Ladies In Red

It is Nour’s birthday and Melissa has been at it again, organizing us for a night of celebrations. Tonight we head back to Asia Asia and in celebration of love and friendship we are ladies in red. It doesn’t matter whether we have had a crazy day or a boring one, what brings us together is a sense of adventure and excitement, plus, it’s good for our health (the studies say!).

The red theme has been chosen as the official birthday is the 14th, also St. Valentine’s Day. We also have flowers and decorations and we arrive in time to clear the area (it had been reserved!) and spread the sparkles and flower love.

Nicely set up, we order drinks and settle in to await our friends and the birthday girl. Soon everyone arrives and the night is underway. Everyone looks particularly ravishing tonight, perhaps it’s the glow of love in the air. As Nour arrives, there are once more hugs and kisses all around. It might be an hour, a week or a month since we have last met, it doesn’t matter here, we are happy to be together again.

Opulent decoration gets us in the mood to party. The bar is in full swing and our state of mind is jubilant. The DJ ensures that the crowd is swaying along before the saxophonist takes up his jewel encrusted instrument, enrapturing the audience (or at least those of us who are listening) with his tunes. There is also a drummer who ensures that those left behind with the mood of the sax get down to his beat.

Understatedly elegant, Nour leads the girls for a sway to the music. There are photos, catch ups and couches of red as more friends arrive.

The food arrives and it looks very appetising. Incredible actually. It is beautifully presented and delicious. Food is a focus of Asia Asia and they do it well. Twelve spice calamari, platters of sushi and plates of endamame are delivered to us in the Shanghai Lounge.

We all dig in, hungry after a day of children, family, work, organizing. It is a time to celebrate, Nour especially, but each of us, busy in our lives and still making time to come together for each other.

Attractively presented, the delectable morsels from the platters are gone in no time. The soba noodle salad is devoured and the volcano sushi platter makes an encore as more is ordered. The yuzu pepper prawn dum sum delivers a flavorful punch as it bursts open in my mouth.

A little later after we have finished eating and chatting Nour accepts her birthday best wishes and congratulations. She blows out the candles on her cake looking radiant. She shines tonight. Contentedly, everyone settles in for drinks or a dance, or perhaps both.

We huddle close for catch ups about children, work and family. The smokers take a corner and I order another drink and select one more piece of sushi, too good to leave behind. There is more dancing and celebrations as the night flies by and the cake is served – heart shaped chocolate sweetness.

As another intimate night of friendship winds up, we say our goodbyes and head home with joy in our hearts. We have had another wonderful night. I rather suspect these ladies in red made a bit of a statement here tonight, least of all for how much love there is between friends. Although that is something which is certainly worth celebrating.

Would I Return?

Yes. Asia Asia does it well – the food, atmosphere and views here really are hard to beat. Ladies night gives you a bonus 3 drinks to kick off whatever you might be celebrating!