Last Updated：2023-08-08
On this work trip to Hong Kong, we had to stick to a tight budget, so we ended up sharing a small suite for five days with four of us. It was so cramped that even turning over in bed had to be done with extreme care. In this situation, we finally got a taste of a unique aspect of Hong Kong's lifestyle known as the "ant nest."
In a city where space is at a premium, with skyscrapers dominating the landscape, having a view of the skyline and any form of privacy at home is considered a luxury. To give you an idea of how crowded it is, approximately one-third of Taiwan's total population lives in an area equivalent to the size of four Taipei cities. You can imagine how tightly packed the buildings and people are.
The suite we stayed in had two bedrooms, three beds, and one bathroom. It costs over 4,000 New Taiwan Dollars per night. I couldn't help but think about my cat at home, who enjoys three times the space of our suite all by itself. At that moment, I felt fortunate to be living in Taiwan.