*dimsumdolly* - the different morsels of the life of a foodie

In Love With Hong Kong

It was just one of those days where you HAD to go outdoors. To not do so would have meant doing the heavens a great disservice and letting the gods down.

So after having a yummy lunch at 公和 (Gong Wo--this is a small eatery specialising in soy bean products.), off ChungkingExpress and I went to 山顶 (the Peak). To get over to HK island, we took the ferry. Have I ever mentioned how much I love taking the ferry to HK island and back to Tsim Sha Tsui? Well if I haven't, I shall do so here. If I have, forgive me for repeating. But yes, it's so lovely going across the harbour and taking ferry rides. I know, it's a cheap thrill and I feel like such a kid when I get all excited and happy taking ferry rides. :p

Upon reaching Central, we took a bus up to the Peak and then walked the 3km trail there. It's a pity that many people who go to the Peak only stay at the viewing gallery and not bother to take a walk along the trail. See, you would miss this lovely little waterfall otherwise.

It's a lovely walk which brings you round the hill, offering magnificent views of Victoria Harbour on one side and the Repulse Bay side of Hong Kong Island on the other. That was such a magnificent and glorious day! It seemed like the kind of day where nothing could go wrong and nothing, absolutely nothing, could get your mood down. I was certainly in very good spirits. It's a rare day where one gets such clear views from the Peak. Usually it's so misty and fogged up.

And I didn't do any shopping at all during my time in HK! *Applause applause* But I would have to say that shopping in HK is definitely a lot better than in Singapore--more shops and much better service compared to Singapore.

But seriously, I don't do much shopping when I travel. Hell, I wouldn't even call myself a shopholic even back in Singapore. I don't enjoy thronging the shops, especially when I'm overseas.

While in HK, I met up with Olduvai who was also there on holiday with a Singaporean friend of hers. Olduvai's friend's friends were just fantastic. They were such good hosts--bringing us around to eat all the yummy stuff. We ate so much. We were like eating machines. All meals were never complete without dessert. And the desserts in HK are just so yummy. There was so much variety that we always found it hard to decide which one to order. Ooh, I just go crazy over all the yummy food in HK.

I also participated in an egg tart queueing competition. Nah, kidding. There wasn't any such competition. It was just that Tai Cheong Bakery, located at Lyndhurst Terrace, Central, was forced to close down due to the high rental rates demanded by its landlord, and everyone was rushing to savour the last of its famous egg tarts and donuts. Its last day of operation was on 25 May, so while I was there, I had to find out what was so good about these egg tarts that had HK's former British governor Chris Patten proclaim it the best egg tarts in the world.

Each person was only allowed to buy a maximum of 12 egg tarts. Six egg tarts were going for HK$21. Anyway, after finally getting my hands on them after queueing for about 45min, I sunk my teeth into a piping hot egg tart. But I was a tad disappointed as it's really not the best I've had. Plus I didn't really like the shortbread-like pastry. For egg tarts, I much prefer those with flaky pastry. Still, I'm happy that I managed to eat a piece of history. heehee.

I'm enamoured with Hong Kong. The type of buzz, vibrancy and excitement that runs through the city is something yet to be found in Singapore. It's a city that never sleeps and there's something for everyone. I was thanking one of the friends who showed Olduvai and I around, and this friend commented that she really liked Singapore's tidiness and cleanliness when she came here.

I, on the other hand, then said that I actually like HK's untidiness! Things are not as uniformed and that's what makes it interesting. I love some of the dingy little alleys and lanes as these are the things that gives the city character.

HK has captured my heart and it seems that it gets harder and harder to say goodbye each time!

Posted by DSD at May 30, 2005 9:24 AM