if you're tired, do it tired

Covid cases are on a steady decline, and phase 1 of reopenings happened on April 21. Including park reopening number 4!

This closure was mentally one of the toughest times for everyone, so we are pretty happy to be back, however, it is really difficult coming right back into a transition time. We reopened Phase 1 so successfully, that Phase 2 was released early! Phase 2 of reopening means we are open but everything is 50% capacity, rapid tests every single day, a PCR test once every 14 days, at groups of 8 people or less at a time, masks in and outdoors unless you are outside working out, dining venues closing at 10pm instead of 6pm, and finallllly pools and beaches can open! I am happy for progress, but ready for things to go back to a little more normal like it appears the rest of the world has done. 

One of the most normal feeling occasions we have had recently was for our friend Jordan and Osmond's wedding! First we had a bachelorette party for Jordan with delicious food from Taqueria Super Macho. This was also our first time eating dinner out since January so it was extra special. 

Before everything opened again, during the final few weeks of a full lock down, we had very little outtings. We went to our private beach to hang out safely from others, while getting some vitamin D. 

We also had a few lunches out-

We did a hot pot buffet at Nabe-

Mike and I had a classic post hike CoCo Ichibanya Japanese Curry-

Some drinks at Funky Monkey-

Mike also finally got to try Jollibee (this one's for you Aunt Linda). Jollibee is known as "your favorite comfort foods including fried chicken, French fries, pies, spaghetti, burgers, and more but with a Filipino twist. What’s the twist? Lots of Joy with some Filipino sweetness." The mango peach hand pie was my favorite part. 

I also visited Mike at work on his lunch break for a little Kanada-Ya Japanese Ramen. 

One of my favorite days was a picnic in the park complete with bagel sandwiches from Bagels Alley and the real winner of the day was the takeaway scones with fig jam and mascapone cream from Loft and Scone. 

With things slowly opening, Elysia and I also went and got our hair spruced up a bit before the start of the new contract-

Thankfully movie theaters reopened just in time for us to get to see Doctor Strange in theaters!

Easter was a holiday spent at home with our HK family brunching and gaming.

Holli and Justin even planned an Easter egg hunt for us, filled with laundry coins and candy!

They even had a Easter egg decorating station! We were very spoiled with a great day...and lots of chocolate. 

With rumors that Disney would maybe be opening soon, we took advantage of the off time to do a few more outdoor activities before it got too hot out. We visited the Shing Mun Country Park, which was absolutely beautiful.

There is a massive water reserve dam that allows 360 views-

Even the monkeys love it here!

We did a little bit of hiking down the dam to the water below. The stairs to get to the bottom were very steep, and even turned into a ladder at one point.

But the views below were 100% worth it-

We had a few more really difficult see you laters to those who stuck it out to finish their contract. It has been a very long transition time, and I am sad to see them go, but I am so happy for them to be living life at home. 

But with goodbyes come new hellos, and boy was excited for these hellos as they slowly made their way to HK before quarantining for 7 days and then 7 days of mandatory mask-on quarantine!