Rice bowls at YVR

Lao Tzu said that "A journey begins with just one step." It would seem that start of my journey to Hong Kong is different than I imagined it would be. It's Saturday, and I should have been in Hong Kong by now, but I'm not. Instead, I am in the business class lounge at the Vancouver airport stuffing my face with rice noodles and soy sauce. Not a bad alternative in the grand scheme of things, but the time in between leaving Toronto and now--was interesting to say the least. I came down the flu. I woke up on Thursday, my departure day, feeling a little under-the-weather, but nothing I thought a little Cold FX couldn't cure. By the time I arrived in Vancouver I was alternating between shivering cold, and sweating and a horribly sore throat. I feel for the man sitting next to me and I truly hope he got the flu shot this year, which incidentally I did not. I decided to come to Vancouver on my way to Hong Kong to visit my friends and to say a little "hello" to the great city that I left a couple of years ago. Instead I ended up convalescing at a friend's house.

Even though I have ever been to Hong Kong, one thing I know is that they don't like viruses there, and really who can blame them. As the epicentre for the SARS crisis, they have put some major precautions in place to avoid another catastrophe like that one. Even with their strict "no fever upon entry" guidelines, they have still had past issues with avian flu and now H1N1. I realized yesterday morning when I woke up at my friend Linda's house that if I got a plane with a fever of 102, not only would I be putting others at risk, I would most definitely be quarantined. Not what I really wanted my first impressions of Hong Kong to be. So here I am, one day later, fever free and about to board a plane for Hong Kong. Finally.

Thing is, despite the feeling like crap part, I had a wonderful time in Vancouver. My friends rallied around me and set up a Thai food picnic at my bed side so they could spend time with me. Probably not the most hygienic, and I encourage them all to start taking high doses of Vitamin C, but deeply touching nonetheless. I also got to spend more time with one of my favourite people in the world--thanks Linda for letting me veg on your couch, for making me astounding amounts of tea and letting me sleep for what seemed like days.

So here I am. YVR - fever free. Cross your fingers for me that I make it past the fever scanners.

Here is a shot of Linda, Alice and I during our sick bed picnic. Nazma is taking the picture--still a very important member of the group, even though not pictured. Love you guys and thanks for the picnic. It may not have cured the flu, but it sure was healing. xoxo

Love Letter

Dear Toronto,

You captured my heart long ago. As a little girl I remember sitting in the back seat of my parents car as we went over the Humber Hump (weeeeee!) and there you were, in all of your glory - your beautiful skyline standing majestically. My dad would tell me stories of what you looked like before you had the CN Tower, before the Skydome (I will never call it the Rogers Centre), before the ACC, before the Queens Quay condos popped up like lego next to your shores. I imagined you bare and brand new - the newborn Toronto.

I left you once before to go to a city that is known for it's beauty. I know better though. Even when I lived nestled amongst the mountains and ocean, I thought of you. I thought of your gritty streets, your nooks, your green spaces (I know they exist and I know where to find them), the rainbow of people that touch their feet onto your ground. I thought of the lights, the sounds, the smells and the feeling you always give me when I come home.

I am leaving again. This time I am not leaving saying I might never come home. I'm older now and I know where my home is, no matter how long I am gone. My dear Toronto, others may shrug at your name, others may say that you're nothing compared to your cousins, but one thing you have over anyone else...you are my home. This isn't goodbye. It never will be.

See you soon Toronto - I'll be coming home soon.

K-

My Current Playlist:

Cosmic Love - Florence and the Machine
This Time Tomorrow - The Kinks
Nicest Thing - Kate Nash
Empty (Live) - Ray Lamontagne
The Answer - The Black Seeds
Please, Please, Please, Let me get what I want - The Smiths
Lillie - Lisa Hannigan
Love will Come - Maps

The who, what, why and where

I used to write a blog about "stuff" and then one day I just stopped writing it - not for any reason in particular, it was just that the things I wrote about seemed to dwell in the past, and I really try to live in the present. I woke up one day and my inspiration to write the blog was gone, and it hasn't come back.

When I decided to move to Hong Kong for five months for work, a few friends asked me to resurrect the blog. I was hesitant, not only because I know there is quite a time commitment involved, but also because I wasn't sure what I was going to say. I thought about quite a bit, and I decided to write while I was in Hong Kong--but I wanted a fresh start, so this it is. Five Months in Hong Kong. It's the new blog. I can't promise I will write on it indefinitely, but while I am gone I will commit to two posts a week.

This blog is truly for my friends and family. I feel incredibly blessed to have the people in my life that I do, and if reading this blog helps carry them on this journey with me, then it has served its purpose. I will be adding pictures and occasionally a playlist. Music is a huge part of every journey I have taken in my life--and I want to share the music I listen to. I hope you enjoy Five Months in Hong Kong.