A Hong Kong Weekend

Hello lovely readers,

It seems as though many of us have just returned from little holiday breaks, or relaxing long weekends. Sometimes that extra day of downtime, makes me feel more cool and calm for weeks.

Though, my weekend away wasn't exactly about relaxing.. more an amazing Hong Kong whirlwind adventure!

I feel like I now have me feet (and my mind!) firmly back home and I want to tell you all about it.

I love exploring new cities, eating the food, understanding the culture.. Oh and squeezing in a bit of shopping of course.

I collected lots of Hong Kong tips from friends before I went, so now I'm paying it forward- here's my list of must do's:

Real deal Hong Kong food:

I touched down in the morning, so after a nap, at about 11am.. it was dumpling-o'clock! We went to a Luk Yu Teahouse on Stanley Street. I'm not usually a dumplings for breakfast kind of girl, but with the encouragement of my boyfriend, I dove right in. Yum!

Prawn dumplings are my favourite. I love the fun picture menus, being able to see exactly what I'm ordering- no need for "food envy".

Make sure you go before 11:30am to guarantee a table because you can't book.

Delicious dumplings. 

Date night:

My wonderful boyfriend and I had a gorgeous date night at Felix in the Peninsula Hotel at Kowloon. We had beautiful food, wine and amazing dessert. If I'm at a great restaurant and there's something extreme and chocolaty, it's a definite "yes" to sweets which I'll share with my boyfriend. Life is too short. 

Extreme chocolate desert.

The menu is presented on an iPad, which again, I love because you can really see what you're ordering, you know when you can't really imagine what a dish is "like"?

Book a table at the window and watch the light show, with lasers flashing across the buildings in the city centre. 

Drinks:

The bar at Sevva is great rooftop spot, in the heart of the action and a great place to take in all the city lights. Perfect for holiday snaps and a cocktail. 

Amazing rooftop spot for a cocktail.

Ladies Lunch:

My boyfriend had to work for a bit, so I took myself out on a date. It was me, my thoughts, my instagram and some fashion magazines.

I went to the Mandarin Grill at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. A beautiful light lunch in a lovely fresh, elegant, formal setting. It would also be great for a girls lunch or a date. 

Seafood on the menu for my "me date".

Shopping:

Before I left, with a trip looming, to a city with so much shopping potential, I made sure I stashed a little cash away, for holiday "investments" I call them... 

When I go away, I love buying classic pieces which I know will make me smile for years, rather than trendy impulse buys which I'll forget about. It's always great when things are a little cheaper than they are at home.  

I've had my eye on a beautiful McQueen silk scarf for a while and I finally made this one mine at the gorgeous department store, Lane Crawford.

My pretty new "Hong Kong scarf".

I love Balenciaga, and held off buying a new purse until this trip. There are no stores in Sydney, so with one on every corner in Hong Kong, I was in heaven. I fell in love with this little pink number I saw online a few weeks ago, and since we finally met in Hong Kong, well it must be fate.

This was fate. Seriously.

What shopping trip is complete without gorgeous shoes?

Being a "pink girl", these Saint Laurent heels really "popped" out at me. I want to wear them with everything!

I just can't take them off ..

It wasn't all 'fun stuff".. I did buy an exceptionally practical bag for work. A beautiful navy Michael Kors oversize tote, which fits my iPad and my little work lunchbox, perfect!

My "practical " purchase.

I also found some great cheap and cheerful earrings in one of the many jewellery stores too. Great to dress up a basic black top or dress. 

Pretty costume jewelery.

Sundays:

A stroll around the city on a Sunday is fascinating. The roads seem empty, but the parks, pathways, even the gutters and roads are filled with thousands of gorgeous women, chatting, taking photos, sharing packed lunches and giving each other manicures...

Sunday is "maids day off". No need to spend money or be in a beautiful setting, all you need is a home-packed lunch, your girlfriends and a bit of gossip to bring to the table, no doubt. Girl bliss.

Until next time..

Settling in for the trip home. 

Hong Kong has a great big-city vibe, the four days was perfect for me, enough to experience the city and head back home feeling like the luckiest girl in the world to have seen it.

xx

Jt