My Path Has Begun

I have been in HK for 25 days. The first week and a half of ignorant wonderment has worn off and my HK experience has been evolving into a different beast: less awe still with confusion. Although there's less opportunity for exploration and random adventure, this burgeoning phase of my study will probably mean more to me with a deeper understanding and truer experience of another country, not just a blindly happy vacation basking in the sun.

Time flies...
KCR Train


















Part of the dwindling springboards of adventures is the consequence of...ok, I'm just going to say it... school. I'm learning so many things in my business classes, I am! I love seeing the business world from the other side of the world. I've learned about so many major companies that I as an ignorant citizen did not previously know of. Despite this, I feel like there's so much to learn outside of the hilly confines of CUHK.

Temple of 10,000 Buddhas, Shatin














Initially I thought 10,000 was just an metaphoric, over-large number used.
Apparently I was wrong. (12,800+)















These past two weeks I've been staring at maps of Asia and I've realized how much I still have not seen. Looking at the expanse of China and its countless towns has made me think that I don't have enough time to stand on new soil, hear what others have say, and connect with souls from other constructs.

I want to boat on the Yangze river, see Shaolin kung fu with my own eyes, participate in a lion dance that circles Tianamen Square, get my legs muddy tilling a rice patty, backpack across boarders, pet pink dolphins, learn three languages, climb the Tibetan mountains, see the sunset over a broken city on an elephant, and offer incense on my unknown ancestors' graves... You may be commenting, Ho waan aa. (Sounds like a jolly 'ol time), asking, Jun haih ma? (For real?), or maybe even, Sihk jo fahn meih a? (Have you eaten yet?). The answer to all is Haih aa. (Yes.)

Tian Tan Buddha (aka Big Buddha)
Ngong Ping, Lantau Island
























You may call me a hippie, fine. I would choose a $5 hostel over a five star hotel any day...not because of the cost, but for the invaluable experience of social knowledge and minimal consumption. Yes, I'm sure I will cave into comfort and familiarity a lot, but these are my visions. I don't know why but I don't want my experience abroad to be easy. I want to come out alive, yes. But I want to come out having seen things, having experienced the different, and questioning what is culture and how do I fit into its global environment. Mom, please don't be too worried at my disregard for comfort and safety at times. I believe in my decently trained cranium and the goodness of people. Ironically through the financial stories I've heard, however, I've realized how insecure, unfair, and uncaring people can be even when they have another other choice.

So you ask, Q: "What's your plan of action for the near future and how have you started to delve into the HK culture, along with a more global one?"

A (What small steps I will take to accomplish my goal):
I will get a HK hairdo. Scary, but I it's my most obvious visual signal that I'm not local (well that and my face...) I will take the risk of getting a mullet and/or really high non-integrated bangs. I also need to celebrate Chinese New Year in China...period. I plan to go all out on that.

Temple of 10,000 Buddhas


















I should take pictures with more reverent poses with the Buddhas.


















A (Some baby steps I have taken):
Unfortunately I still have not stepped outside of HK yet. I have explored, however, and found a few enriching places within these islnds. As you may have noticed, there's a lot of Buddhas on this page. I've seen a lot of Buddhas so far. A gigantic, 250 ton one on Lantau Island, and 10,000 in Shatin. I included this paragraph just to explain the plethora of Buddha that you may have seen if you are still awake reading this blog.

But yipee you may say, the end is near. I close with words from the poet Robert Frost. You may have heard of his poem The Road Not Taken. Ironically I quote. However takng knowledge from the journey of others' paths is just as important as discovering your own.

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.