Save It For Later

I had been thinking of a post and a title having something to do with guests and hospitality, but my mind is a little foggy and this title probably fits better at the moment anyway. We take off for Tokyo in exactly four hours, at 8:00 a.m. I started packing earlier than usual, around 8:00 p.m but with interruptions like making dinner, showering, putting off writing a blog, I just finished a few minutes ago. This is a long trip so packing actually took a bit longer. I always believe it will work out differently than me sleeping for about an hour before a flight. Oh well. I guess that's how my skill at sleeping on planes developed so well.

So, visitor updates: The cockroach is dead. Well, a cockroach is dead. A few days after I first saw it, Paul said, "I saw your friend this morning." I tried to guess who he meant, and then he said, "He was in the kitchen." He tried to get it, but it was too quick. Then we went out Saturday night for dinner and drinks with a group of friends so we got home late, about 2:30. As I was putting some things away, by the dim light near the kitchen, I saw the beast scamper by just as Paul was coming into the room. I pointed it out, turned the light on, and Paul asserted, "O.K. Get ready," more to himself than to me as he took a Karate stance. Then he punched the cockroach.

Mmm Hmm. Punched a roach. And with Mr. Miyagi-like precision and impressive brute force, Paul became the champion as it fell to the floor - or most of it fell. Some of it remained on the front of the cabinet it had been scurrying down and I think a leg or partial wing landed nearby. It was only maimed, not killed instantly, but my stealthy hero soon finished the job. Then I made him wash his hands thoroughly. I can only hope that the three sightings were all the same roach. I could swear the one I saw the first time was bigger, but I'm hoping it was the same one. Only time will tell. So one guest has gone.

VIEW DISCRETION IS ADVISED

Other guests: Last week was a record week for us. Two individual people visited us here in Hong Kong. Perhaps, I exaggerate a little, but the lack of visitors so far, precisely zero, has made me desperate. First, a girl Paul used to work with got married and honeymooned in Bali. She and her husband had one night in Hong Kong on their way home. They called one of Paul's coworkers about meeting for a drink and we all met up, and let's call this our first visitor.

Second, my friend Steve from high school, who I've reconnected with on Facebook, travels a lot for business. He was making his first trip to Shanghai with a two night stopover in Hong Kong. I met him for lunch the day he was leaving. Coincidentally, his office is a two minute walk from our building. We road the tram to a popular old tea house for dim sum, then walked through Hong Kong Park, and I pointed out some highlights along the way. It was approximately a three hour tour (a three hour tour).

True, neither individual came specifically to see us, but I'm still calling them visitors because - hey - that's all we got... now that the roach has passed on.

So in a few hours we will be guests in Japan. We'll miss Halloween here again this year. Last year we were in Australia. You may think it makes no difference, but it is actually a pretty popular holiday here. Hong Kongers love any reason to party. Friends described the scene around the popular bar area last year, how you had to queue for blocks to get near anything and the people traffic was separated by barriers only allowing one way in and out. Frankly, it doesn't sound appealing (cause I'm old). We will likely be soaking in a hot spring in the hills around Mt. Fuji instead. So be it.

The weekend before Halloween

We are truly looking forward to our trip. I won't know what to do with myself when we return; I've been doing nothing but planning it for about two months. I have to smile reading the email exchanges I've had from some places I've made arrangements with. I hear that the Japanese are remarkably courteous and it proves true so far. Also, Japanese to English translation must not be a simple thing because some of the phrases I've read just crack me up. I know it's just awkward translation, but it seems so precious.

Here is part of a confirmation email I received from one hotel:

Then We are waiting for Mｓ.Lisa Piraino to come from staff all the persons concerned and the heart...
Take care and come on the day.

And from the English web site of the dive instructor who I arranged a dive trip with:

Every time, nature of this subtropical island makes me excite and relax. As an scuba diving instructor working for Umicoza, I have always enjoyed them mainly from sea... Every time having been touching with this spectacular water world as a scuba diving instructor, I would like to introduce it to you... The way coming to this destination is by air or sea. Applying airplane is more popular, concerning about time. (If your holiday can afford to time, ship traveling also becomes preciousness.)

Don't you just want to hug them?

Well, it's almost a pity to be leaving Hong Kong at this time because the humidity has dropped considerably recently and you can walk a bit without sweating. Now is when the weather starts to become more pleasant.

So, am I entertaining when I'm delirious?

We'll be back on November 8. Bye!

Legs

I'm going to tell you a quick little story. It's not at all comforting and it might make you itch. First things first, Hong Kong is a densely populated place. It has cockroaches. Lots and lots of them. And this is a sub tropical environment with sub tropical sized roaches. I could be wrong, but I'd bet in a fight that a Hong Kong roach could kick the ass of a New York roach. Maybe when you live in a crowded city, these things are just a part of life, but it never has been for me before, so cockroaches sort of terrify me. I've dodged them on the sidewalks since we arrived here. Some are scurrying; some are squished lifeless and flat from an endless parade of shoes. I knew it was only a matter of time before one found its way up to Flat 2612 of J Residence.

If you didn't know, I go to sleep late. One night last week at around 1:15 a.m., I turned away from the computer as if I felt someone watching me. Across the room in the "kitchen" my eyes met this thing next to the sink. I stared for a second as if it weren't real, and then I registered the twitch of antennae. It was horrifying enough that a roach sat staring at me from my kitchen. The size of it is what froze me in panic. This may have been the biggest one I've ever seen. Like, PBS's Nature big.

I approached and, lacking a better idea, raised a shoe. I took one swat and missed before it fled for cover under the washing machine cabinet. I think in my heart, I didn't have it in me to make contact. You don't want a creature hiding in a mystery location, imagining it lurking in every corner for days to come (still). But I'm not sure what I would have done if I actually hit it. So I won't try to imagine that gruesome scene. I just sprayed lots of roach spray and I'm sure the memory will fade... one day... if it didn't invite friends.

I spent several minutes trying to represent the size of the thing with carefully arranged letters below, but every time I publish the post, the letters don't line up right. So I'll just say it was big. And yes, it's late as I write this, and yes, I look over my shoulder every now and then.

I should probably apologize for even sharing this.

Hey, two weeks till Japan!

We Are the World

Well, it's very interesting to hear, from a dedicated reader, that the blog music works back there in the U.S... Very strange. I hope you like the song, "Horse with No Name," because that's probably the last song you'll hear for blog eternity since I can't add anymore songs from Playlist. I'll have to see what I can do.

Yesterday was National Day, and it happened to be the 60th since Mao christened The People's Republic of China. I heard about the kerfuffle regarding The Empire State building going red in honor. I do think the decision was questionable. Overall, the day is celebrated in Hong Kong, but even here, there are protests. It seemed like the U.S. was kind of kissing up to China, as if they owe them money or something. Oh, wait...

We watched the fireworks display from the 41st floor lounge of our building. You can only see about half of them from our angle, but they looked impressive enough. Do you remember when I wrote about the fireworks we watched for Chinese New Year? I said that we couldn't see much other than smoke. I though it was poor weather conditions but I read some time since that two fireworks barges caught on fire, hence the smoke. Aha. At least there was a reason behind the disappointing display, and this one was much clearer. They were also offering wine in the lounge last night. Not too shabby for free entertainment that we didn't have to leave the building for.

They also had a big screen showing the celebration taking place in Beijing. It was of Olympic opening ceremony proportions. The Chinese certainly know how to create a spectacle. I got the message: Pay attention, World. Were not peasants anymore. I read that they seeded the clouds in Beijing prior to National Day so it would rain before and not during the festivities. The government really goes all out for appearances. What would they do if there were dissident clouds?

So there Paul and I were, watching fireworks in Hong Kong to celebrate China's National Day. We have been here over a year and a half, but sometimes I still look around and wonder how we got here. One thing is certain; it will be difficult to look at the world exactly the way we saw it before we left the comfort of our own.

We always relished our travels, but we now travel in a part of the world that we once hardly imagined. Now, when I read about the hundreds who died and the thousands who lost everything last week as a typhoon hit Manila, or the possibly thousands who died in yesterday's earthquake in Indonesia... it means something more. We've visited The Philippines and Indonesia. When wildfires tore through Australia earlier this year, I thought of panicked Australians because we've been there. Lots of Aussies live here too.

I think this is a condition of human nature. We care about what we know, what has a name and a face that we recognize. It's too much to carry the sadness of the world; the news would just be too overwhelming, but traveling spurs a greater consciousness. It's a willing participation. It makes it harder to be ignorant. It forces me to read the news. This must be a positive thing, somehow. As the world becomes smaller, our embrace of it grows larger. And the more familiar we all are with one another, the more likely the embrace is mutual.