2/17 slopes of central

 you ventured out to hong kong island on the second day, as you walk on the streets you're reminded how steep some of the roads are in central and sheungwan area.

 perhaps you stay too long in the lowland that you're no longer use to walking up and down the steep slopes. or climbing staircases, well not in a humid and drizzling day any how and the jet lag that kicks in...

 you went to a new place, the new kid on the block, the most talk about pmq. it's the ex-police quarters that converted into studios and shops, cafes, eateries that are quite one of a kind, not the mainstream high street merchandised.

 you walk through the floors and blocks aimlessly, chanced into what you think a nice party place for kid's birthday

and when you walk by this cafe, the aroma just get you into the shop and order your cafe late.

a cup of cafe latte at hkd40, quite pricey to your opinion but it's a legit coffee with the right kick to boost you up.  you found a corridor seat and take out your chicken pie from taicheong bakery and had it with the coffee. it's a good break, the coffee ceased the light headache that caused by the jet lag momentarily.

2/17 sunnyhills

anyone who loves pineapple tart would probably visited this place in central hong kong. the pineapple tart is extraordinary and exquisitely made. likewise the environment, hidden in the quiet alley of bustling central, a gem and oasis in the city.
the moment you walk in to this place, you're seated and in no time you're served with a cup of oolong tea and a piece of pineapple tart.  no pushy sales tactics, no hard sell, the lady who served you just withdrawn quietly after serving you.
it started to drizzle, so you found your shelter and relief in the space with occasion walk in customer who purchased the tart or otherwise like you, just come in for an experience and enjoy the hospitality.
the pineapple tart is made with french butter, it would have been perfect to any butter lover but just not for you.  you find the butter a bit overpowering, nonetheless acceptable.  the pineapple filling is a pleasant surprise with traces of pineapple.  every bite is delightful.  taste real, taste pure and organic.
you didn't walk out empty handed but you bought a box, it's expensive regardless of the weak euro currency but it's probably worth the value and the shelf life is really for about two weeks.

2/17 central.gal

you're still a central gal after all and feeling very at home in the hong kong island, even though it's sunday when you arrived to central.  outside of the golden maid square, you actually didn't see much of their sight!

hong kong central consists of the glamorous shopping, celebrities and star spotting part and also a part that is more down to earth and familiar to most of the residents that live in the mid levels and relying the walking escalator to get up or down the slope/hill

and butchers or wet market that supply the need of the residents in and around this area

there seems to have many construction works this trip at almost every other corner of central

you followed the hype to line up for the most famous egg tart from this shop.  the line was pretty long and you stood for fifteen minutes among the japanese and koreans before your turn to grab just one egg tart that sounds too miserable so you grab also a chicken pie...

you walked to the cafe next door, ordered your cafe latte and attack the egg tart.  perhaps you have much higher expectation but this egg tart while legit will probably not worth another 15 minutes queue.  you believe many decent bakery in hong kong can produce such standard egg tart. the only difference you could tell from any other egg tart is that the crust has a very subtle taste or trace of almond.  it's definitely a great tart.

1/17 the very wet kong!

finally you set your feet in forever hong kong, it's been 4 years!

the passport control was swift, that's the efficiency of hong kong and in no time you collected your luggage and sitting in the bus that taking you to your final destination. the dark clouds slowly building up and it seems a stormy weather and heavy outpouring will start any time soon.    as soon as you arrived your in-law's house, the torrential rain pour out almost uncontrollably. with such a weather you have to make plan b.  the plan a was to check out yuen long leisurely but now you're confined to the 'wai' aka village for the original settlement folks. 

your 'culinary' experience starts with an afternoon tea hong kong style, not in a chachanteng (茶餐厅）but in the village's 'store' (士多). you asked for a typical combo of sandwich (腿蛋治）and cold milk tea （冻奶茶). they're legit and you're more intrigue in the old, aged, rustic and almost dirty interior and listening to the casual conversation of the village folks (街坊) while waiting for the red warning sign rain （红色暴雨）to stop.  it's fun, despite the fact that you super dislike the cigarette smoke that you inhale as the result of people smoking in the store.

you're literally confined to the village, spending time casual chat with your fil. watching the television and wait for the rain to cease.  you're not complaining as they're not too many occasion when you feel your body is moist as a result of the humidity and yet not sweaty.

dinner again in the proximity of the 'wai'.  Your fil took you to a local restaurant at lam tei(蓝地) and since it's only two of you, you ordered just 3 dishes, a portion of roasted pork (烧乳猪）steamed garupa (蒸星石斑鱼) and a mixed veg dish (节瓜抄牛肉).  the soup and the dessert （陈皮红豆汤) are courtesy of the restaurant. the dishes were good perhaps not the best in hong kong but you're delighted not to find artificial flavorings in these food. this was a pleasant surprise!

that conclude your first day of in the kong in a subtle way, nothing extraordinary, but relaxed, well fed and down to earth.  a very 'un-touristic' way to savor the kong given the weather condition.

two.weeks.four.countries

this trip was never planned but when life give you asia, you accept it wholeheartedly and with God's provision, everything thing went smoothly from last minute leave application to air ticket sourcing and planning the side trips. hence it's a ratio of two weeks four countries.

this was your first ever experience traveling with china southern.  the aircraft, safety procedure and the crews were fine but the passengers are really one of a kind that one really need to get use to them.  you try to overlook their shortcomings but if another opportunity arise you probably will not travel with china southern ever again even though they're much cheaper than the lowland airlines.

hong kong has been really wet that you experienced the yellow, red and black rain forces.  despite of the rain, you still have your yummy delicious and eating like there's no tomorrow.  more on that will come later. while on the first day of your arrival, you pretty much stay in the "wai" and your first taste of hong kong was from this "store" at the entrance of the "wai"

the truth is you have not seen the clear blue sky of hong kong.  what you've experience is the grey day of hong kong like the photo above where dark clouds are hovering over the sky of hong kong.  thankfully hong kong is not new to you, in fact this trip is like a home trip to you, so the weather has not done much harm to your plan.

today you will leave hong kong for your first side trip to taiwan.  

little.goodies

some goodies from a friend who just came back from china.  these little sweets are so good and addictive. thankfully you're only given a handful and you count that a blessing to sample the taste but not indulge in over eating.

::purple::love::

wisteria is actually one of your favorite flowers. you love them hanging around ans swaying with the movement of the wind.  but it take a long time to plant.  you're delighted to find them at your friend's garden. such a pure spring delight!

moving.kitchen

the moving kitchen.  one of the famous outdoor food event in amsterdam. it's your very first.  the entrance is free and since you already in the city, when your friend text you a message, you decided to join them there.
there're a lot of food trucks and stalls, selling everything under the sun, but you were too full from de hallen and so the only things you tried are the one on the last picture.  a very good in fact excellence cannoli but pricey.  that being said, you do enjoy your few hours here, inhaling in the scents and aroma of the food and chatting away with friends, let alone good weather too!

that.food

this place must be a rival to rotterdam's markthal. while in reality, they are of very different personality modern vs history.  food wise, they're very different too. at the foodhallen, it's almost impossible to make up your mind what you want to eat but at the end you settle for the fried soft shell crab burger with steamed bun. a kinda fusion treat but delicious ones... and then you order another plate of mezza to share.  lovely fallafel and humus.  there're a few more stalls that you wanted to try but your eyes are bigger than your stomach, so you will save it for the next time, more excuse to come back for more!

that.light.too

moving from one wing to another, at this side, you still see the same light that comes to play but no more food or restaurants just some shops that selling vintage, recycle or self design items.  all things that you browsed are graciously display and done.

love this place, a different amsterdam experience!