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

Quotes

I love this quote which I got from one of my favorite blogs, French by Design.

For those people who are stars hence people like to talk about them

For those people who are so interesting and do great things with their life
but others try to put them down because of jealousy, one of the deadliest sins

Here's what the wise Eleanor Roosevelt has for you.

Have a good week ahead!

I got a haircut!

At Raffles Long bar
Photo credit:  Jovel Lorenzo


Got a haircut
Teng, my hairstylist cut around 8 inches of hair off
Loving the lightness of it

Happy Sunday!

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

WHERE TO EAT - Beijing, The Noodle Bar

Beijing boasts of a number of excellent restaurants
One of which is the Noodle Bar
Limited seating available while you watch the chef make fresh noodles and cook them
When in Beijing, this is a must go and eat

Happy Sunday!

More of The Emperor

Well obviously, I am still feeling my way through this new computer and how to blog with it as my previous post was quite challenging with the attachment of photos.

Please click on the photos in the previous post to view accurately.

Hope this time, it works out better, if not, I'll get there through practice, hahaha.

Everytime we travel, I try to book us in a boutique hotel, preferably in Small Luxury Hotel properties, very personal, great interiors, personal service,my type of place to vacation in.  The family always enjoys the hotels I book us in and it just heightens the experience of the new place.

Here are more shots of where to stay in Beijing...