The Hong Kong trip
Having just got back yesterday, everything I ever did in Hong Kong remains fresh, and I feel it shall do for some time. Why do I say this? The journey has been rather spiritual, as well as informative and helpful in discovering more about who I am. Time away fro my family is what I needed in order to discover more about myself - you can see why people go off traveling for a year before returning home to find work etc.
The last time I went back to Hong Kong was 2003, and I can already see how naive I was back then compared to now (although some it remains). Inside, I am still a teenage kid - I'm not afraid to admit that - but I believe there shall be a time when I shall worry when I'm gonna get out of that phase.
The day before my flight (12/02) I realised I just couldn't be bothered to head over - as far as I was concerned, the trips were usually uneventful but still good fun. When I got to the airport, it didn't feel like I was leaving at all. It wasn't until I got through all the securities checks I realised I would be by myself and the trip was becoming real. Getting on the plane, I sat by the window and through sheer luck, I had a whole row to myself to sprawl out and use three blankets and three crappy pillows to make the pain of leaning against the arm rest go away. I can never sleep on planes, so I amused myself with Su Doku, reading and watching films.
As sunlight crept onto the plane, I knew I hadn't long til I arrived in Hong Kong. My appetite was going down, particularly as breakfast on the plane put me off entirely - a single sausage, rock hard bacon and what looked like cheesey potatoes but were really scrambled eggs. I was ready to get off the plane, but the nervousness made my lips dry and boredom hit me again. As I looked out the window, all I could see was water and tiny islands.
As the plane touched down, I do a little thing where I say, "Hello [name of country I've landed in]". I do this all the time, perhaps a sign that I'm actually here and the whole ordeal of flying 11 hours was not a dream. When you step off the plane, the humidity and heavy air hit you - you know you're in a different country and it's time to adjust. A few minutes walk, and I'm through passport control, got my luggage and out in the arrivals section. I'm a wreck, but my aunts and my father's friend clearly understand [note: one of my aunts had just arrived back into Hong Kong from England the day before; so it was undoubtedly hard for her to come back!].
On the road, my dad's friend has no clue which way to go. To make sure he can change lanes quickly, he takes up two lanes in case we miss our turning. Frightening I know, but it's the way people drive! After an hour of driving, I arrive at another of my aunt's houses. Seems I'm staying there the night, and have the room to myself. That night, I see another one of my aunts [note: I should say now that I have 7 aunts, all from my mum's side] ,whose husband is famous in Hong Kong for his range of Chinese medicines for aches and pains. Now, I've not seen them for ten years, but conversation seems easy.
Back at my aunt's house, I sleep 4.5 hours. I feel fresh yet still tired. I watch several movies to keep me awake, and then I'm onto the Internet to check my mail. I talk to Ashley for a few hours before getting ready to start my day. From now on, I don't know what date or day it is which has undoubtedly messed up my body clock.
The day went as follows: do some family business from 10-1; eat at another aunt's noodle place; go home to rest, then back out again to see my great aunt in Man on Shan, and see my cousins; watch awful Chinese film about cops, triads and drugs, where the ending makes no sense (or it did, but it seemed illogical); go home, sleep and then I'm awake at 6am.
Next day: go shopping for clothes and other things. Buy stuff for people back home. Then dinner, and more sleep.
16th - shopping, hair cut, bank stuff.
17th - head to Grandma's place up in the hills. Don't do much.
18th - Chinese New Year; big feast, see more family.
19th - Head back out to the city with my cousin.
20th - go to pray around my dad's temple in Sai Kung. Later, dinner with dad's old friend, who I get on with pretty well. He's a famous historian, specialising in Chinese history and the creation and destruction of villages. Very nice guy.
21st - Relax, do little shopping and do some small touristy stuff: Bruce Lee statue, and seeing the business district on Hong Kong island.
22nd - head to the business district for more sightseeing. But too tired to do anymore. Head to aunt's house to beging packing. End up just lazing around, making myself tired for the flight.
Flight at 11:45pm - sleep for NINE HOURS (the most I have ever slept on a plane). The remaining 4 hours feel like an eternity though.
So, that was my trip. I really didn't do anything that requires a lot of explanation. But you're probably thinking, 'spiritual? where did he talk about that?"
The whole spiritual stuff happened during and after CYN. It was being at prayer; seeing my grandparent's eyes light up when a dragon dancing team came to the village; it was lighting incense sticks and burning coloured paper. Even though it was a short trip, I learned this about myself:
I can be such a fucking burden sometimes. I did wonder how people could put up with me. My cheeky days as a kid (as people remember me most by) have now disappeared and I have grown up. I still stand by the fact that I like being alone, away from everybody, but such a thing is quite damaging to one's brain. I have lost touch with myself, and being in Hong Kong has made me realise a little more about who I am - from the culture, to being British and Chinese and how life is too shitty to watch everything slip away.
But thinking about all of it got me scared. That I may of lost my opportunity to fight back to gain what I have now lost.
The last time I went back to Hong Kong was 2003, and I can already see how naive I was back then compared to now (although some it remains). Inside, I am still a teenage kid - I'm not afraid to admit that - but I believe there shall be a time when I shall worry when I'm gonna get out of that phase.
The day before my flight (12/02) I realised I just couldn't be bothered to head over - as far as I was concerned, the trips were usually uneventful but still good fun. When I got to the airport, it didn't feel like I was leaving at all. It wasn't until I got through all the securities checks I realised I would be by myself and the trip was becoming real. Getting on the plane, I sat by the window and through sheer luck, I had a whole row to myself to sprawl out and use three blankets and three crappy pillows to make the pain of leaning against the arm rest go away. I can never sleep on planes, so I amused myself with Su Doku, reading and watching films.
As sunlight crept onto the plane, I knew I hadn't long til I arrived in Hong Kong. My appetite was going down, particularly as breakfast on the plane put me off entirely - a single sausage, rock hard bacon and what looked like cheesey potatoes but were really scrambled eggs. I was ready to get off the plane, but the nervousness made my lips dry and boredom hit me again. As I looked out the window, all I could see was water and tiny islands.
As the plane touched down, I do a little thing where I say, "Hello [name of country I've landed in]". I do this all the time, perhaps a sign that I'm actually here and the whole ordeal of flying 11 hours was not a dream. When you step off the plane, the humidity and heavy air hit you - you know you're in a different country and it's time to adjust. A few minutes walk, and I'm through passport control, got my luggage and out in the arrivals section. I'm a wreck, but my aunts and my father's friend clearly understand [note: one of my aunts had just arrived back into Hong Kong from England the day before; so it was undoubtedly hard for her to come back!].
On the road, my dad's friend has no clue which way to go. To make sure he can change lanes quickly, he takes up two lanes in case we miss our turning. Frightening I know, but it's the way people drive! After an hour of driving, I arrive at another of my aunt's houses. Seems I'm staying there the night, and have the room to myself. That night, I see another one of my aunts [note: I should say now that I have 7 aunts, all from my mum's side] ,whose husband is famous in Hong Kong for his range of Chinese medicines for aches and pains. Now, I've not seen them for ten years, but conversation seems easy.
Back at my aunt's house, I sleep 4.5 hours. I feel fresh yet still tired. I watch several movies to keep me awake, and then I'm onto the Internet to check my mail. I talk to Ashley for a few hours before getting ready to start my day. From now on, I don't know what date or day it is which has undoubtedly messed up my body clock.
The day went as follows: do some family business from 10-1; eat at another aunt's noodle place; go home to rest, then back out again to see my great aunt in Man on Shan, and see my cousins; watch awful Chinese film about cops, triads and drugs, where the ending makes no sense (or it did, but it seemed illogical); go home, sleep and then I'm awake at 6am.
Next day: go shopping for clothes and other things. Buy stuff for people back home. Then dinner, and more sleep.
16th - shopping, hair cut, bank stuff.
17th - head to Grandma's place up in the hills. Don't do much.
18th - Chinese New Year; big feast, see more family.
19th - Head back out to the city with my cousin.
20th - go to pray around my dad's temple in Sai Kung. Later, dinner with dad's old friend, who I get on with pretty well. He's a famous historian, specialising in Chinese history and the creation and destruction of villages. Very nice guy.
21st - Relax, do little shopping and do some small touristy stuff: Bruce Lee statue, and seeing the business district on Hong Kong island.
22nd - head to the business district for more sightseeing. But too tired to do anymore. Head to aunt's house to beging packing. End up just lazing around, making myself tired for the flight.
Flight at 11:45pm - sleep for NINE HOURS (the most I have ever slept on a plane). The remaining 4 hours feel like an eternity though.
So, that was my trip. I really didn't do anything that requires a lot of explanation. But you're probably thinking, 'spiritual? where did he talk about that?"
The whole spiritual stuff happened during and after CYN. It was being at prayer; seeing my grandparent's eyes light up when a dragon dancing team came to the village; it was lighting incense sticks and burning coloured paper. Even though it was a short trip, I learned this about myself:
I can be such a fucking burden sometimes. I did wonder how people could put up with me. My cheeky days as a kid (as people remember me most by) have now disappeared and I have grown up. I still stand by the fact that I like being alone, away from everybody, but such a thing is quite damaging to one's brain. I have lost touch with myself, and being in Hong Kong has made me realise a little more about who I am - from the culture, to being British and Chinese and how life is too shitty to watch everything slip away.
But thinking about all of it got me scared. That I may of lost my opportunity to fight back to gain what I have now lost.
posted by Tez @ Saturday, February 24, 2007
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