Meeting Hong Kong’s Giant Buddha

One of the highlights of our recent trip to Hong Kong was visiting Lantau Island, the largest in Hong Kong, and catching a glimpse of the awe-inspiring Giant Buddha, which is said to be the world’s largest outdoor seated bronze Buddha. It is definitely an understatement to say that looking up at the enormous statue was an emotional moment for us, especially for my husband, who was a Buddhist before he converted to Christianity.

Giant Buddha fast facts

We learned from our guide that Hong Kong’s giant Buddha is actually known as Tian Tan Buddha. It sits on top of the Muyushan Mountain, which literally translates to Phoenix Mountain. We felt so privileged to learn that it houses some of the remains of Siddhartha Gautama Buddha. Read more

Top 5 Lessons from American Idol

Since local channels started airing American Idol many seasons ago, I tried my best not to miss a single episode. To say that I religiously follow the show is an understatement. I sometimes find myself leaving things in a heartbeat just to root for my favorite contestant and see him go through the next round.

Perhaps it’s the frustrated singer in me that likes this reality show very much. Having joined several singing contests in the past, I can totally relate to what the contestants feel minutes before their performance. I also like seeing dreams realized and immortalized on TV. And, I must confess, American Idol is the only show that makes me cry.

Apart from the glitz and entertainment that is American Idol, there are some lessons from the show that we can apply to our day-to-day life:

1. Be an underdog, but do not overdo it

Admit it: underdogs are adorable. We are passionate about cheering for the underdog (think Syesha Mercado and Elliott Yamin) and when our voices are hoarse from too much “coaching,” our underdog is certainly not an underdog any longer because the rest of America– and perhaps the world– have decided to cheer him on, as we have.

Lesson: It is okay to be imperfect or not so popular at first because the world always looks for fortitude and resilience in addition to raw talent. However, overdoing it is a no-no. Nothing looks more miserable than one who is trying too hard to look and act like an underdog. Read more

Top 3 Must-Try Restaurants in Hong Kong

My husband and I are avid foodies—we love discovering new places to eat and try exotic dishes. The best food discoveries usually happen when you least expect it and you’ll never really know what’s in store for you unless you try. When we recently went to Hong Kong, finding great restaurants was definitely a priority.

Here are some of the restaurants you must try to visit when you are in Hong Kong:

1. Hutong

Hutong is located on the 28th floor of a modern high-rise in Kowloon. Its down-to-earth and dramatic ambiance provides a romantic setting to guests and wine connoisseurs alike. Notable are grand windows that stretch from the floor to the ceiling, adding to this joint’s elegant charm. The menu is Chinese with a modern twist, and main dishes cost around $HK128 – HK$ 288 or around $17 – $37 US. Hutong’s exotic dishes make this fine-dining restaurant extremely popular to locals and tourists that reservations are absolutely required before going there.

Website: http://www.aqua.com.hk
Address: 1 Peking Road, 28th Floor, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon

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Hong Kong’s Revolving 66 Restaurant and Night Cruise: Ultimate Dining and Viewing Pleasure

One of the Temples in Hong Kong

We love Hong Kong. It’s the nearest foreign city from Manila that offers everything that we like: authentic Chinese noodles, succulent seafoods, lush cordilleras, shopping malls, and the excitement of being lost in translation while trying to figure out which MTR to take.

We visited HK recently for a little R&R. We also wanted to see places that we weren’t able to visit last year and some “alone time” even for just a few days. We also met some friends from my husband’s business school. On our first night, we dined at the famous Revolving 66 Restaurant, checked some goods at the Temple Night Market along Temple Street, and went on a harbour cruise. Read more