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Hong Kong Family Escape part 2!

rajo — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 01:00:19 +0000

This is part 2 of my family Hong Kong escape. I have to let you all know that traveling with my entire family is quite rare. I wish it happens more often but trying to get everyone to go at one time can prove to be quite challenging.

When we are in HK, top on the list is SHOP and EAT! LOL! I mean, we’re Pinoys so this I know, we do best. Speaking of shopping, I for one was really happy to finally get my hands on my new Prada shoes that I specially customized. I was not feeling the bright colors of the existing styles so I asked if I could have a black,navy and fawn combination. Happily, they were able to do it in record time. My shoes have been available since August but I had zero time to pick it up so I was really happy that I was able to get them already. I love the leather monogramed initials they gave me on the shoe bag which comes with customizing the shoes. I cannot wait to wear them! LOL!

The ladies of my family showing their loot! My Tita Mila with my sisters.

I finally got my Prada shoes that I have been waiting for since May!

I LOVE PRADA!

This was a nice touch.

TAAAADAAAAHHH!!!!!

I love the navy, black and fawn combination. It is so chic!

Shopping in HK is like a sport! I mean it’s true, it is what people do here. I have never seen so many stores lined up in per square foot in one island. The new Lane Crawford was amazing! They are renovating the Kowloon branch and from what I am seeing, it is going to be magical! I love how evolved the merchandising is. Plus the campaign this season is really strong and flawless!

I was also happy to be able to squeeze in some time to see my friend Eddie Fung who is a menswear designer and stylist in the region. His work has come out in Vogue China and is really one fantastic guy.

This accessories area of Lane Crawford is called the Market Place. It was really beautiful.

Had time for a drink with my friend Eddy Fung.

What is HK without having some Peking duck and boy did we have some! I think our family must have enjoyed half a dozen birds or even more! LOL! It was really good but oh so bad for you. (Why are all the bad things for your health taste so good?)

Then my family converged here for some duck!

Me with my Tito Francis, Tony and Tita Tina Laurel.

I found this photo funny! Changed my settings and ended up looking like zombies. LOL!

I like Jelly fish! YUM!

Jing Jong and Jiggs were too funny!

DUCK!

MORE DUCK!

We had a DUCK FEST! LOL!

Gela and my cousin Chema!

Duck the second way.

Gela with our niece Aria.

I then checked out Elements mall which was humungous but quite empty. http://www.elementshk.com/eng/elements/elements.htm. I was not sure if I liked the feeling of going to a mall and have no one there. It was a bit strange. The mall is beautiful and I think if you’re not into crowds, then shop here. There was hardly anyone when I went at 11am.

Details at the Elements mall.

Oooh...I like this corner.

Jiggs had a craving for some Pastrami!

We found it here!

My personal highlight of the entire trip was when my Lola Betty looked at me and said “I think I am over rested. Let’s shop for shoes!” LOL! I quickly asked her nurse to get ready and we ended up shoe shopping til the stores closed! LOL! My lola loves fashion and shoes. She taught me a lot of things regarding good taste and appropriateness. I am so blessed to have her with me. It is moments like this that I will forever cherish in my memories. I am indeed blessed!

My Lola Betty and I with my Ninang Marilen.

My Lola shoe shopping! This was my personal highlight.

My family!

We almost filled the bus. LOL!

I loved how Lola Betty looked like the colors of the orchid.

Say hi to my super cute niece Aria.

HUGS!

RAJO!

My HONG KONG family Escape!

rajo — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 01:00:16 +0000

Hong Kong has a very special place in my heart. Every since I can remember, my family has always loved going there and it has almost been a tradition for all of us to go as a family and just enjoy the city. Since our family has gotten bigger, it has gotten harder to get everyone together and just escape. I mean, I have 20 first cousins, 8 sets of aunts and uncles plus my sisters and brother. I failed to add the nephews, nieces and significant partners as well.

So one Sunday gathering, my 92 year old grandmother announced that she has the hankering for Hong Kong and who wants to go? Her house started to shake with joy as everyone literally hooted and hollered! Even my Aunt and cousin from Vancouver flew over to join us! I mean, my Lola is 92 and when she says let’s got to Hong Kong, you gotta go! LOL!

My sister-in-law Sam, my sister Venisse, my brother John and my cousin Jing Jong en route to HK.

Not all my cousins made it but we were a good big group that was able to go and I was really happy that my immediate family was almost complete. Nix had a business trip in Bangkok and my brother-in-law, Ace could not get out of work commitments. Other than that, it was mighty fantastic!

I was a bit worried flying with PAL due to the ongoing strike. However, my fears dissipated when we got to fly out on time and landed in HK in record time.

Quite happy that it was the new plane that we took! I love these new pods that they installed.

We stayed at the classic Marco Polo Hong Kong Hotel in Kowloon! This hotel is really a Pinoy favorite because I saw so many friends also enjoying a weekend in HK. What we really love is the convenience, we literally don’t have to go out of the hotel to enjoy all the amazing shopping. However, the shopping was secondary to all the family bonding that we ended up doing. Actually, our family bonding usually is centered on food and I am afraid we all over indulged and now we’re all regretting it! LOL! Anyway may I invite you to my wacky and crazy family. All of them are my strength and I am so fortunate to have them.

Checked in at the classic Hong Kong hotel. It has free wifi!

The room was pretty large, it had a foyer, a bar in the back and full walk-in closet.

The views were quite decent.

The bathroom.

Quickly said hello to my beautiful Lola Betty with my cousin Trizzie and her baby Aria. They both flew in from Vancouver to join us.

The lobby looked like they just renovated.

Since we arrived pretty late at night, we ended up having difficulty getting a table so we ran to my fave Din Tai Fung!

I like how the set up is like mad scientist's creating the cure to cancer! LOL!

Now this is my version of the cure to any sickness. LOL!

The next day, I wandered around the hotel. Saw the pool area and planned for a swim. Sadly it did not happen.

Took the ferry to Central.

My brother John and some of my cousins. Chema, Jing and Carlos.

Had to have lunch at Yung Kee. Here I am with my sisters. Parang were so shiny! Yikes!

When the food arrived my cousins went nuts with the camera! Food was our star. LOL!

Our yummy lunch!

HUGS!

RAJO!

Hangin’ in Hong Kong!

rajo — Thu, 26 May 2011 07:30:03 +0000

Ever since I can remember, Hong Kong has been my party town! Because it was so close to Manila, my grandparents would take us here on quick trips and have the best time! They did not have Disneyland then but they did have the Ocean Park! LOL! I think I may even have those photos of me in the cable cars! Gosh, I think I even have those dreaded plate photos that everyone has but secretly detests! I swear if I see mine, I will definitely hide this in the deepest crevices of our bodega banished as evidence of bad taste and or judgement.

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My best friends Robby Carmona and Bob McCubbing decided to join me and Nix in HK. An extended weekend of my birthday party and to get some retail action! We all had a great time! Although I wish that I could have slept more because towards the end of the weekend, I was already running of fumes so to speak. Anyhoo! here are some great shots of us while still “fresh” LOL!

Tourist shot! LOL! Seriously though we love Harvey Nick's!

These two are style siblings!

OLA BOB!

The Gang's almost all here!

Lunch pit stop at my fave goose place! Yung Kee.

Cute level alert!

This BBQ pork is a dream!

Had to have some tofu and veggies. Pa-healthy kuno?!

The famous duck of Yung Kee!

Then off to PRADA! Happy to find these babies! They just arrived and we all were eager to get our hand on them!

This is mine! Thing is, I have to wait a couple of months for it! They are on a "special order"! Oh well! Patience is indeed a virtue!

Then off to the Armani Fiori! Wanted to see if they had any new styles. Found a few on the display window.

I like this!

Very nice bouquet.

HUGS!
RAJO!

Mandarin Oriental-HONG KONG!

rajo — Wed, 25 May 2011 02:13:38 +0000

I am so “backblogged” it’s not even funny! I still have a couple of great stories from my trip to Scandinavia in the oven and I have not even began to sort out the photos from my birthday party which was the BEST birthday ever! I only had 8 photos from my camera and I gave up! LOL! After all, I was the celebrant so I really did not have time to take any other photos! I was busy being a host and well…celebrating my birthday. I do promise to make a delicious entry about it when I get to comb through more than 1,000 photos taken by my fave party photographer Daniel Tan.

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After the party, I flew to Hong Kong! Like a rockstar, I flew out at 8am! I went home at like 5am! LOL! Although I did not sleep I was really happy! Only good thoughts were in my mind. One of the good things was that I loved HK and I will be working for a full day and the rest to continue to celebrate with my friends. Some of whom decided to fly out with me.
I was billeted in the Mandarin Oriental and it was great! I love the location of this hotel and how cozy the rooms are. For me, it is the best business hotel in the land! Plus the rooms are wonderful! I took some photos to share! I promised myself that after this week I will finish all my back entries so I can start fresh. In the meantime, this is how my room looks!

The sink station is open and is part of the foyer. Found this set up strange but extremely functional.

The beds! At first I thought they were small but actually they were perfect! I love the sheets and that square pillow was heavenly.

Cozy corner!

I love this ice bucket! I remember we used to have one of these in the 80's.

This double shower head was amazing! I want one! LOL!

HUGS!
RAJO!

Hong Kong Hiatus!

rajo — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 04:41:18 +0000

My air miles were going to expire, so Nix and I decided to escape for the weekend. Hong Kong has always been an easy getaway for me, since it’s only an hour and a half away and I find the place so convenient. I love the train from the airport to the city. I mean, it takes 12 minutes! All in all, it only takes me a full hour to get out of the airplane and into the city, meaning in less than 3 hours, I feel like I am in another world! LOL!

This being the case, it’s so easy to ask friends to meet up and make the city a virtual playground. After a few emails and several phone calls, my dear friends decided to join us, and we all had a blast!

I love the efficiency of the Hong Kong airport express trains. I think it's the best deal. They even offer free shuttle service to some hotels. You all must try it!

My best buddy Bob, who lives in Shanghai, decided to join me in HK! Cheers Bob!

Had this yummy pizza at Isola in the IFC mall, love that restaurant! It’s like one of those places that becomes a comfort zone of sorts!

I have this dual image of Hong Kong that it's like part grime and part shine. I like that they have this balance.

Art shot! kuno?!

Met up with one of my favorite travel companions...Robby Carmona! Had a quick dimsum brunch at the Silver Chord mall in Kowloon. I have been coming to this mall for over 15 years! LOL! I like that it has this street/youth vibe in the stores that are here, so it keeps me updated. It also has a really good food court. YUMMERS!

Ang dami naming nakain....kakahiya! LOL!

Our friend Xavier was with us too! This man is so hilarious! I crack up each time he is around!

Funny how these two seem like they always dress as though they're part of a collection. Diba?

Nix and I on a fog-ridden day in HK!

HUGS!
RAJO!

I Heart the HK Airport!

rajo — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 09:57:40 +0000

I am on a quick business trip to China and I had a three hour layover. Normally this would annoy me to death but not when the layover is at the Hong Kong airport. It is my favorite airport in the world!

I love the architecture of this airport, it reminds me of a quilted sky!

Love the fact that you can really do some serious Duty Free shopping! They have lots of luxury brands represented like Hermes, Prada, Gucci and Cartier. They also have some luxury brands that normally are not represented in Duty Free. They have an extensive Lanvin for Men store that made me just drool! (The blue loafers from last season were 50% off! It took all my strength to walk away from them.) They also have this brand that I adore called Ports. I love that line as it’s so intelligently designed.

I also love the architecture of the airport and the fact that it is so easy to navigate. A major bonus of this airport is the MUJI to go store! Located just after Departure Gate 61, the store is a slice of heaven for those wary of airport shopping. They have so many wonderful products for sale that I was worried that I might miss my flight! I always stock up on their tiny travel vessels and I adore their stationaries and pens! This time I stocked up on some snacks as I was traveling to Wuhan, China! I was not so sure if the carrier called China Southern would have food I liked on board. So I bought some almonds and my fave snack called OSEMBE! (rice crackers wrapped in seaweed! SARAP!)

So happy that Muji to Go was on route to my gate!

More than a thousand lovely products! My friend Cecille Z. calls them wastelands! I have to agree!

Muji to Go... and their manifesto!

Great gift ideas for my Inaanaks!

Organic musical toys! These are sooo Chic!

Christmas decor desk details, good idea for co-workers!

I was traveling with my beautiful friend and Sales and Marketing genius for our designer uniform company Bernice Palanca-Go. Behind her are all yummy chichiria! (Don

I loved these stamps/desk chotchkies!

MUJI.....A wasteland of useful and useless stuff!

Gotta go! They are calling my flight for boarding! See you!

HUGS!
RAJO!