tick tock tick tock

Haven't been so inspired to write lately since not much has happened, however i do want to... I have been doing a bit of this and that in preparation for our wedding in September and our grand exit to Hong Kong straight after (5 days to be exact). Our plan is to spend a few days in Hong Kong and then fly out to Vanuatu, where we will have our honeymoon - extremely exciting! We've booked a sailing voyage on a tall ship where we get to participate in the actual sail and navigation. It was even voted by National Geographic Adventure Magazine as one of the top 25 greatest trips in the world! http://www.sorenlarsen.co.nz/V223_Vanuatu_Discovery_2005.htm

Also planning to do some diving. The largest accessible shipwreck in the world is situated in Santo, Vanuatu, called the SS President Coolidge ship, a luxury liner during WW2 that struck an American mine and sunk just off the coast. Apparently this wreck is so fascinating that several dozen dives are recommended to just 'get a feel' of how amazing it is! I must get certification first, but the more research i do, the more i think it'll be worth the hassle, even if i have to spend a few days in Santo to get certified. There might be a chance that i could squeeze in an open water dive course in HK before we set off... currently exploring options.

But back to here, these days have been sort of a blur as i'm living in anticipation for the future whereas i should perhaps take some time to relish in Urumqi's delights as the month-long countdown begins.

Matt hurt his wrist yesterday after a tumble during a soccer match with local friends. My heart was racing, as i saw the whole thing from the sidelines. He got up too soon though, started to stumble towards the wall (and me, i rushed to him the moment i saw him trying to walk) but then when i thought he was reaching out to hug me, he slipped through my arms and landed on the hard concrete floor. The sound of his skull hitting the ground was insanely scary, it actually echoed in the room, and i just instinctively dropped down to him and cradled his head to see if he was conscious. I can't quite remember it exactly, but i think i was screaming for someone to get help and at the same time using my colourful repertoire of obscenities, although directed at no one in particular. He had blacked out for a second, but was quite dazed and disoriented. I don't believe i've ever had a scarier 10 seconds in my life, where a million thoughts flashed across my mind in just split-seconds. It left me bewildered even after things had calmed down, how so many thoughts can actually pass through your mind in such a short instant. An incredible feeling, but something that i don't need a repeat of. We went to the hospital just down the road from us and took an xray of the wrist, but thankfully nothing was broken. The only visible damage done is the nice purple bruise on his left eye and some scrapes and bruising on his legs and arms. The bruise on the eye looks like someone did a bad eye-shadow job on him in bright purple. I'm trying to convince him that i should get out my makeup kit and make the other eye match, just for the sake of symmetry. For some reason, i'm not having any luck yet.

Enjoying the tail end of Xinjiang's summer, anticipating fall (which i'm told is very short lived), followed by the winter's frost but by then we shall be safely away in hot humid HK. I've been thinking, i will miss wrapping up in my thick sweaters and pulling on my heavy woolen socks. And even that feeling of breathing in the icy air where your nose hairs freeze and your tears trickle down your numb cheeks, i will truly miss that.