What Cheung Chau Taught Me?

Cheung Chau taught me a lesson that I will never forget. I know this story would be better if I share it to you personally over a bottle of beer or cup of coffee.I really would love to.

 It is a story about belief, love and finding yourself. 

I went to Hong Kong with my closest office friend, Vidal. It was January 2013. I planned every detail of the trip. We came then from Macau. We skipped the amusement parks because Vi did not want fairground rides. It was 2nd day in Hong Kong when we went to Cheung Chau. They say, Cheung Chau is the old Hong Kong. Vi wouldn't like to go to Cheung Chau at first because he haven't heard of the place before but I insisted. It was easy to go there. From Hong Kong Island it is just a ferry ride from Central Pier 5. After an hour of sailing, he was happy when we arrived. The island is very different from the city. It was my 2nd time in HK but this place could not be compared. Vi and I decided to travel the island separately since he couldn't walk that far and he decided to roam around using bicycle. It's the only mode of transportation in Cheung Chau. 

Vidal at Tung Wan Beach

I walked around. I wanted to visit Mini Great Wall it was Monday morning and there's few tourists. I walked alone. To walk alone gave me much more freedom in exploring the place. I was a tough woman. I've already taken into consideration of being single all my life and handling things like walking alone in a foreign place you've never been to is just a piece of cake. I am fine all by myself as long as I have my camera with me - then I know it's going to be perfect. I passed by a small village, a father and daughter at the playground, a school, the Warwick Hotel, a helipad, everything in Cheung Chau is beautiful. I appreciate Life more. I appreciate being close to nature and the Chinese Culture...then I got lost. I saw this sign Entrance by Secret Path. It's a resort..with a lot of surf boards. I got curious. Thought for a while. I was not really sure if I it's fine to enter the area. I knew that time, I was suppose to get inside the forest but there's no people around until a man passed by. 

Windsurfing is very famous in Cheung Chau.

I showed him the note, the note was written in Chinese. It was given by one of the store owners where we bought souvenirs of Cheung Chau. She told us that if we just have to show the note to the locals and they could direct us to Mini Great Wall. The man told me "Come" then I followed him. He went inside the forest. There's actually no sign or direction that will lead us to Mini Great Wall. Then we saw this temple. We came in. I took photos of it. I was a little bit hesitant. He showed me the sculpture. It was a Chinese sculpture at the top of the entrance. It was indeed beautiful. When we went outside, he told me that It's the entrance to the Mini Great Wall. Then he continued to walk. I told him "I can manage from here." But he said "No" and continued to walk. I followed. I told him. "Maybe you're busy" He said "I have all the time" and he laughed. He was listening to the music while we walk. Since he will be my company, might as well ask his name. He told me "Jack".

Overlooking 

Mini Great Wall of Hong Kong 

His name is Jack. He's as old as my pop. Wearing leather black jacket, black pants and sun glasses. He told me that he was mistaken a couple of times as a Filipino. When you see him you would thought that he is a  Filipino Chinese. I asked what he was listening to. And he let me listen to the music. It was a Chinese song. He told me his story. Every morning he would walk, if not he would go fishing. We passed by different rock formations and the Gazeboo. He showed me the best view to see Cheung Chau Island. Cheung Chau is different. Differently beautiful. He showed me where to see different islands of Hong Kong. Lantau and the Hong Kong Island. He knew the place well. He told me about his life. About his wife and his children. He told me that he was not happy with his marriage. His wife gambles all the time. He doesn't love her already. I asked him maybe they could fix their marriage. But he just nod. He was hopeful of finding the "right one." The term "right one" is too vague for me but I know what he was referring to. I was thinking how would he know the right person? At his age, I never thought that he would still believe in love. While me ~ I already gave up. Then He said. You are a happy person. You always smile. I know you're a nice person, that's why I accompany you. We were almost close to the place where we met. He asked me if he could hold my hand I said yes. Then he told me. I hope you'll find the right man for you. When he said that it struck me. I smiled and said I hope you'll be happy. They say when you give your wishes to someone, youre meaning it for yourself. I think behind that facade of happiness - of being strong to be alone - I wanted to be with someone. - I wanted to be happy with someone. 

We bid our goodbyes where I left Vidal but Vidal was not there so I asked Jack the way to the Port. He gave me direction and I walk away. While walking I was crying. How can a person as old as my pop, who's marriage is suffering could still wish for my happiness of believing  that there is right one for me while I already chose not to believe. How can a person different from my culture would believe in Love? Are Chinese as hopeless romantic as Filipinos? Or there is no cultural differences when it comes to Love? I found McDonalds and cried alone. I was crying because I was wrong. I cried because I deprived myself of that hope of that belief with love.

It was cold during our entire stay in Hong Kong and Macau it was only in Cheung Chau that we experienced better weather. When I felt the rays of sunlight I felt as if it was hugging me. How Jack appreciated me I appreciated myself more. The ability to fall in love should not be a question but it's reality and magical at the same time.  That's why when I say Believe in Love I really mean it. Cheung Chau taught me how. 

I waited for Vi and when I found him I hugged him and shared the story.