Days 20-21: Hong Kong Experiences

We spent one morning attempting to run along the harbour.   For some reason I remember it being much more pleasant, but there was so much construction we gave up and went through Victoria Park instead.

Harbour view, old vs new

Victoria Park, just how we remember it, with people everywhere doing calisthenics

A morning market in Causeway Bay

Since Dan took Saturday off to have fun hanging out with hanging dried fish in Tai O, he had to work Sunday, so we met with just Synni for most of the day. 

We started off with a sushi lunch! So delicious!! 

One of many massive public housing complexes

This is one of the 'fingers' of the back side of the complex.  I liked how there were older ladies playing card games out in the open there.

Taking the super old (and slow!) double-decker tram through the different neighborhoods along the north side of the island

Making excellent use of bamboo for scaffolding

Just like NYC's Flat-iron Building!

Sunday is the day off for Filipino and Indonesian house maids.  They gather and picnic and relax all day long in these public areas.  There were so many that they covered entire squares and pretty much any open space, such as this building.  I think most households hire one of these girls, even Synni and Dan have plans  to employ one someday, too.

We went for a little walk around Sheung Wan, the Old District.  These are the old Stone Steps.

It was tea time, which meant only one thing for Synni: Egg Custard.  We followed the trail of little yellow take-away bags to the best egg custard bakery around.  They were serving them hot out of the oven, for crying out loud!

Antique Street.  We saw one vender selling tiny carvings of animals.  The sign said some were made of walrus teeth and others out of mammoth tusk!  I didn't think they could be authentic, but sure enough the price tags listed them as costing hundreds of dollars!  I wonder if these were legal???

The longest escalator in the world.  Unfortunately we came at the wrong time of day and it was only going up, so we had to walk down the steps the old fashioned way.

We took the bus back to Synni and Dan's place in Tai Koo.  For dinner, Synni and I were each in charge of cooking up a dish or two in her one-person-at-a-time kitchen.

Trying to fit two people in the kitchen

Synni's very advanced toilet.  There was a massage setting, shower setting, and temperature settings.  I was curious to figure out what this all meant, but I chickened out.

Our home cooked meal!  Synni was in charge of the shrimp paste water spinach and steamed pork cake.  I requested that my ugly tofu burgers were to not make it in the photo. 

Kong Kong is a total nanny state in that there are long lists of rules for EVERYTHING.  Not only does this door say 'KEEP CLOSED', but also 'No abrupt push. Beware of man behind door'.

After a dinner and a couple rounds of cards (Saboteur, actually a fun game!), we spent the rest of the evening at the apartment block across the street, where Dan's family lives.  His parents, sister, and a few friends had gathered to watch the Manchester vs. Liverpool football game.  It was really nostalgic to be back at Dan's house--we had met his mother and sister there 4 and a half years ago--and they welcomed us back with gifts of tea and ham cookies.  I wish we could have visited longer (they are such a wonderful family!) but the colds we had developed were dragging us down by that point.

The next morning I went to explore the IKEA hidden down the road.  As cramped and crowded as HK is, this was probably the most vacant Ikea I had ever been to.

Synni and Dan were both back to work, so Seth and I were on our own to explore HK island for most of the day.  Luckily, we had the opportunity to meet up with both of our friends for lunch at a very popular BBQ place.

What dish doesn't belong in a BBQ place?  Roast crispy pork skin, roast duck, pork char shiu, or tofu with mushrooms? 

Seth and I went to the Bank of China high rise.  Someone didn't bring his photo ID so I had this view of the city to myself.

Peaceful Hong Kong Park

The Botanical Gardens.  Housed here was a little outdoor zoo of primates and reptiles.  There were also 'wild' sulfur crested cockatoos, just like in Australia (they were released as pets and have survived in the isolated green spaces of these parks).  After hearing their terrible screeches, I was quickly reminded of how they are nicer to look at than to see live (no wonder they were released pets!)

More signage!!

If you know what's best, don't do anything fun in HK

All this time I thought I knew how to use a bathroom stall

This warning sign, on many escalators, was my favorite.

For our final dinner in HK we met Synni and Dan at the same restaurant where we met them at the start of our previous HK trip.  Synni's idea was to recreate the photo we took together that night long ago. 

All of us at Crystal Jade restaurant in June, 2008.  We haven't changed one bit ;o)

Our last dinner, sad but delicious

The noodles were fresh and made to order!!  This guy pulled the dough into thin, linguini-like noodles by hand!

Time Square

After dinner Synni and Dan helped us collect our bags from the hostel and walked us to the airport shuttle stop.  It was really sad to say good bye again, but I think we will be seeing them again soon!!