Arrived in Hong Kong from New York before 7 p.m. Although the flight felt long I did not feel utterly rubbish. I was yearning for a shower and fresh PJ’s but still felt alert enough to discuss the husband’s schedule for the following day as he will be leaving for South Africa the next night. Crazy bugger.
I wake up at 5:30 am which for me is a almost normal time to wake up. There is always a good chance that my mind starts to race and I can’t get back to sleep.
I wake up at 5:30 am which for me is a almost normal time to wake up. There is always a good chance that my mind starts to race and I can’t get back to sleep.
This time my mind does not disappoint and already starts planning how much of my Sunday I will allocate for some lazy recovery time (books – the fiction kind, talking with the Sis in Shanghai and talking with the parents in the Philippines) and how much time I need to allocate for chores (still need to unpack, do lots of laundry and go grocery shopping).
So I get up and make myself some green tea. Usually I would go for coffee but my stomach is always a bit sensitive after long flights, so I postpone that morning pleasure to a later morning hour.
Yes, the mind feels restless. Partly it’s the awareness that I’m back in Hong Kong and not in New York any more. I cannot help but feel a bit of a loss. New York is an amazing city and the trip although taxing at times was a lot of fun and very delicious. I will blog more about the trip and the food later. In the meantime “I cannot help but wonder” as Carrie likes to say in Sex and the City what I generally take away from that NYC trip. What’s going to stick? Here a random morning list.
So I get up and make myself some green tea. Usually I would go for coffee but my stomach is always a bit sensitive after long flights, so I postpone that morning pleasure to a later morning hour.
Yes, the mind feels restless. Partly it’s the awareness that I’m back in Hong Kong and not in New York any more. I cannot help but feel a bit of a loss. New York is an amazing city and the trip although taxing at times was a lot of fun and very delicious. I will blog more about the trip and the food later. In the meantime “I cannot help but wonder” as Carrie likes to say in Sex and the City what I generally take away from that NYC trip. What’s going to stick? Here a random morning list.
- Human endeavour
I do not like using big words like that or phrases like the “strength of human spirit”. But after having seen how New York is recovering after hurricane Sandy it’s difficult not to think in such terms. Despite all the mayhem and destruction Sandy has unleashed on this city the people and areas are pulling themselves together. You might say that they do not have a choice but they had a choice how to do so. Although people and businesses were still suffering from their loss there was this strong community attitude of true grit and perseverance.
- More robust
This trip was quite packed. Every day there was a lot to do and to see. And at some point travelzilla shows its ugly face. Happens when I reach a certain level and mix of exhaustion and hunger. On this trip I was surprisingly resilient. Could it have been because I was eating Paleo and stuffing my face with amazing, mostly healthy foods which kept me energized and sated for longer?
- Elk and bison are delicious
Do I need to say more?
- Remove yourself from the equation sometimes
When in NYC certain things a certain: Shopping and crowds. And with Black Friday the crowds were in a shopping frenzy. It’s quite stressful and so easy to get sucked into all that. When caught up in this bargain hunt storm it’s easy to forgot that only because it’s amazingly discounted does not mean that your life depends on getting it. Once in a while just step back mentally, open your eyes and be amazed what odd things people grab on to and buy.
- A little extra effort can be rewarding
You come back to your hotel, drop off your shopping bags. You are hungry but don’t feel like venturing out further than 5 blocks from your hotel. Yet you have heard of this amazing restaurant all the way in Brooklyn. Paleo food blogs have been raving about it. And there is also this small chocolatier café. Go or not to go? Honestly? You sat 16 freakin’ hours in tuna can class and had to nibble at chicken bits in a weird cream sauce. You will enjoy the walk/ ferry ride to Brooklyn and the food will be sooo worth it.
