Hong Kong - City of Lights

A few weeks ago, I found out that Jon was going to India, and then stopping by Hong Kong for work. He asked if I wanted to spend a week with him in Hong Kong. I of course, jumped at the opportunity, as I've always wanted to go there, but somehow, never really gotten the opportunity to. I think the closest we got, was when it suddenly got hit by SARS, and then again 2 years ago, but ended up going to Cambodia instead.

Anyhow, I finally managed to get some time off work, and made my way to Hong Kong SAR - the city of lights~!

Arrived in the afternoon, and Jon picked me up from the airport. Got back to our hotel room and then had a quick shower to freshen up :) Headed out in the evening for a gentle walk around the area. We stayed in Tsim Sha Tsui, near the harbour and the infamous Avenue of Stars.

We took a slow walk along the harbour, watching the beautiful city lights in this immensely saturated yet great city. Got to the Star Ferry terminal where we boarded the ferry to cross over to the main Hong Kong Island.

I was happy exploring the city but we were getting rather hungry due to the time difference! I probably had dinner around 9ish?! ie 6pm HK time.

We went to the infamous bar / pub area - Lan Kwai Fong for dinner. Had Japanese food cause Jon was craving for some fresh food and greens after weeks of having lentils and curry~! Yuck!! No wonder he has Delhi Belly. Sighhh... my poor boy.

After dinner, we took a stroll to Ladies Market for some trinkets and random cutesy stuff. It's kinda like Petaling Street, but with better quality stuff. But the bargaining, is just the same.

I also took this opportunity to try the Hui Lau Shan desserts that the Hongkies rave about all the time!! :) They're everywhere, I tell ya! Turn left, turn right, go straight, up, down - You'll see a Hui Lau Shan dessert stall / shop!!

I had this a few times during my trip there. They are quite yummy indeed! I tried the cold, contemporary dessert the first night, and also the hot, traditional chinese desserts the other times. Sorry I don't have photos though! Gobbled them down before we had time to whip out the camera.

Headed back to the hotel around 10pm that night, for some well deserved rest after a whole day of travel. In dire need of recharging our batteries!!

The second day was spent at the lighting expo in the morning - at the Convention and Exhibition Centre (where they filmed Gen X *or was it Gen Y* Cops), and then more shopping at Causeway Bay in the afternoon.

This is Times Square @ Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. Level after level of shops and more shops! OMG~!!! Spent some time in here, and then Jon brought me to some random shopping complex somewhere else in Causeway Bay where they sell lots of cutesy clothes and accessories for girls! Heaven!!!! I bought 2 pairs of shoes at the first shop we walked into! Hahahha. Just couldn't resist. They weren't THAT cheap, but they were very unique, and I doubt I'd be able to find them anywhere else, ok... maybe in Japan or something, but definitely not back in Melbourne, or KL.

So yes, I succumbed!! :(

After a long day out, we went to pamper ourselves with a relaxing foot spa and massage. Almost fell asleep as well :) It was gooodddddd.... and relatively cheap compared to what we get here! And so well worth it after a whole day abusing our feet, walking through mountains of people - all in the name of shopping!

After that, we rested for abit back in the hotel before heading out for dinner. Jon got to talking about how this year's been a big year for us as so much as happened... I nodded, and agreed with him, saying that I have grown so much from it though. That we have both braved a storm in our lives, and still came out of it, together.

And in some ways, stronger.

He then suggested that we should head to the harbour for the night light show. For those who didn't know, the large scale light show is pretty darn impressive!! So we walked towards the harbour, near Avenue of Stars to catch the show. But before the show even started...

He mentioned how Hong Kong is his favourite place in the world, and that he's really glad that I made it there with him this time around. I then exclaimed that some days, he'd rather be Hongkie than Aussie and he laughed...

Then he confessed that he had a hidden agenda, bringing me to Hong Kong. He got a little emotional, and told me how much he loves me, and want to spend the rest of his life with me. He fumbled for something from inside his jacket, and I kinda knew what was coming then!!!

He got down on his knees, and proposed!

I was so shocked, I don't think I said anything for about a minute or so... Looking rather embarassed as there were people around too! I so did not see this coming!!

But of course, I said Yes!! :) and I couldn't help but teared a little too *shy*

He was so relieved and proceeded to ask "Can I stand up now?" hehehehhe... Silly boy~!!!

We finally went out for dinner after the emotional evening! :) hehehehe. We had planned to have congee that evening, but since he proposed, we also wanted to celebrate by having something nice... but our tummies were craving for a yummy bowl of congee~!

So we finally decided to have a huge bowl of...

Abalone & scallop congee.... YUMMMY~! Comfort food for the soul :)

After dinner, we strolled along the buzzing streets of Hong Kong city, hand-in-hand... still in disbelief that he just proposed~! I was in shock, while he was all relieved that I said yes! It was as if, he's transferred all the emotions to me... a big rock off his chest! Tee hee.

We made our way back to the hotel that night, hand-in-hand, not as boyfriend and girlfriend... but as fiance and fiancee.

(Please try to ignore my ugly nail polish that's coming off. If I knew, I would have gotten myself a manicure!!)

And btw, that's not my ring. It's just the diamond in a clasper it came in. We're getting it set soon :)