Hotel pictures 016 - Hilton Haikou Meilan

Hotel pictures 015 - Regent Taipei

Here for a weekend with colleagues to celebrate Kim's wedding. 

Hotel Pictures 014 - Hilton Beijing

Been staying at visited hotels. So, no update for awhile. Today, I returned to Hilton Beijing. An old class. 

Hotel pictures 013 - Conrad Koh Samui

Hotel pictures 012 - Hilton Beijing Wangfujing

One of the best loved Hilton hotels in China. Best location. Huge rooms. Lovely staff. 

Even though I was supposed to stay at the Waldorf Astoria, but then got bumped off due to the APAC conference with some princes booked a chunk of the rooms in WA, this is still a good alternative. 

Special travel schedule

This is a special week of travel that I should remember. Last Friday I went to Guangzhou during The famous Canton Fair where traders come from all over the world. Today (Monday) I am heading to Beijing while the APAC world leaders are coming for the APAC meeting. What a plan!

Hotel pictures 011 Hilton Guangzhou Tianhe

Not that I haven't traveled in last couple of weeks since Europe, they are all places I have posted already. Here I am in Guangzhou during the busiest time of the year. 

Cruising Europe

Finally my parents and I made it to a cruise thru Europe. It is not a long trip. 8 days from Barcelona to Western Italy and then back to French Rivera before coming back to Barcelona. It was a priceless trip to spend such a lovely time with my parents. It is a belated celebration of Dad's 70th birthday. It has been 15 yrs since his last cruise to Alaska. He has waited for a while to do it again.

The wait is worth it. Firstly, this time I paid instead of he pays. Second, life is so much freer of burden for them. I didn't realized that even for retirees, there are still burden in life that kept them from living it out. 

I'm glad that I actually have the chance to pay for it. Never in my life that I thought I could actually pay for a trip with my parents. It is quite a little achievement on my part. I could have spent it on some fancy watches (3 rolexes to be exact.) But this is a much better experience and memories for the 3 of us. 

I really wished my brother could have come along. It would have been so much more fun. 

I don't know if we will have the chance to do it again. But somehow, I think we may. 

Hotel pictures 010 - Alexandra Hotel a Doubletree by Hilton

Have to post both rooms. The 1st room was for my parents while the 2nd room is mine. I like my parents' better. 

Hotel pictures 009 - Norwegian Epic Studio Cabin

Strictly speaking, it is not a hotel room. Yet, I think it documented my traveling life. The room is actually very nicely appointed. I really enjoyed it. 

Hotel pictures 008 Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona

I am taking my parents on a cruise to celebrate Dad's 70th birthday. This is the first stop before embarking. More to come. 

October 1 2014

Heading to HKG to join my parents before flying to Barcelona to start our European cruise. HKG is not the usual peaceful fast pace island in last few days. Leaving the sunny quiet Shanghai and Jim behind to get on a flight to HKG seems strange indeed. This morning, I almost wish I have changed my ticket to leave a bit later to have a relaxing day at home. 

This trip will be great though. How rare to have a chance to do a cruise with my parents and to celebrate Dad'd 70th. Europe nonetheless. It has been years since I last visited Italy and Barcelona. To revisit some of the famous attractions will be very exciting. 

I really can't believe I didn't start posting hotel pictures since the day I started in NY

It is a proof that I am not thinking fast and out of the box enough. 

Hotel pictures 007 - Hui Hotel Shenzhen

It is a new boutique hotel, opened in July this year, in Shenzhen. Interior design is by a local well known interior design Yang Bang Shen. Traced many inspiration from around the world. It is quite nice nonetheless. 

Hotel Pictures 006 - Conrad Hong Kong

61st floor's view from the bed. Not bad. 

Hotel pictures 005 - Howard Johnson Changle Fujian

Large hollywood bed... #rollinit. 

Hotel pictures 004 - Langham Place, Xiamen

Hotel pictures 003 - Intercontinental Fuzhou

Hotel pictures 002 - Hilton Sanya

Quick meeting for a day. Let's hope it will be painless. 

Hotel pictures 001 - Hilton Okinawa Chatan

After almost 3 yrs of staying in many hotels, it finally dawned on me that I should post pictures from every hotel room I stayed in. So, here is the 1st: Hilton Okinawa Chatan Resort. A brand new hotel in Okinawa, Japan. 

Chongqing

I went to the city for the first time. Kinda like it. It is one of the huge cities in the west. And of course, a Turkish guy selling dondurma in the street mall.  

 

Busy days in Shanghai

It has been hectic. Nothing major, but just a lot of little things. It makes me wonder why it is always me who gets these extra bits of work to do? 

I wish I were out enjoying the city in the summer. When will I have a summer off? I meant the whole summer off, doing nothing but exercise everyday, beach time, picnic in the park, hanging at the museums for their free AC, movie in the afternoon...

Oh my... Time flies.

How half a year has gone? 

Last post was in Feburary while we were in Australia. A blink and I am in July!!!

In May, we went home to NYC for a break. Stopped by Vegas for a conference. In June, I met Jim in Tokyo to celebrate our anniversary before he returned to Shanghai. 

Work continues to keep me very busy. Traveling picks up again lately. 

We are settling into Shanghai finally. It is feeling like a home now. 

Some pics from Tokyo...

Australia

We were in Melbourne and Sydney for Chinese New Year holiday. It was the first time in over a decade since I last spent Chinese New Year with my family. Another special experience is that Jim was included in the celebration. Quite an event. 

It is the first time Jim visited Australia. It was also the first time I visited home in the summer ever since I left for NY. Words can't describe how lovely it is to have an Australia summer. 

We also caught up with a number of friends. It was a great couple of weeks of fresh air and fun. 

Maybe I should visit more often!

Christmas, New Year, Chinese New Year.

How time flies!!!!  The holiday seasons is finally coming to an end. Living in China means that holiday doesn't end with the New Year. There is always the Chinese New Year to top it off. 

Christmas was spent lovingly in Shanghai. Low profile at best. I enjoyed the low key environment.  

@Waldorf Astoria Shanghai. 

@ Charles Gremillion's holiday party. 

NYE took us to HK. But I got sick for 3 days since Jan 1. What a damper!

@ NYE dinner at Blue Butcher with David Kilpatrick. 

@Savva to do my final farewell to Michael Luk. He moved back to Shanghai for a job at Hyatt. :-(

Then there is also my birthday. 3 separate celebrations was tiring me. 

With Jenny Chen celebrating OUR birthdays. 

@ El Patio with Daniel, Julia and Mark

@ Kappo Yu with Zarra, Amanda and Serina. 

A week later, work called me to attend an internal conference in Istanbul!!!  How marvelous to have someone pay for me to visit one of my top 3 wish list?! I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a bit short for me. But I still cherish my visit. 

@ Hagia Sofia

@ Basilica Cistern

The Bosphorus Straits. 

Anyway, this was a quick recap of my last month. It was fast but highly memorable.

We are off to Melbourne and Sydney for the Chinese New Year holiday! Seeing family and revisiting old stomping grounds with Jim will be an interesting break for sure. And the warm weather! Yeah!