Hong Kong is a place that takes things so seriously when it comes to party time. During the month of end-of-year festivity in December, the whole town comes out to party and they know how to do it in style. I was in the search for the finest, the most glamorous way to kick start the new year when I got an invite from my brother’s friend which reads:
‘You’re invited to spend the first moments of 2014 with us at Salon de Ning, The Peninsula Hong Kong on 31st December, 2013.’
I was squealing with delight and then I went into a panic mode as all these questions came to my mind: Have I got THE dress for the occasion? What about makeup, hair and matching heels? And – OMG I think I’ve left my party clutch at home! A tiny shiny clutch is not typically what I pack for a leisure trip overseas (which since then has been added to my travel essentials list). Well, luckily mum’s wardrobe came to rescue as I raided through her piles of goodies from the old days and found a cute and compact beige lambskin Chanel from the 80s fit for the finest night out.
Oh, and I got to confess that playing dress-up as My Fair Lady is just part of the excitement. My love affair with The Peninsula Hotel has started at a very young age. I’ve written in this earlier post that I enjoyed the refined ambiance sipping a cup of earl gray and devouring a slice of strawberry shortcake at their lobby lounge, with mellow jazz tunes playing in the background. No where else you could feel the grand yet laid-back British colonial vibe at the unbeatable location right opposite to the waterfront of Victoria Harbour.
I’ve been to Gaddi’s and The Felix which are two of the signature dining offerings at The Peninsula, and they’re both so fine that could be fit for the royals. Salon de Ning was the first time for me and didn’t disappoint, in fact I can confidently rate it as one of the best bars in Hong Kong, and of course, the most exclusive venue to spend New Year’s Eve. It was like stepping back in time to the old colonial Shanghai in the roaring 20s, with art-deco inspired decor, Venetian mirrors, and eclectic collections of antiques from the East and the West. I settled comfortably on their plush sofa lounge and was sipping cocktails in true party diva style.
It was twenty minutes to midnight when the friendly bar waiter thoughtfully brought in my leather jacket and asked if I’d like to make my way to the front entrance, where there were already thousands of revellers packed at the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront ready for the first ever New Year’s Eve firework extravaganza. As the explosive blossoms went off to paint the futuristic skyline of Hong Kong in bright neon colours, I could help asking myself: ‘Life doesn’t get anything more beautiful than this, does it?’.
That was how I kicked off my 2014 in a bang.
So tell me Dear Readers, where did you spend the first few precious moments of 2014? What are your favorite travel memories from New Year’s Eve?
Until next time, party on!
x
Juliet
