瘋狂的生日週末 (Crazy Birthday Weekend...continued)
Well, you know, with this being my 27th birthday on the 27th of August...I invented the term "double birthday" to rationalize pulling out the stops this year, as it had been quite a while since I had thrown myself a party. Well...in true Hong Kong style, this year was one for the books...
Friday Aug 26th
The festivities began at club DAP in Tsim Sha Tsui (the neighborhood near my hotel) where I shared an exclusive birthday party with a friend of a friend named Spirio. Open bar, designer decor, beautiful people, cake, and some karaoke thrown in for good measure. I must admit to enjoying a round or three of a local concoction deceptively dubbed "Nothing." Word to the wise for the Hong Kong Visitor: while nothing comes from nothing, "Nothing" on the rocks kicks a good buzz. (wink) The birthday was officially rung-in at midnight, Hong Kong time. Let the festivities begin!
Saturday Aug 27th
For the official date, a small bunch of my Hong Kong friends and I headed to Shek-O Beach on the opposite side of Hong Kong island. I wanted to have a very "Hong Kong style" birthday activity, and nothing is more Hong Kong than enjoying the lush natural landscape that flanks the bustling metropolis. We huddled around a fire pit to barbecue hot dogs, chicken wings, pork chops, and steak fillets. My best friend Coco surprised me with a beautiful cake, and my other friend Yanki surprised me even more by eating half of it! (he may be slim, but that boy can eat!) We took a swim, walked along the sand, and otherwise had an unfortgettable time splashing in the cove, nestled amongst the island peaks.
Sunday Aug 28th
As Hong Kong is a full 12 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time, and the 28th here is still the 27th there, I thought it appropriate to stretch out the event another day. This time, I traveled from Hong Kong island to nearby Lantau island to visit the Great Buddha.
The bus careened through the switchbacks of the island's lush hillsides, climbing towards the sky to the Po Lin Monastery. There, reverent visitors climb a few hundred stone steps to reach their metaphysical destination: the largest outdoor seated bronze Buddha in the world. It was a moment of reflection, gazing out across the skyline, walking amongst visitors and locals alike, passing secondary statues posed in perpetual offering to the Enlightened One. Enshrined inside the base was an actual relic of Gautama Buddha himself. A profound visit for this humble traveler from across the globe.
That evening, I embarked with my friend Yanki on the most ambitious part of my birthday weekend: a trip (via hydrofoil) to the small neighboring country of Macau. Aside from the promise of even more stamps for my passport, Macau boasts a unique draw as a historic territory of Portugal. Although now a "Special Administrative Region" (SAR) of China, it enjoys a relatively independent existence combining the cultures of both SE China and the Iberian Peninsula.
Monday Aug 29
My day in Macau included multiple walking tours of the fantastic european architecture and historic districts. I also sampled the local cuisine: portuguese pecan pastries, bloody duck, seafood rice (similar to paella), portuguese sausage (similar to chorizo), and egg custard (similar to creme catalan). The heat was swealtering; climbing to the highest peak of the peninsula felt like the sun was resting on my shoulder.
In addition to being a unique european oasis in an eastern land, Macau also boasts legal gambling, and so no visit would be complete without a visit to one of the many bustling casinos on the strip (which included a Grecian Palace, the Venician Sands, and a man-made volcano under construction...). All will be happy to know that my visit was merely for visual interest - I did not wager any of my precious few remaining HKDs (Hong Kong Dollars)...
Well, that was my amazing 27/27 Double Birthday. I am glad to say that it will go down as one of my most memorable birthdays ever. I have a small album of photos to upload and share with you soon. (yes I know...I still have to upload Thailand). And to all those who sent me birthday greetings, ng koi sai! (thank you very much)!
Well, you know, with this being my 27th birthday on the 27th of August...I invented the term "double birthday" to rationalize pulling out the stops this year, as it had been quite a while since I had thrown myself a party. Well...in true Hong Kong style, this year was one for the books...
Friday Aug 26th
The festivities began at club DAP in Tsim Sha Tsui (the neighborhood near my hotel) where I shared an exclusive birthday party with a friend of a friend named Spirio. Open bar, designer decor, beautiful people, cake, and some karaoke thrown in for good measure. I must admit to enjoying a round or three of a local concoction deceptively dubbed "Nothing." Word to the wise for the Hong Kong Visitor: while nothing comes from nothing, "Nothing" on the rocks kicks a good buzz. (wink) The birthday was officially rung-in at midnight, Hong Kong time. Let the festivities begin!
Saturday Aug 27thFor the official date, a small bunch of my Hong Kong friends and I headed to Shek-O Beach on the opposite side of Hong Kong island. I wanted to have a very "Hong Kong style" birthday activity, and nothing is more Hong Kong than enjoying the lush natural landscape that flanks the bustling metropolis. We huddled around a fire pit to barbecue hot dogs, chicken wings, pork chops, and steak fillets. My best friend Coco surprised me with a beautiful cake, and my other friend Yanki surprised me even more by eating half of it! (he may be slim, but that boy can eat!) We took a swim, walked along the sand, and otherwise had an unfortgettable time splashing in the cove, nestled amongst the island peaks.
Sunday Aug 28th
As Hong Kong is a full 12 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time, and the 28th here is still the 27th there, I thought it appropriate to stretch out the event another day. This time, I traveled from Hong Kong island to nearby Lantau island to visit the Great Buddha.
The bus careened through the switchbacks of the island's lush hillsides, climbing towards the sky to the Po Lin Monastery. There, reverent visitors climb a few hundred stone steps to reach their metaphysical destination: the largest outdoor seated bronze Buddha in the world. It was a moment of reflection, gazing out across the skyline, walking amongst visitors and locals alike, passing secondary statues posed in perpetual offering to the Enlightened One. Enshrined inside the base was an actual relic of Gautama Buddha himself. A profound visit for this humble traveler from across the globe.That evening, I embarked with my friend Yanki on the most ambitious part of my birthday weekend: a trip (via hydrofoil) to the small neighboring country of Macau. Aside from the promise of even more stamps for my passport, Macau boasts a unique draw as a historic territory of Portugal. Although now a "Special Administrative Region" (SAR) of China, it enjoys a relatively independent existence combining the cultures of both SE China and the Iberian Peninsula. Monday Aug 29
My day in Macau included multiple walking tours of the fantastic european architecture and historic districts. I also sampled the local cuisine: portuguese pecan pastries, bloody duck, seafood rice (similar to paella), portuguese sausage (similar to chorizo), and egg custard (similar to creme catalan). The heat was swealtering; climbing to the highest peak of the peninsula felt like the sun was resting on my shoulder.
In addition to being a unique european oasis in an eastern land, Macau also boasts legal gambling, and so no visit would be complete without a visit to one of the many bustling casinos on the strip (which included a Grecian Palace, the Venician Sands, and a man-made volcano under construction...). All will be happy to know that my visit was merely for visual interest - I did not wager any of my precious few remaining HKDs (Hong Kong Dollars)...Well, that was my amazing 27/27 Double Birthday. I am glad to say that it will go down as one of my most memorable birthdays ever. I have a small album of photos to upload and share with you soon. (yes I know...I still have to upload Thailand). And to all those who sent me birthday greetings, ng koi sai! (thank you very much)!
posted by Nate at 12:23 PM
2 Comments:
Happy Birthday mister! I am so glad you got lots of celebration time. Double birthday. I wish I had thought of that. I would have had to use it when I turned 18, which would have been fun. Alas, it's single birthdays from here on out for me.
Oh- and how's this for news? I'm having a baby. Not right this minute, I'm going to wait until April. Pretty crazy stuff though, wouldn't you say.
One more thing - MY FLAG, MAN!!!
You got me thinking, I'll never have a Double Birthday. I'll have my 28th on the 29th, and then my 29th on the 28th. But this isn't about me. Happy Birthday Nate! Don't party too much, there will be more for you when you make it back to the Nati.
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