what is this? a post without pictures?! it is, indeed. once the initial excitement over finally being in hong kong and exploring the city had passed, i didn't feel the need to fill this blog with a lot of text - most of you who 'read' this also regularly hear from me through e-mail, and what is the point of going away if you don't have any stories left to tell once you finally return anyway? right now, however, i really feel like i need to get certain things off my chest. mid you, i have 2 presentations to give within the next week as well as an exam and 3 final papers that want to be written until may 4th, i cannot afford my brain being all congested with emotions! i've started writing this entry endless times, always deleting it in the end feeling that i couldn't really get across what i wanted to say. maybe i'll get it right this time.
i realized it about a week ago - one more month and then, my time here in hong hong will be history. i think the initial feeling that i sensed was hollow sadness. i will be leaving behind the people that have become my friends, that place that has become my home, all of wich has been my life for the last 9 months. once the first wave of sadness had passed, i felt unrest - i knew i would be spending the 6 weeks left until my flight back traveling china and korea, but where exactly would i go, where would i stay and who would come with me? after eventually having settled into a routine in hong kong, the thought of packing it all up again and heading for uncertainty was disturbing and made me spend quite some time pondering the subject.
now that a route has been worked out, pleasant anticipation is kicking in. i have wanted to go to china and korea for so long, i almost wish i could just leave right now, ignoring the hundreds and thousands of words the faculty of arts demands i write. i will really get to travel again, to experience things foreign and new to me, to see sights i only knew from photographs, magazines or television.
and once i come to the end of my journey? what comes next? as i am sitting here writing this, i cannot deny feeling a faint longing for home. not because i am discontent with where i am now, but because 'home' is part of the reason why i am here, because the people i love have helped and inspired me to go where i am and to become who i am now. having been gone for so long has filled me with deep newfound respect and fondness for all things 'home', and i am looking forward to the day when these words are not just words on a screen, but actions i live out.
i will see you soon.
in memory of our awesome taiwan trip yuki, relina, henrik and i headed to din tai fung today, a restaurant famous for their xiao long bao (shanghai-style dumplings).
we were not disappointed. the xiao long bao were delicious, as were the beef noodles, prawn shao mai and veggies we ordered along with them. very happy pandas!
matt & fiona
then we headed to a little chiu chow restaurant and had braised goose. after that, we walked to lan kwai fong and had drinks at a really nice bar with good music and comfy sofas, then we moved on to a club and danced for a while. fun times!
today henrik, relina and i headed to brunch club for breakfast. it's a lovely little place run by a frenchman if i'm not mistaken, and their food is really really good.
relina had an omlette with bacon, henrik had greek yoghurt with fresh fruit and honey plus their homemade bread with butter and jam on the side...
and i had eggs benedict. breakfast heaven.
us in front of the museum.
small lanterns.
big lantern.
lantern dragon! my favourite.
a chinese grocery store in the early 20th century.
xin in front of red safe deposit boxes.
stamp.
opium chest.
a candy store in the 60's - the freezer box reads 'have a pepsi!'
kids in the 60's.
to finish off our outing, we had poutine at new york fries, something else i'd never had before. it's a canadian national dish: fries with mozzerella cheese curds and hot gravy. heart attack in a paper box, mmmh.
we had some sweet tofu pudding, pan-fried black sesame tofu and deep fried salty tofu. yumz.
way up high on my wish list: a red bike. this one from velorbis sure is lovely, but i'd actually like something that has more than 7 gears and lets me go fast. like this:
ebay, please have one for me when i get back home? thank you.
(photo credit: Silje Røe Hagland at http://www.ohxcrap.blogspot.com)
ferdi - me - victoria - david - henrik
...and listen to this song:
i wonder whether the cherry trees in bonn are in bloom already...i'm somewhat sad i don't get to be there this year, it's the prettiest sight.
