Chopstick Dreams and Bamboo thoughts

It’s Friday morning. As I walk to my bus stop, I realize that the breeze is now cool; winter is coming. What looks like a summer sun, hangs between the two palm trees that guard the harbour. Reading my book on the bus, the sun shines through the window, hits my head and drips from my hair as I turn the page. These days, thoughts of crisp, clear and wintry nights coupled with snow-capped days fill my heart and head. Wood-cracking fires, freshly powered country lanes where the heavy morning mist hangs stagnant in the distance, I ache for these winter comforts. Feeling the warmth of your winter’s best, smelling the scent of the clean, wintry air with a nose so red and cold, I almost feel it now. When the early morning sun hits the snow, it is sometime indescribable; diamond glitter immediately comes to mind. I have always known that there is something magical and mystical about the winter and snow ever since my outings as a little girl in search of the perfect family Christmas tree.

Preparing for a holly, jolly season is somewhat of a new experience for me here in Hong Kong. Typically, I’m not familiar with the absence of family, old friends and palm trees during a Christmas holiday. It was to my understanding that there would not be many reminders or symbols of the Christian celebration when I first arrived last December 27th, 2006. Being sadly mistaken again about some things, everything and everywhere in Hong Kong is bling, bling, Christmas bells will ring! The amazing decorations, the fabulous displays, the lights, the lights and more light up Hong Kong. Already, the Hong Kong Island skyline is lit up like a festive holiday tree, I couldn’t have imagined it being any more decorative or festive.

My festive, holiday spirit has not been fully awakened within yet. I think that the absence of the snow and not being in Canada for the holidays may have something to do with it. After awhile of reflecting and hesitating about letting some old holiday traditions go in order to creat new ones; to spend the holidays on the other side of the world in another hemisphere is exactly my idea of an exciting Christmas. Seeing my niece and nephew will make my holiday perfect in every way like it was years ago; they are the chocolate filling inside your most delicious truffle! Seeing I can’t be in Canada for Christmas, I will help myself to conjure up visions of snow storms, gingerbreads, and traditional Christmas rituals inside my head. So, I head to the Ladies Market in Mong Kok to simulate some new types of pre-xmas experience. As my flatmate and I exit our building, Christmas trees, white twinkle lights, poinsettias everywhere in our apartment complex bid us farewell and wish us good luck on the shopping excursion. Upon leaving our flat and starting the day, the intoxicating, syrupy smell of gigantic fir trees loiters around all the entrances within the all the buildings and the main entrance of my home. Twinkle lights flutter within the evergreens that stand solemnly guarding the pool and on the other side of our walkway, while the poinsettias hover and crouch down to the ceramic road to tower six.

Buzzing in the cab to Mong Kok, again, it doesn’t feel like its Christmas. The only reminder is the calander on my cell phone that reads Dec 15 when I check and note the time. It took a some time trying to find the Ladies Market again; navigating through the utterly insane crowds of shoppers in Mong Kok is never a treat. The pushing, the banging, the hot-under-your-collar-and-jacket feeling…. Just like being in a mall during midnight madness session. Well, think midnight madness all the time at the markets, add a dash of impatience, a dollop of frustration and a mound of craziness, poof…there you have shopping here in Hong Kong everyday. Preparing for the holidays here in Hong Kong has not been that exciting or pleasurable as it usually is when I’m in Canada, especially when you have no oven in your flat or an Xmas tree. Usually, my pre-holiday rituals include baking traditional cookies and cakes, tearing through some shopping mall sighing impatiently to the strollers that hold me up as I speed walk down the mall. Secretly, I always want to mow these people over in my quest for the just the right gifts and the perfect Christmas cards. I also enjoy eating tons of chocolate, consuming pounds of xmas cookie dough, watching the amazing ballet, The Nutcracker, spending time with my friends and chillin’ with the family. Here, no oven, no cookies and cookie dough. Here, no family, so no chillin’ out with them. All is not lost or really that sad as I’ll be making my journey to the place of OZ!

Given my past complaints about the busyness of Hong Kong, it’s actually quite exciting to be part of all the holiday bliss and festivities in this concrete jungle of a city. The decorations, decorations and more decorations….I can’t believe my eyes in some places; especially the display at Harbour City, TST. There, at Harbour City Mall, it’s the Glitterotti! The lights, the sparkle, the glitter, the people again…taking pictures….gggrrrrrrr….Even though I feel desperate to get to Cape Breton for Christmas, I am overwhelmed with pleasure thinking about another adventure. As my departure date to Australia creeps upon me faster and faster, I think again, what new people will I meet at the bottom of the world…(well, not right at the bottom, but pretty close), will I make or form any connections with locals? Who will I bump into that I know already or will know someone that I know? It’s this anticipation that keeps me wanting to go new places and meet new people. Once you get a taste of it, you hunger and crave more adventure in your life when it comes to travel. Slowly, I’m letting go of not liking being in HK for the holidays, but when will I ever be in Asia for or Australia for the holidays again? As I think about what to pack for Tasmania, I wonder what to bring. Finally, I come to the realization that I need a new attitude and new holiday spirit….I’m going to Australia!! Whoo-hoo! I’ll pack layers of attitude into my head, in my heart and smoosh tons in my spirit, whispering to myself as I throw my sundress into by travellers pack. It’s amazing how a journey has the potential to transform your spirit. Your mind awakens when you have the right attitude in life and in your travel adventures abroad, I have learned. From my few travels, they have taught me to keep my mind; heart and spirit open to new possibilities, people and explorations. Embrace the day, don’t look back at yesterday, and be excited about tomorrow. It took Hong Kong and Thailand for me to really realize that the world IS my oyster. So, maybe you will think what I’ll do next with the time I have left here in Asia. Heck, with the next seven months left, I’m going to make myself a bloody pearl necklace, with matching earrings and bracelets! My life is fantastic and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Cheers to all you other travellers and those who seek out adventure in foreign lands, life is grand! Listening to the band, as I eat my Nepalese Chicken Kebab at Hong Kong International airport, my spirit of Christmas has finally returned.

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