Hong Kong Summer Spectacular with HKTB – Day 4 of 6 - Alvinology

Hong Kong Summer Spectacular with HKTB – Day 4 of 6

My fourth day in Hong Kong was also the last day I will be spending with the ten bloggers. Most of them will be headed back to Singapore, with the exception of Sze Ping who had also extended his trip for another two days like me, on our own expenses.

My colleagues, Siew Kian and Ming Choy extended their stay too while Vivien from the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) accompanied the other nine bloggers back to Singapore later part of noon.

In the morning, we set off for congee at Law Fu Kee Congee and Noodle Specialist (羅富記粥麵專家). This humble looking establishment is listed in on the very helpful HKTB’s “Local Delicacies” booklet guide. Don’t play play okay, the Michelin Hong Kong Macau guide gave it two stars for its culinary excellence in congee.

You can read the review on Law Fu Kee via Catherine (Camemberu)’s blog entry.

Personally, the bowl of pork liver and sliced fish congee I had that morning was the best tasting congee I had in my life. Now that I am looking at the pictures again, I am salivating, just thinking of the bowl of congee.

We had breakfast at this restaurant
We had breakfast at this restaurant
Inside the packed restaurant
Inside the packed restaurant
Enjoying breakfast
Enjoying breakfast
The Aussie buddies
The Aussie buddies
Elaine, Siew Kian and Gin, breakfast kakis
Elaine, Siew Kian and Gin, breakfast kakis
Me, Lawrence and Ming Choy, still fresh in the morning
Me, Lawrence and Ming Choy, still fresh in the morning
Catherine's bowl of lean pork and century egg congee
Catherine’s bowl of lean pork and century egg congee
My delicious pork liver and sliced fish congee - I want to eat this again!
My delicious pork liver and sliced fish congee – I want to eat this again!
Vegetable to share
Vegetable to share
Fish balls with fermented bean sauce
Fish balls with fermented bean sauce
Pipping hot fried dough fritters (you tiao)
Pipping hot fried dough fritters (you tiao)

After a very satisfying breakfast, we met up with Leon Suen, a professional photographer who took us through a heritage walk in the Central/SoHo area.

Jerome wrote two very insightful and descriptive blog entries on our heritage walk – one on the Sheung Wan (上环) area where the  recent award-winning Hong Kong movie, Echoes of the Rainbow (岁月神偷) was shot on Wing Lee Street (永利街); the other on the neverending Central Mid-Level Escalators (中環至半山自動扶梯). Do check out his two blog posts, HERE and HERE respectively.

The weather was sweltering hot and we were all perspiring from head to toe as we trek up and down the steep slopes, thankfully with the aid of many long escalators. The feel of entering into a time warp to a location where time stood still in the 60s/70s made it all worthwhile though.

I managed to watch Echoes of the Rainbow, highly recommended by Vivien from HKTB, on the return flight to Singapore via Cathay Airlines. It was a heart-warming movie to watch.  The movie, steeped in nostalgia and feel-good elements; captured the struggles of the working class in Hong Kong in the 1960s. Do catch it. 🙂

Hanging around Hong Kong Central
Hanging around Hong Kong Central
Mural art
Mural art
Female construction worker
Female construction worker
Colourful sights as we travel up the neverending escalators
Colourful sights as we travel up the never ending escalators
Saw a familiar poster
Saw a familiar poster
100 percent Australian
100 percent Australian
One long escalator after another
One long escalator after another
Interesting giant billboard ad
Interesting giant billboard ad
Wines and spirits shop
Wines and spirits shop
Mexican Restaurant
Mexican Restaurant
Taking a break
Taking a break
Trekking our way to a hidden mosque, with Leon as our guide
Trekking our way to a hidden mosque, with Leon as our guide
The curiously tranquail Jamia Mosque, tucked in the middle of the tall buildings and busy streets
The curiously tranquail Jamia Mosque, tucked in the middle of the tall buildings and busy streets
The entrance gateway to the mosque
The entrance gateway to the mosque
More pictures of the mosque
More pictures of the mosque
Mosque interior
Mosque interior
No sleeping in the mosque
No sleeping in the mosque
Chatting with the two friendly mosque care takers
Chatting with the two friendly mosque care takers
Surrounded by skyscrapers, the mosque still looks magnificent
Surrounded by skyscrapers, the mosque still looks magnificent
Another picture, taken in pin-hole mode
Another picture, taken in pin-hole mode
Taps for devotees to cleanse themselves before entering the mosque
Taps for devotees to cleanse themselves before entering the mosque
Sandals outside the mosque
Sandals outside the mosque
Geck Geck at the mosque
Geck Geck at the mosque
The guy on the extreme left in spectacles is our heritage guide, Leon Suen
The guy on the extreme left in spectacles is our heritage guide, Leon Suen
Wing Lee Street
Wing Lee Street
A very old printing house
A very old printing house
Photo and video are not allowed in the printing house actually...
Photo and video are not allowed in the printing house actually…
Ancient publishing house that still uses the block printing press
Ancient publishing house that still uses the block printing press
The old shop owner showing us some of his block prints
The old shop owner showing us some of his block prints
Retro grilles
Retro grilles
There's an old man at work, behind the grilles
There’s an old man at work, behind the grilles
A playground constructed as part of the set of the movie, Echoes of the Rainbow
A playground constructed as part of the set of the movie, Echoes of the Rainbow
The interior of the playground
The interior of the playground
Me in the playground
Me in the playground
Peter pretending to be a colonial landowner
Peter pretending to be a colonial landowner
Building interior
Building interior
Real people are living in these old houses
Real people are living in these old houses
Old metal mail boxes
Old metal mail boxes
This school has an interesting labyrinth like layout
This school has an interesting labyrinth like layout
Peter is very tired
Peter is very tired
Rednaxela Terrace - somehow, I am drawn to this name
Rednaxela Terrace – somehow, I am drawn to this name
Flights after flights of stairs
Flights after flights of stairs
Me with Violet and Peter
Me with Violet and Peter
Workers resting
Workers resting
Look at the ancient signboard!
Look at the ancient signboard!
No. 10, Wing Lee Street
No. 10, Wing Lee Street
Run down building
Run down building
More old buildings
More old buildings
Private Road - don't play play
Private Road – don’t play play
My colleague, Ming Choy at work
My colleague, Ming Choy at work
Look at how steep the road is
Look at how steep the road is
Large slow down sign on the steep road
Large slow down sign on the steep road
New against old buildings; Trees grow on some of these buildings
New against old buildings; Trees grow on some of these buildings
Contrasting new and old buildings
Contrasting new and old buildings
Former French Mission Building (Court of Final Appeal)
Former French Mission Building (Court of Final Appeal)
Chinese Young Men's Christian Association of Hong Kong (Chinese Y.M.C.A)
Chinese Young Men’s Christian Association of Hong Kong (Chinese Y.M.C.A)
Hollywood Road
Hollywood Road
Tall skyscrapers along Hollywood road
Tall skyscrapers along Hollywood road
The famous temple at the opposite side of the road
The famous temple at the opposite side of the road
Spotted a restaurant touting Singapore's Katong Laksa
Spotted a restaurant touting Singapore’s Katong Laksa

By noon, we gathered at Hong Kong celebrity chef, Margaret Xu’s private kitchen (at 18 Ship Street, tel: +852 2866 0868), Yin Yang (鸳鸯) for lunch. To dine there, you need to make a reservation at least a day in advance. Deliberately kept small to ensure the highest food quality, there are only three tables in the retro refurbished shop house in Wan Chai (湾仔).

Margaret has a interesting life story to tell – she used to run an ad agency before becoming a self-taught cook. She is a champion of healthy, organic food and the cuisines served in her private kitchen are mostly her own creations or are made with ingredients cultivated at her own organic farm in Yuen Long (元朗).

You can read more about Margaret Xu; her private kitchen and the cuisines served, via Catherine’s detailed blog entry.

In summary, all our us enjoyed the meticulously crafted food as well as the nostalgic ambient at Yin Yang very much.

It was also the last lunch together for all of us as most of our entourage will be returning to Singapore after that. Hence everyone was in a particularly chatty mood (a few bottles of beers helped too), reminiscing on the Hong Kong trip thus far which was coming to an end.

After lunch, Margaret Xu did a LIVE demonstration of making a piquant  condiment, made from vegetables and green chillies. I still have my bottle in my fridge and it goes well with a lot of stuff, ranging from chicken to fried wantons. You can get the recipe for this via Catherine’s blog entry.

Restaurant entrance
Restaurant entrance
Paper replica of the exterior of the restaurant building and the menu board
Paper replica of the exterior of the restaurant building and the menu board
All seated for lunch
All seated for lunch
Retro curtains and window fittings, kept the way it was
Retro curtains and window fittings, kept the way it was
Margaret Xu's Yin Yang photo book
Margaret Xu’s Yin Yang photo book
The ten bloggers - sad that this will be their last lunch together in Hong Kong
The ten bloggers – sad that this will be their last lunch together in Hong Kong
But everyone were happy with their new found friendships
But everyone were happy with their new found friendships
To keep to the retro theme, water was served via a tin flash and soft drinks came in glass bottles
To keep to the retro theme, water was served via a tin flash and soft drinks came in glass bottles
Yin Yang's signature Yellow Chicken
Yin Yang’s signature Yellow Chicken
Cutting and tearing up the chicken
Cutting and tearing up the chicken
The chicken after it's sliced up
The chicken after it’s sliced up
Close-up of the golden yellow meat
Close-up of the golden yellow meat
The home-made sauce to go with the yellow chicken
The home-made sauce to go with the yellow chicken
Roast pork served with home-made lychee sauce
Roast pork served with home-made lychee sauce
Roast Pork
Cut up roast pork
Look at the marvelous texture
Look at the marvelous texture
Clams served with chilli and vegetable
Clams served with chilli and vegetable
Smoking hot soup
Smoking hot soup
The veggies in the soup are grown in Margaret Xu's own farm
The veggies in the soup are grown in Margaret Xu’s own organic farm
More organic farm grown veggies
More organic farm grown veggies
Curry crab with lady fingers
Curry crab with lady fingers
Delicious looking isn't it?
Delicious looking isn’t it?
Rice served with organic greens in an earthen pot
Rice served with organic greens in an earthen pot
Banana ice cream dessert
Banana ice cream dessert
Another picture of the dessert
Another picture of the dessert
Fun poses after lunch
Fun poses after lunch
Funny pose 2
Funny pose 2
Funny pose 3
Funny pose 3
A nice calligraphy piece in the restaurant
A nice calligraphy piece in the restaurant
The many culinary awards Margaret has won
The many culinary awards Margaret has won
Me and Vivien with celebrity chef, Margaret Xu
Me and Vivien with celebrity chef, Margaret Xu
Margaret Xu's cool kitchen - set up like a studio already
Margaret Xu’s cool kitchen – set up like a studio already
Pots, pans and other unique wares
Pots, pans and other unique wares
Filming Margaret Xu
Filming Margaret Xu
Margaret Xu doing a self introduction
Margaret Xu doing a self introduction
Chopping up the greens
Chopping up the greens
Margaret Xu's cooking demonstration
Margaret Xu’s cooking demonstration
Captivated audience
Captivated audience
Darren helping out with chopping; on the right is the terra cotta oven which Margaret Xu built herself
Darren helping out with chopping; on the right is the terra cotta oven which Margaret Xu built herself
Mixing the green chilli with veggies
Mixing the green chilli with veggies
Margaret Xu cooking up a storm
Margaret Xu cooking up a storm
Lush green vegetables
Lush green vegetables
Margaret grinding up the mixture
Margaret grinding up the mixture
Sampling time!
Sampling time!
Unanimous thumbs ups!
Unanimous thumbs ups!
Margaret Xu and the six bloggers who sat through the cooking demonstration
Margaret Xu and the six bloggers who sat through the cooking demonstration
Green Dream for everyone! :)
Green Dream for everyone! 🙂
Including me!
Including me!
Margaret Xu's Green Dream sauce
Margaret Xu’s Green Dream sauce
The bloggers enjoying their Green Dream
The bloggers enjoying their Green Dream
Ah...........
Ah………..
Pete really love the Green Dream sauce and was eating it like ice cream
Pete really love the Green Dream sauce and was eating it like ice cream
We each get to take home a bottle of the freshly made Green Dream sauce from this wonderful restaurant
We each get to take home a bottle of the freshly made Green Dream sauce from this wonderful restaurant

I parted way with the bloggers from Yin Yang as they made their way back to Singapore. For them, their Hong Kong summer trip ends at Yin Yang on a high note. For me, there’s two more days to look forward to. 🙂

First thing I did from then was to check out of Mira Hotel and make my way to a budget hotel, Mingle on the Wing, located at Sheung Wan (上环).

The hotel was very small with barely room to walk about after putting in my luggage and Rachel’s luggage. It did take a while for me to get accustomed to the size, after the luxurious stay at Mira.

Nonetheless, it is less than 5 minutes walking distance from the Sheung Wan train station; centrally located to many shopping areas and attractions; provides free DVDs to watch as well as a DVD player; provides a mobile phone connected to the hotel number; and most importantly, has free Internet access. A pretty good deal. 🙂

After checking in, Rachel and I decided to make our way to Gough Street to try out the famous Kau Kee beef brisket noodles 九記牛腩 (21 Gough Street, tel: +852 2850-5967) which we missed on our second day in Hong Kong as we dined at Gingko House at the same location instead.

You can read the review on Kau Kee via Catherine’s blog entry. According to Catherine, the humble looking eatery counts even HK Chief Executive Donald Tsang, actors Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Nick Cheung and Takeshi Kaneshiro as its regulars.

As we arrived there relatively late, there wasn’t much of a queue and we got our orders pretty quick. I had a curry beef brisket noodle while Rachel ordered a clear soup vermicelli version. I am a big fan of beef noodle and love every sip of the curry and the tangy beef brisket.

We had a good time shopping and checking out the streets while navigating to Gough Street and also hanging out at the various botique stores located on Gough Street before dinner.

Rachel was delighted to find Hong Kong designer, Carrie Chau (Wun Ying)‘s shop, Wun Ying Collection on Gough Street. We bought quite a few pieces of her stuff.

We got lost a bit while looking for Gough Street
We got lost a bit while looking for Gough Street
Rachel's favourite pen brand
Rachel’s favourite pen brand
Back at Gough Street for dinner
Back at Gough Street for dinner
Along Gough Street
Along Gough Street
Interesting street mural art
Interesting street mural art
Shop selling designer's kids toys
Shop selling designer’s kids toys
Petit Bazaar which sells children's stuff as above
Petit Bazaar which sells children’s stuff as above
Vintage store
Vintage store
Hong Kong designer, Wuu Ying's shop - Rachel love her stuff, we bought quite a bit here
Hong Kong designer, Wun Ying’s shop – Rachel love her stuff, we bought quite a bit here
One of Wuu Ying's original artwork in the shop
One of Wun Ying’s original artwork in the shop
We bought a kaleidoscope lens for Eunice, Rachel's sister, from Wuu Ying
We bought a kaleidoscope lens for Eunice, Rachel’s sister, from Wuu Ying
This shop sells stuff made from recycled material
This shop sells stuff made from recycled material
Outside Homeless
Outside Homeless
Inside Homeless
Inside Homeless
Another designers shop like Homeless
Another designers shop like Homeless
The famous Nan Kee springroll noodle joint at Gough Street - we had dinner here
The famous Kau Kee noodle joint at Gough Street – we had dinner here
Inside Nan Kee
Inside Nan Kee
The menu
The menu
What we ordered for dinner
What we ordered for dinner
Plus our drinks
Plus our drinks
Hong Kong Summer Spectacular with HKTB – Day 4 of 6 - Alvinology
My curry noodle
Tucking in for dinner
Tucking in for dinner

After Gough Street, Rachel and I decided to head back to the Temple Street (庙街) area which we went to the previous night to continue exploring the huge area.

We returned back to our hotel after that, ending our fourth night in Hong Kong. Stay tuned to my next update as Rachel and I head up The Peak. 🙂

Da Pai Dang (大排檔) or street food vendors in Hong Kong
Da Pai Dang (大排檔) or street food vendors in Hong Kong
Spotted an old dressmaking shop
Spotted an old dressmaking shop
Old woman feeding strays
Old woman feeding strays
Fruits stall
Fruits stall
Some shops were closing as we stroll past
Some shops were closing as we stroll past
Pushcart selling flowers
Pushcart selling flowers
Herbal tea shop
Herbal tea shop
Scary dolls
Scary dolls
Porn shop
Porn shop
Trinkets and ornaments
Trinkets and ornaments
More trinkets
More trinkets
Vintage stuff
Vintage stuff
Rows of people competing to read your fortune
Rows of people competing to read your fortune
Custom made hand phone accessories
Custom made hand phone accessories
Rows upon rows of roadside stalls
Rows upon rows of roadside stalls
Toy collectibles
Toy collectibles
Imitation paintings
Imitation paintings
Wall light projectors on sale
Wall light projectors on sale
Spotted a pair of pet kittens
Spotted a pair of pet kittens
Rachel, happily lost in the Temple Street area
Rachel, happily lost in the Temple Street area
Workers were changing the subway posters when we headed back to our hotel
Workers were changing the subway posters when we headed back to our hotel
Admiralty station
Admiralty station
Posters of "The Little Prince"
Posters of “The Little Prince”
A visibly tired Rachel at Sheung Wan Station on our way back
A visibly tired Rachel at Sheung Wan Station on our way back

Read my previous Hong Kong trip blog entries:

Day 3: Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival 2010; Hong Kong Old Restaurant; Tsim Sha Tsui and Temple Street shopping

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

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5 comments

  1. Hi Alvin,
    That street name that you were “drawn to”, Rednaxela Terrace. Try looking at the first part of the name — Rednaxela — again, only backwards !

    Enjoy reading your blog, all the way from San Francisco

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