From 2010-2012, I lived in Hong Kong working as an elementary school teacher. Anytime someone I know travels there, I always forward them the same copy-and-paste email, but haven’t – until now – put into words why I love all of these great places in Hong Kong.
If you’ve done your Hong Kong research, you’ll know that Hong Kong is made up of many islands, the largest being Hong Kong Island, and an area called Kowloon which is attached to mainland China. I’ve separated the best attractions in HK by area.
Kowloon
Ten Thousand Buddhas is my #1 choice for sightseeing in HK! It is a hike up the mountain, but along the way there are these amazing statues in all sorts of positions and facial expressions. If you go to Hong Kong and you don’t go here, you’re missing out. Check it out for FREE!
Restaurant for Two: a new feature where I bring a friend to a restaurant and we write a review together. Thanks to Karen for joining me at Ixcateco!
Ixcateco Grill in the Albany Park neighborhood presents authentic Southern Mexican cuisine. Chef Anselmo Ramirez uses fresh, locally-sourced organic or sustainably-raised ingredients as often as possible. This BYOB restaurant is packed every weekend, so making a reservation is a necessity. It’s not located in the most convenient area, but the fresh ingredients, friendly service, and innovative cuisine make it worth the trek.
Today marks my last day as a resident of Logan Square. My roommate, Betsy, moved to the suburbs to be closer to work, and I’m moving in with my friend, Jen, in Roscoe Village. For the past three years, I’ve found Logan Square to be such a great neighborhood. Full of good restaurants and bars, lovely old homes, and a diverse population. Here are the top 10 things I’ll miss about my ‘hood: Continue reading Goodbye Logan Square→
When I’d met Harry*, I had grown accustomed to – even falling in love with – my life as a single person. I started a monthly brunch club with all of my girlfriends in Chicago, volunteered 1-3 nights a week, began editing a newsletter for a local yoga studio in exchange for free classes, had frequent dinner dates with my best friend’s family, and joined the happiest of hours with my single girlfriends. My independence and the ability to choose to do what I wanted when I wanted was exhilarating.
And then a perfect little present fell from the eHarmony sky: Harry. And, I mean that; Harry is perfect. He checks every box on my list: nice, considerate, funny, intelligent, good-looking, open, honest, likes to work out and go to yoga, good cook, volunteers, has been to more countries than me, wants to get married and have a family, and the list could go on. Yet, I find myself somewhat resistant to him. We get along like two peas in a pod. I’m scared, though, of being TWO peas in a pod when I’ve spent so long being ONE pea all alone.Continue reading Mourning the Loss of my Singlehood→
While in Battambang, Cambodia I had the absolute pleasure of spending the day with a man named Thoeun who was my driver around the town. He lived through the Khmer Rouge control. While we were together, he told me his story:
At the age of 12, the Khmer Rouge took over in Cambodia. Thoeun lived in a small village far away from any large cities which were the places most affected by the awful power. For the 4 years Khmer Rouge ruled the country, Thoeun hid out in his village. His family wasn’t so lucky; his aunts, his uncles, and his brothers were killed by Khmer Rouge soldiers. He told me that he still misses them and thinks about them 35 years later. In 1980, Thoeun escaped to a Thai refugee camp where he stayed for 12 years. While there, he learned English from American and British doctors at the camp. He moved to Battambang in 1993 where he works as a tuk tuk driver. Despite the sad beginnings his life had, Thoeun was always delightful. Continue reading The Effects of the Khmer Rouge: One Man’s Story→
From 2010-2012, I lived in Hong Kong working as an elementary school teacher. Anytime someone I know travels there, I always forward them the same copy-and-paste email, but haven’t – until now – put into words why I love all of these great places in Hong Kong.
Background: Hong Kong used to be owned by the United Kingdom until 1997, so many people here know English (it’s one of the official languages!) and it’s home to a very diverse set of expats. Because of this multiculturalism, there’s a unique blend of Western life and Asian life. Most importantly, that means there’s a ton of awesome food and places to drink!
New City Life Adventure 