Disney land 10-4

I woke up early, with the excitement to be going to Disneyland for this first time in my life. A chance to escape reality and immerse myself in my childhood. I put Disney songs on while I got ready in my mini mouse outfit. We met on the tram, Helen dressed as Tigger. Disney is a short MTR ride from Central Hong Kong. Boarding the Disney train, with the handles and windows shaped like Micky Mouse. There was a sense of excitement as we crept closer to the themed park.
Pulling into the Disney station we were two of many hundreds of people all heading to the park for a day of fun. We queued up and then we were in. A magical world that looked like a Disney film set. It really was enchanting. Themed shops and cafes. People stopped to take our photos, we were dressed as Minnie and Tigger after all.
There are four themed areas, Toyland, Fantasyland, Adventureland and Grizzly mountain. There were themed rides and attractions in each. In Toyland everything was space themed. Fantasyland swayed towards the under ten year olds. Theme parks don't usually appealing to me, but around each corner was something new to widen the childish eyes I was looking through today. The rides were giant replicas of scenes from the animations. Giant objects and characters, roller coasters, boat rides and trains.
It was busy due to the public holidays but this didn't phase us. Although we did think, showing Disney films while you queued, or played Disney soundtracks would have made the waiting more enjoyable. The restaurants were standard fast food and Chinese. We called up to book in for the Crystal Lotus restaurant which was famous for Disney dim sum. They couldn't accommodate us so we carried on enjoying the park.
By night fall we were Disney'ed out. We had climbed Tarzan's tree, been on a water safari, watched a vibrant adaptation of the Lion King and watched the Disney parade full of dancing, colour and shrieks of excitement like our former five-year-old selves would have.
Exhausted, drained, and a little tetchy for a cocktail we left the park. Walking towards the MTR Helen decides that the Disney hotel really is a dream of hers and that she's like to head there in case they can provide Disney themed food to us. We arrived a few moments later at the beautiful Disney hotel. It's was pristine white on the outside, layered with lights and windows. We weren't ready for the magic to end so jumped right back in.
We ate at Crystal Lotus, but they had no themed food. They did have champagne and cocktails. We drank and ate, ate and drank. It was the perfect ending to a perfect day. We made our way to the Mickey Maze that stood in front of the hotel and in front of the sea. It was beautiful, we were still in fantasy land and ran around the hotel like we were ten.
I opened my eyes slowly in the morning. It took me a while to recognise my surroundings. I was at DISNEY. No morning realisation was as good. One of the better places to wake up after a few too many glasses of champagne. Bits of tree and hotel ornaments thrown around the room. It looked like two rock stars had stayed the night. We really should be in a band to live this lifestyle.
We gathered our dressing gowns and slippers with Mickey Mouse prints and made our way to breakfast. A full on buffet with Mickey Mouse and Goofy wandering about. With full bellies we went back to bed. Disney channels on the TV, large hotel beds and no time restrictions. It was a blissful deep after breakfast holiday sleep. My absolute favourite sleep in the world. Disney was magical. We checked out and received our hotel bill, I was escorted to the cash machine. The Disney fantasy was expensive. Just as we made our way to the exit, Helen wanted to go back to the restaurant to see if there was anyone eating the famous Disney Dim Sum. She couldn't resist ordering. So we sat down to cartooned themed food. Unable to eat, we took photos and shared another childish moment.

We jumped in a taxi to Mui Wo on the other side of Lantau island to sit on the beach. It was a glorious sunny day and we were tired after our fantasy adventure. From Mui Wo we caught the ferry back to Central. It was the night of the famous Chinese New Year Victoria Harbour fireworks. We had talked about going up to Jardine's lookout, one of my favourite places in Hong Kong but Helen wasn't sure she could make it up so decided Ozone was the place to go. I was drained of money and felt uncomfortable about spending so much over the last few days. It was hard to comprehend how I was going to afford to live the rest of the month.
We headed home, changed and opened a bottle of champagne to celebrate the Chinese New Year.
The taxi dropped us off at the base of the ICC, Ritz-Carlton. The lift took us to floor 118 where Ozone, one of the highest roof top bars in the world is situated. Helen ordered a bottle of bubbles and we managed to secure the best seats in the house. The fireworks began at 8 and were beautiful. I'd never seen fireworks from above. It was truly a once in a lifetime experience.
I was exhausted after days of adventuring around Hong Kong. I craved a day off, to relax, exercise and return to my normal life. I felt pressure to keep ensuring Helen had a good time so forgot about my own needs and went along with her desires.

On Tuesday we made our way to Jumbo, the famous floating restaurant in Aberdeen. There is a brunch option on Top Deck. We sat in the sunshine. It felt like a mid summers day. From Jumbo to Stanley. A little village with markets and a promenade on the sea front. We scouted the markets and sat on the beach to watch the sun set. A burning orange and red over the sky and sea.
We left the south side of the island and decided to go up to the Peak. We waited in traffic and crawled up the mountain side. I'd never seen the peak so busy. Luckily I still had my secluded picnic spot. I could have sat there for hours, but Helen is more of a doer than an absorber of the moment. We left swiftly after arriving and went to Crystal Jade's, the best restaurant as voted by all visitors to Hong Kong. We feasted again. I felt sick after days of excessive eating.

I felt awful. bloated, sick and tired. The aftermath of an extremely excessive few days. I felt immobile and miserable. I didn't want to ruin Helen's last day so plucked up some energy to meet with Helen for her final day.
I went to the flat in Happy Valley, where I had once lived, where my Hong Kong story began, a place filled with happy memories. I felt far from happy. Days of excess had taken its toll and I felt I had let myself down. Pushed into things I didn't normally do to please someone else. Was I cross that I had been persuaded into doing things I didn't want to do, or that I had let myself down by not keeping strong enough or true to my own needs over the past few days. I battle with giving to others and deeply needing time on my own. I feel I need to be alone and yet crave for company. Living in the moment so worries drift away, but the worries seem to return ten fold. I was on edge and couldn't believe how overwhelmed I was feeling. I felt I had completely let me self down and yet I knew it was only temporary, that come the next day I would have my mundane life back, only weeks before I had craved a break from it.

We went to the famous michelin star restaurant Tim Ho Wan but it had closed. A sad and slightly irritating part of Hong Kong, you fall in love with a shop or restaurant, one minute it is there, the next gone. We made a detour to the ladies market. Once Helen had bought everything she could think of, we left.

Helen left at 9pm after one more visit to Crystal Jade's, and one more glass of red wine. I climbed into bed with dread of work the next day but also looking forward to the routine. It had been a busy few days.

In hindsight, it was a wonderful few days in Hong Kong. It showed me that spending money usually means building good memories. I had eaten too much and drank too much that was certain. Was it possible to have a visitor and be less excessive? I still haven't found my niche, my tribe, my soul in this city. Maybe the expectation that I should have, is hindering the possibilities of Hong Kong to me. It poses the question of what am I doing here? What am I looking for? When you make big life decisions on a whim, there is a lot to learn. I know no other way. I am an all-or-nothing personality. Doing things gradually, working towards something slowly, setting goals and project managing is something I yearn to learn.

When there is a will, there is a way. When you want something enough, you have the tools to achieve it.