Place: Hong Kong
10 am. Having watched countless times on TV how the Hongkies always eat their Siew Mai (a kind of Dim Sum) at 7-11, where they put the packages in the microwave and just ate there with soy sauce and everything, I kept telling everyone I know I must try this when I go to Hong Kong.
The good thing about 7-11 is they are EVERYWHERE.
Man, this 带子肠粉 (Scallop in a starchy skin-like thing made of rice powder) is so tasty, it's just like what I had in Ipoh (you should know Ipoh 肠粉 is like the best there is!)Well, mayb I exaggerated a bit, but the secret I think, is in the soy sauce. The packaged soy sauce is very tasty, and I can't remember where else that has this good tasting soy sauce, except a few Japanese sushi restaurants.
After breakfast, we went up to bro's apartment to pass time, since they have plans to have Dim Sum in Kowloon later in the afternoon.
What can I say, I was bored. End result?
Hehe, just to spite people because my dad, bro and sis-in-law loves me :DBy 1 pm my whole family took the MTR and reached Kowloon very soon after. You can see the ocean from here.
The restaurant is called 好彩, and is located in a shopping center. As with any other Hong Kong buildings, the air-cond was on full blast. My mom and I almost froze to death in Hong Kong during summer.
We had the pleasure of dining with bro's friends in Hong Kong, together with some of the man's friends from Singapore. The company was nice, and the food was great. The Dim Sum variety is of course greater than what we have here, as Hong Kong is famous for the delicacy.
3 pm. After the scrumptious lunch, we took the taxi and headed to 旺角 (Mongkok). There is a street there, that is famous for the flower shops, called 花墟道 (Flower Market Road).
The sign says 'apple tree'.
Lotus flowers.
No idea what this is.
Just up ahead from the Flower Market Road, is the Bird Garden...
...which is a closed-in garden for bird-lovers to gather and show-off or sell their birds and other goods. I think it's due to the avian flu scare that had the Hong Kong government walling the area in.
A lot of singing birds can be found here, but as it was nearing dusk, I'd imagine the number had more or less dwindled.
Even the sparrows joined in the fun. Well, for the food, mainly. I used to have birds as pets, and the sparrows, pesky little things, they used to swoop down for the dropped bird seeds too, just like this.
Well, that's that. Off we go to an air-conditioned place. Beautiful poster by the way.
And to think Kowloon District used to be the dirtiest district in old Hong Kong, in every aspect. Now, while it isn't the cleanest, it certainly is better than the early days.
5 pm. Our next destination: Royal Plaza Shopping Complex (太子购物中心).
With an exorbitant parking fee too. Not to worry, the only people driving cars in Hong Kong are rich people, they can afford it.We walked a while in the shopping mall, and had a short tea break. After all were rested, we set out for the famous 女人街 (Ladies Street) .
You don't know how many times I've tried to take a photo of the Hong Kong police (警察叔叔,你好!). Mood: ecstatic!
Hong Kong police patrols the street from day till night (on shifts, of course), and they do it on foot, in pairs or teams (we see it all the time on TV). I've met with them on many streets. I just lacked the guts to take a picture of them up-close. This is the safest distance I could managed without embarassing myself. But of course, friends have told me they wouldn't mind taking a picture or two with tourists.
The (in)famous Ladies Street sells stuff that can be found in our pasar malam -- a lot of fake bags and watches and trinkets and such.
But this...Uncle Polis will tangkap oh (novelty underwear with a bird's head jutting out and acting as a pouch for you-know-what).
Another street that looks just like any other Hong Kong street, the night streets of Mong Kok. Walking through it now, it's a bit hard to imagine it was once a street crawling with Hong Kong triad members and people of other shady professions.
There are two things to look for in this picture.
1. The big advertisement at the top.
- Hongkies are really serious with their tuition classes.
- There are even TVB series about tuition teachers.
- Their teachers have cool-sounding names.
- They are really SERIOUS about it.
2. The police team in the center of the photo.
- They are just too cool.
- Out on their night-shift patrol, perhaps?
- Hong Kong policemen have the toughest job. Just look at the crowd.
I couldn't stop giggling. My mom too. Makes me wanna have some watercress (西洋菜) right there and then!
7 pm. Still remember the IFC? The tallest building in Hong Kong?
It's also home to several upscale shops and restaurants. My bro took us to have wantan mee in 正斗, and boy was it good! I guess this is how good wantan mee tastes like: clear, savoury stock soup with springy mee and fresh shrimp wantans. The restaurant is jam-packed with customers, with the service brisk and people flowing constantly. It's difficult to leisurely enjoy the meal, when there are still a lot of customers starving outside. But, hell, it's good.
10 pm. Let me end this day with a picture of my nephew, chewing on his flower toy. Good night, and sleep tight!
