Chinese New Year and much more

Hello again!

I've been back in Hong Kong for a month now and I can confirm that I love living here. The city has become small and cosy in many ways but still captures my attention with all its sights, smells and spectaular array of things to do.

Some highlights:

* Climbing to the Peak along the Old Tramway route and doing Hong Kong trail part 1

* Trying new cocktail hangouts with friends and on our own.
 -  001, a New York style speakeasy that is hidden away in Central
 - California Vintage in Wan Chai
 - Hyatt Hotel in TST (K11 Mall)
and finding some new places to eat, high point was Sushi at Sushi Shin - so yum!

* Exploring the markets! Sham Shui Po, Mong Kok, Causeway Bay even and the great Shopping Mall displays.



* And of course Chinese New Year celebrations have been exhilarating  The New Year started started Sunday 10 Feb, and festivities roughly ends 21 Feb. During that time you can find numerous opportunities to join in the fun:  Lion Dances, Bamboo Theaters, street parades, fireworks and dragon mimes.  Lots of free entertainment walking around this week. =D

This is the first month in over two years that I haven't travelled, but no need, the tourists come here for this :-)

Wedding Fever

What's been filling my mind the past week?  WEDDING PLANNING! Wow, there is a serious business in this thing called a wedding and Hong Kong is no exception. In fact I would say they take it to the next level far more than I have ever seen it in South Africa or Holland.

There are wedding centres where all vendors collect and provide an easy place to shop for what you want - dresses (multiple), photographers, shoes, decorations, invitations. There is no ceasing. What I have discovered is that most brides hire a wedding dress from a package, which may or may not include a separate day for photos. If not, the the wedding photographer will hire out dresses.

But I am going with the simple approach of one wedding dress custom made. No frills and bows, quite simple and elegant. The chinese folk don't really understand me and want to get involved to help to dress it up. But for a simple wedding with around 40 people I don't need to be pimped out.

Another thing which is quite unique are the photoshoots before the wedding in their wedding dresses.  Beautiful photos but not quite my thing. However I am dragging J on a casual engagement shoot around Hong Kong just because ;-)

Kowloon Walled City

A fascination with the old Kowloon Walled City has emerged this week, I stumbled upon these old German documentaries and am so grateful the scenes were captured in time.  Some parts of Hong Kong give a faint whiff of times like this, but so far I haven't encountered anything quite like this.