Hong Kong

Some may call me crazy, but I knew I had to fly to HK to visit Gong Gong and Poa Poa and their condo one last time before they move out of HK. The trip was very short but very sweet. It was worth every second and every penny, because I will always have the memories of spending this time with them (and my mom) in one of our favorite cities in the world. HK holds so many positive memories for me. I visited there many times growing up, and stayed in their condo for many weeks in college after my exchange program ended in Singapore. I also visited HK with Derek for a southeast Asia cruise many years ago. HK is such a dynamic, vibrant city. It has a skyline that will literally take your breath away, and a buzzing energy that I’ll never get enough of. I feel so familiar and at home when I am there — it is a hard feeling to describe. I’m already looking forward to my next trip back — but in the meantime, will be cherishing these memories.

Lantau Peak Sunrise Hike (minus the sunrise)

I met my hiking tour guide at 4:30AM to do a sunrise tour of Lantau Peak. We started the climb in the pitch dark, and it was a straight incline all the way up. It took about 90 ish minutes to get to the top, and it was such an exhilarating feeling when we reached the top, sweating but also cold because of the strong wind and gusty showers. It was magical, despite complete cloud coverage and not being able to see the beautiful view I was so excited for! But it was well worth the invigorating workout and rush of endorphins!

After the hike I took the MTR to Tsim Sha Tsui. It was still a bit early in the morning so the shops were just opening, but I wandered around for a bit taking in the energy and vibrancy of the big city. It felt so safe, easy and I appreciated how clean it was.

victoria harbour

Victoria Harbour took my breath away, as she always does! The skyline was absolutely incredible, and I knew I wanted to take my mom here later in the week!

That evening my grandparents (and mom) flew in from their trip to Malaysia and Singapore. I greeted them at the airport and it was so nice to see them after so long. We took them back to their condo and I was reunited with the familiar feeling of their space. The next day, my mom and I went to Victoria Harbour, walked around Tsim Sha Tsui, and then went to a delicious dinner and gelato with Gong Gong and Poa Poa. They even made one of the most delicious healthy green soups I have ever had in my life! We also did some fun shopping at the mall and overall just had the best time together. I will never forget this trip!