I went to Hong Kong and Okinawa, then I don't wanna come back to work at all...

This National Holiday, I went to Hong Kong for three days and Okinawa for seven days with my best friend. If you ask me to describe this trip, the first word that comes to mind is "swell"!

We had been planning this trip since early in the year. At first, we were really eager to go back to LA to enjoy sunbathing, beaches, pizza, and chill vibes. However, due to tricky visa application procedures, we decided to choose closer destinations. Hong Kong was my idea, while Okinawa was hers.

Hong Kong Chapter

Sometimes, I feel incredibly blessed to have confidants who can tolerate my laziness, spontaneity, and carefree personality. When it comes to travel, I am definitely not the type of person who cares about making plans and preparations in advance. On the contrary, I prefer to follow my heart and instincts without any travel strategies. This spontaneous attitude can really drive people, like my friend, crazy. From an MBTI perspective, I am very much a "P," while my bestfriend is a "J." No exaggeration—this entire trip was meticulously planned, with every restaurant, tourist spot, and boutique shop carefully considered and compared by her through social media.

Due to a very tight schedule in Hong Kong, we did not get a chance to fully explore this vibrant international city. However, we did visit Lan Kwai Fong—a famous hub for bars and clubs—several times. Both Maggie Choo and The Iron Fairies provided us with brand-new and exciting experiences. The drinks, the atmosphere, the music, the decor, and the people swaying to the rhythm were all distinctly different from what we are used to in mainland China.

Although it’s a bit embarrassing to admit, I got extremely intoxicated on my first day at Maggie Choo. It's worth documenting, as it was literally my first time getting so wasted. My best friend and I like to call ourselves "sober up a thousand cups without getting drunk" because we have managed to maintain an impressive record of clubbing and having mixed drinks without feeling dizzy all night in Beijing. However, that night, I blacked out after having a cocktail, a tequila shot, and a Long Island Iced Tea, which I assume was the main trigger. I still have a blurred memory of that night. My best friend held up my shoulder as we staggered out of the bar. Despite my efforts to stay sober and capture this memorable evening, my head felt like it was about to explode from a mix of neural excitement and dizziness caused by the alcohol and the laughter and cheers of the crowd. The next thing I knew, I had collapsed onto my bed and lost consciousness within a second or two.

The following days in Hong Kong were tranquil, normal, yet unique. The last time I visited was with my parents when I was still in elementary school, so I didn't have many memories or impressions of the city after all these years. I was amazed to see how Hong Kong has transformed into today's prestigious, global, vibrant, and modern metropolis, attracting people from around the world to witness its Eastern beauty combined with Western elegance. Although we both regretted that our visit to Hong Kong was so short, we made a promise to return again soon.

Okinawa Chapter

We flew to Okinawa very early on the morning of the 30th. The moment we stepped out of the airport, I immediately noticed the huge difference between Okinawa and Hong Kong. Unlike Tokyo, Okinawa is described as a resort where people can detach themselves from the hustle and bustle of city life, bringing peace and tranquility to their bodies and souls.

At first, I thought spending seven days in Okinawa would be a waste of time. I stand corrected. The streets evoke a feeling reminiscent of LA, with tall, evergreen palm trees, sun-kissed visitors, floral and beachy T-shirts hanging in the shops, and chill music playing from the restaurants. Excuse Me, Are We in LA?

During these 7 days, we visited 3 beaches: Sunset Beach, located at American Village; Bibi Beach, known for its park area and lush lawn; and Naha Beach, an urban beach featuring an overpass bridge. As a girl currently obsessed with getting a tan, sunbathing on the beach with my sunglasses and music is one of the most enjoyable aspects of this vacation.

As mentioned earlier, Okinawa is a place where your body and soul can relax, where you can drink local sake, enjoy several skewers, admire handsome surfing boys, and eventually complete your journey at a bar. The people here are polite, welcoming, and kind; the food is exquisite, delicious, and authentic; and the views are soothing, unforgettable, and natural. Next time, I will choose to stay at a hotel nearby the beach.

On the flight back to Beijing, we both felt a bit blue. Our brief Utopian experience was coming to an end, and what awaited us was the inevitable reality of social and work life. Work hard, play hard. We will, of course, continue our demanding jobs with complete devotion and responsibility, but we will also seize every opportunity for vacation to achieve a better work-life balance. This is life—real life—a bit unfulfilling, but also adventurous and exciting!