TRIP TO HONGKONG DAY 3 PART 1

This morning its free and easy for us . Woke up early and before the girls are ready, I went down for a walk along Shanghai Street. Most of the shops along this street sells cooking utensils.

This shop sells knives- from their signage this must be a "old" (renown) shop.

This shop sells all sorts of baking ingredients, bakeware etc. - very crowded when I dropped by later.

This shop specialised in chopping boards- from the small to giantic ones.

The next road is the wholesale fruits market- You can find all varieties of fruits here and the prices are very cheap too.

Just across the hotel is this public square- still too early for the morning crowd.

Went back to the hotel and the girls were ready to move. This morning we were going to look for the AUSTRALIA DAIRY COMPANY for our breakfast. Took the MTR to Jordan, Exit C2 and turn right and walk to the traffic junction, cross the road opposite and its 2 roads up - Parkes street.

Already there was a queue waiting as it was a Saturday morning. However the service was very efficient. This man keep record of those coming out and he will let is the same number of people. We did not wait too long as there are 3 of us. However we still have to share a table with a gentleman. He very kindly told us that there is only 1 set menu for breakfast and the drinks will be served after you have finished your meal. This seem reasonable to me- at least we do not have to keep drinking while waiting for the food to arrive which by then we may not be able to appreciate the food.

First item - Macaroni soup with ham. The HK really have good appetite- so early in the morning, but it was very tasty and warming on this cold morning.

Next came this Scrambled eggs and toast. This is creamy and eggy and totally very good.

Talking about big portions yet we were able to finish them.

As you can see all the tables were full and but service was prompt.

We all ordered the Milk Tea and it again it did not disappoint us. We just want to linger over the tea and enjoy it.
However nobody seems to be doing that, it's like order, eat, and then leave. Guess this is due to the brisk business and lack of space.

After such a heavy breakfast, we walked around a while and then took a taxi to the Peninsular Hotel, end of Tsim Sha Tsui, near the harbour.

This is the place to shop for branded goods as these shops are housed around this area.



Just as I remember it- still so majestic looking. This hotel was built near the harbour in early times. During the Japanese occupation, it was used as the Japanese Headquarters.

The pair of Guardian Gods on the entrance of the hotel.

One of the green coloured Roll-Royces that hotel is notable for!

Walking under a construction canopy- here you can see that bamboo being used as scaffolding. Fantastic.

Just around the corner of Peninsular Hotel is the Heritage 1881. This building was formerly the Marine Police Headquarters.

Love is in the air!

Another awesome building with its beautifully sculptured grounds as well.

Behind is the Hullett House Hotel where they offered high tea with champagne!

One of the canons facing the Hong Kong Space Museum,opposite the road.

The original Ball Clock Tower.

After some time here, it is time for us to go back to the hotel. On the way, we bought this Polo Bun at one of bakery.

Polo Bun= translated "pineapple bun". There is no pineapple whatsoever in this bun. It is so called because of its topping - a custard topping when baked looks like the skin of the pineapple. It is actually just a sweet bun.

Along the way we also passed a few "siu mei" shop-

We also passed by one street that sells all sorts of dried seafood items- sharkfins anyone?

By the time, we reached our hotel, it was almost lunchtime. We decided to try the Mido Cafe nearby our hotel. This is the "char chan teng" that was often shown in the TVB dramas. Their popular drink here is the "Red Bean Ice" a concoction of layer of red bean and topped with soy milk. There was a notice that says "no photos please" hence forgot to take a picture of it.

This is a sneak photo with my phone- their signature dish Baked Sparerib Rice.

Juicy spareribs (even with the charred ends) and thick yummy sauce.

This Cheese Baked Rice is also very cheesy and creamy.

Here is a photo of the cafe. I think their fried mee and noddles must be popular too as can be seen on other tables.
After lunch, we walked along Shanghai street and got myself some bakeware- very cheap.

Then it is back to hotel to refresh ourselves before the night tour.

HONG KONG TRIP DAY 2 PART 2

After the last stop at Aberdeen Fishing village, its time to go for some compulsory shopping as required by the Tourist Board. We were taken to a jewellery shop, TCM shop and dried seafood shop. There were no damages to our pockets at these shops thank God!

Our last lesson on feng shui. This is the AIA Building. Noticed the outer walls- it resemble coffins.

Yes, this building is perched upon the cementery. Nobody wanted this piece of land which was going cheap. The American bought this land. At around time the building was completed, they had to make a very big paid out for the death of Bruce Lee- legendary kungfu actor who had bought his insurance in USA but died in Hongkong.
So to counter all these ill effects, the company was advised to built another outer wall which resemble coffin.

We dropped off at Tsim Sha Tsui- more a corporate and business centre. Can see many OL.

As it was almost lunchtime we decided to make our way around the shopping complexes.
Found a Food Republic Food Court in one of shopping complex.

My lunch- spicy soup with boiled dumplings. It came with a plate of choy sum too. Cost only HK$17.00 cheap and satisfying- especially like the vegetables- its big, crunchy and "sweet".

Esther ordered this Japanese rice of grilled eels with soup and vegetables as well.
Sarah ordered the Braised Chicken in soy sauce-also very tasty. Seems the Chicken Rice here is well known.

After the lunch, walked around and saw this big warehouse florist.


As our night tour has been cancelled for this evening we made a beeline for Ngong Ping 360- Lantau Island immediately.


From Tsui Sha Tsui, we took the MRT to Tung Chung station (almost 1/2 hour as it is the end of the line). From here, you can take the cable car or by bus. We had no choice as the cable car service has been temporarily stopped due to the rain/fog. So we took the bus up- it is cheaper though and the service is very prompt as it leaves every 45 minutes. The trip up is quite winding but its the rain the causes some uneasiness in me. Thank God, we reached safely.

By the time we dropped off at the terminal, it has became so misty/foggy that we can hardly see more than 20 feet in front of us.

These are real peonies - marvellous blooms.

The surroundings has became so surreal as if we had entered into fairyland. What an experience.

We had the place almost to ourselves- cannot see another soul around.

We tried to sit out the rain at the stall selling some hot titbits to warm ourselves before we ascend up to see the Giant Buddha.

Esther and Sarah braved the rain/fog and went all the way up (267 stairs) to see the Giant Buddha while I gave up after the second flight of steps-wet and slippery and steep for me. They told me that they cannot see anything except the shadow of it.

So we have no "yuen fun" (karma?) to see the Giant Buddha. I guess it is not the right time for us yet, we may have all intentions to see but whether we can actually see it is not within our control. The Buddha may have another plan for us- maybe want us to come back another time?

It was certainly a bit of disappointment for us to come this far and yet unable to see it.

Anyway the Po Lin Monastery closes around 5 pm, and we had to get our bus to go back down. The bus ride down was even more frightening and the driver did seem to be speeding.

It is worthwhile to check out the shopping mall CITYGATE OUTLET MALL at the bus terminal. Here you can find all sorts of factory outlets for brands, Coach, CK, Puma, Nike, Body Shop etc. These shops also offered discounts too.

We took the MRT back to Wanchai and had our dinner at this FishBall Soup shop. You can see all these newspaper cutting that it is endorsed by the popular Ah Soo - a culinary programme. Most of the shops here do offer free Chinese tea.

Four Combination - fish ball, pork balls, sotong balls and fish dumplings- very delicious.

Only here in HK, I seem to be eating the offals everywhere. This is Beef Offals Mee. The wanton mee is very good- springy with bite and the soup is nicely perfumed with the spices.

Both Sarah and Esther took the Wanton Mee -again very generous portions of the wantons! Delightful morsels of shrimps in each wanton.
We also ordered a portion of the green vegetables which we liked very much.

The various fish balls on display. We also saw some crispy fried fish skin- what a miss. How come the lady did not recommend this to us !.

Around the corner, we came across this stall selling "put chai goh". This is the brown sugar version with lots of red beans - yummy. Even this stall has some sort of newpaper-cutting publicising their goodies!

After walking around and not buying anything, decided to call it a day and made our back to the hotel to rest our tired feet.

TRIP TO HONGKONG DAY 2 PART 1

Day 2 -10/2/2012

Our booking for the hotel included a half day city tour as well. We got our wakup call at 6.30 am. Look out of the window and it was still dark and quiet- seemed strange because in Malaysia the traffic could already be jammed up (anyway in the area where I lived).

We were picked promptly at 7.00 am by the tour guide, Mr. Tony. He seems very proficient in Feng Shui and we got an introduction of it during the tour. I must state that I am really not sure that everything he has told us is the truth but it did made our tour more interesting.

We were taken to this restaurant for our Dim Sum breakfast. As it was still early the tables were half empty- it is different from the usual chaotic scenes which we were shown in those TVB dramas.

This morning we were joined by a couple from Kuala Lipis/Raub, Malaysia.


The guide offered us this chili sauce - he says Malaysian always ask for chili sauce. To me this is more like chili bean paste.

As it was just after the Chinese New Year, we were offered a plate of "Lin Goh" (Glutinious Rice cake) Liked it's sweet and stickiness but found the coconut smell a bit overpowering- surely come from the package.

Steamed Cheong Fun with Prawns- big portion but to me the rice flour (cheong fun) is not as smooth as the ones that we can find around KL. Is it because it is more genuinely rice flour and not blended flours?

The various dim sums: Char Siew Pau, Siew Mai, Har Gow- all very delicious.

Char siew pau- oohh I love the dark sweet sauce and the fluffy pastry.

Lastly is the Fried Spring Roll.

After breakfast, its time to cross the Harbour Tunnel over to HongKong Island.

Our first lesson on the Feng Shui began here. He told us about the entrance of Tunnel- shaped like "a pig entering water". For the opening ceremony the government chosed the TVB actress Lydia Sum (deceased) (for her size!) to cross the tunnel. The revenue collected from the toll has been increasing ever since.

We reached the Golden Bauhinia Square. This flower has been chosen as Hongkong national flower now. This gold-plated monument was given by the China Mainland Government and it is always being gold-plated every 2 years to maintain its glossy appearance. ("kam shek fei wong")

The HongKong Convention Centre - just behind the Golden Bauhinia.
This building was approved by the last Governor - Christopher Patten. It is the shape of a tortise. Mr Tony told us that his mother told him about an old folks tale about a tortise being chained to the land. If the tortise was to be released to the sea, HK would be in deep trouble. Mr. Tony was so frightened when he heard this tale - because he could not swim! Anyway when this "tortise" was built on the reclaimed land, it likened to the tortise being released and the effect was the economic depression in 1997.

Besides the Convention Centre was this Monument. Now what do you think it resemble?

It is the handle of a chinese sword- plunge into the ground. This was built by the China government. It's intention is to break the "curse" of the "tortise". So once again HongKong came out from the depression. Hurray!

This is one of the iconic sights of HongKong- the skyscrapers over in Kowloon. It was cold and misty hence the unclear picture.

Behind Esther is the IFC building -(Finance Centre) which you can't see it very well, but at the top of the building, there is a clawlike feature point upwards towards the sky. It is called the "one hand cover the sky" (in chinese "Yat sow cheh tin")
HongKong people really believe that to harness good luck, all buildings are to be in accordance to the principles of Feng Shui.

Our next stop is the Repluse Bay. The plaque stated the historical facts of the site. But according to Mr. Tony, this place has been a mass graveyard during the Japanese occupation. Hence the prices of the properties around this area has no market value. Because of this, the people living around here bought out every gods to be placed around the beach to counter the dead spirits.
The Po Lin Monastery gave 3 pairs of "pei yow" (mystical animals) to be placed around this site and from that time onwards this place has become a tourist attraction now

What is a "pei yow" (mystical animal) like? It has the head of the dragon, the body of a cow and hooves like the unicorn. One distinctive feature it also has no backside (ass) so what goes in cannot come out. It is often used to "pek cher" (take in the bad luck/evil spirit) and turn it into good luck in its body.

Here is how you touch the "pei yow"- from the head/mouth along to back and then put your hand into your pocket and take home the good luck!

The God of Wealth

The dragon with the dragon ball.

The God of Peace and Harmony- good for every household.

A Plaque built by a Chan Family

The ba-gua compass use in Feng Shui. Mr Tony told us that this sign is on the dollar note of a country. This is the way that every citizen of that country can carry this Feng Shui sign to boost the economy of that country. That particular country is definitely doing well economically.

The elephant is also a lucky animal in feng shui. Just make sure that it's trunk is turned downwards because the elephant will turn its trunk upwards in attack mode and also to spray the water (money) out!

The Bridge of Longivity- one should walk from one end to another. Each step will to your longivity and each backward step will minus it.

The God of Marriage - did not carry any red string, so just pray for all you single ones out there that you will find your other half soon.

The Goddess of Mercy. I think this was the only Goddess on this beach the last time I came to this place. My recollection was a beachside with only this one Goddess. Now it is a good place to relax- clean and bright.

A pair of love birds enjoying all the attention given.

The Laughing Buddha- well Sarah -you have to do something to get that joy and happiness!
haha. Every one rubs his stomach (see the darken colour) to leave your troubles with him and you will be rewarded with his joy and happiness.

Ok- they have become kids again.
After listening to all this feng shui, Mr. Ton decided to take us to "chuen wan" (change our luck)- a boat ride.

The biggest floating restaurant in HK. - Jumbo Restaurant.

Aberdeen Fishing Village - where the people live on these fishing boats.
We can see the stark difference between the luxurious yachts besides these boat houses.

Seems that the government will be banishing them or relocating them ashore soon and there will be no more such fishing village.

See the centre space in those buildings- purposely built for feng shui.
These buildings are built with their back facing the mountain (solid backing) and these space allow the dragon on the mountain to come out and drink the water.

One last shot before the tour end here.