Back in HK

I came back to HK on Dec 30. 

I love some of the Christmas decorations that were still  up especially the knit handle rails and the flying trapeze Santas!

Lunar New Years Eve was spent with good friends, Andy, Donna and Natascha. We dined in Sheung Wan at Shelter Lounge and then visited a whiskey bar. I must admit that we got so caught up in dinner that we missed the fireworks at midnight. But Clare shared her picture with me so you can all see.

Cheers to the New Year!

Natascha and I hiked Black's Link and although there were not any unique pictures along the trail I have to share this one. We found an old WW2 bunker and one of the small doors was open. It was too dark inside to see. So Natascha just put her phone in and took a picture. Here is what she captured. At first it looks like a cane is just magically standing up... until you realize that it's an umbrella!

This past weekend I hiked up to the Peak (up the steep side) and then hiked Stage 1 of the Hong Kong trail which is through Pok Fu Lam Country Park. I am going to work at completing all the stages. I had wanted to do both Stage 1 and Stage 2 but I somehow missed the start of Stage 2 (don't ask) and so couldn't do that. I will try again and pay more attention next time.

A pretty R8 we saw the other day on the street. Niiiiiice ride!!!

December in US

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!!


I was fortunate enough to spend 3 weeks in US. I worked the first week so was able to see people at work and connect with my team there. I then took 2 weeks time off to be with family and friends. It was a very busy 3 weeks with many parties, events and dinners and I am so grateful to all those who hosted me.


First, when I got to my parents house, my brother had saved me some leaves (since I missed the New England autumn). Here is my excitement.

It was unseasonably warm for December which allowed us to go out for walks around the neighborhood. Christmas Eve the temperature was close to 70 degree F. 

On this day the sky was just amazing.

For work, we all take a day off for a Global Day of Joy where we volunteer in the community for the day. Here is my group working at a Foster Forward event.

We spent Christmas Eve at Kris' house where we did what we do best: eat.

Emery had a new friend in Justin even though she kept calling him Bud. 

The whole crew! Grandma even came to visit with us. <3

 Christmas Day was spent and Mom and Dad's before visiting Grandma again.

Don't mess with Mom and her new woodworking tools!

I requested an apple pie for Chrsitmas since I missed it at Thanksgiving (and the pie I had in HK wasn't good). Mom is so good to me! Warm apple pie with vanilla ice cream. So goooood!

Full moon on Christmas Night.

I was horrible and didn't take pictures of the dinner and parties with friends. #FAIL

Hong Kong vs USA

Reasons Hong Kong is better than the USA.

1. It is super efficient. Government processes, public transport, it's all so efficient. Except bank account opening. Banking sucks. 

2. It is super safe here. You can walk alone and not have to worry. You still take precautions obviously but there isn't the random crime here that there is elsewhere.

3. My commute to and from work is also my workout. 

Reasons the USA is better than Hong Kong.


1. Target

Enough said.....

Random Things Before Leaving Hong Kong

When Nerf team was here I took 2 members hiking to the Peak.

It was my mentee's birthday and Natascha was taking him to lunch so I crashed the party. 

One of my employee's received a Way to Go award so we did a team celebration! Sally in the middle with her manager Fanny. 

Christmas decorations are starting to go up. No issue with religious signage here. 

I went to Heyuan, China for vendor visits last week. For lunch they took me toBavarian  Manor which is a theme park like area which is decorated like a Norwegian village. 

12 Month Travel Check-In

So I have been in Hong Kong for 11 months. And it is time to be back to US for Christmas so my year of Asia travel is done and ready to be tabulated.
 
Done so far!

• Thailand 
• Phuket - Karon Beach (south west coast)
• Phuket - Pansea Beach (north west coast)
• Chiang Mai
• Jakarta, Indonesia (work-related)
• Seoul, South Korea
• Siem Reap, Cambodia
• Macau
• India (Goa and Mumbai)

Still to do...

• Singapore
• Japan (Tokyo, Kyoto, etc) - booked for March!
• Bali, Indonesia
• Australia
• New Zealand
• Vietnam
• Laos
• Taiwan 
• Taipei

Goa, India

So this past week for work we have a management offsite in Mumbai. So before the offsite 4 of us went to Goa to visit a factory. Goa is a 50 minute flight from Mumbai. However, we asked how long to drive and they told us 12 hours because the roads are not built for long haul between the cities.

Goa is a state located in the South western region of India; it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its western coast. It is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Goa is one of India's richest states with a GDP per capita two and a half times that of the country as a whole.

Goa is highlighted in red below.

This is the interior of our hotel.

History lesson:
In 1510, the Portuguese defeated the ruling Bijapur sultan Yousuf Adil Shah with the help of a local ally, Timayya. They set up a permanent settlement in Velha Goa (or Old Goa). This was the beginning of Portuguese rule in Goa that would last for four and a half centuries, until 1961.

Goa used to be a Portuguese colony for many years so the architecture has a Spanish flair. 

 Goa has a high Catholic population which I did not know and the Pope recently visited there.

Before our factory tour we had lunch in the hotel with the vendor rep.

The vendor we visited is named Funskool!

 

It is tradition for some India vendors to give guests flowers. Here are mine!

The surrounding area around the factory. 

That night, the vendor took us to the beach in Goa to have dinner seaside. It was dark and hard to see and take pictures.  The beach area is supposed to be very popular with honeymooners. It did not seem as nice as some Thailand beach resort areas but hard to judge at night and from one quick visit.

Back in town, it was the last night of the International Film Festival in Goa. This was the place all lit up!

  
After dinner picture.

The next morning us 4 Hasbro group had a few hours in the morning before our flight back to Mumbai so we walked around Goa town. Below you see casino boats on the water which is the only place in India where gambling is legal.

These boys were marching and playing the drums.

Street in Goa. Crossing the major streets in Goa were challenging. We waited a while to cross or once a local helped us out by shepherding us across the busy street.

Edmond, me and Kenny hanging out. Nelson is taking the picture.

Then it was off to the airport to head back to Mumbai!