So, I apparently drank too much tea and now I can’t sleep. It’s a long story, but I forget that tea has a lot of caffeine in it because it doesn’t feel like it does to me. Coffee definitely does. If I drink coffee in the morning without eating, it makes my stomach hurt and messes up my appetite for the day. Tea, not so much. But anyway…

So, today, I arrived at my last stop. Hong Kong. It started a little rocky. Really, it started last night. It wasn’t just one thing, it was just one of those moments when all the little things add up. At first, I just was sick of living out of a suitcase. And then I had reached my maximum of cold showers. But what really did it for me, was when I discovered that my phone and ipod had been… stolen. That’s a long story also. The thing that’s most frustrating, is I can’t figure out exactly what happened. But basically, the last time I saw them both was in Singapore. I haven’t used my phone since I’ve been here, I just have it for whatever reason. And my ipod has been dead since then, so I haven’t been using it. There’s a few things that could have happened.

1. I left it in my luggage that I stored in Bangkok while I traveled to Cambodia and Laos and someone from the guesthouse stole it. Possible. Not likely though, because I don’t think I would have stored it somewhere easy to grab, and that would mean they would have had to go through my suitcase and put everything PERFECTLY back. Which I’m pretty sure didn’t happen.

2. Perhaps, I took it to Cambodia and Laos with me in my ginormous backpack. But the only time that something could have been taken from there was when I stored my bag on the bottom of buses. Someone could have swiped it. Probably by the people who scammed us when we were trying to get to Cambodia.

3. There IS still the option that I hid them both so well that even I can’t find it. Definitely possible. Likely? I’m not sure. Since I pretty much unpacked everything when I was re-packing last night.

Regardless, that’s really frustrating. And I was really pissed for a little while. So, then, in the airport today, I was in bad mood because of everything built up and because I didn’t get enough sleep. And then I had to pay $60 extra dollars because I had to check my backpack. To be honest, it was definitely overweight. The limit was 7kg which is like 15ish pounds. My bag was 15kg which is like 33ish pounds. Haha. So, i mean, ya, that’s pretty over the limit. But, frustrating because A. it cost as much as the flight itself and B. All my other 7 flights in Asia allowed me to carry it on with no worries. Anywayyy. And THEN, I dropped my suitcase on my foot and bent my toenail back. And I’ve spent more money than I budgeted, which is also very annoying. So, I was in a really bad mood.

I actually went and asked if I could move my flight up to today. I couldn’t. So, I decided to sit in the Hong Kong airport and drink some coffee and adjust my attitude so I could enjoy my day in Hong Kong.

I was talking to a friend online who said something along the lines of, “Well, you’ve gotten to have an adventure that most people will never get to have… that’s something”. Ain’t that the truth?

So, I sat there, realizing what a jerk I must be, to sit here, after having traveled the places of my dreams, and I’m in one of the greatest cities of the world… complaining. Really? Really? Ha. So ridiculous.

So, I started looking on the bright side of things.

1. I AM due for a new phone. A free one perhaps. I’ve had that old one for 2 years. And though me and good ole blue chocolate have been through a lot, maybe, just maybe, it’s time to move on.

2. And, my ipod. Well, that sucks. I can’t replace everything. But, let’s be honest, it’s not the end of the world as we know it.

3. At least I still have my passport, my camera.

4. I laughed at my fate. Because, to be honest, sometimes I arrogantly scorn (only in my mind) the people who get stuff stolen, because I think that I’m so much more aware of my surroundings because I lived in Russia.

5. Also, I had a place to stay in Hong Kong. Though I have the afternoon to venture out on my own, I have a place to stay… Actually, one of my friends from Hong Kong – Yonnie, sent me an email not long ago telling me that if I was still planning to visit Hong Kong, her mom offered for me to stay with her at their home. So incredible.

So, after some coffee and attitude adjusting, I took the train from the airport to the city. From there, I found the tram that runs along Hong Kong island (for only $2 Hong Kong (less than 30 cents)). I hopped on and took it to the end of the island for some poor man’s sight seeing. It was GREAT. Hong Kong is FASCINATING. One of my favorite cities.

I’m not here long enough to tell you exactly why. I think it’s a mix of things. It’s super westernized, yet it still maintains its Asian-ness. There’s enough white people that live here and do business here where you’re not surrounded by tourist scams and you’re not a novelty to be started at. You’re just another good ole Joe to an extent more than in other Asian countries I’ve visited.

People were more stand-off-ish than in absurdly helpful and outgoing Taiwan, but everyone who I’ve asked for help has been incredible.

So, back to the tram. It took about an hour to get to the end of the island. I met a guy from Hungary on his way to study in Australia that was doing the exact same thing I was. Taking the tram to the end. Then getting right back on. We had seen each other going the first trip and acknowledged each other wordlessly as the only tourists taking pictures out the side of the tram. But when we both ended up on the same one going back. We laughed and started talking. “Oh, so you had the same idea”… It was quite nice to have a fellow traveler acquaintance.

Later, we took the ferry across the… water… to a different island, where Yonnie’s mom lives. After taking pictures, and then taking an extra 30 minutes to figure out how to find and get on the correct minibus, I headed towards her place. Her maid, Jovy, met me at the bus stop, and showed me to their 41st floor apartment! Wowo!

Soon, Yonnie’s mom arrived home, and treated the 3 of us to a nice Chinese dinner! It was delicious and incredibly kind of her! I ate duck for the first time – which was delicious. And a lot of other things. I haven’t been that full in a while. (In Bangkok, the last night, all I had enough money for was steamed rice. haha. so pitiful.)

So, now, I’m sitting in my bed. Literally RIGHT next to the window on the 41st floor with a GREAT view of Hong Kong. Awesome. But at the same time a little scary. I’m just not thinking about it.

So, anyway. It has been a great last day. I’m so glad I decided to have a good attitude and enjoy the city, because I truly have enjoyed my day in Hong Kong. This is one of the places where I would LOVE to spend more time. Incredible, bizarre, fascinating city.

I head home soon. I get back Tuesday night! Yay! I can’t wait to see you all! I’ll let you know my phone situation once I’m back so we can get in touch to hang out, because I need some good catch up time with you!!!