or: What It’s Like To Be Home

I’ve been back in Hong Kong for four days after traveling for a year. I’ve seen quite a few friends already (this has been great!) and people from all over the place have consistently been asking me “What’s it like to be home?”.

Interesting question.

I am staying in a mix of friend’s places and an AirBnB (that I chose because it’s in my old neighbourhood) so I’m not in my own place. That place is currently rented and I have never lived there. I’ve had a snack and beverages with friends and my dog on the day I was given the keys, I moved a new couch into it and was then offered a role in Japan. Couch moved to my current rental, my old couch moved to a friend’s place (coincidentally, that was the first place I stayed when I came back and could sit on that couch) and then it went to Japan with the rest of my furniture. It’s now all in storage in Hong Kong.

If home is a place to call my own and stay in it, I don’t technically have one at the moment.

I am writing from the AirBnB at the moment. It is down the road from my own place and it’s giving me the chance to see how the neighbourhood has changed since I last lived in the area (I rented around here a few years ago).

Some things change, some stay the same.

I still like the area and would be fine with living around here semi-permanently. There has been a Zero Waste store open on my street, more cafes , bars and restaurants and some nice spots nearby to work from.

I can see water everyday and it is warm. Most of the time.

Winter, I would rather be somewhere else.

Pollution. I would rather be somewhere else. It’s not always bad though.

Home for me is somewhere that I am comfortable, it is warm and I can be near water. Ideally ocean though a harbour view will do.

HK is a series of islands as well as part of it being attached to mainland China so I have no shortage of water both Harbour and ocean.

I know many areas well and there is always more to explore. I feel relaxed here as long as I make the effort to get back into nature. That’s not too hard since 70% of HK is national park. We all live fairly close to the great outdoors and hiking is a hobby for many HK locals and foreigners alike. I like to run or have a casual stroll in it. I’m not in a rush.

Yes, there are things that frustrate me here. Pollution, lack of decent recycling facilities (that people actually use) and general environmental awareness being my main annoyances.

The upside is this is starting to change.

Sometimes the amount of people in a small area can frustrate me too. There are times when there is a lot of jostling for space while walking down a footpath in Central or through a crowded market. It’s good to take a deep breath and just laugh at how silly it is to get caught in it since even this is possible to avoid. It does add to the buzz of the city.

There are also 974 things I really like about HK.

There is always something going on somewhere. From cultural activities and festivals through to outdoor events, boat trips and fun runs, there is something for everyone.

Somethings are done surprisingly quickly and other things are done maddeningly slowly.

Transport is clean, efficient and cheap compared to many other countries. I have already been on the MTR, green minibus, standard bus and a tram since I’ve been back. Will catch a ferry soon too as this is my preferred way to cross the Harbour rather than going under it and missing the view, the smell and the gentle rocking of the boat.

I like the contrast of bamboo scaffolding on new buildings. I like the style of some of the older buildings. I like the rawness of some areas and the pristine look of others. HK is a place of massive contrasts.

These are all things for me that make me feel home. I am familiar with them.

I also like that it is an easy place to travel out from. There is no denying, sometimes it is good to escape the hustle and bustle of HK. While it can be peaceful, it can also be incredibly intense and it is easy to get sucked into this world and be left feeling like a deflated balloon. It is important to recognise when this is on the verge of happening and to leave for a little bit.

Is this the way to live a life though?

I think it is better to not get to that stage in the first place. I’d rather leave when it gets too cold or the pollution becomes too much than because I feel like a deflated balloon. I have done this though.

So do I feel like I’ve come home?

Yes.

So what does it feel like?

It’s great. I’m catching up with friends I haven’t seen for quite a while, I’m doing some work and I’m spending time near the water and also in the national park areas. I am exploring places I’ve never been to and going to old haunts. I have tickets to the HK Arts Festival and I’m relaxed though still a little tired from my flight. That one always knocks me around. I have yet to have dim sum and it is definitely in my future!

I have even had a few good coffees. This place really is changing. They have become easier to find!

Home is a place where I have made or can make good friends. It is somewhere that is warm and has water nearby. It has a feeling of both familiarity and newness. It is a place where I can relax and I can do the things that interest me. The actual country could be quite a few!

I will be going to another home shortly…

* Thanks to New Order for the title to this post.