Backflip

I just spent a week in Hong Kong visiting the city and my friend Whitney. I travelled over with another friend (who is also Whitney’s brother) Jordan and boy! what a great trip.

I wish I could write about all the funny things we did and different situations/people we ran into on my great Hong Kong adventure. But that would be pretty boring (it’s probably enough boring as it stands) and I don’t think I have space enough to record everything. It was such an excellent trip that it is hard to capture on paper. I’m gonna shoot for the highlights.

Please read the following excerpts knowing that for every story told there are a host of experiences left untold. Each of these experiences made the trip exciting and interesting. I know they will stay with me for a long time (at least a few days, haha). I can actually say that I will never be the same person again.

Fun facts about Hong Kong:

• Population of 7 million but with only 428 square miles of land (meaning there are 16,452 people/square mile)
• Residents of HK are sometimes referred to as Hongkongers
• HK has the greatest number of skyscrapers, numbering 6,439
• 38 of the worlds 100 tallest residential buildings
• The world’s most vertical city – with more people living or working above the 14th floor than anywhere else on Earth
• Life expectancy in HK is 81.6 years, the 6th highest in the world
• Over 90% of daily travellers in HK use public transportation
• Temperature in March varies from 62 to 71 degrees Fahrenheit
• HK became a part of The People’s Republic of China in 1997 but HK still has it’s own currency, legal and political systems and is mostly self-governed
• Check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_kong for more fun facts

<excerpts from the journal>

<writing on the plane>

Trip home so far has been good. Did some readin’, watched some movies (Robots, Madagascar, Sleepy Hollow, Max Payne, House) and got a little bit o’ sleep.

It’s about a 15 hour flight back and I’m startin’ to get a bit sick of the plane. My one major beef with the Continental and the airline industry is their horking food. We’re crammed on a loud airplane with tons of other people for an extended period of time. This is not an ideal way to travel but it certainly is the quickest. Usually the staff makes the experience as enjoyable as possible and they do a great job. Except when it comes to food.

If it was me planning the menu I’d stick with something as general as possible in hopes that it would be enjoyed by the majority of fliers. Most people like salad, some fruit and then some neutral main dish like a hamburger, chicken, spaghetti or something. Seems like most people enjoy these foods.

Instead they decide to serve these items:

• Iceberg Lettuce and radicchio (?) with a carrot julienne (?), cucumber and baby shrimp.
• Seared salmon with black sesame sauce, sauteed vegetables and steamed rice
• Omelette with lyonnaise (?) potatoes, Spanish tomato mix and pork sausage

<excerpts from the journal>

Last day in Hong Kong.

There was much debating over what we should do on our last day in HK. On the table were a 2 hour hike to Lion’s rock to see the HK cityscape or a trip to Lamma Island to see the South China Sea. We woke up to find it very hazy and wet so we decided to head to Lamma Island.

Meeting Whitney and Liana at the TST MTG stop we headed to Hong Kong Station to catch the 30 min. ferry ride to the island. Both were uneventful , it was so foggy/hazy out that we couldn’t make out too much in the distance. We were able to see some tall skyscrapers with some large gaps in the middle, not sure what those were about. It seemed the gaps were build into the buildings but for a purpose but I can’t imagine what it might be. We arrived safely on Lamma Island (even Liana who does not enjoy boats) and set off on our hike.

We landed at Sok Kwu Wan and decided to do a 2 hour loop. We were then gonna do a 1 hour and 30 min treck across the island to Yung Shue Wan.

The 2 hour loop was pretty nice. We had some excellent views and some cool areas to explore. It was a big difference than hiking here in the U.S. because the whole trail was concrete and was lined with streetlights even though it was out in the forest. Guess they had some time on their hands. Not only are the walkways paved but the gutters (for drainage) and the entire side of the hillsides were covered in concrete. I guess this was to minimize erosion and rock slides. This was the same all over Hong Kong and I never got used to the sight. It is somewhat practical but it isn’t very easy on the eyes.

As we were getting close to finishing the lop and arriving back at Sok Kwu Wan it started to rain (too much rain overpowered us – ATB). Jordan, Whitney and I had rain coats and Liana had an umbrella but none of us escaped the wetness. Since it wasn’t raining too hard (yet) we decided to press on to the next village (taking the hour and a half path). This was mostly based on the fact that the ferry from Yung Shue Wan left a lot more frequently than in Sok Kwu Wan where we were so we had a better chance of getting back to the mainland quicker if we made the hike.

So we headed out without too much fanfare. We took some quick shots of the village and lookouts along the way which were really neat.

We were at one such stop when <BOOM> the rain really started coming down. It was off and on in intensity. We were prepared but it turned out to be too much rain. So I guess that means we weren’t prepared. Hork!

Quickening our pace we tried to beat the down poor but around the next turn we came upon a group in dire need of help. A woman had collapsed on the side of the trail and didn’t look good. She was still breathing but she couldn’t walk very well. Her husband/friend/brother was asking us to help carry her back to Sok Kwu Wan, the village we had left a bit ago. As another person in their group called for help we attempted picking her up to move her along the path but she was having none of that. So we gave her some water after which she began to throw-up quite forcefully. Throwing up is usually a good thing and we heard an ambulance was on its way. We stood for a bit but realized there wasn’t much else we could do since an ambulance was on the way so we pressed on through the rain. While leaving we saw a 4 wheeled vehicle coming along the concrete path to pick her up which was good.

Fighting through the rain we quickly became drenched. Turns out my water “resistant” jacket had a wetness threshold of repellency and once it was reached I was horked. Soaking wet we trudged along the path, catching quick glances at the scenery as we flew past.

Getting near Yung Shue Wan we came upon the sick girl and her friends who had passed us earlier in the 4-wheeler. They were near a police station looking for an ambulance. She did not look good (I guess throwing up didn’t help much in this case). We passed them and saw the ambulance further down the path so we pointed them in the right direction and she was given over to the care of the professionals. They brought an ambulance and about 4 fire truck vans. That woman was in good hands, and plenty of them.

Hiking on we finally made it to Yung Shue Wan in time to get right on the ferry (woo!). Out of the rain at last we took stock of the situation. No casualties in our group. We were very soaked but in good spirits. The temperature wasn’t too cold so being soaking wet wasn’t too much of an inconvenience. Being used to the outdoors and uncomfortable situations I was actually doing quite well. Whitney and Liana are not quite as used to said circumstances but they were holding up like champions.

On getting back to Hong Kong island we hit up some McDonald’s (yeah, I know, not Chinese, give us a break). It was pretty tasty. And a funny/awkward situation occurred. It had taken us about 40 min. to ride the ferry back and get to McD’s but we were still dripping wet (that’s how wet we were). We were dripping so much that a McD’s employee put up a “Caution, Wet Floor” sign behind Jordan while he was standing in line. We also kinda soaked our seats and area under our table. Ock! I bet we gave them a bad impression of Americans, but we did try to eat as quickly as possible and make a hasty departure.

We parted ways to change clothes and planned on meeting back up to check out Victoria Peak. The Peak is the largest Mountain on Hong Kong Island. It rises up behind the main business sector of the city and gives an amazing view of Victoria Harbor and the Hong Kong cityscape.

On arriving back at our hostel I discovered that not only were my clothes soaked but my money + passport were in dire straits as well (hork!). I was keeping mine in a money pouch that was attached to my leg (under my pants) and I thought it was weathering the storm. Turns out it got quite weathered. Soaked all the way through it has shriveled and has begun to separate from it’s backing. Considering we leave tomorrow this is cause for some concern. At the moment it has dried but it’s becoming quite warped. I’m gonna try to smash it tonight and hope customs won’t have a problem with it.

Setting everything out to dry we headed back into the streets of Hong Kong to meet the girls and travel up the tram to Victoria Peak. The tram ride was quite exciting. It turned the outside world into a Dr. Seuss land where all the buildings looked as if they were standing at impossible angles. We were traveling up the side of the hill at a pretty steep angle so the buildings looked as though they were going to topple down as we passed them buy since our perceived x-axis was so strange. I didn’t get any pics so you’ll have to take my word that it was crazy awesome.

On arriving at the peek we were bummed to discover the fog was so thick the city below was all but invisible. Knowing it would probably be the case we excepted the situation and decided to hang out for a bit and then head back down to get some more food. On the way we stopped at some more shops and I stocked up on last minute souvenirs and gifts.

In a strange coincidence, the dagger that I had tried to barter for at the Stanley Market was being sold for a lower price at the Peak. So I snatched it up. Now I have 2 daggers. I know there is no practical use for them and I know that I’m not secretly some amazing assassin killer person (see Wanted). But I see the daggers and have an unexplainable, overwhelming desire to own them. I guess this must be how some women feel about clothing (or about anything expensive, haha!). Lucky for me there aren’t many places in the U.S. that sell such items. I got my first dagger for about $6 and my second for about $18 so I’m not exactly breaking the bank. Interesting enough, clothing items and electronics are priced the same in Hong Kong as in the U.S. Apparently daggers are not.

After collecting a few last minute items we headed to Dan Ryan’s for a nice last dinner. We gave up on Chinese food at this point. The dinner was great. Interesting enough the menu warned patrons that food is served in “American Portions”. Guess that’s an issue. Isn’t it great to be known as a nation of big eaters? Heh heh.

After dinner we regretfully said our goodbyes and headin’ back to our dwellings. Tonight is my last night in Hong Kong. It’s a great city and I will be sad to leave. But it’s about time to be gettin’ back home. As Dorthy is so fond of saying, there is no place like it.

I had such an enjoyable time hanging out with Whitney, Jordan and Liana. We had some great laughs, saw amazing sights, ate great food, had some struggles (rain) and when it was all said and done, an excellent trip! I now have some amazing memories and experiences that I will cherish and for those I am very thankful. A big thanks to Whitney and Liana for showing us around their part of the world and for putting up with us all week. Let’s do it again, I hear BG has some cool places to explore (I keep hearing about this cookie place, gonna have to check that out for sure).

<excerpts form the journal>

Got up around 9 today and headed over to Hong Kong Island to check out the Stanley Market and Repulse Bay (we really just drove by, but it was enough). After taking a short MTR ride and a lengthy bus trip we arrived at the market. We being Jordan and myself, Whitney had a Spanish exam today so she was studying.

Stanley Market is a twisting, turning road lined with merchants and shops. Most of the merchandise is Chinese clothing tourist items. Hand made crafts, jade figures, ties, post cards, swords, chopsticks, linen, electronics, bags, shirts, etc. Winding our way through the maze was quite enjoyable. I was able to complete almost all my souvenir shopping in one fell swoop. It was neat to be able to find hidden goodies for bargain prices. The best deal I found was this samurai knife which was being sold for 50 Hong Kong Dollars (which is about $6.50). Pretty sweet deal eh? Don’t know what I’m gonna do with a samurai knife but I’m sure I’ll find a use for it.

The market is a huge attraction for tourists so it was interesting to see all the different nationalities in one place. There were a lot of Australians and Europeans. Apparently there is a big rugby tournament going on in HK next week so they all might have been in town for the games.

We knew (thanks for Whitney) going into the Market that we weren’t supposed to barter but both Jordan and I gave it a shot. Jordan was quite successful while I scored a bit whopping zero. I noticed some damage on a (different) dagger I was thinking about purchasing (don’t worry, I only ended up with 2) and I attempted to talk the saleslady down since the tip was chipped off. She was having none of it and got pretty ticked. She tried to convince me it wasn’t damaged but it clearly had the tip missing. The “bartering” ended and no purchase was made. I can’t be sure but the sales lady walked over to some other sales people and they all started laughing, perhaps at the failed transaction, perhaps at something else. They were speaking in Cantonese. I was able to reclaim some of my pride later in the day at the Jade Market but I’m getting ahead of myself.

Upon leaving Stanley Market we took the bus back to the MTR and passed Repulse Bay (again) on the way. It’s a pretty nice beach but we didn’t stop to check it out because it was a bit overcast so the bay wasn’t lookin’ too great. On getting back to the business sector of the city we broke down and grabbed some McDonald’s. We did the authentic Chinese meals and were looking for something we knew the taste of before purchasing. One interesting things about McD’s in HK are the shake shake fries. They are the same fries as in the US but there is the option of getting an extra bag and some seasoning. The choices are salt & pepper, honey BBQ, seaweed and teriyaki. The idea is to pour the fries into the bag and then the seasoning and shake them up. I tried the honey BBQ and was surprised at how good they tasted.

Leaving McD’s (still just Jordan and myself) we made a visit to the Jade Market. The market is full of jade jewelry, figurines, carvings, trinkets, random items and lots of vendors. Booth owners pester people walking by to purchase their goods and customers are encouraged to bargain for a fair price. This took a little getting used to and I’m pretty sure I got ripped off a few times but it was fun. I made a point to start my bidding off at 1/2 the asking price and this seemed to work pretty well. This leads me to the conclusion that I probably wasn’t purchasing real jade but something very similar. Ah well. Everything was pretty inexpensive once converted to US dollars to it was no biggie. The most expensive item I bought was around 200 HK which is around $26. Yeah, big spender!

Leaving the Jade Market as happy customers we headed for some relaxation int he Kowloon Park. This park is pretty sweet. It boasts an avery, a duck pond, fish pond, public swimming pool, sculpture walk, garden maze, a Chinese garden, water garden, food pavilion, rooftop gardens, a castle, a playground, a fitness trail, a sports center and some other stuff. It knocks the sox of Central Park. It was great to unwind and watch people. Especially this one old guy who was doing some sort of yoga. He seemed like he was over 80 years old but he had great balance, motor skills and amazing flexibility.

After the park we met up with Whitney and Liana at Starbucks to hang out and then to Victoria Harbor to check out the laser light show that we missed the other night. The idea behind the show is sweet. Tons of buildings on both sides of the harbor light up the sky with lights and lasers while nice music is played in the background. However, the implementation didn’t quite cut it for me. It was nice, but it didn’t fill me with awe or excitement as I thought it would. At least I’ll be able to say I saw it. I think the issue was my expectations were through the roof since we barely missed it last time and I was pretty excited to see it.

After the show we met Kelly and Brendon, two of Whitney and Liana’s friends from Bowling Green. We all headed to Ebeneezer’s which is a kebab and pizzeria with some excellent food. It was pretty packed so we took our food to a little park on the waterfront to eat. While eating we were visited by our friend Fred the cockroach. He hopped down onto the ledge we were eating on to get close to Whitney (I’m not sure but I think he was tryin’ to make a move). Well, Whitney wasn’t having any of it and she jumped up and screamed. Sensing the danger, Jordan quickly came to her rescue and forcefully removed Fred from our dining area. Poor guy. I think it was all just a misunderstanding. Hopefully we can still hang out with him later.

After dinner we bid farewell to Kelly and Brendon and headed to 7-Eleven for some ice cream. We hung out near the harbor, chatted and planned our day for tomorrow. Calling it a night around 11 Jordan and I headed back to the hostel after seeing the ladies safely off on the MTR.

All-in-all it was a very productive day. Got to see Stanley Market, Repulse Bay, the Jade Market, the Laser Light Show and got to meet some new people. ’twas a good time.

<excerpts from the journal>

 Got up early today around 9:00. Felt rested and ready to start a new day. After some breakfast of cheese and crackers and pop tarts Jordan and I headed to the Hong Kong Museum of Art. It was just down Nathan road on the Victoria Bay. I will admit, I wasn’t expecting much from the museum. For me, museums are usually enjoyable but can tend to be a bit on the boring side. They also often leave me feeling confused, especially contemporary art, I don’t get it.

However, I was moved by much of the art in the museum. It made sense to me and was quite enjoyable. If I were to paint something it would be in the same style and I hope it would convey the same emotions and ideas as displayed in the Chinese art. What I liked most were the inspiring messages that the art portrayed. Some showed a journey which was difficult but adventurous. And the main subject was very happy to get back home after a successful trip. The art was done on a continuous scroll so it kept going and going which was neat. There were also paintings showing a simple way of life with a focus on the human aspect which is great. The art was uplifting and encouraging.

I looked for some of the paintings I liked in the gift shop but none were to be found. ’tis quite unfortunate. I did find some wooden chopsticks with my name on them which was pretty sweet. Now I just gotta carry them around with me all the time in case the need emerges.

After the museum we grabbed our raincoats and headed out to meet Whitney who got out of class early (woo!). We decided to head to Jumbo, the world’s largest floating restaurant for some Dim Sum (traditional Chinese lunch). After a few MTR stops and a bus ride in a double decker bus (yeah, we sat on top) we hiked through a light drizzle to reach the ferry which transported us to the floating restaurant.

Jumbo was quite fancy (good thing we dressed up). We showed up for our reservation and were seated outside on the deck (which was covered). It was pretty neat to be able to look out to the shoreline and yet not even feel the boat moving (at least I couldn’t). We ordered 7 dishes to share (in Dim Sum fashion) and they are listed below:

• Steamed Shrimp Dumpling
• Steamed Pork Dumplings with Shark Fin and Goose Liver (yum!)
• Steamed Rice Noodle Roll filled with Wagyu Beef
• Spring Roll with fresh Philippine Mango (very tasty)
• Steamed Rice Roll filled with Barbecued Pork
• Baked Barbecue Pork Pie
• Deep Fried Wantan with Pickle Juice

<excerpts from the journal>

Had a very restful night and arose around 10ish to check out the shower/toilet stall combo. It was surprisingly nice. Water was hot and Fred the cockroach payed a visit to enjoy the water with me. He’s a decent soul and we actually met up with him a bit later in the week (so stay tuned for the exciting reunion). The toilet seat didn’t get wet because the top lid is made to cover the seat and water can’t get in, pretty smart.

After the shower, Jordan and I checked out of the room and navigated down 14 floors, to block A and up 3 floors to get a new room assignment. Turns out we couldn’t get into our new room till 12:30 so we ditched our packs by the receptionist (who swore she would protect them) and headed out to investigate Nathan Road. The road is pretty much the main drag of Tsim Sha Tsui (TST) which is the area closest to Victoria Bay on the Kowloon side. Fighting through hawkers we made our way south to Victoria Bay to check out the skyline on the Hong Kong side. We also walked the path of the stars which honored actors such as Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan. After taking some pics and enjoying the view and the breeze we headed north up Nathan road.

Battling through the crowds we passed tons of “duty free” stores selling gadgets and watches. We discovered later that there is no sales tax in Hong Kong so all their merchandise is “duty free”. Some of the stores were enticing but the merchandise was questionable (and priced the same as the U.S.) so we avoided them. We wandered around all the way up to Jordan Road (yeah, pretty crazy) and then headed back to our hostel to get our new room.

This one turned out to be much nicer. It has a little more room, a separated shower and toilet as well as a fridge. High class living to be sure. Satisfied we dropped our packs and headed to the MTR to meet Whitney and Liana in the Festival Walk mall for lunch. 

This mall is a bit crazy. It has escalators everywhere going every which way (see http://hartw.blogspot.com/2009/01/fuji-apple-flavored-mentos.html for more info). Jordan and I tried some Chinese and Tai food while the ladies headed to McDonald’s for some grub. Lunch was pretty good, I got some BBQ pork with noodles which was pretty good. I’m happy to discover I’m becoming quite the pro with the ‘ol chopsticks.

After the mall we headed to the Temple of 10,000 Buddha’s. This was at the top of a 400-something step climb. The path up the steps was lined with tons and tons of statues depicting Buddha followers. It was quite ridiculous. Each was about 4 1/2 feet tall, painted gold and in a variety of shapes depicting followers performing different activities. We climbed through the statues to reach the temple which had its walls liked with thousands of miniature Buddhas. It was pretty crazy. I’m not into idol worship and it was very interesting to see the extent that it was taken at this particular temple. Gave me a creepy crawly feeling.

We got rained on a bit before headin’ back down the stairs. On the way back to the MTR station we stopped in an IKEA (wooooo!) and rode the subway one stop to check out the Nan Lian Gardens as well as the Chi Lin Nunnery. Both were very peaceful and gave a similar feeling as the Path of Wisdom. It was as if we tapped into something ancient and unchanging. It was pretty neat seeing the seemingly timeless architecture and nature in harmony. The garden was great even with the 40+ story high rises towering over it in the background. It was a little slice of calm and tranquility in the midst of the hustle and bustle of an overpopulated metropolis.

After being peace-i-fide we headed to Whitney’s dorm to grab some Asian Food from her dining hall. We got some BBQ Pork with rice which was pretty good. We were a little worried I’d get sick since they cut all the meat on the same cutting board (and there were some completely skinned ducks hanging in the window, head and all along with some chickens) but I was alright.

Whitney and Liana had plans for the night so Jordan and I headed to Hong Kong Island to check out the Wan Chai Computer Center. This is pretty much a gadget lover’s paradise. Tons and tons and tons of vendors selling everything from laptops to cameras, digital picture frames, software, memory cards, trinkets, etc. There were gadgets and gizmo’s a plenty. You name it, I bet you could find it. iPhones, the new Vaio laptops, netbooks, gaming rigs, sparkling lights, shiny casings, flashing screens. It was all a bit overwhelming. Even surrounded by the amazing I couldn’t bring myself to make a purchase. For one, the prices were comparable to the prices in the U.S. so it wasn’t obvious if something was a good deal unless I knew exactly how much it cost state-side. Nothing jumped out as being a great bargain. Secondly, I wasn’t sure how compatible the gadget would be with English and with warranties and such. Also the plugs for power are different over there so that would be an issue. So no new gadgets, but the place was pretty neat.

We then headed to Golden Bauhinia Square to see a big gold torch and to check out the skyline on the Kowloon side for the harbor (looking from the Hong Kong side). We took some quick pix and then headed back to the MTR station to go under the bay and try to get to the Kowloon side in time to see the 8 p.m. light show. Due to some directional difficulties on my part we made it just in time to miss the end of the show. We’re gonna try to catch it another night.

Since we were at the bay we decided to stay and take some night photos. We also took time to investigate the area and found some convenient 7-Elevens where we filled up our water and food supplies. Then we called it a night. Planned our next day, updated the ‘ol journal (which actually takes a while!) and hit the hay.

<excerpts from the journal>

What a great day!

Jordan and I arrived in Hong Kong on Sunday night. Met Whitney and Liana at the airport and got all set with our octopus cards (used to pay for the Subway and buses), a SIM card for our phone and then were off to find the MTR (another name for the subway) and our hostel.

Thanks to the guidance of Whitney and Liana we were able to navigate the twisting terminals and arrive at Nathan Square. The Chungking Mansion was an average sized building (15 floors) and upon setting foot inside we were accosted by a few people to stay in their rooms. The hostel site warned us of the hawkers but I didn’t know they would be so persistent. The place was very noisy and crowded, there were all manner of stores on the ground floor and a steady stream of people entering and leaving. We were being hounded by salemen and we were having a hard time finding where we needed to go. We finally made it up to the 3rd floor by taking the right elevator (which just went to odd numbered floors) of block A (I think there were blocks A-F or G).

On arriving at the floor of our hostel we checked in (and made sure to get a receipt) only to discover our room was being “fixed” so we would be staying in a different room for a few days. We were then led out the back door onto some roofs, down some stairs, thru an alley, back into the Mansion up a different elevator in Block E to the 14th floor. Our room was pretty small but we weren’t expecting much so it suited us just fine. We didn’t plan on spending much time in it anyway. After our host left we discovered the shower and toilet shared the same stall which was a bit strange. Haven’t tried that out yet but it should be interesting. We also noticed that the sheets + blankets were questionable.

We locked up and set out to find some sheets, some food supplies and to escort Whitney and Liana back to the Baptist University (through the chaos of downstairs). We took the MTR up and over to Kowloon Tong to head to the University and also to Jusco (think Hong Kong version of Wal-Mart). There we were able to purchase some sheets. There was a saleslady that helped us (seemed like there was a salesperson for every single isle, just waiting to help people). She took our sheets and gave us a receipt with the items on it as well as her name. We were confused so she pointed us across the store to the register. We waited around near the register thinking she was going to bring our sheets over but it turns out we had to pay for them and then go find her in the store to get our sheets. It was pretty strange but I guess it has something to do with commission.

While at Jusco we also bought some “safety” food to have in case of an emergency or if we were hungry. I was excited to see some Oreos but was quite disappointed later when I actually tasted them and they were not the same as American Oreos. I did hear the Doritos are quite good here so I guess there is hope. Before you get all up in arms about me buying American food let me remind you that it is safety food and used during emergencies.

With our sheets and food in hand we headed back to the hostel after making a quick stop at the University to make sure Whitney got back safely (Liana stayed at the dorms when we headed out to Jusco). We rode the MTR down to Tsim Sha Tsui (TST), entered ChungKing Mansion and navigated to Block E, the 14th floor and our room. Upon opening the sheets we discovered that they only contained a bottom fitted sheet and a pillow case. No top sheet. Surprised, I went most of the night using a sweat shirt and a towel as a sheet until I gave up and used an oddly smelling comforter to stay warm (our air conditioner was working very well which was a plus).

Thankfully I stayed up most of the time on the plane and was able to get right to sleep and sleep till 10ish this morning. I awoke refreshed and ready for some adventure.

Headed out around 11ish, meeting Whitney at the TST MTR stop to start our journey to Lantau Island. We rode the MTR down to Tung Chung Bay to take a cable car up the mountain to see the worlds largest, outside, sitting, bronze Buddha. It was pretty foggy so we had a hard time getting a clear view and the view from the hill which the Buddha sits was shrouded in clouds.

We also visited the Po Lin Monastery and the Path of Wisdom which were very cool. Huge 25 foot high split wood planks were sticking out of the ground with Cantonese writing on them. They are in the layout of an infinite symbol which shows there is never an end to learning. The fog helped conceal the columns and made them extra mysterious and sweet.

We caught a bus to Tai O (kinda like Tayo but not quite) which is a small fishing village on the far side of Lantau Island. It is known for it’s stilt houses and back in the 90’s there was a rope bridge that was owned and operated by the local women. Today a modern bridge stands in its place. This town is essentially dying and it was interesting and sad to see the beginning of its decline. While exploring the village we came across a girl named Shantel. She is from Canada and had just stopped over in HK on her way back home from Thailand. She was quite interesting. She quit her job of 7 years to travel around the world for a year. Just up and sold her car, her apartment and cut loose. She was having a great time.

Heading off of Lantau we took a bus and then the MTR (which was very crowded) up to the Baptist College where Whitney is staying to pick up Liana and head to Wunderland where all our wildest dreams came true! Or we ate some interesting Chinese food. I can’t remember what i ordered but it was pretty good.

After dinner we headed to 7-Eleven for some ice cream (yum). These are all over the place in HK which was a surprise. We ate our ice cream in a little park and then headed to Whitney’s room for some Internet checking, postcard writing and hanging out. Jordan and I left Whitney’s around 11 and headed back to the hostel. It was quite a good day.

<excerpts from the journal>

About 3 1/2 hours left to go on the trip to Hong Kong.  It’s been a great trip so far. Plane rides can be quite enjoyable. Gives one a different perspective on the world. Everything seems so small and insignificant, even the huge buildings in New York look so tiny from the air. Quite nice.

Been watching some movies, readin’ some books and staying occupied.

Feeling rather tired, gonna try to stay up till tonight so I can crash. It’s working decently. Movies are helping a lot but I’ve started to develop a minor headache.

Movies/Shows watched: Quantum of Solace, Flight of the Conchords, House, Scubs, League of Superman, Batman, Ben 10, Heroes, The Simpsons, those are all I can recall at the moment.

Haven’t done as much reading as I hoped, reading is making me tired which I don’t want.

Tomorrow (really later on today) I’ll be boarding a plane, leaving everything I know behind and flying to a place full of adventure. That’s right. I’m headin’ to Hong Kong!

There is something crazy about being in one place one day and then across the world on the next. Going from a place of great security and comfort, a place where I know my way around and feel confident and secure. To a place where everything is unknown. And making that trip in a matter of hours. Boggles my mind.

Boggled or not, that’s what I’m doing today. At the moment the trip still seems unreal. Something that is going to happen to someone else. I am all packed and all ready, but I haven’t yet realized I’m actually going. I don’t know when this sensation will finally sink in, but I’m enjoying this time of strange peace. I know something big is going on tomorrow (er, today), I just can’t fully grasp it. Kinda like there are inklings of a big surprise in store. I know it’s coming but it hasn’t hit me yet.

Seems kinda strange, but it’s been a busy week. Being a procrastinator I put off everything till the last second and that’s what I’ve done with this vacation. Seems like things get the most hectic right before an absence. I thought I would have plenty of time near the end of the week for packing and planning for the trip. But this turned out to be an incorrect assumption. I let the hours at the beginning of the week dwindle away and then BAM! the end of the week hit and it was crazy.

For instance, I was house sitting a friends house and left on Thursday. This entailed cleaning up what messes I had made, moving all my stuff out and taking their dog over to another friends house. Thursday was also CPR training, laundry and finishing up some work projects. Friday was my last day at Hospice of Dayton which turned out to be quite busy saying goodbyes and lining up my final deliverable. So busy in fact that I stayed late, got home late, got to the store late and barely had enough time to make a green peanut butter pie and head down to a St. Patrick’s Day party in Dayton. Leaving the party I travelled back up north to make essential copies and finally pack for the trip. It’s been quite a blur (a fun blur) but things are rushing by so quickly it’s hard to grasp their significance.

As I sit here and contemplate going to bed a small smile is creeping over my face. Ever so faintly I can hear a mass of people chanting, their chanting is energizing and captivating. I can almost make out what they are saying. <Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong> It echoes in my head. It’s happening. I’m ready.

Here in T-roy the weather has been steadily (surprisingly so) getting warmer even though we are still in the clutches of winter (Spring doesn’t officially start till March 20th). The change in weather has been very energizing. Plants are starting to peak through the soil, it’s staying light out longer and nature is slowly coming back to life. It’s great to see a new season come upon us. And it makes me think about how important change is to life.

Life without change would be pretty horking boring and hardly worth living. If we stayed the same as the day we were born then the human race would die out pretty fast. Even if we learned how to adapt and survive life wouldn’t be enjoyable. Think of it, no maturity, no physical growth, no variation to how you are living. Talk about being stuck in a rut. Bleh.

I greatly prefer the life we enjoy now. Where not only are the season changing constantly (I’m not ashamed to say I love Ohio weather!) but we as humans learn and grow. We have new ideas, find out new things about ourselves, gain knowledge, enter situations we have never been in before, and so on. It is truly amazing when you think about how much we as humans grow in just a matter of years. Why, 24 years ago I couldn’t even take care of myself, I was relying on my parents to provide protection and to keep me alive. Even 5 years ago, or last year, I was a different person then I am today.

There is always an area of my life that can improve. Whether it be my relationship with God, my friendships, my knowledge, my work ethic, my eating habits, my exercise habits, etc. It’s exciting to think that I can change, I can grow and become a more productive, healthy, intelligent human.

Of course change doesn’t happen over night, and it ain’t easy. But there is the potential to change and that is what keeps me going. I might not be seeing or feeling any changes but I know that as the days go by I am a different person then I was the day before. Even if it’s just a tiny bit different, something is not the same.

Change is definitely the way to go!