Skip to main content

Christmas in Asia

Christmas in Asia is a little bit different--in good ways and bad.  Asians tend to use all the Christmas trappings to celebrate the new year.  In very over-the-top ways.  On the other hand, it is left to the Christians to celebrate; in intentional ways.  That, I think, is good.

Here's some pics of our 9th Christmas in the East!

Hotel Lobby in Macau.  Rather tasteful.  Despite Randy wanting to sneak chocolate covered almonds behind the reindeer.  ...wherever you go, there you are...


Kowloon in front of the historic Peninsula Hotel.  Rather tame in daylight.  Stay tuned.


Kowloon in front of Peninsula by night.  Dazzling (blinding).  Yes, that IS a giant cupid hovering over the photo op!

See that cupid now?  Yes?

The beautiful, crazy-old tree above the lighted one pales in comparison.
Christmas lights on Hong Kong shore seen from the ferry from Kowloon.
 Back to some reality in UB.  Whew!  

A few cuties from our church fellowship

Amazing Beverly and a few of her Boys


Wrapping tends to be creative here.  Fabric works!

As do pages from Popular Mechanics
 Isn't this little guy TOO cute?  Randy grabbed a champagne cork and it just gave him a whole new look from the box.  Found this in a Hong Kong book store.





View from the living room window in our apartment.
We had a marvelous Christmas Day--beginning and ending with Jesus and all in between.  We Skype called family all morning, and enjoyed a gorgeous Christmas dinner at a nearby restaurant.  Randy took the day off (Christmas is a working day here) and it was just perfect.  I hope your Christmas was wonderful and Christ filled, too!

Comments

A delightful view of your Asian-influenced Christmas celebration. Very colorful, especially the gifts. I love the cloth idea!
Siberiahpf said…
Sounds like a wonderful Christmas. And you have now made our New Years as well as Tom and I laughed and laughed at Randy and his chocolate almonds he he.. Hope 2014 brings you many many blessings!

Popular posts from this blog

Much Needed New Winter Robe - Vogue 9232

Last spring I chucked my 20-year-old bathrobe, giving me no choice but to replace it come winter.  Granted, I never took it to Mongolia, so it only got worn when I was home in the US.  But still.  For summer I made several light weight robes, but I knew I liked the style of my old RTW one.   When I saw reviews for Vogue 9232--on PR (all 3 of them), I knew I'd found my pattern.  Interestingly enough, the pattern is actually for a caftan-type dress; but all 3 reviews were done up as a robe.       Sham's review   in particular had great tips.   On a trip to Colorado Fabrics  in early summer I spotted a beeeuuutiful pink sweatshirt type fabric.  The outside is more like a thick knit and inside is dreamy soft.  And it's baby pink!  Which is hard to tell in the pics as we in Colorado have had lots of rain and no sunshine. And OK, I'm no photographer.  But seriously, this is like stepping into a pink cloud. ...

St. Patty's Day UB Style

I know this is a few days late, but we've been out of power for about 48 hours . Another story, another time. Anyway, holidays as we know them are a real challenge here. We did manage to go over to the Grand Khaan Irish Pub (remember, I do not make this stuff up) for a pint of Guinness (OK, it's watery Guinness out of China, but the sentiment is there as you can see :) and some Chinese stir fry. You see, their power was out, too, so the the grill was down but the wok was up. The place was packed and when the power did flash back on now and then, the Irish Rovers were a playin '. My first response to the 2nd picture was " Agghh ! I look 110 years old!" Randy reminded me that he took this on his cell phone. Hmm ... The 1st picture is of my first homemade corned beef!!! My dear friend, Beverly, shared her recipe (and her corned beef!) with my Bible study group 2 years ago. It turned out stellar! I have a handful of ladies of a Certain Age that inspire me and...

Jesus, Me, and Yoga

Almost a month ago I signed up for a 3-month membership at a local Dahn yoga center--and I have to say it has been life changing! Seeking to conquer my constant heart palpitations and gain lots more flexibility in ever creakier joints and muscles, I am constantly surprised--and delighted--to find it a profoundly spiritual experience. Not in a zen way, no Hindu gods invoked--but lots & lots of Jesus. I have found this stage of life to be an intersection where my spiritual life & emotions collided head on with my body. Things that for years I could sweep under the rug or just push through (ok, and blame others, hold grudges, lash out, etc., etc., yuk & yikes); well, my body would no longer tolerate it. Results: constant heart palpitations, sleep issues, anger/depression, etc. God used the hormonal stew of this life stage to bring me to a Ground Zero of sorts--what a journey it has been! My trip to Cambodia was the beginning of Change; it rebooted my decision-making p...