Happy New Year, dear readers! I hope that 2014 is off to a good start for you all. Here in Hong Kong, we’re in limbo between the Western New Year and the Chinese one (the Year of the Horse starts on January 31 this year). I actually love this – it’s like a second chance. Broke all your New Year’s resolutions by the second week of January? Well, there’s nothing to stop you trying again come Chinese New Year…

My resolution this year is a bit ambitious, but I’m interested to see how long I can stick to it. I have resolved not to buy any drinks in plastic bottles or disposable cups for a whole year. Over the past year two things – collecting bottle after bottle during a beach clean-up in Hong Kong and seeing piles of plastic just about everywhere in China – led me to sign the Travellers Against Plastic pledge to avoid using disposable plastic bottles. I tested a portable water purifier on my trip to Tibet in November and it seemed to work just fine, so I’m taking the plunge – no plastic in 2014. I’ll let you know how I get on! What are your New Year’s resolutions?

2013 was a great year for me, what with getting married (twice), working with great people on some fun projects, and visiting lots of fascinating new places, both inside China and out. I’m really looking forward to 2014 too, it has a good feeling about it so far with plenty of exciting projects on the horizon. May it live up to my high hopes for us all! 新年快乐！

Turtle vs. Bottle, Shanwei © Jo James