The driver burned more stinky gas turning his ferry (40 – 49 capacity) out of its parking slot at Tai Pak Marina in Aberdeen than the amount it took to get to the floating Cantonese restaurant. I expected the restaurant to rock, but it was solid as one on dry land. The huge open space hummed like a beehive and didn’t feel like a ship. The male servers wore microphones with coiled phone wire tucked behind their ear like secret servicemen in the movies. We’d heard Cantonese people like to eat out and this being Easter weekend proved it. Every table was filled. I counted 36 tables and each appeared to be set up for 10 guests. We were served on the third floor.
Lunch:
- Sweet and sour sauce
- Chili pepper sauce
- Soy sauce
- Steamed shrimp in rice paper (rubbery)
- Shrimp wontons
- Steamed fish balls
- Pork balls with cabbage (?) (tasty)
- Steamed sweet dough wrapped pork (?)
- Noodles with curry shrimp, green peppers and egg
- Fried rice with shrimp peas, corn and green onions on noodles with ginger
- Jasmine tea
- Coconut Jello (but not clear like Jello
This was a long affair from 12:55 to 2:10 p.m. When we arrived, we waited longer than usual for the food to arrive. Again, everyone in the restaurant had the same food. I thought I was smart when one of the ladies wanted more tea, but couldn’t catch the server’s attention. I lifted the teapot lid and replaced it at an angle, not quite fitted into the opening. Another of our group waved the waiter down to ask for more tea and he showed her the same thing I had ‘invented’. Am I brilliant or what?! I have no clue how I came by this idea.
After lunch, a last stab effort at our lined tourist pockets: a surprise visit to Dynasty Jewelry Manufacturers: the presentation in French only. Right. Though the pieces were magnificent, who walks around with the kind of money for such purchases without forethought? Bored, I wandered around shadowed by a clerk who didn’t even pretend he wasn’t stalking following me. I’m not sure anyone in the French Group purchased anything.
Next we climbed a steep, serpentine road to Victoria Peak. I held my breath as another bus passed us traveling in the opposite direction, grateful we were on the inside lane. We passed breathless views for perfect picture-taking but no stopping was allowed. From the bus, the city appeared like a miniature, model city.
Our destination: The Peak for picture taking and The Peak Galleria (the mall). We had to go inside and up escalators to the third floor, then outside to the peak for a spectacular view and for pictures. Because of the distance, my photos were small. With more time to kill, I checked out the mall. Actors dressed as rabbits put on a show for shoppers’ children, this being Easter Saturday. I wandered into a drugstore and bought nail polish for our last dress-up dinner later. Two tiny bottles (about half the size we usually see at home) cost a grand total of $2.00 total.
Quick Facts
- 1,800 square foot = luxury apartment
- Condos at Repulse Bay under $20,000 USD per month
- Visiting Businessmen are put up in these type condos
- Usual apartment rent around $1,300 USD
- If cannot pay, government subsidizes at $300 USD per month
- Long wait to get subsidized apartment: 4 to 5 years
- A car traveling to Hong Kong has two license plates: one for Hong Kong and one for China
- No casino allowed in Hong Kong
- If one travels to Macau, must return home 5:00 p.m. like from work
- Hong Kong 93% Chinese + Pakistani Indian
- Has 272 islands
- West Hong Kong is new
- 150,000 immigrants arrive every day
- Have many, and mostly Taoist, temples
Dinner choices made by members of English Eight at Italian restaurant (paid out of pocket)
- Risotto
- Pizza
- Lamb
- Fettucine Bolognese
- Linguine with clams
- Octopus Ink sauce (for pasta)
- Octopus Ink dinner rolls
Insert Image #788 (last dinner English Eight)
Additional information about Hong Kong.
Taken by Jacek Zarzycki
~ * ~
Next on June 26th – Packing Up and Homeward Bound
For more related posts, click on China tab at the top of the page
© 2015Tess @ How the Cookie Crumbles. All Rights Reserved.
June 19, 2015 at 7:05 pm
I love all the colors on that Jumbo building. Looks like you had a nice bottle of wine with the meal and that you all are enjoying. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
June 19, 2015 at 9:03 pm
Now that you mention it, I realize we had no beer or soft drinks as had been the practice until before Macau. Huh. How did I forget that?
Nice to see you, Paulette. We’ll be on our way home soon. 😦 The trip is almost over.
LikeLike
June 19, 2015 at 7:19 pm
I got dizzy just looking at the mountain, but wow, what a view!
I was just thinking of supper and now I want Chinese food even though I’m going to resist, maybe, I’ll try, except now I want Italian food. So many choices.
Lovely post, I so enjoy traveling with you, Tess. 🙂
Hope this weekend is good to you. 🙂
P.S. Some of us on WordPress are having a problem, when we ‘Like’ a post it doesn’t always stay ‘Liked’, so if my ‘Like’ doesn’t stay, I’ll try to return when they fix the problem that they say they’re not having…but be aware, I really Like this. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
June 19, 2015 at 9:01 pm
I was dizzy too, Donna. Left-hand driving up an incline with traffic passing on the right almost did me in. 😦
LikeLike
June 19, 2015 at 7:50 pm
Great pictures, Tess. But sorry they didn’t stop for the ones you wanted. I feel kind of sad that the trip is nearly over. Mega hugs!
LikeLiked by 1 person
June 19, 2015 at 9:00 pm
Stopping would be not only a violation — stressed strongly — but an accident waiting to happen. There was no room to pull over. Actually, we DID see a couple of possible spots but then we would be exiting the bus into traffic (all that left-hand lane driving…
LikeLike
June 19, 2015 at 8:46 pm
I need some good solid Chinese food. You make me hungry, Tess.
LikeLike
June 19, 2015 at 8:58 pm
I’m a little overdue myself. Sorry about that, Jacqui. Hope you get your fix. 😀
LikeLike
June 19, 2015 at 8:55 pm
Interesting about the Italian restaurant. How was the food?
LikeLiked by 1 person
June 19, 2015 at 8:57 pm
I did taste as authentic as any good Italian restaurant. Took us all by surprise when choices of restaurant were suggested. Marco Polo came to mind before I batted an eyelash. 😀 😀 😀
LikeLike
June 19, 2015 at 9:09 pm
Well this eventful trip is almost at an end and I think I have gained 20 pounds. I still say, do the Europe tour and see England, Paris, netherlands,the cruise up the Rhkne including castles and cathedrals….just gorgeous and excellent food.
LikeLike
June 19, 2015 at 9:37 pm
“Steamed fish balls”—I hope that’s not what it sounds like. 😉
LikeLike
June 19, 2015 at 9:44 pm
I guess you didn’t get to take that long tram ride over the island, or ride on a sampan along the waterway. I would have loved to do those activities. Hong Kong seems like a truly huge and exciting city. I don’t think a day could cover it. Would you go back if you could? I hope you’ll give us a summary of what you loved best and what disappointed you. You might become a travel agent!
LikeLiked by 1 person
June 20, 2015 at 12:21 am
I am surprised that you found the Easter Bunny in HK!
LikeLiked by 1 person
June 20, 2015 at 6:46 am
Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
Not sure what I will do when this fascinating trip to China finishes in the next week or so. Have loved the last few months and certainly have a better view of this intriguing country thanks to Tess Karlinski.
LikeLike
June 20, 2015 at 12:34 pm
{{{hugs}}} Thank y.o.u.
LikeLike
June 20, 2015 at 7:00 am
This is a wonderful commentary with terrific pics. Feel like I was there.
LikeLike
June 20, 2015 at 8:50 am
Your last meals look very good. I love the colourful Jumbo place. What an experience you had. I feel I was with there with you. ❤
LikeLike
June 20, 2015 at 12:54 pm
Wow the Jumbo floating restaurant is incredible!
LikeLike
June 20, 2015 at 1:04 pm
The service was slow, but I figured there were about 360 patrons. And it was loud because it was one open space.
Thanks for reading, Gilly. ❤ ❤ ,3
LikeLike
June 20, 2015 at 1:20 pm
I’ll also be sorry when the trip is finished, although just following by reading it gives me an idea of how exhausting it must have been. The restaurant sounds amazing, and the views (I always end up with pictures that could be anything from those places but enjoy the view at the time). The Italian restaurant sounds a much more relaxed and friendly affair…:) Thanks so much.
LikeLike
June 20, 2015 at 1:28 pm
It feels so weird to think this trip “will” end, when it already has. It’s easy to slip in to being there with you Tess.
LikeLike
June 20, 2015 at 1:42 pm
Only a true tea drinker would know what to do to get served more tea. 🙂
LikeLike
June 21, 2015 at 9:55 am
I used to be a true tea drinker and still enjoy it but mostly I drink coffee. Black. As well, I drank tea in China only once or twice.
Goes to show how necessity IS the mother of invention.
LikeLike
June 20, 2015 at 6:36 pm
Wonderful and I love your photos!! 🙂
LikeLike
June 21, 2015 at 10:05 am
Thank YOU, Willow. Glad you’ve enjoyed this tour.
LikeLiked by 1 person
June 21, 2015 at 6:03 pm
I have loved every day, every meal and every strange guide!!
LikeLike
June 20, 2015 at 9:46 pm
beautiful country side, and yowza–expensive, eh?
LikeLike
June 21, 2015 at 10:13 am
Yes land is expensive too because so much is reclaimed. They have golf courses and baseball diamonds but they are expensive to join.
LikeLiked by 1 person
June 22, 2015 at 12:27 am
Octopus ink sauce and rolls?? None for me, thanks!
LikeLike
June 22, 2015 at 5:30 am
Love the colors and impressed the servers were wired. Didn’t seem to speed up service, though.
LikeLike
June 22, 2015 at 9:00 am
Was fun reading about Hong Kong through your eyes. Reminded me of a trip I took there almost 15 years ago. Love your blog.
LikeLike
June 22, 2015 at 10:34 am
Thank YOU for reading and commenting! It’s been fun sharing my trip. I keep surprising myself how much I’d scribbled in my notebook and enjoyed reliving the trip by blogging. Every day was so busy I couldn’t have processed it all the first time around.
Were you there on holiday or visiting?
LikeLike
June 22, 2015 at 11:11 am
How was the Italian food? Dare I ask?
LikeLike
June 22, 2015 at 12:41 pm
Like Italian food. I had a taste of a couple’s thin crust pizza. The linguine I had was also very good. Made me think of Marco Polo. Hey, one of his decendents might have been manning the kitchen. 😮 😀
LikeLike
June 22, 2015 at 12:36 pm
I like the menu for lunch! And enjoyed the tea story – it must be hard to know how to get a waiters attention in a country where customs are so different. 🙂
LikeLike
June 22, 2015 at 12:55 pm
I can’t imagine serving so many dishes to so many people at once as well. Personally, the food was better the first half of the trip. As we moved to Cantonese territory, it wasn’t as tasty or too dry or overdone.
LikeLiked by 1 person
June 22, 2015 at 1:05 pm
Yeah you never know what you might get when you are eating out. I don’t know either how they prepare so much food – but then that is why it might be overdone! Too much preparing ahead. 🙂
LikeLike
June 22, 2015 at 1:09 pm
We’d eaten in packed restaurants prior to that and it seemed the farther south east we traveled, Cantonese food just wasn’t as well prepared as before.
LikeLike
June 22, 2015 at 6:46 pm
Thanks for sharing so many surprising facts about Hong Kong. As you near the conclusion of the story of your adventures, you might have to pick a new destination–I have loved tagging along on your travels, Tess.
LikeLike
June 22, 2015 at 8:17 pm
Oh last day, such a trip and so much left to do. Maybe you should go back, an accidental tourist. Love the pictures!
LikeLike
June 23, 2015 at 6:43 pm
Thanks, Val. Homesick by this time and ready to go home to my family and my kitty.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: The Saturday Round Up – Scary trips up Vesuvius, the cast of Westside Story and Jazz magic. | Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life
June 27, 2015 at 12:08 pm
Thank you, Sally for the shout as well. Now, I have this fabulous Nat King Cole song looping in my brain. Ahh. That’s nice. ❤ ❤
LikeLike