ON SALE NOW!

Tiffany turned 31 on July 21st and what better way to celebrate than with a frenzied end-of-summer-sales shopping spree in Hong Kong? And Tiffany even got to buy some things, too!


We enjoyed a very relaxing weekend at the Four Seasons in Hong Kong, and explored all the efficiencies of the island city. It is relentlessly hot and humid right now, so we really appreciated the hermetically sealed shopping environment. The hotel is connected to the famous IFC Mall, which is also connected to the high speed train that brings you in to the city directly from the airport. Pretty much the only time we went outside was to go for a swim in their refreshing infinity pool, which overlooks the Victoria Harbour (that's how they spell it there, all British and everything) that separates Hong Kong island from Kowloon and the mainland.

Here is Tiffany showing off the chocolate birthday cake that the hotel staff sent up. Our room had an unbelievable view of the water. Please also note the beee-yuuu-teee-full flowers next to her. Who's a great boyfriend?? or husband, now, is it?

Hong Kong has a great ferry transport that takes you between the island and Kowloon running constantly throughout the day. It'll cost you something like 20 cents for one of the most scenic rides in Asia.

Here we are relaxing by the pool after our massage. It was very tiring trying to keep up with the busy birthday pampering schedule! As you can see, my hair is suffering as a result.

Birthday dinner at Felix, a Philippe Starck-designed restaurant at the top of the Peninsula Hotel. If you ever get a chance, you should check out the Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong. It has a really grand entrance and when you enter, you feel like you've stepped back in time, warped back to the 1920's or 30's or whenever the peak of Hong Kong's colonial era was. Soaring ceilings are held up by massive white columns, huge glass chandeliers hang from high above and shimmer softly to the classic songs being played by the live jazz band.







Oh, and the low, marble stone toilets in Felix are pressed right up against the floor to ceiling windows, which gives one a sort of gleeful vertigo while "taking care of business".

Our friends Kevin and Melissa were in Hong Kong, too, and met up with us for a tea and crumpets dessert. If crumpets means cheesecake, anyway... I know we had tea at least.

It was great to see them since they've moved on from Shanghai, with Kevin taking a job at a Hong Kong law firm and Melissa relocating with the US Consulate to her new position in Bangkok.

What a great way to take a break from the madness of Shanghai! A fun, birthday weekend in peaceful, orderly, quite proper Hong Kong.