Hong Kong unexpected

Yesterday I woke with a start. I was in Hong Kong and will not be home for over 3 months. Oh my God. And when I do get back, I will be moving to a new city and not even sure where I'll live or work yet. There are so many unknowns at this point. The only language my body knew to express this was to wake with a gasping breath and gaping eyes at the dawn of Hong Kong hours.

The reality of this journey started to wrap it's fingers around my mind, pulling me back to a world of logistics and racing rats.

But only for a moment...

Then I realized how bad-ass it is to have some travel funds saved, tickets practically around the world, a backpack with some strategic room to spare for earrings and souvenirs, and a mind without cares except wishing people I love could have this feeling with me.

And then my mind re-awakened in Hong Kong. What an unexpected and beautiful surprise it was. Hong Kong wasn't on the original plan, but was a free stopover, so why not? It is an island that looks like a city upon a city, layered with buildings upon buildings. It is a place to eat, shop, sip on amazing chocolate martinis, and get obscure watch batteries replaced.

Before I left to Hong Kong, I wanted to get my watch battery replaced. But if you have a limited edition L.A.M.B. watch (Gwen Stefani's line) like myself, don't go to Wal Mart. You'll have to come to Hong Kong and get it done by Grandpa, a watch repairman who sits on the side of the street in the Kowloon area. It was the most amazing thing to watch (pun intended). After a full day of asking watch places if they could just replace my battery, no one could because they didn't have the right tools. Then we stumbled upon Grandpa, and in 3 minutes with a couple ingenious tools and a keen eye, handed me back a working watch. The funny thing is that I tipped him for his excellent work, and he just laughed a little. In Hong Kong, tipping is not a regular practice I assume.

And if you don't come to Hong Kong for Grandpa, come just because their airport is the best frickin airport I've ever been in. Everything is so efficient, clean, and smart there. There are free phones for local calls, free luggage carts, and you get through checking in and security in 15 minutes or less.

One more thing about Hong Kong. I am getting more evidence to support what I call my "Pan-Asian face" theory. It is a face that can pass for almost any asian ethnicity. I think I have one. In my past travels, I passed for Malay when I was in Malaysia, Thai when I was in Thailand, and of course Vietnamese when I was in Vietnam. Everyone in Hong Kong thought I was Chinese, which my descendents are, but no one in the States ever really thinks I look Chinese.

I just arrived in Bali, and so far, people think I am Indonesian too. One day in the future, I will have to test this theory in Korea. I think that will be the true test. Keep you all posted.

Anyway, thank you to Hong Kong, onward in beautiful Bali!

Change

Hiyers, Grace here.

What is it about change? Why is it so sad?

I bawled for 2 days. Literally, crying with my shoulders shaking, sobbing uncontrollably.

Yesterday, I was beyond sad to leave NY. The unknown was unnerving. My love for the city, my friends, my best friend, and my boyfriend was overwhelming.

I kept thinking, Why? Why am I leaving a perfectly happy life? Why am I leaving behind people who I love and cherish?

I am 30 you know. Isn't time to make some real decisions and commitments? And yet, off I go again.

Although it's only 3 months, I feel as though it's a change of an era.

Why did this adventure choose me to come now?

Today.

When I flew in HK,

I was unfamiliar with the backdrop and the small fire lit inside me.

Couldn't sleep after 6am and got up. Moped around and then realized dude I'm in HK. I can go see a bunch of new things today. I can eat a bunch of yum foods. I thought hey, that's pretty cool.

Letting go

I don't think leaving home ever gets easier.

Moving out of a place requires a lot of emotional processing, for me, anyway. It's like going through years of your life in just hours. Sorting through the 'stuff' is like sorting through the 'baggage'.

And the best thing to do before a trip is to pack light. I am purging as much 'baggage' as possible, and in this process, just letting go of things. If thoughts are things, and things are a reflection of thoughts, then letting go of things is a way for me to let go of my old thoughts. Maybe it's like a master cleanse and detoxification for the mind.

Like all cleanses, you retaliate at first as the toxins leave your body. My retaliation came in the form of my 'present self' battling with my 'past self' about whether I should keep something. After many of these battles, my past self has surrendered and realized that it is ridiculous how much stuff we keep and never use.

But the people, connections, and memories that have given me a sense of home for the past few years are the hardest part to let go. So I won't, and will keep these for safe storage in my heart. This way, whenever I look there, I will remember my home no matter where life takes me.

Though our travels are 3 weeks away, this feels like the first step in my journey. With lighter feet, a lighter mind, and a full heart, the end is the beginning...