Skyhigh goodbye

The tragedy of Hong Kong really must be in the all the goodbyes.  I've felt incredibly fortunate for all of the great friends I have made, but I will never get used to having to say goodbye.  I think I have gotten better at how I go about the goodbyes.  I try not to be too reserved anymore and instead I embrace the event, I try to be as open as possible in expressing just how much I will miss them and what they've meant to me. It still stings nonetheless though.

The current departure was a particularly difficult one.  My good friends Charlie and Sian were reluctantly leaving Hong Kong.  Charlie had arrived in Hong Kong around the same time as I had and we had met whilst we were both gone through the pain of the OLQE classes.  That shared bond of suffering had held us in good stead and he has ended up becoming one of my closest friends in Hong Kong.

Very sadly, all good things come to an end.  Charlie and Sian weren't leaving quietly though and arranged a big farewell lunch for everyone.  They had arranged lunch at the lovely Aqua, but with a slight twist.  Rather than being served the usual fare of Japanese or Italian, the folks at Aqua had agreed to put on the English roast dinner from Statement, just for Charlie.  It seemed like a fitting meal for us to enjoy together, a gentle reminder of what was to come for them back in the UK.

Looking out over the harbour from our seats, we could see well into the distance.  It was a beautiful and clear day and you could see all the way to Lantau Island.  This type of activity seemed to be the perfect example of the extravagant expat lifestyle we had all experienced in Hong Kong.  Too much food, too much alcohol, all in stunning settings.

As lunch wound down and finished, we were not finished.  Not even close to finished.  Instead, we decided to go for a short walk to TST and we ended up at a bar on the waterfront.  As the sun set and the lights of Hong Kong started to shine, the night got rowdier and louder.

We were now hungry as it was late into the evening, so we caught a ferry across to the harbour back to Hong Kong for a late night dinner in Soho.  I gave Charlie and Sian one final hug as I said goodbye.  It was tough to see them go, but the send off was a long and memorable one.