The Veteran

My friends Trevor and Heather came from Toronto to visit me this past weekend. The experience taught me a few important lessons. First, I realized that I am getting to know Hong Kong very well - not quite expert level, but very close. After almost three months here (can you believe it has already been almost three months!) I was able to roar around the city showing them all of the key attractions, great restaurants and bars and even some time to relax. I did consult my map once, but that was in Kowloon, and I don't count that.

Our three day itinerary brought us to the following places:

Upperhouse Bar for over priced drinks overlooking the skyline of Hong Kong and a perfect spot to look at many beautiful people fresh from the office after a long day toiling in the financial world. Café Saim for spicy Thai food. Tivo on Wyndham for champagne cocktails and more people (men) watching. Lai Do for martinis in Lan Kwai Fong to see the Richmond Street of Hong Kong. The Azure patio for more cocktails and a patio that makes you feel that you are on top of the world.

That was only Friday night. Saturday we…

Had a late start because of all the champagne and martinis consumed on Friday. Ate a vegan brunch at Life for a chilled out start to the day. Took a crazy cab ride up to the Peak, where I was quite certain that the cab driver had lost his mind and would certainly fly us off the mountain in his cab because he thought we were American. “We are Canadian!!!”. Shopping at the Peak Galleria, coffee pit stops, picture taking at the Peak lookout. A trip down the mountain on the Peak tram and then a walk around Soho. Early arrival for our one hour long reflexology foot massage (divine!). Grabbed a yummy cupcake and ate it on the street underneath the mid-levels escalators. Quickly headed home to get ready for dinner, and show Trevor and Heather how to take the MTR (subway). Pre-dinner drinks at Sevva. More high buildings, more patio, more incredible views. An authentic Cantonese dinner at Under the Bridge Chili Crab, where we had…. spicy crab and seriously the best Cantonese food ever. Walked through Wan Chai to the Pawn where we had drink, after drink, after drink and decided that we had revolutionized photography with a new technique (pictures to come). Stumble home. Sleep.

Sunday we headed on the Star Ferry to Kowloon for Dim Sum and a walk around one of the most populated areas on earth. After exhibiting the patience of saints, we decided to leave Kowloon behind (it’s no fun on that side), and headed home. After a couple of hours of chill out time, Trevor and Heather headed to the airport for their next adventure – Vietnam.

From the itinerary I realized that I really do know Hong Kong quite well. I can’t believe how much I have learned about the city and the people since I arrived. I also realized that even though I have been gone for three months, it doesn’t really feel like time has passed. When I first saw Trevor, it was like I had seen him last week in Toronto. I kept reminding myself that we were all together in Hong Kong and once that hit me – that is when it really became surreal.

On Friday night, standing on the patio of Azure, looking down 50 floors to the street below, Heather asked me: “Are you proud of yourself, of being here, of accomplishing this? Do you ever say to yourself, I am proud that I made it this far?” I thought about that for a second and sort of laughed it off. “I guess”, I said in response. The reality is, I haven’t. Do I appreciate the opportunity? Yes. Very much so. Do I love that I can travel to places off the beaten path? Totally – yes. But I don’t think I have ever felt proud, and on the flip side, I haven’t felt entitled. I feel grateful and content with what I have been given and what I have worked for. I have two more months in Hong Kong. At times when I think about what I have left behind, my family and friends and the places I love in Toronto, it feels like a long time, but in other ways it feels like I could just snap my fingers and it will be over. Just in case it is a snap, I plan to have more weekends like my last. Action packed, full of friends, full of laughter and full of Hong Kong.