One week of the year

Hong Kong is classified as a 'sub-tropical' island. Which roughly translates to 3 months of stinking hot, humid weather, 3 months of moderately hot weather, 5 months of temperate weather, 1 month of cool weather during the winter. Occasionally, during winter you might experience one week of cold weather. Not biting cold, but moderately uncomfortable weather. During this time, it's not unusual to see an over-reaction to the cold from the local populace. This over-reaction rears its head in the form of down jackets, gloves, scarves and beanies. 

Last year's winter was so moderate I don't even think I used a jacket, did I? Whereas in 2016 it got numbingly cold as the mercury dropped below five degrees Celsius. Most people will say that this year's summer was not as 'hot' as previous years, or cooler, which brings me to this winter, it definitely feels cooler. It could also just be that my apartment feels colder and indirectly, I feel colder.

I have been fundamentally opposed to buying a heater that will be used for one week of the year, only for it to end up in storage. Especially in a country where abundance of storage is non-existent. However, now that I am an official Hong Kong Resident I am entitled to my very own winter over-reaction, a heater. 

I'm too old to be cold.

Coldest day since 1957

It's cold; 3° C cold. Just like London isn't built for the heat, Hong Kong isn't built for the cold. The high humidity and the lack of heating have led to an increase in the sale of Uniqlo Down Jackets.

My apartment is freezing, condensation billows from my mouth as I breath. I'm wearing everything I own and have my duvet draped over me. I futilely scrunch my toes up under my socks to no avail.

My oven is on and I'm not baking anything. Why is Hong Kong so extreme?

Currently reading: "Bird By Bird"

This is me in ...

My passport, my backpack, my thongs, my toiletries these are the no-brainers that I blindly grab before each trip. Clothing is slightly trickier, dependent on the destination, type of trip and climate this can vary. There are however some staples that almost always feature in travel ensemble.

My well worn jeans, my comfortable elastic band pajama slacks and more recently my multi-layer, waterproof jacket. The problem with Winter is that since you wear the same clothing, the photos start to look the same and start to become quite repetitive. The big jacket, the scarf, the beanie and the same pale face peeking through the familiar attire.

"Never explain yourself - Your friends don't need it, your enemies won't believe it."

"Worst snow in 18 years"

What appeared to be another typically overcast Sunday afternoon in London. Me sitting on my bed, TV in the background as I stare out the window, daydreaming, reflecting, sleeping with my eyes open. Steam billows from the adjacent restaurant as the sun sets over drab London. Snapping back into consciousness I notice a certain irregular consistency moving through the air. Initially it looks like dust and pollution being thrown about. Closer inspection reveals it to be flakes of snow drifting down from the sky. For the best part of 10 minutes I attempt to take photos of the falling snow from my bedroom window. This exercise in futility leaves me wanting and after many failed attempts I toss my camera aside and draw the curtains close.


Oddly enough it wasn't the sound of my alarm clock that broke my slumber but a strange luminance seeping from behind the curtain. Pulling the curtains apart revealed a picture of white. It was as if a kid had gotten his hands on his first snow globe and given it the shaking of a lifetime. Snow was bouncing off the glass and the dreary scene I was staring at yesterday afternoon had been transformed into a snowman utopia.


Wow, I thought as I stepped out of my apartment. Pavements, cars, roofs, streetlights and trees all covered in snow. The streets were deserted and there was little evidence of human passage on the footpaths. As my foot hit the ground I slipped and almost face planted. Epiphany number 1, leather shoes on ice makes for impractical walking. I trudged to the Tube Station and was shocked to find the platform ridiculously overcrowded. The sign indicated that the next train would be 20 minutes (Usually, trains run every 2 minutes). Epiphany number 2, snow cripples the public transport system.


Eventually getting to work over an hour late I was welcomed by an small cheer from an otherwise empty office. I survived the trek into work! Turns out 1 in 5 people weren't present at work, either working from home or just physically unable to make the commute. Tube lines were either part suspended or experiencing severe delays. The bus network had been suspended. Most shops and services closed before their regular closing hours.


Despite the chaos and blatant inconvenience I heard not a single complaint about the snow. There were complaints about the transport, about work, about closed shops but not one ill word was said about the snow. It was as if the city had become mesmerised. Within a flurry of powder and snowballs and snowmen it was a time to stop and reflect. Epiphany number 3, snow sucks.