Dumplings is life!

Life is indeed short so I'm having my fill of dumplings in cold, wintry Hong Kong. Every corner, nook and cranny here have numerous restaurants offering dim sum (usually only served during lunch hours) and dumplings, congee, rice bowls, noodles and an assortment of fried rice.

Diet is not part of my vocabulary during this winter vacation!!!

Most restaurant staff don't speak English so you need to have google translate app ready on your phone. You can also ask for an English menu or just point at what the people at the nearby table is eating and they will understand you. LOL Either way, everything is delicious and yummy. You just need to manage your appetite and pace yourself and your tummy. =]

HK 2025

 

2018 was the last time I was in Hongkong.

The whole family was here in December for the Yuletide holidays.

We were scheduled to visit HK in January 2020 for the Chinese New Year but on the evening before our flight, HK declared a lockdown as Covid cases were on the rise.

So we canceled our flight and later that year in October 2020, mommy was diagnosed with cancer and our lives were never the same again.

Losing both parents in 2021 was tough and was the main reason I stayed away from this place. Too many memories of happier, fun family bonding moments because every year since 2009 we would spend the Yuletide holidays here.

But.

Life goes on so here I am back in wintry weather freezing myself off. 😂 Familiar places but also new restaurants to discover and dine in with sister dearest who has been begging me to return to HK so she has someone to explore new eateries. Yes we love to eat and we have the expanded waistline as proof. It is interesting to revisit a place with new perspectives and explore new options.

Most importantly it is way convenient to explore during the winter season … just make sure I am well dressed for the biting cold … so yes I will stop complaining about the weather and just enjoy! 😊 

Season’s greetings

Here’s wishing one and all: 

Merry, happy and blessed Christmas

 and have a safe, prosperous and peaceful 2025!!!

Destileria Limtuaco Museum, Intramuros

March 4, 2023, D and I visited the Destileria Limtuaco Museum. Founded in 1852 by Chinese immigrant Lim Tua Co (later known as Don Bonifacio Limtuaco) Destilera Limtuaco & Co, Inc. is the oldest existing distillery in the Philippines. The company now sells more than 40 spirits, wines and liquors and is headed by fifth generation master distiller Olivia Limpe-Aw.

*5 days later, I was in St. Luke's Hospital in QC for my scheduled full hysterectomy surgery.*

 

In 1979, Julius Limpe (Olivia's father) acquired the archetypal Bahay na Bato to specifically enshrine the museum. It was a private space for the Limtuaco family to preserve their company's history. The museum located within the confines of the Intramuros area was formally opened to the public in 2018.

The museum is divided into several sections which include a small distillery that showcases the processes of producing rum from sugar cane and whisky from yellow corn, all are made from 100 % local raw materials.

On the second floor of the museum is a trove of the Limtuaco family's personal belongings throughout the decades.

An intensive collection of liquors acquired from the Spanish period as gifts as well as their current line of whiskeys, liquors and wines are prominentl displayed. They are famous for producing the classic White Castle whiskey with its iconic commercial ad featuring a woman riding a white horse.

White Castle Whiskey calendars featuring a model in a
red bikini on a white horse commercial ad

original sketch of the now famous commercial ad

Distileria Limtuaco also developed "Sioktong", the classic Chinese medicinal wine, a concoction of Chinese herbs said to have many health benefits.

Entrance fee: ₱100.00

Address: 481 San Juan de Letran, Intramuros, Manila
Best to leave your vehicle at any paid parking area, then walk to the museum.

"Is he happy?"

December 1 marked the start of the Advent season. It is the start of a new liturgical year for the Catholic church. Four Sundays which we observe before Christmas. Each Sunday represents the virtues of Christ such as hope, love, joy and peace. 

At the start of the mass during the 4 Advent Sundays, a candle on the Advent wreath is lighted. The First Sunday of Advent symbolizes hope and anticipation as we prepare for the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

In his homily, the priest recounted a story of someone interviewing a couple who have been married for 16 years. After asking how they met, what makes their marriage work, the wife was asked "is he happy?"  The wife couldn't reply. 

Father Mark further explains that that was the wrong question to ask of a married couple. In fact, it was a silly question. Fr. Mark said that once married, a couple become one and even though we're entirely different persons, it is a lifelong commitment and we must stay true to our vows in front of God and society, itself.  

The wife couldn't outright answer the question because regardless of her answer, it would reflect on their ability or inability to ensure your partner is happy, or sad. It takes two people to make a marriage work so if one of them is not happy, then it means you are not faithful to your vows and you are not fully committed to the sacrament of marriage.

All are really valid points but it got me reflective.

I come from a generation where women were taught to be obedient towards their husbands. We must put their needs over and above our own whims. Now the younger generation would say that your happiness or sadness should not depend on your partner. We need to find the right balance between being a wife or a mother (whatever the case may be) yet still be our own person. In short, one should not give up one's dreams or aspirations just because one is married. But we also do know that sometimes it is easier said than done.

My personal opinion - there is no 100% formula to a successful marriage. Everyone is different. We don't all go through the same struggles or hardships (which are integral parts of any marriage), but it is how we handle those obstacles individually or together that define how strong or weak the marriage is.  It definitely takes TWO people to make it work. Don't focus too much on the negative BUT learn to appreciate and celebrate the small victories, too.

Now if I was asked that question: Is your husband happy?

My answer: Ask him, yourself. LOL

Because my idea of happiness might be different from his. Even though we have been married for 16 years, I still cannot for the life of me read his mind. If this means, we are total opposites, maybe we are but we made a conscious effort, and life long decision to commit to each other, and I intend to stick to my vows. So far, so has he. 

Amen.