10

Ten is the number of years since Trevor and I have kept in contact. Through writing letters, e-mailing and social networking, we have finally met up. Back in the days when MSN Messenger had Chat, I don't remember what and how we started to chat; nevertheless we clicked and from there on we started to keep chatting and writing letters. Back when writing letters was 'cool,' I would be happy receiving a letter to Trevor and even a bonus when I got a souviner from Tennessee or wherever he travelled to, and I did the favour as well. Since social networking, e-mailing is quicker than 'snail-mail.' It was good to communicate in respects of our busy schedules.

We, of course kept saying to each other 'one day we will meet up...' And now it is the 'one day we meet up.' I am still pinching myself to this day that I have finally met up with a person I have only known through letter writing and cyberspace. It is thrilling and amazing to see someone face-to-face and not a computer screen monitor. Of course I would be one of the many other people out there who are in the same situation, but yes I'd like to share with you.

Perfect timing that he was in Hong Kong, studying while I decided to have a short break prior to my epic break in France next month. I was contemplating to travel either in Singapore, Sydney, Melbourne or Hong Kong, yet i realised that Trevor was in Hong Kong, and thinking it would be a good opportunity to catch up before he jet sets again back to the USA or Europe. A spur of a moment and bam! Booked a return to Hong Kong for a short break. Counting down the days/shifts left and then before finishing work, I just had to be a bitch and say that I'm going to Hong Kong. *Insert evil laugh*

A mixture of excitement, joy, realising it is finally happening and just jumping in my mind.
A big hug when we met and from there just talked and talked and talked. We spent the whole of Saturday wondering the districts in Kowloon and Hong Kong Island, window shopping, photo taking and strolling along the Avenue of the Stars. It was a hilarious and fun day.

The funny thing is since I am of asian descent. No matter where I go in Asia, the locals think I can speak their tongue so they start to talk to me, until I blurt out a 'thank you' or 'how much?' But what got locals heads turning is that Trevor, blonde hair, american speaking in Cantonese and Mandarine, but it was just fun seeing their confused face. It was just amazing how Trevor fluently spoke it and the also became my tourist guide and translator at things. We ate at a Vietnamese Restaurant and the table next to us was looking rather confused. Classic.

Trevor you crack me up. It was a cracker to see all the filipinos eyes light up and smiles bigger when you mentioned to them you wanted to make Turon. Made their day I think and so did mine, seeing you asking about where to get the rice paper to make Turon..Speaking about it how was it?

Another funny thing was we went to see Mr Wong, who manages a small restaurant closer to my hotel. Mr Wong was a character, apparently he drinks on the job at times but at the same time running the restaurant with his wife/other manager. He was saying to Mr Wong that we will be returning in the evening for beers and food.

Towards the evening, we went back to Mr Wong's small restaurant,which was almost packed. He found us a table and we sat just having our coke and then he tells Trev that he gets us an 'alcholic beverage.' We share and boy it was strong, ended up putting coke in it and ice, but still was strong. While we were there, Trevor caught up with a few of his friends from university and people he met along his travels - such a small world indeed!) At the restaurant, people kept walking to and fro at the back of the restaurant getting 1 - 6 bottles of 600ml Pear River beers. What people do is open it up with a chopstick and like a champange the beer cap pops and just lands to whatever direction. 3 or so beers after we joined his Danish friends, David (who bears a resemblance to my work mate Harely), Esbern, Sarah and her friend. We took the red taxis to Hong Kong to the Ritz-Carlton hotel, where the hotel had the Skybar - Ozone...just imagine the nightclub Cloudland on the 80th floor. Uber posh and the veiw was spectacular. Since it was a nice bar, there was of course a dresscode. We weren't to sure if Esbern could go in because he was wearing shorts.
Unfortunately he wasn't able to go, and we were a bit bummed because did didn't know what to do, until the lady at the front says - "Sorry no shorts allowed...but we do have pants we can lend to you." How cool is that..Brisbane need to incorporate this! I have never been to a venue where they 'lend' you trousers for the stay in the bar. Wow!

We all enjoyed a cocktail HK$130 and Esbern treated us for the cocktail. YUM YUM! Mingling along with other people, started to get rather drunk and then we all decided to head to Lang Kwai Fong one of the main nightclubs strips.
It was an amazing night spending with a dear friend. Hong Kong sure knows how to party!

...now to get rid of the horrible hong kong hangover....

Entree Trip

Hello my friends. I am in the humid, warm but overcast Hong Kong..well technically in Kowloon. I haven't blogged for a while since my last trip, which was in June! I know how slack of me. Off the topic for a bit, I am not use to my small laptop as I am all Apple Mac now, but I know I'll get the hang of my little Samsung.

SO..I know, I am rubbing this to your face, but I have jet setted to Hong Kong for a short break...
A lovely way to end off 4, 10 hour nights.

Left the beautiful sun of Brisbane to a cold Auckland evening, flying Air New Zealand...(you may be wondering as to why not Brisbane - Hong Kong?..well guess it is just the why the airline has done).
An hour transit from Brisbane to Auckland and then a midnight flight to Hong Kng. Mind you prior to this, I only slept for at least 1hour and 30 minutes before I did a last minute pack and discard packing, before Dad took me to the Brisbane Airport.

The 3hour flight from Brisbane to Auckland was good. Had a nice snack of salmon with mashed potatoes, corn and peas (although I am not a big fan of peas) and a nice drink of ice coke. The safety announcement in Air New Zealand
was pretty funny (just YouTube) and some of the New Zealand All Black players participating in the demonstrations of air safety on the plane. I had to chuckle with that.

While up in the air, I finally got to watch the final installment of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows..my gosh I (and yes lame to say this) was a bit teary because I know that its the end of the Harry Potter series.
That is a good thing to do while on the plane..you get to watch the movies you missed out while it was still at the cinemas. It was a good one, make me think, that Harry Potter should have been called (well along the lines) like
Star Wars.... minus the light sabers but wands and then I imagined Lord Voldermort saying - Harry..I'm your father....
XD....

Landed in Auckland then just before midnight, another flight from Auckland to Hong Kong..an 11 hour flight. I managed to watch 2 movies one while having a late dinner - Horrible Bosses..hilarious! and then Friends with
Benefits during breakfast..in between that, despite the crazy time changes..I managed to sleep for at least 7 hours.
Waking up thinking "what the foook" is the time and what day is it? Yea my Glasgow Coma Scale is down to a 10/15.

Touchdown in Hong Kong International Airport at 6am..(off a tangent..ahh the suns out!)..went to the Hotel-transfer desk re: my transfer from airport to my hotel - The CityView in Kowloon. Saw some double deckerbuses along the way and red taxis. Different and nice..if only Brisbane had double decker buses...:D. The weather at the start was gloomy, overcast and for the 50% mark for humidity..as we speak now the sun is already up..yay.

Considering that the check-in time is 1000hr, I had to wait for a while, so while waiting..I ventured out to the streets of Kowloon on to Nathan Road. I realised I am close to A) a metro station and B) Nathan Road..one of the main streets here in Kowloon. Even though not all stores were open .. with the exception of 7-eleven and other conivient stores went to get a drink and then had won tons with noodle soup for breakfast HK$25 which worked out to be AU$3.35..YUMMMMMMMMM. Yes peeps, food photos to come your way soon :P.

Hong Kong is 2 hours behind Brisbane (current time now is 10:01am)..although I have a small amount of time here,I cannot wait to venture this big CHINATOWN and food!!!

More to come.

A bientot