Today,Stanley

Today, since I am finished with classes, I headed out to Stanley. It took me way to long to get going of course, so I didn't leave til 3 ish. While I stood oustide waiting for the bus, I listened to a group of old people who all seemed to know each other speak Cantonese. I realized I can finally start to tell the difference between Mandarian and Cantonese, the way they sound. Listening to them talk is so fun, the way they draw out the words make them sound so passionate and sometimes really angry but in this sort of not serious way. It's hard to explain I guess. It's a nice bus ride to the other side of the island, past the beach of Repulse Bay, very scenic ocean view of some islands. It was a gorgeous day out, sunny and cool. The bus winded up the rode and I watched expensive cliffside houses pass by my window, many with expats' children playing in the courtyard. Sometimes it feels very European. I arrived at Stanley, which I'd only been to once at the beginning on our tour. There is a mall, and a pier area with restaurants, and of course the market. It's so peaceful and lovely there, and it was much less crowded than the last time we'd visited. I headed to the market and bought some scarves which I can use here and at home, then went to sit by one of the little seaside cafes. I read Shanghai Baby, my novel for my class which I'm really enjoying, and watched little white children being chased by their Filipino maids. Next to me was a couple of French women (I swear all the French are in holiday in Hong Kong lately) and listened carefully to them talking, reveling in the beauty of their language and identifying words but too lazy to actually figure out what they were talking about. I drank coke and ate a hot dog in the most American way and looked at the paper lanterns they'd hung up to remind us we were in Hong Kong. I think part of the reason I always wanted to go to Paris was because I saw Sabrina, and I wanted to find myself in Paris, sitting at my cafe with my books and my journal. But I can find myself here too, there are all these little escapes to be with yourself in Hong Kong. All the advantages of European and American cities and the added Asian flair. That's why this place is so amazing, really. I think of it as my city now too. After that it was beginning to reach dusk and get chilly, so I got a hot chocolate and walked around the pier a bit before taking my ride back. I gotta go back sometime, probably at least to shop more in the market, but it's really such a lovely little place.