Anyway, being back feels marvelous, and I'm basking in all Hong Kong's glories: tram rides, Chinese food feasts, visits to the Peak, crossings on the Star Ferry, hours spent on my Happy Valley rooftop, and aimless gambols around Wan Chai and Sheung Wan, every step reconfirming that this is where I want to be.
I got my haircut at the Barber Shop within my first twenty-four hours, the humidity here necessitating it. I was feasting on dan dan and xiao long bao at Crystal Jade by day two. And by the time the weekend rolled around, having caught up with old friends and even made a couple of new ones, it started to feel like I had my old life back. And I couldn't be happier.
I'm ready to state flat out and hands down that Hong Kong is my favorite place in the world. Being away for three months made me realize just how much I need this place. I've loved it pretty much from the beginning, as the litany of posts on this blog attests, but I've gotten to a point now where I literally think I might be addicted to it. Living in Singapore wasn't a problem—it's simple enough to just hop on a cheap four hour flight here—but being so far away in the States wasn't as easy. And I'm glad to be back.
Enjoying the beautiful weather, I even sleep on our roof some nights!
If all goes according to plan now—and that's a significant if—I could be back in the SAR for good. I'm kicking some ideas around my head that might allow me to stay here, although there's nothing really concrete to talk about yet.
In the meantime, I'll just have to settle for this form of paradise and hope for the best!
