To have a cup of coffee and read the Hong Kong Standard while thinking about my life that is. Surely there must be cheaper and less time consuming ways to think about making changes.
There are. They just are not as fun.
I’m not sure why it is, but coming here relaxes me in strange sort of way. (Of course, my sojourns into Wanchai do just the opposite!)
I was up at 7 this morning. For once I did the prudent thing and did not take a late night taxi over to Wanchai when the band at the hotel bar finished its set. (One of the Filipina singers had a diamond nose stud-what’s up with that?) As a result getting up this am was quite easy. Had breakfast, checked e-mail, made some phone calls, then laid back and watched the news.
Which was nothing but more of the same. Lebanon is falling apart, Iraq is still a mess, and Barack Obama is black, still a smooth talker, and Hillary hates him. Situation normal-must be time to set out for the day.
No matter how many times I come here, I always start out my visits the same way. MTR to admiralty, walk around the park, Tram up the peak. Coffee in Pacific coffee sitting outside in the sunshine.
On the way seeing interesting things. A maid, helping a gweilo boy get a drink of water at the fountain. The bride being “suited up” by her friends for wedding pictures. The mega Mercedes limo in front of the bridal registry. Looking back down to the harbor and seeing the haze. Some older gentleman sitting and staring into space.
It always seems like this city was made just for me. The trick, of course, is to find a means of gainful employment in it. (Any suggestions-please send them along.) In the interim I have to be content with these short visits where I almost always do the same old thing.
Like stay too long on the netvigator Internet terminal, thereby pissing off some burly Australian looking over my shoulder as I type this, pointing to the timer I never bother to use.
Just like the world and the news. Maybe me-and it- need to make a dramatic change.
