Alison (who had made a special effort of rushing down from her church activities), Benben, Debby (the liaison), Jenna, Paul, Teresa, and Vivian had a farewell lunch with me at a restaurant in Mong Kok. I had always wanted to meet up with Jenna, but she was sick in the past few days and only well enough to see me this afternoon. I sent her the warmest regards from Huong and Sham, her best friends from Singapore, and true to my prediction, Huong had visited her in October when she went over to Hong Kong for CASE competition. Jenna had helped me much in the Hong Kong leg of the Lee Shiu Summer Programme, and I am truly appreciative of that. She is a very kind and innocent girl, possessing too good a character to be true!
It was not as tearful a farewell as the one we had in Beijing, but I had never expected or wanted it to be as such. The time for me to leave had finally arrived, and we honestly wondered when our next gathering will be. I hope to return to Hong Kong as and when the opportunity presents itself, perhaps in the guise of some USP initiatives and programmes.
Both Elvis and Howard had called to say their parting words, and Elvis promised to buy a webcam to facilitate online chats between us. Hope he materializes this promise!
Paul saw me off at a subway station, and both Benben and Debby went the extra mile by accompanying me to the airport. I was really thankful for this kind and friendly gesture, and we all promised one another to keep in touch via letters and MSN before I headed for the departure gates. I love Hong Kong, and I am indeed grateful for the beautiful memories that Hong Kong had given me with my friends there. Of course, how can I ever forget to mention Debby?! I shall thank her in totality in a separate post!!
I did not head back for Ansel's apartment after the satisfying dinner. Instead, I went over to Benben's dormitory and stayed there for the night. Benben's room was so neat and tidy! I was so happy to be in Chung Chi College of CUHK once more, and had chatted with both Benben and Howard throughout the night. Something "scandalous" is happening between Howard and one of my closest NUS friends, and I shall be the intermediary for whatever may happen in this matter. Anyway, we were all reminiscent of the Lee Shiu Summer Programme, and such nostalgia kept us awake all night into daybreak. Howard and I watched a film directed by Benben's roommate Ah-G and starring Benben himself, and we both agreed that it was a terrific piece produced by capable students.
Benben brought me to a KTV session with his friends after a mere 2 hours of sleep. Lunch was served at the lounge, and this had saved us considerable time in the afternoon to visit the Space Museum. The main feature of the Space Museum is its 3-D IMAX theatre, and we watched a documentary on space exploration on the Moon there. I had always known Benben as a Sociology student, but I did not know that he actually possesses a strong interest in the universe and beyond. Later at the Tsim Sha Tsui promenade, he showed similar interest in band marches by student performers. To conclude the day before he rushed off for dinner with a college mentor, he brought me to the Museum of Art, telling me that he had recently developed a passion in the arts and wishes to appreciate works in an aesthetical sense. Now that's too deep and profound for me! The Museum of Art was showcasing artworks made from hair and human fibre, and these included calligraphy and shoes! By the way, Benben is a fellow Taurean from Macau, as well as one of my best friends from Hong Kong! He will be away in Ireland on exchange-cum-internship for his coming 2 semesters, and I hope that he makes a transit in Singapore as and when he deems fit in the future.
I went back to Ansel's apartment in the evening, and had a hearty chat with him. Ansel stays alone and does most of the household chores himself. He is deeply religious, but does not spread his faith as much as Debby does! Anyway, Ansel knows how to cook well and he whipped up a light supper readily after I had made a mere mention that I was slightly hungry. Here's thanks to Ansel for the lodging and great supper! Please inform me if you are coming over to Singapore anytime soon! 
I ate my own lunch (inclusive of more Portugese egg tarts that I found increasingly irresistible) before meeting up with them in the afternoon, and we traveled to the famous Ruins of Saint Paul College (a filming site of the much-acclaimed Princess Hours). The College is one of the most captivating ruins that I had ever seen in the Greater China region. 
Later, we found ourselves at the ever-busy Senado Square, searching for local delights and souvenirs. The surrounding buildings display a fine blend of Chinese and Mediterranean architectural styles, and the eateries sell exotic food that spells sinful indulgence for us. 
In the evening, we took a ferry back to Hong Kong, and Debby's church friends treated me to a Singaporean spread that was not too authentic but nonetheless delectable. Here's thanks to them for everything in the past 2 days of activities in Macau! 
Debby, her boyfriend Vincent, her church friends and I traveled to Macau by ferry. We made the Macau Sky Tower our first stopover upon disembarkation. The construction of the Tower was commissioned by casino billionaire Stanley Ho Hung-Sun, and the Tower's tethered skyjump from the outer rim is the highest in the world. 
We went for dinner on the island of Coloane, eating seafood and the much-famed Portugese egg tarts. To shed those calories off we walked to the Chapel of Saint Francis Xavier, and it had appeared both sacred and serene in the twilight.
In the evening, we visited some of the best-known casinos in Macau, and they were all so dazzlingly beautiful with their flickering lights and striking boards in neon. 
We arrived in a model of an ancient Chinese city upon destination. 
After climbling a long flight of stairs, we finally reached the Tian Tan Buddha. I wished the Buddha "Merry Christmas" to spite Debby, who is a devout Christian. Spending Christmas with a bronze Buddha statue was indeed a unique way to celebrate this special day. To conclude the afternoon, we went for a vegetarian meal, much to Debby's distaste. Haha!
We wore awkward smiles on our faces because the hands of the elderly man commanding the shot for us were shaking, and Debby doubted at that moment that it could be a fine shot anyway. As it has turned out, the fault lies in us. 
I went to Kieron's dormitory, and we played some games on his PS2. His room was well-decorated, so with his permission I captured a shot of it for display here. I had failed to meet up with Joanna and others in this trip, so hopefully I will see them soon in the near future.
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. 
Albert was nice to host me for the night prior to my flight departure, and had been doubly nice by driving me to the airport at 5am in early morning. Like what he said, I owe him a big one this time. Oh, he's a Taurean too! 
I arrived in Hong Kong in a Thai Airways airliner, and Paul had been waiting at one of the world's finest airport to pick me up. Debby had woken up late, so she waited on the bus for us instead. The three of us made our way to Ansel's cosy apartment, which is conveniently located next to a subway station, and I was truly grateful to him for putting me up in the week ahead. We then went for lunch together at a nearby eatery, with Debby accompanying me to Tsim Sha Tsui and Mongkok for some shopping later in the afternoon, as she had hoped that a poor Singaporean of me could contribute to Hong Kong's already-developed economy. 
In the evening, Debby and I enjoyed a dinner gathering with our friends, namely Ansel, Alison, Benben, Simon, Teresa and Vivian. It felt like "yesterday once more", as we updated one another on our individual lives in the last few months while laughing heartily at some comic moments in the past. We had managed to tuck into scrumptious food, thanks to Benben's recommendation of the fine restaurant. 
We strolled the busy Nathan Road, reaching Tsim Sha Shui at the road's end and finding ourselves on the Avenue of Stars at the waterfront, with the lofty Tsim Sha Shui Clock Tower at a proximate distance. 
Bing had spoken to me much in the evening and I was glad that he was so honest with me about himself (on a lighter note, we had always bickered on whether American English is better in an abstract sense than British English). Lazy me had failed to wake up on time to see him off this very morning, but he was really sweet to have left a postcard (with the Singapore flag on it; he had bought it at the UNHQ in New York) by my door, bidding us to keep in touch and stay reminiscent of the fond memories that we had together in the past few weeks. Bon Voyage to Bing here, and I truly hope to see him in either Singapore or Thailand in the near future (or if I make a transit in California next year).
