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the wonder begins

So, it just passed our one year anniversary in Hong Kong. Time flies when you're having fun. And working hard! But not working hard on the blog. As someone who has worked 6 days a week for an entire year, a lot has happened considering I spend the majority of my time at work. I have now grown accustomed to the frequent 32 degrees heat in Hong Kong. I don't love the heat, but I guess I'd rather be sweating everyday than in my UGGs for 8 months of the year (which is actually what happens when I'm in the UK). And I say that as I buy a one-way ticket back to England...



Some highlights of the year include seeing my boy Ed Sheeran at Asia World Expo. When can I ballroom dance with him? Bucket list. Going out with Izzy to Wan Chai and LKF. We have actually currently only been TWICE in the past 4 months. Guys, don't forget to work hard play hard. Guess we kinda got lost in the work life and ended up being (attempted) early-night grandmas. A non-highlight was having a neck injury for 3 months, so I guess that contributed to it. I vow to be appreciative of good health always. And to go out more and enjoy my youth. Woo.



We've also had quite a few run-ins with the celebrities. Linda Chung literally right outside my doorstep with a casual snake. And me and Izzy being the secondary film crew slash weird girls taking too many photos of her at the door. (Well, that's what you get, for literally filming outside my doorstep) Along with Bosco Wong, who we were too scared to ask for a photo with. That's one added to life's regrets. I really hate smoking. I really do. But can we all just appreciate how good Bosco Wong looks smoking a cigarette?! -insert photo which I don't have- I also got introduced to Myolie at a party, shook her hand and dougied infront of her. And Nancy Wu. And bumped into Edison Chen and Skepta in the shadows of Volar club. Now when can I bump into Pakho Chau is the question.




Basically every night is sleepover night and live lounge in our little home. We like Taylor Swift. And The Weeknd. And anything rap. And the thought of going back home to live with my parents, although warming, is also kinda sad after being attached to Izzy's hip for the past year (when we are not at work). Apparently, UK is set to hit sub-zero degrees this Autumn. Maybe I'll have to buy a one-way ticket back to HK after I leave...





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Kinda overdue post on my mini Easter vacay to Taipei which consisted of 3 days of fooooood, sweating in 30 degrees heat, night markets (which I somehow have no photos of), wandering around lost and getting the best foot massage ever. Other half was equipped with a tour guide and was glued to it every waking moment, so thanks to that we ended up getting a lot done and visiting some great places.

So Taiwan wasn't really one of my to-go places, but we ended up going there anyway. And then I got there and wondered why Taiwan was never on my bucket list because my 13-year old self was obsessed with all things Taiwanese. Meteor Garden, Devil Beside You, F4, Wu Chun and Mike He anyone?

It was boiling hot, but not humid. I now appreciate anywhere more breathable and easier on the lungs than Hong Kong. I also appreciate anywhere with more space than Hong Kong. I forget how modern HK is sometimes; Taiwan has a slightly quaint and old-school feel. For anyone who's watched Meteor Garden, Taiwan still looks THE SAME. Fyi, MG was released 15 years ago and I was reliving it everywhere I walked.

We ended up eating and finding a lot more sushi than I expected (but Taiwan was once part of Japan's colony after all). This sushi restaurant with a train track conveyor belt was a particularly cute find.

Sushi train - choo choo | More sushi | Mini hotpot

We also had sashimi at Addiction Aquatic Development - a wet/wholesale market. Everything is fresh and I guess not as expensive as fresh sashimi could be, so basically it's sashimi heaven. There's a table area where you can stand and eat as soon as you buy. It was super busy, but genuinely the fattest and best scallops everrrrr.

Mouth is watering as I reminisce about this moment | Addiction Aquatic Development | Another spot for breakfast  ft. a massive beef dumpling


Taipei is dotted with Instagrammable cafés. Oyami Café was a random find before we left to go to the airport. The interior was decked out like a pretty countryside, shabby chic wedding complete with bride and horse near the entrance. (Although the bride looked slightly creepy, so no pictures)

Instagrammable right?

Tiramisu coffee looking like a cute plant pot | avec some cheesecake | Juice


Front entrance decorations | Bathroom floor goals | Wall interiors

View from Taipei 101 | Din Tai Fung! | The best xiao long baos

We also went to Taipei 101, the 4th tallest building in the world, and home to the fastest passenger elevator in the world too. And of course we had to visit the famous Din Tai Fung (3 Michelin Stars chain specialising in xiao long bao). I think this one is their flagship or first store? Queuing time was a ridiculous 90 minutes so we just had takeaway. There's so many different variations, but the original xiao long bao has to be the best. And yes, I would say it's probably the best I've had.

Blurry shot from 101 | Fastest elevator, yep | HK Diner from the outside!

We went to the Hello Kitty restaurant too, but I'll save that for another post. Need to come back here with my girl friends one day so we can do some clothes shopping in Xi Men Ding. 



But please, someone take me back.


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Had to pay Jordan's new Hello Kitty Chinese Cuisine a visit being the cat lady that I am. But oh wait, "Hello Kitty is not a cat". Michelle and I queued 40 minutes in the blazing sun, which actually isn't too bad because I know other people have waited at least 2 hours for a seat. The dinner queues are meant to be even longer, but I think in time, the queues and hype will die down. I also waited 3 hours before for the My Melody pop-up cafe in Langham Place, so in comparison, the 40 minutes was nothing.

Shop front was too crowded to get a decent shot!

Conclusion? Quite expensive for what it is; probably won't be going anytime soon just because I can't be bothered to queue again! But the food was decent and the interior is very Instagram-worthy - Chinese lanterns with hanging bows, carved tables, pretty crockery, paintings of Hello Kitty looking like a little ancient Chinese princess and the cutest dim sums.

Why is only one of the ha gaos a Hello Kitty?

The full meal | Toilet selfie, woo | Need me some Hello Kitty bowls and chopsticks too

Pretty portraits




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So Christmas consisted of me feeling pretty homesick (missing the festive family fun) and napping for quite a lot of it. But Michelle, Izzy, Paige and I booked a 4-course Christmas lunch at our neighbour Hebe 101 to celebrate, before opening presents dans ma maison. Average roast turkey, some good mushroom soup, and swimmer crab and avocado in a Bloody Mary dressing (best part of the meal).



Our Christmas Corner looking all cute and starry, courtesy of mainly the one strip of tinsel I bought and the many gifts that Louise shipped all the way from Canada. And I received a tin of macarons from a student, and wrapping level = Asian.








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HK winter weather is pretty hormonal and changes a lot. Some days it is freezing and some days it is sweaty Betty. And in this case, it was super cold with painfully bright sunshine (dilemma: to wear sunglasses or nah?) This is prior to my digital perm, at the usual spot Hebe Haven. Wanting to stock up on more jumpers and knits, but having to restrain because there's probably only 3 months of cold weather and then like 9 months of sweat-fest. 







Coat, boots: a Korean boutique
Scarf: a HK boutique
Leggings: H&M
Sunglasses: Chanel
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After some deep and conclusive chats lately with my crack-den pals Izzy and Paige, we have actually realised that a lot has happened in just 2 months since moving to Hong Kong. Crack-den is the nickname for our flat because, well, one would probably mistake it for a crack-den if they saw it in its messy state, which is embarrassingly often. But actually our little village house is very welcoming with its pink interior, swamps of geckos and nightly live lounge sessions.

I haven't actually had too many crazy outings, having been riddled with bronchitis and generally being a hermit. But I have had a good few drinks courtesy of a random DJ in a bar. This resulted in Izzy throwing up in a bin, with the DJ having to hold her hair back for her whilst she puked to the rhythms of whatever song was playing. It's also my new favourite story to tell everyone.

Other side stories include queuing 3 hours for the My Melody cafe, being given a 1-day notice for a relative's wedding, walking past riot police at 4am, barbecuing in 30 degrees heat, and making new pals when drunk, etc etc. I actually tried making friends sober, but seriously, I'm just too awkward for that. My goal is seriously to make 10 new friends by the end of 2014 (not including colleagues). On 4/10 currently. Getting. There... Slowly.

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Day trip to Macau. Seriously need to come here more often even though there's like nothing to do apart from gamble. Macau is like the Canary Wharf of London in the People's Republic. Like, there's just so much space on the streets that you can actually walk without being barged into. Post-Bronchitis me also needs more of this fresh air - pretty sure HK's dirty air is slowly making me asthmatic.

Didn't do much apart from take shots of dreamy Venetian and Brick Lane-esque City of Dreams. And I didn't even gamble so, yeah, took my broke ass home.









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Hi, I'm Sharon.

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