As someone who grew up in New York City, where the weather is less humid, and palm trees don’t grow, seeing them in Hong Kong felt completely new to me. The palm trees gave the city a tropical atmosphere, making it feel almost like being on vacation. It was refreshing to see them, and they brought a calm, peaceful feeling that helped reduce stress.
Seeing the monkeys was a very different experience. When I first spotted them, I felt excited because it’s not every day that you get to see monkeys up close. Watching them move around was fun and surprising. At the same time, I was a little nervous because I didn’t want to disturb them or get too close.
Palm trees are all over Hong Kong. You can find them at the beaches, sidewalks, parks, shopping areas, hiking paths, and more. Due to Hong Kong's warm weather, palm trees grow very well here.
Monkeys usually live in the more forested areas of Hong Kong, particularly Hong Kong's "New Territories." There's even a park here named "Monkey Hill." Monkeys are found where there are lots of trees, mountains, and water, which are things that monkeys need to survive.
Palm trees are very suited to Hong Kong's environment. Palm trees' long roots help them hold on to the ground when there are typhoons and heavy rain. Their leaves also gather sunlight that helps them grow. The shapes of the leaves also help to let the rainwater slide off, so they are not damaged.
Monkeys survive by using their surroundings.
