A Farewell

It's unbelievable how fast the time can fly by, but we lived each moment to its fullest here, and it's time to say farewell to our beloved city, our beautiful gem, our flashy paradise, our Hong Kong.

I had a very special last day with the HKTB - the PR team took me out for a phenomenal lunch at a Shanghainese restaurant (good practice for tomorrow!) and we took a ton of photos, exchanged cards and gifts, and traded email addresses to keep in touch. Angela, Cody, Wilson, Way and Larry got me a beautiful bracelet and I'll think of them every time I wear it! My coworkers at the HKTB were so very special to me, not only were they great mentors and great friends, but they became my family here too. All the little things they did for me meant so much and made a huge difference - like translating lunch menus for me, teaching me Cantonese phrases, mapping out routes for me, and making sure every afternoon when I left the office that I would be okay in Hong Kong on my own. Some of the nicest people I've ever met, and a lot of fun too. I haven't laughed that much at work in a long time.

Lunch in the Cheung Chau Room

Way, Wilson, me, Cody, Larry, Angela

Farewell lunch

Wilson, Cody, Angela, me, Gloria, Kathy, Suki, Eva, Eliza

PR Team at HKTB: Wilson, Suki, Eva, me, Mayee, Eliza, Gloria

My work Ohana: me, Cody, Angela, Wilson

The rest of the evening has been spent packing everything in my room in anticipation for going to China tomorrow and then returning to "The States" on August 8th. In a room that can barely fit a bed, a toilet and my body, it's been quite a feat organizing and packing into 2 huge suitcases...I've sustained a few bruises but the only things left in my hotel room are those that are bolted into the wall (I'm returning with the entire island of Hong Kong in my bags).

Tomorrow afternoon we begin our trip into Mainland China. We'll spend 3 days in Shanghai, 3 days in Chengdu and then a week in Beijing. I'll post a brief version of our itinerary shortly.

Today isn't just a farewell to Hong Kong, but it is also a *brief* farewell to you, blogosphere. For many reasons - some more disclosable than others - I won't be able to keep up my blog during our two weeks in China. BUT, I do plan on updating with pictures and stories later in August once we return from the trip. While in China I'll have internet access, so I can check and send emails no problem, I just won't be able to blog .... so please do keep in touch over the next 2 weeks!

Thanks for sticking with me in Hong Kong and being a part of my experience! It's often the highlight of my day to share my stories with you and to read your comments here...I hope I've been able to entertain you, teach you a little something about Hong Kong, and open up a window into SE Asia for you. And for some of you in particular, I wouldn't have been able to do any of this if it weren't for you...thank you a million times over for this once in a lifetime opportunity - I am so grateful for your love, support and guidance!

The funny thing is, out of all the Cantonese words and phrases I learned this summer, I never learned how to say "goodbye"...probably because the common expression of "goodbye" in Hong Kong is an often overly emphatic "BYE BYE!" (pronounced BAIIII BAIIII) So instead, for now, I'll tell you "lay ho" or"hello"...I'll be talking and blogging with you again very soon - and for some of you, I'll be seeing you very soon as well!