Wendy Cheng Hoi-ling went backpacking in Yunnan province with a broken heart, but returned to Hong Kong with a new love.
Wendy, an operations manager later married engineer Riku Keski-Keturi in Finland on August 25.
They were both living in Hong Kong when they met, but are now based in the Scandinavian country. "I had just broken up with my ex-boyfriend and I decided to plan a trip to Yunnan with friends," Wendy said. "Riku, who was then an exchange student at City University, knew one of my friends and we went on the trip together."
At first, she did not understand Riku's accented English and thought he was too quiet. During the trip, however, Riku surprised her with his humour and mastery of photography. "I began to feel that he really stood out from all the other guys I'd met before. He speaks only when necessary and only when he means it. He's a very reliable and honest person," Wendy said.
They secretly took photos of each other from afar during the trip, but didn't tell each other what they were feeling.
When they returned to Hong Kong they went on a first date - a hike on Valentine's Day. "We've felt strongly that we are a perfect match from our first day together," Wendy said. "Every single day since we started dating, I have felt showered in excitement and love."