23 Dec 2019, Monday.
Why is today special? It’s because my hubby did not have to go to work today. He took two days off this week so he could spend time with me and Hudson. This morning, he decided to go on a date with me to HK Island, which I haven’t been for so long. He wanted me to have a chance to go out and have a change of scenery. I am so thankful that he insisted because I’ve been really pining to go and have a nice cafe date, but there’s none in our area that has the correct vibes: good, authentic food & coffee/warm cuppa + environment/setting. #date
It was like going on a short trip to the US/Australia as the places we went are quite wai guo in feel. It only took a train ride for this travel experience to happen and it was well worth it. How nice. I love the shops signs, the streets, the stone slabs and walls, traces and edges of history, and the Christmas decors in the area. #travel
We left our house early, just like we would when I went to work and took the mtr to Central, reaching there before 8:15am (got the morning discount fare. yeah). It’s a 19C December HK winter day, overcast–adding to the cinematic mood that I was in (we were watching “You’ve Got Mail” last night). It was so nice to be out and about in Central before the crowd comes in. It was quieter, with the street cleaners washing the streets, the occasional locals going to work and starting their days. #livinginamovie #cinematicHK
We had our brekkie at the window seats of Fineprint cafe on Peel Street, a quiet street that housed a Chinese takeaway shop and facing a hardware store. We saw the owner of the hardware store coming and opening his shop, a mom with a baby in her infant carrier come have her sourdough toasts and large flat white standing outside, and the number of strangers walking downhill to work–the real estate agent, the office or bank worker, the gym-goers…watching the world go by while we pause our routine (Nick with his work and me with my mom duties). I did start to feel tinges of guilt for not staying home to spend time with baby H but mostly I was enjoying the morning out so much. It was definitely a nice change of scenery and responsibilities. #storiesoftheirlives #HKdwelling
We also made our way to PMQ & Tai Kwun (two of our favourite places) to check out what’s different. The warm slice of vegetarian pizza from Paisano’s was yummy–crispy thin crust, melted mozzarella and roasted vegetables.
PMQ’s Christmas bazaar, which was not open yet
Tai Kwun
The last bit of our little morning date was checking out the elaborate Christmas display at the Landmark. Wow.
And it’s time to head home before our baby has to get his immunisations in the afternoon.
As N remarked on our bus ride home, we should definitely do more of these take-a-day-off from work to pause and soak in the city while the city continues to move. That’s why we work, to enjoy moments of life. What’s the point of working everyday without taking time to enjoy the fruit of our hard work/earnings? We want to take more time to spend with our son in the future too. That’s what’s meaningful.
Each day a blessing 