photos by Colin Sokol

(Rag & Bone Rowan dress, Balenciaga cutout boots)

We had one free day in Hong Kong, which was also our last. This sounds pretty squirrely but we both kind of freaked out trying to decide how to spend it. Lantau Island? Repulse Bay Beach? Giving up on life and getting trampled in the streets? At least shopping was out of the question, a dude can only take so much. Actually the same goes for a me. We decided to try the island thing mostly to impress my mom since she had recommended climbing up to the Tian Tan Buddha and we do well with goals. So a Metro ride to an hour long ferry to a taxi journey uphill on an eternal winding road took us to Ngong Ping Village, where that only second tallest outdoor bronze seated Buddha in the world was waiting at the top of 4 million stairs. It was a slightly trippy experience, you’re so lightheaded by the top and the air feels noticeably thinner and the sun blinding in an abnormal, pleasantly painful way. Possibly necessary to clarify that we were indeed sober. It must have been an off day to decide to make this trip because the place was pretty desolate as far as outsized statue sites go. We did a few curious laps around him and spaced out at those bright green mountains before deliriously wandering down as the sun set. Already a very crystallized memory. Sort of happy to shoot this dress for the first time at such a specific place in the world.