In case you're curious

This is what a Chinese keyboard looks like:

Sometimes it's the little things.

Noodle Heaven

If there's one thing I'll miss about HK, it's this:

A piping hot bowl of vermicelli noodles with fat shrimp wontons - all nesting in a hot broth.  Add a splash of chili oil and loads of tangy vinegar... sorry, I think I was just possessed by the spirit of Nigella Lawson.

Have I mentioned that this satisfying meal costs less than $3?!  

Urinal Dos and Don'ts

If you're like me, you don't spend a lot of times around urinals.  While I get the efficiency, I find them creepy.

You're in luck if you travel to Thailand because they have very clear instructions on what to do and NOT do at the urinal.  And here I thought the only option was to pee.

And no, I wasn't doing covert blog research in a Thai men's room. At least not for this post - badum-bum!  It was sent to me by my friend David who said, "I guess this means I can't wash my feet in the urinal anymore."  Guess not.

And another thing

...I won't miss - military time. The rest of the world uses military time, something that took a lot of getting used to. I still take half a second upon seeing 16:05 on my clock to decide if it's 4:05pm or 6:05pm.

Up to now this has been a mere annoyance. However today it became full-on issue when I showed up at the airport for my 1pm flight to Tokyo only to find out that I'm 12 hours late. The flight took off last night at 1am!!

The Cathay counter lady pointed out to me that 1:00 was 1am and 13:00 was 1pm. Um yeah, I know, I really do. However a 1am departure seems ridiculous to me for a 3.5 hour flight. And I guess I'm always going to naturally think in American time.

Another reason I'm looking forward to being back in the land of am and pm.

On

I thought Milky and Chewbacca were funny names. Then I was served at our local Starbucks by a guy whose name tag read:

On

Just On. His name is On.

He wouldn't let me take a picture of it. I guess I would be emabarrassed if my name was On too.

I wonder if his sister is named Off?

Have I mentioned?

...that we will be leaving beautiful 70-degree weather in Hong Kong for brutal NYC winter weather??  Since there was a nor'easter in October, I'm preparing myself for the worst.  Am having faint memories of being too cold to shower in the morning, stepping into invisible ankle-deep black slush on the street corners and being pale as f*ck.

Have I also mentioned that 60 degrees feels cold to me?

Yeah, I'm screwed.

Lists, Lists and More Lists

As I start to contemplate life after Hong Kong, I feel compelled to wrap things up in a nice, neat package.  For someone like me (a Type-A Virgo who believes she can control everything including weather on her wedding day) that means a list or, in this case, a few lists.

Here's what I will miss and not miss about this place...

What I will miss about Hong Kong

• Hot pot
• Hot pot
• Did I mention hot pot?

• T-shirt weather in December
• 2-hour plane ride to Thailand, 1-hour plane ride to Vietnam, 4 hours to Singapore, 4.5 to Tokyo, etc.
• Clean streets
• Cheap taxis
• Reliable, timely, clean subway system
• Star Ferry at night 
• $4 bowl of shrimp wonton soup on Wellington
• Weekly tai tai lunches with Laura

What I will NOT miss about Hong Kong

• Rice Kings
• Playing chicken with the locals who try to walk through me (actually, I might miss that!)
• Annoying telemarketing calls in Cantonese
• Sweating through all my clothes
• Pollution 
• The sights, sounds, smells and disgusting stuff on the ground at the wet market 

• America bashing
• Feeling like a giant around 90% of the population
• The lack of black people, Hispanic people, good bagels and Mexican food
• The panicked frenetic beeping sound from the crosswalk lights 
• Malls - if I ever step foot in one again, shoot me

What I will miss about Discovery Bay

• Poolside at Siena Club 2pm on a Sunday 

• XL iced teas at ZAKS
• Manic Mondays, Jump-n-Pump and other Christa-led classes
• Walking Victor leash-less around La Costa
• Coffee at a picnic table in the Plaza at 10:30am on a Monday
• Wine/beer/alcoholic beverage in the Plaza at 5pm on a Thursday
• Being surrounded by friends who are exactly in your situation (kind of like college for adults)
• After-work tennis game with the hubby on a Monday 
• Being called "sexy" by well-meaning Filipinas
• The views

Boxing Day 2010

What I will NOT miss about Discovery Bay

• Sucking in diesel fumes while waiting for the ferry
• Fusion cashiers not understanding how a conveyor belt works
• Life in a fishbowl
• Parents who have NO IDEA where their 3-year old has wandered off to in the Plaza
• The HKR fun police
• People farting/burping/clipping their nails/[insert disgusting behavior here] on the ferry 
• The Forum (ok, maybe a little) 

Hong Kongers and DB-ers - what am I missing?!