One of the must do items on our itinerary was a day trip to Shen Zhen.

Danli was telling us about the bargain shopping, cheap massages, and manicures just across the border. And at that point of time, the 45min journey to Shen Zhen didn’t sound like such a bad idea.

That day turned out to be one of the worst day of our holiday.

Here’s a summary of what went down

• Evan woke up late, so me and Danz went out first
• Miscommunication on where to meet left us both waiting at different MTR stations. I was at Mong Kok, Danli was at Wanchai.
• Plan A: Was supposed to have Dim Sum at Wanchai.
• Change of plans, Danli came to Mong Kok. We converted some currency from HKD to RMB
• Plan B: Was set on eating Dim Sum, walked for an hour and couldn’t find a place in Mong Kok
• Just as we found one, I realized I left my passport behind
• Took a cab back to Wanchai to get passport
• Danli accidently left her Ray Bans in the cab. This was preceded with 30mins of cursing and swearing on her part
• Back to Plan A, walked to original Dim Sum restaurant
• Evan finally met us, it was 2pm
• So by the time we headed to Shen Zhen, half the day was already gone.

Talking about passport, this is my little rant about visas.

If you’re a Singaporean, you don’t need a visa when you cross over to Shen Zhen. I, on the other hand, am holding an EU passport. After checking the Chinese Embassy website, I went down to process my visa.

I left enough days to process the visa in time for my trip, what the website failed to tell you was that following Monday was a public holiday in China! So, instead of the normal price, I had to pay express! It cost me SG$80 FOR A ONE TIME VISA TO VISIT SHEN ZHEN FOR ONE DAY!

*gulp*

Always give yourself enough EXTRA time to get your visa.

Here’s how we got to Shen Zhen from Hong Kong:
Take the East Rail Line MTR from East Tsim Sha Tsui station (Kowloon side) to Lo Wu.

Lo Wu is the Hong Kong/Chinese border crossing, go through border formalities and you’re in the Peoples Republic of China.

Out the door and on your right you’ll see a big modern shopping centre, the Lo Wu Commercial Center. That’s where you want to go if you’re looking for fake goods, cheap shoes, beads, tailors and manicures.

You HAVE to bargain. One third to one half of the original price is about right.
If you need some time to think about buying something, remember to ask the for their business card. Because trust me, you WILL get lost.

The first train leaves East Tsim Sha Tsui at 5:28am and from Lo Wu the last train at 12:30am. Trains from Tsim Sha Tsui East to Lo Wu run every five to eight minutes.

Price: A single ticket costs HK$36.50

Food & Travel Hong Kong, Hong Kong Diaries, Massage, Shen Zhen

Yup you guessed it, froyo again.

Anyone has the calorie breakdown for a Yo Mama froyo?

Food & Travel Froyo, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Diaries, Yo Mama

I find great joy in discovering new hole-in-the-wall restaurants with tasty local food. Maybe it’s because of its rustic décor and local flavours, it so satisfying finding a rare gem of an eatery amongst old shop houses hidden in small alleyways.

Our recent quest led us to a small little place in Wanchai called “Crowd Restaurant (群 众小厨)”.

Most Hong Kong eating-places like this are small and floor space is maximized by cramping as many tables and chairs as possible. More often than not, you’ll have to share your table with complete strangers.

What I love about Chinese food is that your meal is cooked when you order it, so it’s served hot and fresh out of the kitchen. Huge demerit points to restaurants that opt for the easy way out of reheating/microwaving your food. On a side note, most of the time this theory holds true: the grumpier the 老板, the tastier the food! Discuss!

Back to the restaurant. The menu was all in Chinese, so it took awhile for me to figure out what was what. Maybe it would have helped if I turned the menu the right way up. Thank goodness for the pictures of some specialty dishes on the wall, all I had to do was point to it and say “一碗”.

Dru made the safe choice of ordering the sweet and sour pork with rice. Ironic because the non-angmoh was ordering what I consider a very Western-Chinese dish.

I opted for the scallop vermicelli. At this point, it also occurred to me that the pictures of food on the wall were probably the most expensive dishes too. I fell for their marketing ploy. What a Dupe!

But all was redeemed when I was presented with this massive claypot bowl of noodles with a generous amount of scallops (some were hidden under the noodles, can’t see from the picture). And all for just something as little as HKD75 (approx SGD15) But don’t quote me on this, I didn’t keep the receipt so I can’t remember how much it was exactly. Portion size was double of what we were used to, so we had to 打包 it.

It tasted great, I’d definitely go back there for seconds.

群众小厨／群眾小廚
Address: Shop A, 14 Gresson Street, Wanchai
Tel: +852 2866 8088

Food & Travel Food, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Diaries, Restaurants, Wanchai

I love travelling on the ‘Ding Dings’!

The tram line has been carrying passengers from the East to the West of Hong Kong Island since 1904 (more specifically travelling from Kennedy Town to Shau Kei Wan).

It’s a wonderful way to explore the city, because you’re not going too fast, which allows you time to take in the sights (and smells). And the best part? All for just HK$2 which is equivalent to approximately SG$0.40!!! It was especially convenient for me because it took me about 10mins to get to Central. Sweet!

How to travel on the ding ding

1. When you’re at the tram stop, find out which direction you should be going by looking at the tram guide
2. When the tram comes to a stop, ENTRY is from the back door.
3. No payment until you EXIT the tram
4. When you’re near your stop, I’d suggest you start making your way (or more like wiggling and squeezing your way) to the front
5. There’s a coin box or Octopus card scanner next to the tram operator at the front. Pay when you exit.

If you want to know why it’s called the ‘Ding Ding’, visit the Discover Hong Kong tram guide website and the flash splash page will give you your answer.

Loved the adidas branded Ding Ding!

Food & Travel Ding Ding, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Diaries, Tram

In Singapore we have our Cold Storage, Giant, Marketplace,NTUC Fairprice. In Hong Kong they have Wellcome, Taste, Great Food Hall and ParknShop.

The other day, I went into the Great Food Hall at Pacific Place, and was surprised with the variety of food available at this supermarket.

They had a huge deli and bakery section, with freshly baked breads, plus well stocked rows of food from around the world.

I spent a good 20mins just in the vegetable section, looking at the fresh produce and finding fruits or greens I’ve never before.

Check out the size of that Artichoke!

And talking about weird produce, check out this fruit! It’s called Kiwano fruit or Horned Melon.

The horned melon (Cucumis metuliferus), also called African horned cucumber or melon, jelly melon, hedged gourd, melano, or kiwano, is an annual vine in the cucumber and melon family. It is grown for its fruit, which looks like an oval melon with horn-like spines. The fruit of this plant is edible, but it is used as often for decoration as for food. Though the horned melon is native to Africa, it is now grown in California and New Zealand as well.

Source: Wikipedia

I didn’t buy it, but this is what was said about the horned melon online:

It tastes like a sour cucumber with hints of kiwi and lemon, and the texture resembles an aloe plant’s gelatinous, gooey guts, but full of semi-rigid, pumpkin-like seeds. The seeds are hard enough that we don’t think we’re supposed to eat them, but because they’re suspended in the gelatinous goo, it would be very hard to eat around them.

Hhhmmmmm….. thank goodness I didn’t!?! Doesn’t sound very appetising to me!

Food & Travel Hong Kong, Hong Kong Diaries, Supermarket

Right next to Lei Garden at IFC Mall hides a small Chinese dessert place called Honeymoon Dessert.

We were full from dinner, so we ordered dessert to share. We had tang yuen in sesame & walnut soup, and mango pomelo & sago soup. (I find it weird calling it soup, because I’d always associate soup with savoury)

It was all right, just like your regular Hong Kong dessert shop.

And of course, after all the eating, we needed to walk it off. For a great view of Kowloon, head up to the top of IFC mall. There are a few bars there if you’d like a night cap.

Honeymoon Dessert
Shop 3013
Tel: (852) 2868 9799
Opening hours: 11:00-23:00 Mon-Sun & public holidays

Food & Travel Honeymoon Dessert, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Diaries

There’s always a sense of mystery and obscurity when you turn the corner into an alley in Hong Kong. You never know what you’d find or see. It also makes for great photographs.

Wan Chai Alley

Food & Travel Alley, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Diaries

Shopping for perfume sticks at Lane Crawford IFC, Central.

Food & Travel Hong Kong, Hong Kong Diaries, Lane Crawford

Before we came to Hong Kong, we tried to compile a food/restaurant hit list. That’s when Evan’s foodie friend Paul stepped in and sent her a comprehensive restaurant list sorted by cuisine. To take it a step further, he even highlighted the must have dishes at each restaurant.

So on one of our nights here, we met Paul for dinner at Lei Garden.

You might be familiar with the name, because they have an outlet in Singapore as well. The group has 7 outlets in Hong Kong alone, 2 in Singapore, 2 in Guang Zhou, and 1 in Beijing.

Lei Garden, famous for its Cantonese cuisine, was awarded a one star in the 2009 Michelin Guide Hong Kong, and was selected as one of the 100 must visit restaurants in Hong Kong.

We started the evening with the house soup, which was boiled and served in a ceramic pot until the meats were soft and crumbly. The broth was clear and fragrant, and a great way to whet our appetite.

Evan was craving for some barbecue meats, unfortunately they ran out of their signature crispy roasted pork. So we settled for the juicy and succulent char siew and crispy Peking duck.

We added a dish of seasonal steam fish and a first for me – Sweet and Sour pork with strawberries.

The food was lovely. No doubt the restaurant uses the finest ingredients, and the food was great. But personally, for a restaurant to be awarded a Michelin star, attention should also be given to food presentation. And frankly, the food looked like it was just slapped on a plate like it was served in any ordinary Chinese restaurant.

But I’ll still go back.

Lei Garden Restaurant
Address: Shop No. 3007-3011, 3/F.
International Finance Centre, Central, Hongkong
Tel. No.: (852) 2295 0238

Sunday
Lunch: 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Dinner: 6:00 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.

Food & Travel Hong Kong, Hong Kong Diaries, Lei Garden

After a night of partying, I wasn’t counting on the girls to be awake in time for brunch, so instead, we opted for high tea at IFC Mall.

Went through the mall directory looking for a suitable place, and finally settled on the agnès b. café. The name agnès b. is more well known for its clothing line, but just like Project Shop in Singapore, they extended their business into F&B.

The café entrance definitely sold the place, with plants and flowers welcoming you as you walk towards the maître d’. I waited for the girls to come before committing to the place, just in case they had other ideas in mind.

So where are my girls? Ah, here they are!

The inside of the café/restaurant wasn’t as impressive as the outside. You get an obstructed view of the sea, because of the balcony columns.The overall vibe was feminine and flirty, but a bit too quiet for my liking.

What we ordered:
La Pâtisserie au choix – Choice of pastries with our coffee, tea or juice
L’assiette de viennoiserie – Choice of mini Danish with our coffee, tea or juice

The food looked good, but I wouldn’t go as far as to say it tasted amazing. It was average, and a bit pricey for what it’s worth. I guess I shouldn’t compare with Singapore prices.

My favourite item would have to be the Lemon tart.

We spent a good hour and a half chatting and trying to recap the dramas from the night before. That’s what I absolutely love about high tea, quality time spent with friends.

Agnès b. le pain grille
Level 3 Shop 3089-97
Telephone (852) 2805 0798

Food & Travel agnès b. le pain grille, High tea, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Diaries, IFC

Another night out in Hong Kong. We headed out to Beijing Club on Wellington Street and met with an old friend from Perth.

My girlies just before we headed out.

Beijing Club
2/f, 3/F & 5/F Wellington Place
2-8 Wellington Street
Central

Food & Travel Beijing Club, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Diaries

When Anita was in Singapore, she told me the best drunken food after a night of clubbing is Poutine. I had to give it a try when I was in Hong Kong.

Cul-de-sac
G/F Block A Winner Building
Wing Wah Lane
Central

This little shop is run by a Canadian guy offering wide range of freshly made burger & real potato chips.

Here’s a excerpt from wikipedia:

In classic poutine:
* The French fries are of medium thickness, and fried so that the insides are still soft, with an outer crust. The fries should not be dripping with grease;
* The gravy is a light chicken, veal or turkey gravy, mildly spiced with a hint of pepper. Do not use heavy beef or pork-based brown gravies;
* Fresh cheese curd (not more than a day old) is used. Never use mozzarella;
* To prepare, first place the hot fries into a bowl or large plate, then spread the cheese curd on top. The cheese curd should be at room temperature. Then pour piping hot gravy over the cheese curds and fries.
*Serve immediately. Ideally the gravy should partially melt the cheese curds. Eat before the fries turn to mush.

Food & Travel Cul-de-sac, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Diaries, Poutine

For our first big night in Hong Kong, we hit Prive at Lan Kwai Fong.

Prive
The Centrium, 60 Wyndham Street, Central Hong Kong

I’m not going to try documenting this in words, I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Food & Travel Hong Kong, Hong Kong Diaries, Lan Kwai Fong, Prive

Now I’ve come to my favourite part of the evening. My first taste of Yo Ma Ma froyo.

Dru has been going on non-stop about this dessert place at Pacific Place, and has sent me blackberry pictures of it countless of times. I mean, how good can frozen yogurt be right? I’ve tried Yami yogurt before and it wasn’t that big of a deal.

How wrong was I. I’M OFFICIALLY A FROYO ADDICT!

YO Mama
Address: 16 Wing Fung Street, Wanchai
Opening Hours:
11am – 10pm (Mon – Thurs)
11am – 11pm (Fri – Sat)
12nn – 10pm (Sun & Public Holidays)

Here’s a write-up on Yo Mama found on the net:

For most people, yogurt is a wholesome food associated with a healthy diet. Yo Mama turns it into a delightful experience where you can have it any way you want, even if it is far from healthy.

Yo Mama takes its cue from the funky yogurt bars dotting California from San Francisco to San Diego. Typically, ice cream parlours offer too many flavour choices and too few toppings, if any at all.

Yo Mama reverses the concept by only offering plain and green tea yogurts as its base. Toppings are where Yo Mama shines. From fresh fruit such as blueberries and mango, to childhood favourites such as Oreo cookie bits and gummy bears, to nutritious options such as granola or bran, Yo Mama lets each person customise his yogurt.

People can even bring in their own toppings if it isn’t on the menu. Plus, with Yo Mama’s yogurt containing only 0.25 percent fat, customers can splurge daily with a guilt-free conscience.

Angela’s Favourite combos:
- Blueberry & Strawberry
- Blueberry & Mochi

Food & Travel Froyo, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Diaries, Yo Mama

More walking till our feet gave way.

And more lomo-ing till we run out of battery.

We were planning to go out clubbing that night, and for our first night out in Hong Kong, we thought we’d give ourselves the tai-tai treatment. So we went around looking for a hair salon for a wash & blow-dry.

Danli took it a step further and decided to chop her hair off down to a bob! It’s been awhile since I last saw her with a bob, and I like it a lot! Danz and Evan, we both know how important that bob was…magic bob!

Geek & Gadgets Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Diaries

After walking around for hours, our dim sum brunch wore off and we were in search for a famous dessert stall called “Lucky Desserts ”. Finally found it with Danli’s great sense of direction.

Lucky Desserts （發記甜品）
G/F, 532 Jaffe Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong.
(1 minute walk from MTR Causeway Bay Station Exit D1 or D3)

Diced mango wrapped with Filo pastry 焗芒果酥皮卷

Mango Pomelo 楊枝金露 (foreground) and Black Sesame dessert 芝麻糊

I’ve noticed that the Hong Kong-ers like their desserts, and it doesn’t matter what time of the day it is.

Food & Travel Hong Kong, Hong Kong Diaries, Lucky Desserts

Danli is a Hong Kong veteran, so she meandered through the crowds and alleys to reach our favourite store G.O.D (Goods of Desire) and Muji.

G.O.D. is store that stocks everything Ol’ Skool oriental chic, from retro bar soaps and water flasks to more modern furniture pieces.

We had a little fun trying on Panda eye masks and commending the innovative display team for turning everyday objects such as plastic colanders into lampshades!

Food & Travel G.O.D., Goods of Desire, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Diaries

So after out brunch, we were ready to hit the streets of Causeway Bay.

I love how this place is so busy and so alive, even on a weekday. We went into shopping arcades and boutique stores looking for unique items you can’t find in Singapore.

While I was wiki-ing Causeway Bay, I came across this interesting fact.

“The rent in the shopping areas of Causeway Bay is ranked the as being one of the most expensive in the world, near that of London’s Sloane Street and New York’s Fifth Avenue.”

Food & Travel Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Diaries

Day 2 and meal 2 of our trip, we decided to try out a dim sum restaurant recommended by Danli’s colleague.

Royal Palace Chinese Restaurant is situated in the Windsor House building at Causeway Bay.
Address:
311 Gloucester Road
14/F Windsor House
Causeway Bay

Here’s what we ordered:
- Char siew bao x2
- Ha Gao
- Pei Dan Chok
- Cheong Fan
- Deep fried yam
- Malay Gao
- Fried pigeon

Apparently this restaurant is known for their fried pigeon, I couldn’t stomach it, so I left it to the two brave girls to try it.

Our bill came up to HKD189 approx SGD36, which is pretty darn cheap for the amount we ate.

Food & Travel Hong Kong, Hong Kong Diaries, Royal Palace Chinese Restaurant

After dinner, our palates were craving for some sweetness to round off dinner, Danli said a must try was a roadside dessert stall not too far away. Most of the items on the menu were made with mango. We all ended up having the mango sago drink, which was sweet, fibrous and thick. Sago is tasteless but it makes the drink more fun.

Plenty more of walking around Mong Kok until we called it a night.

Good Night HK!

Geek & Gadgets Dessert, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Diaries