On Our Own Path

I'm sitting here at the computer struggling to write anything about Hong Kong.  There are some flashes of ideas that go through my brain, but nothing really compels me to put any more than a couple of sentences.  (I believe this is what some people in the industry call "writer's block".)  In theory, there could actually be a lot of fodder here for some in-depth writing.  In fact, I have a bit of history in Hong Kong.

Nine years ago, back when I was in college and a very green traveler, I studied in Hong Kong for a semester.  (Well, sometimes I'll call it SARSmester due to the outbreak of the rather malign SARS virus at the time.)  In any case, it was the first time in my life that I was away from America for a significant period of time and following that, I was in Norway for a summer...and long story short, I caught the bug (travel bug, not SARS) and have been placating that peculiar itch that the travel bug gives you.  So, going to Hong Kong was like going back to Ground Zero of my travel addiction; returning to the place where it all started; completing a full cirtcle; et cetera, et cetera.  So, I should have some strong emotions there.

Full on. That's the best way I can describe 2011. It's borrowed from a dear Sri Lankan-Australian friend that introduced me to life in Yangon.  

If you ever go to Myanmar, one of the first things that you'll notice that every town, and usually every block in every town has a tea shop at it.  For most people who are crammed in a small house with every other member of their family, the tea shop is a place to gather outside of home and chat or just hang out.