Sunday afternoon, a brief moment of frustration. I’m walking the dogs. A beautiful blonde woman is walking in my direction, with her dog. And it’s a real dog, not one of those foofoo underarm fashion accessory dogs. We stop. Our dogs sniff each other. (No, I’m not going there, though I guess some might expect me to.) We chat. She’s American. We’re comparing tales of dog rearing in the US vs HK. And then, as we’re talking, I forget the exact context but she slips in the word “we,” as in her and her husband. Denied.

Now I’m in Seoul. Staying at the Park Hyatt, which is simply breathtaking. And a fraction of the price of the Park Hyatt in Tokyo. For whatever that means to anyone.

In one of those oddball coincidences in life, I ran into someone I know from HK, someone I haven’t seen in 3 years, not merely staying in the same hotel but on the same floor.

Decided to be lazy and just do room service for dinner, in front of the 42 inch flat screen TV watching last night’s Emmy awards broadcast. Serrano ham, imported pamigiano reggiano cheese, melon, followed by Australian lamb chops with roasted eggplant. And an amazing warm loaf of sourdough bread accompanied it – crusty and crunch and dusted with flour on the outside, real bread, you know?

I’ve been coming to Seoul semi-regularly since 1995 and have yet to do any real touristy stuff – hoping to do the DMZ tour this trip. Otherwise I have little idea of what I will do with my downtime here – no shopping, no bar hopping, just work and rest until I go home on Thursday. And hoping for some decent barbecue before I go.

My mother called me in Tokyo last week to wish me a happy new year. At this point, the Jewish holidays completely elude me unless someone reminds me. I just checked and I see that Yom Kippur starts at sundown Friday. I’m not planning on fasting. I suppose I should at least try to avoid pork and shellfish on Saturday, though if I’m going to hell, no need to get there on half measures. Can anyone tell me if the Torah mentions anything about not going to Wanchai on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar?

Today I was told that a cousin’s ex-wife died, after an agonizing long battle with cancer. She had a tough life. The cousin has also been ill for years. And they had a daughter together, a beautiful, sweet girl who has also been ill for most of her adult years. I’d like to do something for her, she’s about the closest remaining relative I have on my father’s side of the family, but so far cannot come up with any serious ideas.

It’s all relative, no pun intended. On my mother’s side of the family, I’m the poor relation. On my father’s side, I’m the successful one. Doesn’t mean much either way, just not in the mood to go to sleep yet.

Hongkie Town
Share