Waorani Man from Amazon Visits Hong Kong for First Time

Wareka, an Indigenous Waorani man from the Ecuadorian Amazon, traveled to Hong Kong for the first time, experiencing modern city life. The trip was organized by Arieh Smith, a language enthusiast and YouTuber known as Xiaoma, who had previously visited Wareka's community in the Amazon. Smith wanted to reciprocate hospitality by bringing Wareka to New York City, but Wareka couldn't obtain a U.S. visa. After a year of searching, Smith found that Ecuadorian citizens can travel to Hong Kong without a visa. The pair traveled there, and Smith filmed Wareka's reactions to urban experiences such as subway rides, skyscrapers, and technology. The video captures how everyday urban life appears strange to someone unfamiliar with it. Wareka's presence also offered Smith's audience a new perspective on the city. The trip highlights the contrast between Amazonian life and modern urban environments.