有緣人

Flute music played by a man in the wilderness? It sounded unimaginably crisp and I promise anyone could hear from far away distance. To me, it added meaning to where he was playing – at an abandoned village. The flourishing violet mountain flowers by a roofless house which it all covered by green moss, had all seemed come alive again. Do they call it a full circle?

I met a hiker during the journey from Ma On Shan to Wong Tai Sin. By all means he did not look like a hiker just by visually scanning on his outfit and the gear he held. He looked more like a construction worker in his early 50s, with a wooden walking cane and a straw hat. He was singing the Cantonese tunes from the 70s. We greeted each other and he asked where I was heading. It’s not too much of a surprise to end on the same destination. He started telling me the route we were on was a major passage and he described how it was before. The further we walked, the more he explained the Taoism philosophy which he practices in. The idea of the nature correcting itself, how our body repairs, and all the coincidence happens around us are all due to the cause of Yin and Yang. He explained how he found several of his wooden canes. They were all picked up after typhoon or cut down by other men. And the canes he collected had checked out all the requirements – the protruding handle, length, weight, balance and the resemblance of human, buddha and other Chinese mystic creatures (such as dragon).

He then asked if I wished to try an off-the-grid route. I refused at first but as we approached that point, why not! It is one of those loose sand and gravel slope he led me to. I would not know there’s such route existed, as it’s behind a high retaining wall. He has even shared me a few tips when climbing down with a supporting rope.

It’s a compliment from him I supposed, he said he does not often bump into people like me, that’s willing to listen and treat stranger not quite a like stranger. On the other hand, he referred it as our fate.

Before we parted ways, he remarked on our society that’s so different from where he used to grow up from. Knowledge and ideas can be passed along to the rest of the family. How many of us know much about the medicinal use of Chinese herbs and common ingredients?  How many of us can address our relatives appropriately (in Chinese it’s more than just cousins, uncles, aunties…). All these names and knowledge, our grandmas and a few other uncles/aunties just know it all, right?

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I’m grateful my 2016 had been an add-on to the previous. Departing from the workspace which I’d stayed for 6 years was a decision that had built up over the course of 6 months. I noticed life can be different if I decided to steer the wheel. How bad can it be when I’ve got nothing to lose. I think it’s worse if I look back one day and say what if.

Abroad

Ireland was the first European country I wanted to visit, huge part of it contributes to the natural scenery and the castle remains. I wanted to see the straight high cliff by the frigid ocean and the castles of many types here and there. They were ironically just part of the agenda while the main one was to attend a concert of an Irish singer. It all did not happen.

One of the most beautifully named places on the map of Hong Kong has to be the Cape d’Aguilar. If you do not mention about the location, people would have thought an European destination or even somewhere that produces wine. That’s just the opening words, the attractions there are just as beautiful. It’s located on the southeastern tip of the main island. If I say I’ve found almost everything I wanted to see from the Ireland by a 30-min bus ride, would it be a surprise?

There is our one of our five surviving pre-war lighthouses (since 1875) and there’s the stunning high cliffs by the frigid sea. The cliffs were so high it gave me goosebumps. The other part of the cape is a rocky gulf where huge white waves rush into, creating a scenery where anyone just want to snap happy. And the climbable Crab Cave by the sea was a bonus if you wished make yourself look like a conqueror.

The Cape d’Aguilar reminds me of a theme park or an outdoor version of museum. It’s an adventure if you begin the journey from Shek O where it required some climbing/hiking. It’s also known for the grey area for trespassing when reaching the d’Aguilar Peak.  It’s educational as a historic and geographic tour.

It’d be a surprise if you do not wait for the sunset. Well, make sure you have enough time to walk back to the bus stop. There’s hardly any lamp post on the way back.

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My meaning of home has grown stronger and stronger in this past year or so. You have to love and respect of your home and its people. The complaining and comparing just won’t help, especially when annoying the others.

On a recent wedding invitation of an ex-colleague friend in Hong Kong, who we used to worked in the same office during my last few years in the States. We haven’t really contacted for many years. But he knows I love analogue photography and thought I’d be the perfect person to take down some wedding photos on film. I was given one of his 120 cameras to shoot with during the ceremony. That was my first time ever to play with one. 10 frames per roll is totally my thing!

I met my this friend’s sister at the banquet and had a super brief conversation after introducing myself. She realised many of us (HongKongese who had studied abroad) cannot secure well-paid jobs or advance in their field, results into depression. I told her because they’re still mixed up with thoughts of whom they want to be. The advantages the others think we have are not standing out from many many many other graduates from abroad, and that’s staggering year by year adding to those who’d studied international schools, the returning American/Canadian-born Cantonese, and even the expats. I’m unfortunately one of these live cases she’s mentioning (I’m sure she did not mean it). The only difference is I’m satisfied with life just like that at the moment. You just have to accept in order to move on.

It’s fair to say, studying abroad really means a temporary escape from our existing local system and to possibly delay the anticipated career decision.