10 things this week

It’s officially 2022! I feel the new year always asks us to reflect on the year past – reflecting with a lens of gratitude rather than complaining. I really love the idea of reflecting on the week and reminding myself of the highs and focusing on simple joys in my life. So this week’s roundup are just some personal highlights from my week – hopefully you will feel inspired to reflect on your own week.

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I’m not going to lie, it’s been a heck of a busy December. Each week has flown by and finally, ended the month with a week off of work for some downtime. This week has been about recoupment and rest. Letting myself do absolutely nothing has felt marvellous. That being said, we still managed to squeeze in some time with friends and explore some favourite regular spots.

1. Exploring Tai Kwun – Tai Kwun is Hong Kong’s Centre for Heritage and Arts, an old revitalised historic Central Police Station compound. The building itself is so architecturally beautiful, you feel like you are somewhere outside of Hong Kong. We spent the day admiring the architecture and sheltered from the cold with coffee and cheesecake.

2. Sheltered ourselves at home on the coldest day of the year. This winter hasn’t seemed very cold, with the average temperature being around 18 degrees. The temperatures dropped down to a cool 14 degrees. We took the opportunity to huddle up at home, take it slowly, watch movies and order takeout.

3. Took some time to reflect on this quote

You know, life doesn’t have to be competitive. You don’t have to get into the very best university, you don’t have to get the highest paying career there is. You don’t need to compare and compete with everyone else in the work. You need to do what’s right for you. You need to relax, take a breath, and say ‘what do I want, for myself, to live as I want to. And if that involves high ambitions, then that’s fine. because you chose those ambitions on what you desire as an individual, and not on what is expected in order to succeed. Let’s be ourselves this year.

4. Browsed the photographic exhibition: Recovery, Resilience, Resurgence at the Hong Kong Asia society. Photographers Hedda Morrison, Lee Fook Chee and Brian Brake trace Hong Kong’s history from the post-war recovery in 1946-1947 and resilience of the 1950s to the resurgence of the 1960s–1970s. The building is also pretty spectacular with amazing architecture and statues scattered about.

5. Gorged ourselves in a dim sum lunch with friends. Honestly, there is nothing more comforting and refreshing than sharing warm dim sum around a table of friends. The Chinese Library did not disappoint, and my favourite was the Hokkaido scallop & winter melon dumpling in porcini broth.

6. Treated myself to new blooms for the apartment. I try mostly to have some sort of fresh flowers in the apartment, I find it really helps my mental health, especially being surrounded by the city concrete.

7. Discovered the delicious alcohol-free sparkling wine and enjoyed a glass on new years eve! Wow, I’m so happy I have found a decent sparking non-alcoholic wine. It’s really tough to find one that does taste like overly sweetened grape juice and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the sparkling wine by The Bench.

8. Missioned up to the peak to watch the sunrise on new years day. We woke up early on new years day and grabbed a taxi to the peak, with a flask of coffee and chocolate chip biscuits, ready to welcome the first day of 2022 with our friends. I think this will become a new tradition.

9. Eyed out the bags from A.P.C – I am absolutely in love with the simple style of the Demi Lune Bag. Definitely going on my wishlist!

10. Tried Shari Shari and walked around Tai Po. We have lived down the road from Shari Shari – an authentic Japanese Kakigori and have never tried the shaved ice dessert. We figured its finally time before we move to our new apartment to give it a try.