In this neighborhood

our old bakery, King's Bakery

our neighborhood flower shop

where we used to buy fruits

our parish

waiting for the tram to Happy Valley


Just sharing with you our old neighborhood, Happy Valley

Neighborhood where I first called home as a married woman

Where I first became a mom

Where we first lived as a family

Where I grew into my own

How I miss it!

How can you not miss a place where even the name has happiness to it...

Happy weekend!

Just arrived!

Me standing outside Times Square
One of my usual stops in Hong Kong
This is where we usually go to shop, eat at City's Super
shop for some groceries, go to Page One bookshop, watch movies, etc

It's funny how when one travels
One tends to navigate and be drawn to the familiar

I love Hong Kong
It's home
Haven't I said it enough?

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...

Excellence

Pacific Coffee, Hong Kong

Stepping up

The thing I like about the flooring we chose for the steps leading to the roofdeck

Is how it's concrete but looks like stone

Very low maintenance

And with the lines, it can also look like marble

From afar like stone

My husband's idea, totally

Will not get any credit from it

One of those things which I think

Good decision!

Happy Tuesday!

A student at 41

stylized Filipiniana portrait (no model)

the finished product, was going for monochromatic

We've moved on from still life to portraits

Though I must admit, as a student now

I'm totally not diligent

I'm the one who doesn't do my homework

Though I have informed the teacher already

That is not my purpose here

I do my work while in class

But outside, I will not get the inspiration to do it

The class IS supposed to be therapeutic for the busy everyday life

Believe it or not, I eat a lot

Well, my painting classmates believe that now

Though I'm the thinnest, I eat the most

I'm the first one to get up to eat

I burn them all, I am so active, I practically don't sit still

In class, I'm also the one my classmates love talking to

I guess I'm an easy target

While the others concentrate so much

I'm always available to be disturbed

One time, the teacher already threatened to separate me and my classmate

For talking too much, haha

Is this a traditional school or a casual class?

Seriously, our teacher's great

He brings out the best in us

So do my classmates

I've always liked school

Save for the first year in U.P.

I'm a geek in disguise

I love learning

Am a teacher too but always a student
And funny how at 41, still loving it

Happy weekend!

Black & White

At an event
Loving my long hair

Happy Friday!

Angels and the Jackie I know

New Year's Eve 2009

What I thought was a non eventful day turned out to be serendipitous

Started by waking up with less enthusiasm

Didn't get my 8 hours of sleep

Then hubby & kids left

Organized a bit then went to my board meeting in our previous residence

Yup, still on the board there but not for long

Went home then picked up my youngest in school

Greeted Mama Mary happy birthday

and prayed in the chapel

My eldest was supposed to ride his carpool

Their turn to bring him home

Being the controlling freak that I am

I reminded everyone involved

My son, the teacher, the carpool

So around 4 p.m., was wondering why they're so late

and figured maybe carpool was late

Then teacher texted me that carpool left him

Huwhat???

I have no driver right now!

So mom of carpool called and said her driver forgot

Teacher texted and said she arranged for a classmate to bring him home

So, I was okay, but was wondering what's taking them a long time

Then got a call from one of my closest, best friends, Jackie Laudico

"Jack, what's up?"

She goes, "how are you?"

"Waiting for J to come home, his carpool left him"

Jack: Yeah, saw him walking alone

Me: Huwhat? A mom's supp to bring him home. He doesn't know how to cross the street!

So I hang up and tried calling my son

Just to make sure he's safe

He doesn't pick up my calls nor answer the texts!

From where Jackie saw him, he needs to cross a huge, busy road

Then got a call from Jackie

"Mare, got him na, he's okay"

Oh thank God!

Thank God that He really sends angels around us to protect us

I got goose bumps when I was telling my kids that in the chapel today

I greeted Mama Mary happy birthday and asked to keep them safe

And you know what, Jackie said, she rarely passes that way

And just by chance, looked at the rearview and saw my son

She calls it serendipity

I call it God's hand

Everyday, I feel His great guidance and love

How can I not give glory back to Him?

Thank God for a friend like Jackie

Certainly as classy as her namesake

Thank you, Jack

And thank you God for always without fail, making your presence felt.

And happy birthday again, Mama Mary!

My kind of ice cream

I don't like cold stuff
My hubby & youngest love ice cream
And I mean LOVE ice cream
And I always ask them why they love it, it's cold!
Yeah, that's why it' called ICE cream! haha

So, I stumbled upon this while grocery shopping in Landmark
I like buko and I like lychee so let's see how they taste as ice cream
I must say it was very light and refreshing
Like a sorbet/sherbet
Well, when I looked at the label, it was really that

Am glad, I found something cold to like!

Happy Tuesday!

Thank you Manny Blas!

Due to my involvements in the community

I meet a lot of interesting and like-minded (I hope) people

Thank you to Manny Blas for the invite to the Mind Museum

and for the dedication in having a world class facility and community

here in our beloved Philippines

Keep it up!

Be the first: Mind Museum

posing in front of I-Fairy

I found this cool, the laser harp

It doesn't have strings but because of the laser , it creates sound

My boys givng their feedback on the different exhibits

Pre-exhibit of the soon to open Mind Museum

Today was an exciting day

It was the first ever trial run of the soon to open world class Mind Museum
Where else but in Global City

Got the invite from Manny Blas

Head of Mind Museum & Commercial Operations for BGC

Of course, my kids jumped at the chance!

Though they have school I requested to pull them out

My stand was

A lot of effective learning is done outside the classroom

Can you remember every single lesson from your teacher back then?

But I remember the trips, the travels, the bivouacs

The experiential opportunities that really stay with you

Though my elsdest thinks he's seen it all from other science museums overseas

My youngest was quite thrilled to give out his opinion

I am just elated that Manila has finally come to its senses to open

Cool, educational places such as this

Mind Museum

Coming Dec 2011

Be there!

The Mind Museum in BGC

The Mind Museum

Fort Bonifacio Global City

Coming real soon...