Christin and Jared in Hong Kong: Day 6

With yesterday's trip to Kowloon, we began the process of touring further and further away from home. Today it was time to see the New Territories for the first time...


But first: a very traditional Hong Kong breakfast!

At our favorite congee shop on High Street

Congee with beef, dried squid, peanuts, scallions, and fried cruller

"Crispy cow tongue" (fried sweet bread, no cows involved)

Fried sesame balls

Steamed sweet cake

Steamed rice roll wrapped around fried cruller

After breakfast, we were off to the Tin Shui Wai area of the New Territories on a double-decker bus...

Upper deck, front row!

The primary focus of today's journey was to see a bit of Hong Kong's natural beauty at the Wetland Park...


...but we needed to warm up a little in the Park's cafe before heading out...

Not quite the meal setting we're used to

鴛鴦 (a mix of coffee and Hong-Kong-style milk tea)

Hong-Kong-style milk tea

Having a chat with Pui Pui, Hong Kong's famous crocodile...

...who was hiding from the cold air

Birdwatching inside one of the many camouflaged huts

We saw lots and lots of grey herons and egrets (among other things)

The park is in the shadow of Tin Shui Wai, so you never forget where you are ;>

...but it is still full of some excellent natural sights

After touring the park, we went back to its cafe for a little lunch...

The menu was mostly Hong-Kong-style fast food

Christin's Chicken wings

Jared's meat sauce over rice (with a sunny-side-up egg)

Gray's baked pork chop rice (with tomato sauce)

Once our bellies were satisfied, we returned to the Island to see another park...

Hong Kong Park is surrounded by skyscrapers (like the Bank of China Tower, pictured here)

...but the greenery is a welcome change of pace for the heart of the city

Its large aviary houses plenty of unusual friends...

Since the Peak Tram station sits right beside Hong Kong Park, this was the perfect time to finally take them up to Victoria Peak...

The Peak Tram is always popular, but I don't think I've seen the station this packed before

Up we go!

Outside the Peak Tower

Now you see them...

Now you don't!

Taking time for a bit of shopping in the Peak Galleria

We started to get hungry while at the Peak, but it really isn't the best place to eat (mediocre food that is way overpriced). Instead, I took them to Causeway Bay for a taste of our favorite Indonesian restaurant...

We're extremely sad because this was the restaurant's last week of operation! :<

Stir-fried water spinach

Beef rendang

Gado gado

Coconut rice (with a few appetizers)

Chicken satay

Some yummy treats (free gifts to commemorate the closing of the restaurant)

We were pretty full after dinner, but there's always room for fat-and-sugar-free gelato sorbet at Mamma Mia's!

The sorbets use Splenda, but you really can't tell - they are delicious!

Top to bottom: mango, mangosteen, durian

Time to work our way back home after a full day!