From Africa With Love…
So its my annual trip to South Africa with the DeBeers Group, and so far so good. Been here three days and will be here for another five. Tomorrow we are off to Botswana for two days. As you can imagine, this trip is all about diamonds, diamonds, diamonds. No complaints here as diamonds are definitely my favorite precious gem. The only unfortunate thing is that we have to fly about six times within these eight days, and as some of you know, I am absolutely terrified of flying.
So, here I am, getting on our private jet this morning, trying to act all cool, calm, and collected.



And here I am pooping myself but still trying to act cool…



And this is why I was freaking out. Can you see the loose screw? Yea, SCARY!!!



What??? No guns allowed??? So what am I supposed to do with this gigantic handgun that’s in my back pocket?



And if any you guys have read my past blogs… Does this cow look familiar? I think its following me!



Hopefully I’ll have more for you guys from Botswana and some pictures of actual diamonds if my jetlag doesn’t get the best of me forcing me to fall asleep at 4:30 p.m.

Liberace was definitely the original King of Bling.  All Hail The Bling King!! No one has ever even come close to his blinginess. No one. So, you want something interesting to do in Vegas? Go to the Liberace museum! It's definitely a sight to behold!



It used to be his recording studio and some-time apartment. There are showers in the public bathrooms that were actually used by Liberace and other artists like Frank Sinatra.



There were lots of opulent, over the top get-ups, but this little outfit was my favorite. Love the star spangled lederhosen!


He also had a fleet of cars. A lot of them were convertibles with only a driver's seat. This was because he needed to be driven onto the stage due to his costume being too heavy for him to walk. This was the swankiest car in my opinion. You can see one of the convertibles in the background.



And finally... this is what the gift shop was selling... (sorry, this photo is so blurry... you might not be able to tell that these sneakers are ENTIRELY encrusted with diamantes).



Nothing like some good ol' fashion family fun in Sin City!

First off, I would like to thank everyone for all the wonderful birthday wishes. I am sorry I didn't thank you all sooner, but I've been overseas for the past two weeks trying to decompress. Birthdays are always a weird one for me. They are always a double edged sword. Half of me loves to be spoiled in one form or another, as we all do, and the other half of me loathes taking a whole day out to remind myself that I am one year older. I guess I loath having to somewhat face my own mortality, and also having to face the absoluteness of someday being "old". It's all very ridiculous, I know, but I would really just like to stay 25 forever, thank you very much!

So this trip took me to Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Las Vegas was...well...Las Vegas. I specifically went to Vegas for not only my birthday, but also for my little brother's high school graduation. Boy did that make me feel like an old fart!  Did, of course, have some amazing meals, and even went to the Cher show. It was an eventful week.

Then after a week of fulfilling my "dutiful daughter" duties, I flew to "La La Land" A.K.A Los Angeles. DISCLAIMER: I would like to apologize in advance if my following comments offend or  anger anyone. We're all entitled to our own opinions, right??  I greatly dislike L.A. And I mean GREATLY. The week was an endless barrage of head to toe once overs and "plastic-fantastic" people. I guess I'm a New Yorker at heart. It's a completely different planet then L.A. I decided that the only two pleasures I get in L.A. are... #1 The Giant Robot store on Sawtelle:



And El Cholo. I love this restaurant! Fresh guacamole made at your table, really good tacos, the infamous Green Tamale, and a really cool vibe.



Usually I'm bummed about ending a holiday and getting back to reality, but this time I can honestly say...I am happy to be back in Hong Kong. 

I've just finished what probably has been the craziest thing I've done in my career. I took part in the Chinese version of "Dancing With The Stars" called "Wu Lin Da Hui". Big difference though, On the U.S. version you get a couple of months to practice. On the China version I got a day and a half. Let me just say this. I am not a dancer. I've never thought of myself as the most graceful of creatures. A day and a half!!! Oi vay, what had I gotten myself into...

I arrived in Shanghai thinking I was going to do an easy waltz or something since I had no prior dancing experience. Instead I was promptly given the "Paso Doble". Modeled after the sound, drama, and movement of the spanish bullfight, it's got tons of kicks, turns, and dips. Watching someone my height performing these things is kind of like watching a Daddy Long Leg spider having an epileptic fit. But I still went for it and practiced my butt off for that measly day and a half.

Turned out to be a twelve hour rush of adrenalin that ripped through my body almost causing me to black out on stage. It was terrifying and fun all wrapped up into one surreal experience. I remembered all my steps and managed to not injure myself or my partner in the process. Since my Mandarin stinks, I literally had no idea what was going on, but  Everyone was really cool and I had such a laugh. It was a lot of fun in the end but I think I'm gonna hang up my dancing shoes (they actually let me keep my shoes) for now.

Here's me sharpening my dancing prowess.

On stage with all the other contestants. I stick out like a sore thumb. I'm like a foot taller then almost everyone. The wardrobe ladies back stage were having a little giggle about how they had to scour the city to find size 40 dance shoes.

I have to apologize for the poor quality photos but these were taken with a snap and shot from the audience, and they were like a mile away from us.



This is after the dance and the judges are critiquing me. I'm smiling because I have no idea what they are saying.

Just got back from another trip to South Africa for a week of R&R. Anyone who knows me will tell you that I am scared of flying. No, not scared, TERRIFIED.  Yes, I am the white knuckled, sweating, hyper-ventilating, rocking back and forth freak shouting, "WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE! WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!!!" It's really unfortunate because lately I've been flying at least 5 times a month. What a drag. I wish there was some sort of super bullet boat that would take me to South Africa in the same amount of time as a plane. Unfortunately with no bullet boats in the making I'm screwed.  Anyways, the flight to SA, this time, was no exception. Woke up in the middle of the flight because we were flying right through a lightning storm and the plane was bobbing and weaving around like the pilot was drunk driving. I was CRAPPING myself! Obviously, since I am writing this, we didn't all die. It was worth the stressful journey though. SA rules!

I won't bore you with the same old stuff about my poo hut. This year we coincided the trip with lambing season, and there were tons of little white fluffy cute as button lams running and frolicking around. SOOO CUUUTTTTEEEE!!!!

It seemed like this trip was the trip of baby animals. Lambs everywhere, kittens abound (sorry no photos), and the best of all was the baby rhino!


Isn't it just the most adorable cuddliest little creature ever?!?! I just wanted to smuggle it out of its pen and snuggle up to it and take a nap under a tree somewhere . It actually looked more like a hippo than a rhino. It lives on the farm next to wear I live. So freakin' cute!


On our way back to HK we were stranded in Johannesburg for 24 hours due to the really poor weather in Hong Kong. Needless to say, that did not go over well with me, as I was already stressed about the actual act of flying again,  I took it as a bad omen and that this was the last flight of my life. Really, there isn't a boat I can take????

So we went to the mall in JoBurg. And this guy was just sitting there right in the middle of the hallway.

Had some food at a local steak restaurant. This was part of the decor.


Back in HK now. Thrown right back into the thick of things.  And all I can think about is this...