Happy Year of the Dragon

Why hello there! It has been a while. Hope 2012 is off to a glorious start for you. Happy Year of the Dragon!


Last year was year of the Rabbit- which was my year. I thought it was meant to be a good year but apparently your own year is bad luck. 2011 was pretty fantastic so if it was supposed to be my "unlucky" year I can't wait to see what 2012 has in store for me!


I spent the Chinese New Year holiday in Hokkaido, Japan (which was absolutely MAGICAL- details to come) so missed most of the festivities and fireworks here in Hong Kong but did manage to check out some of the fun in the days leading up to the holiday.


KGT and I were exploring on a lazy Sunday and stumbled upon a charming little street market in Sheung Wan with lots of CNY goodies. KGT got me a cute handmade dragon ornament -I collect ornaments and love them to have a story to go with them. I also found some fantastic fluffy earmuffs for only 30 HKD (about 4 USD) for my Japan trip. They broke by the end of the trip but I'd say I got my money's worth.

Being the dragon (obviously)

And it wouldn't really feel like Chinese New Year in Hong Kong without a trip to the beautiful and somewhat tacky New Year's Flower Market in Victoria Park, CWB.  One side is all sorts of dragon related kitsch as well as a ridiculous amount of Angry Bird merchandise. This side is crowded with people trying to get you to buy whatever they are selling. The other side is remarkably tranquil and calm and full of beautiful flowers for the new year. I bought a lovely little cherry blossom bouquet that waited until I came back from Japan to bloom.

snacks 

pinwheels to blow away bad fortune 

Dragons everywhere

orchids 

Happy Year of the Dragon- best wishes for health, happiness, and good fortune! 

Stop SOPA&PIPA

Stop American Censorship

Congress is about to pass internet censorship, even though the vast majority of Americans are opposed. We need to kill the bill - PIPA in the Senate and SOPA in the House - to protect our rights to free speech, privacy, and prosperity.
We believe in the open internet. Do you?

Watch the video, please!

thankful

I know it has been a while since I've posted but November has been absolutely crazy! This whole year has been crazy- I can't believe 2011 is almost over.


Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! It felt a little strange working on Thanksgiving but it was actually quite festive. One of my colleagues brought amazing pumpkin pie and I made "thankful cards" for everyone in my office. Nothing fancy- just a simple "I'm thankful to have you as my colleague because X". Kind of like when you are little and give valentine's day cards to your whole class. A lot of my colleagues aren't American and so don't celebrate Thanksgiving but I think the sentiment of being thankful is pretty universal.  


Have so much to be thankful for this year....


being able to live in my favorite city in the whole world

the fact that one of my all time favorite people also lives in my favorite city 


incredible friends all over


family (mom, dad, brother, sister, grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles...) 
 books


DELICIOUS thanksgiving food- even in Hong Kong! Shout out to Blue Smoke BBQ. The manager is from Georgia and the food was absolutely delicious. They had all my favorites! Read my review here . Ok just delicious food in general. 


living in a time where I am connected to all the people I love via awesome technology. thank you facebook, twitter, skype, googlevoice, email. 

my teeny tiny but wonderful apartment 


my health 


having so many visitors this year!


dim sum


all the support for my WIP


being able to walk to work

Yu's!

the amazing hiking trails in Hong Kong


Yu's Sichuan Restaurant in Causeway Bay. I go at least once a week . 


the trips I have planned (LA, Japan, Thailand...)

and the list goes on and on. I won't bore you any more though. Instead I'll leave you with a pic of my delicious thanksgiving dinner and this spectacular article on how being thankful is actually good for your health