Hong Kong Summer Spectacular with HKTB – Day 3 of 6

September 19, 2010

5 minute read

A vanilla chocolate truffle greeted me in the morning, courtesy of Mira Hotel

On my third day in Hong Kong, I met up with Peter, Catherine, Ming Choy and Siew Kian in the morning for breakfast at Macau Restaurant, walking distance from the Mira Hotel.

The restaurant saw good business, with people streaming in and out constantly of their packed tables.

We ordered some of the usual Hong Kong breakfast items like the the Po Lo Bao (菠萝包) or pineapple bun; noodles; egg tarts; among other items.

The food was not too bad, but if we knew we were going for a second breakfast after this one at a better place, hosted by the HTKB folks, we would that have ate so much.

Macau Restaurant where we had our first breakfast

Macau sandwich set which I ordered - too tough for my liking — Macau sandwich set which I ordered – too tough for my liking

Toasted Po Lo Bao (Pineapple Bun), spreaded with peanut butter and butter

After we assembled at the lobby with the rest of the travel group, we headed to another Cha Chaan Teng (茶餐厅), Tsui Wah Restaurant (翠華餐廳) for a second round of breakfast. I was too full then, but managed to share a quarter portion of macaroni with Rachel who follewed us to pledge her support for the omy.sg teams at the Dragon Boat Carnival.

For a review on both the Macau Restaurant and Tsui Wah Restaurant, check out Catherine’s entry. 🙂

We had breakfast again here at Tsui Wah Restaurant (翠華餐廳)

Breakfast round 2 for Catherine, Peter, Siew Kian, Ming Choy and me

Rachel ordering, and then enjoying her breakfast

Rachel's macoroni and ham breakfast — Rachel’s macaroni and ham breakfast

Egg and toast which was part of the breakfast set Rachel ordered

When we arrived at the Tsim Sha Tsui promenade, Victoria Harbour (維多利亞港) where the carnival was held, the bunch of us who were supposed to be competing quickly changed into our sports attire. I initially was to compete in the bath tub race, paired with a UK TV journalist. She backed out last minute, hence saving me from getting wet.

Spreaded over three days with races lined up from morning to evening every day, the dragon boat carnival is a big event in Hong Kong, seeing participation from over 12 countries and 191 teams this yet.

Celebrities from Hong Kong as well as Korea were also among the competing paddlers. We saw teams from TVB and Dream Team from Korea. The latter was responsible for attracting a large crowd of teenage fan girls, braving the summer heat to catch a glimpse of their favourite Korean idols.

You can read more about this event via Catherine, Jerome and Lawrence‘s blog posts.

Registering ourselves in at the media reception tent

Victoria Harbour where the dragon boat carnival was held

The Bounty - the tall ship which we sailed in the night before — The Bounty – the tall ship which we sailed in the night before

Me with the other four omy.sg bath tub race representatives

Lots of teenage girls were gathered for the Korean stars

Evil Gin taking pictures of envious teenage fans who also wants to be in the VIP/media area

The four contesting bloggers were the centre of media attention

Foreign media interview for Darren and Violet

Great way to kill heat during the summer isn't it? :) — Great way to kill heat during the summer isn’t it? 🙂

Singapore's Pink Spartans in action — Singapore’s Pink Spartans in action

Four of the bloggers were representing the Singapore media, under omy.sg, competing against other international representatives in the bath tub race. Violet and Darren formed a team while Geck Geck and Peter formed the other.

We cheered out lungs out for them. Violet and Darren came in second while the other two capsized. Peter and Geck Geck were very good humoured about it all though, laughing through the whole incident in self mockery.

I do not have much photos on the bath tub race as I was situated at the competitor’s dock which was a distance from the finishing line. However, the other bloggers got them though. Check out Jerome’s post for a detailed report on the capsize, complete with photo evidences. Read Darren, Peter and Geck Geck‘s blog entries for their first-hand experiences in the bath tub race.

Darren, the dragonboater, giving his professional tips

Audience braving the heat to catch all the actions

The teams rowing off for the bath tub race

The two teams were neck-to-neck at first

And then down goes Pete and Geck Geck... — And then down goes Pete and Geck Geck…

Rescue boat coming to save Pete and Geck Geck

Darren and Violet put on a good fight, but eventually came in second after the Philippines team

Darren and Violet rowing their way to second place

omy.sg interview with our four bath tub race representatives

Geck Geck and Peter after their bath tub capsized

To Yu-Hang (杜宇航), who recently starred as the young Ip Man in cinemas

Korea's Dream Team on stage for an award — Korea’s Dream Team on stage for an award

The guy with the ribbons on his hair is called Alexander, of Korean boy band, U-Kiss fame

I don't know the name of this guy with earring, but he should be from another boy band and is popular with the fans too — I don’t know the name of this guy with earring, but he should be from another boy band and is popular with the fans too

Victory pose! The Dream Team won either an award for best dressed or most popular team - can't remember. — Victory pose! The Dream Team won either an award for best dressed or most popular team – can’t remember.

Lapping up all the attention while rousing their fans

This one is for Aussie Pete - an Australian team won something too — This one is for Aussie Pete – an Australian team won something too

Singapore's Pink Spartan won a large trophy — Singapore’s Pink Spartan won a large trophy

The victorous Pink Spartans who did Singapore proud

Geck Geck in her brief encounter with stardom - can you see To Yu-Hang (杜宇航) in the background? — Geck Geck in her brief encounter with stardom – can you see To Yu-Hang (杜宇航) in the background?

There was also a Singapore dragon boat team which competed in the dragon boat competition, the Pink Spartans. They won their race, making Singapore proud.

The Pink Spartans is a dragon boat team for cancer survivors and supporters.You can find out more about them via their official website:

Formed in May 2009 by 32 breast cancer survivors and supporters, the team’s mission statement is: There is life after cancer. With our lives we honour those who have gone before us and who fought cancer bravely. Listen to the drum beat, follow your heart, make every stroke count. Let us unite and continue that fight.

You can watch the video coverage of the event via omy.sg, which nicely sumarises the entire event.

Pete got himself a temporary tattoo of the dragon boat carnival before we headed back

Eating ice-cream under a tent as we waited for our pick-up bus to arrive

After the competitive event, we headed back to our hotel to freshen up. I went for a quick swim in the hotel’s gorgeous indoor pool and also took a shower in their futuristic shower room with changing lights and themes.

Rachel and I then headed out for some shopping. We discovered the yummy Gong Cha (貢茶) Taiwanese tea chain while shopping around the Tsim Sha Tsui area. They serve the best bubble tea we ever tasted. It is available in Singapore too at City Square and Novena Square, but as usual, we get the inferior stuff in Singapore.

Sale always make us happy :) — Sale always make us happy 🙂

A character from the manga/anime, Deathnote

Cutesy Hong Kong home-grown brand – Chocolate Rain

Astroboy suitcases! I would have bought one of these if not for the fact that I just bought a new suitcase recently.

Spotted the AE86 car in the manga/anime, Initial D on the street

The addictive Gong Cha bubble tea - Rachel and I drank this everyday in Hong Kong — The addictive Gong Cha bubble tea – Rachel and I drank this everyday in Hong Kong

Rachel with the two cups of tea we bought

"Roll" sponge cake shop beside Gong Cha which also has very good business — “Roll” sponge cake shop beside Gong Cha which also has very good business

Some funky artwork showcase in a shopping mall

Long escalator we went up while shopping around

After shopping, I headed back to rejoin the bloggers, my colleagues and the HKTB folks for dinner while Rachel headed off for her massage appointment.

We had a rich and sumptuous dinner at the Hong Kong Old Restaurant (香港老饭店), located at Miramar Shopping Centre, just across our hotel. You can read the review of this restaurant on Catherine’s blog entry.

It is really called the Hong Kong Old Restaurant

Chicken with peanuts dish

Cold Pig's Trotters - they look kind of scary, but was yummy. Peter ate quite a few. — Cold Pig’s Trotters – they look kind of scary, but was yummy. Peter ate quite a few.

Crunchy beancurd skins with vegetables stuffing

When you travel with bloggers... everything also must take pictures! :) — When you travel with bloggers… everything also must take pictures! 🙂

The noodle dish - we were all too full to stomach much when this was served — The noodle dish – we were all too full to stomach much when this was served

I then went to Chee Kei (池记) to look for Rachel who was enjoying a crab porridge there. As the night was still young, the two of us made our way to Temple Street (庙街) to snoop around.

Chee Kei restuarant where Rachel was having her dinner - I met her there — Chee Kei restuarant where Rachel was having her dinner – I met her there

The crab roe porridge that Rachel was savouring alone when I arrived

We lingered there for quite a few, soaking in the vibrant night scene which Singapore is seriously lacking, sans for clubs and pubs which I do not enjoy going.

Circle K convenience stall - they also sell cosmetics, hence Rachel likes to visit them whenever we passed by — Circle K convenience stall – they also sell cosmetics, hence Rachel likes to visit them whenever we passed by

Hui Lau Shan dessert - Rachel love their mango stuff — Hui Lau Shan dessert – Rachel love their mango stuff

Lots of magazine choices in Hong Kong - particularly those naughty variety — Lots of magazine choices in Hong Kong – particularly those naughty variety

The streets were still quite crowded at night

Rachel blending in with Hong Kongers with her magazine in the train

Hello Kitty toys — Hello Kitty Mcdonald’s toys

Rachel and I love these cute train courtesy ads

Sua Ku Singaporeans never see umbrella being sold in vending machinese before

We bought a caramel coloured umbrella from a vending machine

Chilli truffle in our hotel room when we returned

I love the sharp spicy taste to the chocolate

This rounded up the third day of my eventful Hong Kong trip. Stay tuned for day four whereby we visited the filming location of the multiple award-winning Hong Kong movie, 《岁月神偷》 (Echoes of the Rainbow, 2010).

Read my previous Hong Kong trip blog entries:

Day 2: Yuen Po Street Bird Garden, Flower Market and Goldfish Market; Gingko House at Gough Street; make-over with Celia Wong; and on board the Bounty

Day 1: Dragon Boat Carnival Opening, Robatayaki at Busy Suzie

Hong Kong Summer Spectacular with HKTB – A Prelude

Flying Off to Hong Kong in a Few Hours

Technorati Tags: Camemberu, Aussie Pete, Lawrence Huang, Sze Ping, Ang Geck Geck, Elaine Chua, Shinnpark, Darren Ng, Jerome Lim, violet lim, catherine ling, huang kee hong, low sze ping, write on white, gin oh, the long and winding road, hktb, hong kong tourism board, singapore blog awards 2010, hong kong travel, hong kong travel blog, hong kong blog, hong kong itinerary, hong kong tourism, hong kong summer spectacular, hong kong international airport, the mira hotel, 尖沙咀, tsim sha tsui, the mira, mira hotel, dragon boat carnival opening ceremony, hong kong dragon boat carnvial 2010, macau restaurant, hong kong macau restaurant, 菠萝包, po lo bao, pineapple bun, hong kong pineapple bun, Cha Chaan Teng (茶餐厅), cha chaan teng, 茶餐厅, tsui wah restaurant, 翠華餐廳, hong kong breakfast, korea dream team, let’s go dream team, alexander, bath tub race, victoria harbour, tsim sha tsui promenade, hong kong dragon boat festival bath tub race, hong kong bath tub race, 杜宇航, tvb dragon boat team, dream team dragon boat, to yu-hang, ip man, young ip man, pink spartans, singapore pink spartans, hong kong dragon boat pink spartans, 貢茶, gong cha, hong kong gong cha, singapore gong cha, roll, hong kong roll cake, Hong Kong Old Restaurant, 香港老饭店, miramar shopping centre, 池记, chee kei, hong kong chee kei, tsim sha tsui chee kei, crab roe porridge, temple street, 庙街, hong kong temple street, hui lau shan, xu liu xiang, hong kong circle k, 岁月神偷, echoes of the rainbow