Lone Sept. Post

Argh. The month has flown by! Sorry for the lack of posts. My excuse is that I've been busy writing other things, resurrecting my laptop (hard drive died), and basically running all over the city doing stuff (vague, I know!).

One fun thing we did recently was to join my parents on their annual August Hong Kong trip, where the primary motivation has always been to procure dozens of tins of Wing Wah mooncakes for distribution to people back home.

That type of food obsession sums up the trip as much of the time was spent with old friends eating exceptional meals, including a 12-course veg lunch at the Chi Lin Nunnery (MTR: Diamond Hill station, Kowloon). I never ate so many different varieties of fungi in one sitting before.


Besides the food, the nunnery is worth a mention. It's a grouping of new structures built in the Tang Dynasty style, and the meticulousness of the buildings are reminiscent of temples we saw in Japan. Every piece of wood has been assembled without nails, with dowels and brackets holding them neatly together like a puzzle.

The gardens are just as impressive; each artfully shaped rock carefully sits among trees with gnarled limbs sprouting clusters of needles in varying hues of green. Very Zen, and a great counterbalance to the frenzied pace on the streets.

In general, I like Hong Kong. Many sights trigger a sense of nostalgia, whether they are things I recall as a kid on numerous visits, or places I hear about where my grandparents yum cha-ed, frequented or lived. Those were the days. :)