Getting Our Steps in @ Twin Peaks

A few weeks ago, to kick of our spring break, I decided it was time to hike the Twin Peaks. This hike, sometimes referred to as the Terrible Twins, presents over 2,000 steps on stairs as part of the hike. My kind of day!

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

We must've journeyed a million miles then😂😂

Andreas, Joanne, and Alex joined me this day for the hike! We met Joanne at the bus stop and walked over Violet Hill and then proceeded to hike over the Twin Peaks. Basically the name is how it sounds: you hike over two different peaks, each one having over 1,000 steps on a staircase (in addition to the actual trail part too). I love love loved the challenge! Our view for this part of the hike:

It just kept going and going and going...and going. It was super fun tho, and I really got to know the group better! Alex, after we finished the first peak and realizing we had to go over yet another set of stairs, joked to me that next time I ask if he wants to do something, that he won't ask any questions and just go into it with an open mind cuz it'll always be an adventure. After all, he was the one who hiked Suicide Cliff in the rain with me😂

The view as we were coming down the last peak was gorgeous--overlooking Stanley, we could see the ocean outstretched around us and some beautiful homes. I mentioned that it kinda looks like a college campus??

Joanne and Andreas took the bus back to campus since they had meetings, but Alex and I stayed for a celebratory lunch. We ate at this Western place, and we both fell for the lunch special that came with salad/soup, another salad, and fries, and a steak. My first steak. In Hong Kong.👀😂 Interesting how life works out.

It was covered in a mushroom sauce and was pretty good, but even I know that wasn't the best steaks can be😂 For a post-hike meal, however, it hit!

Alex and I chilled on the beach and walked around the famous Stanley Market, and I browsed through local artwork and things for sale. I ended up buying a few surprises (!) to bring back home:)

Around 5, Alex said he wanted to go run some errands in the city and asked if I was leaving now too. I saw kayaks for rent, and hadn't done it yet in Hong Kong, and told him that I was conflicted: "to be honest, I know this sounds goofy, but my only reason for not wanting to kayak right now is because I'm by myself. Is that dumb?" He encouraged me to go for it, and so after he left I rented a kayak until the sun went down and had a blast!! Such a moment of personal growth for me, and my confidence increased in that moment. I had maybe even more fun than if I was with someone! I could paddle as hard, fast, or as far as I wanted to go and could think about whatever I wanted, and I could belt out some songs A cappella style and have no one cringe or tell me to stop.

There was a bit of a red tide, so the algae was tough near the shore, but after I passed that it was pure bliss.

There's something special about being out on the waves, soaking up the last minutes of sunlight, and reflecting on my time in Hong Kong! This is definitely one of the moments I'll look back on with nostalgia, and it's a great story to look back on whenever I don't wanna do something by myself, but that I should just go for it if I really want to do it!! It also sparked a bunch more solo days that I told you about!

xoxo