A Cultural and Culinary Journey

Ryan and I had a fun time a couple of weeks ago taking Shad's parents and grandmother who were visiting from Melbourne and KL on a cultural and culinary tour around Hong Kong. It's always lovely having family visit, and it gives us a chance to show them around our new home, especially all our favourite eating joints as well as regular haunts. Before they arrived, I had prepared a "to do" list, but unfortunately because of bad weather as well as the recent flu scare, we weren't able to do some of the more interesting things like a boat trip out to Lamma Island and the heritage walk in Yuen Long in the New Territories. In spite of the miserable weather, we still managed to explore some of Hong Kong's more popular tourist spots and of course also fit in many, many delicious meals. And on those wet and windy days, we stayed indoors in the comfort of our apartment enjoying Po Tai's (as Ryan calls his great grandmother) yummy oyster porridge, vinegar pig trotters and her version of "sang choi bow"!

Our adventure began with a ride on the historic Hong Kong tramway, starting in Kennedy Town (which is at the back of our apartment complex) on the western side of Hong Kong, then winding its way through Sheung Wan, Central, Admiralty, Wan Chai and Causeway Bay, finally stopping at Happy Valley directly infront of the Hong Kong race course. Over the next few days, we managed to squeeze in some shopping at Stanley market, exercise our legs on a bike ride around Inspiration Lake, stroll along the Avenue of Stars in Tsim Tsa Tsui, eat some sumptious seafood at Sai Kung, enjoy the amazing panaramic view of Hong Kong from the Peak and still find time for some fun play at home. All in all, not a bad week.

Hong Kong's iconic double decker tram (photo "borrowed" from wikipedia)

First of many meals to come - Shanghainese at "Flower Trump" restaurant (notice how all three of us are preoccupied with different things - one's busy stuffing his face (as usual), the other busy examining his food before it goes into the mouth, while I am busy taking pics for my blog!)

Playtime at home

Lanterns galore at Stanley market

Walking along the Stanley seaside promenade (Ryan's pititful pleas of "I tired, I tired" resulted in a free ride from Ah Kong!)

Cool shades for a cool dude

Enjoying the animated exhange between shop owners and shoppers

Six-persons bike ride around Inspiration Lake

Astroboy look-alike???

Cameraman and his obliging subjects

The result

View of Hong Kong from the Peak

Pretending to be a doggy with Ah Ma

For once, the cameraman is actually in a photo!

Fog or pollution?

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One of Po Tai's favourite stars, Li Li Hua

Tanks and tanks filled with all kinds of different seafood, delivered by the local fishermen straight from the sea in Sai Kung


Salt and pepper "lai liu har"

Po Tai's birthday dinner at the AMC (Ryan only had eyes for the chocolate truffle cake!)

Chef at work expertly slicing our Peking duck