I just drank what must be the foulest thing ever.

It tasted so disgusting I double checked the label just to make sure I was supposed to be drinking it and not applying it externally. It smells exactly like how that medical ointment people use on their bruises smells, and tastes exactly how I would imagine it would taste. It literally burned my throat on its way down my esophagus, and the pungent smell refused to leave my finger even after I had washed it with soap about five times.

Argh.

Well the reason behind this masochism is Moon (love how HK has the weirdest names), one of my masseuses. I had been bitching about how bloated I had been feeling of late and my period wasn't even anywhere remotely due. In fact, it was just over and I should be feeling about as light as a feather and retaining as much water as one too. My back hurt and so did my hamstrings and the side of my thighs. Moon promptly proceeded to inform me that those areas hurt because of indigestion and poor lymphatic drainage blah blah, and sucker that I am for TCM decided to try the liquid herbal supplement she gave me (free, out of empathy and kindness of her heart, bless).

Huo Xiang Zheng Qi Shui

Anyway just to make sure I wasn't ingesting poison I went home and Googled it. This is what I found :

 Huoxiang Zhengqi Shui (simplified Chinese: 藿香正气水; traditional Chinese: 藿香正氣水) is a liquid herbal formula used in Traditional Chinese medicine to "induce diaphoresis and clear away summer-heat, to resolve damp and regulate the function of the spleen and stomach". ^[1] It tastes bitter and pungent. About 5ml to 10ml of this liquid formula is applied twice a day to symptoms such as "colds with accumulation of damp in the interior and summer-heat and dampness marked by headache, dizziness and feeling of heaviness in the head, sensation of stuffiness in the chest, distending pain in the epigastrium and abdomen, vomiting and diarrhea".

 I'm not sure how effective it is but I've taken to buying the sugar coated pill instead. Definitely easier on the palate. 

Bleah.

The apartments in HK are pretty tiny and mine especially so since it's only a wee 250 sf. Also, although I uber love my neighbourhood, it's nice to get out of the city once in a while.

I'd been wanting to go Ngong Ping for quite a while to check out the Tian Tan Buddha, so it was fortuitous that my Canadian Chinese friend K was in town and was up for a day trip out. We checked out Ngong Ping Village, Ngong Ping Piazza as well as Po Lin Monastery.

According to the website,

"The Tian Tan Buddha Statue is the world's largest, seated, outdoor, bronze Big Buddha statue. It is constructed from 202 bronze pieces, the Tian Tan Buddha Statue weighs over 250 tonnes and soars 34 metres into the air. Sitting atop 268 steps, the Tian Tan Buddha Statue is positioned on a lotus throne, surrounded by eight smaller bronze statues representative of the gods, or immortals. The statue is so named as its base is a model of Tian Tan, the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. 


The Buddha Statue's right hand is raised, representing the removal of affliction; his left hand rests on his knee, signifying human happiness. While most Buddha statues face South, Tian Tan casts his serene gaze towards the North, making this statue unique amongst its peers."

 Tian Tan Buddha

 268 steps to Buddha

Po Lin Monastery

 Ceiling of Po Lin Monastery

 Wisdom Path constructed of Heart Sutra etched on individual stone tablets

Wish Mum could have come with, I think she would have liked it. :)

It's been a spectacular week!

Mum, Aunt and Chewy (the cousin, long story) came to visit and all we did was shop and eat and do lots of mother-daughter bonding. I took Mum to Lan Fong Yuen for French toast and milk tea, Tai Cheong for egg tarts and Chinese donuts, Wong Chi Kei and Sang Kee for congee, Tsim Chai Kee for wanton noodles, Tim Ho Wan for dim sum, Yat Lok for roast goose and Him Kee for hot pot.

 French toast and milk tea from Lan Fong Yuen

Assorted roast meats from Yat Lok

Char siu bo lo bao from Tim Ho Wan

Hot pot at Him Kee

Disgusting beef offal courtesy of my cousin

I think I put on more weight in the last five days than the last two months I've been here, despite prolly also doing much more walking than ever. We went to TST, Mongkok, Wanchai, Causeway Bay, etc ... places I usually avoid because of the mad crowds. It's nice to check out these places with tourists, but I really wouldn't make them a habit.

It was nice to spend some quality time with Mum though. It sounds odd but I've had to share her affections with the dog for the last 12 years and trust me when I say it hasn't been easy. It's worse than the typical case of sibling rivalry, because I'm not even competing with a fellow human being I can talk to and hang out with, but a mere animal. It really does suck and I hate to say it, but I'm just a teensy weensy bit glad the dog is going the way of doggy heaven soon. It's about time I got my mother all to myself!

We went to The Peak, Madame Tussaud's, LKF, etc ... just wished we had more time to go Ngong Ping or someplace a bit more interesting. I really hope I get something in HK soon so Mum can come visit often and make this place her second home! :)

So after quite a fair bit of procrastination, I've finally gotten round to getting some hiking done in HK. The first time we arranged to go hiking, I overslept but woke up in time for brunch (I know my priorities) with B and K. The second time saw me down with flu, so I figured it was third time now or never. That and the fact I gave myself a good internal rousing and telling self rather sternly that a bit of a workout outdoors would do me good instead of being cooped up at home being lazy and feeling sorry for myself.

Anyway I'm pretty glad I did as I ended up having quite a blast. Met up with P and K and two other girls to hike up HK's famous Dragon's Back trail (best urban hike in Asia apparently) over at Shek O and although it was blazing hot, it was really awesome fun. It felt good to get out of the urban landscape and sort of get a bit dusty and dirty in the countryside. And the good thing about Dragon's Back is that there's no cop-out route halfway so it was either we did it from start to finish or not at all.

 Spectacular view of the islands and the South China Sea with Clear Water Bay and Stanley on either side of the trail at the top, with occasional bamboo groves providing much needed reprieve from the harsh glares of the sun.

There were several times I felt like giving up but then I thought of what I had learnt and reminded self to stay with the moment, and that that too, would pass. Just one tiny step at a time and sooner or later, one would reach the top (or the bottom in our case!).

Hiking's a good parallel for life philosophy I think. :)

Ended up at a beach front shack where everyone had a a laugh while watching a dog swim out to join his owner on a canoe. This, I think, is how weekends and holidays should be spent. Simple pleasures with good company.

Best Saturday in HK ever. :)