Galaxy Tattoo III

Did I get a tattoo? No (not yet). I was here just like Brad W, accompanying a friend.
While more than ²⁄₃ of Aussies in my ages I’ve met got a tattoo or two, it’s not as popular here in HK, probably partially due to the traditional Chinese culture influence (身體髮膚，受之父母). I’m neutral, I don’t mind (and most likely will be) getting one one day, but I just don’t have the perfect design in my mind to go with me for the rest of my life.
Anyway, I met Karmen Leung, the tattoo artist back in ArtJamming on Wellington Street, and that was why I knew she’s supreme in art. Ever since then if there is anyone asks me if I have any tattoo artist recommendation, Karmen is my answer.
Now that my friend wanted to get one, but again struggled with the design. Karmen did help my friend through from the very beginning, and hand drew a few designs for her to pick and to refine. That design phase went on for like 2 — 3 weeks, and even then my friend wasn’t even sure if she would eventually put that on her skin. Karmen didn’t hurry or rush the process, but instead, and I remembered very clearly, that she said «don’t get a tattoo if you aren’t 100% sure».
Finally the day came and I went with my friend to visit Galaxy Tattoo. Oh boy, what a pleasant thing to watch (haha, yes, watching people having pain) the whole process. Karmen, and the tools she used, was very professional. Probably something I wouldn’t have expected. Everything is sanitized, one-​time-​serving needles, medical gloves… if this is shown to general public, I’m sure that would change the view of a lot of people regarding tattoos and would eventually become more socially acceptable in this city.
If I ever get a tattoo, I’ll be here.

When it comes to tattoo parlors there is not much I can tell you. In fact, before stepping through Galaxy Tattoo’s thick curtains I had never been into one before. Yes, I’ve looked through the windows and at the examples thinking how much of a badass I am not, but never entered. So you may be wondering why now? A friend of mine wanted one and needed a person’s hand to grip to death. That hand was mine.
Galaxy Tattoo is a trendy parlor as far as I know, clean, professional, and filled with artistic brilliance, completely different to the ones I’ve seen in Thailand or Wan Chai. I’d go so far as to say it looked welcoming. The lady who was wielding the buzzing needle on this day was called Carmen, a young, smiley, and patient person. I mean, you’d have to be patient with the undecided clients, «Should I do it? I’m here, I should, but… it’s for life!» Sounds like a friend of mine before his wedding. Carmen went about her business, soothing our fears (I was also scared at this point, especially after seeing the needle vibrate) and reassuring us that it wasn’t painful, or the pain would only be brief — Sounds like my friend’s dad before his wedding. And low and behold she was right, after five minutes of buzzing, wiping away blood, buzzing, and so forth the tattoo was complete. It was a bit of an anticlimax if anything. There were no screams, no sprays of blood, just a simple common procedure that Carmen has completed countless times.
I was unfortunate not to have met the owner, a tattoo artist famed for his Japanese styled art, but being in the parlor, watching the procedure and meeting Carmen alleviated my fears somewhat. Loving parents, please do not read this next part — who knows, maybe I’ll be back again to use my skin as the canvas!