I ❤️ SHOPPING LOCAL - WHERE TO BUY LOVELY GIFTS FOR MUM FOR MOTHER'S DAY FROM INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES

THE LION ROCK PRESS

It would be a bit remiss of me not to mention my own business, wouldn't it?!  The Lion Rock Press, of course, have a range of lovely Mother's Day cards - including a cute baby riding on her doting mum's back taken from a photograph of HK's very own Chinese Pangolin! We've got lots of great ideas including our new gorgeous silk scarves that any mum would be delighted to receive!

SEMPIMIMI

Stephanie, the founder of the gorgeous jewellery brand Sempimimi, is an ex-fashion journalist and stylist so definitely knows how to make you look and feel good. Teaming up with skilled craftspeople in India to produce lovingly hand made pieces using semi precious stones, her aim is to bring a touch of glamour to all women with the jewellery she designs. Something every mum would definitely appreciate I'm sure ☺️ and I'd be over the moon with anything from her shop! All my friends love the gifts I've bought for them from Stephanie on various occasions.

BYDEAU

I love Bydeau's online shop - they have the most beautiful flowers, gift boxes, plants and succulents -  and, have great eco-credentials. All of their gifts come in biodegradable packaging and no plastic! Another big tick from me! I have sent these to friends starting new jobs, to people I want to let know I'm thinking about them and they've got a stunning Mother's Day range. 

HONG KONG GREETERS LIVE VIRTUAL TOUR

For a more experiential gift, this is a fun idea!  I've 'taken' my parents and in-laws on one of Amy's (from Hong Kong Greeters) brilliant live virtual tours and they loved seeing Hong Kong despite not actually being able to be here at the moment. Such a lovely experience to share even though you can't be together in person. Choose from a tour around Sheung Wan - 'Old Hong Kong, where trends meet traditions' or join the Hong Kong Greeters team as they take to the water around Aberdeen Harbour for a very different view of the island. Both equally fascinating journeys led by super knowledgeable guides!

LOVE HAIR SALON

Fitting right in with our passion for sustainability and eco credentials, I think a Love Hair treatment or cut for a mum could be another great gift option if she's someone who loves to be pampered.

It's a real treat to sit and relax in their lovely salon. It's full of plants so feels very calm (even the front door is covered in greenery!). They use organic and low chemical products on your hair so you come out feeling pretty special!

HONG KONG SNAKE SAFARIS

Now this really would be quite a different experience for a mum (and the whole family to enjoy as well!). An amazing chance to see a different side of Hong Kong by embarking on a snake safari with local wildlife expert, William Sargent. William is one of Hong Kong’s official snake catchers and takes small groups out on educational night hikes to search for specimens of Hong Kong’s diverse snake population. I've been on several of these trips with my family- and with friends- before and they are so fascinating. If you are interested, drop William an email williamsargent@moontrekker.com and tell him I sent you! :) 

BIRD WATCHING / NATURE EXPERIENCE TOUR WITH MATTHEW KWAN

And on the same wildlife theme, if snakes might not be her thing then how about a Bird Watching Nature tour with Matthew Kwan?

My family, friends and I love these trips. Birdwatching is an activity that can be experienced and enjoyed by everyone. Hong Kong is a perfect place to be introduced to birding as there is always something to see no matter what season. It's a real pleasure to be in the company of Matthew as he is so passionate and knowledgable about the natural world- you will learn so much on one of these tours and his enthusiasm is bound to rub off on all of you! We spotted 72 species on our last day out together and I went to places I'd never been to before! Very special.

GINGER JAR LAMP COMPANY

My dear friend Kate runs the lovely Ginger Jar Lamp company - sourcing beautiful vintage ginger jars from China which are then transformed into lamp bases. What I especially love is that you can then choose your lampshade from a collection of bright and bold patterned fabrics Kate has sourced from around Asia. The lamp makes a proper statement piece in any room and is a very unique and special gift! I have a HUGE one in The Lion Rock Press showroom which looks amazing and is much admired!

MAHJONG LESSONS WITH VIRGINIA CHAN

I love playing mahjong and recommend learning it to lots of friends! How about a few kids join together and get their mums some Cantonese style mahjong lessons? Virginia is an excellent teacher and has such a love for the game it's infectious! I promise you will not regret learning this. So many hours of fun and a great way to immerse yourself in Hong Kong culture!