Christmas is just around the corner – sadly those will be my loneliest Ch
ristmas ever since I’m far away from my family and Sing is in Ireland on his business trip until the end of January next year, but I cheer myself up with the memories of Christmas time in Hong Kong!
With our trip at the end of November and the beginning of December I was sad that I will miss the Christmas preparation, but luckily for us it started pretty early. Why I say for us, not only for me? The last time Sing was in Hong Kong for Christmas was like 10 or more years ago. He still has somewhere his photo as a child with Momzilla and Victoria Harbour’s LED decorations in the background which are absolutely amazing.
Even though Christians (of any kind) in Hong Kong make only ~12% of Hong Kong’s population the whole Christmas-mood is spread all over Hong Kong. But what my husband noticed it’s not really ‘Christmas-ish’ – most of the places we’ve visited had Season or Seasonal Greetings, the only time we actually seen ‘Merry Christmas’ was at the Victoria Peak. Honestly, Hong Kong, being so multicultural, having Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, Sikhs and others, did a great job to make it as neutral and politically correct as possible for all the different people with different backgrounds and believes living there.
Shopping malls, streets, airport, even trams and cakes – like everywhere. I personally 
think it’s awesome, especially since there are so many expats who might miss that big Christmas time in Europe or in America. I felt the same warmth, coziness and happiness like I felt back home. But I’m not really objective since I treat Hong Kong as my home anyway. Although it felt pretty weird to be in such a mood – don’t get me wrong but coming from a country where -10C is normal around the end of December, it was just awkward to see a fully dressed Christmas tree when I was dying from the heat and complaining why I didn’t take any shorts. Now it’s like 13C back in Hong Kong so it’s more normal, but at that moment I caught myself thinking ‘Is it already summer and someone just forgot to clean that up?’.
So if you’re still wondering what to do during Christmas in Hong Kong first of all you contact the chamber of commerce for your country – even Polish people had an early Christmas dinner just 2 days after I left and I think it’s a great way to meet new people or just not feel so lonely. You can also try Hong Kong’s Winterfest (click here for the website), go to Ocean Park or Disneyland which are now Christmas-themed or simply just take a ferry and enjoy the beauty of LED decorations around the Victoria Harbour.
I made over 100 photos just with Christmas trees and decorations around Hong Kong that include Elements, Harbour City, Peninsula and many more. Personally my favorite one was TMT Plaza’s My Melody-themed Christmas in Tuen Mun. It was so cute you just puke with the word ‘kawaii’. And wait until statue start dancing every hour – you will die from cuteness overload. I had like 20 selfies there, but since all of them were made from Sing’s perspective we look like a Pineapple and Jabba The Hutt and since I’m the Jabba-looking one I will show you mercy during this special time of the year and won’t show them. What was really amazing is the creativity that Hongkongers have – I even found a Pikachu in Santa’s hat. A freaking Pikachu.
Even though I feel sad being so far away and pretty lonely, I also feel so warm inside looking back at the photos we 
took and it just gives me more hope on coming back to Hong Kong. That one day, next to Sing’s Christmas childhood photo with Momzilla, there will be my photo with our child and Christmas LED lights around the harbour. For now I let you enjoy photos I took – I had a huge problem to pick my favorite one, there were just too many of them!
Also if you want, check out my old posts about Christmas in Poland (click here) or Christmas party in the Blackhawk Automotive Museum (click here).
Do you celebrate Christmas? Do you like this time of the year in general? What was the most amazing Christmas decoration you have ever seen? Share your memories, photos, posts – whatever you have! I will be so happy to see it!
Enjoy the photos and a bonus video at the end! 🙂
PS I don’t know if you have noticed but My Hong Kong husband has a new design. I personally hate the size of the font, but it was the best such a broke blogger could do without paying 100USD to WordPress. I added some Polish folklore pattern in the background to make the blog more ‘mine’. Do you like it? If you have any suggestion leave them in the comment section! 🙂
I remember my first Christmas season in Hong Kong fondly. I was actually in Japan on Christmas Day that year (violently ill!), but enjoyed the modest decorations in HK before I left for a few weeks. The decorations weren’t as elaborate, but they were still beautiful. I taught English at a Vietnamese refugee camp on Argyle Street and taught my adult class the various Christmas characters (Santa, reindeer, elves) and they were so confused! As much as I love HK’s skyline this time of year, I get heart palpitations when they do it up for Chinese New Year! Hope you have a nice Christmas. If I still lived in SF, we would go out for dim sum in the Richmond!
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If you come back to this area I would be more than happy to meet you 🙂
I’m so happy you shared your Christmas in our lovely Hong Kong. It’s great to know how things changed over the year.
I wish to see your students’ faces – it can be really confusing 🙂
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actually a friend of mine works in offices in that mall with the balloon decorations! each year, she posts pictures of the decorations there!
One time I went to Hongkong, it was shortly after Christmas and I could still see most of the decorations. It was so beautiful! been to some of the same places like you! so cool!
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I’m so jealous! 🙂
You can ask J to make some photos around as well and show us Christmas time in Korea – I’m pretty sure they make it super cute as well 🙂
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oh yeah! great idea! but he’s pretty busy going on all kinds of “end of the year” meetings the whole month 😀
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well, he needs to show off his fiance – it’s a tough job 😀 but I’ve heard about it, one PL blogger married to a Korean man wrote about those meetings 🙂 it’s pretty cool!
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haha really? can you send me a link?
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https://www.facebook.com/wKorei/photos/a.325235947528302.88066.296042877114276/867106750007883/?type=1&relevant_count=1 but it’s only in Polish 🙂
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oh yeah i figured 😀
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Hi I’m going to HK for the first time tomorrow! Excited to see the decorations in person and I’m looking forward to posting how my trip went afterwards!
PS I’m enjoying your blog a lot, well done 🙂
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thank you so much :)!
I think you will be able to see much more because it’s closer to actual Christmas 🙂 even the cat cafe put all the Christmas decorations 🙂 I hope you will have a great time 🙂
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For me, Christmas just means another holiday from work, but I mostly spend it cooped up at home with instant noodles and TV because everywhere outside is so crowded! And I hate crowds..
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Sing’s mental twin here 😀 but there will be one day when female will force you to go around those crowds because she will find it cute and you will find her cute therefore no way to refuse 😀 Sing is the same, he hates crowds and everything but since he is married he has no right to refuse a Christmas market/whatever 😀 GUYS! 😀
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Well, I suppose it will be somewhat bearable if a cute female (or 10) is involved. 😀
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You sold me!! I am going to Hong Kong next year before Christmas to see all the Christmas décor!! Also, I feel like I didn’t do HK justice the last time I was there. My friend and I were there just after Christmas and for New Year’s and I became sick with a fever. But, I did dance the fever away and rang in the new year in HK that year. 🙂
Oh, and you changed your theme!! 🙂
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hopefully we can meet up there for next Christmas haha 🙂
yes, I did – the font is bothering me, but wordpress charges 100USD for a year of premium account that allows to change it and for less than 600USD I have a round trip to Hong Kong with Delta Airlines so… sorry to everyone who is bothered by the size haha 🙂
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Actually, if you type your post with word, you can make your post any font. I don’t have a premium account either and sometimes I will use different fonts and also change the color of the font in the posts using word. Then, copy to wordpress and ta-da, it’s there. However, there are no way to change the theme font, I’m afraid. I used two different fonts in this post, for example. http://foreignsanctuary.com/2014/12/05/have-the-holiday-blues-10-ways-to-enjoy-christmas-abroad-2/
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I will have to try this out 🙂
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You should!! I always type my posts using word and then change the font size, font, and color of the font there.
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I’ve celebrated many Christmas on my own (cost of flights, boyfriend away working and cat sitters. I don’t expect people to look after them over Christmas) and it’s not so bad. My tradition is the gym or run in the morning and then the cinema in the evening. I try to make it like every other day, but not like every other day if that makes sense! I usually call my family, get a little upset they’re having fun, but appreciate I don’t have to help with dinner preparations or washing up and that I can watch what Christmas TV I want to!
Love the reindeer photos!
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actually your comment helped me a little bit – didn’t know cinema is opened, but on the other hand I feel bad for people who have to work that night. but it’s true – I can go out a bit on my own 🙂 hopefully next year me and you won’t be in the same situation 🙂
it was taken in Ritz-Carlton Hotel, they had a huge very stylish tree, but the reindeer caught my eye 🙂
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Glad it helped! This year I’m not alone, but still of to the cinema. It’s our/my tradition now! I know in the UK cinemas are closed, but Spain’s a bit different. Even some movies box opening day is Christmas day. And if you watch TV, people still have to work, operating the network, so don’t feel too bad!
Whatever you choose to do, I wish you a Happy Christmas and reindeer always make good photos!
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Lookslike you had fun, though..
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always 🙂
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I seldom spend xmas in HK! Too crowded for me…Glad you enjoyed tho.. 🙂
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I love crowds, I feel dead in a small town haha 🙂
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This makes me remember my New Year’s in Hong Kong last year!!! Now I am going to go back and look at all my pictures too! I hope you have a merry Christmas and I hope you don’t feel lonely!!
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thank you so much 🙂
I would be so happy to see your pics haha 🙂
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Hey you! I love your new theme! What bugs you about the font? I don’t see the Polish design?? It’s much easier to read comments now, too.
My heart and hugs go out to you for next week. 😦 I spent a Christmas alone my second year in Japan and had a good cry. Hubs and I were working and lived in different cities. Not the same as your honey in Ireland though. Is there any way you can hop on a plane after the holiday rush? It really is only money and it’s replaceable, if you can make it work??
Correction! I refreshed and saw a smidgen of design. Love the colors and style!
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the flower pattern in the background (sadly seen on the PC only) is traditional folk pattern in Poland 🙂
actually the company offered me the ticket to Ireland, but the problem is the cat 😦 she is also on antibiotics so that makes the case more complicated, even if I give her to someone to take care of her she might be sick again and cause people trouble.
font is too big, plus I wanted a different one haha 🙂
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I will take a look! I looked! Very cute and colorful. I liked your old bloggy style too, though. It’s fun to have a chance, isn’t it? I changed up mine a while back and love it. It suits me better.
Awww… poor Biscuity-chan. I hope Kitty Cat gets well soon.
The font is a-okay for my ageing eyes that also require glasses almost 24-7. Not for sleeping, of course.
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I liked the old one too, but wanted a change. I guess it’s because Sing is away – I even started working out to surprise him haha 🙂 so at least I use that break to take care of myself haha 🙂
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That’s fantastic! That reminds me of my ongoing plan to get more exercise.
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if I stop writing it’s because I’m dead after this – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tNb_Wb5CKE haha 🙂
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Ha ha ha! So that’s what your current project is?! I plan to walk a little more. ;D And I’ll be checking for your new post on Thursday! Should I do anything if nothing comes up??
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you know what they say – get slim or die trying and I’m close to die trying, I couldn’t sit down or stand up for first to days haha 🙂 but I’m alive, or I’m actually dead and my ghost is replying – still in this world as a punishment for not listening to my body 😀 even Biscuit got like this – http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Dfx55uI4tYE/maxresdefault.jpg when she saw me exercising haha 🙂
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Ha ha ha! That pic is hilarious. How’s the workout going now?
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it’s as dead as I am 😀
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Ha ha ha! Come on now… you haven’t given up already, have you??
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I am still in no christmas mood but that might be due that my holiday won’t start till the 23rd and that I have been sick for a week now. Here at our apartment we don’t have any kind of Christmas decoration this year, just too exhausted and lazy besides Nathan would chew them all up. However in my parents apartment is a lot of stuff plus the Christmas tree is ready to be put up next week 🙂
I think it is normal for us people to think that anything above +10 degrees Celsius during December is like summer for us. I mean, last December I had to struggle through -20 to -25 degrees and now here in north germany we have over +2 degrees, I yet have to get my winter jacket!!
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I would die to see Nathan dressed up in a cute Christmas outfit haha 🙂
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Perhaps we can arrange that :p
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yay! 😀 my Christmas gift haha 😀
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I was in HK in November and took a photo of the Harbour City Starry Christmas train in the sunshine. Great to see it lit up at night in your blogpost.
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sadly I never managed to get close during the day since we were in rush all the time 😦
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Now I miss that place soooo bad 🙂
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I always miss it so bad haha 🙂
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Hong Kong really does go all out for Christmas! I haven’t been for years over the festive season, and forgot how extravagant the decorations are! Have a Happy Christmas, and make it special for yourself, so that you won’t be too lonely. I love the Polish-style flower pattern – very eye catching.
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Thank you so much 🙂
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The Christmas decorations in Hong Kong look pretty! I have never been to HK around Christmas time, but it does look like it’s worth going to get into a little Christmas mood. Here in Siping, there’s really not a lot that lets you guess it’s Christmas (which is ok, considering the fact that Chinese don’t traditionally celebrate it). We’ll probably have to do with a tiny (fake) Christmas tree again. I hope I’ll find time to do a little DIY Christmas present for baby. I’m not really in a Christmas mood this year – because, well, it’s just not Christmas-y at all here.
Don’t be too sad on Christmas! Try to make the best of it (e.g. watch your favourite TV show), call family, let cat wear a Santa costume …
Btw., love your new design, especially the Polish flower pattern (I can see it on my mac) and the font. It’s so much easier to read now.
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I wish to see how christmas are celebrated back at your home – I heard when it goes to Christmas Markets, germany and Austria makes it the most beautiful 🙂
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We have that same golden reindeer with lights inside in our office!!
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Little Ritz Carlton in your office :D!
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I always find it odd seeing fake snow on Christmas decorations in places where it never gets cold enough for snow. Missing HK!
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In Poland in the past they put cottonwool – I mean it snows outside but to make tree look more real they did that 😀 snow on a budget 😀
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So pretty there!!
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I like the new design. It feels less cluttered. If you don’t like putting ads on the blog, have you considered adding a “tip jar” plugin instead so that your readers can pay you if they like what they read? I would click on it and pay you something. Seriously. I like the stories that you write and I know it takes a lot of work to keep this site running.
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thank you so much 🙂 but I won’t do this, I still try to gain the audience – only like 500-700 views per day 🙂
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Fantastic capture and you are having a great times in Hong Kong… A Merry Christmas to you and your family.
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thank you! same to you 🙂
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I missed all my family in Hong Kong. I wish I’ll there with my family and friends!
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aww I know that feeling!
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I love the photos, it actually reminds me a lot of Christmas in London~ In Norway Christmas decorations are much more “traditional” compared to HK and London. I think the decorations in HK are amazing! love all the lights etc.. haha. I really love celebrating xmas, but the stress of buying gifts is just tooooo much! it is like everyone is running around like crazy animals, trying to find a good bargain.. >.<
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too bad it got mostly about the gift because I love the atmosphere and the Christmas meal with the family ❤
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Yeah I agree, to me Christmas is all about family and a big meal 😀 haha. I feel like the gifts have taken over the control of Christmas.. at least in Norway
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Well, hopefully next year hubby will be with you for Christmas. I don’t care where we are, as long as dearie celebrates Christmas with me. This year it will be in Vancouver compared to last 3 years it has been in the Rocky Mountains areas among deep snow.
Though the decorations looks commercial, it does help to have some of the trimmings for a festive season. It doesn’t surprise me that culturally the HK locals get into it..it’s the lights, bright colours, reds, festivity…it’s not just the commercialism. It’s a great excuse for them to decorate places…before Chinese New Year’s.
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I didn’t think of the Lunar New Year pre-decoration haha 🙂 good point!
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Thanks for the like on my post, myhongkonghusband. I really enjoyed the photos of Christmas in Hong Kong – what an over-the-top display of color and sparkle!
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We were staggered at the effort across HK on decorations etc over December! Definitely made for an even better experience during the International Race week. There must be some money being made by the shopping centres! Far less elaborate in Melbourne…
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I guess every mall wants to get as many possible clients as they can get haha 🙂
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I am about one year too late in finding this post of yours. Lovely pictures (you did a great job). I could recognize some of the places in your pictures, which bring back some fond memories of HK when I celebrated a number of Christmases there. Hope you and Sing will be able to enjoy another Christmas in HK in the near future. But Christmas in Ireland should be nice as far as holiday decorations go??
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great photos i got to spend a night in Hong Kong on this past trip. Looks like a great place to be.
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yeah, they really do a good job in celebrating christmas in HK. that’s why many asians from neighboring countries go there for the holiday. we don’t get such celebration here where i live. not that it matters, as it’s tropical heat all year long here in south east asia. it would be weird to see santa n christmas trees covered in fake snow while you are dripping in sweat as the sun is blazing outside in a 30 degree Celcius. yup, HK is definitely winter-cold in comparison.
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Great photos! I would love to visit HK again. I had a chance to spend a couple days last year on a layover for work. We walked around Kowloon and Mongkok but that was it!
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We had a Xmas in HK about 5 years ago…hated it! Sound like a grinch, huh? It was sensory overload to the nth degree! There is no such word “subtlety” in HK. Every time we walked back to the hotel, there was this singing Xmas tree…I came very close to slashing it! And I couldn’t understand how the stores were opened till midnight on the 24th, and everything was opened on Xmas Day. I felt bad for the folks who had to work. It was also quite warm….18C and we were in walking shorts and sandals.
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In HK it’s more like a party time, some people treat it like another Valentine’s. But I have to say the pinky tree from TMT Plaza stole my heart :D!
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