Hong Kong

I arrived in Hong Kong at 6am. It was an uneventful flight, unlike the fist fight that almost took place on the flight to the US.

Caught the airport express and zoomed into Kowloon. I was at S&S’s place by 7:45am – an hour they are obviously not used to getting up at.

We had a quick breakfast and then I went back to their apartment to clean up, walking the route they take every morning to work. It’s a very nice walk along the water’s edge.

I took the bus into town and met up with my former classmates, M and L, at Toh Lee Restaurant, Nikko Hotel. They looked great – and can you believe it? I forgot to take photos of our meet up.

Except this photo of roast meats.

After that, it was a couple of hours talking about teachers and remembering them. L does a great impression of the late Miss Goh (PoSoCaMaZiHyCoM – Potassium, Sodium, Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, Hydrogen… oh dear, I forgot the rest and are those before even correct?). Oh we recalled how we were slapped around by Cheong Sam Teo, our ear pulling adventures with Mrs Ee. The abuses we endured then.

I expected it to be just lunch and arranged to meet another ex-classmate, A, but it turned out M took half the day off and gave me a whirlwind tour of HK. I felt lucky.

Anyway, A had to rush off and I had a great, but tiring day with M.

I had a brief drive in one of L’s five cars. Chauffeur driven, okay, with privacy curtains and all.

Our first stop was at the Avenue of the Stars. But where I walked, I didn’t recognise any of the names of stars. Well, I recognised Run Run Shaw, but he’s more like in the business of creating stars, rather than being an actual star, no?

We looked across to Hong Kong Island and then took a ferry there.

According to M, there is nothing to do in HK except shop and eat. And since I didn’t really have anything to buy, we ate.

We took the MTR to Sham Shui Po, made our way to the street stalls of Apliu Street, squeezed through the stalls and got to… if I’m reading this right, Snake King.

Where we had snake soup garished with crispy biscuit and lemon grass. I love this soup!

It’s full of snake meat, crunchy black fungus, mushrooms, ginger. Yummy!

After eating the snake, the proprietor took out a live sample that shocked M, who loves snake – in a bowl not, next to her. I declined to be photographed with the snake.

Then we headed to M’s place at Mei Fu and met her husband, J and their two dogs Money and Dollar.

At night, we had hotpot, and what came out, larger than I expected, chicken testicles, which is quite tasty, but the texture is more mushy than I like. Another of M’s favourite, and I had three. 😉 As with most men, J declined any.

The Mongolian Lamb (background) was very good too, by the way.

After dinner, we walked around the absorbed the night energy of Hong Kong, hitting Nathan Road, Jordan Road and the night markets of Temple Street.

More photos in the Gallery.