Long Gone in Hong Kong

Long Gone from Hong Kong.

2011-12-16T05:28:00.000+08:00

We've arrived in Newark and are officially gone.

Our last 16 hour flight was unlike the many others we've taken. The entertainment system was down, meaning no movies, power adaptors, or ability to control the lighting. Not the most enjoyable flight ever, but we made it...and it gave me alot of time to reflect on the past 28 months.

Living abroad was a gift.

It was an adventure we weren't willing to pass up, and I'm so thankful we leaped out of our comfort zone for a couple years. I've grown in ways I never thought possible, and am coming back a different person than when I left. We've seen alot of places, countries I never thought I'd make it to, and they have all left their footprint on me, and my view of the world.

If you are given the opportunity to live outside of the US, go for it. Would we do it again? In a second. Leaving Hong Kong was hard. I don't think either of us was really ready for it. Change is not something I embrace, but exciting things are to come as we start to find our footing again back on US soil.

Thank you for following us, for being interested in our life abroad, and for supporting us, as so many of you have.

I'll keep you posted if I ever decide to blog again.

xx,

Lauren

Last Day.

2011-12-15T00:19:00.000+08:00

I was feeling pretty nostalgic today, and just tried to take in as much as this city as I could. It still doesn't feel real that we're leaving tomorrow.

One final pick-up from the tailor.

We popped by Michael's office to say goodbye to Alice.

Alice is Michael's secretary, and has been such a gift to us. She was a God-send when I lost my passport in China, and without her, I'm not sure I would have gotten back as quickly as I did. She would do anything for us, and we really do think of her as family out here.

I stopped to say goodbye to our laundry man. This sweet man came to our house 2x week for the past 2.5 years. He came between 10:30-11:00pm every Monday night, and delivered laundry at the same time on Tuesday night. He loved Dudley, and we loved him.

His store-front.

We had to run by our apartment to finish some last-minute cleaning and to say goodbye to Emily.

Emily came once per week since we moved in. She cleaned for us, and each time we left for the US or on a trip, she stayed at our house with Dudley.

We will miss her so very much.

We ended the night with our dear friends.

Dinner with Bethany and Sage at the China Club,

and a few "see you soon" hugs.

My last entry from Hong Kong.

I'll talk to you from Newark!

xx,

Lauren

Moved out.

2011-12-14T08:50:00.001+08:00

This morning I'm writing from a hotel....my first hotel-stay ever in Hong Kong.

My first time in Hong Kong was the day we arrived, August 25, 2009. We came with just 8 suitcases and I was excited, and nervous, to change our life as we knew it.

We didn't have a look-see trip, and the only thing I knew about Hong Kong was what Michael had told me. For the next month and a half we lived in a serviced apartment before we finally landed at 80 Robinson.

Yesterday we moved out.

I'm not quite sure how, but we're moving back with a whole lot more than 8 suitcases...although those 8 are coming on the plane with us!

We had a lovely dinner last night as just the 2 of us.

...and just like that, today is our last day.

Our flight leaves tomorrow morning.

I'll have a few more posts for you, but I think this blog will close its chapters once we're back in the US. I have gotten so many emails and questions about its status...I can't thank you enough for all of the love you've shown me through something as simple as a "blog".

Lots of love from Hong Kong,

Lauren

Final Farewell

2011-12-13T14:00:00.001+08:00

Here's a glimpse of our final Saturday night.

I did pretty well, and the water-works didn't start until the very end...but then they wouldn't stop.

How lucky we are that these friends make saying goodbye so hard.

xx,

Lauren

Current State of Affairs

2011-12-12T19:43:00.001+08:00

Movers come tomorrow.

It's a nightmare in here.

But at least the Christmas tree is still up!

Packing is terrible.

xx,

Lauren

Wrapping Up

2011-12-12T14:27:00.001+08:00

This is it.

Our last weekend in Hong Kong is over, and we're down to our last 3 days. Not gonna lie, I've been a basket case.

Moving is hard.

Saying goodbye is hard.

Packing is terrible, isn't it?!?

Here's a peek at the weekend:

One last trip to my office.

Our last stitching night at Natasha's.

Natasha made this precious cake!

The boys took a final trip to Macau with Michael.

Our book club had a Christmas Party and Secret Santa.

I decided to clear out my pantry and made my sweet friends play Dirty Santa.

It was hilarious.

They were such troopers.

Our leaving drinks were Saturday night, but it deserves its own post!

xx,
Lauren

Siem Reap take 2

2011-12-08T19:20:00.003+08:00

This was our second time in Siem Reap and I loved it just as much as the first time (maybe even more!) The Cambodian people are so gracious. The city is lively, there are beautiful hotels all over the place, the markets are vibrant, and of course, Angkor Wat is just stunning.

It's the perfect weekend get-away, or if you're traveling through Southeast Asia, it's a must for your itinerary.

Bananas?

We flew into Phnom Penh and stayed Friday night. We left early Saturday morning and drove 5.5 hours to Siem Reap. Not ideal, and I wouldn't recommend it again, but in order for us to use miles for the flight, we had to do it. We had great company on the ride though, which made it more than bearable!

Justin sported his "go fast" beard.

We picked up our race numbers on Saturday and had a great dinner with friends Saturday night.

We were up at 5:00am Sunday morning for the race. We traveled via tuk-tuk to the start line. It was so fun watching everyone arrive as it was pitch-black outside.

Sage was our lone supporter and took some of these amazing pictures.

After a little stretching and trying to ease our nerves, 6:30 came and we were off.

I had a rough race. I started hurting around mile 6, and then I think my mental toughness started to dwindle.

I don't know if my nerves got the best of me or what, but those last 7 miles were painful. I never really found my groove. I said to myself I'd never do another half again, but even now, I'm starting to forget the pain, and think I want to try and redeem myself.

We finished though!

Although Michael looks like he didn't break a sweat, I promise he ran 13 miles.

We spent the rest of the day relaxing and enjoying Siem Reap.

I'm thinking of doing the Tar-heel 10 miler in April. Not sure I'm ready for another half...yet....

Anyone want to join?!?

I sure could use some tips :)

xx,

Lauren

Getting Ready

2011-12-06T23:58:00.000+08:00

Dudley is getting ready for his big adventure,

...and he's not quite sure what to think about it.

It's the last 2 nights in his Hong Kong home.

I can't even believe that.

We've been working on getting familiar with his crate again.

I know he'll be fine, but this mama is nervous.

xx,

Lauren

Made it.

2011-12-06T23:48:00.000+08:00

We finished!

The sunrise on Sunday morning at Angkor Wat was breathtaking. I about died that all I had was an iphone to capture it.

Before the start.

It wasn't easy, nor pretty at times, but we crossed the finish line.

1:57:03.

More details and pictures to come!

xx,

Lauren

13.1

2011-12-02T11:56:00.000+08:00

We are up to our eyeballs in tasks to accomplish before December 15. Literally, our eyeballs!

Do you live in HK and need furniture?

I got you covered...email, call, text, sms, whatsapp me. Please just get it out of my house :)

Today is a good day though...we're off to Cambodia to complete our first half-marathon. I'm super excited and hoping to run off some stress this weekend.

Can't wait to run through this beautiful scenery.

Our last big adventure before moving State-side!

xx,

Lauren

Our last visitor

2011-11-29T21:07:00.000+08:00

Pam was here for a week, and we kept her busy! Michael worked every day, so I played tour-guide and tried to pack in as much in as we could. I didn't take too many pictures, and most of the ones of the 2 of us are on her camera, but here are some shots around town.

Man Mo Temple.

We each lit an incense in honor of Gene.

Buying vases.

Peel Street.

Wet market.

Des Voeux Road.

Jade Market.

Kowloon.

We hosted about 35 people on KC's roof for Thanksgiving.

It was such a fun night, and I'm so glad Pam got to meet so many of our friends!

We ended her trip with a ride on the Aqua Luna Junk, which I think is a must for all visitors!

I will miss this city so, so much.

We hopped in a cab after dinner....this man was working SEVEN phones!

I had to snap a picture.

We did pack in more...Stanley, lunch at the Mandarin, Ladies Market, IFC, a tour of the Center, Din Tai Fung, and lots more yummy meals. I hope she had a great visit.

****

We're now trying to wrap-up life as we know it, and are busy organizing Dudley's move, selling furniture, and spending as much time with friends as we can.

I can't believe this is coming to an end.

xx,

Lauren

Packing it in!

2011-11-25T12:07:00.000+08:00

Michael's mom arrived on Saturday, and we've been so busy! I have lots to catch you up on...

We celebrated Thanksgiving last night atop KC's roof. It was beautiful and the roof was filled with such amazing friends. I started to get really sad last night, as this will be the last holiday with all of them. When living abroad, our friends really do become our families, as many holidays are spent away from "home". The friends we've made here have been such a gift to us.

We've had a bit of a rough year, but we have so, so much to be thankful for! What a blessing to have Pam here to celebrate with us. Hoping you and your family had a wonderful day together. Happy Thanksgiving from the Phipps!

xx,

Lauren

A little catch up

2011-11-13T20:46:00.000+08:00

I'm finally pulling myself back to my little space on the Internet, after dragging my feet all week.

This blog been such a fun way to document our lives over these past 27 months, but it hasn't been completely honest either. I haven't been willing to share our struggles, daily hurdles, and stresses that creep into our lives in such a public forum. Maybe that hasn't been fair, but I preferred to have this be a place for me to come and remember what an amazing experience living abroad has been. And that it has been!

Pretty soon, "Long Gone..." will be back in the U.S. of A., and I'll close the chapter on it. Until then, I want to make these last few weeks one for the books :)

***

I have been wanting to check out a furniture warehouse in Zhuhai, China, so Bethany traveled with me across the border this week.

So much eye candy. I really could have gone crazy, but my budget (and MP's voice in my ear) deterred me from lots of purchases.

These 2 beauties are coming home with me though.

Such cute little his/her chairs, huh?

After a little white lacquer paint, I can't wait to see what they'll look like! It really was such a fun day. If you're in HK, I think it's worth checking out. They have a small shop on Hollywood Road, but Zhuhai has 4 large warehouses...finished and unfinished pieces. Truth be told though, it's not really warehouse prices.

MP left today to go back to the US for work. Poor guy has really been flying the friendly skies lately. While he was in the air, I went to my first Chinese wedding.

One of my colleagues got married and I was so honored to be invited. The wedding was held at the Happy Valley Racecourse.

The bride and groom are members of an acapella group here in Hong Kong. 2 minutes after walking down the aisle, she was serenading him. I couldn't believe it!

There was seating for about 30 guests, and the rest of us stood as they ceremony took place. It was obviously in Cantonese, so I'm not sure exactly what was said, but it was really neat to experience how a different culture celebrates marriage. After the ceremony, there was a luncheon and then the guests left. No dancing! Tonight, there will be a banquet and 12 course dinner with close family and friends.

Thanks for being patient with me as I enter back into blog-land.

xx,

Lauren

Mr. P.

2011-11-01T21:47:00.000+08:00

We flew back to HK last Wednesday after a wonderful 2 weeks in Charlotte. By Sunday we were on the plane again heading back to the US, as Michael's dear dad, lost his battle with cancer. No one should lose a father at such a young age. We are heartbroken.

Gene was an incredible man and to say we'll miss him would be an understatement.

Thanks again for all your support.

xx,

Lauren

Long Gone....

2011-10-21T08:03:00.000+08:00

I really have been long gone, and left without saying a single word. We're in the US right now spending time with family. I'm not sure how much longer we'll be here, but thanks for continuing to check in with us and for your prayers.

xx,

Lauren

Hospital or Hotel?

2011-10-07T08:48:00.001+08:00

My friend, Mitra, had a sweet baby boy last week, so Monique and I traveled up the Peak on Saturday to visit this new family of three. Mitra is amazing, and everyone is doing great.

I had to take some pictures of the hospital though...who wouldn't want to deliver a baby here?!? This the Matilda International Hospital.

But really, it just looks like a pretty pink hotel.

Here is the view from the parking lot...

and here is the littlest man on the balcony. Yes, BALCONY!

Some more shots of the hospital...

Mitra stayed for 4 days and when we saw her, she was less than thrilled about leaving the "hotel". Ha! Maybe my biggest mistake was not having a baby while living in Hong Kong?!?

Just kidding :)

xx,

Lauren

October....

2011-10-03T09:38:00.001+08:00

As much as October brings the smell of Fall, cool weather, and pumpkin spice lattes (for all you living in the US...), it's also brings breast cancer awareness month.

Cancer has hit our families hard, but this weekend we celebrated these two!

Both of our moms are now SURVIVORS!

Pam, my mom, and Adam walked in Charlotte's Race for the Cure and my dad ran his first 5K. I am so proud of all of them, and only wish I could have been with them on Saturday.

We continue to pray for a cure for this awful disease, but celebrate that more women (and men!) are surviving it!

Make sure to wear your pink this month, get your mammograms, do your self-exams, and support your national and local breast cancer organizations.

In Charlotte?

xx,

Lauren

Elephants

2011-09-30T13:16:00.001+08:00

The absolute highlight of our trip was spending the day at an elephant camp.

There are over 20 camps in Chiang Mai and all are a bit different....some you can ride the elephants, some you can't. Some put on "shows", where the elephants dance and paint. Others are adamantly against this, as brute force is used in teaching them these "tricks".

I was looking for a place where we could be with the elephants in their natural environment, where they aren't paraded around or treated unfairly.

We felt good about Thai Elephant Home, and liked that all profits were going back to the elephants and environment...to reforestation, sheltering, and caring for the elephants.

As you can see, they gave us some special denim outfits to wear...actually, by the end of the day, I was so glad my legs were covered as the mosquitos were ruthless.

We started the day feeding the elephants bamboo and learning how to get on and off of them.

These were Thai elephants, and didn't speak English, so we were learning how to command them in Thai. See our trusty cheat-sheets around our necks??

After we were comfortable on their bare-backs, we set off in the jungle.

We stopped for LOTS of snacks...elephants should eat 10% of their body weight per day, so the entire time, they were eating vegetation, and the mahouts were running into the forest to grab them bamboo, bananas, or other fruits.

Check out this big bite!

At one point, I was holding a bunch of bananas we grabbed from a tree...

She would reach her trunk up, and I'd give her 2-3 at a time.

We stopped periodically to give the elephants a rest...to re-apply bug spray,

save a tree,

marvel at nature,

and grab a delicious pad-thai lunch.

After lunch, we continued onto the river for a swim...

...and proceeded to have a water fight.

It was back on the trail, and we were headed back to camp.

It was quite an amazing experience...to be so close to these gentle giants; to command them, ride them, play with them, and feed them.

At the end of the day, we were so dirty, smelly, and full of insect bites.

This wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea, but I loved every minute of it.

Hope you enjoyed seeing a bit of our day!

xx,

Lauren

T8!

2011-09-29T10:18:00.000+08:00

It's Thursday morning, and we are currently in the middle of a T8!

We haven't experienced a Typhoon 8 since September 2009, so we were kinda excited to have a "day off" when we woke up!

Roads that are usually slammed with traffic, are clear.

Visibility is poor, and everyone is staying home for the morning.

It's kinda like a snow day!

xx,

Lauren

Ch, Ch, Chang, Chang...Chaaaaang!

2011-09-28T23:30:00.000+08:00

Chiang Mai is located in northern Thailand...away from the lure of its pristine beaches. Although Chiang Mai isn't necessarily "off the beaten path", it's not on everyone's travel itinerary and many pass over it, opting instead for places such as Bangkok, Phuket, and Koh Samui.

Add this place to your list of must-sees, as it was truly one of my favorite Asian destinations!

It's quiet. Low-key.

Although we (well, MP) spent alot of time working, and hammering out applications, we did manage to do so pool-side, sipping on a Singha, and marvelling about how productive he was being! We had some fun too though....

We spent Saturday morning wandering around the streets, temples, and popping into some local stores.

The stores were magical little hide-aways. Most were at the bottom of an open-air apartment, and you'd walk through the door and into an oasis.

I found them to be so charming.

We happened upon a temple that was devoted to dogs. Yep, my favorite temple. Ever.

There were dogs everywhere...even this little guy (no, he's not dead) was sleeping at the foot of the plaque describing the temple.

We had some great dinners out,

hopped aboard some tuk-tuk's,

...and took in the sights of the Saturday Night Market.

On our last night, we went to dinner at Le Grand Lanna

We watched some Thai dancing, featuring dances from all over the country...

and then ate the best Mango Sticky Rice I have ever tasted.

To. Die. For.

Of course, a trip to Chiang Mai would not be complete without spending some time with the elephants...I promise, the next post is ALL about them!

xx,

Lauren

A Glimpse of Chiang Mai

2011-09-26T23:25:00.001+08:00

We're back from Chiang Mai, and it was an unforgettable 3 days! I have so much to share, but this week is starting full-speed ahead, so I wanted to leave you with a few favorites.

The highlight of our trip though was spending a day at an elephant camp...It was just incredible. I can't wait to tell you all about it!

Seeing these pictures just makes me giddy!

As an animal lover, I was in heaven all day.

More to come...

xx,

Lauren

Weekend Get-Away

2011-09-23T05:39:00.000+08:00

I've been quiet for the past week on the blog-o-sphere....we've been spending lots of time working, taking late-night calls, and writing essays. Not things that are fun to blog about, but life, nonetheless.

A reprieve is coming though!

We're spending a much needed weekend together here.

I can't wait.

In between the essay writing, I'm hoping catch a ride on the back of one of these...

Where are we off to?

Chiang Mai, Thailand!

Happy weekend to you!

xx,

Lauren

Holiday.

2011-09-14T06:00:00.000+08:00

Today was a holiday in Hong Kong, the Mid-Autumn Festival. I know I've spoken of it before, but as a refresher, it's one of the most important holidays celebrated by the Chinese. Many traditions take place during the holiday: lighting lanterns, eating mooncakes, burning incense and candles, and Dragon Dances.

Mooncakes.

Little cakes usually filled with lotus seed paste, or egg yolks. It's customary to give them as gifts, but really I think the Chinese are trying to make each other fat, as each one has between 800-1200 calories.

They are super sweet, and not my favorite. This year, MP's firm decided they would give Haagen Daz's a try.

Now, these "mooncakes" were delicious. Actually, they were nothing like a traditional cake at all.

(Except they probably rival the caloric content).

Basically, a Klondike bar. YUM.

Last night, Natasha and I went up to the Peak and then Causeway Bay to check out the festivities. Lots of families were picnicking, walking with their brightly lit lanterns, and just enjoying being together.

Some of the lanterns are actually lit with candles, and their glow is just beautiful because of it!

Causeway Bay was slammed, as everyone was headed toward Victoria Park for the festivities. There were more lanterns, palm readers, jugglers, and a Dragon Dance (that we didn't stay around to watch).

Do you see this dog? In full-on celebration mode.

Yep, he's even wearing shoes.

Quite possibly, the highlight of my night.

Palm Readers.

Our favorite part though was just walking through the park watching the families celebrate together. It was really so neat to see.

I loved this...amongst all the tradition, this little guy was still on his Ipad.

Check out the lifeguard stands. Hilarious!

I hope you enjoyed a glimpse of our night!

xx,

Lauren

His and Hers.

2011-09-13T19:46:00.000+08:00

(Through Iphone pics).

My Saturday.

MP's Saturday.

He wins.

I love the fact he was able to be at the wedding of his bestie.

Many congrats to Mark and Jen!

(and thanks Pam for all the photos... I kinda felt like I was there!)

xx,

Lauren

Cat's out of the bag

2011-09-11T09:25:00.000+08:00

We're moving back!

This is a bittersweet post for me to write. We're so excited to get home to our family and friends, but also really sad to close out this phase of living abroad. Michael's company needs him back in the US, so, we're moving back to Chapel Hill.

Lots of balls are still in the air for us, as MP is applying to B-school....so, we're not sure how long we'll be in Chapel Hill, or if we'll be making a move 6 months later or not.

It's a bit overwhelming, but we're trying to take it one step at a time, and accept that it's not our plan to make.

(This is always so hard for me).

We're making the most of our next 3 months and will soak up every last drop of Asia that we can. We'll be back in the States the week of December 12. Anyone know of any houses for rent in the CH/Durham area?!?!?

xx,

Lauren

Shopping

2011-09-02T11:45:00.000+08:00

A few misconceptions about Hong Kong....

Shopping is not amazing. Little boutiques do not fill every corner. Hong Kong is not NYC. There is no JCrew, Banana Republic, Anthropologie, or anything of a similar nature here. Yes, we have Zara and H&M, and Abercrombie and Fitch is coming at the end of the year. That about rounds out the options.

(The last time I shopped at Abercrombie I was 14...btw).

Imagine my excitement when a few weeks ago, I spotted this.

NEVER in my life have I been more excited about a GAP.

Now, if LV, Prada, Chanel, Miu Miu, Chloe, Longchamp, Gucci (get my drift...) are your thing, then Hong Kong is your place. You will have died and gone to heaven. Me? I'm just excited about the GAP.

xx,

Lauren

Another Anniversary

2011-08-25T11:00:00.002+08:00

I can't believe we've been here 2 years.

We're not quite sure what the future holds, or how much longer we'll be in Hong Kong, so for now, we're being appreciative of each day and trying to take full advantage of all that this country has to offer.

What an amazing year we've had.

Thank you for continuing to follow along with us.

xx,

Lauren

Celebrating Part II

2011-08-24T21:48:00.000+08:00

Maddy is getting married in just a few short weeks, so we couldn't let her fly back to the US without a shower and bachelorette party...Asia style :)

We kicked off Saturday morning with a lingerie shower at the Clubhouse of our building.

We had some savory snacks...

mixed in with some sweets!

Natasha and I spent a few hours on Saturday baking up a storm. This cake was quite the labor of love, but we had fun trying to pull it off! Natasha was the chef, I was the sous-chef...and I picked up quite a few tips in her kitchen!

We had fun looking through some old photos of the couple!

We made Maddy guess who gave each gift...she was a trooper!

We had a few hours "off" in the afternoon and met back at dinner to kick off our nightly festivities.

***

We went to dinner at Whisk and sat at the chef's table.

Of course, we had to have some fun "accessories"....it was a bachelorette after all.

We stopped on the waterfront for a picture before the night got under-way.

It was then back to Central for a little game of "Bachelorette Bingo".

We ended the night with a sweaty dance party in Wan Chai.

Lindsey was my partner-in-crime all night long :)

xx,

Lauren

Celebrating Part I

2011-08-22T22:46:00.000+08:00

There has been lots to celebrate lately in Hong Kong! I have been so fortunate to meet a great group of girls here, and the past two weekends we've spent celebrating two of them.

Mitra is due with a sweet baby boy, so a couple friends hosted a shower last weekend. It was adorable.

Everything was beautiful.

Don't you love the flowers that were wrapped with pages of the Velveteen Rabbit?

It was a book theme, so we all brought her children's books. A perfect idea for city living when spaces are tight!

Natasha and Monique thought of every detail and orchestrated a lovely afternoon honoring Mitra.

Mitra, we are so excited for you and can't wait to get on hands on that baby BOY!

xx,

Lauren

Recent Happenings

2011-08-19T12:15:00.000+08:00

Our YWCA group is slowing moving out of Hong Kong...we'll be down to 5 by the end of next month. So sad.

We've had a few celebrations recently though.

Daria is getting married on Saturday in the UK!

A few weeks back, we had her Hen,

and last week we met for dinner to celebrate her last days as a single lady :)

Best Wishes to you and Simon!

xx,

Lauren

City Running

2011-08-18T07:00:00.001+08:00

For the past almost 2 years, somehow, I've managed to run the same 1-2 trails in Hong Kong. The trails are perfect...somewhat quiet, shaded, and traffic-free.

Insert Problem: These trails aren't long, so as my mileage starts to increase, so will my need for variety. Running back and forth on a slab of concrete just isn't gonna cut it.

Running Fail: This morning, I tried a new trail that goes out to Pokfulam. It was BUNK. Terrible. No longer than 1.5 miles (and ended at the Water Supply Department). Needless to say, I had to wind my way down to the road and dodged taxis, buses, and wandering pedestrians for the next 40 minutes.

City runners, do you have any advice for me? How do you manage the traffic, pollution, and awful garbage smells in the morning?

Hong Kong runners, what are your favorite running loops? (Other than the Peak, Bowen, and Happy Valley Racecourse, which I know about)... Any advice?

My new running buddy and I are having a good time though trying to figure it all out.

He's a beast.

xx,

Lauren

The End

2011-08-16T21:44:00.000+08:00

Bethany and Sage were married on Friday, August 5 at the Chowmahala Palace.

It was spectacular.

There was turban tying for the men.
Beautiful silks were flown into Hyderabad for them to wear.

Sage, the groom, front and center.

The baraat, or processional, began about an hour or so after the guests arrived.

Sage got inside the horse drawn carriage and members of his "baraati" danced in front of the carriage as the band played. The baraati consists of members of his family and good friends.

The baraat lasted about 35 minutes or so. I was with Bethany for most of this time, but MP danced alongside the carriage and captured these pictures.

Once the processional arrived to the front of the Palace, the ceremony began.

Both sets of parents sat on the stage with the couple.

After some prayers, and a greeting, Bethany made her way there too.

We held a canopy above her head as she walked in.

Bethany looked stunning. She's wearing her mother-in-law's saree, which was passed down to her.

They exchanged garlands.

Sage washed Bethany's feet.

The ceremony was quite beautiful.

Afterwards, they took loads of photos with their guests.

We enjoyed beverages,

and then went under a beautiful tent for dinner.

The evening was winding down.

Turbans were beginning to be long-gone.

...and then they were off.

The night was pretty perfect!

After a crazy couple of days, we spent our last day in India lounging pool-side, and trying to relax.

We had a quick tea on the terrace before catching our flight.

The most perfect way to end our trip.

***

This wedding was such a treat to attend. It was so different from our Western weddings, yet at the end of the day, it was about two people, two families, coming together, loving each other, and supporting a marriage. We all have our own beliefs, traditions, and cultures. Letting go of prejudices, and embracing our differences, can sometimes result in a beautiful union.

I was so honored to be a guest of this wedding.

xx,

Lauren

Fit for a Queen

2011-08-15T11:00:00.009+08:00

The day of the wedding we checked out of the Taj Krishna and headed across town to the Taj Falaknuma.

This hotel was absolutely amazing and unlike any place I've ever been (or likely, will go again!) The Falaknuma was a palace built in 1894 and took a rumored 22 years to construct. In 1995 the Taj Hotel Group begun restoring the palace's 60 rooms and suites.

We arrived to the entrance of the hotel, only to have a horse and carriage waiting for us.

We hopped inside and it took us up to the Palace.

By this point we're really feeling like royalty (...and a bit under-dressed for the occasion).

We arrive at the top to be greeted by 3 members of the hotel staff. They told us some of the Palace history as we enjoyed our drinks and cold towels.

The view over Hyderabad.

As if this wasn't extravagant enough, as we're walking up the stairs, rose petals are cascading down upon us. Quite the greeting, huh?!? We were pretty speechless at this point.

Here are some shots of the hotel grounds.

It was quite and so peaceful. We almost felt like the only ones there.

The room was beautiful.

The wedding was in the evening, so we got ready and then walked around the Palace taking some photos.

We had some fun in the billiard room!

We stopped in the dining room to see the longest dining table in the world...it seats 100.

So, so pretty.

A few more pictures outside...

...and it was off to the wedding!

It deserves its own post :)

xx,

Lauren

Wedding Eve

2011-08-12T16:00:00.000+08:00

The Welcome Dinner was after the Mehndi and was held at the Taj Krishna.

Side note: going to India?

The Taj Hotel Group are great hotels to stay in. We've been very pleased during both of our trips to India, and would recommended them, for sure.

MP and I wore our Indian best...a saree for me, a kurta for him.

We bought his kurta when we were in Jaipur in February. He said it was just like wearing pajamas....maybe he'll wear it around the house to get a second wear in?!?

Similar to our rehearsal dinners, there was a toast and a beautiful slideshow.

There was a skit!

No speaking lines for MP, but he looked good standin' up there.

Just a small portion of the family.

Is it strange to take pictures outside the elevators?

I particularly like MP's "squat" in this one.

xx,

Lauren

Life at the Moment

2011-08-12T08:00:00.005+08:00

This past week MP was here,

and here.

Next week, it's here.

Me?

I'm here.

Distance makes the heart grow fonder, right?

xx,

Lauren

...and I couldn't for the life of me figure out how to turn on the Apple TV last night.

I resorted to blog reading, book reading, and Dudley lovin' instead.

Beautifying the Bride

2011-08-11T11:00:00.001+08:00

The Mehndi is traditionally a women's event, where the women attending the wedding would go and have henna put onto their hands.

Different regions of India celebrate the Mehndi in different ways, but at Bethany's Mehndi, both men and women attended. It was held at a family member's house, and the day was all about beautifying the bride and making her feel special.

I especially loved watching the little girls get their henna. They loved it, and were the first ones to sit down in a chair to have it done.

Bethany was adorned with beautiful jewelry and flowers to wear throughout the Mehndi.

The boys were just taking it all in :)

The women were told to wear pink or yellow to the celebration.

Bethany sat for hours as henna was applied to her hands and feet. The pattern was so intricate and just beautiful.

We did partake in some of the henna too :)

Excuse the hot, sweaty mess of a person I am here. No AC in these Indian houses, and it was quite sticky.

Sage's family gathered around the bride and sung traditional Indian songs. All the songs were about making her beautiful in preparation for the wedding. It was such a fun tradition to watch!

The women would dance, sing, get-up, shimmy, shake, groove....

We just watched and admired the tradition happening before us.

About 1/2 way through the Mehndi, the groom comes. He isn't allowed to "enter" until he pays money for his bride. I'm not kidding!

The women form a barrier as to not allow him in, and negotiations occur. Sage's cousin's said he was a rich man, so they were going to make him pay up! After he pays, the cousins divided the money among themselves, and he was allowed to enter the party.

Lots of negotiating!

I think Sage ended up paying in Hong Kong dollars, Rupees, Singapore dollars, and maybe an American dollar or two thrown in....Ha! Our wallets sometimes look like this :)

Such a cultural afternoon we had!

xx,

Lauren

A few pre-wedding events

2011-08-10T11:00:00.004+08:00

Bethany and Sage's wedding was actually considered quite small for an Indian wedding. They only had about 350 guests or so.....people came from all over the world though. I think something like 30 countries were represented. Over 50 cities.

in the lobby of the Taj Krishna

What was amazing to me was the amount of Sage's family that attended. Aunts, uncles, cousins, 2nd, 3rd, 4th cousins. They were all there. And they all knew each other. Most of them don't even live in India anymore, yet they still make the effort to attend each other's weddings, and get together over the holidays. To me, it was quite remarkable.

Family is so, so important. At the end of the day, it is your family and friends that truly matter in this walk of life.

We attended an informal luncheon at one of Sage's aunts homes on Thursday. They made a delicious Indian lunch and it was really neat to be inside a Hyderabadi home.

That evening was a party at the Bilgrami Farm, about 45 minutes outside the city.

We were served delicious Indian kebabs.

Isn't Bethany's dress amazing? It's made of antique Indian silver.

It was such an honor to attend these events and to get a small glimpse into this family's relationships and traditions.
Thank you for letting us witness all of it!

xx,

Lauren

Goa

2011-08-09T12:00:00.007+08:00

After spending the night in Chennai, we flew to Goa for a few days of R&R before going to Hyderabad for the wedding.
Our anniversary was August 4, but we celebrated a little early.

Goa is in the south of India and a beach destination. We knew were were taking our chances going during Monsoon season, but we really wanted to see another part of the country.

It rained though. A lot. Everyday.

Don't go during Monsoon season.

We did get lucky, and had about 6 hours of beautiful blue sky on one of our days. I think that's a rarity during this time of the year, so we were really thankful for it! The resort was beautiful though and everything was so green and lush because of the rains.

More to come on the wedding festivities!

xx,

Lauren

Wedding Teasers

2011-08-08T13:29:00.000+08:00

India was amazing and the wedding was breathtaking. I have so much to share about each event, but here are a few teasers as I comb through my photos.

The Mehndi

Welcome Dinner

The Wedding

The Chowmahalla Palace where the wedding took place

xx,

Lauren

Round Two

2011-07-28T23:27:00.000+08:00

Our 2nd Indian adventure begins in less than 24 hours.

First, we're off to Goa to celebrate 4 years on August 4th!

(Do you have Golden Anniversaries, or is it just birthday's)?

From there, we're going to Hyderabad to watch our friends, Bethany & Sage tie the knot.

Yes, I'll be wearing a sari...maybe more than one.

You must promise not to laugh at me when the pictures are posted.

xx,

Lauren

Tuesday Night Photos

2011-07-26T20:40:00.000+08:00

The sky was beautiful tonight and I couldn't help but snap a few shots.

Hanging outside of a 27th story window to take pictures is normal, right?!?

I sometimes forget just how dense Hong Kong is. Seeing it in pictures always surprises me. Would you ever give up your backyard for this?!?

...I can't tell you how much I miss my backyard.

You can faintly see the bamboo scaffolding on the building covered with a green tarp. Crazy, huh?

In other news....

Somebody got a haircut tonight.

He wanted his picture taken, so he posed for me.

then he got fed up..

...and was over it.

Not that I can blame him.

I got some good tips on Apraxia on facebook, so thank you! Feel free to continue commenting on this topic, as I'll keep checking back. Thank you so much for responding!

xx,

Lauren

A little digression

2011-07-24T21:18:00.000+08:00

Any other Speech Pathologists out there?!?

I've now spent 2 Saturdays within the past month or so in Apraxia workshops... This post may be one you want to skip, but I'm hoping some of you out there will have some input for me.

Apraxia is a motor programming and planning disorder that is haunting parents, children, speech therapists, and professionals alike. It's a complex disorder. There is no one feature that is adequate for diagnosis. The symptoms can be neurological, linguistic, and motor AND can change over time. Inconsistency is expected in these kids, making them difficult to treat and difficult to determine a therapy plan. Often times, Apraxia is not a stand-alone disorder and we see it in combination with other disorders...Feeding disorders, Down Syndrome, Sensory Integration Disorders, and Autism. Bottom line, many of these kids don't speak. At all. It's not because they don't know what to say, it's that they don't have the ability to coordinate and sequence sounds.

The disorder itself is complex, but professionals within the "speech world" also have very different views on treatment.

I was in a presentation yesterday that focused on Apraxia being an Oral Placement Disorder. The program uses tools to help facilitate the production of sounds. I must admit, it was pretty convincing. As I sat there though, I kept thinking back to Dr. Velleman's presentation and how many times she stated (and I've heard) that to "improve speech, you must practice SPEECH". The strength required for speech is much less than the strength required for other oral motor activities (blowing, chewing, etc). In a nutshell, the basis of Talk Tools is starting with these activities and then moving towards sounds, words, phrases, etc.

So....SLP's, what's your opinion? Any of you using the Talk Tools method and incorporating the tools, or are you adamantly against it and sticking with a more traditional version of therapy? Thus far, I've been sticking with a more traditional version of therapy, but am starting to have my doubts. Some of my kids are progressing, some are not. Can you convince me to give Talk Tools a try? What are your thoughts?

Thanks so much...hoping we'll be able to help each other out!

xx,

Lauren

Photoshoots

2011-07-18T22:52:00.000+08:00

So, I have been keeping a few secrets from you about life in Hong Kong. I've been meaning to let you in on this little phenomena for quite some time, but keep forgetting to post about it.

Pre-wedding photos.

Not "engagement" photos, or "first-glance" photos. These photos are taken before the wedding, with the bride and groom adorned in their best wedding attire. They are then displayed at the wedding.

Typically in Chinese weddings, the bride wears 3 dresses...a traditional quipao/cheongsam, a Western wedding gown, and at least one more ball gown.

The groom isn't left-out either though. He will usually wear 2 tuxedos.

When we were in Beijing, we saw some pretty amazing photoshoots.

I honestly don't even know where to begin with this one.

This poor couple didn't look so excited about taking these pics.

I love his white/cream/black tuxedo.

Actually, white and cream were popular on this day.

I couldn't resist capturing the detail of her dress.

Here is a traditional quipao/cheongsam (but I've never seen the school-girl plaid before)....

Brides can choose to wear completely different dresses in their pre-wedding shoots than what they'll actually wear at the wedding.

(...and her poof is amazing).

Those stockings and shoes...

Most brides will rent their dresses, so having a few outfit changes won't break the bank.

Are these shoots crazy, or are you secretly wishing you had done one yourself?!?

xx,

Lauren

Bit the Bullet

2011-07-17T10:06:00.000+08:00

After talking about it for awhile, we officially signed up for our first half-marathon.

That's right, MP is joining me in this little running endeavor!

We'll be heading back to Siem Reap to run through Angkor Wat....what an amazing place to experience our first 1/2!

Race date is December 4, and I'm pretty sure we'll be following Hal Higdon's 12 week training program. I've been so hesitant to increase my mileage due to my IT bands, and half-torn ACL, but hoping yoga and strength training will carry me through :)

Any advice for us? Would love to hear it!

xx,

Lauren

Red, White and Blue

2011-07-11T11:04:00.000+08:00

KC hosted quite the celebration on Friday night.

We celebrated Fareesa's birthday and the 4th too!

As always, the roof was beautiful and KC did a great job pulling it all together.

HK in the summer is brutal, and we were all doing our best just to try and stay cool.

Hope you're squeezing every last minute out of the weekend!

xx,

Lauren

A Song for You

2011-07-11T10:49:00.000+08:00

Our friend, Miya is quite the singer.

We stopped by the Culture Club on Thursday night to hear some of her tunes. You wouldn't believe the pipes that come out of this girl!

Check Miya out here
xx,
Lauren

Do you Tweet?

2011-07-05T20:06:00.000+08:00

After TIME magazine announced there are now 200 million tweets being sent per day, MP and I finally decided to jump on the bandwagon.

Not really sure what we'll be "tweeting" about, or if you're even interested in what we'll have to say, but feel free to follow us...and send us your names so we can follow you too!

I have to admit, so far, I really like it...it's an easy way to keep up with what's happening around the world, (and in celebrity drama land!)

Any advice for the new tweeters? What do you think of Twitter?

xx,

Lauren

Twitter names:

LaurenVPhipps

PhippsMichael

Boating

2011-07-04T09:11:00.000+08:00

We spent Saturday on the water.

My camera of choice today was the IPhone, so the photos are less than stellar... but a DSLR and being surrounded by water makes me nervous.

We made a pit-stop on Lamma for a delicious seafood lunch and then made our way to Turtle Bay for late afternoon swimming and tubing. It was a perfect day.

Hope you had a great 4th of July weekend (....I guess yours is still going!)

xx,

Lauren

The Hunt

2011-06-28T20:50:00.002+08:00

On Monday, Natasha and I trekked out to Sham Shui Po in search of ribbon and lace.

We're throwing a shower and bachelorette party in August, and we're trying to transform a blank canvas into something special.

Oh. My. Goodness.

The ribbon market was incredible,

and had some of the most gorgeous patterns I've ever seen.

It was hard not to get overwhelmed by the selection, but I had visions of wrapped packages with the most perfect bows just shooting through my head.

I did go home with some, but I think another trip will have to be in my near future.

This cute little couple helped us with our selection. Don't you love the little hearts? Perfect for something special on Feb. 14 or an anniversary present?!?

If you live in HK and get just as excited about ribbon as I do, you must check out Sham Shui Po!

(Many stores only sell wholesale, but there are some that will sell by the yard).

Enjoy your hunt!

xx,

Lauren

Weekend Activities

2011-06-27T07:45:00.000+08:00

Saturday morning hike to the Peak was spent here...

Sunday workshop on Apraxia was spent here...

Sometimes it looks like 2 completely different cities.

xx,

Lauren

Adjusting

2011-06-24T07:37:00.000+08:00

I've been back in HK for 3 days and am finding my routine again and slipping back into life as we know it here.

MP is still in the States and gets home tomorrow night. I'll be so happy to have him back...so will this guy!

Saying goodbye was hard this time. Of course, it's never easy, but stepping on that plane was not what my heart wanted to do. Living abroad is so wonderful and I'm so grateful we jumped at the chance to do it, but coming back is beginning to get harder and harder.

For now though, we're continuing to relish Asia, have no regrets, and soak up the "expat" lifestyle....

(the first sunny day since I've been back...We've been battling typhoons all week!)

xx,

Lauren

Heading Back

2011-06-20T02:28:00.001+08:00

My 24 hour travel journey has begun. I'm sitting in the Newark airport waiting on my flight to Hong Kong.

Coming home is always so wonderful, and even though I was here for 3 weeks, I still feel like it wasn't enough time. We spent the beginning of the week in Chapel Hill while MP worked a few days. We made a pit-stop through Elon on the way up.

It was just voted the most beautiful college campus and I could not agree more.

Of course, we stopped by our favorite local hangout :)

We had dinner in Chapel Hill the next night with these kids and Katie was even "sick" on Tuesday so we could Spa it up here. I have great friends, don't I?

On Friday night, our friends, Amanda, David, and Caleb prepared a beer dinner for us. Check out their blog to read all about it.

The menu was unbelievable and each dish was paired perfectly with a delicious beer.

It's such a huge effort to put on a dinner like this, and we are so grateful that we could experience it.

Thank you to our dear friends who made the effort to visit with us.
Thank you to our families who were patient as we tried to squeeze everything in. We love you so much, and I'm already looking forward to the next trip back.
Now, I'm gearing up for 16 hours in the air...wish me luck!
xx,
Lauren

7 days left

2011-06-13T21:44:00.001+08:00

I'm on week 3 of being back, and it has been BUSY!

I was in Asheville 2 weekends ago to celebrate Josh and Devin.

My sweet parents made the trek with me, and we spent some time on Sunday taking in the mountain air.

We've spent some time with the Hendrix clan and are trying to get our fill of little Tate.

We've done lots of visiting with family.

...and I'm enjoying spending time just hanging out on the porch.

We made it to Greenville, SC this past weekend to see this cutie...

...And, I'm now parked here, while MP is working the next 3 days.

A far cry from HK, but I have no difficulty slipping right back into my suburban-girl shoes :)

xx,

Lauren

Back in the U. S. of A.

2011-06-02T10:56:00.000+08:00

I landed Friday night in Cincinnati after 24 hours of travel and jumped right into a weekend of celebration.

Zach and Emily were getting married and I just couldn't miss the festivities.

(p.s. Skyline Chili is terrible).

It was a lovely weekend and so great to see my dear friends.

Unforunately, MP isn't coming into town until next weekend, so Caleb got roped into being my date. He did a fabulous job :)

I actually had lots of good lookin' men taking care of me.

Emily was stunning, and they both looked so, so happy.

I've been spending time in Charlotte this week and am off this weekend to Asheville to celebrate the soon-to-be Daniel's!

More to come...

xx,

Lauren

Another Flight

2011-05-26T21:22:00.001+08:00

I'm heading State-side in T-12 hours!

My bag is packed, work is wrapped up, and I'm spending my last night in HK with this guy.

MP will be joining me next week and we're looking forward to spending lots of time with family and friends.

I'm home for 3 weeks, so I'll be updating from here.

That is, if anyone other than my mom is still reading this blog (...and her comments have stopped, so I'm not even sure about that one anymore).

See you soon!

xx,

Lauren

Wrap-up on Beijing

2011-05-25T23:29:00.000+08:00

We spent the next day walking around 798 Space, the art district in Beijing.

It was a really cool area with some funky exhibits.

We saw a bit of the counterculture.

And amused ourselves by posing beside huge statues.

We grabbed lunch in Houhai,

and Michael tried the nasty yogurt drink that we saw all over the city.

We met up with Daria and Olivia for dinner at Dali Courtyard. Such a great restaurant, but it was literally a hole in the wall.

These pictures are of the entrance.

Once walking through the door, this was the scene.

Open air, and far removed from the rapid pace outside.

There's a big conference happening this week in Beijing, so lots of people were flying in for the occasion. It was really nice to meet up with our HK friends outside of Hong Kong.

On Sunday, before I flew out, I wanted to pop by the Weekend Market once more.

They sold everything and anything: furniture, swords, teapots, ceramics, shawls...

tassels, antiques, jewelry, handicrafts, and pottery.

I was in heaven here at the ceramics.

and could have bought about everything I saw.

How beautiful? I came away with a piece or two, but really would have liked to take one of these bad boys home with me. No, they didn't ship :(

It was a nice spot to end the trip and a bit of a successful shopping adventure.

Thanks for bearing with me on all of these posts...

My next big adventure is taking place Friday morning, and I'm frantically trying to get the last minute errands done before heading out.

I can't wait to see YOU!

xx,

Lauren

Snakes, Centipedes, and Foo Dogs

2011-05-24T23:18:00.000+08:00

After the Temple of Heaven, I made a quick stop by the Weekend Market. I was on the hunt for some Chinese Foo Dogs.

I know they're a bit crazy, but I love them!

Everyday from 5:00-9:00, there' a 'Night Market' on Wangfujing Street.

It's basically loads of food stalls.

Selling the most insane food.

(above: octopus, duck, kidney)

(below: snails, crayfish)

It's not all crazy....there were some dumplings.

(below: SNAKE!)

Gives me the creeps just looking at it.

People did eat this creepy-crawlers.

I was more comfortable standing beside the dumplings.

Starfish?!? I still don't understand this one.

This one takes the cake...I did pass a little girl eating one of these snakes.

I about jumped out of my skin.

Quite the cultural experience we had at the Wangfujing Night Market. I highly recommend a trip if you're in the area.

We ended our night at Duck de Chine.

Quite the contrast from the Night Market.

The Peking Duck was amazing.

Thanks, Natasha for the recommendation!

Goodnight from Beijing.

(Traffic at 10:30 pm)

xx,

Lauren

Great Wall

2011-05-24T22:45:00.001+08:00

(I apologize for the mass amount of "couple" photos in this post. You may want to skip it to avoid the "MP/LP show").

The Great Wall was amazing.

Such a surreal feeling to be walking on something built in the 7th Century BC.

I honestly, never thought I'd make it to the "Great Wall of China".

Never say never.

The section of the wall we walked was called the Mutianyu section. It was about a 1.5 hour drive outside of Beijing. We arrived early in the morning and for about the first 45 minutes we seemed to be the only ones around. Never what I expected, and such a great surprise!

We spent about two hours walking the portion you see (and some more behind us). Some parts were super steep, and we were almost on all fours crawling up the stairs.

We ended our journey with a ride down.

Such an incredible morning.

We made our way back to the city and saw the Temple of Heaven.

The Temple was visited by members of the Ming and Qing Dynasties for prayer ceremonies.

It was constructed from 1406-1420.

In 1998 it was termed a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We saw these door-knockers all over China.

I was quite smitten with them!

We spent some time walking the beautiful grounds.

Our day isn't over yet, but this post has gotten too long.

More to come on our afternoon-

xx,

Lauren

Back from Beijing

2011-05-23T23:26:00.000+08:00

We had a great weekend, and I'm now gearing up for my last week of work before heading out again on Friday.

I feel like I'm running in a thousand directions and time is racing past me. Do you feel like this after you've been out of town too? It always takes me a few days to get back in my groove.

We spent 3.5 days in Beijing, and I think it was plenty of time. The Great Wall was amazing and definitely the highlight of the trip. I didn't love Beijing, but we ventured to some cool spots and had some great meals. Pollution? Oh, it's terrible.

We started out at the Forbidden City.

The Forbidden City really is a "city". It goes on forever, and you just keep walking through palace after palace.

...and the tourists love this place. The Chinese tour groups were everywhere and dodging past them became somewhat of an an art form.

Don't you love their hats?

We walked through the Hall of Clocks. Actually, quite amazing clocks were found here.

Can you find me?

We stopped at Tieneman Square on our way out.

I especially loved the man checking out his false teeth. Ha!

We wandered through some of the Hutongs and stopped for lunch.

We ended Day One with an early dinner before MP had to hop on a call.

We're off to the Great Wall in the morning. Much more to come on Beijing, but this tired girl has got to get to bed!

xx,

Lauren

To China!

2011-05-17T23:54:00.000+08:00

We're heading out tomorrow night and making our way to Beijing.

We'll be climbing this beast on Friday,

and sightseeing the rest of the weekend.
I'll head back Sunday night and MP will stay on for work next week.
This is my first trip to Beijing!
Do you have any tips for me??
xx,
Lauren