Sunday, 23 June 2019
Having been to Hong Kong at least twice (or was it thrice?), I decided to take the road less travelled this time.
I wanted to do the things I had not done the previous times, such as going to the various markets that I didn't go, eat the food that I missed out on and go to the places that I didn't go.
A pocket wifi, the first thing we got right outside the arrival hall in Hong Kong
After that, we proceeded to this counter to get our Octopus Cards that would be on-loan for the next 5 days
3 adults and 1 child
The counter staff at the Octopus Card was not helpful. When asked where to take the bus, she pointed downward and said coldly,"Downstairs."
Downstairs where? We followed the Bus sign and exited on the far right of the arrival hall.
My previous itinerary stated to take bus number A21 to get to our hotel.
It was Bus Stop Number 12 for Shamrock Hotel.
A 50-minute long journey. Didn't feel that long though.
There you are, right opposite us
We deposited the luggage with the hotel and headed straight for Australia Dairy Company which was just a stone's throw away from the hotel.
That was the first time I had to queue at Australia Diary Co., and a long queue at that!
It moved really quickly though so we had no complaints.
Our comfort food
The egg-milk pudding and sandwiches with various fillings:
egg and ham, egg and cheese and simply egg
All were scrumptious as the scrambled eggs were soft and nicely done.
Do ask for toasted bread as it tastes better than plain bread.
The egg-milk pudding needs no introduction. Except for William, the rest of us were all craving for and looking forward to taste the sweet curdled milk that crumples on your tongue.
I used to feel that the staff at Australia Dairy Co. were curt, to the point of being rude, but this time round, I didn't get the feeling of being hurried. In fact, the staff taking the order was trying to use the language we were comfortable with,"Chinese? English?"
He ended up speaking Mandarin with William and me and English with Coco.
After that, we headed to Ladies Market which was 2 MTR stations away in Mongkok.
Lighters in the form of iPhones
Pedi-Mani kit in doll casing
Interesting undergarments
Lots of counterfeit bags and wallets
Tempted to get the pretty salt and pepper shakers but I remembered the plain ones I got from Bangkok or Australia are still sitting idle in one of the cabinets!
Pretty colourful 3D cards
Have always wondered how they did it
Coco mused,"Pussy on the panties to cover the pussy."
I wasn't sure if the vendors would allow photography so my pictures were taken in a hurry.
After browsing through Ladies Market and decided that there was nothing worthy to buy, we walked to Fa Yuen Market which was also in the vicinity but in the other direction. Unfortunately, it was even more of a market, selling clothes and fruits. Nothing much for us to buy too. I didn't even take any pictures as it was not much of a difference from Ladies Market - just another street market with aunty and uncle vendors.
By then, everyone was complaining of tiredness and aching feet.
I was determined to visit Kam Wah Cafe which was, incidentally, quite near to where we were.
A cafe frequented by celebrities that I don't know
The place was very tiny and it was very cramped.
We were allocated a small table and had to share it with a lone customer.
We were not hungry but Kam Wah Cafe's Pineapple Bun with butter (HKD 10) was touted to be 'the best' so I had to try it.
William had the Pineapple Bun sans the butter (HKD 6) as it was stated on the menu that that's what it's famous for.
Verdict: We were disappointed.
Me,"This is 'the best'? Have those people eaten a pineapple bun before?"
William,"Maybe never, so this is the only, and so 'the best', bo lo pau they have eaten."
There was a minimum order per person so we had to order a chicken chop bun to make up the numbers. We packed it back in the end but it probably ended up in the dustbin.
For all the hype that it's worth, we feel that the Pineapple Bun was just average.
I would not recommend hassling a visit to Kam Wah Cafe. If you are near there, no harm trying just to experience the cramped and supposedly popular cafe, but it's not worth a special trip there for the bun.
It was almost 3pm so we returned to the hotel to rest our feet. Coco decided to stay in for the rest of the day as she was tired from all the Marketing and viewing pirated goods.
The rest of us continued with our Marketing adventures to Temple Street Market which was just 5 to 10 minutes' walk from the hotel.
The cheena signboard
Baby bought a toy dog for herself and two smaller ones for her cousins
I thought this building, which William believed was a mahjong house, looked somewhat more 'orderly' compared to the rest of the buildings that we had seen so far.
Then William decided that it was time for dinner before we headed back to the hotel for the day
We ate at Mak Man Kee Noodles, just a shop or two away from Australia Dairy Co.
I had pig's trotter noodles.
Lots of huge bones in the way, as usual
Mak Man Kee's famous wanton noodles
Shrimp dumpling noodles
We are not big fans of Mak Man Kee Noodles.
This is my third try while it was William's second.
Edible for sure but we didn't think it was fantastic.
Where to go:
Australian Dairy Company
G/F, 47-49 Parkes Street (Jordan MTR Exit C2)
Opening hours: 7.30am - 11pm (Closed on Thursdays)
Ladies Market (Mongkok MTR, walk 260m to Tung Choi Street)
Fa Yuen Street Market (Mongkok MTR Exit E2)
Kam Wah Cafe
G/F, 47 Bute Street (Prince Edward MTR)
Mak Man Kee Noodle Shop
G/F, 51 Parkes Street (Jordan MTR Exit C2)
Opening hours: 12pm - 12.30am
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