Sweet Adieu to China, HK and Finbarr RIP.

19Nov: And so I set off to the Dali Airport. I arrived in Ghuanzhou via Kunming. I then had to bus it to this hotel to buy my ticket to Hong Kong. The hotel lobby was the most amazing I have ever seen. It had this incredible backdrop of ancient scenes carved into the wall behind reception. I finally got on the bus and was transported across the border from China to Hong Kong. So much for being in the same country. It certainly doesn't feel like it when you cross over, as you have to get off the bus and get your passport stamped, to exit China. Again, onto the bus, then hit the HK border, to have the HK stamp and then and only then do you make your way to HK.

I arrived in my hostel dorm about 8.30 having set off at around 9am. I then joined a conversation with these 2 girls, one US one Canadian (Daniken). It was so much fun. To exchange toilet stories and laugh about voluntary constipation, as an antidote to foul toilet facilities. It was so nice to be with some girls again. It is so much better to have the balance of meeting both males and females travelling. I seem to have met mostly males most of which have been great fun and one of my best nights was in Xi’an with John, Raj and Wazzo. However, when you do meet some girls to chat to, you realise how different the sexes can be. The laugh can be sometimes so similar but sometimes so different. The next day I hung out with my other dorm mates. one English chap, James, and 2 Aussies Adam and Keira. I got taken to lunch with them and again was entertained with travelling stories. Adam entertained us pretending to swallow the chicken claw that was in my soup. We have photos.

20Nov: That evening, however, I found out my uncle in law (Finbarr had died on Sunday 19th). I rang home and after deliberation, I decided to fly home for the funeral. So after only 2 days in HK, I left to return home to Ireland. I will see HK some other time. I did have time to see my friend Asabe. 5 years I had promised to visit her and 3 days before she leaves HK I managed to lunch with her. But boy did we leave it to the last minute. She is leaving for Nigeria to take care of her mum for a while then off to Aus to complete her pilots license among other things. How cool is that!! Makes my trip look dull in comparison. I wish her the best of luck. At least by visiting Asabe, I saw the business district in HK and the Clifford Chance offices which are mighty impressive. I even saw Victoria’s peak from Asabe’s office. A lusciously green hill in the middle of a concrete jungle with the clouds and mist surrounding it. What a view.

Also ventured into a few shopping malls. FAAAAAB. But need to go to HK when I am earning again. Soooooooo much shopping… Bought a book on learning Chinese characters though for my next venture. HK is sooooo brash but the streets in Kowloon where I am staying are amazing. It does look like the pictures I have seen with all the neon signs in Chinese. Pretty fab. Although the continued onslaught of offers of massage or tailor made new suits can get a bit much.
My uncle in law had been fighting lung cancer and it finally won. We thought he had beaten it after the first op and treatment. But it came back late last year after an 8 year gap. The amount of people who attended his funeral and the effect it has on his family is a credit to him. He was a popular chap and will be sadly missed. Cancer seems to have affected so many people. It is a frightening disease and doesn’t seem to be going away too soon despite the advances in research. Even now I can reel off a list of names of those I have lost or are fighting the fight of their lives. So if you are reading this try to give to cancer research etc. if you have that inclination.

I had been undecided as to what to do after HK, so I let the fates decide. The funeral dictated to some extent which part of the world I was to be in. Therefore, I have decided to try to get a ski job (no not as a ski instructor, if only..) in France as I am home anyway. I speak a little French and the idea is I can improve my French along with my skiing. So after seeing my family, I head to London, to get my ski duds and then to France. So watch this space. I have no idea if I will get a job or not. But if I don’t try then I’ll be disappointed in myself. If I fail then I’ll come home for a while then figure out the next stop. I really want to go from India to Nepal and down through to Tibet. But that can only be done in summer. And of course there is the Silk Route. And er em South and Central America and E. Europe and Aus, NZ… so many places soooo little money…