winter update
Time has once again flown by since I posted about anything normal in HK. Now it’s winter and 2022 and HK just kicked off a 2020-style “lockdown” thanks to Omicron. Urgh. Prior to that we had a great holiday season, the multi-course meals and free flows started with Thanksgiving and continued right through to Christmas. Plans for New Year’s Eve were a little tainted by a surprise 14-day quarantine after a flight on the 29th Dec, he should have been coming home for 1 day home quarantine before heading out to a New Years Eve (23:55 sign-on) flight but instead is in the Headland Hotel for 14 days due to HK govt changing the rules for Pilots as his plane was literally in the air. A somewhat ominous start to the new year on that front. I attempted to counter balance it by getting up for sunrise on 1st Jan, rewarded with a stunning view at Shek O beach, despite the 1000s of others who apparently had the same idea. Sitting with good friends and a baileys hot chocolate in hand it was nonetheless a very nice way to kick off 2022.
Apart from our 4 day whirlwind trip there hasn’t been any progress on the travel front so we’ve been determinedly continuing to explore HK and find fun times sans-traveling. I always feel ridiculous for how much I complain about being stuck here when I look back at photos and remember all the fun stuff we’ve done…
December
ALL the food including 2 x Raclette, 2 x three course Christmas feasts, the most awesome potluck on Christmas Eve, Chautari, and a Fondue for good measure
Dancing til 2am at Wan Chai waterfront with my colleagues, after our work Christmas party
Rooftop fun with xmas movies and white elephant gift exchange
Zip-lining on sea cliffs at Tung Lung Chau, stepping off the edge of a cliff didn’t lose the thrill even the 3rd time around
A very trippy digital art exhibition and a very disappointing design exhibition
My first experience of the Nutcracker ballet, adapted to HK featuring wild boars, dim sum and HK architecture
Lantau and Sunset Peaks back to back - incredible views
November
The most epic night of food, champagne and bongo-drum djing at the Zuma night “brunch” (dinner with free-flow champagne!)
Roller-skating for the first time since I was a kid - the old school music wasn’t enough to take me back to childhood fearlessness!
My first proper Thanksgiving meal
A quick staycation at Penny’s Bay
Hiking Sharps peak down to Tai Long Wan, an absolute gem of a hike - finishing on the best beach in HK
October
Watched Rugby at a proper stadium - not quite the 7s but a very nice throwback to pre-covid times
Daycation at the Kerry Hotel pool - after watching people swim there throughout my quarantine I had to go try it out, stunning views from the pool
Beerlympics - the product of a friend’s 21 day quarantine-addled mind, six 4-person teams competed in 10 events over the course of a day in sports ranging from football-golf, to idol hands to kickball, to chug a DragonWater as fast as possible. An amazing day at the beach!
Played in the HK Beach volleyball tournament, qualifying for the main draw but withdrawing due to my partner going traveling
Lido Beach, tucked in under a bridge in the New Territories, with cool views, a beach volleyball net and a hotel right by, we had a great couple of nights there, tried Roast Goose in Sham Tseng and discovered some gems in Tsuen Wan
September
Straight out of quarantine and onto a Junk boat - true HK styles
Got in a bit of wake surfing and many summer BBQs
The company I worked for announced it had been acquired!
August
Celebrated 3 years since arriving in HK
The Switzerland trip
Attended a christening in Switzerland via Zoom
July
Spent a great 2 days in Yau Ma Tei celebrating birthdays at the Eaton hotel
Had a beachy weekend in Tong Fuk, mostly just to eat at The Gallery
Watched ALL the Olympics
June
Checked out the old walled city and Kowloon and discovered Little Thailand
BBQed, swam and danced on Shek O beach at a work party
Attended a fuuuuuun wedding on Cheung Sha beach
First junk of the season!!!
