Repulse Bay

I woke up at 12:30. This is unbelievable. I never sleep past 9am.........I must be jet lagged. Luckily, this wasn't important. We headed to the beach as the sun was shining and why the devil not.
The temperature on the giant thermometer was 32 when we arrived at Repulse Bay, a very high end part of Hong Kong. Built for the wealthy and exceptionally successful (depending on what you class as success) AND on this note, the more I am here, the more I am convinced that what I now have come to believe is success, isn't the same as most. Being successful here seems to be being able to go out drinking every night, live in an expensive apartment and talk about how successful you are to other people who think they are successful.
I have to find things that make me happy in this city. A few of MY favourite things: swimming in the sea, drinking coffee watching the world go by, perusing the shops for hours choosing food, cooking, exercise, wandering, bumbling, reading, communicating with friends and family, theatre, art, poetry, music, sunsets, good conversation, walking, photos etc etc

We headed home on the bus to Queens Road. I cooked some dinner, noodles/soy sauce. Luckily, I lived off noodles and soy sauce pre Hong Kong and while I am jobless, simple food and the simple life is a must.

I had a 'me' night. Sorted through my photos (now that I have a new chapter to start) out with the old, in with the new. I even learnt how to do a sum on Excel, this is a huge thing for me :D A very proud lady I was with this. My Hong Kong budget is now LIVE (although I have exceeded my daily spending limit EVERY day) note to self: money doesn't matter, it's fluid, what goes around comes around.

New things achieved today:

I swam in the sea: properly for a long time and I wasn't scared and I really enjoyed it. More please

Excel is now my friend: after literally years and years of turmoil, I am finally using this spreadsheet fantasy and can and will continue to work with it.

Climate Control and Body Clock

So the climate here..........

I have a heat rash. Because I left the air con on too low. The air con unit that sits above my bed, feet end is my new and life changing challenge. Set it too low, it doesn't do anything but push hot humid air around the room, something you want to avoid when falling asleep with a duvet, albeit small and thin, all night long. Mistake A. Leave it on too high, you freeze to death and wake up with a cold. Lesson from my HK trip number one.

The third night, in my experience is the worst for jet lag. I always forget that jet lag continues and doesn't consider your wants and desires. That's right, your body clock by day three is so confused about when to sleep, eat and be awake.

I went to bed at 11:30pm which is pretty late for me as most people will know, I am a 6am-10pm girl-daylight lady. I read my book on my new and very exciting Kindle, thank you Graham and Ruth for making this happen, and turned my book off (a very 21st century thing to do), popped the air con on to a temperature/setting that I thought would see me through the night, pulled my sheet which I exchanged for the duvet tonight, around me and waited to drift off into the land of dreams. BAM.

YOU'RE NOT SLEEPING. Midnight passes, 1 o'clock, 2 o'clock, should I start reading again? Maybe the air con settings need adjusting? Maybe try some breathing? 3 o'clock, 3:30, I could just do a little reading? But I wanted to go running at 7am, 4 o'clock, FINE, lights on, book out, no chance, ohhhhh home is awake maybe some catching up, no no no........

Two lessons:

I care less about my appearance in Hong Kong. Although I have a heat rash, not completely unexpected, I don't care as much. It'll go. I have found a way of drying out the skin, healthy application of toothpaste would you believe it. I'll work out the air con/too hot/too cold dilemma soon. No worries.

Second lesson: Jet Lag isn't so bad when no time scale exists to live by. It doesn't matter when I sleep, am awake, eat or drink. I have no time restrictions. Let me tell you, this is an amazing feeling. I don't live by a clock telling me when I should be sleeping, exercising, eating, tired or awake. I have no pressure to do anything at a certain time or certain place. I will find work, eventually, but for now, I'm going to enjoy my waking hours, whenever they may be, and enjoy my sleep whenever that comes. Enjoy my days of no agenda and see where relaxing takes me day by day.

Rome wasn't built in a day. And I will take Hong Kong day by day.

Happy Valley, giantification of objects and the olympics

I’ve never seen an orange sky like the one this morning. The whole city was painted golden. I could barely open my eyes, I was so tired, but it was beautiful. A crash of lightening and I was awake. 

So, I am here. In Hong Kong. Ready to ride the waves of this new city. I watched The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel on the flight over. Evelyn writes a blog and describes her experiences. She writes; ‘faced with a wave, you have two options, you can stand still and get knocked down, or you can dive right in and swim out the other side’.

I will jump right into this new city, I will embrace it, live it, breath it, make the most of it. I owe it to myself too not waste a single moment making all of my dreams come true. I have an opportunity and it starts today.

Evelyn also writes ‘what we have before us is a challenge. Our challenge is to embrace it, not just survive but thrive in our new surroundings and in our new life’

The weather is wet. Typhoon season brings regular thunderstorms and heavy down pours. I've never seen rain like it. It's much cooler than it was last time I was here, and I must admit, I am quite relieved. A country of extremes. Unbearable humidity and unbelievable rain. If I can survive this and make a life out here then I will have achieved a great deal 

It has been nice to ease into HK life today. New sim card and HK number, lunch at Shelly's Yard, just off the famous escalators. Three courses for $75. Mushroom soup, vegetable lasagna, coffee and a brownie (which I wrapped to have later). My first IKEA visit and a stroll back from Causeway Bay to Happy Valley via the Rugby 7's stadium. 

We found a HUGE backpack. I, for whatever reason have a slight obsession with the giantification of objects. It fascinates me, makes me smile and I feel like I’m four again. Check out the backpacks we found. Maturity at an ALL time high in Hong Kong

I was glad that Richard came to wake me at 4am to watch the opening ceremony of The London 2012 Olympics. WHAT a show. Danny Boyle did good. I felt very proud to be English. One thing: WHERE was Shakespeare? Dizzy Rascal made an appearance but no mention of Shakespeare!!! It was a spectacular show, choreographed perfectly with a history of why Britain is great. 

  

A smile on my face and hope in my heart

Keep your head up, keep your heart strong........

I leave today to begin the biggest adventure of my LIFE!! I spent my last night in England surrounded by the people who have made me who I am today. I am inspired everyday by each and everyone that crosses my path. I learn so much from the people in my life, all of them have helped make me the person I am today.

I feel alive, I feel free. I can do anything I want to do. I can be who I want to be. I can travel anywhere. I can be everything I have always dreamed of being. I have independence.

I haven't packed............ I have managed to move a lot of clothes around. Emptied my wardrobe and drawers, nothing yet has made it into my suitcase. I swap between 'I want to take everything' to 'I don't need anything'.

I leave my home at 4pm. I don't know when I will be back. I don't know what lies ahead. I don't know where I am going. But I do know I will make the most of everything that happens. I am stronger than I have ever been. I am ready for this.

Good things happen to good people.

Final sunset in the UK..........Taken as I walked down to my plane to leave the UK for who knows how long. 

Hello HONG KONG