This building

On the back of the "Expat" cluster from Ursus, a local gym in the Sai Ying Pun area, the government has issued compulsory testing for buildings in and around Hong Kong. My building happens to be one of them.

For sale

 Pick-up: Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong Island - 1 flight of stairs + lift.

Available: 13th March
Price: 500 HKD, first come, first served

Relocation sale - Selling set of outdoor furniture, includes: wooden table and four chairs.

• Table condition: Some scuffs and marks (see photo for details).
• Table dimensions (folded): 130cm x12cm x108cm (WxDxH)
• Table dimesions (open): 130cm x 80cm x 76cm (WxDxH)

• Chair condition (x4): Good, one chair is missing base leg cross-support, integrity of chair still in tact (see photo for details).
• Chair dimensions (folded): 43cm x 12cm x 108cm (WxDxH)
• Chair dimensions (open):43cm x 38cm x 88cm (WxDxH)

Lease termination

 Finally, social distancing restrictions have been relaxed. First time since December 8th. Gyms to reopen and dinner available up until 10 pm. In other news, I also received this whatsapp message from my landlord this morning.

"Morning, we regret to terminate the lease agreement as attached because we intend for self use when we purchased the flat. Thanks so much for your continuing support!"

Very annoying. Time to start looking for a new apartment.

Exercise regime

Some good news for the new year. Ankle stability is slowly (I mean slowly) returning. Have been seeing the physiotherapist regularly for a couple of weeks with a focus on rehab and hands-on therapy and acupuncture. Really trying to avoid the surgery route and there has been deliberate effort on strengthening through the entire range of the hips and stability work through the ankle. Lots of calf-raises, single-leg step ups, pigeons and half-range pistol squats.

Also I have finally been given clearance to start more vigorous training on the ankle. With the view to promote blood flow through the ankle. Putting the roof to good use with light skipping and posterior chain strengthening with a kettlebell. Also, went for a light jog, first time in three months. Ankle feeling a lot better than it did 3 months ago.

Shoulders
- Single arm clean, press (3x 5 each side)
- superset: 20x swings + 8 handstand push-ups (3x)
- Turkish getup (5x 1 each side)
- superset: goblet press + upright row (3x)
- theraband pull aparts (3x 20)

Legs
- superset: lateral lunges + calf raises
- single arm clean, step back lunge
- single leg deadlift
- superset: 20x swings + goblet squats
- front lunges kB carry each side

Back
- superset: 30s swings + 30s push ups (3x)
- single arm row
- superset: good mornings + chin ups
- Turkish getup (5x 1 each side) + bicep curls
- theraband: rear delt flies + band pull aparts

2021, come at me

The extension of dining restrictions coupled with the official cancelation of New Year events, meant that all New Year's celebrations would be confined to small gatherings on private premises. Despite the colder-than-usual weather, I decided to take advantage of my rooftop and host New Year's at mine. Equipped with enough meat and blankets to feed and warm a small village we managed to usher in the new year by watching the midnight fireworks in Sydney (at 9 pm HKT) followed by the midnight "virtual" fireworks in Hong Kong. The night was chock full of eating and wine ending up with an intense session of board games (read: Nertz).

Despite only having 6 people over, the combination of grilling, baking, boiling left a solid amount of clean up work. So after the crowd had left, I spent a good solid 45 minutes tidying up, cleaning wine glasses, wiping down the oven and vacuuming up crumbs. The moment of pause, silence and reflection. The post-party clean up reminded me of when my parents would host New Years back in Sydney and we would spend the hour or so after tidying up, drying dishes, wiping down tables, cleaning up the Eski. 

In any case, the year that was 2020, has finally come to a much needed end. I start 2021, with a fridge full of leftovers, a half eaten packet of Tim Tams and boundless expectation. It's time to shine, 2021.

Finally got a BBQ

Typhoon 9: Higos

First typhoon in the new apartment. The building is tucked behind an adjacent residential building on the mountain side. By tucked, I can basically look into the apartment building next to me, I'm pretty sure if there was a balcony I would probably be able to jump across to the other building if my life depended on it. 

The harbour side of my building is far more exposed. It definitely gets windy up here and there's added paranoia of being on the top floor of a building and responsibility of the rooftop. The gale force winds rattle the metal membrane above me, my eyes snap open wondering if something has blown off my roof.

Despite the category 9, Typhoon Higos thankfully did not directly hit Hong Kong. Usually there's a sense of elation with typhoons in that employees are not expected to work for the duration of the level 8 category and above. However, evey body is setup to be able to work from home. Sigh.

Western District Harbourfront

The new law requires all people in public to wear masks; this includes those doing exercise. Given that it's still summer time here in Hong Kong, with temperatures above 30° degrees celsius and humidity north of 80% there are naturally different levels of compliance with Mask Wearing, especially when it comes to outdoor exercise. Some people cover their nose and mouth (respect), some people will have the mask covering just their mouth, some people will wear it under their chin, and some people just don't wear a mask at all. I usually start with the mask covering my nose and mask, which is fine until the mask collects sweat and becomes a damp rag. After which it starts to feel like you're mildly being waterboarded each time you take a breath in, usually at this point I will pull the mask down sheepishly so that my nostrils are exposed. Sweet oxygen. What doesn't kill us ...

Finally managed to bring my phone out for a Saturday morning run. It's hot, it's humid but it's such a nice running route.

Finally restarted: "The Selfish Gene"

Social Distancing Cooking

So what's been happening with the diet? Well, I've been eating more meat lately, primarily fatty fish and a lot more organ meat. I've also found a place in Sheung Wan that sells preserved fruit. As previously mentioned, I've had more cravings, eating instant noodles a lot more. But also started with the experimentation again, some baking, testing different sambal recipes and experimenting with fermentation, and Kimchi.

Yoga Teacher's Training

Signed up for my Yoga Teacher's Training back in January; 200 hours of yoga training. At the time, I had decided to start the course in April, as it was scheduled to be immediately after my Singapore, Sydney and US trips in April. Since then, those three trips have been canceled and it's the first time I've had no trips lined up. I do remember saying I wanted to spend more time in Hong Kong, so I definitely got that request. So here we are, end of April and the course is going ahead, all online, all on zoom.

I'm slightly concerned because since this whole pandemic broke out and yoga studios closed their doors back in March, I've done one yoga class online, there really isn't the same level of interest in yoga at home. Some suspect this has to do with the dearth of Lululemon clad women in my apartment compared to the yoga studios (by dearth, I mean none).

In any case, let's see how this all goes. To my surprised the class is very full, with over 30 plus students still enrolled for the virtual certification.

Makeshift yoga studio - Fingers crossed this isn't for the entire 200 hour journey.

Breakdown of course 200 hours at $25,000 HKD (~3,200 USD)

• 25 classes x 3hr Theory/Practical = 75 hours
• 40 classes x 1hr Yoga Studio Practice = 40 hours
• 30 classes x 2hr Andiappan Yoga Practice = 60 hours
• Assignment/Self Study = 20 hours
• YTT Group practice class = 5 hours

Hitting the pavement

Gyms and fitness studios have been instructed by the Hong Kong government to remain closed for another 2 weeks. For some reason, I cannot for the life of me get into online fitness or yoga sessions. It's similar to being in a hotel gym, I just can replicate the same intensity or motivation. I suspect it has something to do with familiarity but also the subtle motivation of having other people.

With that being said, I have purchased a yoga mat, a skipping rope and some resistance bands. This has eventuated to 15-20 minute "workouts" at home. When I say workouts, the term is loose, i break a sweat, but my heart rate isn't racing, but it still feels good to get the blood moving. My primary form of exercise has shifted to running. I no longer have the luxury of Bowen Road, however I've found an equally amazing running route near to home. 10 minutes away down by the harbour is Sun Yat Sen (SYS) Memorial park. On weekends, you can find plenty of people working out and casually lounging (well, at least before what happened).

Lately this park has become a surrogate fitness studio. I challenge you to go there during the week where there's not somebody running, boxing, using a TRX, doing yoga, HIIT. It's pretty cool and thankfully it's not summer in Hong Kong, yet.

So back to running, I have been running two to three times a week down by the harbour front along Victoria Harbour. My route, takes me from SYS along the harbour, through to Sheung Wan, up to Central along the CBD and the ferry piers, around past Admiralty over to the Golden Bauhinia. As far as runs go, it's a pretty epic 7 km roundtrip. Sometimes if I'm feeling ballsy I'll keep the run going past SYS and continue west towards Kennedy town and that tops the run up at approximately 10 km. The great thing about this run is that you get to see the entire harbour and all of the iconic buildings of Hong Kong. I sometimes have to pinch myself that the two regular running tracks that I have had are Bowen Road and the harbour front.

I am enjoying running, I do see my pace improving, not drastically, but enough to give me motivation. I do notice the difference between running when there's a headwind, or when I'm running in a fasted state. Admittedly I have become a little obsessed as I'll run now even if it's raining.

I don't usually run with my phone so haven't had the opportunity to take a photo, but I'll try to get something up soon.

Working From Home

Working from home, or WFH, is my hot pick for acronym of the year (although, technically Covid19 is also an acronym, and well that basically owns that title). Work has split us into two teams, Team A and well no surprises with the second team name, Team B. What does this mean? Well, Team A members are forbidden from fraternising with Team B members. So work has arranged a rotation schedule where one team can be in the office while the other team has to work from home, or remotely.

I will say, there are benefits to working from home. My productivity on tasks is a lot more focused, probably attributable to the fact that people aren't stopping by the desk asking questions or having a general chat. The other thing is, meetings are a lot more structured and planned so the days ultimately revolve around meetings, I can segment my day in to things that need to be finished; although I should be doing this anyway. I still spend time going to the kitchen and the bathroom but given the size of my apartment these necessities barely dent the time away from the desk.

My day is usually as follows: Wake up at 7 am (same time if I needed to get to work by 8 am), Boil Water, brush teeth, meditate for 10 minutes, drink warm water with apple cider vinegar, listening to the news. However, here's where things deviate, instead of changing clothes, doing hair, packing bag and running to the bus stop. I do thirty minute of breathing exercises and light stretching, (sometimes) I will change out of my PJs. At around 7:50 am I'll log into computer. I'll scan emails, and make a breakfast smoothie before dialling in for the 8:30 am morning call.

I make an effort to get out of the apartment, either going downstairs to pick up some groceries, grab some Vitamin D (if weather permits), after work I'll either go for a run, or wander around the neighbourhood just to mark up my step count for the day. I have been enjoying cooking lunch and breakfast and these chores provide a good break from the continuity of being apartment bound for the entire day.

My setup for work isn't perfect - But, that being said, I am fortunate enough to have space and a dining table where I can setup a half decent work station. I have an extra monitor and do miss the extra real estate but humans adapt and it's become very manageable. In hindsight, moving apartments was a a genius stroke because I couldn't imagine working from home at my old apartment. I'm also aware that not every person in Hong Kong has the luxury to work from home so my setup is definitely more on the  desirable side than the non-desirable.

In other news, I finally have a sofa. However, I still haven't signed up for Netflix. I have switched from Spotify to YouTube Music, though. Currently watching a YouTube video about how to prepare Korean instant noodles.

CNY Precautions: The year of the Rat

So turns out there's some mystery virus going through the Mainland. The fear in Hong Kong is real, albeit perhaps unwarranted but it's still too early to say. Masks are a hot commodity, as are anti bacterial wipes, as well as food supplies. 95% of people in Hong Kong are wearing some type of mask, ranging from medical masks, to dust masks.

I managed to procure a box of masks (which I have not been wearing).

Setting up

Water, check. Electricity, check. Gas, check. Internet, check. Wifi, Check. In that order, over the course of 3 days. I'm still waiting for blinds to be installed and my furniture to arrive. New apartment. Here we go.