Happy Holidays & New Year!

Hi,

Can you believe it's already been two years since we left New York?! While it means we haven't seen some of you as often as we'd like and that we're away from you over the holidays, it also means we've made new friends (the rest of you!) and traveled to exciting and exotic places.

In lieu of a holiday card in the mail, we decided to make this quicky blog highlighting the last two years.  Enjoy, happy holidays and here's to all your wishes coming true in 2011!

Love,

Vin, Jessica and Victor

Everyday Life

When we're not jet-setting around Asia, we do lead very normal lives!

Victor frolics on the beach outside our apartment:

Vin takes me out for high tea (just kidding -- this was for Mother's Day!)

We hang out on the couch:

Singapore!

Singapore - the Asian America.  With a Gap and Starbucks on every corner, we really felt like we were home!

We had visitors!

We've been lucky to have a lot of you come and stay with us!  Please spread the word to everyone else that 1) the plane ride isn't lethal and 2) HK is a lot of fun!

Here's my mom and Doug in front of the famous HK skyline!

Macau!

Macau is a small island (or group of islands) that's an hour-long ferry ride from HK.  Vin recently ran a half marathon there:

Macau Fun Fact #1:
Like HK, Macau is technically owned by China, but functions as its own country.  It was founded by Portugal and so has incredible Portuguese food - especially at Fernandos:

 
Macau Fun Fact #2:
It's also the gambling mecca of Asia - complete with gargantuan casinos from The Wynn, Venetian, Hard Rock and others. Steve Wynn was recently quoted as saying Macau is where the future of gambling is...

Real Men Wear Kilts

Vin showed off his amazing gams for the St. Andrews Ball!

Seoul!

Had a blast in Tokyo's little sister, Seoul!

We had visitors AGAIN!

Our nephew Luca and his parents came to visit!

We took them to our favorite noodle shop on Wellington Street:

Luca and Victor bonded over food:

Theresa and Mario got drenched at Siena Club:

Uncle and nephew shared some Thai food:

New York City!

Our annual trip home this year was awesome!

We acted like tourists...

...and visited places that didn't exist when we lived in NYC!

We took a Scotsman (our HK neighbor Karl) to his first baseball game -- the Yankees, of course!

But most importantly we spent quality time with our families (usually over food!)

Sydney!

Dream vacation.  Dream vacation.  Dream vacation.

Yep that's the famous Sydney Opera House.

Yep, that's Bondi Beach.

My 34th Birthday

Vin brought me to Aqua, a stunning restaurant with dazzling views of Victoria Harbor!

Malaysia!

We snuck away on a quick beach vacation in Kota Kinabalu in 2009.

Tokyo!

We LOOOOOOVE Tokyo!  Vin's had to go a few times for work and I've been fortunate to tag along.  I get my NYC fix when I'm there - the energy is similar.

Most recently, we went so that Vin could run his 3rd - yes THIRD! - marathon.  He did a bang-up job given the driving freezing rain.  We were so happy to be joined by his parents who flew out for the special event.

China!

Contrary to what some of you mistakenly think, we don't live in China or Japan or Tokyo, for that matter.  (I've been asked how life was in all three!)  Hong Kong is technically owned by China, but functions as its own country.

That being said, we highly recommend everybody visit Beijing if they're in this part of the world.  Here are a few pics from our trip there - including the iconic Great Wall!

Beaches Closer to Home

We love taking Victor to Mui Wo, an island just a 10-minute ferry ride away from Discovery Bay.

Thailand!

Our first Asian beach vacation was Phuket.  Here we are in the famous Phi Phi Islands.  (Silent h's all around.)

I also got to swim frolic in the ocean with a baby elephant!