as well, such as Wechat pay and Alipay.
A basic plastic water bottle from 7-Eleven typically costs between $10-13 HKD, which is about $1 USD.
Some of the different meals I had this week were: pizza, Hong Kong milk tea with a pinapple bun and a side of egg and ham, and chicken tikka masala with stuffed cheesy nan and mango lassi. As I write this article, I am having a bagel sandwhich. The chicken tikka masala with nan and mango lassi was definitely my favorite. It was on the cheaper side and very filling.
