Paul loves nature, so we went to a sanctuary in Yuen Long to watch migratory birds in their natural habitats. A long trail of old houses and temples took us to a boatman rowed us to the other side of a river, and we trekked our way from the bank to the reserve. The weather had been fine but the timing was not so, as locals told us that the best slots to view the birds are actually the wee hours of the morning and early evening upon sunset, but nonetheless I had enjoyed myself experiencing another side of cosmopolitan Hong Kong.
We went for desserts after a tiring afternoon, and had loved the mango sago. For dinner, Paul treated me to sumptuous Cantonese fare at a restaurant operated by a famous chef who is affectionately known for his big tummy.
It was Christmas Eve, so we went to Lan Kwai Fong for drinks, and the stretch of bars and pubs was crowded with locals and expatriates alike.
Paul has always been one of my best Hong Kong friends, and he stayed in a room next to mine in the CUHK (the Chinese University of Hong Kong) dormitory in the Lee Shiu Summer Programme. I first knew him as my neighbour-next-door and later, as someone who kept dozing off in our numerous seminars and talks. He had since graduated, and I am glad that he could still spare some of his time to meet up with me.
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