MaMa's 90th Birthday Banquet

MaMa loves to eat. And to eat well.

She's a fancy lady. So on Saturday night, for her 90th birthday banquet - which we've been planning for the past three years since her last birthday banquet - she rented out Ming Court at the Langham Hotel.

There's Chinese TakeOut. And Chinatown Chinese Food. But really only in Hong Kong will you find upscale FancyHotel Chinese Food.

Yum.



The fam arrived early to watch a little slideshow of oldschool pictures Uncle Bill had prepared...



Little Oliver could not sit still.




The family awaited the arrival of all our guests.




And remember the Aunties from my Epic EuroAdventure?

A bunch of them came too.



Altogether there was like a hundred something people.

And lots of cognac. Chinese people love cognac. Just like black people!



There were like 100-something people. We even met some cousins our age that we had never met before because of long-standing (we're talking decades-old) family drama that had just recently resolved itself!



Cousins!



The slideshow was a hit.





And so was the 14-course meal...

Which included:

Fancy Flatpig...



Scallopy Shrimpy Seafood Delight...



Stuffed Conch...




(We mean business when we eat. No talking. Just eating.)



Shark Fin Soup which tastes a lot like noodles except that it costs like $50 USD a bowl

(Correction: my dad just IMed me after reading this and said, "Hey..you know the shark fin soup you had at the banquet was like $100 US a bowl..no joke! Mama loved it and demanded it!")



Fancy Grouper Fish.



(Our mean-faced waitress was like an evil slanty-eyed Judi Dench.)



Chicky Chicky Chickon head!



Wagyu beef and truffle flied lice...



Noodley noodles...



And finally good luck steamed buns that look like they just got a good spanking!



There were a bunch other courses too that I didn't take pictures of because it looked gross. Stuff like abalone and donkey crotch etc. Yuck.

Ollie so cute! And look, I caught Leo licking his little steamy bun in the background.



Family photo!



It must be such an amazing feeling to be responsible for so much life.

Almost everyone in the below picture exists or has been directly affected by my tiny little grandma's decision to give birth over and over and over again!



These newest additions to the fam are soooo cute.



Happy 90th MaMa!

HongKong Adventures w/ Amanduh

So Amanduh and I overlapped for a day or two in HK. She was in town because her bf Michael is kind of a big deal and had some business to attend to in the Kong and downgraded his first class plane ticket to two business class tickets. Rough life.

So while Michael was in meetings. I took Mandy around to see the sights.

I heart playing tour guide.



We took the Star Ferry across the harbor.



Then jumped on the Peak Tram to Victoria Peak.






Which overlooks the entire city and is kind of amazing your first time there.




Asian tourists wanted to take pictures with us. (People from the villages come to HK and have never seen a white person before.)



(Please note that this girl's shirt says, "ElephantSoCool!"



Then we hopped into a Sake Bar and lunched and daydrinked.




Then we hit Mongkok to buy fun presents for our friends.



Dog clothes anyone?



I found some epic new Yoshi slippers...



We tried to recreate my amazing photo from last time...



Oh and Mandy got a sweet new iPhone case.




Then we hit the Shangri-La hotel for afternoon tea and sandwiches and wine.





YUMMY!



And finally we ended up at the Intercontinental to meet up with Michael after his busy day of back-to-back meetings.

The view from the lobby lounge of the Intercontinental is kiiiiind of breathtaking.




Yay for expense accounts, we ordered everything on the menu.



They had some awesome LED coasters that I have to remember to buy on eBay when I get home.



And superstrong lychee martinis!



Mando was a total lightweight and passed out like two minutes later while we listened to the wonderful lounge singer lady...



While Mikey and I continued sampling drinks off the menu until sleepytime.

Below we had the Green Dragon - grey goose, ginger soda, mint syrup, and honeydew juice - SO GOOD. And served in a neato leaning glass.



Amanduh and Mike flew home the next morning. So great to have visitors in my third home!