Week 12 in George Town: May 13 to May 18, 2024
This is our last week of the working trip in Malaysia. Work proceeded as usual.
On Tuesday, PJG went alone to the Penang Botanical Gardens, and insisted we go back. So, on Friday afternoon, we both visited the gardens again, watched the lively monkeys, observed the leisurely strolling lizards, and enjoyed the peaceful time in the park.
PJG拍的漂亮的叶子 – The beautiful leaves that PJG had photographed.
这周，我还尝试了著名的猫山王榴莲，正值马来西亚榴莲季节的开始。街道两旁陆续出现了许多售卖榴莲的小摊，我决定还是要尝试一下。我花了15马币买了一小份新鲜榴莲，结果发现，我真的不喜欢它的味道和口感。榴莲的风味对我来说过于强烈，而它的口感则像是为没有牙齿的人准备的糊状物，这让我不禁困惑，为何有那么多人对这种奇特的水果情有独钟。PJG看到我的反应，他拒绝尝试。
This week, I also tried the famous Musang King durian. As the durian season in Malaysia had just begun, small stalls selling durians started popping up along the streets, and I decided I had to give it a try. I spent 15 ringgit on a small box of fresh durian only to find out that I really didn’t like the taste or texture. The flavor of the durian was too strong for me, and its texture felt like mush prepared for someone without teeth. I couldn’t help but wonder why so many people are fond of this peculiar fruit. Seeing my reaction, PJG declined to try it.
街边卖榴莲和吃榴莲的人，很远就能闻到那个味道 – The street-side stalls selling durians and people eating durians, could be smelled from afar.
周五晚上，我俩最后去了一次Gravity酒吧，去那里欣赏一下日落，只不过，当晚的日落很平庸。
On Friday night, we went to the Gravity Bar one last time to watch the sunset. However, the sunset that evening was quite mediocre.
周六清晨4点，起床整理行李，预定的5点钟的车准时抵达。这辆车是房东帮忙联系的，考虑到我们有五个行李箱，特意联系了一辆较大的车辆，司机收费80马币。顺利抵达机场并迅速完成了登机手续。得益于PJG在国泰航空的会员资格，在机场的会员休息室享用了一顿令人满意的早餐。
Early Saturday morning at 4 a.m., we got up to pack the last remaining luggage. The car we had booked arrived punctually at 5 a.m. With five large suitcases, and a 5am pickup, our host gave us a contact for a reliable and larger vehicle. The driver charged us 80 ringgit, 3 times a Grab, but much more reliable. We arrived at the airport smoothly and quickly completed the check-in procedures. Thanks to PJG’s membership with Cathay Pacific, we enjoyed a satisfying breakfast in the airport’s lounge.
经过3个多小时的飞行，我们在11点多顺利抵达了香港。由于要在这里停留超过12个小时，PJG提前在湾仔区预订了一个房间，确保我们有一个休息的场所。午饭后，去了兰桂坊和半山区逛了一圈。自从我2015年最后一次到过香港以来，这是我重返这里的第一次。PJG则是在2019年短暂停留过。表面上看，香港的内地游客似乎增多了，外国人则相对减少。许多带有香港特色的霓虹灯招牌也已不见踪影。重新踏足香港，内心的感受非常复杂。昔日的香港内核深处已经发生了巨大的改变，让人感到一种难以言喻的失落和惋惜。
After a flight of over three hours, we arrived in Hong Kong around 11 am. Since we had to stay here for more than 12 hours, PJG had booked a hotel so we had a place to rest. After lunch, we took a stroll around Lan Kwai Fong and the Mid-Levels. This was my first return to Hong Kong since my last visit in 2015. PJG had a brief stay here in 2019. On the surface, it seemed that the number of mainland tourists had increased, while the number of foreigners had relatively decreased. Many of the neon signs that were characteristic of Hong Kong were no longer in sight. Setting foot in Hong Kong again brought very complex emotions. The core of the Hong Kong of yesteryears has changed drastically, evoking a sense of indescribable loss and regret.
周六下午冷清的兰桂坊 – A quiet Lan Kwai Fong on a Saturday afternoon.
晚饭后，乘坐天星小轮前往维多利亚港对面的尖沙咀。尽管香港的政治文化氛围正在被腐蚀，维多利亚港的夜景依然是其迷人的。到达对岸的尖沙咀后，发现观景台上已经聚集了众多人群，Ta们似乎在等待着某个事件的发生。好奇之下，PJG向一位陌生人询问，得知Ta们正等待八点钟的灯光表演。
After dinner, we took the Star Ferry to Tsim Sha Tsui across Victoria Harbour. Despite the eroding political and cultural atmosphere in Hong Kong, the night view of Victoria Harbour remains enchanting. Upon arriving in Tsim Sha Tsui, we found that the observation deck was already crowded with people. They seemed to be waiting for something to happen. Out of curiosity, PJG asked a stranger and learned that they were waiting for the 8 o’clock light show.
在一家典型的香港烧腊茶餐厅吃了晚饭，有叉烧肉，熏鸡，烤猪肉的四拼饭很好吃，云吞面也不错 – We had dinner at a typical Hong Kong barbecue restaurant (Hay Hay Kitchen), enjoying a delicious four-combo meal with char siu, smoked chicken, and roast pork. The wonton noodles were also quite good.
晚上10点多，回到了机场，又一次享用了会员休息室，吃了一些零食和甜点，稍作休息。大约在午夜50分，我们的航班准时起飞，经过11个小时30多分钟的飞行，平安地抵达了旧金山机场。飞机提前到达，导致我们在停机坪上等待了将近一个小时。终于，我们坐上了回家的Uber。
After 10 pm, we returned to the airport and once again enjoyed a Cathay Pacific lounge, snacking on some treats and desserts while taking a short rest. Our flight took off on time at 12:50 am early Sunday morning, and after a flight of about 11 and a half hours, we safely arrived at SFO on Saturday night! Unfortunately, the plane arrived early, causing us to wait on the tarmac for nearly an hour. After a very brief US Customs wait, we got our luggage, got into an Uber and headed home.
这个会员休息室出奇地宽敞，设施齐全，拥有西餐和中餐两个独立的厨房，一个精致的酒吧台，以及一个供应甜点和茶品的专区。身为高级会员确实享受非凡，我呢，则是借光啦。- This lounge was surprisingly spacious and well-equipped, with separate kitchens for Western and Chinese cuisine, an elegant bar, and a dedicated area for desserts and tea – all complimentary. Being a premium member truly comes with extraordinary benefits, and lucky for me, it applies to his guest too!
My Hong Kong-style dim sum breakfast was delicious, with shrimp dumplings and sticky rice with meats. While eating breakfast, I watched Poor Things.
Questions and spoilers, here:
After finishing the film, I kept pondering its feminist discourse. What is the film's starting point for discussing feminism? Why does female sexual liberation imply gender equality? Why does unrestricted exploration of sexuality equate to gender equality for women? It feels like the infant that becomes Bella should have been a male infant, haha. Bella's sudden transformation on the ship seemed forced — one night she wanted to punch the crying baby, and the next day, seeing the suffering and dying children, she suddenly had a profound realization? Why was it necessary to have a man at the end who didn't mind her whoring? Why such a perfect ending? What is the ultimate goal of gender equality for women? So many questions, and I'm eager to read some other people's reviews.
刚驶出机场，旧金山深夜的冷风迎面扑来，那一刻，我突然感觉似乎从三个月的梦境中醒来，重回了现实世界。
Just after leaving the airport, the cold night wind of San Francisco hit me in the face. At that moment, I suddenly felt as if I had woken up from a three-month dream and returned to the real world.