Yesterday, I went out for a quick hike with my parents, just at the back of Ma On Shan to Sai Kung -- a very short and easy walk of around 2 hours.
It was such quality time.
I was brought up in a pretty strange family in Hong Kong. We didn't have a tv when my brother and I were kids. Our entertainment was to go out to parks, riding bikes, hiking, hitting the beach... when it was dark and wet outside we played boardgames and read books at home. They told us about trees, animals, stars, photography. They told us about reading, about knowledge. They told us this is family. Love.
I used to feel a bit uneasy because I was a bit cut off from my schoolmates. When they talked about the cartoons and tv shows I wouldn't be able to join in. I wouldn't have a clue. However I was never angry at my parents, as I did have a lot to tell my friends about our trips, our hikes in the countrysides and the little adventures. They were quite exciting comparing to all the cartoons on tv.
My parents met in hiking trips. When they were young they always go for hikes and camped here and there. One time, dad learned that mum was camping with her friends, he took his friends camping and pretended they met each other again by coincident. Dad asked mum out, and eventually got married.
I once thought I am a country boy trying to fit in here in Hong Kong. The fact is I never have to try to fit in... I have always been the country boy, even before I left to Wales. I was born to my Hong Kong country parents.
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