Wander to Wonder

Hi Friends,

With Easter holiday right around the corner, I bet many of you have already planned your travels. (I know airfare during peak season can be a killer! 🥲 💸 ) But, if you haven't made any plans yet, maybe consider wandering around the city where we were born and raised?

Before I started working full-time last year, I took a much-needed 8-month break (almost like a gap year) after securing my offer. Unfortunately, due to COVID, I was stuck in Hong Kong, but I made the most of it. Besides sticking to my daily reading schedule, I spent a lot of time exploring the city on foot 🚶‍♂️, taking trams and ferries 🚋🛳️, cycling 🚴‍♂️, and just wandering around while listening to music 🎧 and podcasts 🎙️ with my earbuds.

As locals, it's easy to take Hong Kong's beauty for granted. After living here for more than 20 years, I'm no longer impressed by the skyscrapers along Victoria Harbour (especially when the offices that light up until late night only remind me of work...). However, if you take the time to explore the back alleys, cha-chaan-tang, and even the steep slopes around Hong Kong Island, you'll be surprised by the hidden gems you'll discover. Karen Cheung beautifully captures this sentiment in her book "The Impossible City - A Hong Kong Memoir." 📖

Look closer at this street corner: The sun is setting. The newspaper stand packs up the dailies and puts away the cartons of eggs. Students with laptops in their arms shuffle out of the cha-chaan-tang. Elderly couples and their poodles take a stroll by the pier. You can still hear the uproar of the crowds that once gathered on the steep slopes for film screenings, festivals, protests. The florists at the wet market put away the last lilies. The last tram slots itself into the station. Maybe you can’t save this place; may it isn’t even worth saving. But for a moment, there was a sliver of what this city could have become. And that is why we’re still here.

In addition to external surprises, wandering around without any particular goal can help you internalize your thoughts and connect the dots to come up with new ideas!I mean, I came up with the idea for this article while wandering around the harbour front last weekend. It's like going on a treasure hunt, you never know what you might find! Plus, studies have shown that wandering can seriously boost your creative thinking and problem-solving skills. So, next time you're feeling stuck, take a break from your busy routine and go on a wandering adventure! You might discover something totally unexpected or come up with a brilliant new idea. And let's be real, who doesn't want to break out of their mental rut and overcome creative blocks? So, put on your walking shoes and get out there!

Have a nice walk,

Sherman

Things that I found interesting this week:

🎬  Video —  #MM｜教你透過散步學識欣賞香港！→ Mill Milk is one of my favorite local YouTube channels. It has helped me unveil the beauty of our beloved city, Hong Kong. In this video, the host discusses the concept of "wandering" and how paying attention to details can help us gain a deeper understanding of our surroundings. From the design of streetlights to the messages on advertisements, we can learn so much about the place we call home.

🎬  Video — #懷疑人生就去 散步 | 中文大學 → This video featuring my alma mater, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, holds a special place in my heart. It reminds me of the memories I made during my 4.5 years there, learning about the world and making lifelong friends. Watching it brings back a rush of emotions and a sense of nostalgia for the place that taught me so much.

📚  Book — “The Impossible City - A Hong Kong Memoir” by Karen Cheung

📱 App — Calm → I've been using the Calm app (sponsored by company 😂) to help me reduce stress and improve focus. It has a variety of guided meditations that I find really effective. Just wanted to share in case it might be helpful for you too! 😌🧘‍♀️

🎼  Music — 《我想和你虛度時光》by 程璧 → The lyrics were just so elegantly written, making it the perfect accompaniment to a walk along the harbor front at sunset.   “我還想連落日都一起浪費 比如散步 一直消磨到星光滿天 “

🖼️  Website — KONGCEPT | 我港 (kongcept852.com) → If you're interested in exploring more of Hong Kong's hidden gems, check out the KONGCEPT website. This website features a curated selection of unique and interesting places around the city that you might not find in your typical guidebook. I had the privilege of speaking with three of the founders, and I was genuinely impressed by their effort to preserve and promote the lesser-known facets of our city. They also have an Instagram page and a YouTube channel where they share even more of their discoveries. Give them a follow and see what you can discover!

P.S. 香港真係好靚！🌇  🇭🇰