22.3193° N, 114.1694° E
‘Being a local depends on whether or not you’re embracing Hong Kong fully.’
P<CANFUNG<NICOLE<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
After moving from Canada to Hong Kong, entrepreneur Nicole Fung soon found that the city was a major source of inspiration for her. It's stimulating food culture alone was enough for her to start the hugely popular food and travel site That Food Cray !!!
Nicole is also the co-founder of MISSBISH, a fashion and lifestyle platform that celebrates female empowerment and works to inspire women in culture. We spoke with her about her move to Hong Kong, how the culture influences her work and some cray stuff she's eaten along the way.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
On where you’re from
I was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. I lived in Calgary and Edmonton before moving to Hong Kong.
On why you moved to Hong Kong
I always wanted to move abroad. After graduating, I took six months off ,traveling in Asia and Australia. I fell in love with Hong Kong and decided to move there indefinitely.
On some new words you’ve learned
Mostly curse words (laughs).
On Hong Kong after moving there
Living in Hong Kong is completely different than having a vacation in Hong Kong. There was definitely an adjustment phase. I had to get used to the language and cultural differences — I can speak Cantonese, but not well — less space, faster pace, and how transient the city is. It took about a year to get used to and meet friends, but I love it.
On the best thing about living abroad
Living in Hong Kong has opened up so many opportunities for me. I went from working a nine-to-five desk job in finance to running two websites, which allows me to work remotely.
On how life abroad inspires your work
Life abroad is my work! I would not have had these opportunities if I hadn’t moved abroad.
On how culture in Hong Kong has inspired you
The food culture in Hong Kong is what inspired That Food Cray !!!
‘The food culture in Hong Kong is what inspired 'That Food Cray !!!' I was constantly inspired by the food and people around me.’
Collaboration between Urban Outfitters and That Food Cray !!! Photo credit: That Food Cray !!!
On the strangest food you’ve eaten
The weirdest thing I ate was bull penis — it definitely did not look appetizing and it tasted like tendon.
I was literally just in Cusco and had guinea pig for the first time, which is a delicacy in Peru. We had it roasted, whole, and it tasted like a cross between pork and duck. It wasn’t as bad as I thought, but I’m not dying to eat it again.
On the inspiration behind starting MISSBISH
My friends and I saw a gap in the market. We were always looking at multiple sources to find things that we were interested in or inspired us. We wanted to create our own platform with content curated for women, created by women. We also wanted to create a website where women could look for inspiration, reading stories about strong, independent women from all walks of life.
On a favorite woman in culture right now
I’m obsessed with Rihanna. I love her music, her style and her attitude. She’s not afraid to speak up and express who she truly is.
On creative inspiration
Honestly, the women we feature on MISSBISH is where I look for inspiration. They all have inspirational stories and are all-around badass women who work hard to get to where they want to be.
On current projects
We just launched a MISSBISH apparel collection. That has been my main project for the last year. That Food Cray !!! also launched a small capsule collection with Urban Outfitters. We’re working on creating more product for our readers.
On what you’re up to today
My day started at 4am when I started heading to the airport in Lima, Peru. I’m on a three-hour layover in Panama City, en route to São Paulo, Brazil. I’m in São Paulo for less than 24 hours, then headed to New York City.
‘We wanted to create our own platform with content curated for women, created by women... a website where women could look for inspiration.’
MISSBISH lookbook (photo credit: Carmen Chan), and MISSBISH founders Gillian Wong, Lindsay Jang and Nicole Fung.
On a favorite collaboration recently
I’m obsessed with leopard print. My favorite recent collaboration is Supreme’s collaboration with Everlast, where they released a leopard-print satin hooded boxing robe. My friend actually helped me buy it and handed it over to another friend to bring back to Hong Kong for me. The Supreme mule somehow lost it and it makes me sad just thinking about it.
On a big difference between Calgary and Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a major travel hub. Living in Hong Kong has made travel so much more accessible. I can fly to places like Tokyo, Bangkok, Bali, Shanghai, and Taipei fairly easily, and it’s extremely affordable!
On something to do when you first move to Hong Kong
Make friends. I was lucky enough to meet amazing people who have become my mentors and my family.
On feeling like a local
I would say the adjustment period for Hong Kong is about a year. I think being a local really depends whether or not you’re embracing Hong Kong fully. I live on the Kowloon side and speak Cantonese, so I think I considered myself a local about two years in.
On something you wish you’d been told
I wish someone had warned me about the adjustment period. I had a love-hate relationship with Hong Kong the first year I lived there, and didn’t think I’d stay over two years. I’ve lived there for eight years now.
‘I think being a local really depends whether or not you’re embracing Hong Kong fully.’
Nicole Fung in Hong Kong, and the view from atop a hike to The Peek. Photo credit: That Food Cray !!!
On finding a place to live
There are a ton of sites that you can check online. Pictures are deceiving though! Apartments in Hong Kong are usually tiny — you have to look at the space IRL before making any commitments.
On something to be prepared for
Hong Kong is not cheap. Make sure you’re financially prepared before moving to Hong Kong.
On a must-have item
My phone — it’s literally an extension of my arm.
On visas
I was lucky enough to get an ID card that gave me the right to abode. Both my parents were born there, which made the process super simple. Not too sure about the visa situation.
On your favourite restaurant
Ronin.
On good food
Legit sushi and pho (both are limited in HK, unfortunately).
On good movies
I don’t watch movies unless I’m on an airplane (laughs).
On good drinks
I usually go to Yardbird for drinks and Racks if I’m going ‘out’ out.
On a store to check out
City’super. It’s a grocery store (laughs).
On a favorite place to be
Traveling — anywhere new or in Japan.
On something from Canada you need a fix of in Hong Kong
The only things I crave from Canada are pho, Ketchup chips, and poutine. Unfortunately, I can’t find any of that in Hong Kong.
On Hong Kong in one word
Unique.
>>>
