HONG KONG

After spending 40 hours in Hong Kong and arriving at the airport to make the trip back to Mississippi, a lot is whirling around in my mind.  Having just visited Tiananmen Square earlier, put me in a serious mood.  The photo of the lone Chinese student defiantly standing in front of the tank.  That image has never blurred in my mind.  I left Beijing involved in serious thoughts on many subjects.  That is one of the luxuries of traveling alone. The next 40 hours were a different extreme.

When I arrived in Hong Kong, I left my bags at the airport as I didn't want to lug them around.  I love to travel light, but some of these shopping sprees got to me.  I checked into one of the usual hotels that I stay in Hong Kong, knowing that the last night will be in the Peninsula where it will be snowing.  So this was going to be a night to myself and reflection time.  I learned of a Chinese restaurant that the staff in the hotel told me about.  It seated over two hundred people and there were between 50 to 60 people waiting in line.  I was the only white haired Caucasian there.  Maybe that was why I got special treatment.  Having to go to the Aquariums and pick out two abalones and then go to another to for the fish that was swimming around was nice.  They put the fish and some water in a plastic bag and took it off  to the kitchen for cooking. Great evening and great service. 

I then went to several places that I had frequented in the past to say my goodbyes and listen to some local Karaoke. Most of the music ws in Chinese but some was in English.  I didn't want to be out too late as I knew the next one would be long, so I called it quits about 2:30.

The next day around noon, I called the Peninsula to send a car to pick me up.  No, I did not request the Rolls.  I may have lost a lot of weight but, but it hasn't been on the body.  It  is in the wallet.  The only thing left between the leather skin is worn out credit cards and no money.  When I get back, I will work on losing the weight.

Arriving at the Peninsula, I walked to the registration desk with a smile on my face that went from ear to ear.  The staff was amused and they were smiling before I left.  I went to the room to wait for the snow to arrive in a couple hours.  I had planned to let Kuki pick the restaurant of her choice and have a great evening.  Being who she was, she wanted me to make the plans.  We had a Mexican stand off.  She wanted to please me and I wanted the same for her.  We both knew that this was to be our last time together.  She had a hidden agenda.  The hotel had five, five star restaurants, candle light dinner in the room would be good. I don't know why I didn't think of it.  We had our own personal attendant to serve us dinner and with the orchids, music, and candle light the evening was set.  Besides it was raining outside.  What better reason to stay where we were.  After dinning, we had massages with oil applications.  Naturally, the next thing was to have baths and wine delivered to us.  I could get usex to this decadent lifestyle.  We never really delved on the thoughts of it being our last night.  I knew she had to go back to her life and traditional ways, and I would go to whatever ways.  The time spent with her was unique in that we both felt uninhibited and free.  What a beautiful mind she had, and I loved being in it.  I need not say more as I will always remember the snow in Hong Kong.  What a charmed life and memories I have.