A VISA Trip

Day One-Novemeber 22nd 2012 (Thanksgiving day) 

I found myself staring at a map of Hong Kong’s MTR routes, not sure of where I was or where I needed to go. It was 9:30am and my boyfriend had just split for the office as soon as we arrived in the city; luckily he could work from the Hong Kong office-his only justification for accompanying me. I don’t worry about getting lost or finding my way-because whenever I’m at a new place I ALWAYS get lost and I’ve ALWAYS found my way. But this was Hong Kong, my birthplace. So I headed to the information booth and asked for Queensway Plaza (on the address of the Taiwan Embassy-Zippo Centre) and was pointed to the Admiralty MTR stop. I was really distraught that my master plan of using WhatsApp to get a hold of my relatives and to keep in touch with Cormac all fell through, leaving me completely dependent on people saying they will be at a certain place at a certain time, granted that I am able to find the places myself. It’s exciting in ways, and kind of not.

I don’t know as much about Hong Kong as I should as a ‘permanent resident’. Honestly I think it’s a bit deceitful for me to hold a citizen’s card-I can barely speak Cantonese, know very little about the culture and customs, and only know of well-visited tourist places to hang out. But when I find myself walking around, I can’t help but stare at all the locals and wondering what my life would have been like if I wasn’t an American. I envy their sharp movements and cold humor, their ‘I don’t give a crap about anyone but myself’ attitudes, and their non-existent awe over foreigners. That’s how you know you’re in Hong Kong and not Taiwan J

After a ton of stress and hassle I successfully completed my VISA application by 1pm. Luckily I found computer stations inside their MTR stations and managed to contact one of my girl cousins for lunch. It was a simple Cantonese lunch with meat and noodles, we ate in her office as she updated me on my relatives (“no news is good news”) and her love life (“how can you find a boyfriend so fast?! I’ve been single for so so so so long and still no one!”) and her plans next year to do a working holiday in Australia! Good on her. After we parted I headed to the Kowloon Hotel to drop stuff off before going to check out Canton Road.  ***Note to everyone who visits Hong Kong, Kowloon Hotel is not where you want to stay. Extremely small rooms, no pool, no gym, NOT EVEN BREAKFAST, and overpriced. The only good thing I can say about our hotel is the location-it was not bad. This was my first time ever staying at hotel (in Hong Kong!) and now I know for next time that they really do matter. ***

I was delighted to find Canton Road was only a few minutes down the street and under some tunnels! It’s the famous road with Chanel, LV, Dior, etc etc leading to Heritage 1881, this beautiful Dome-like building with a fountain where tourists take pictures.

I got back to the hotel around 5pm, and was relieved to see Chinese beer on the menu at their café. Feeling festive, I tried a TsingTao beer but wasn’t amazed. It tastes like Taiwan Beer, ha! After refreshing ourselves, boyfriend and I walked out to the pier to see the Symphony of Lights. I had done most touristy things before, and he had not, but we were both excited to experience them together either way. We met a French bunch that helped us take pictures with the skyline in the background, and boyfriend’s camera made everything look magical despite all the clouds that night! Afterwards we walked down the pier-which turns into the famous Avenue of Stars, and took pictures with Jet Li’s star, Jackie Chan’s star, and Bruce Lee’s statue. I love being in spots where everywhere you step, you’re blocking someone’s picture. And there are always random Asian people in the background of all the our photos too…I really mean it when I say I find it endearing because pictures like that just seem more REAL.

I had almost forgot that Thursday was Thanksgiving Day! But boyfriend, my darling Irish man who is not an American man who does not even celebrate Thanksgiving, remembered and had arranged a dinner at an American Restaurant. Dan Ryans had such a huge menu full of amazingly hearty stuff I almost disregarded their Thanksgiving Meal special-but in the end we both made the right choice. It was a perfect meal with my perfect boyfriend! And in case any of my USA cousins are reading this (and not throwing up yet)-I gave tribute to our Circle of Thanks even with just the two of us J

There is so much to be thankful for in our lives, any day, any year. I have been ridiculously blessed with a life that continues to grow fuller and richer with every year that passes. When I graduated high school, I thought they were the best years of my life and my years of fun and partying were over. When I graduated university, I thought THEY were the best years of my life and my years of gaining knowledge and being inspired were over. But I’m on my third year after graduation, and it wasn’t until this year that I discovered dragon boating, traveling around Asia, river tracing, tribe dancing, Gaelic football, and hot yoga.  I’ve also said goodbye to good friends leaving Taiwan, and hello to many, many more new friendships with teammates, classmates, and strangers. I am thankful for everyone in my life that have carried me during low times and celebrated the high times! And above all, I give thanks to God for bringing all you people into my life. <3