Tara's Rawvolution: December 2010

I have emerged from hard bug-filled mattresses, cold water showers, and air-con free rooms to the bustling, beautiful, shopping madness, skyscraper-filled Hong Kong!

When I was in Koh Samui, Thailand and doing my detox fast at The Spa Resort, I adopted two wonderful, smokin' hot Israeli moms who were fasting along with me: Dana and Pnina. These two beautiful, warm, loving ladies were my savior during 7 days of rainy chewlessness. When they departed the spa, Dana invited me to her home in Hong Kong, should I ever be passing through the city. Since I have an open agenda, I told her that I'd take her up on the offer!

The cool thing about Hong Kong is that it takes up a relatively small area of land, yet 7 million people live there! So, instead of building out, they build up! Everyone lives in a flat and suburban houses do not exist.

I arrived to domestic, pampered happiness at Dana's flat. Despite Dana insisting that her flat was "simple for Hong Kong standards," I was pretty sure I wasn't in Cambodia any more! Their flat was clean, fabulously decorated, had great juju, and included a live in maid/cook named Dolores (loved her!).

Dana, her husband, and their three kids moved from Israel to Hong Kong 13 years ago with only their suitcases in hand to relocate their bag manufacturing business to China. They started out with only plastic chairs and a table as furniture as they had no money and the cost of living in Hong Kong is extreme. Over the years, they have started more and more companies and now own several factories that manufacture things like travel bags, camera tripods, toys, etc. Dana's background is interior design - which shows in the prettiness of her lovely home, and her husband is a witty businessman. Their two grown daughters have moved out, but their 16-year old son Paz still lives at home. I like to tease him when he calls Dolores on his cell phone from his room because he won't get off his petut to ask her in person to make him a pizza.

This wonderful family treats me like their own. My invitation is open to stay and enjoy Dolores' yummy healthy cooking for as long as I'd like. I am just so very thankful for this present in my life! These wonderful people make being away from home a little less prickly when I get homesick. :)

I have been doing a grand tour of this beautiful city and have so very many pics and vids. Check 'em out!

Despite its small area & metropolocity (yes, I just made up that word), Hong Kong has oodles of green space & hiking paths to entertain the many many peeps that live in flats.