However, I did decide to go to one store for the entertainment of it and to see if I would survive. I also wanted to buy some coathangers. 

I was to brave Ikea.

First I let a friend know that I was going in and would message when I came out. GPS on my phone was turned on.

Causeway Bay Ikea, at the best of times, is a sight to behold and an experience in itself. Couples date, nine out of ten new arrivals to HK shop can be found here at any one time and a good deal of the population can be found there when it is either really hot and humid or really wet and humid. 

All that said, there’s normally some room to move and manoeuvre. 

Not yesterday.

Yesterday was a madhouse. Yesterday, many of the couches and lounge chairs were occupied. Most people on their phones. Those that weren’t on their phones were asleep. 

I’m not sure what everyone was shopping for as Ikea doesn’t typically have sales the way other stores do. I was just on the lookout for the coathangers and wasn’t paying attention to sale signs so perhaps I did just miss the bargain of the century.

People slowly meandered through the signed polished concrete floor, no escape possible once in the door. Shortcuts blocked. It did have me wondering where the emergency exits were located. Queues to the toilet through the kids section. Snails moved faster.

Still no coathangers.

Down to the ground floor as part of the world’s slowest moving conga line which was the wrong beat for the 90s dance music I was listening to. I was trying to disconnect from the excessive noise of this many people in a closed in space with surprisingly, not enough soft furnishing to insulate the chatter. 

Through the kitchen section.

Finally found the coathangers. 

Yes, I could have bought them some other day however, it’s not often I get to this end of town so it was more efficient to buy them while I was there. It was also entertaining to be a part of the madness.

Why Ikea coathangers?

I like all my coathangers to match as it’s easy on the eyes, it looks neat and it makes it easier to see my clothes when they are all hung the same way. Wooden coathangers are better for clothes than plastic and wire ones. Something about a wooden coathanger also looks nice, perhaps it’s the more natural material. All my coathangers are from Ikea. Yes, I’m particular about my coathangers. 

I like them.

I shouldn’t have been so surprised that Ikea coathanger shopping on Boxing Day was going to be a mission.

Message sent. I survived. I have coathangers.

* Thanks to LCD Soundsystem for the title to this post. Rumour has it they are reforming in 2016. This link is to their first song in five years which is a bit of a depressing Christmas tune and I really like it.