Hong Kong November 2013

E and I have been so stressed lately that we decided to take a break for the long weekend in November. Our happy place has always been Hong Kong.  We went on the first  Cathay Pacific flight at 5:10AM.  We tried the Cathay Pacific Lounge for the first time and we didn't like it.  The Miascor lounge is much much better.

We arrived in Hong Kong at around 7:00AM and were on the Airport Express within an hour:

Excited even if it was soooooooo early in the morning.

 Upon arriving at the Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel at 9:00 AM , we didn't expect to check-in and to have complimentary breakfast at that, but they were already expecting us!  It was just a welcome surprise especially because we were up since 1:30AM.  Just because of that, I will be a loyal customer to them!  I loved the service and I thought worth every hard earned peso.

At the Continental Club Lounge for breakfast

Our home for the next three days

After a short nap in our nice hotel room, we went down to Harbour City.  My favorite clothing store COS was already in Harbour City and I almost went crazy, especially because their stylish clothes came in my size!  Purchased my clothing quota for the year :-)  Aside from COS, we went to all our favorite shops just to see what's new.

We shopped and mostly window-shopped till it was time to meet our dear friend RW in Lan Kwai Fong (LKF).  We looked forward to this because it's been so long since we've been there.  RW chose Mayta, a hip and happening (hip-hap) Peruvian restaurant.   We had a great time, but missed the gang!  We finished all the food we ordered, which included a suckling pig and a beef dish, plus appetizers.  We also had mixed drinks to go with the food. Thanks RW for taking time to have dinner with us!

RW and I wished that we wore high heels as what the party girls were wearing in LKF especially since I had a newly bought pair of heels.   But  we really doubted we could make it because we had to take the MTR and then climb up the cobblestoned hill.  Maybe we will just put our heels in our big bag until we reach the restaurant and then change into our heels then.  That will be for the next night out in LKF, hopefully with the other gurlz!

Last Day in Singapore

Had this photo taken to send to Aunt CM who was then in Perth, and that is why we had the apartment to ourselves...

Outside the apartment compound.  We will never forget this place!

We went to the nearby mall , Junction8 for lunch and ice cream before we had to leave for the airport:

It was  too short, but definitely sweet!

Singapore with Family 2013

My most happiest childhood memories are those spent with my family in Singapore.  My parents worked there for five years and we would spend our summer vacations there.

Last September, my family went on a nostalgic trip to Singapore.  It has been more than 20 years since we've been in Singapore as a family.   Too bad my brother and his family are too far away in Toronto that they couldn't join us.

We stayed at our Aunt CM's place at Chuan Park in Lorong Chuan where they had their own MRT station right outside the apartment compound

On our first day, E and I went straight to Orchard Road while my parents rested and waited for my sister T and her family to arrive.  We agreed to meet at Centrepoint along Orchard Road.  Centrepoint is significant because when we were young, we would meet our parents there on weeknights and would usually have dinner there. There was a bus from Centrepoint that stopped very near our apartment then.

Our first Singaporean meal was at Noodle Place Restaurant along the restaurant row:

We don't know that guy beside my sister!  We don't know how he ended up sitting there!

After dinner, we chanced upon a Garrett Popcorn shop and had to try it out after hearing so much about it.

Our second day was dedicated to our dear little A.  Universal Studios day!

We had lunch at the Malaysian Food Street, a recreated but airconditioned hawker center  and had our fill of our favorite Singaporean/ Malay dishes such as satay, chicken rice, and noodles.  We were so happy after the meal!

After Universal,we went to the VivoCity mall, now said to be Singapore's biggest mall.  We had a nice time relaxing by the harbourfront  of the VivoCity Mall:

Dinner was at Crystal Jade.  Sorry no photos, but the food was definitely great!

Hongkong City Tour and Photo Ops

Our main agenda for our 4th day in Hong Kong was to go the Tsim Sha Tsui promenade for photo ops.  It was an almost whole day affair starting with the ride via tram to Central and then the ferry to cross over the harbor, with a short lunch break where we occupied a small cafe near IFC.  It was a major production and the photos are priceless!