生命之秋 / Autumn of Life

常常聽說「一葉知秋」，這是前人的傳統智慧的傳承。見到黃葉飄零，便知秋天已至。香港的天氣是亞熱帶的氣候，既濕且熱。天氣熱還能忍受，濕度高卻是令人很不舒服，難以忍耐。香港人很多時要靠空調來支撐過渡整個春，夏兩季。每年都只有秋，冬兩季的濕度是比較宜人。加上氣溫適中，所以一年之中，我獨愛秋天。

"The falling of one leaf heralds the coming of autumn", when we see fallen leaves on the street, we expect autumn should be round the corner. Hong Kong has subtropical weather, usually hot and humid during Spring and Summer. While high temperature drive you nuts, it is always the high humidity that kills you in Hong Kong. Most of the Hong Kong have to rely on air-conditioning to survive Summer because of the high humidity. Autumn and Winter are dry, which is nice. Taking into account of the temperature, Autumn is my favorite season at all time.

近年港人流行「追楓」，即是秋天到了就往附近國家去看紅葉。傳統追楓熱點如日本，韓國當然是港人愛到之地。近年開始國內的紅葉美景亦成為港人追捧的賞葉勝地。以往因為預算問題，往往很少在秋天出國旅行，加上秋天的香港亦有怡人的天氣，一定要出國的推動力都是處於極低的狀態，所以有很長的一段時間我是沒有賞紅葉的經驗。

Hong Kong people like traveling to countries with red leaves in Autumn time. Traditionally, Japan and South Korea, nowadays, some mainland China cities are very popular. I used to not traveling around this season because of budget constraint. Hong Kong's weather is usually very nice in Autumn, so we are good to stay in Hong Kong anyway. That's why we didn't travel at all around this time in the year for very long period of time.

近年因為轉換了新的工作，經常有機會出差到日本，好幾次都碰巧是紅葉季節。加上氣候的轉變，香港在秋天時經常還是十分悶熱。再者，女兒們日漸長大，慢慢的進入了小學階段，往後要在紅葉季節請假去旅行的難度會越來越高。所以秋季出遊在我們旅行排行榜上慢慢的上昇。近幾年香港都有人滿之患，我們都很怕在香港逛街(另一個原因是物價太高), 出國遊行就變得更順理成章。

I changed my job recently, which gave me plenty of opportunities to travel to Japan, with a few times during red leaves season. As global climate changes, we got some hot Autumns too. Moreover, as my daughters grow up and get into primary school, it is more difficult for us to apply for leaves for traveling. That's why traveling in Autumn is getting higher and higher in our priority list. To push this a little bit further, overcrowded situation in Hong Kong (and the extremely high prices), going to foreign countries become a reasonable choice.

所以近幾年都有不少秋天看紅葉的體驗。就在這裏跟大家分享一下紅葉美景。

That's why I enjoyed the red leave scenery couples of times in last few years. Here are a few photos to share with you.

可能我的年紀已經不輕，都到了人生的夏未，快要進入人生的秋季了。心中除了玩樂，亦不能自禁的想到自身，家庭和社會。誠然人生到了初秋，身體機能開始走下坡是無可避免的事。更要命的是膊頭上的擔子只有越來越重，家庭對我的依賴並不會因為我的身體狀態而作出相應的調整。估計這些擔子不到我人生的冬季都不能乏掉。那麼我亦只好強迫自己扮演長青樹的角色，看看能不能撐過秋季，再挨過冬季，等到女兒們出身後的春天，好好享受一下暖暖的陽光。

I am approaching end-of-summer of my life, soon to be in autumn. I keep thinking about myself, my family and the society. I cannot stop my body from going downhill, but my burdens on my shoulder won't go away because of the burdens. My family is relying on me so heavily and this is not going to be changed for quite long time, which I think they will be there until end of my own journey. I have to be tough and strong in order to get through Autumn and Winter and hopefully I could enjoy the Spring again when my daughters all grow up.

至於香港這正處於多事之秋的城市，我沒有能力逃離，只可以選擇繼續獨善其身，作為一個旁觀者，靜觀其變。正如大自然的四季循環，香港這城市亦不能幸免於盛極而衰的自然之道。且看今後的發展如何。套用一句香港的網絡潮語，我還是繼續的「食花生」，噢，既然快到中秋節，何不一起享受一下美味的月餅呢！

Hong Kong being a city in trouble, I cannot escape it, so I choose to avoid confronting it. No one can escape the cycle of four seasons and life and death, Hong Kong is not an exception too. It has passed its best time and going down the hill now. Let's see if it can get through all the trouble water in future. Instead of cracking peanuts, like enjoy mooncakes to celebrate the mid-Autumn festival!