The Winter of 2011 was so cold that I couln't bear it, specially deep in my heart!  I  had a very tensed and tiring Christmas, in between my flying schedules, I went to the Hospital to visit my friend who was in the Intensive Care Unit whenever I was in Vancouver.

Since the first day he was there, he was kind of in a coma, I didn't think he could have noticed that I was there seeing him stil,  I hope he could feel my spiritual supports,  the night before Christmas, his situation was so bad that, I rushed to the hospital right after I stepped out of the aircraft once I received the phone call from his sister. Luckily he could make it, and he turned slightly better,  the following 2 weeks, he regained his conciousness though he could not talk, he could response to us.

2012 silently came, maybe I was too tired, I felt sick after I flew back from New York, and didn't go to see him cos I didn't want to spread the virus to him or other patients within the ICU. I gave his sister a call on the 2nd night once I felt a bit better, and been told that his situation had gone bad again. How depressing, he was doing ok just 3 days ago. I went to see him the next day morning, but only had a chance to see him once after a 5 hours waiting, he was sleeping after the nurse gave him morphine injection. No choice, I had to come back the next day. 

Though I needed to fly to Hong Kong at night,  I went to see him during the day, didn't drive cos the weather forecast there would be Snow, and I'm not a good dirver. I took the subway instead, just I was about to reach downtown, a phone call from other friends who were already at the hospital, asking me to be there as soon as possible.

Once I got there, I noticed that the nurse was removing all the equipments which were used to treat him over the past one and a half month and transferring him to a single room  which all of his friends could visit him privately.   I felt strange that when there were over 15 people gathered in the room and waiting.........we all knew that he would leave that night, but frankly it's really hard for me to see him go, I finally decided to leave and bid my  farewell to him, I was bursted into tears while talking to him,  the sad news came while I was on the public transport, I just couln't stop the tears.....and I looked at my watch, his birthday was only within 3 days.......

I kept on going for flight, and the weather forecast was really accurate, the Snow finally came and it was the first snow storm of Vancouver this winter. Once the aircraft took off, it flew into the air, with the wind and snow, the turbulance was strong, it's like he was crying heavily as well......While working,  it could cover my sorrow, once I was resting at the crew bunk, tears just came out.......the  layover in Hong Kong was the saddness one meeting up with our mutual friends and talking about our past was just like putting a needl into our hearts.

His funeral was only 3 days after I returned back to Vancouver and 2 days ahead of the Chinese New Year. The night before there was the 2nd Snow storm warning in Vancouver, during the funeral, I made a speech, lots of memories during that tiny 3 minutes......

Time had come, I finally had to walk his coffin with other friends and accompained to the crematoruim, Snow had gone, and turned into heavy rain just like my tears...

Lewis, we knew each other in 1986, we started out just like others eating, drinking, clubbings, talking non-sense friends, but we eventually grew together,  you became my best friend, sharing our laughters, our problems,  God knows that 2 years after you moved to Vancouver, Fate also brought me there as well! I thank you for all your supports all these years specailly my early days in Vancouver after I was being dumped, without you I might not be able to face the challenge sensibly. I know leaving us at the age of 49 is a bit too early, however as a kind person like you, God has treated you well by not further suffer in this World.

Rest In Peace my dearest friend...

 Hi there...how is everyone doing? Last Nov I had my final 2 weeks annual leave of 2011 and went to visit relatives in #Sydney, #Australia, and friends in #Singapore..

I first flew all the way from Vancouver to Sydney via Hong Kong for a quick 3 days meet up with cousins, I remember last time I was here 20 years ago, the official people treated people like me, single Asian traveler unfriendly, however on this trip they are very friendly, the culture has been changed or my Canadian Passport makes the difference...?

Since my  older cousins are retired and not living near to the City, I decided to meet them up at the suburban area..my very first time to travel on the train system in Sydney

 There are lots of Pelicans at a place called The Entrance Park!

Dinner at a local club house The Range, having my Australian Steak and oh well an Aussie version of Buffalo Wings

Another younger relatives accompany me going around Sydney  before I heading back to Hong Kong at night.

Sydney Harbour front with the Sydney Opera house

A place called the Gap around Watsons Bay  doesn't the landscape looks like some places in Bali, Indonesia?

 s smoggy Sydney skyline  and the Bondi beach without the Sun.......

after a one night layover in Hong Kong, heading to Singapore as the 2nd of my trip...

Before going to the flight had my breakfast at the  Plaza  Premium Traveler's Lounge at the HK International Airport

 My annual SQ experience......well, the Haagen Dazs Ice- cream is gone........how sad, however the service from the crew and other offering was as good as usual, and a snap shot of their regional Business Class seat on my way out, actually the earlier generation of the long-haul angled flat bed seat.....

 Staying at the Studio M Hotel which offers loft type room

Dinner at the Eat Coast Lagoon Food Village

Chicken Riace and the Singapore Rojak

Chilli Squid and the Laksa

Going to the Haw Par Villa is free of charge nowadays.....I just like visiting the 18 Levels of Hell.......

light lunch

Ipoh chix chop curry Hor Fun and Sin style Fish ball fish cake Lo mein

 this is made in Malaysia!

 kuih(cake) lapis, kuih bengka and ang koo kuih,

and a Home made dinner at a friend's place...Kari ikan pari (Curry Stingray)

 Dahl(malaysian mixed veggie), Ayam masak kicap manis(Malay Chix with Soy Sauce)

 Sambal kachang botol( Veggie with sambal)

 At the Sky Deck of the Sand's Casino and Resort at the Marina Bay

Lunch:

Nonya food: Pie tee, Mee Siam

 Babi pong teh(Pork ) and Sarawak kolo mien

 Fried carrot cake

 my favourite breakfast items as an afternoon tea!!

 Dinner......finally something nor South east asian......

at the Marche, a Swiss Market style Restaurant, though they do have a branch at the Peak in Hong Kong

this is the very first time I try them.....

Swiss Rosti with Chix cheese sausage, Crepe with chix and veggie

 Grilled Lamb Chop and the Roasted Pig knuckle

 Movenpic Ice-cream

 terminal hopping at Changi Airport

 having my last Singapore taste on this trip!

chix Rice, Laksa and Prawn noodle

Last Friday night, after a very ordinary Shanghainese dinner at the Xia Mian Guan inside the #Elements Shopping Mall, interesting this one is under a different management from other Xia's outlets throughout Hong Kong........... anyway because of the disappointed meal, I wanted to have some desserts, walking around the mall, I eventually went up to the Podium level and took a Picture of Hong Kong at night.  and made a right turn to the Ritz Carlton Hotel HK, and if you happen to have read my previous entry about this hotel you might have thought that I will never go back. Well since I was dressed in a  quite a casual attire, I just had my dessert at the Pastry Gems which is located at the main entrance level....

a Green Tea Cake, very strong green tea taste with a kind of berries jelly filling in the centre..

Apricot Jivara  - Apricot Chocolate Mousse accompanied with a tube of Apricot Gel, and god I love that so much..

Pot de Creme - a Coffee/Dark Chocolate Mousse with gold flakes....

While my friend having a cafe latte, I had my apple flavour tea......