Cold

Since the furnace in our house is wonky, there'll be no heat tonight.
There's nothing like a cold night to snap you awake. 

I remember one night in Lijiang, China when I was travelling in December with a friend there.
That city's temperature is a lot like Vancouver's - mild snow in the winter, but still dropping down to the negative degrees come nightfall in the winter months.

On the first day of our trip, my travelling partner and I had a feast of a dinner in Lijiang.
Coming back to the Mama Naxi hostel where we were staying, my friend was complaining of
stomach cramps and bloatedness. I remember I kept saying to him before I turned off the light to go to bed, "Sleep it off, you fat ass. You'll feel better in the morning."

At 4am, my friend threw up in the room and as with the horror that I saw that gastric mess, him and I grabbed whatever belongings we could take with us and quickly vacated the room.

There's nothing like a cold night to keep you awake. 


We went to the courtyard of the hostel and sat on a park bench from 4-8am.
Wearing socks that were tucked into my jeans with a pair sandals that were the only barrier between my feet and the cold cement, we waited and tried our damn best to sleep, but of course couldn't because of the frigid temperature. We huddled on that park bench like hobos. The negative degree weather, compiled with our less than prepared attire was a night in which the both of us were starving for sleep, but most of all, warmth.

The cold has a way to keep you on your toes and to keep you aware.
I was aware of my shivering body when I was on that bench,
I was aware of my partner who was still complaining of stomach pains.
I was aware of the amazing story I had to tell as a result of this.

8am came the hostel and it's staff awoke. We huddled around a coal fire.