hk diary eight - a sweet, sunny day (after an endless winter)

i woke up warm and perky. the sun was bursting in through the open windows. the room glowed, removing all signs of gloom that has nestled inside its four corners for the past few months. 

the dreary weather has finally surrendered to the sun, and i was more than grateful. indeed, the cold, grey weather had been depressing that i felt like i aged a lot during the long winter months.

my first thought was to head to the beach in idyllic sai kung or any other island away from the crowded central to enjoy a day in the sun.

while taking a shower, i was already salivating over the scrumptious seafood and dim sum feast that awaits me. i decided to go to lamma island instead, a thirty minute ride by ferry. (i can't wait to stay under the revitalizing sun, feel the coarse sand under my feet). sai kung is just too far, a nearly an hour ride by bus. maybe next weekend?

wearing above the knee shorts (i cut off one of my old jeans, the better way to welcum the summer), cotton shirt and rubber slippers, off i went to the central ferry station.

since it was one of the first sunny weekends seen in this cold, cold island in three months, a number of its inhabitants in full summer regalia (shorts, sandals, dark glasses, sleeveless shirts, rubber shoes, hats) were also headed to the islands -- lamma, discovery bay, lantau. i used to dread the crowds, but this time i didn't mind them. there is joy in sharing the happiness of being under the sun (the same feeling you get form watching a great film inside a jump packed cinema). chos!

(inside the ferry.)

once in the island, i went straight to my favourite seaside dimsum place that sells affordable goodies. the place was packed, just as i was expecting. it took me twenty minutes to finally get the attention of an elderly waitress who does not speak any english. instead, i pointed to the entrees on the menu (luckily they are both in english and chinese) and she nodded her head, smiling.

after a hearty meal, i walked around the island, did a bit of people watching (so many cuties in tiny shorts), wandered through the beach where sun worshippers were having a field day in their bathing suits. then i shopped at the high end boutiques dotting lamma (bought a carpet made from thailand and an organic tea).

tired, sweaty and thirsty, i sat on one of the tables outside of an antiquated italian restaurant and ordered ice cold chamomile tea while watching the excited passers by walking to and fro, meandering, really  -- like children suddenly allowed to roam around the city on a school day.  the atmosphere was too jocose that all my stresses (mental, emotional, financial, physical) went away with the cold weather.

indeed, a heavy curtain has been lifted and i felt light. i never thought i would miss the sun this much.

ahh, where have you been all this time my sunny prince? this fairy has sure been waiting for you, hiding inside a silk cocoon...can't wait for its metamorphosis.

that's all fairies, bitches, witches, princesses and wannabes!

i hope you all had fun under the sun too.

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one of my favorite movies about summer shot in one of my favourite playgrounds: