Remember when I said I would have plenty of time to catch up on posts, finally get around to the second Tokyo trip (amazing), and maybe a few others that have been left to linger on the dusty back shelf?
Well, I lied.
The time is gone, and now all of sudden, we're back, but not really. I'm staring out onto a harbor dotted with islands. Next to our (temporary) apartment is a fish market, and from our modest 11th floor window in Aberdeen, I see small boats weaving around one another, workers lumbering among trucks, and an ever-changing sky. It's sticky, humid, and hot. Any second may bring a deluge of rain. Across from us is our probable future home, Ap Lei Chau (Duck Tongue Island), a tiny island almost completely covered by high rise buildings.
That's right, we made it. We're in Hong Kong.
I can feel my brain rewiring to the sounds of Cantonese. I imagine these as slight indentations located somewhere in the back of my brainstem, where the scraps on my 2nd language skills try to claw its way to occupy a useful place. All of a sudden, I'm back in the majority, barely worth a second glance (though that is true of home too).
Before I get into Hong Kong (after all, this is our first day here as real residents), I should talk about home first.
(A brief layover in Vancouver. Canada, we hardly knew ya).Allendale, New Jersey--Manhatten--Queens
These were the places we split our three weeks. Our first week back was a haze of freakishly nice weather and a steady prescription of turkey sandwiches at our favorite deli (Lotitos in Ramsey, NJ) and naps (taken when needed, and often).
I had honestly forgotten the beauty of a blue sky. Throughout our stay at home, I would be constantly amazed by the layers of white clouds.
Our welcome home barbeque. There's Uncle Bill.
Remember us, new york?
One of our most memorable trips was a visit to the Cloisters up by Washington Heights.
We liked it.
Herbs.
My other mom and dad. Thanks!
After the Cloisters, cole and I decided to go downtown to the High Line Park, which was still under construction last time we were home.
The High Line Park at the moment runs from 20th to around 9th street along the west side, kinda around the West Village, Meatpacking District, and Chelsea.
I'm not sure why I love the grit of New York, especially when I don't like the grit of say...Xi'an, but I do.
It was a bit strange seeing American flags. Part of the reverse culture shock we had upon arrival (so so many white people, can't figure out suburban town life) which only alleviated when we were in nyc.After the High Line, cole mentioned that she wanted an egg tart and milk tea. Ok Chinatown it was, except Chinatown was ten blocks down and maybe nine avenues over. Heck, we were in the city, we walked it.
We stopped at possibly our (new for us, not so much for everyone else) favorite bookstore, Jackson McNally on Mulberry and Prince.
Yes, I bought some books.Well, I'll end this here. For some reason, I didn't take that many photos while I was at home, and thus missed documenting some great meals, including a week where I hunted down all of the simple favorites I wouldn't be able to get soon. (pizza at grimaldis, cannolis, nathan's hot dog, carvel, baked ziti, cheesesteak, etc....nothing fancy here). The only thing I didn't get to was a good knish and matza ball soup. Oh well, I hear there's a Jewish deli somewhere in Hong Kong.
Other things happened. The DMV, family gatherings, a short stay in Brooklyn, various Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese pig-outs, the All Points West Music Festival in Jersey City (rained on us all day, but the National and Yeah Yeah Yeahs were incredible. Vampire Weekend was ok. Jay-Z? Skipped out before he got on).
But for now, I'm going to head down in search for my first pork bun since being back.
See you later.
