New Territories

2019 Summer Trip to Asia

July 23, 2019 -- Hong Kong 

When we were planning this trip, we did not know that brother JC and his wife would also be in Hong Kong visiting their daughter there. It was wonderful to have them as our guides for two days taking us all over the place so we could enjoy some good local food and visit sites that we would not get to on our own.

This morning, we took the opportunity to visit a dear minister friend in his office near our hotel. Rev. Ting is a leader in the Chinese church as the General Secretary of CCCOWE (Chinese Christian Conference on World Evangelism).

After the visit we met JC and CeC at CaC's apartment nearby.

We would be spending the day in New Territories today. It was so nice to just sit back and relax without having to deal with maps and transportation for a change. Wherever they take us would be perfectly fine.

After driving around the open space of New Territories north of Kowloon, we arrived at the town of Tai Po. I have not been in Tai Po for many years and I felt totally lost here. 

First thing, looking for lunch. JC brought us to this restaurant for some famous beef brisket noodle.

It's called Kwun Kee Beef Brisket in Clear Broth.

I suppose this place is very famous. They had photos of Anthony Bourdain and other famous local singers, movie stars up on the front.

menu

This is something probably more to the local taste. It was very good with tender pieces of beef tendon and brisket in flavorful soup. Westerners may find it a little bland.

Afterward, for dessert, we walked over to the Grandma's Tofu Pudding shop nearby.

Refreshing tofu pudding!

Then we stopped at a cafe and had some Hong Kong specialty, Buttered Pineapple Bun (Bo Lo Yau).

Super yummy but definitely unhealthy!

The next town we stopped at was Yuen Long where there was rioting and fighting just a couple of days before. We just wanted to check out the place and see how much damage was done without stopping for too long. Everything seemed calm and quiet by then, fortunately.

Sign posted by locals wanting to keep the peace.

Lau Fau Shan was a famous fishing village near the border of Hong Kong and China. When I was little, whenever my parents had visitors from foreign countries visiting Hong Kong, they always made it a point to bring their guests here so they could see China from a distance. It is also famous for oyster farms and seafood products. It looks much different nowadays.

Restaurants and shops lined on both sides of the passage way.

A vendor selling dried seafood.

Salted fish getting their sun tan.

Across the Deep Bay (Shenzhen Bay) is the city of Shenzhen, China. A very well-developed modern city. It used to be just fields of farm land.

Shenzhen Bay Bridge between Hong Kong and China.

On the West Kowloon Highway back to our hotel.

For dinner, we were treated for a fantastic meal at a restaurant in the town of Ma On Shan by CeC's family.

Yummy roast duck!

Winter melon soup

lobsters

Steamed garlic scallops

Whole coconut bird's nest sweet soup as dessert.

What a wonderful dinner! 

"I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety."   -- Psalm 4:8

Kam's Roast Goose and the Island of Cheung Chau

2019 Summer Trip to Asia

July 22, 2019 -- Hong Kong 

(continuation of last post on this trip from December after debarkation on Voyager of the Seas)

It is such a surreal feeling now that I am back to continue with my reports about our trip last summer. So much had happened within the last few months that it is sad that many of the things you'll see here may not even exist anymore due to the riots and COVID-19. 

We have four whole days in Hong Kong after the cruise ended and before leaving for Taiwan for our month-long stay there then with two tours in China afterward.

Getting complimentary breakfast at the Hilton Garden Inn in Mongkok.

Food was decent as always.

On our first full day, we planned to go over to Hong Kong island and enjoy a roast goose lunch. Then take the ferry to Cheung Chau Island for the afternoon. No rush, no timing, just do whatever comes our way.

We took the subway across the harbor and got off at the Wan Chai Station. Seeing that we still have time before getting in line for lunch, I've decided to check out the Lee Tung Street area which I have heard so much about. Lee Tung Street is an old street that used to congregate many printing shops, mainly printing invitations for weddings, birthdays, and such, so it was nicknamed "Invitations Street". It was totally converted into a modern pedestrian street with many high-end shops and restaurants now. 

Pedestrian Street of Lee Tung Street, Wan Chai.

Interesting sculptures set right in the middle of the street.

We wanted to make sure that we won't have to wait in line too long for lunch so we went over to Kam's Roast Goose before they even opened. A short line already formed and we were about six or seven in line. Not bad. This is one of the more popular restaurants in Hong Kong especially for tourists who are craving for authentic Hong Kong style roast goose.

Address on the place mat: 226 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong

A Michelin Guide one-star restaurant.

All the delicious roast meats inside the service counter.

As for us, we ordered half a roast goose

 a plate of noodle with shrimp roe

and house soup.

Not bad, for a special lunch and we were stuffed!

Half a goose could be too much for the two of us, but we figured we wanted to really enjoy it without feeling unsatisfied. 

From there we took a bus right in front of the restaurant to the ferry pier in Central.

We got off the bus at the main bus terminus at IFC and walked over to the ferry piers using the pedestrian walkway. Beautiful view of the Convention Center and high rise buildings near the harbor.

The white city hall building looked like a midget surrounded by tall buildings.

It used to be the tallest building in the area when it was built.

I would love to get on that Observation Wheel one of these days.

There are several ferry piers along this corridor next to the Star Ferry pier. Each with ferries going to the many different islands. For us it was Pier #5 for our ride to Cheung Chau.

Spacious and comfortable ferry, not crowded on this Monday afternoon.

Leaving Victoria Harbor.

I could be wrong but I think that's the tallest building in Kowloon, the Elements, where the Airport Express Kowloon Station is. It is also a huge upscale mall with the Sky 100 Hong Kong Observation Deck on top.

The Island of Cheung Chau

Cheung Chau is one of the over 300 islands dotted around Hong Kong. It is a busy island where many locals enjoy their holidays and weekends. There are no vehicles allowed on this island so one must walk or ride a bike when moving around this island. As a child, I have spent many summers here, staying at the church where my aunt used to serve as a Bible woman. For us kids, it was pure fun where we were able to just walked to the beach, played on the rooftop, and wandered around the safe neighborhood. Lots of childhood memories! 

Our church still standing there but the surrounding area looked a little depressing. A public garbage collection station is now right outside the side of the church making it quite unwelcoming.

Front of the church. Now that we don't know the minister stationed here, we did not bother getting inside.

Then we made our way uphill, hoping to cross over to the other side of the island. It proved to be a little trying for us now that we are older. Just had to take a break when we saw this empty playground.

Passing by the Alliance Bible Seminary, one of the more prominent seminaries in Asia.

Side entrance of the seminary.

And then from there, I think we were lost. Instead of going one direction we went the wrong way and ended up at the side of the island where I was not familiar with. It was still beautiful but I just couldn't get to the main beach and it took us a lot of walking just to get back to the pier that afternoon.

This could be the Kwun Yum Beach, not sure though. There was a small Kwun Yum temple by the beach.

Got back to the pier and taking the ferry back to Hong Kong. A couple of shots before leaving the island.

Back to Hong Kong with many apartment buildings in the western district.

Star Ferry

Convention Center in Wan Chai

We had a huge lunch, so, for dinner, we followed brother's advice and went to a Chiu Chau noodle shop a few blocks away from our hotel for a simple meal.

(Chiu Shing Yuen - 109 Tung Choi Street, Mongkok, Hong Kong)

This tiny restaurant specializes in rice noodle, noodle, fish balls, fish cakes, etc. all for very inexpensive price.

Other than the veggies shown above we both had the fish balls/fish cakes rice noodle.

Very good quality meal for cheap.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."    -- Galatians 5:22~23