Alone in Christmas Abroad

December 26, 2020

It's more than three years since I worked abroad, which means three Christmas away from my family and friends. Life abroad is so boring as well as Christmas without your family and friends. This pandemic restricted people to hang out and one of the protocols here in HK is to only have a group of two people while hanging out or roaming around the city.

This is quite impossible though, especially during holidays. At 10 in the morning, I was still lying on my bed while visiting some users here in readcash as well as making some noise on noise.cash, and thinking whether I will go out or just lay on my bed the whole day. And I thought this Christmas will gonna be so boring because of this pandemic, but I was wrong. While surfing on the internet, I found out that there are places in HK with installed Christmas displays.

My mood suddenly become brighter and decided to prepare for a stroll. Christmas displays are the only things that makes me happy during Christmas. The weather was cold but it did not bother me. I fixed myself and with my scarf and bonnet, I stepped out of home happily, excited to take photos of those Christmas displays.

But there was one thing I forgot to bring, and that was my monopod. Since I have no friends with me, I have no photographer as well. It wasn't a problem actually because I can just ask a favor from Filipinas there to take the photo for me. Unfortunately, 9 out of 10 photos taken by other Filipinas were blurry. But that was fine, I just took photos of the displays without my appearance on them.

Despite the pandemic, HK malls and other establishments were able to install Christmas displays. I have learned that there were 17 big displays around HK, but I only selected a few that are just easy to access. After eating my lunch in one of my favorite Filipino fast-food, Jollibee, I head out and started the stroll.

Taking photos was a bit different this year though because you need to wear a mask. Officers were checking out the visitors and made sure that they were wearing masks throughout the photoshoots. But not in some cases, when the officers are not looking, some removed their masks, including me. 🤣

My first stop was in HK Landmark located just next to the building where I ate my lunch. Christmas displays in Landmark are always the grandest. Although this year wasn't that grand and big, but among the displays here in HK this year, it was the prettiest for me

• Santa Paws and Polar Paws, Landmark

Santa Paws brought some new members, they were the Polar Paws. The display was filled with a giant snowman, Christmas tree, Christmas market booths, and other Christmas features. Kids will surely enjoy the appearance of Santa Paws with new members throughout the holidays.

After spending almost an hour there, I chose to visit the other display located near the next MTR station. I did not ride MTR though, I decided to walk along the bay and I saw thousands of people, mostly are Filipinos, celebrated their Christmas at Tamar Park.

Several tents were set up and foods were served on their mats. Some groups were singing, some were dancing, some were sleeping, and most were busy taking selfies and groupies. I thought only a group of two were allow to gather together, but I guess that protocol was lifted during Christmas day.

• Santa’s Cabin, Pacific Place

Santa's Cabin at Pacific Place was my next stop. A new Christmas adventure was given by Santa's elves and crews. As the Cabin docked at Pacific Place, the journey to the Nort Pole begins along with some cute arctic animals on display. I wasn't able to hop on the 15-meter-long Santa ship, but I was contented to have the virtual AR experience outside Santa's Cabin. There was a virtual meet-and-greet with Santa as well, but I was impatient to queue so I decided to go to my next stop.

• Santa Claws X'mas Party, Mira Place

While on my way to my next stop, I saw a mall with a Santa Claws display. But it was not Santa Clause who was there though, but some adorable Japanese capsule toy, Shakurel Dinosaurs. A Jurassic-twisted Christmas display features the iconic dinosaurs in Christmas costumes. There were also a Dino lighting show and several AR interactive experiences where you can take Instagrammable photos.

• Winter Wonderland, 1881 Heritage

One of my favorite places in Tsim Sha Tsui, 1881 Heritage, has a grand-scale winter wonderland. A giant Christmas tree was beautifully decked taking the center stage. And infront of it was a gigantic polar bears with delicately wrapped present boxes to amp the experience. This colonial type architectural design of 1881 Heritage is one the most visited places in Tsim Sha Tsui HK. The place will guarantee an unforgettable festive experience.

My last stop was just at the western part of the Heritage.

• Christmas Every Day, Harbour City

I was expecting a Christmas display at the Harbour terminal deck as I saw an article about it on the internet. There was supposed to have a Christmas lighting garden with Christmas trees outside, unfortunately, there was no display at the deck, either they removed it or maybe I went to the wrong location. But it was fine because I saw this display instead.

At the staircase, the entrance to Harbour City Mall was a family-friendly  European-style wooden house and three-meter-high Christmas bear. But the inside was prettier which gives a more interactive experience.

After a quite long Christmas stroll, I went back home at 7 in the evening. The restaurants in HK nowadays do not allow dine-ins at night due to escalating cases of COVID-19, and that is one of the new protocols here in HK. So I just take out foods and eat my dinner on the bench under the bridge near home where some Filipinos are also eating their dinner.

At least, I have surpassed the Christmas day without feeling totally lonely. I have friends here actually, but some were working and some were attending social gatherings. An introvert prefers solitude than to socialize with unknown people.

The pandemic may have haltered our Christmas plans, but there is no reason we can’t get into the festive spirit in a safe and socially-responsible manner. Hong Kong’s elegant Christmas displays have always been the talk of the town each year, and this year is no exception.

If you want to read my Christmas gala 2019, you can visit my article about it.

Christmas Gala in Hong Kong 2019

Seeing my family virtually makes me more happy.

Thanks for reading @Jane