It’s once again cold in Hong Kong, and I realize I have very little experience with cold weather, even after having spent 4 winters here. Winters here do not involve snow, but the humidity here makes it colder. That means, 10 degrees celsius here is colder than 10 degrees in drier countries.
This morning I went out into 9 degrees weather in a thin faux leather jacket, heattech long sleeved shirt, short skirt, leggings, and knee length boots. Big mistake, I realized as soon as I walked out the doors of my building and felt the wind. I was supposed to go far, but I decided to just have a bowl of my favorite Michelin-starred pho from Brass Spoon and then head back home straight after.
After I slurped down every bit of the delicious soup, I nipped into the Green Lemon Atelier shop next door to buy a pair of earrings as a birthday gift for a friend. Unfortunately the ones I wanted to buy – which were earrings I wore that she expressed admiration for – were out of stock. I got to chatting with the sales ladies after I praised the beanie that one of them wore. We talked about the very cold weather, to which they remarked that I seemed a bit underdressed for it. I agreed, then bid them farewell.
“I’ll come back another time,” I said in parting.
“And wear more clothes,” she replied.
I laughed.
I walked home, put on a lot of fleece clothes, threw on my mini ceramic heater, and snuggled under a fleece blanket with my cat to watch a couple of Christmas films – A Muppet Christmas Carol followed by Spirited. They are suited to be watched in that order. Other must-watch Christmas films/shows that I’ve watched recently: The Holiday, While You Were Sleeping, Ted Lasso season 2 episode 4 – Carol of the Bells, and Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas.
Then it was dinner time so I walked outside again – this time adequately clothed in 3 layers on top – heattech long sleeved top, sweater, and puffer vest, with 2 layers on the bottom – heattech leggings and fleece pants, along with a cashmere scarf and beret.
While walking down Lee Tung Avenue, I saw a crowd had gathered in front of a stage of performers. I then remembered that Cooshti, which was located nearby, had a Christmas traditional turkey plate for this season, so I decided to grab a table there and have that for dinner. It was good and quite filling. But I realized that I still preferred the traditional Filipino Christmas ham dinner.
From my table, I witnessed the spectacle of fake snow thrown over the whole performance.
I also witnessed 4 young Caucasian women walk past me in cropped sweaters that showed off their belly buttons. Now who’s not adequately dressed for this weather?
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