Well, almost. Today is D-Day. Departure Day. On one hand I have *just* begun to get homesick, as of yesterday. So great timing really. On the other hand I have had almost 11 days getting to know my Bio-Ma and a little bit of the rest of the Bio-whanau. After 31 years, 11 days doesn't seem like enough time... but hey, reality beckons.
Yesterday (Monday, Feb 23rd) was our last full day here in H to the K, as I now refer to it (jokes. That's way too long) It was a bittersweet day. We started our day mid-morning - erring on the side of lunch-time, really. Excited to be finally seeing where my bio-sis and her whanau lived. I had only seen it once during our first (random) Skype with her and the bio-cuz. She lives in a nice part of town in a fancy building with a doorman. Up 42 (freaking) floors (out of 60) the vertigo hit hard.
Her apartment was modern and slightly larger compared to my B-Ma's. Though the layout was a little unusual going through the first 'bedroom'(which was used as a wardrobe/storage) to the main bedroom. The floors were wood veneer, with white plaster walls. There was no real 'style' aesthetics, as she reminded me most places came with furniture and the fact it's a hassle to move furniture from apartment to apartment.
It's so different from NZ where our style influences are reflected in our homes. It seems we are more concerned with the 'feel' and look of our home, as well as the comfortable functionality - and of course, space. The bigger the home, the better! [winky wink] Whereas, from my short time here, it seems like most Hong Konger's aren't overly concerned with how 'trendy' their home is - plus, it doesn't seem like they like to spend a lot of time at home if they can help it.
The other startling contrast I noticed was that there were no pictures on the walls. No staged smiling-family shots. No wedding photos. There was no artwork to speak of. No floral paintings or blown-up landscape shots of the beach. I guess it's the same dealeo as NZ when ya renting - My bio-sis told me it is almost impossible to buy an apartment unless you have an absurd deposit. Most people give up knowing they will be old by the time they save enough, so they enjoy the 'now', which in some ways sounds better than the never-ending fight to buy in Auckland) but of course, 'Hello Kitty' made a few appearances in the form of duvet covers and toys...
I have to admit, I love the architectural landscape of Hong Kong. The rainbow of colour. The flashes of greenery. The way each building tries to distinguish themselves from the next. The modern mixed with the aged. There is something exciting about this city. It seems like a nonstop place of reinvention.
Lunch was awesome. My bio-sis sure can cook! It really seems like everyone in Hong Kong knows how to make a mean feed. BBQ (or Be-Be-Que) king prawns, corn, seafood and avocado salad, marinated fish, and macaroni - we were off to a flying start!
Afterwards we decided to walk it off in her hood. Checking out the scenery and the shops...
We watched several rounds of Mahjong, trying furiously to figure out how it works. Next thing we knew it was 11o'clock. Time to get Ever into bed! she's officially on Hong Kong Time...
Nighty night!
...just kidding! Bio-sis and bio-bro came to pick me up. They decided they had to take me to Mong Kok to witness the (illegal) Night Markets. The Hubband, Ever and Nanabear were in bed, and I was super tired, yet super hyped because it was my last night and part of me never wanted it to end... and the other part wanted to crawl back into the tiny double bed with Hubband and Ever. Fun won out.
Just after 1am and we were in the heart of Mong Kok, with an 11 year old niece and 9 year old nephew in tow. I seriously couldn't believe that their father let them out this late at night... but to each their own?! Haha! By the time we got to the markets they were mostly packed up. It was awesome to see them deconstruct each tented shop. Scaffolding, roofing, tables and of course, their wares. We watched them tetris everything into small storage sheds lining the street.
We did however, manage to wrangle a couple of little souvenirs (Batman luggage tag for The Hubband! Woot woot!) before we made our way to get second dinner at 2am... yes, ridiculous I know, but the others were hungry. For once in my life, I wasn't keen on eating.
The streets were still filled with people. Mostly loitering or eating. There were buckets of live seafood lined up on the pavement outside some of the eateries. Each one seemed to scream, pick me! (Though I think they were screaming out in agony over living in a little bucket...) We sat down on stools in the street while my Bio-sis ordered. I didn't eat more than a few mouthfuls...
Afterwards we realised that it was over. I was way too tired to make coherent sentences and there wasn't a lot to look at. So we taxi'd our way back, dropping my Bio-bro off on the way. We walked the nephew and niece home, stopping for a corn ice block... yes, with real chunks of corn.
Er, not my cup of tea, thanks. In the bin it went. (Sorry!)
It was 3am when we dropped the kids home. They basically started playing! One hooked up his newly purchased remote control helicopter; the other went straight onto the computer. My B-Ma was chatting with her bro until the nephews helicopter crash-landed into a tin of biscuits, spilling them onto the floor! Uncle was not happy... Me and bio-sis made a quick exit. We had a pretty coolio chat as she walked me back to my B-Ma's apartment. It was nice... I'm glad I ended up going out with them - even if it was after 4am when I finally laid my head on the pillow.
This morning (Feb 24th) I arose at a brisk 9am. My gosh, I am leaving Hong Kong on a high. A sleep deprived high. Ever woke at 5am and didn't go back to sleep until 6... Thank God for The Hubband! I was keen to see if I could get some last min presents for the whanau back home. I left Mamabear, The Hubband and Ever behind and hightailed it with B-Ma to meet Jane and bio-sis at the next suburb over. I hadn't been there apart from to catch the MTR.
When we arrived we got a call that they were behind schedule, so me and B-Ma perused the shops together. It was nice...but weird. Haha! (I know I keep saying 'nice', but I don't know exactly how to phrase it?) I kept thinking maybe this would be what it was like if I had grown up with her? I didn't have my NZ husband or Mother, or baby to remind me of where I'd come from. Everywhere I looked were people who looked similar to me... except I couldn't understand them or relate to their culture... It was an unusual train of thought that I quickly squelched as I was on a mission with only an hour to shop! So speed shopping I went. My B-Ma seemed perplexed as I darted in and out of the tiny shops, talking to myself as I went. If I had a question she would interpret it to the sales assistant. Finally, the crew arrived, with my bio-bro in tow. Their first port of call was lunch. I left them behind... Haha! They found me shortly after and handed me a bowl of noodles. I ate as I walked. Finally, I had found the last present. The pièce de résistance! Stoked with my purchases and the fact that time had run out, we gapped it back to get the NZ crew so we could head to the airport.
My bio-sis, bro and Aunty had all put in for a HUGE green fancy suitcase for us - I had been complaining(naughty me!) that they were giving us too many presents to take back to NZ - So they solved the problem. Haha! Everyone was in a somber dither as we hurriedly squished the new items into the suitcases. Trying to put the fragile things with the soft, ready for the rough ride ahead. We would be gutted if we arrived home and they were broken. Boo...
We taxi-vanned to the airport carpark in record time, as my B-Ma lives about a suburb away... sort of. Okay, not really. The airport is on an island and her suburb is near a main road that goes to the island. Only problem was none of us knew where the front door was! (and we were a wee bit late for the er, suggested two hour check-in time...) so instead we ran/power-walked until we found our way. The place is confusing. I had no idea where the signage was?! Thankfully, my B-Ma's partner works in the airport so she rang him and he found us in less than 5 mins. He was an older gruff-mannered man. Not big on pleasantries or smiles. But he was cordial enough... and we were off!
We found Check-In and, well, checked in. Then grabbed a bite and a coffee. We were pretty chillaxed until we saw the time.
Saying farewell was hard/easy. I didn't cry. My mama did. My B-Ma did... I feel happy and sad, yet relieved to be going home. As much as I have enjoyed the adventure of this life-changing trip, it has also had it's fair share of challenges - not to mention the emotional roller coaster of it all! I feel thoroughly full. Full of new friends and family, experiences and memories. My eyes are clear. I have seen so much and tried to take in everything I could. The details. The smells. The faces... and if not, I have a ton of photos, and this blog, to remind me of this amazing journey. I can't express how I feel at the moment? I am just preparing for the next step... The plane ride with a toddler!
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