postcards from macau

macau holds a really special place in my heart because my dad spent his childhood growing up on this little island. the portuguese administered this little island for nearly 420 years, from 1582 to 1999. evidence of the portuguese influence spans the architecture of the buildings, the cobblestone streets, religion and education, food (i adore portuguese tarts!) & the people... i love the romance of this little island & re-live this every time i've visited. the island does have a seedier side to it & is well known for its casinos & other ongoings too.... but for me, i see it through my rose coloured glasses... we had a really enjoyable day spent re-discovering my dad's old haunts! :)

and fisherman's wharf & venetian casino would be new haunts...

postcards from hong kong #4 {jonas + natalie}

caught up with some of my extended family too. introducing jonas + natalie.

:: jonas ::

:: natalie ::

postcards from hong kong #3 {food glorious food}

what is a holiday update without food highlights?

buffet dinner at a hotel on hong kong island, the desserts looked divine

yum cha

old school cafe in central, these places are little gems and serve the best hong kong style teas

petite desserts at the hotel nikko in tst, green tea pudding and read bean (known in japanese as azuki beans) is a delicious combo 

postcards from hong kong #2 {central, soho + sheung wan}

some of my favourite districts in hong kong are around central, soho and sheung wan. i can spend hours exploring and taking photos because the urban landscape around these parts are full of character and are unique to hong kong.

i persuaded my hubby to buy a travel guide so we can explore hong kong on a deeper level and had delightful fun!

ladder street (officially pottinger street), central

there are lots of art and antique shops on hollywood road which is hong kong's first constructed street (1840's). the road is named not after hollywood in l.a. but after a shrub of the same name that used to grow around the area. when this road was constructed... the more famous hollywood in california was not even known.

this is a shop (i think he's a handyman or something like that) situated, underneath a foot-bridge in a very steep dead-end street in soho

at the eastern end of hollywood road there's a well-known multi-level escalator that takes people down (am) and up (pm) from the mid-levels to the central district, if you're travelling in the opposite direction of where the escalator - then just consider it good exercise!

this is how handy getting some fresh fruit & veg for dinner is... this little place was a hop from the escalator

we caught a ferry to kowloon, this is the view from the ferry towards tsim tsai tsui (tst)

and a glance back to wan chai {near central}

this is on the wharf at tst, looking across the side where harbour city is located

postcards from hong kong #1 {mister's mama + papa}

since we got married we have made it a family ritual that we make a bi-annual pilgrimmage to hong kong to see my mister's parents. i love these trips to my second home, and enjoy our time hanging out with mama & papa chan.

hanging out at the airport...

mister's papa + mama

buddhist temple

honkies are very superstitious especially when it comes to things that will improve their luck, health or prosperity. these windmills that are available in abundance at temples are meant to spin all your bad luck away and bring in good luck