In 48 Hours...

In exactly 48 hours I will be in Kuala Lumpur. I know, I don't believe it either. But, unless it starts snowing in Hong Kong/Singapore duty-free keeps me from boarding my plane/I don't wake up in time, it will be coming true.

This is the longest I have been away from home. I know I harp this constantly and am no way close to the length of time some others have been away, but still... this IS the longest I have been away. I am dreading the coming back to Hong Kong already even before I depart! Maybe quitting my job and going to work in some dark, dingy basement clinic in some government hospital and earning pittance may make me come to my senses. Either that, or the humid weather and monsoon rains. I hate getting my feet wet.

I went out to ShenZhen on Thursday to get my nails done. I wanted to get a facial to make my face more presentable, but the spa was fully booked. =( So I got my nails done in silver glitter and cherry blossom trees! Very festive huh?

Friday saw me meeting other like-minded people from Malaysia. The medic introduced me to his friends and we went to TST to One Peking for drinks. The bar we went to was called Aqua Spirit and one of the top 5 bars that you must visit when you are in Hong Kong according to Lonely Planet. The cocktails were brilliant and the view across Victoria Harbour at night from the highest bar in Tsim Sha Tsui was nothing short of spectacular; until the management ruins it by playing loud music and turning on the smoke machine. -_- Some people may need dutch courage and blurred vision to fish for friends but it just spoils my view of the global-warming inducing lightshow put on for the benefit of tourists. It also ensures that Hong Kong can be detected by alien spaceships.

I went out shopping on Saturday for some stuff to bring back home. I should never ever go out shopping. I got me some lovely shoes, a ring, a necklace, 2 tops and a mouse shaped soft toy that doubles as a pillow. I am not that bad la, I managed to get all the stuff I needed to bring back. Needless to say, my sister has the biggest haul. I went to the Chinese New Year market in Victoria Park. It had been raining the whole day and the banker had blew me off for our dinner appointment. So I decided to brave the winds and rains and just check out the market anyway. The place was full of inflatables! Around 100+ stalls had been set up for the week preceeding Chinese New Year so that Hong Kong kids can fill their already cluttered homes with more soft toys/inflatables and useless objects. I saw a huge inflatable Ferrero Rocher that was 50cm in diameter, donuts the size of tyres, crackers with peanut butter filling one metre long, even fishballs and mini cocktail sausages on sticks that were 2 metres tall! They sure like fake food around here! There were also flowers and auspicious plants on sale for luck and chinese candy and cookies. I learnt quite a bit about the various traditional foods and cultures of the Chinese when it comes to welcoming the new year. This year is the year of the Rat, which means there were tons of Rat related toys/tshirts etc. I have my new lucky red 'Year of the Rat' underwear all set! Hahahah!

On a more sober note, this year denotes the start of a new cycle. I have lived two full cycles of the chinese zodiac. This is my third cycle and possibly the cycle that will denote the most change and upheaval. The past 23.3 years I have followed my parents where ever they go. This cycle is where I start making my own plans for my future. And I have to decide where I want to go, who I want to hang out with, what I want to eat (Yes, we had to eat everything that was laid out on the table, disgusting or otherwise) and whose credit card I want to max out. I know there are some people whom I will always want to be a part of my life, certain foods I can't live without and I welcome anyone's credit card for my disposal.

Footnote: My brother says I am old... Do I look old to you? Don't anwer me, I may feel wrinkly.