After 10 days in Hong Kong, I am finally back in Singapore.
The temperature was wonderful, averaging 17*C, with mild winds in the city, and stronger ones in the outer islands.
Staying right next to the Star Ferry Terminal in Kowloon is simply great, although the price is hell high. But it sure has all the convenience and view of the harbour!
Every night, at 8pm, Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong side will light up, and display a laser show. To hear commentaries, please tune in to the radio, or just go to the Walk of Stars…. simply wonderful.
To see a clips of the laser show: http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/interactive/video/index.jhtml, and select the very first video. Note that its more than 35MB, so you can forget it unless you are on broadband.
BTW, some of the pictures of HK on my first day there are up… http://www.filmgrain.com/travel/Hong%20Kong/index.html, will update again when more pictures are up.
Today, is also my birthday!
Thanks to Synapseman’s well wishes over SMS, but I did not reply coz SMS overseas expensive lah…
Anyway, we went to 陆羽茶室 and had 13 dishes of Dim Sum. Guess how much that cost us…
A COOL HK500! Beat that! But we met stars and directors there…. The food is GREAT, the ambience is GREAT, and it brings me back in time with all the old décors.
The restaurant is at 24 Stanley Street, Central.
Went off to Lantou Island after that. The ferry took about 20mins and then took the bus to 宝莲禅寺(Po Lin Monastery) to visit the 天坛大佛(Giant Buddha).
Oh… Anita Mui’s memorial is here, btw.
Had free lunch at the monastery, and went over to 大澳(Tai O). Its basically a small fisherman’s village, but we went there basically for food. Unfortunately, it is closed.
Walked around the place and took some pictures…
They have a very small private museum, and its really interesting. You get to see many things from the past, and even a whale’s bone.
Not getting food, we took a bus over to 东涌 (Tung Chung), and took the MTR back to Kowloon.
Woke up at 8am, and started walking to the History Museum of HK. Wanted to eat at 表哥餐厅(Cousin Restaurant), but unfortunately, its open only at 11.
Had breakfast at another restaurant next to it instead. Each set meal is HK19. Macaroni, Sausage, vegetables, egg, bread, and coffee, all for that HK19!
Cross the street and reached the History Museum of HK. Entry is HK10 per adult, and we spent the next 3-4 hours inside.
The tour started from the prehistory of HK, to the stone age, Chinese Dynasty, English Occupation, WWII, and it also show cases some of the cultural events of HK, like the 包山(Mountain of buns) at 长州(Cheong Chou Island).
I am expremely impressed with the generousity of Hong Kongers. There was a display of a Chinese Medicine Hall, which was donated by the owner, whole sale. I say whole sale, meaning EVERYTHING internally, AND EXTERNALLY, inclusing walls, tiles, door frames, doors, decors, even the 土地公(God guarding the area) at its door steps, was literally shifted to the museum.
Too bad the camera has no wide angle, but I took video of it. Man, thats impressive!
The other thing is, the securities are very polite! And you know what?! They actually know what is being displayed, and they can even explain to you about the exhibits, like a curator!
In Singapore, I doubt most of them will not know more than where the toilets are…
At the end of the tour, met some Japanese Tourists, who started smoking right next to us, IN THE MUSEUM! But surprisingly, the curators came by within 2 mins and chased them out.
I really dislike this group of tourists because the are really obnoxious, and they did not care for others. Pushed their way around, and even knocked my son! Without even saying sorry, just look and him and walk away… geez…
Took the bus back to Star Ferry Terminal, that cost me HK4.70/trip, regardless of number of stops. Ferry to Hong Kong Island cost HK1.70 for the lower deck, which has not much differences with the top deck (which is more expensive). Infact, at the lower deck, you get to see more of the daily Hong Konger’s lifestyle, and more action on the operations of the ferry. Seats are plentiful, and you can actually adjust the back rest of the benches, if they are facing the other direction.
We went to 铜锣湾(Causeway Bay), ate Dumplings for lunch at 饺子王(King of Dumplings), and shopped around. We went over to Times Square, walked one whole big round, and ended up at SOGO. Bought some biscuits as gifts, and back we went to Times Square.Wah laoz… I tell you, SOGO area is CROWDED man!!!!
Sis went for a Arts Festival show, and we had dinner at Times Square.
By then, I already have abrasions….
Took MTR, changed at 金钟 (Admiralty), and back to Kowloon Station.
Went out again to the Cultural Center opposite our hotel, and watched the laser show, unfortunately, I was really tired, and baby was crying. Went off soon after.
Left house at 4am, to catch sis’s JetStart Flight which departs at 650am.
Our flight left at 830am. Reaching HK about an hour after sis touched down. She has already bought the Octopus card for ll of us.
Talking about the Octopus card, its a card which one should have if you stay in HK. Ferry, Bus, Train, MTR, even Watsons, can use this card for payment! And Singapore is boasting about this EZLink card…
Took the Airport Express service, paid HK220 for 4 tickets, single trip… thats HK200 cheaper than if we got the round trip 1 month ticket!
Reached the hotel at about 1pm, and got checked in immediately.
Its a Family Suite with 2 bedrooms and a living room… cool…
After leaving the house for more than 10hours, and having to look after YS along the way, all of us knocked out until about 5pm and we went out for food.
Walked all the way till 旺角(Wong Kok). Ate along the way at 美都茶餐厅(Mei Du Eating House), right next to Dorsett Seaview Hotel, along Shanghai Street.
Tell you, they have the best fried rice I have ever tasted. Beef Steak Fried Rice (牛扒炒饭), Pork Ribs Steamed Rice (排骨炬饭) is simply heavenly. Add in 2x鸳鸯(Coffee-mixed-with-tea), and everything cost less than HK100. And that filled 3 stomachs, excluding mine. *NOTE: no photo taking allowed here… but they have a cashier machine thats at least 100 years old!
We walked along 庙街 (Temple street) and headed for 姜撞鲜奶(Ginger mixed with fresh milk)… woohoo…. nice dessert.
Then we headed towards 花园街 (Fa Yuen Street), ate 鱼面 (Noodles made from minced fish), 牛百叶(Cow’s Stomach) at 乐园牛丸王 and went off to 女人街 (Ladies Market).
By then, its already almost 8pm, and we headed back to hotel.
Tiring day I tell you….
Tomorrow, we are going to the History Museum of Hong Kong….
was walking pass a stall selling dolls in WTC
seller: 这个doll有文凭的。。。
me: so which Uni did this Doll graduate from?
seller: no, I mean she got certificate one.
me: I know… so which uni did she graduate from?
seller: I mean got birth cert
me: friend…. that is called 证书。。。
wah laoz…..
oh… to add on to her management skill.
1. She is from the planning department, where her department is supposed to plan things for us to do.
2. Her department goes around asking people what are they doing.
3. They go back to their seat, creates powerpoints.
4. 2 days later, comes back to us, and tell us to do what we told them that we are doing 2 days ago.
5. Job completes
6. Wait for boss to give her more things, so she can repeat 1-5 again.
Just had a moronic manager came to my dept, passed us some documents, and mentioned that the copier machine is messing up their page numbering created in MS Words.
me: “How on earth can that happen? the machine does not change any data, and it does not add the page number for you. It prints what you sent to it!”
M: “really! The b/w printer has no problem, but the colour one will”
me: “the colour one is newer than the old one, how can have such problems? further, it does not change your data”
M: “Even your Manager TT say that its a machine problem! you dun believe you ask him”
me: “ok… I will”
M: “you wanna bet?”
me: “up to you”
……
meanwhile, my colleague did some test prints…
results…. the manager lost…
WTF?! how did a moron became a manager in a technical department???? Manager is a she btw….
Have you guys tried the iSqueez from OSIM?
Its one hell of an expensive piece of equiptment, going at $588, with 1 year warranty.
http://shop.osim.biz/shop/details.asp?prodID=1089&pID=1352
I have never liked the sales people from such places, but today, was feeling tired like hell, and while walking pass OSIM, saw the demo.
Decided to give it a try (since demo is free), and what do you know?
ITS VERY COMFORTABLE!
15mins of massage, and I feel absolutely refreshed at my feet, and I feel like shitting.
Discussed with wife, she likes it too, and we dicided for it.
Paid $535, cash and carry.
Wife came home, tried, and well… tummy ache as well… this thing really increases your metabolic rate man!
