The holiday happened

And the restorative benefits of nature

Oct 23, 2024

Hello!

I realise that my last post read a little… dramatic about recovering from a nasty cold, but thank you for the kind words. The antibiotics seemed to work for whatever was going on, as did, I believe the fresh air — saying that reminds me of Victorian rich folk who would convalesce following some hideous illness or injury that would leave them bed-ridden!

Anyway, I am now back in Hong Kong and feeling a lot better!

It is a little after 6pm in the afternoon and the light is fading. I am sat outside and all I can hear is the drone of cicadas.

Usually, at this time of day when I am at home in Hong Kong with the balcony doors flung open I am more used to hearing cars pipping and tooting at one another as they fuss about on the busy streets below, or I might hear the horn from the tram (or the ‘ding ding!) as it moves onwards to its next destination.

Over my seven years in Hong Kong, I have become accustomed to the sound of machines rather than nature. Now, I can sleep through the rattling from the tram as it winds its way to the depots depositing its final passengers around midnight, but a particularly loud bird-call during the day can startle me!

I am reminded of these sounds and more as I sit overlooking the lush jungle in Ubud, Bali where my husband and I are staying for a few days before travelling south.

Something rustles in the branches behind me. Two squirrels are nibbling at the bark of the trees hunting for seeds and insects. One looks at me, it’s black beady eyes observe me with mild interest. We meet one another’s gaze for a moment before it carries on with its foraging and then they are gone.

I know that I won’t be posting this until I return to Hong Kong, but I wanted to record this moment, to help it remain frozen in time.

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