Mukta Arya - Whimsical Times: Memories from Hong Kong

WHIMSICAL
Times

Memories from Hong Kong

MUKTA ARYA

Copyright 2016 by Mukta Arya.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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Contents

Mukta Arya , born and raised in India, now lives in Hong Kong, where she works for a multi-national bank as human resources professional. She is the author of two collections of poetry: Wanton Thoughts and 3:15 pmMusings in Hong Kong.

I would like to dedicate this collection of memories to the vibrant city of Hong Kong, which not only made me discover a part of myself, which was hitherto unknown to me but also gave me tremendous opportunities for introspection and reflection on life in general.

This collection would not have been possible, if my ex-manager from Ogilvy and Mather Kalpana Rao had not told me to jot down my first impressions of Hong Kong, during my farewell party in Mumbai. Her words remained with me when I moved to Hong Kong and motivated me to write my first impressions and thoughts.

After I moved to Hong Kong in April 2010, a variety of thoughts related to life bubbled up in my mind, and I jotted them down at that point in time. Now, when I look back, it gives me great pleasure to relive these wonderful moments. The memories have been gathered into Whimsical Times , which is often cheery but sometimes profound.

The memories are in the form of my Electronic Diary entries, written between 2010 and 2012. This was the time during which I was still new in Hong Kong. The places, things and events in Hong Kong during those 2 years (and even now) triggered my thought process to connect seemingly unrelated things in my life.

For those of you, who live in Hong Kong, or have lived here in the past, the memories may re-kindle the love for this magnificent place.

Monday, April 26, 2010

I just moved to Hong Kong from Mumbai. This is my first time living on my own in a different country. I dont remember feeling any anxiety or apprehension when I arrived at the Hong Kong airport, when I entered my new office for the first time, or when I first went out in search of groceries. Strangely, it just seemed natural to stay in a serviced apartment, buy staples for my meals, and go to the office every day as if I were in Mumbai (the only difference being that my office is just a ten-minute walk from my temporary abode and I sometimes do miss driving). However, the only difference I felt was in walking (as in walking and walking) and the impracticality of my block heels and the diminished value of Indian Rupee. Otherwise, I feel as if I have been here for ages. The cosmopolitan nature of the country, the happening eating joints, the pubs, and the general buzz make it just the right place to be. With the help of my friend Reena and her husband Kshitij, it is just so easy to fit in.

I was just reflecting on this and wondering if things would have been different if I had moved when I was twenty-five, not travelled to few other countries, had not known my boss here, or if a few of my colleagues were not known to me. Perhaps it would have been a completely different experience.

For now, I look forward to aimlessly roaming around on weekends (as I have to earn my living during weekdays), soaking in the atmosphere, and settling in.

Friday, May 7, 2010

It has been two weeks in Hong Kong, and it seems as though I have been here for ages. The transition from Mumbai to Hong Kong has been remarkably smooth, and life is running along as if nothing has changed. There are few things I do miss, such as the office boys bringing tea or coffee or even lunch to my desk. Here, I have to go to the pantry and make my own coffee. And let me tell you it doesnt taste good at all. I especially miss calling Mr Gad (our office security guard in Mumbai) in the mornings and evenings and requesting him to order a sandwich or sev-puri. I miss my friends, colleagues, and family and driving long distances. I miss my faithful car where I could scatter all my belongings (purse, laptop, documents, lunchbox, umbrella, and the like) and be carefree. (Since I walk to work, I have to careful about what I carry.)

Other than the above, its quite cool, and I love the vibrant atmosphere (similar to Mumbai). I get up just in time to reach office at nine each morning (after showering, of course). I reach office and try to gather the energy to get breakfast and coffee and get down to work. My colleagues are quite warm and friendly, and my boss is a delight to work with! Lunch is usually out, and its interesting to try different types of cuisine every day with different colleagues. So far, I have eaten Chinese (including Sichuan), Japanese (also a number of times), Malay, and Nepalese food, and I must admit that each had its own plus points. The multicultural environment is also very fascinating, and I am looking forward to working with people with different views and accents. Our HR team also has a mix of nationalities, and I was very surprised when one of them (I always thought he is Chinese) started talking in Hindi. He then revealed that he is from Nepal!

Other than that, the evenings are sometimes out in the watering holes of Hong Kong, looking at apartments to rent, or hanging out at my serviced apartment (which I am getting quite attached to). I do cook sometimes or grab some eatables from a supermarket or 7-Eleven. Thats usually my dinner. Saturdays are spent roaming around (mostly window shopping, which sometimes results in real shopping), getting some grocery shopping done, or just lazing around and surfing online. My Indian friend and her husband often invite me to their house or to a movie and dinner, which I quite look forward to. Some of the Indian staff in my workplace also have started conversing with me, and one Parsi colleague told me that there are close to 200 Parsis and an agiary and a community centre for Parsis in Hong Kong.

I have also seen two movies in two weeks, which is much more than I used see in Mumbai.

In addition, I think that I will have to switch to low-heeled or flat shoes as walking in heels has gotten to be very painful.

Saturday, May 29, 2010

I must say that my apartment hunting and moving in experience in Hong Kong has been moved quickly. I was surprised at the speed with which everything got accomplished.

Staying for one month in the serviced apartment was very convenient and comfortable, but after a while, I longed to move into an apartment where I had enough space and the liberty to arrange and decorate it as I wished.

The whole process of getting a broker (through a friend of mine), shortlisting, and looking at apartments took just five days. The flat I liked (of the four I saw) and eventually moved into was the one I couldnt see at the designated time. I was late for the survey, and the building security did not allow visitors after six-thirty. I guess the vibe from the place was strong enough that I went back next day to see it. I entered the flat, and the first thing that caught my eye was the living and dining room with a balcony that looked onto Victoria Harbour. Seeing that and the crazy lights (like spotlights in a theatre) as well as the big cabinets, my heart made the decision, then and there. The negotiations, finalizations, and contract signing happened in the next ten days, and I was in! My house agent was quite quick and efficient. My landlady is quite gracious, and she did throw in extra things in our deal (a carpet and a massage chair). I was very delighted to meet her as she is a hair stylist and has a salon not far from my apartment. That sorted my problem of looking for a good salon, as she is quite good at her job.