A pleasurable, easy outing is to take a 20-minute ferry ride from my home to the island of Peng Chau. Peng Chau is under one square kilometer and was formerly a hub for small industry. Today, it is a sleepy fishing community. No cars are permitted on Peng Chau so it’s a peaceful place to get…
Alexandra stared out the window. “Why doesn’t anyone come around anymore?” Hugo said, “I thought you wanted them to stay away.” Alexandra shrugged. “When papa forbid our union, it was satisfying to watch him succumb to the poison you placed in his tea. But, then I got chained up in this dreadful tower.” “Hey, the dungeon…
His daughter, Lilith, sang, “Today’s Remembrance Day!” Louis’s wife peeled the pillow from his face. “Chris set up the displays.” Louis forced a smile. “Okay, let’s go check it out.” Entering the Commons, Chris stood in front of a display of wood and shells. He declared, “Once a year we remember.” Lilith skipped along the display…
The Flagstaff House, built in 1846, was once called Headquarter House. It served as the residence of the Commander of the British forces in Hong Kong. The building is a reminder of Hong Kong’s colonial heritage. Today, it is the Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware and sits in the middle of the lovely Hong Kong…
Selina walked the halls of the hotel. The conference room beckoned, its table laden with food. Be calm … focus. Carefully, she approached and grabbed a roasted chicken. Pressing it close, the scene blurred and disappeared. She woke with a start. When her parents left them, she and her brother ate through the food in the…
The Helena May sits along Garden Road in Central on Hong Kong Island, across the street from the US Consulate. In 1916, Lady Helena May, the wife of the Governor, Sir Henry May, established The Helena May for the promotion of the welfare of women and girls in Hong Kong. To this day, members are…
He asked, “How’d you end up here?” “The wind swirled and lifted me into a tree.” “Oh my, how long were you stuck in the tree?” “Days! What about you?” “A fly-away branch broke my arm.” “Hey, you guys think you had it bad. My insides turned outside.” The others gasped. “I know, it was…
Princess Ratani stood next in line to rule, but the walls of the palace suffocated her. Her parents arranged her marriage. Ratani longed to be free. On the night of her betrothal, she donned commoner’s clothing and slipped through the gates. Walking along the road, the earth trembled. An elephant approached with a disheveled young…
This post is a continuation of the saga of my lost passport from last week. Before the consulate could process my application for a new one, I was required to fill out a police report. Taking a thirty-minute bus ride and a twenty-minute walk, I arrived at the Tung Chung Police Station. When I finished…
Her mama told Nara to stay below deck. She peeked through a tiny window at the people on shore. Their singsong voices drifted as they greeted one another, as vendors hawked their wares in the colorful market. Will this be the place? Returning to sit amongst her sisters, the gentle bobbing of the boat and the…
Having lost my passport for the first time in thirty plus years of living overseas, I felt disgruntled making my way to the consulate to apply for a new one. The trip from my flat took nearly two hours. It involved a bus, a boat, a train and lots of walking. The last bit included…
It was time for her children to return from school. Walking toward the front door, Lydia glanced at the mirror which hung in the hall. Instead of seeing her reflection, an image appeared of the ramshackle house she grew up in. It had been demolished years before. Moving closer to the mirror, she spied a…
