Sometimes I notice commercials here that are very similar to the ones in Canada. The new McDonalds “I’m Lovin’ It” marketing campaign has reached as far as Beijing (although it’s Mandarin rap) and Hong Kong (with Cantonese lyrics). The commercials have been redone, but have the same look and feel as their North American counterparts. Even the courtesy warnings in the theatres are the same, with the two Disney moose characters from Brother Bear, although they speak Chinese. The Coke commercials are different though, and have a much more distinctive Asian flavour.

There seems to be lots of cute girls in Hong Kong, although this might just be my recent lack of action speaking (that added to the whole cute phase I’ve been going through lately, such as WOAH ISOBEL WITH TIE). I’ve always been of the opinion that Chinese people are rarely attractive, but the ones who are, are VERY attractive, so this sort of changes everything.

I had the chance to do some night time golfing at one of the more popular Hong Kong driving ranges. It’s great to be able to practice at night because of the cool weather and how beautiful the city is with all the lights on. I borrowed my uncle’s titanium shafts (which felt so great to swing with), and had the best hour of golf in my life. For some reason, even though I hadn’t been out on the course a single time this year, everything came together in my golf game and I was hitting more consistently than ever. The entire practice has let me know that I’m not completely hopeless now when it comes to golf, and that I might consider trading in my aluminum shafts for titanium ones.

Two attractive women in airline uniforms greeted me as I entered to baggage area of the Hong Kong airport, handing me a guide to Winterfest activities and a booklet of coupons. “Welcome to Hong Kong. Merry Christmas”, they told me, and I was happy.

I’m settled back into my room now, feeling very comfortable and at ease. My trip to Beijing was almost non-stop, going from one place to the next. For some reason I feel at home here, even when the bed isn’t mine, even when my cat isn’t here to sleep with me, even when my friends aren’t here to talk to. I was relieved when the plane touched down, when I could smell the Hong Kong air, when I could see the pervading Christmas lights.

People are trying to convince me to stay here, even though the tech sector is probably in worse shape here than at home. I’ve always considered living in Hong Kong, but have never taken it seriously because of the terribly humid weather that’s around for most of the year. Now I’m turning the idea in my head more and more.

I’ve grown to love this city, the atmosphere, the people, the culture, the spirit, in such a profound way. I think I understand what Dina was telling me about, after her trip and the attachment she developed to such a foreign land. When I first got here, I was wondering weather or not I would find leaving difficult.

Now I’m just hoping my eyes won’t well up when my grandmother sees me off.

I visited Bird Street, Flower Street, and Fish Street yesterday, perfect examples of how Hong Kong has developed in a very concentrated manner. Each street is one long row of stores related to one type of thing, and people can come to shop around from an overwhelming selection of a specific market. Bird Street was the most interesting though, because it starts off as a stone walkway with signs warning that no dogs are allowed. The walkway is surrounded by trees on both sides, and people congregate there to hang their birds in their cages on the branches, and socialize. Walking further on, one is greeted by endless rows on rows of birds in front of stores. The sound of birds chirping can be thickly heard from the street over.