All too soon, I am already in Hong Kong.

The last week in Malaysia seemed a blur of farewells, hugs, things to buy, things to pack and various things to do. Things were so rushed, since I only found out the week before that I only had one week to go before going off to Hong Kong.

Some things were easy, booking the hotel and flight for example, (even though I could only collect the ticket on Friday) and packing of course. Most of my stuff were packed by the packers leaving me only with the immediate clothing needed. Of course after a while I even had loads more stuff to bring and did not realise that I had forgotten them earlier. Perhaps next time. Even with so much planning there were loads of things I did not have time to do or people that I did not meet.

A lot of people had to be satisfied with SMSes, and facebook messages and emails as I could not personally meet with everyone in the short time frame. As it is, I know I mixed up a few groups of farewells. Also things that I did not manage to get done include going to the dentist, collecting my new glasses and contact lenses, getting another suit made, buying some simple furnishings and fabrics for curtains, the list can go on and on.

What was most sad of course was leaving the family. It felt a bit like leaving Melbourne almost 2.5 years before that. Because you know that it will be a long term thing and it is not longer just for a month or two. While we all know that I will probably make trips back, who can say that those trips will not be quick, and rushed and hardly enough time to do everything that I needed to do ?

Getting here has been a university time dream. Now that I am here, I will have to make the best of everything. Today I spent some hours at the Immigration Department sorting out my visa, then learning to take the bus to my new apartment and also the subway. Also timed myself walking to office from home and of course measured out my entire apartment. As of now, I am already planning the layout, and of course the apartment is smaller than I imagined. It will be more than a month before it will finally feel like home, but then of course, this is the challenge. And of course, it will never be exactly like home can it ? Thank goodness for the friends here though. They have been invaluable in information, comfort and companionship.

More adventures later. Later this week I have a department dinner, handing over of the apartment keys, buying of furniture, a mahjong session, applying for credit cards, applying for my HK ID card, getting my accounts settled, decorating, laying in food supplies, unpacking my boxes, finding a good laundry, some quick food pickups, the list goes on and on.

Come and visit some time.

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And so I am back in Malaysia.

It has just been a huge whirl of activity and sometimes it gives me such a headache. But it can be fun too.

I flew off on Sunday and was met by GAHil and GATra at the airport. Watched "21" on the plane and quite enjoyed it. We were met by a car which took us all the way to the hotel. On the way, I was pointed out to all the different areas of Hong Kong. After checking in was met by FredBear, RoxBear and SoBear. We drove around some parts of Central and moved on up to the Peak for some tea. I had a burger, quite yum actually. Then it was more driving around, looking at places, mostly trying to familiarise myself with a couple of areas. We ended up with looking at this apartment that I had been interested in, and also more streets, before having dinner near the racecourse. At one point I was really shocked because the apartment was so small, and what I thought was just a store room turned out to be a bedroom !!! Walked around a bit, including the Muji store for RoxBear to get some pens for JinBear.

Went to office on Monday and met my new department mates, talked to the boss, and also looked for some old friends. Also sampled having lunch with a whole city of busy people in packed places. Back to the hotel for a change and then I met up with SoBear to walk around, take the MTR and had some drinks. (I swear my mind is blank now about what we did after that. Am pretty sure met up with FredBear for dinner..................) Aha ! I remember now, we met up for dinner and then bought a pack of cards to play back at the hotel. Then it started raining like crap, and it sure was heavy.

On Tuesday, I started the day off by walking the travelator up the mountain, meeting up with FredBear and walking around the whole area. We also had breakfast at the roadside. Spent some time at his place before we went to some computer place to look at stuff. We separated after that as I went back to the hotel to change for dinner with the IGs. We had some Shanghainese food and talked a bit. Then met up with SoBear, FredBear and RoxBear again at this Mahjong shop, where we played mahjong on an automated table !! Super fun. And I can bet you that I will be returning often.

Wednesday we met up with the real estate agent and it was quite tiring walking around places you knew you did not like, or could not afford, while in the sun. But it was all good as I got a very good idea of what to expect after a while. Luckily one of the last apartments that we saw was alright to me. We decided to go yumcha for lunch but not before waiting to see another apartment somewhere else. It was fully furnished but was so small and noisy that it was quite depressing. Yumcha was good, though we had too much food. Walked around some more before going to RoxBear's place for some good old WiiFit. Hehe. Had so much fun that might buy one for myself. Dinner was at a Korean barbecue buffet. Ate so much that died and at one point even had to sneak food back to the main tables !!

Went back to office on Thursday and met some urgent calls with the Relocater, Agent and Visa people. After some frantic calls, made an offer for the apartment, found out that my visa was approved and that I could start renting soon. Talked over some stuff with my boss and decided not to stay for lunch. Went up to FredBear's place again, and back to the hotel to change. Then we drove around the southern and eastern parts of the island. We visited some huge houses, the golf course, the beach area, and even a market. Quite interesting and some place that I would want to return to some day for a day trip. It was quite amazing driving around the mountains and also looking at billion dollar houses !! We had steaks by the seaside and drove people at work like RoxBear and RaeBear and JinBear with our pictures. Very nice place. Picked up SoBear from his haircut place and then we proceeded to get some dominoes and then back to FredBear's for dinner. After that we loaded up on some drinks and snacks and proceeded to domino the night away. RoxBear came in for a while too.

Friday woke up bright and early and was off to Pacific Place to sign my rental documents and get my visa. That done, had breakfast with FredBear and then walked around Seibu as well. Near about 11, I packed up at the hotel, and took the car to the airport and was met by SoBear for lunch. Then back I flew. Watched "Over Her Dead Body". Puke. Waste of time.

So now, if possible, and it is quite probable that I will fly off for good on Sunday. Movers coming in on Monday and Wednesday and there are loads of things for me to do. Paperwork, taxes, bank stuff, get new contacts...the list goes on. Packing is a chore, especially when you are packing for a house, and its no longer about whether you bring this blue jumper or that red shirt. Sigh. So much stuff.....and I have a headache since now I really have to divide my wardrobe. I cannot have everything there, but I do not want to leave stuff that I like, but I guess I have to since I cannot be carrying over everything back again when I am back. It is soooooo complicated.

And I also lost my voice la....

Perhaps it was because on Saturday night went for a fun wedding dinner (MrCK's wedding..and then for some catchup times later at Pulse), and then so much work buying stuff, (spent so much money) and then also packing.

So tired....off the office now.

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So anyway went on a Treasure Hunt last weekend. It was loads of fun. It was my third one and although I went with two new virgin hunters this year, it was still fun. SailorJow was supposed to go, but there were some personal problems so she was unable to make it. So I ended up going with RaeBear and GANay. This will be the third year in a row, that one of my teammates got jinxed and could not make the treasure hunt at the last minute. In first year it was SailorJap, second year was SailorJoyo. Sigh. And all their names started with J too.

So this year the trip was to Penang. And it was fun there. I will not go too much into Treasure Hunting, but rest assured it is something that I would like to do again and again. Though this year they reintroduced the physical challenges and that is something that I really do not like. Other than that we answered 27 out of 29 questions correct, and got 3 out of 4 treasures correct. So not too bad. However, that was only good enough for 7th place ! Sigh. But the team members were great at guessing the answers too and GANay, was a great driver. Fast enough and brave enough.

By the time we reached Penang, it was all about the food. I am not really a foodie and was not particularly impressed with the pricy Char Kuey Teow. The Chendol as alright. I think RaeBear was gonna kill me when I said that as both of them are from Penang and go there regularly for food. LOL. The CKT was yummy but so pricy, that my utility dropped. Then we checked into the hotel and freshened up before dinner. We were mostly full, so just snacked on salmon pieces and dessert. Then how we laughed at the candid photos and all the clues, and how disappointed we were when we did not manage to get any lucky draw prizes.

Later that night, which was about eleven, out we went again for some food, at Gurney Drive. Met many people from the bank there, as well some of the foreign GAs which went for a visit. It was quite a surprise visit for me, as I have not been there for years and years and years. More food. And this time, I could sense the food atmosphere though I did not each much again. Oops. Shy. We also went to buy DVDs and this was fun. Thumbing through millions of titles, trying to decide which one to get. I got a couple...

On Monday, even though I felt so tired, went back to office to sign my contract. So it is now signed. And I am definitely going to Hong Kong now ! Just a matter of waiting for the visa.

Jang Jang Jang.

So tired.

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The whole world seems to be in a mess.

US is in a mess.

Malaysia is in a mess.

My IM team is in a mess.

What a mess......

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