“Day 1: Arrived in Hong Kong at 5pm and checked into my room at the Intercontinental. What I brought along: A cute Benoit Missolin hairband, a Kate Spade bag and a pair of sunnies. I don’t have a fascinator and it’s not my style, so I went with a hairband instead. I picked the bag because it’s a good size to carry out without feeling like I’m lumbering around.”

“I called it a night at about 10pm after dinner in the hotel and drinks at the bar with the Longines team. It rained the entire time I was here, but hey, who can complain when this is the view you wake up to?”

“On Day 2, I had breakfast with a friend who brought me to a hole-in-the-wall joint called Dim Sum Square on Jervois Road in Sheung Wan. After that, I spent most of the morning shopping for Christmas gifts. We hit Gage Street market (I scooped up a few bracelets there), Gough Street (it’s full of hippie stores), stumbled on a little flea at Square Street, and then explored Tai Ping Shan (it’s hipster cafe Central). We also went to Wan Chai street market to get a real feel for the city. The last time I was here was two years ago for a music gig and I only checked out the music scene then, so I did more shopping this time round.” 

“I wanted an edgier lip colour to wear, so I chose Stila’s All Day Liquid Lipstick in Tesoro, a bright orangey-red (my usual shade is Fiery, a deep red). They’re the perfect lipsticks for an event as they don’t rub off at all, even while eating and drinking.”

“4pm: Off to the Happy Valley racecourse to attend the launch of Longines’ new Equestrian Collection (you can pre-order them at the brand’s Singapore boutiques). I don’t go for watches with small faces, so I like how this piece (a 26mm case with diamond-set stainless steel and a brown leather strap) has a bigger watch face and still manages to look elegant.”

“6pm: Despite the rain, the race happened according to schedule. But before it began, we visited the parade ring, where the horses warm up before the races and where the jockeys start saddling up. I’m an animal lover, so being so close to the horses and seeing them preparing for the race was great – they look so majestic up close.”

“It was my first time at the races, and I see why people love it: The energy is infectious. We had dinner while the races were taking place, and it was very free and easy: we could step out anytime to the bleachers to watch the horses we bet on. For the last race of the night, I betted on those with names like Fat Choy Hong Kong and Speedy Longwah. Clearly, the people who named these guys were horsing around.”

“I thought everyone was dressed beautifully at the dinner, so the biggest surprise I received that night was winning best dressed female. What I wore: A Sretsis dress, a Benoit Missolin hairband and Suecommabonnie shoes. What I won: A Longines Dolce Vita watch.”

Like this? Check out Aarika’s favourite New York City dining spots.