A place of happiness

 Our ride to Happy Valley

our first stop, Dim Sum in Happy Valley, I would eat here 3 times a week


Well, as we were visiting our old hometown
Which funny when people asked me where we were going during Easter break
My immediate, unthought of response was
We're going home

I think I have mentioned countless of times how Hong Kong will always be special to me
It was our first home
When my husband & I were engaged, he got the job in HK
So we had a long distance relationship for several months
Til we got married and I officially moved to HK

HK was so special to me as my dad passed away 4 days after our wedding
I was  daddy's girl
and when I moved, I didn't feel alone, even if most of the time I was as my hubby works til late
I had the spirit of my dad with me
I had my relationship with God and everyone up there
I felt secure
Though I would think a lot about my Mom and how she was doing
At that time it was just all regular overseas calls, no Skype. no FaceTime

I must say I found myself in Hong Kong
Not that I was lost ever
I've always been pretty steadfast
But I just found independence and a new life
I was very happy building a home, building a family

My children's godparents were all our friends from Hong Kong
Joey, my bridesmaid, was based there as she was working for Cathay
Pat, my colleague from Shangri-la got married to an expat HK-Chinese
so we started married life the same year
Cielo, my high school friend was based there too
They, to this day, hold special places in my heart
They were part of my wonderful life in Hong Kong


I remember how my husband was so scared that I will be lonely being away from home
The only time I was away was when I studied in the States
He was surprised when little by little
phone calls would be for me
Letters (yes!  we still wrote letters then, actually I still do until now) in the mail were for me
E-mails were for me
And I sometimes won't even want him home in the afternoons during his break cause I had things planned
Haha

Everytime I go back, which is pretty often
I literally feel my heart beat faster
And I glow
We started our family there
I gave birth there with no family around except my husband
And during the day I was alone in the hospital as he was at work
and visiting hours are limited

My only visitors were Joey & Pat and our neighbor, Ronnie
But I was so happy & fulfilled
No one advised me how to take care of my newborn baby
I had to do it on my own

I love Hong Kong
I love the life we had there
It was special

It was, as I've always said, our home
And in my heart, it will always be

Everydayflair loves Hong Kong...

Dim Sum, Sing Woo Road, Happy Valley

As a former local, I kinda know what I'm talking about when I say this is the best dim sum place in HK.
Even Gwyneth Paltrow promotes this in her blog - http://www.goop.com/ , go to GO then HK.

When I was pregnant with my eldest, I would eat here alone 3x a week. The place is always full and you need to wait to get a seat. NEVER did that. The attendant would always remove a reserved sign for me! Even when I visited with the whole family years ago, she still took out a reserved sign and made us have a table! I just love the food and the people!
Everytime am in HK, this is a must go. My old neighborhood, my old dim sum place, still my favorite restaurant of all time.


The Kee Club, Wellington Street, Central


Lucky us for knowing the right people, hahaha.
Our good friend , Jan Svoboda (Thomas' old friend way back in Singapore) is the Managing Director/Partner there, so, of course, he invited us to dinner.

It's a members only place, exclusive , if you know of someone who's a member, ask them to bring you.

Again, Ms. Paltrow promotes this in her blog - goop.
Kevin Spacey was supposed to come that night but I was so sleepy , couldn't stay and wait.




Alfie's (Alfred Dunhill) by KEE Club, Prince's Bldg
w/ Jan & T

Most of the best meals I've had are with these two guys. As hoteliers, they always have access to the best restaurants in town.

Alfie's as in Alfred Dunhill is very English, clubby interiors, run by KEE Club.
In Prince's Bldg, opposite Landmark, Central.







Public transport, the tram

One of the things I loved about life in HK is the accessibility and the public transport
Trams, double decker buses, mini buses, MTR, red taxis, you name it, you're sure it's safe and clean and you get a good view of the city
Makes such a huge difference







grEAT Cafe in Pacific Place

A decade ago this was just EAT, if memory serves me right
Now, it's called grEAT
Reminds me of Wholefoods in the States though not all organic
Lots of choices for easy, fast dining
This is where you eat when you need a break from shopping








Michael Wong (outside Dim Sum)

How can you not love a place where moviestars just roam the streets
Michael Wong was a neighbor of mine, we lived in Happy Valley
Would always see him around when we were living there, sometimes alone, sometimes with his wife
I even saw Chow YunFat inside the tram one time
People don't mind them
I didn't mind them til I got a BLOG!!!
Would not do this but hey, am thinking of my readers, hahaha
Saw him just outside Dim Sum and asked for a photo
My husband had to tell me, "I thought you weren't like that?"
Me (defensively): "It's for the blog!"













HK Airport

What's there not to love
Clean, spacious, modern, well thought of architecture
I can be here for hours and be alright















the vibe and energy (to Times Square, Causeway Bay)

Would frequent this place as this is so close to our old home
Too many people of diverse origins that everyone blends
I just love the spirit!

More to come in the next posts...