Look out Hong Kong, here she comes.

Tomorrow my little baby sister*, Dee (with her husband and two young boys), moves from Sydney to Hong Kong.

They're not sure how long they'll be living there. They're not sure if after Hong Kong they will return to Australia (Dee's husband is a 'Murrican).

My feelings about the move are a little conflicted: I'm very excited for Dee because she gets to experience life in an amazing new country, but I also has a sad because I was just getting used to living within a thousand kilometres of her. (She's had 5 yrs in the US, I was 3 yrs in France; we've spent a lot of our adult lives a long way away from each other.)

So in her honour, here's a few Hong Kong photos from our stop-over in January 2013 on our way home from France.

These photos were taken at the beautiful Nan Lian Garden at Diamond Hill, Kowloon.

When we first arrived in Hong Kong I found the city a little overwhelming. It is so big. So high. So many people. To find this perfectly coiffed oasis in the midst of the concrete jungle was such a delight.

Located within the Garden is the Chi Lin Nunnery:

It's very zen, with lotus ponds and buddhist relics. The architecture is special too, in the style of the Tang Dynasty. The woodwork is incredible - there are no nails used in these buildings, only clever interlocking forms.  A civil engineer's dream.

I think this would be the perfect place for Dee to come and relax should the city get too much for her.

Might want to leave the boys at home though, Dee. This is the sign at the front of the Gardens:

Basically anything except walking, taking photos and scratching your nose is prohibited. And you better scratch that nose slowly, with controlled movements.

We read the (then) 3 yr old the riot act before we entered, and the baby was contained in mister's baby  back pack. But of course, being 3, it's really, really hard not to run, especially when the fish are jumping out of the little lake. So he ran, and an official was straight on to us. They are serious about the rules!

Regardless, it's beautiful and well worth a visit.

So, bon voyage, Dee Dee. We love you and we're going to miss you and your beautiful family. You're going to have exciting adventures, but it's also going to be hard. There's a new language, a new culture and a new way of life to get used to. But you're nothing if not tenacious.

Yep, Dee is tenacious. Tenacious Dee. Hmm. I know where this is going:



Rock on, sweetie, and I'm looking forward to visiting you in your new home! (Find all the best camera equipment stores for me, okay?)

Love and kisses,
Your annoying and bossy big sister, Kirsty x x

* I know she's in her mid-thirties, but she'll always be my little baby sister.