As I type this, the thought that it’s just five more sleeps in this flat, in Hong Kong, seems surreal. On Monday I’ll be packing up my bags and leaving Hong Kong for Sydney. How does one say goodbye to a city that has given me so much in the past 7 years? I don’t even know where to begin.

I first came to Hong Kong in August 2009 to work as an English textbook editor. The intention at that time was to stay only for a year. In that year I threw myself into hiking and discovering the trails of Hong Kong. I loved all the outdoor activities Hong Kong had to offer. I also loved the craziness of the crowds, the quirkiness of the small lanes, and the abundance of good eats. I did stay only for a year and went back to Singapore after that.

However, I felt that I didn’t have enough of Hong Kong and 10 months later in May 2011 I found myself back in Hong Kong with another job as an English editor. My second stint saw me exploring more of Hong Kong’s nature and trails and having more adventures. I made more friends, some of whom have become close friends. I found my favourite spots in Hong Kong and I even started to host hikes as I became more familiar with routes. On the work side, I switched jobs two more times, bringing my job tally in Hong Kong to four in my 7 years here. From an editor I evolved into being a proposal writer and getting involved in sales and business development for an investment consultancy team. It’s not a career path that I had envisioned for myself but I do find it interesting now that I’m in it. The job I have now is also giving me the chance to move to Sydney and I’m grateful for the opportunity I’ve been given.

I love this city – its mountains and coastline are beautiful and provide for a great escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. The city is also a foodie’s paradise. In addition, I love the can-do spirit of the people. People here work hard and I admire their resilience in adapting to living in such cramp conditions. That said, the city has its problems too. More can definitely be done to help the elderly who are still slaving away in physically demanding jobs.

Anyway, the movers came on Monday and I had six big boxes, one medium sized box and two small boxes. Not too much I guess. I have been giving away stuff in the past month. Now my flat is bare and I’m living out of two suitcases.

Over the past week, I’ve been meeting friends in Hong Kong over meals to say goodbye. It feels really strange to be leaving this city in which I have spent a big chunk of my 30s. I have had great times here but I think it’s time to move on. I have been starting to find fault with the city since the start of last year. Where trails were once exciting to explore, they have now become stale. I have been there, done that. It’s time to find new places to explore. Where crowds were once exciting, now it’s just plain tiresome.

Perhaps Hong Kong has exhausted me and it’s time to live in a city with a slower pace. I now have the opportunity to live and work in Sydney and I’m going to take it. It’s both exciting and scary at the same time, but I’m looking forward to the change.

Will I cry on Monday night as the plane takes off? Hmm…