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

Bo Innovation, Hong Kong

my teen gourmand

sorry about my old camera and lighting

outside Bo Innovation



Was just in our old hometown for some R&R
My hubby suggested we try Bo Innovation
Being the gourmand that he is, he knows the hip, cool places
I was suggesting the usual Robuchon, Amber, etc
Good thing when it comes to food, I listen to him
He knows the restos for the "in the know"

Bo Innovation by Chef Alvin Leung (too bad he was touring that time)
Was a gastronomic surprise and delight
A little bit molecular, eclectic but still  very modern Chinese
It is listed by San Pellegrino as #15 as Asia's best restaurant
and #52 in the world's best.
Now that is something to accomplish.

The place was in Wanchai in a secluded street
We got there by tram from Admiralty taking Kennedy Road
Place was small, and just like any cool space
You already have that feeling of hip-ness to it
As opposed to the usual classic restos

The chef is eclectic, just as his food
Tattoos, long hair and all
Somehow it works
Part of the stage he's setting

When in Hong Kong
Try Bo Innovation
It won't disappoint

Maison Boulud - Where to eat in Beijing

 outside the posh, Maison Boulud, Beijing

with the Executive Chef of Maison Boulud



Okay, okay, as someone married to a Swiss, I have learned not to use his name even when necessary, haha
But when we went to Beijing to celebrate his birthday
I e-mailed Maison Boulud to book a party of 4, for our family

Of course, having my husband
We were given the VIP treatment and the chef pulled out all the stops
Much to our delight
Our children are gourmands, especially the eldest, and eating in such places is second nature to them,
Not my doing, all credit goes to the hubby

This was a memorable experience since the chef really made excellent dishes for us, even not in the menu, it was like a 7-course menu they served us

Fantastic ambiance, polite staff, and beyond delicious food, when in Beijing, you gotta go Maison Boulud

Beijing - Where to Stay - The Emperor Hotel, SLH (Small Luxury Hotel)

 As soon as we arrived, we had dinner at the hotel's rooftop restaurant

 I still remember the taste of this soup, yummy!

I would love to eat this again!

 outside the hotel, The Emperor Hotel, a Small Luxury Hotel

Happy Easter!

Here's wishing everyone a blessed Easter!

Celebrate!

Reminiscing

A street in Marbella, Spain

outside a tapas bar

w/ C as a toddler

the boys enjoying the simplicity of life

koala sweater given by my in-laws, souvenir from a trip to Australia

kangaroo sweater

our young family vacationing in Spain


While talking to my Mom on the phone this morning

I told her how different the world was when I was growing up
I wanted to blog about growing up in the 70's

but while trying to search for an appropriate photo

I chanced upon these old photos from our vacation in Marbella, Spain

How young our family was then

It is still young but the children then were simpler (note: you can dictate what you want, haha)

Enjoying the environment

Not knowing anything about technology

I can still make them wear sweaters which resemble costumes

Simple

Now, a trip to the barbershop is even an issue

Especially with my eldest, I cannot tell him anymore if what he's wearing is off

Yeah, the style gene of mine seems to have escaped him, haha

I remember this Marbella trip where T & I wanted to have a nice dinner

We had to take turns eating since C had to be fed

And J was sleepy

They can't even finish their food

Now when we go out and travel

This doesn't happen

They even eat more than us

And mind you, order the better ones too
Part of the enjoyment of traveling for them is culinary

How things change

One of the things why I love pictures

They just make you remember how things were

Appreciating what you have gone through

Remembering wonderful times

But also, it makes you appreciate what you have now

Making new memories, making a new wonderful

To which when I look back in 10 years time

Will be the new remiscing.

Happy Thursday!