why so black and lonely?

Hong Kong, home of Jacky Cheung & Giordano, and also city of a million neon lights. That’s where we headed for our holiday destination early this month. My first impression was that it was quite similar to Singapore, but once the bus got us into the city area I had different thought. Hong Kong was more active, and more buzzing than Singapore. You could see new buildings erected in many places despite limited space being an island.

Upon arriving at our hotel in the Tsim Sha Tsui area, we directly set out to go to Hong Kong Space Museum & Avenue of Stars which were just 5 minutes walk away. The Space Museum was a total disappointment, maybe because I expected it to have similar catalogue like those in Houston or Florida. I was totally wrong. Then, we went to Avenue of Stars which was just behind the museum. We got to see handprints of who’s who in Hong Kong Film Industry. Most of them were old actors/actresses & directors, but there were also several present stars like Jackie Chan, Andy Lau, the late Leslie Cheung & Anita Mui, and even Jet Li got their handprints there.

However, the main attraction in Avenue of Stars took place around 8 PM in the evening, because the skyscrapers on the main island, which was just across the sea, started to display wonderful play of lights for all to see. Hence, they called it "Symphony of Lights". It was quite mesmerizing actually, and everyone visiting Hong Kong should have their pictures taken with the dazzling tall buildings on the background.

Our second day took us exploring the shops & small roads at Causeway Bay. It was there where we finally saw the billboards & neon signs that had become an icon in numerous Hong Kong movies. If you’re not carefully memorizing where you’re going, you might get lost easily because whenever you took a turn in every block you always got quite identical neon signs. So, it’s difficult to remember one of them as your landmark.

Even though you might lose your way among the neon signs, but I think it’d be difficult for you to get lost whenever you got aboard Hong Kong MTR. The direction was clearly displayed and it was pretty easy to understand how the system was carried out. You could even rent the Octopus card that was used to pay for transportation fare in Hong Kong. One could also use the Octopus to pay for things they buy at 711 or other convenience stores. Our adventure in Causeway Bay caused our feet screaming for mercy, and nothing’s better than to submerge yourself in a lukewarm bathtub to rest your weary limb.

The third day was the day that I looked forward to the most cause we went to Hong Kong Disneyland. We took a free shuttle bus from the hotel to Kowloon Station and then we boarded the MTR to Sunny Bay station, from there we just crossed the platform for the special MTR that would take us directly to the magical land of Disneyland.

We didn’t play any ride in Disneyland because we were too busy chasing or queueing to have our pictures taken with the Disney characters. The first character that we "caught" was Buzz Lightyear, and he was a sight to see. His costume was marvelous and I really considered buying the costume if they were sold in the store. The only show that we watched, aside from the parade & fireworks show, was Mickey’s PhilharMagic 3D. It was highly recommended and a must to see when you visited Disneyland. We left the theme park around 9 PM after the fireworks with happy feelings.

Our fourth day was spent together with my uncle, who lived in Hong Kong, as our guide. He took us walking from TST to Mongkok area, and boy, what a walk it was! He said that Hongkongers were used to walk everywhere, that’s why he knew exactly when we were left behind gasping to catch up with him. In Mongkok, we got to explore the hectic night market-style street stalls where one could get many branded things cheaply. The catch was that whenever you shopped here, you must accept that the Louis Vuittons, or the Guccis weren’t authentic. But then, it didn’t matter as long as you got to see your neighbours/friends/bosses/colleagues’ reaction when you showed them your "new Louis Vuitton purse". It was priceless, wasn’t it?

From Mongkok, we took the iconic green & white ferry to Wanchai to rest for a while in my uncle’s flat and then the whole family took us for dinner in a restaurant in Causeway Bay. We could proudly say that it was the first proper meal that we had in Hong Kong, after several days of McDonald’s or KFC. Yes, we were just that adventurous when it came to eating at new places.

We said goodbye to the family after the sumptuous meal, and our next destination was The Peak. We took a gravity-defying tram to the summit where we could enjoy another sight of Hong Kong bright lights at night from above. We didn’t spend as much time as we liked there because nobody didn’t tell us how freezing & windy it would be on The Peak. It could be the case or it could be we were the ones who were just too dumb to realize that wearing t-shirt at night on the peak of a hill wasn’t a very smart thing to do. It was too bad that the Madame Tussaud museum was still under renovation during our visit, so I think another visit to Hong Kong needs to be scheduled next year.

The only destination on our last day was the Chek Lap Kok airport that would bring us back to Singapore for our second part of the holiday. In short, both of us knew that one day we would return to the island for more. But this time around, we would be ready with notes filled with Cantonese vocabulary of meals that we need to eat!

The Best finally passed away after losing his battle and he was given a fitting tribute during the weekend match in stadia across Britain. Fans gave him a minute of silence or a minute of standing ovation that would make people realize the effect of his footballing skills had to the nation or even the world. However, few assholes at  the City of Manchester stadium, and also some dickhead Leeds United fans marred the tribute by jeering. Those kind of people needed to be struck down by lightning on the spot.

United also provided the kind of team performance that would make Georgie himself proud, especially that No. 8 lad. If not because of outstanding goalkeeping from Roy Carroll, who was determined to prove Fergie wrong for not giving him the No. 1 jersey during his time with us, we would have scored 4 or 6 goals comfortably.

Please be with us when we travel to Benfica next month, George. We know you like it there.

It’s been almost a week but I still find it really difficult to accept the fact that Keano actually left United. You can say that I was shattered inside. I accept the fact that someday he’d hang up his boots and stop wearing the red & white jersey anymore, but I can’t deal with the way he severed his ties with the club like this.

I’m sure that I’m not the only one who feels that way. Just watch the Charlton game last week, and you could mistake the Valley as Old Trafford. The whole stadium was ringing with the Keano chants. Even hearing that could make the toughest United supporter collapsed with tears. The funny thing was the Keano chants at Old Trafford for the first home game post-Keano wasn’t as loud and passionate as the ones at the Valley. Very sad indeed.

My thoughts & prayers go to another Red legend, George Best who according to his doctor, could die anytime at the next 24 hours. So, it’s another Red legend that’s going to literally leave us. I think this is the most turbulent time in Manchester United during my time supporting them. Keano left, Bestie dying, and the club is on the brink of not qualifying to the knockout stages of the Champions League. If the latter part really comes to reality, I surely think the axe is out for Fergie.

The vultures are swirling happily above Old Trafford and it’d take a massive effort from the players to put them away. It’s time they do their utmost to fully realize the meaning of putting on that red jersey with a small crest on their right chest.

So long, Keano..