Hong Kong High

It is so good to be back in Hong Kong! I definitely loved my trip home, but leaving behind the cold weather and transcontinental working hours was definitely a welcomed change. These first few weeks back have been nothing short of incredible, and I actually think I have hit a new Hong Kong high since my return. Honestly, I’ve never loved it more!

Coming back here from the U.S. felt kind of like returning to campus after Christmas break. Hong Kong is just that type of city. Since most people travel to their far-away homes for the holidays, that first week back is filled with lunches, dinners, nights out and other special events to help everybody catch up with what's gone on in each other's lives. The highlight was probably a 'scavenger hunt' around Lan Kwai Fong to celebrate my friend Sonia's birthday. It was a blast! While home, I really missed a lot of the people I've met out here, so, needless to say, it's been wonderful spending time with them again.

Our group during the Lan Kwai Fong birthday scavenger hunt

Part of my New Year’s Resolution is to live a healthier lifestyle. I decided I would start to walk home from work daily and also go on a hike each weekend. After six weeks of American-sized portions, Thanksgiving and Christmas feasts and little-to-no physical activity, I am very much in need of this new regime. So far I’ve been pretty good at it, but let’s see how long it lasts.

By the way, I’m not sure if I’ve written about it before, but Hong Kong is a veritable paradise for hikers. The HKSAR is made up of four parts: Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, the two hundred and sixty-plus outlying islands and a vast open area called the New Territories, situated between Kowloon and the border with Mainland China. Even densely populated Hong Kong Island has some wonderful trails, but for me, the real stunners are the outlying islands and New Territories. For my first hike of 2011, my roommate Valentine and I got up very early last Saturday and ventured out to Tai Po Market, about a thirty minute train ride from our apartment. Pietro, my Italian roomate (who, by the way, is a phenomenal cook), decided to stay home and work on his dissertation while also preparing the weekend's meals!

Valentine’s great aunt has lived in Hong Kong for years, and she has some cool old books describing various trails scattered all throughout the region. The books, however, were published over twenty years ago, so on the train ride, Valentine and I joked that we just might arrive at the start of our chosen trail only to find high-rise apartments and shopping malls. Luckily this part of Hong Kong hadn’t changed one bit. It is just as it was during the days of British rule..

View from the top of Cloudy Hill

After about a forty minute walk, we came upon the semi-abandoned village of Sha Lo Tung, nestled in a small valley. I have never seen anything like it before. Half of the village was functioning like any number of other small towns I have encountered during my time in Hong Kong. But the other half was completely abandoned. Several old Chinese-style homes were left exactly as they were, with photos on the walls and cups on the tables, as if one day, people just left and never returned. Weeds and vines had crept through broken windows and doors over the years, and the vibe was completely surreal. I made a promise to return some day with a high-quality camera because this place is a photographer’s dream. (Luckily my hiking partner did bring a camera that day, so the photos accompanying this entry come to you courtesy of Valentine.)

The abandoned houses of Sha Lo Tung

After exploring the village, and taking a short side-hike into a wooded area with streams and waterfalls, we climbed to the top of Cloudy Hill, which affords magnificent views of the surrounding landscapes. It was a strenuous walk but totally worthwhile. We are truly lucky in Hong Kong to have such wonders in our very own backyard. It’s a shame that far too many of those living here never make it out of the concrete confines of Central and Wan Chai because there is so much to explore in Hong Kong’s more remote areas.

Reward for a hike well done!

Speaking of escaping from the hustle and bustle of the city, I am going to Cebu, an island in the Philippines, for Chinese New Year. It’s funny, but I keep inadvertently referring to it as “Spring Break” on a regular basis. Still everybody knows exactly what I’m talking about and sometimes they don’t even bother to correct me. Honestly, though, Chinese New Year is basically a Spring Break for the expats living here: everybody packs up and goes on vacation with their friends for a week.

Until very recently, I had made up my mind to stay in Hong Kong for the holiday, since I missed the celebrations last year when I was in Thailand. But after realizing that it might be my only chance to get away for longer than a weekend for quite some time, I decided to book a trip. Some friends mentioned they were going down to the Philippines, and since I loved Manila when I visited last January, I figured I might as well piggyback onto their trip. I fly from Hong Kong to Manila on the morning of Wednesday, February 2nd, and then down to Mactan Island a few hours later. Last Chinese New Year in Thailand set the bar pretty high, but I will do my best to make this as great an adventure as that trip was. Even if it doesn't reach those lofty heighs, I still think it will be a fun five days in the sun!

On the work front, 2011 has gotten off to a good start. It’s a little slower these first weeks than the last few months have been, but I still love the job and look forward to things picking up as the year goes on. And Kevin and I also have company in the office! Confusingly also named Paul, our new colleague has worked in our New York office for years, and he's spending a few weeks here in the Asia office. Although it's only temporary—he goes back to the States on February 8th—it’s been nice having another American around, and it’s always fun to introduce a newbie to Hong Kong.

In short, things could not be going better than they are right now. Hopefully the saying "well begun is half done" will ring true for this new year!

So good to be back!