Tuesday 29 October 2013

(Part 1) Hong Kong : Tim Ho Wan + Cong Sao Dessert + Yung Kee

Hong Kong Trip June 2013


买东西,吃东西,买东西,吃东西!!!

This trip was mainly 吃东西 lol. Probably because this is my third time visiting Hong Kong and have gone to those touristy places already. This time is to explore all the nice food.
Basically, we were on a Hong Kong food trip.

Right after settled our luggage down in hotel, we rushed for our first food stop which was near our hotel.

Tim Ho Wan 添好运


Tim Ho Wan just opened first branch in Singapore not long ago and the queue was crazily long. So what did we do? We flew all the way to Hong Kong just to eat this! lol half kidding half serious lah..

Tim Ho Wan is the cheapest Michelin starred restaurant in the world. This explains the queue everywhere..

Anyway, I think we were quite lucky that we waited for only 10 minutes for our first feast!

Enter the restaurant from the outside of the mall (Olympics branch)



One of the 4 Heavenly Kings - Baked bun with BBQ pork 酥皮焗叉烧包 (personal favourite). Crispy outside, tender inside. Very different from the traditional BBQ pork bun. 

Prawn Dumpling 晶莹鲜虾饺

Row 1 right to left - - Beancurd skin roll with pork & shrimp 美味焖鲜竹卷, vermicelli roll with shrimp 韮王鲜虾肠
Row 2 right to left - Spinach dumpling with shrimp 鲜虾菠菜饺, steamed egg cake 香滑马来糕(personal favourite)

The steamed egg cake is *THUMBS UP*. It may look very normal but when you put in your mouth, it melts instantly! O.O! A must-try dish. 

Steam chicken feet with abalone sauce 鲍汁焖凤爪,
deep fried dumpling with salted meat 家乡咸水饺 (can skip this)

Tonic medlar & osmanthus cake 杞子桂花糕

Tim Ho Wan 添好运
Address: Shop 72, G/F, Olympian City 2, 18 Hoi Ting Road, Tai Kok Tsui 
大角咀海庭道18號奧海城二期G樓72號舖 
Nearest MTR station: Olympic, Exit D3
Tel +852 2332 2896 

G/F, 9-11 Fuk Wing Street, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon 
九龍深水埗福榮街9-11號地下 
Nearest MTR station: Tsuen Wan Line, Sham Shui Po, Exit B2 

Shop 12A, Hong Kong Station (Podium Level 1, IFC Mall), Central 
中環香港站12A鋪(IFC地庫一層) 
Nearest MTR station: Tung Chung Line, Hong Kong, Exit A1 

G/F, 2-8 Wharf Road, Seaview Building, North Point 
北角和富道2-8號嘉洋大廈 
Nearest MTR stations: Island Line, Fortress Hill, Exit B or North Point, Exit A1 

Overall, I think it may not worth 2 or 3 hours queue in Singapore, go during non-peak hours instead.


THE GIGANTIC INFLATABLE RUBBER DUCK




We were soooooo lucky that we got to see this 16.5 meter-high rubber duck on the first day of our trip (also its last day in Hong Kong). This rubber duck has travelled to many countries and cities including Osaka, Sydney and Amsterdam. More good life than me.. lol

This is the ever first Hong Kong maritime art exhibition. ^.^ It symbolizes "Spreading joys around the world" and is inspired by everyone's childhood spongy bath time toy.
I hope it also spreads joys to Singapore in the soon future.. Maybe set its feet to Singapore River?


At Victoria Harbour - Ocean Terminal
cutie duck soft toy vs giant rubber duck

Now you see.... Now you don't...(the next day) lol 



Avenue of Stars 星光大道


Other than to showcase local movie industry, the Avenue of Stars also gives a panoramic view of central business district at Hong Kong island opposite. You may wish to come here during the night to enjoy their special lighting effect show "Symphony of Lights" which will turn the Avenue of Stars a glittering galaxy.




Hand imprints by famous people. I hope to see Bosco Wong's there soon. lol

2 years ago, Bf and I had our portrait dpne along the walkway. 2 years later, we are back and the guy is still there!


No need to sit there stationery for him to draw. Just pass him a picture of us will do and go wondering. lol 

Done! Bf was wearing my fake spect lol


Avenue of Stars 星光大道
Nearest MTR station: East Tsim Sha Tsui Station



Star ferry is the cheapest transportation between Kowloon and Hong Kong island. Tourists must try all kinds of local transportation lol. Adult fare is only HKD2.50 (weekdays) to HKD3.40 (weekends) with interval of average 10 minutes. 



You can also enjoy this stunning view on the ferry.


Cong Sao Star Dessert 聰嫂私房甜品


I think luck was on our side the whole trip as we did not have to queue much for any restaurant, even those very popular ones. There was not any queue when we reached this dessert place. I guess should really go during non-peak hours.

We were having a hard time finding this place though. It is not very near the MTR station. All we had was googlemap leading us the direction.

Exit A from Causeway Bay to walk shortest distance to the desserts place.

Q果 (if you like chewy stuff) 

士多啤梨豆腐花 (personal favourite!) I wanna go back again..


Enlarged version

Cong Sao Star Dessert 聰嫂私房甜品
Address: G/F, 11 Yiu Wa Street, Causeway Bay 銅鑼灣耀華街11號地舖
Nearest MTR station: Causeway Bay Exit A

Yung Kee restaurant 香港鏞記酒家


Decided to pay a visit to Yung Kee restaurant for its more raved signature dish - Roast goose. It has won numerous of awards since 1968. It gotta be good!

Please make reservation before heading there! Walk in may have to wait for quite awhile as the place always very crowded.


Credit to FT for this picture!

Just walk up the street and you definitely will not missed the restaurant. The building is too prominent to be missed.


金牌烧鹅 Signature Roast Goose 
(believe me, this is the best roast goose I ever had! If only I could bring back to Singapore......saliva drooling..)



Yung Kee restaurant 香港鏞記酒家
Address: 32-40 Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong 香港中环威灵顿街32-40号
Nearest MTR station: Central station exit D2


After dinner, we decided to go walk walk around Lan Kwai Fong 蘭桂坊 where just one street away.

Maybe we were too early to see the crowd.. The night was still young lol

Where the people hang out after work.. 

I guess this railing is for those drunk people to hold and walk properly lol


Let's continue our food journey the next day....

Wednesday 23 October 2013

(Part 2) Malaysia - Penang 槟城 : Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion + Peranakan Mansion + Street art

Penang trip Jan 2013


Continue from (Part 1) Malaysia - Penang 槟城 : Penang Hill + Kek Lok Si Temple


We walked quite a far bit in this trip so please prepare a good walking shoes if you would like to experience the heritages places and houses. Also, spam alot of sunscreen on yourselves and bring along your sunglasses or umbrella. Hot hot hot weather.


Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion


Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion is also known as Blue Mansion due to its exterior colour of the building. You may want to visit this mansion at specific timings (11am, 1.30pm and 3pm) when tour is provided to understand more about the history. This mansion has won many awards for its very well preserved architecture. One of the awards is UNESCO 'Most Excellent' Heritage Conservation Award. If you are a person who loves cultural stuff, you should totally check this out!

Cheong Fatt Tze was a prominent Chinese figure (basically a very very rich man) who built this mansion to house nine generations of his descendants. Rich and very fortunate man. 

Though many furniture were destroyed during World War II, a group of Penang conservationists worked very hard with Artisans and master craftsmen to use original materials to rebuild the house to its former glory.  Many furniture were shipped from as far as Scotland.






Blue Mansion or Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion
Address: 14 Leith Street, 10200 George Town, Penang, Malaysia
Tour timings: 11am, 1.30pm and 3pm
Entrance Fee: RM 12

Pinang Peranakan Mansion


You must not missed this Peranakan Mansion in Penang.

Today, this mansion showcases the lavish lifestyle of the Peranakans (the Baba and the Nyonya), their cultures/traditions and even displaying many antiques and collectibles of this unique community.


You can guess how rich they were by looking at the material they used for on their doors. 











toilet

Did I also mention that this was the place for our very famous local drama - 小娘惹 Little Nyonya. 


Pinang Peranakan Mansion
Address: 29, Church Street, 10200 Penang, Malaysia.
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday including Public Holidays from 9:30 am to 5 pm
Entrance fee: RM 10
Guided tours at 11.30 am and 3.30pm

Street art


Street art is one of the highlights in Penang! I love this part the most! Only managed to visit the below. When I go back to Penang again, I would want to see all the street arts!

Trishaw man

Kungfu girl 

Boy on chair

Kids on bicycle

For the street arts location, you may want to go to HERE to see all the pictures and locations before you plan your walking. 

When I googled about the street art designer, then I realised that Singapore has 2 street art done by him!
Check his web out HERE and see where in Singapore you can spot his work!





Then bf saw his favourite and asked me take a picture for him. If you look carefully, there is no back part of the bicycle. 


Perak is just a bridge away from Penang. Other than taking the bridge, cars can be shipped using ferry between Perak and Penang with passangers on it! So cool~ my grandma stays in Perak.


 This is another ferry fetching cars to Penang

 Our timing was so good to catch sunset

Good bye Penang~ 



Thanks Jovene and Eugene for your photo contribution..