Return Home

Note: This post was re-written at a much later date**

When I arrived home after putzin' around in Vancouver airport fighting the cold upon my arrive, it was no surprise that I had to face the common thing we all have to face after traveling. Culture shock. Now as we all know it this is something we face when we arrive to a foreign country. In this particular case I call this post vacation blues...or depression, whatever you think suits your situation best. 

PVD is pretty self explanatory in the end it affects everyone differently, like drugs. So this particular post was erased since I didn't believe that it provided enough evidence of what I truly went through since I had written it about a week after my return. During this beginning of suffering PVD I noticed many of mentionable things that was very much like making a check mark next to that small revelation that I had made whist traveling. Which btw is a great accomplishment since it does very much reinstate and establish that you gained something from the voyage. Whatever that may have been for you or I.

Now I know that I had to reattach my roots before I take off again.

Layover in Vancouver and arrival in Edmonton

I went to the check in desk and Air Canada told me that London immigration didn't buy my connecting flight. I should have figured that they would do something like this. So I asked them about buying flights but West Jet won this war. As I was going to security I broke my head phones...lame. I am not having the best of luck.

I met a nice injury lawyer on the plane and kept me company with all sorts of interesting topics, next thing we knew we had arrived in Edmonton.

Snow on the ground -20C oh man is it cold. It sure makes me sad....it is very nostalgic to be back.

I have seen two of my very good friends, picked up at the airport and a big warm couch I can sleep on.
<3 you friends out there!

Flying home to Canada (Vancouver)

I never thought that immigration would be so harsh about hearing us out. Before we set off to the airport immigration said that we could get a meeting/hearing with them. In the end they say the law is the law and that we couldn’t appeal it, the thing is that we had faith until the last minute for a miracle. 

I withdraw my allegiance to the universe.  *shakes fist*

I was late waiting for the phone call from the chief immigration officer, telling us that there wasn’t anything we could do.(Then why the F did they say they would grant us a meeting?) Then I was shuffled through aircanada boarding, security, waited for my passport and off to the gate. The man that took me through said that this rarely happens to Canadians that I just had bad luck. I boarded the plane and they said that I cannot take my rose into Canada, the lady that escorted me on to the plane was nice enough to tell me how to press it into a book so I can keep it for longer. 

 The steward on board that served the food commented on my rose (actually a lot of people did along the way to the gate) saying that there is a girl in business class crying her eyes out because she had fallen in love with a boy while she was here on her 6 month student visa. 

It feels like someone ripped the quintessence from me when it was just emotionally embraced with my spirit for the first time. 

I have a set track that I am going to run during my return to Edmonton.

Last of London

I awoke with an aching feeling of sadness that my time here in England was nearly over, whilst Danny slept I packed my bag. I usually am ready to head to an airport with open arms but this time I wanted to just wave a magic wand and not depart. Especially so soon.  I am not ready.

Before and during breakfast I was compelled to write something I had never written before in my life time, a piece of literary work that was over powered by floods of emotions. (I know that most writings are powered by emotions and inspiration. My writing are almost always just thoughts that I want to get out of my head) the sentimental overflow was unbearable, gushy and my insides dreaded every moment inching closer knowing that I soon had to say good bye.  I wasn’t prepared for this hefty abundance of heavy sentiment, the emotions were streaming out of my extremities and even right now as I write this there isn’t anything I can do to stop it. 

I have never felt so alive in my life.

Day 4 in London (Valentine’s day)

Danny and is obsession with brown sauce.

Hyde Park

Again we slept in too late, off to get some awesome sandwiches. Danny had a massive BAP...which I am still not entirely sure what its status is in Canadian terms. I think it was settled on a bun on steroids. 

Since it is Monday the Citizens advice bureau? (I don’t remember exactly what it is called) is open we figured we should try something, instead of doing nothing, see if we can appeal the problem with immigration since we very quickly resolved all the issues. They told me to oblige by their terms and conditions, come back with a student or working visa so I can stay for a year next time I enter the country. Go to school, work odd jobs or just come back with a pocket full of cash and a return ticket. The very friendly man with gold teeth even said that we could just get married. Ha Ha what an awesome suggestion that would have been one of the easier solutions. 

There was nothing they could do; Danny and his mother (many, many, many, many thanks) had talked to all sorts of people, wrote things down and much more in regards to my case. We had solved the problems that they deemed wasn’t taken care of due my own lack of planning. So we planned to get a meeting in with immigration before I had to pass through security to see if we could petition it ourselves.  

I don’t know how it happened but the days just flown by, I have no power to slow down time what so ever. Boo. You know how the saying goes “time flies when you are having fun” I don’t think fun is quite the word for it...since I would say something along the lines of ‘one of the most pleasurable/enjoyable/entertaining times of my life.’

I wanted to hit up the Cartoon museum but they are closed on Monday’s who would of knew, I don’t recall reading it on their website. Wandering around randomly time, we sat in Soho Square garden for awhile watched the largest most fattest group of pigeons I have ever seen in my entire life flocking about in the park. Jumping on each other even! I even chased them a little bit they are a lot more fun to chase than cocks in Thailand (roosters). 

More drifting and sightseeing, down the streets of endless stores (oxford) trying to make useless mental check marks of the stores that we have back in Canada. We even hit up an HMV!

Then at the end of the street we finally came to one of the many famous open spaces I don’t know the name of in London. (high park, maybe?)  The parks here seem really empty to me but it was nice to walk away from the metropolis of London even if it only for a little while. As we keep on walking we hit a river, I had a stare down with a swan and tried to get a picture of the biggest one. It was nostalgic to see Canadian geese in London though, it was like the chilly walks back home in the river valley and seeing birds from home makes it so I get the best of both worlds. 

Onwards to see archways, I would tell you what I saw but I didn’t read the plaque or cared enough to remember.  I saw parliament, Abraham Lincoln, Sir Winston Churchill, Westminster Abby, Big Ben Clock tower hung out on Bridge Street for a little while before we were off to drop off stuff at the hotel and grab more layers before we arrive to the more romantic part of the evening. 

I don’t know how it happened but we were 40 minutes late but we arrived and made it into the greenwich observatory for the show. I got a rose at the door and learned all about space, stars, the vastness of our solar system, astrology, milky way, zodiac signs and some unknown space trivia not only that, I got to look at the moon through a 28 inch telescope!  It might have been freezing outside but we could see the whole skyline of London from the top of this dark hill. It was certainly romantic. 

Danny very thoughtfully wanted to take me out to get Pho since I am sure you readers out there know how much I love my Pho. For some reason the Vietnamese restaurants here in London seem to only serve Chinese food. Since the duration of time that I have spent in China and South East Asia I cannot bare to eat anymore Chinese food. I think I might have a little bit of an aversion, I wonder how long it will be before I will eat Chinese food again. Lol

I considered going back to the Tim Horton’s to grab a coffee but I realized that I will be able to have my fair share of coffee when I return back to Canada. I got caught up in Plants vs. Zombies before I attempted to watch the movie Inception...which I will watch later since I have now obtained it.

Day 3 in London

First thing first breakfast but we had slept in and didn’t make it to the free meal that the hotel provides for us. So we grab some burgers at a sit down restaurant. (I never did get a whopper)

We wanted to watch a film and not over exert ourselves too much since yesterday was so eventful and jam packed with sightseeing and we were in lazy mode. Off to watch a movie after uncertainly walking about from street to street we finally found the movie theatre that we were looking for. 

Okay, tid bit of information there seems to be cinemas and theaters at every corner near the piccadilly circus station it was very misleading and oh so confusing. I felt like I was walking around and around in circles for a little bit. 

While in search for our particular cinema I found a freaken Tim Horton’s!!! So I was all ready with my cup of Tim’s at the counter, the odd thing about this was not only was it connected to a convenient store it was out of those self serve coffee dispensing machines.  It is okay though since it tasted just as good as if it was brewed in Canada. Mind you I haven’t had one since Sept 2009. I always thought that Tim’s was a Canadian chain now I know next time I am in London Tim Horton’s isn’t something that I am going to miss. 

We saw the movie ‘True Grit’ a very western movie not exactly something I would go out and see but the company was extraordinary so who cares what I am watching. I wasn’t in London to watch movies anyways.

Since I found that this movie was kind of lacking in something I am not sure what? And the night was still young. We very quickly got spammed with a flyer for a comedy show around the corner. We were like, “Why not?” so around the corner we went, upon arrival drink vouchers were given to us 3 drinks for the price of 2. So we got 3 beers and 3 glasses of white wine. Now that I come to think about it, it has been far too long since I have attended a comedy show.  I should do it more often. I laughed pretty darn hard I do have to say so myself, Inky Jones I believe his name was and his guest show were downright hilarious. (I don’t believe I have the name of the comedian correct...Umm, Danny do you remember?)  

Again, I was fast asleep shortly after hitting the bed. (Good-bye insomnia?)

Day 2 in London

Our hotel provided free breakfast with our accommodations and we were off for a day of plaque reading and exhibits. The first thing we did was head to The British Library, were I learned firsthand that I absolutely love the art form of hand written music making it all more remarkable since it was displays from infamous long passed composers. Does anyone out there write their own music? (there are no photos of this since they were very strict about the usage of my camera and drinking anything inside)

Right after that we were off to the British Museum; there I learned far too much to retain anything with my poor short term memory and the distraction of too many thoughts in my mind. I can’t even list the amount of exhibits that we saw. My favourite was the art gallery since I hadn’t been to a western one since I left Edmonton it was nice and refreshing to get to see one that isn’t just Eastern art work. When I return to England/Canada I shall be going as many art museums as I can make time for.  We saw tons of things from all the pills you take in a life time, wooden toys from Egypt, some of the shiniest blingin’ clocks evar, a tree built from AK47 pieces by Christian aid and the stupidest throwing knifes mankind  ever built. There was far more than this list alone but you mind as well just go take a look yourself.

A coffee later we were off to Oxford street, okay to be honest with you all I didn’t know what street had what on it. We did enter the large Apple store that might be as big as the Apple store in The Village in Beijing. We braved six storey toy store were Danny built his mother a bear of himself, along this street I think we hit up ever single book store in the vicinity and many more during our meanders. I do love my book stores it is really splendid when you have a partner that loves books as much as you do and isn’t opposed to going into the same types of stores over and over again. I can’t get bored in a book store but I can be sad that I shouldn’t buy anymore books since they sure aren’t light weight. 

Dinner was a random choice of Italian food just at a place that we walked by, I grabbed a plate of Gnocci and Danny ate an entire pizza to himself. Impressive. I didn’t realize how tired I was until I hit the bed of the hotel room, I was fast asleep. Where did my old friend insomnia go to?

Day 1 in London

After a grueling 8 hours in the detainee room I was finally released, I literally ran through the baggage claim area straight out to the arrivals gate. There was a huge weight off my shoulders at this point knowing that I could finally breathe freely. 

Upon my arrival I stood there in absolute exhaustion (it had been about 30 hours since my departure in Hong Kong) waiting to be received and spotted by my dear friend Danny. (Again, I thank you for waiting at the airport for 12 or was it 14 hours...I owe you.) Greeted with the most enthused and relieving hug I think I have ever had we were off to the tube station.

From here luckily Danny had already booked us 3 nights at St. Athans hotel. I am glad that I did get the opportunity to use the three days we had planned even though we did not get to the number of things thereafter that I had been hoping to turn into reality. Until next time, this list will just have to grow ultimately longer.

I had planned to head off to Shy FX this particular evening but after dealing with everything mentioned in the previous blog it was just too much for me to do anything. I was even too tired to eat.

Detained in London Heathrow airport

After a 13 hour plane ride from Malaysia to London I met a nice lady named ‘Te’ we talked all about traveling, work and school. Te is one of those lucky ladies that hasn’t worked in 10 years and gets to travel all over the world due to her husband’s career (darn I forgot what it was again) I gave her my email and she is going to give me some information about taking my bachelor of education online since her neighbour is going about it now. She told me that I should teach for a career and getting my BED was a very smart idea, I fully agree with her. 

So after that I line up at the London immigration I have officially been detained. WTF? After I was grilled rigorously about money, work and all that fun jazz.  I got put in what reminds me of the detention room...like when you get an in school suspension. In this case everyone walking by can see you. Woot. 

A girl from my same flight had gone through the same problem but she is long gone now. She is a free-bird and was rescued by her boyfriend.  So now I sit here alone waiting for something to happen. The security guard came back about 20 minutes later saying that since I didn’t know how long I was planning on staying and that I couldn’t rely on my friend to house me for the length of my ‘I don’t know’ answer. Okay I’ll admit that wasn’t the correct answer I should have said something like a week and just been on my way. LOL now I am suffering the consequences of being brutally honest with the folks here.

Now I sit here awaiting for someone to come claim me from ‘the detained’ area of the immigration.  The man told me that now they have to go through my bag, in search for what ...I have no idea.  After they rummage through my bag they will then decide if they want to ask me more questions. So here is where I am confused, do they think that I am going to free load in their country? Work? I love how when you are in a situation like this you never know exactly what is going on nor are you going to get a real explanation until they are done doing what they are going to do. In the end I wish I could get that hug I came all the way here for. Or just sit down on the sidewalk, smoke freely before I find a place where I can enjoy a nice hot shower and a coffee afterwards. 

Okay so I have been sitting here for an hour, nothing is happening. A guy from Kenya came in sat down for about 10 minutes maybe less and next thing I knew I was saying good-bye and wishing him safe travels. I have a feeling that I am going to be sitting at this airport for quite some time. Huh ironic that I sat in transit for 22 hours and counting....to end up going to a place where I get to sit and wait some more. It is like I was training for this waiting marathon this whole time. I am glad that I had packed all those things to keep me entertained that I mentioned in the previous blog.  Since it feels like I am going to waiting here for a long, long time. 

They finally came back and asked me for my plane ticket stubs, then an e-ticket that I don’t have (I always leaves those in my inbox) At least the second man that came back to talk to me was more pleasant to converse with than the first fellow that I had interactions with. I am sure lucky that I am not one of those people that have anxiety/panic  attacks when under pressure or I would be royally screwed. I could sit here for days except for the fact that I wouldn’t be happy when my toothpaste ran out and I started to give off a foul scent of hobo. 

Alright now I have picked up my bag and a lady had dug through it, wrote down every dollar I have in every currency that I am currently holding onto. Back into the pig pen...now I have a count of 9 people have come and gone. I am still sitting here waiting patiently to be ‘interviewed’ as they call it before they decide what to do with me. I wish I had some water and a smoke or better yet someone to talk to.

So after being interviewed for about 100 questions I await my verdict. They came back to ask me more questions....they said that I have to turn me around. Now I wanted to cry through something of possible merciful part of the lady’s soul she appealed for 7 days for me and I got 72 hours.  

WTF?!

8 hours later I finally got that hug I waited so patiently for.  *sigh* I might be the happiest person in the world to have made it out the airport but the horrible doomy, mortality and the quick and painful end seems to lurking around the corner haunting my thoughts.

If the universe says no, then what am I suppose to do. Fight the universe? Maybe it isn’t meant to be after all or it is a test of strength and will power how much faith I have that I am meant to be here. There has to be something that I can do. 

That that feeling of this being the correct path wasn`t all in my head, it feels right to be here.

 To be continued....

Layover in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia airport

After saying my good-byes at Hong Kong airport to Karrie and my mother I became all sentimental, instantly thinking about all the great times had in the past 4 months. (darn you Newton Faulkner)

I met a nice girl born in Indonesia, family lives in Hong Kong and she works in Kuala Lumpur on the flight from Hong Kong to Malaysia. It was kind of odd she wasn't sitting there until the last leg of the flight. She commented on my drawing at the time and said that I should sketch professionally, that I could potentially make money at it. It was very kind of her to say that but I don't think my skills are adequate enough to make any sort of real money at it. (thanks mysterious girl who kept me entertained for the last hour of my flight) It seems like I always met one person that I talk to about something really random while in transit.

I have 5 and half hours to kill so this blog post is just me wasting time and doesn't really have much travel substance.

So after a short hunt for my gate I found out that I had to get on a bus to get to Gate G, after wards I wanted a coffee. Crap, they won't take any of my 6 different currencies...boo. Now I have 7 (Ringgit (MYR)).

O.O

I did get me a cafe mocha, woot woot and connected to a better wifi outlet from the coffee shop vs the ultra slow connection from the airport. Which by the way will only give you 2 hours of free internets, what are you suppose to do after your 2 hours are up?

Luckily I have 2 books, a laptop, my art book and the ipod. Phew?

*sigh*

Maybe I will get the chance to finish all the books that I have brought with me before I land. FYI: Haruki Murakami you are my hero <3 I love his writing he is a fantastically captivating novelist, after I finish this one that will be the 7th book of his I have read in the last 12 months. I am planning to read all of them! I love his work. enuff said.

So after I went about looking for the smoking room it was back in the building that I just came from so I had to hop back on the shuttle bus. I did however meet this guy going home to Rome after working in Australia for two years. He told me all about Italy since that is where he is originally from. (I checked his passport) I learned that he picked peaches, working in a fishing boat for next to nothing, managed a restaurant and is a photographer. It is always easy to pry and ask people tons of things when you meet someone at the airport.   Killed a good hour and a half talking to him before we both decided that sitting the smoking room was kind of gross. (even though we all know that they always are)

I haven't done much, I don't have enough energy to do much than type and reading is wearing me down I hope that I can catch some shut eye before I land. Gezzzzz.....this is going to be a long flight.

Good-bye Hong Kong

As nice as it was to spend time with family I am sure in high spirits that I am making a move once again. I love Hong Kong but I can’t wait to leave the vicinity of my grandma’s words. This time I will be flying into Malaysia and then off to London. 

I know that this is very pre-emptive but Karrie and I have already planned out our next trip. We are going to travel to India , Egypt and hopefully do that all day trek on the mountains in Hong Kong under the tram cars we took yesterday.

The following year, Jenny goes to Japan with Asia (the person not the country). This has been the dream since I started watching anime, reading manga, learning Japanese when I was young and discovered that sushi is my choice of food. 

It has always been a heart wrenching moment in time when I board the plane at the Hong Kong airport, each time that I have got on the plane in HK I have headed home to Canada to connect with friends and loved ones. This time not only I am leaving my best friend it is an end of an era of my life. Not saying that I am not anticipating/excited/thrilled /excited and oh so overjoyed for the next part of the story. It is always hard to say good-bye.

I have learned and reflected on from the first time that I worked in Changchun, China was a test of my strength, bravery and the testing the waters of being abroad and so utterly far away from home. The second time I worked in Jilin, China not only was it a gruelling process of self discovery, mourning a broken heart and overcoming melancholy. I had become more cultured, re-educate myself on the facts of life and becoming in tuned with the true Jenny. The journey through 6 countries (Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Hong Kong, and Macau) after being reunited with my best friend I hadn’t seen in a year was something of a wonderful path of experience, love, honesty and most of spiritual growth I have ever made to the date. The progress that I have made in the last 20 months has been nothing short of astounding marks of accomplishments.   

I cannot accept the idea of moving past the place that I am now since it has been so good but I know that I would not be happy settling anywhere without knowing what else is in stored.  The magical wanderlust affliction activated an incredible source of voyage that has always resided within my core.

 <3

Giant Buddha in Hong Kong

Chinese Long Doughnut wrapped in Rice Noodles

This is the most exhausting day I have had in Hong Kong since we have arrived. This morning at 9:30am it was time for dim sum, then off to the MTR for a four transfer  train ride to the tram car to take us up to the giant Buddha. When we arrived at the tram car line up I didn’t realize how big of a tourist attraction it truly was. I wasn’t ready for the line up but man was I pleased with myself for being my ipod I don’t know what I would have done without it.

2 hours later we finally got our ticket (we could have bought the crystal car-see through bottom but we didn’t) off to the tram car, up here we could see the Hong Kong airport and the coast. It was quite the view when we were in the car up we saw this path that trails upon all the mountains that I would very much like to walk when I return to Hong Kong for round 4. 

When we arrived at the top of the mountain we could see the Buddha it seemed so small in comparison to the mountains. This place was filled with souvenir shops of all sorts, starbucks, 7-11, subway and tons of touristy things. There were massive herds of people everywhere. 

We walked around checked out some of the temples in the area and then off to climb the flight of stairs to the top. Took some pictures of the Buddha and the surrounding panorama, it would be a great place to sit down and do some art, meditation and just relax if there weren’t screaming babies around every corner. 

Off to the bus terminus to catch a ride down the mountain at a much quicker rate. Then onto another bus to get back to my grandma’s place. Before we headed back we stopped to eat dinner at a nice corner ‘fan dem’. We ate congee and one of my favourite dishes. (Chinese long doughnut wrapped in rice noodles: nom nom yum!!!)

Tomorrow is my last day in Hong Kong.

Day in Macau

This morning we got up at 6am, we were ready and out the door at 6:30am. The sad thing is that my grandma as sweet as she is she was very adamant on dropping us off at the train station that my great uncle was meeting us at. Her mobility is a bit on the slow side and we ended up being late but not by much. Ate a bad sandwich from the convenience store and grabbed a coffee to go. 

After 4 transfers on Hong Kong metro we finally arrived at the pier. Through immigration and off to the boat (turbojet)about an hour and a half later we arrived on the other side. Through immigration again now I didn’t realize that we would get 30 days upon arrival. 

First off we headed to the nearest casino called ‘Sand’s’ had breakfast (more dim sum) After being ID’d at the door Itried my luck at dollar slots. Won me $12HK which isn’t much but it was nice to know that I could win some money. 

Then off to ‘The Venetian’ casino, this place had a huge mall and a fake sky indoors and a river with a gondola ride that went through the shopping centre. Huge paintings on the ceiling, they were some of the biggest I had ever seen. 

Now my mom wanted to get out the of casinos and get some fresh air off to the street market, forgetting that everything was closed for Chinese New Year’s we headed off to the historical museum.  When we arrived there was a huge line of stands selling fantastically coloured pinwheels: They say that if you have a pin wheel and when it rotates once that your new year has started with good luck, like a rejuvenation of life. My mother and my great uncle bought us incense to pray to Buddha and ask for things from the universe. 

Off to Macau’s historical museum, where I learned all about fishing, boats and explorers. 

Now it was time for lunch we headed off to the ‘Grand Lisboa’ this is apparently one of the sister casinos of the very first successful one built in Macau. We ate the most expensive meal of the day here and it was only noodles and congee. While we were waiting we were told that we couldn’t sit down on the floor even though we were obstructing traffic. Pffft.  Here I tried my luck at 10cent machines with my $20Hk I won $191HK. I think I might have some luck on my side. Here they had singers and dancers on stage in shiny outfits and I believe they were lip sinking. I haven’t seen a show with so much skin. 

Next we decided to head to the original ‘Hotel Lisboa’ casino since it was the first. It was really small and funnily enough it was right across the street from the Grand Lisboa. No competition there. Inside it was just one large rooms with tables no slots since they were all moved to the Grand Lisboa across the street and the hotel was upstairs with VIP lounges and what not.

Off to the last casino of the day call the ‘Wynn’ ???  Karrie and I decided to try our luck at the slots one last time grabbed some drinks from a nice bar. Paid what we would back at home for them, now we found some 20cent machines Karrie gave me $100HK to spend and bam next thing I knew I had doubled her money: winnings $202HK. Cashed out and headed back to the pier.

After immigration waiting for the boat it was late. (if you could see the facial expression you would know) it is so Asia to be late. Oh well. After a nap on the boat we were off to make our 4 transfers through the metro back to my grandmas place to watch the season finale of Dexter. 

*big sigh* what a long  eventful day. My feet are killing me, I need new shoes.

Chinese New Year's In Hong Kong

Waking up at the wee hours of noon, we headed off to eat Dim Sum. Man was I happy to eat Chinese food again. Since we missed the fireworks last night we just got to enjoy the lanterns set up everywhere. After lunch we went walking around the Tai Po area in hopes to get some shopping done. Unfortunately everything was closed today and won’t be open until the 6^th of Feb. Since today is technically the first of the New Year. Duh.  The only places that are open today are the restaurants and food dispensing places. (ie. Convenience stores, grocery stores and fruit stalls.) Today everyone for the most part were all dressed up, the little children running around wore traditional red outfits.

Karrie and I got red envelops from my family, ya money! 

Our day has been quite the lazy one I do have to say, I went through a huge pile of clothes from my Grandma. (she is the most insane, neurotic pack rat I have ever met with no organizational skills) So my grandma has accumulated all these items of clothing I spent most of the day going through them. I ended up taking some things I thought were just cheesy enough that I could pull off wearing without laughing at myself.

Nearing the season finale of Dexter (FYI: best running TV show I have watched, mind you that I don’t watch any actual TV) We were ushered to ‘Fairwood’ a silly Chinese/Korean/Japanese chain fast food restaurant right next to my grandma’s apartment. I thought it was really pricey but no one wanted to cook or head to a fancier joint to wait in a huge line up at a noisy restaurant. So Karrie and I ordered spare rib and peaches/sweet and sour pork it wasn’t half bad but much pricier than anticipated. Tomorrow we have to get up real early and we are off to Macau.

Arrival in Hong Kong

After our flight got delayed which wasn’t a big surprise we were off to Hong Kong. I didn’t think that we were going to face the cold quite like this. So when we were on Koh Samet it was about 25-30C the whole time. Even when we were in BKK we didn’t have to wear a sweater or even think about anything of the sort.

We got off the plane and started to feel loss of body heat very quickly.  As soon as the breeze hit us we wanted our winter gear. Everyone around us was dressed in winter clothes. (Boots, jackets, hats and mitts.) Now I realize that this is winter for the local people of Hong Kong. (FYI: 15C) I was mighty happy that my mother brought me my hoodie and jeans, I threw on my boots when we finally found a place to set down our bags. Burrrrr!!!!

Tonight was a nice night of reunions with my family, my great uncle and my mother came and picked us up at the airport. Meet up with my grandmother afterwards. Back to her place to get settled in and mom was in a hurry to cook us dinner.  Dinner conversation was us trying to teach Karrie Cantonese this was quite an entertaining evening to say the least. 

It was something of a really nostalgic feelings being back in the presents of family since this is the first time since I visited for a week back in August 2009. It has almost been a year and a half...wow. Feels like I haven’t seen them in millennia. My mom was more surprised that I recognized her before she even saw me walking up to her at the airport.

The feelings I have been facing for the last 24 hours have been overwhelming with dealing with people from the past, stirring up old emotions within. The universe sure has its own way of throwing things at us when we least expect it, sometimes we just can’t prepare for these kind of occurrences. I know that it is hard to explain this in detail, it is hard to let people grow/go and move on with their lives when I so dearly want to make amends with them so I can keep a part of them in my life.  Well universe I am going to leave it up to you since I pelage my allegiance to you a while back throwing good things my direction. 

Tomorrow is Chinese New Year’s and the festivities are going to be big I am sure. With lots of things planned for the next two days, I am sure that I am going to be exhausted when this week is over.

Good bye Thailand

Hello everyone,

This is my last note on Thailand, Karrie and I are spending the night in Bangkok relaxing and doing the last of our shopping and what not until we are here. Unfortunately we picked the worst place to situate ourselves at, there is a club right next door to us. They are blaring the Asian loved-western hits. If you have been here you know what I am talking about.

Thailand has been a place that I have found myself over the abundance of time to think and reflect on life and all the things that make me well, me. I have become more in tuned with my inner self over the last 4 months of my travels. I know that I haven't been in Thailand this whole time but Thailand became my home base somehow. I feel more relaxed and life has really done a full 360. Before I knew it I was a whole new better improved fully renovated person. Accepting life as is, knowing that I have been one lucky individual to have experience the things that I have in such a short time.

I know I have mentioned this a like million times but I am excited to head to Hong Kong tomorrow.