https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uH5AhFh8UI
So I found myself needing to go somewhere… and that somewhere ended up being Hong Kong. For a couple of reasons.
Firstly, my friends from Penida have moved back there. And secondly, Glen, who has actually appeared on this playlist with one of his other bands, was playing the Hong Kong Sevens Fan Village with a cover band that was created at the behest of the wives of the band members.
The Sevens is something I’ve always wanted to do, but Hong Kong’s never really been somewhere I’ve been based nearby, so getting the timing right always felt like a bit of a stretch. This time, though, everything just lined up. I needed to be out of Indonesia, the Sevens were on, Glen was playing… it all made sense.
On top of that, it meant seeing Glen, Christelle and Leela again for the first time in a while, and getting a glimpse into their life in Hong Kong and the area they now live in. It was more of a reminder of how much I like the city. You step out of your front door and you’re straight into something interesting, no need for taxis or planning, just wandering. They’re based in Sham Shui Po, a part of the city I’d never been to before. An old, traditional district that people didn’t necessarily seek out in the past, but now has this lovely charm of old-school Hong Kong that draws people in. And Christelle, as always, seems to know the good spots to eat… and my god, the food was epic.
Sevens itself was exactly what you’d hope for. We went early to secure a spot in the notorious South Stand, all in fancy dress. Our outfit of choice was the Hong Kong MTR, complete with an oversized train on our heads and, let’s say, clothing more suited to a female than a gentleman… which also led to one comment about me having a slight upskirt issue. All taken in good humour.
Saturday is basically the party day. The rugby is going on, but it very much takes a back seat. The booze is flowing from early, everyone’s in fancy dress, and the whole thing leans fully into the chaos… typified by the Vengaboys being brought in to do their thing. Not exactly music you’d listen to at home, but in that environment, with thousands of people singing along, it worked. It was great fun.
Sunday shifts a bit. People are slower, slightly worse for wear, but the rugby comes back into focus as it gets to the business end. We watched Glen playing in the afternoon, then headed back in for the finals later on. A good balance of both sides of what the Sevens is all about.
This week’s song comes from the band Glen was covering… a nice reminder of the weekend.