Christin and Jared in Hong Kong: Day 3

Our first two days were spent fairly close to home with a focus on city spots. Day 3 was decidedly different in both of those dimensions...

We started by catching a bus to Stanley, one of the popular beach areas on the south side of the Hong Kong Island...

Strolling along Stanley Main Beach...

...while hunting for some shells to take home

Exploring the Main Street waterfront on our way to our lunch spot in Murry House

A Spanish meal on the balcony of Mijas

Bruschetta tapas

Cuttlefish and salmon cakes

A creamy soup of the day

Christin's grilled Chilean sea bass

Jared's fried fillet of Sole

Gray's seafood and lamb paella

Christin's crème brûlée

Gray's apple mango crumble

Jared's Chocolate lava cake

The Tin Hau temple beside Murray House

...which we reverently entered

Casting their gaze to the southeast with Main Street in the background

Meandering the Stanley Market

After Stanley, we took a detour on our bus trip north to see Cyberport, where Katherine's brother works...

We then ventured off Hong Kong Island and into Kowloon, where we met Katherine in Jordan to shop at Yue Hwa (our favorite Chinese department store)...

Ready to shop!

Sampling freshly-brewed teas (Jasmine pearls, oolong with osmanthus, "bolay", etc)

Once we were shopped-out, we walked a few doors down for dinner at a fantastic Thai restaurant called Wong Chun Chun...

Jared's coconut milk with cendol and mango

Whole crab in an unbelievably tasty curry sauce

Grilled whole squid

Fried rice with pineapple and chicken

Messy, but good!

We weren't too far from the night market on Temple Street, so we ran over there after dinner, but our stay was cut short by rain...

This was our longest day out so far and we were all ready to crash when we got home. Fui Fui made sure we didn't sleep too late this morning, though...

Satisfying a request from Carson!

Christin and Jared in Hong Kong: Day 2

Our second day was devoted to forging further east on the north face of Hong Kong Island. Here's the map...

We started by descending to Kennedy Town. While there, we took a peek in the Smithfield Road wet market...

Stalls full of hanging raw meat were perhaps not their favorite part of the day

We grabbed a few freshly-baked buns from a nearby bakery for breakfast and had them by the seaside...

The Kennedy Town section of the harbor is heavily trafficked, so the waves are pretty choppy

Fueled up and ready to go, we climbed aboard the "ding ding" trolley...


...and rode it all the way to Wan Chai...

Treasure hunting for big bargains in factory outlet shops

Exploring the numerous furniture stores...

...and successfully finding a small gift (it's a secret, though, so it isn't pictured!)

Lunch at our favorite shrimp noodles shop...

...where Christin and Jared got lots of challenging chopstick practice

Sampling one of Hong Kong's most famous street snacks, coconutty waffle-like "little eggs", from perhaps the most famous shop that makes it

With Wan Chai conquered, we set sail for Causeway Bay on the MTR...

Even on an early Monday afternoon, the MTR was jam-packed

Causeway Bay is one of the best shopping districts in Hong Kong and we made the most of our time there...

In awe of the Times Square shopping mall

Crossing Hennessy Road towards the Sogo department store

Taking a fruit juice break (kiwi, watermelon, and mango) at Honeymoon Dessert in the World Trade Centre mall

We were all shopped out by 4PM, so we joined Katherine (who had to work most of the day) at home for a meal delivered from our favorite traditional Cantonese restaurants. A few of the unique items...

Fluffy egg whites with clams and broccoli

Sliced abalone with "winter mushrooms" and stir-fried lettuce

Yum!

We attempted to watch a movie after that, but could only stay awake for about 30 minutes of it, so jet-lag took us to bed once again.

Christin and Jared in Hong Kong: Day 1

Our fist day was spent fairly close to home, on the northeast corner of Hong Kong Island. Here's a look at the miles of territory we covered (highlighted in orange)...

Since jet lag had us all up by 6AM, we decided to head out for some early morning dim sum at the Star Seafood Restaurant in Sai Ying Pun...

Weekend mornings are always packed at dim sum restaurants...

...but, fortunately, we didn't have any trouble finding a table at 7:30AM.

After breakfast, we took an easterly stroll through the streets of Sai Ying Pun, Sheung Wan, and Central...

This hair salon is just "so-so"

Perusing the many dried seafood shops on Des Voeux Road West

Stopping by the Western Market in Sheung Wan

Cutting through the cramped bazaar of Central's Li Yuen Street...

...where shops were guarded by the most unlikely soldiers

Outside the Landmark in the heart of Central

A Filipino cultural demonstration (a common sight on Sundays in Central) as spied from a walkway between Alexandra House and Prince's Building

Outside the Legislative Council building in Statue Square

Around noon, we worked our way up the Mid-Levels escalators and had brunch at the Life Organic Cafe, a great vegetarian spot...

Enjoying the comfort of the rooftop balcony

Gray's frittata

Christin's granola with soy yogurt and fruit

Katherine's mushroom omelet

Jared's poached eggs

After brunch, the journey continued up-hill...

Looking down on the Mid-Levels escalators from Caine Road

...until we cut west and reached the University of Hong Kong...

HKU's front entrance on Bonham Road

Main Building, where Katherine has her office

Outside Eliot Hall

Once we finished the University tour, it was time to head back home and rest for a bit. Just before 6PM, we ventured back out for dinner at BBQ, our favorite teppanyaki joint...

BBQ is very popular and always packed

Digging in to the grilled skewers!

We had octopus...

...eggplant, fishballs, and a host of other tiny treats

With dinner concluded, we returned home and tried to stay awake for as long as we could. By 9PM, though, the struggle was too great, and sleep took us all. A great first day!

Christin and Jared Arrive!

My sister and her husband have just strolled into Hong Kong for a two-week stay!

Exiting customs and immigration at the airport

Their first minibus ride

Dinner at our favorite Xinjiang restaurant (including stir-fried green beans, minced camel wraps, lamb dumplings, and yogurt)

Dessert at a classroom-themed sweet shop (Christin is having an apple crumble tart and Jared is having chocolate "snow flower ice" (like shaved ice cream)

This was just the first night, but I'll be updating the blog with our adventures as they unfold.

Winter Wonderland!

No, this isn't Hong Kong's first ever snowfall, but it is the first I've seen of it in a long time! I'm in Radford, VA at the moment, winding down a trip to the USA, and I don't think I've seen snow since Katherine and I moved to Hong Kong two years ago. It's nice that a little flurry dropped by to say hello. :>