Christmas Gifts

I got Ryan a new cellphone for Christmas. He’s always complaining about his old phone. It never gets any reception in the MTR or too far away from downtown, it’s too thick to keep in his pocket and it can’t take pictures. His new phone is super thin, seems to work anywhere, so far, and has a tiny camera.

He got me a box of American artisan cheeses from Byerly’s. That might not sound like the most romantic gift, but I’m from Minnesota. I love cheese. A big block of cheese and a chunk of bread, maybe a glass of wine, and I’m a happy camper. Right now I live in Hong Kong – not the best place in the world for cheese – or bread. CitySuper has some cheese, but their selection is pretty limited.

Ryan knows that I’ve been feeling homesick this Christmas, especially since I always thought we’d go home for a week or two. He couldn’t take me home, so he brought a little slice of home to me. More like several large blocks of home. I have enough cheese to last for months.

I’m looking at Beecher flagship & Marco Polo, Bellavitano gold & raspberry, gran queso & bambina fontina, sartori asiago, crema casa and Humboldt fog. If any store in Hong Kong sold just one of these I’d be the most loyal customer they’ve ever had.

Andy Williams

Merry Christmas to all!

Frank Sinatra - I'll Be Home for Christmas

Christmas 2011

When we first came to Hong Kong, we assumed we would go home for Christmas. But then we went to Europe in October and spent all our money. Most of Ryan’s family came out here in September, so it’s not like we haven’t seen them in a long time. It would be nice to have a white Christmas with family & friends, but we have new friends here and Ryan & I still have each other. It’s just not so white.

I miss the snow, but I have to say I don’t miss the freezing cold. It’s actually quite nice in Hong Kong. Yet it doesn’t feel like Christmas. There are no snowmen. The only Christmas trees I’ve seen were plastic. Decorations are mostly just to get people to shop. There is no Christmas feeling in Hong Kong. It’s like going to Peter, Paul & Playland, the Christian amusement park just off I-94 instead of Disneyland. Only one has that magical feeling.

Bing Crosby

Tropical Christmas is very different from the white Christmas of Minnesota.

Amsterdam part 7

The beautiful Vondelpark in the middle of Amsterdam

Bloemenmarkt, the floating flower market

Centraal station, mostly under construction

Dean Martin - Let It Snow

Let it snow! Not gonna happen in Hong Kong.

Rome part 9

Inside the Pantheon in Rome

Amsterdam part 6

Some of the many canals that run through Amsterdam

Rome part 8

Here are more pictures from the Europe trip.


The Spanish Steps in Rome




The Colosseum inside & out