4 Oct - Day 2, Kowloon

Rise and shine! It will be a happy happy day... J woke up earlier and didn't wake me. I opened my eyes and it was already 9am. You know the feeling when you could really sleep in and not have to worry about being late for work; heaven!
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We showered and then got dressed and ready to go. Since yesterday until now, there was Typhoon 1 holstered around the island and the threat of an oncoming Typhoon 3. It was constantly being telecasts on their local TV channels and that kept everyone in the loop of the latest update on the weather.


Its going to be a cold day for me. No worries! J reminded me to bring a jacket along as always!


{Buildings at Ashley Road where our apartment was!}

For breakfast, I'd already indicated I would like to find an authentic Hong Kong-ish 茶餐厅and have authentic breakfast - Hong Kong style! YES YES YES! Give those to me! In those HK serials, the families would always have plain porridge with 油炸鬼(locally we call these 油条).. I was all excited and we went to see the shops downstairs our apartment one by one and found one just one block away.

Hahaha.. after we went in, I saw the menu.. I couldn't resist eggs AGAIN! I had to have my happy hearty breakfast. I ordered my share of western breakfast the HK 茶餐厅-style. J ordered a typical 菠萝sandwich with luncheon meat and cheese. It was yummy and tasted very home-made! I took bites off his share! Hahahaha. He also ordered an additional side of 肠粉wrapped 油炸鬼.. I didn't the combination so I didn't eat that.
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I was happy and excited. The feeling of being on a holiday was wonderfully fantastic! The breezy and drizzling cold cold weather also made me feel warm and happy and not dampening my mood at all. Who cares if it rained or not? I was on a HOLIDAY!
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J also had it all planned out. He said, we would spend the earlier part of the day walking along nearby in Tsim Sha Tsui, from our apartment in Ashley Road, we'd go Nathan Road, Peking Road, Star Avenue and Star Ferry Pier, Harbour City, Canton Road - after that, we would go back to our apartment to REST (So good, this part was planned specially for me!). After the rest, he said we would take the train over to explore Hong Kong Island and also to visit the famous Peak in the evening.. for dinner! Wonderful Plan!

I noticed all the eating places in Hong Kong, they do not serve you water BUT Chinese tea! Very CHINESE.... I liiiiikkkkkkeeeeee!

J and me did not shop much or buy much, I only bought a few cheap hair clips today and that was about it. J didn't manage to get anything. Food in Hong Kong was not cheaper than Singapore, I would say they are comparable. We also spent alot of time on foot. Alot of walking.

We walked to see Canton Road; as J said, this was a street full of high-end brands and of course Nathan Road.

{Interesting signs on the road asking you to look to the correct directions for CARS! *lol*}

After long long walk, we finally reached the Star Avenue. J told me Star Avenue is a place where all the HK stars leave their footprints behind. I was more interested in the gorgeous view across to Hong Kong Island. The sun was cruelly shining into our eyes, but it was not scotching hot. The weather was also gloomy and dark cloud hoovering above our heads. A confused weather.

The sky was a beautiful confusion. The sun was trying to shine through the dark clouds casting a cool grey over the brilliant blue! I was mesmerized.

{look at the beautiful dark clouds!}It was of course time to rest our pathetic feet! We walked into Pacific Coffee Company at Hotel Inter-Continental.

As usual, J watched me gulped my coffee.. he didn't get himself anything.
{Love natural light in pictures!}

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After Star Avenue, we walked to Star Ferry Terminal. I saw many old folks sitting around the pier, well-clad in long-sleeves shirt and pants unlike in our country, the old men were always in almost tattered shorts or somewhat dirty t-shirts. Perhaps its the weather in comparison. I saw them and felt their sense of peace simplicity in life.

We went into Harbor City after passing Star Ferry Terminal... Cooling. It was a huge mall housing a mix of high-end to mid-level brands.

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J bought for me my very first 'BRANDED' bag.. my Agnes B!!!!! I was thrilled. I have never owned one bag that is expensive... to many this may not be branded or expensive.. but to us it is! We have been slogging out butt out for so many years and buying anything over S$100 was never in any of our consideration. Even the Kate Spade purse I am holding now was partially paid with vouchers given by friends and company. This bag cost a little over $200! When J said I could choose ONE, I was over the top! You wouldn't understand the feeling... :) It was worth it because I have gotten many praises and stares since I started carrying the bag until today. So, I am also amazed how how people recognized bags by brand... I couldn't figure these out if you'd throw me a plain black bag like these.

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Harbor City also has brands like Kate Spade, Gucci, Anna Sui and many more that I haven't seen here. Anna Sui's purses are really pretty and not over S$100! J only commented, "Why do you need so many purses?"

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After spending some time walking in the mall, we ventured out and walked back slowly at snail's pace. At Canton Road, we went into this nice restaurant with grandeur setup for Tung Sui! What's that? - 糖水! 糖水 is authentic Chinese desserts and means sweet water in direct translation! My favourite of all time is 扬植甘露 or 扬枝金露 as different restaurants called it. I looked everywhere for it but no one seemed to be selling until I saw a brochure and we found this wonderful restaurant!


The whole restaurant seemed to be tiled in GOLD or something... very grand and sparkling! But prices are similar to Crystal Jade's range.

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J ordered his 豆腐花! and me? Of course my 扬枝金露!

扬植金露 is Mango in coconut cream with pomelo! I LOVE IT!! This one has option to add ice-cream!! Mango Ice Cream!!!!!!!!! Yummy!

After the contented sweets. Time to go back to the apartment for my princessy rest! J said I could rest until 3pm... :)

Hello Hong Kong!

We arrived at Hong Kong International Airport half an hour later than indicated as there was a delay during take-off. I wasn't worried or afraid though this is a foreign land I was not familiar with compared to Thailand.

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J had it all mapped out. We passed immigration, went to queue to get a Airport Express Train pass and there we went into the Airport Express.

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The Airport Express is a very clean and comfortable train with spaces where we could park luggage's. We were going to alight at Kowloon Station. Here are some pictures from the Airport Express.

We alighted at Kowloon Station and took a taxi to our apartment. I was excited to get into the pretty RED taxi I so often see in HK serials. The cabby and us could not really communicate, besides, our apartment was situated in a very small street in Tsim Sha Tsui. When the cabby stopped and told us we have reached our destination, I scratched my head; "Where?"

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The apartment was not visible. It was hidden amongst tonnes of cramped and old buildings. There were also no signage. Funny thing was, the interior of the rooms or apartments were, however, surprisingly new and clean.

Here are some pictures of our wonderful mini apartment.

I felt that the most interesting part about the our lovely suite, was the sliding screen as well we the sliding TV panel! The TV panel could slide into the cosy sleeping area of the comfortable hall.

I was so fascinated with the sliding TV, we took pictures of the construction!

I was so excited snapping one after another... J was.....

.... channel surfing!

ok.. time to wash up then get ready to go out to explore HONG KONG!!!!

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Take a few before we go!

Alright.. ready TIME TO GO!! Take one more...

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It was close to 3pm when we went out and I was very hungry.. I requested to find old-fashion and ancient-looking eating places.. strange we couldn't find any.. everything seemed new and not like those we saw in the serials.. this was, perhaps the oldest we could find at a neglected corner of a street. We walked in, the server could speak Mandarin. I also heard many speaking Mandarin in the shop and I remembered M told me this was the Golden Week and the Chinese would travel to Hong Kong for Holiday as they were having one week of public holiday in China.

As usual, J ordered his Iced Yuen Yeung (Coffee+Tea). He also ordered Roast Pork Rice while I ordered Roast Goose Meat Noodles.

It was a heartwarming meal; simple and very authentic. I was satisfied.

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After the late lunch, we walked around near by. I was most fascinated with the huge neon and colorful signage hanging insecurely above heads.

The sky was dark and I had thought it was really late plus the fact I was sleepy already. Then J told me it was only 5pm.. Hahahaha.

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After walking around for another 1 hour, we settled down somewhere for coffee as it was starting to rain and was rather cold.

See how tired I looked. But I had a wonderful time chowing down these sweets!

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After the nice chillout at the cafe, we walked to the famous night market at Temple Street (庙街 - famous Men's Market). It was a short stretch of night market. We didn't had much to buy but I managed to get a few paper-punches.. YES, you didn't read me wrong.. Paper-Punch! Puncher that punches shapes and swirls on papers! Very cheap there in comparison to those sold in Singapore. J also didn't manage to get any good buys. He was wide awake and energetic but i was going to collapse anytime with sleepiness and my legs were going to crumble anytime.. hahahaha.. age is indeed catching up and fast.

We were walking back to the hotel, came across a little pretty pastry shop. I wanted to get something and I managed to get a cute Mango Sago Pie!

I begged to go back to the apartment after that.. and it was a 30minutes walk back from where we were. That day, we didn't take any public transport, we were on foot the whole day.

J complained of hunger when we reached the lobby and it was drizzling outside. He bought himself a huge kebab from the Turkish restaurant below our apartment and takeaway to enjoy in the comfort of our little nest.


That was end of my tiring-but-happy day 1 in Hong Kong. I must have zonked out after that shot!