iGoodbye, iHello

I bid farewell to my trusty sidekick, the iPhone X -my morning paper deliverer, DJ, alarm clock, personal taskmaster, game master, bank assistant, and all-around boss for six glorious years. What a ride!

It’s not like I wanted to break up with it. It’s just that it couldn’t keep up with the latest iOS updates anymore, and that’s a major security no-no for my business. Plus, the whole 5G thing -it wasn’t hard-wired for it. And my family guilt-tripping about me using the ancient X while they flaunt their fancy 13s and 14s. Everyone was so glad I was leveling up. Now they have one reason to upgrade, waiting when the time is right. 🥹

Although it was old, the Apple store agreed to a trade-in for credit toward the purchase of the latest model. After the data migration thingy from the old to the new, it was hard-reset time. Sadly, my old phone no longer recognized me. It was displaying Hello in different languages like the very first time I opened it. Talk about drama!

Sad, but I had to let go. And in the tradition of Marie Kondo, I held it close and whispered, “Thank you for your service.” Then, as if on cue, the new phone played the song Hello, Goodbye by the Beatles. Yep, melodrama, alright.

But happy! I’ve got a new phone now -a little bigger, much faster, and with a touch of that sexy assistant vibe.

Hello, new buddy! Cheers to the future!

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Rediscovering Hong Kong

It’s good to be back in Hong Kong after four years, thanks to the pandemic easing its grip. Hong Kong is my happy place -though I might reconsider if Hawaii enters the picture. But for now, it’s Hong Kong. Despite its bustling streets, crowded subways, and perpetually packed places, this city offers solace, providing a break from my usual daily hustles. As long as it’s not business work that I am walking, talking, and hustling for, it is a respite for me. 

I am back to the annual lighting fair in Wan Chai where I get updated with the latest and the brightest trends in the industry. This is work-related alright, but since it’s not within the confines of the office, it still brightens up my day.

It felt like a homecoming as well, returning to our usual hotel where most of my favorite shops including traditional Chinese restaurants that serve the best dimsum dishes are literally within sniffing distance. Conveniently, bus, tramway, and train stations are just a short stroll away, never more than a few minutes on foot.

A visit to Tung Chung for the best deals in town, siempre. For a bargain sucker tourist like me, a stopover here is non-negotiable.

I am back to my favorite church, Christ the King in Causeway Bay, where I hear mass every day. Even if services are done in Cantonese for most days, I can still follow the mass sequence and respond accordingly.

Nathan road, Canton road, Harbour City, Mongkok, Central station -I am a little kid in a toy store!

Life caught up with me, or I caught up with life in Hong Kong. I was 24 again, reminiscent of my first encounter. It was too good to last, though. Now, I’ve gone back home to where real life-work is, but feeling rejuvenated. This will last until the feeling of “I need a vacation” creeps back in.

Bet your love handles, I shall return.

Cheers!

If you’ve been touched, amused, or entertained by this post, or it put a smile on your face, please favor me with a cup of coffee via GCash or PayPal. I will continue writing.