sunset 2007

As I walked along the beach here in Koh Chan, Thailand, the sun set over the beautiful ocean for the last time in 2007.

And as it was setting I thought, wow 2007 – how quick you have gone.
And yet quite a lot have happened…
I moved to HK.
Started a new job.
“Found” new friends, of which one has turned out to become one of my very best friends in life.
I’ve gone on some great holidays and seen amazing places (Beijing, Phuket, Yangshou, Shanghai and Koh Chan).
I’ve had some of my beautiful friends and my darling parents over from Sweden, and been able to share my daily adventures with them.
And I met Kris…luv ya.

Right now I’m about to head out into the darkness; the electricity just went out…, to take part in the gala dinner the hotel is throwing.

With that I want to wish you all a very Happy New Year and all the best for 2008.

dear friends

On one of the evenings in Stockholm last week I met up with my dear dear friends.
Dinner and drinks.
And a lovely lovely time.
Thanks guys.

Happy days in Sweden!

swedish christmas

It's cold in Sweden. But oh so beautiful and good to be home. To be around people that likes me and mean so much to me.

The busy (and sad) days in the office feels very distant all at once (oops here I go and am being "disloyal" to the company again, sorry....).

Have been showing some of the sights to (a cold) Kris. He now says he understands why I appreciate the warm weather so much...

Have also been visiting lots of toy stores. And done the obligatory work days inside them too.

And then we did the scary meet-the-famliy thing too... It all went "superbra". Everyone likes everyone and good good times have been had.

Chritmas Eve today, Kris is on his way to HK, and I'm waiting for Santa to come. Again... he made a sneaky visit the other night, said he had to meet the Aussie guy that was here, but he promised to come back with more presents today... hurray.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

advent

Candle number 3 has been lit.
X-mas is just a week away now.
And tomorrow I'm leaving for Sweden! (Mamma's meatballs and all the other yummy X-mas food - here I come!!)

The 3rd Advent was spent in bed to start off with... very tired after the night out yesterday...
Did the last X-mas shopping, and then I got going with the packing... Never thought I would fit it all in, but I did (or to be fare, we did... Kris has a bag full of toys and what not now...).
All done and am about to go to bed and snuggle in "holiday style".

All my readers in Sweden, see you soon.
All you others, see you later.

schools out

Rumors were flying around the school yard. Everyone who's anyone gossiped about the big coming party. The school hooter was just about to ring...
And we got invited!
The invitation said: Bring on the dorky school boys, the hot school girls with their not so long anything, the good little scouts and the popular school rugby teams.
So off we went as... well it's up to your own interpretation I guess... but we thought we looked pretty hot anyway...

lucia

One day late lucia greeted us with a visit here in HK.

She spread her light in a Spanish pub in Lan Kwai Fong, where a group of Swedes were drinking glogg and eating Swedish candy.

A good end to a very busy week at work and a good start to my coming X-mas holidays.

unique piece

This Chinese Warrior is said to be a unique piece.
Carved out of stone, he is hard and heavy. But regardless of if he is unique or not I really like him.
So welcome to my home Mr Dong Ping!
Am so glad we met in Shanghai.

advent (in shannghai)

While Tom Cruise ran the streets of Shanghai in MI3 rescuing his wife, we decided to take a relaxed Sunday stroll in the famous water city just outside the city. A beautiful place for sure, and when I tell you that the city is referred to as the Venice of China, you know what I mean...

Back in the city again later that afternoon, I got pleasantly surprised when I all of a suddenly felt overwhelmed by the Christmas spirit. And very suitable to the occasion (and the day - the 2nd of Advent), I seized the opportunity and got around to do some X-mas shopping. So for you that have been good this year, well if you're lucky you might just end up with a little something from Shanghai...

No glögg was had this Advent Sunday, but instead (and non the less) we ended the night with different Chinese teas at a Chinese tea house. A very suitable ending to a very good China trip.

shanghai

It was due time to have a closer look at Shanghai.
So that's where I just spent my weekend.
And this time I liked it even more! Even though the city again proved to be bloody cold.
However, this time I came prepared, brought both jacket, warm jumpers and gloves, but still felt cold though...
(Next time I go there I want it to be Summer, or at least Spring).

As always on my and Tiinas travels, we had a great time.
We did lot's of walking, since that is truly the best way to see a city, but we also went under water in a very special (and special doesn't necessarily mean good) tourist light tunnel...
But that was after all the walking, so the rest was well deserved.
The photo is from when we finally reached the Bund, as the famous boardwalk, on one side of the water that is dividing Shanghai, is called.

After our tunnel ride to the other side and back, we were displayed with somewhat a different view. An even cooler one in my mind.

advent

X-mas sure is getting closer, there is just no way of denying it any longer. We have entered the official waiting time for the big day, it's advent.

Depending on where you live in the world, this waiting time is spent in different ways. Back in Sweden this is the time when we light up the darkness with candles all around our houses. It's a time most people love, just because it's so cosy.

In HK, where it's not that dark, nor cold, the 1st Advent was spent like this:
Three hours and a bit in the sun on my roof top (got a little bit of a tan again).
A brisk walk to IKEA and back to buy some goodies.
Dinner at my place with Tiina, Kris and Valter (my little santa) accompanied by Swedish X-mas music.
And as we lit the first candle, glogg, pepparkakor (ginger snaps) and other goodies for dessert.

The X-mas spirit has started to get a hold of me and I'm enjoying it, just as much as I'm enjoying the sun. Only two weeks now until I'm standing in the cold in Sweden again, so I'm gonna try and make the most of the warmth that is still here. But also make sure that I eat a lot of pepparkakor, as they are supposed to make you "nice", and that feels very important since Santa only visits the good kids on X-mas eve...