The quiet nightlife

"One more round for us, please." I told the bartender as I celebrate with my friends after getting a girl's number plus an insignia of affection in the form of a hickey. That is just one of the few highlights of the night.

Illuminated in majorly deep blue lights and a spectrum of flashy neon lights overlooking the highly urbanized Central District of Hong Kong, this is what work-hard-and-party-harder truly means in this business and financial district of Asia. As the party goes harder, I ordered an Ultimate Whiskey Challenge. The amused waitress gave me three cold glasses of Whiskey and a few sticky paper to guess the names of the guests in the proximity given a few subtle hints. That was 3 out of 3. The surprise in their confused faces sealed this lively night as one of my own. People see me as this passionately flirty guy but in truth, I was just genuinely interested in knowing the stories of the people that I meet every time I go out.

Tonight I ruled the world. Tonight I have conquered this magnificent place where skyscrapers pack the land alongside Victoria Harbour. With the EDM music pumping up the place and the temporary recovery from alcohol drunkenness provided by freshly picked Cashew nuts and Almonds, I know this night will never end soon.

But then my phone vibrated. It was my father. He was calling from the, as what I have officially labeled it, unlively side of Hong kong - Cheung Chau. Memories from three years ago flashed back and summed up my previous experiences in three words: uninteresting and boring. He was asking about my promise of visiting my childhood friend whom I have never seen for more than five years. Since we are living on the opposite sides of the Hong Kong life, I figured, this would just take an hour or so and I can easily get back and smell the enthusing fragrance of the minibar, courtesy of the fast and efficient Hong Kong transportation system.

Upon reaching Cheung Chau, I was transported in a place you would hardly believe. Stars pepper the night sky, the full moon is reflected in the calm water of a sea dotted with mangrove saplings. The surrounding hills are dark silhouettes; the only artificial lighting is from the windows of the few buildings, mostly farmhouses, part of a terrace that was once a rural hamlet.

I was taken aback by this magnificent and quiet nightlife. I never realized how rewarding this could be when I decided to fulfill my promise and give my roots a second chance.