Euro Travel & More

Some of the best food in Hong Kong are found on the street – someone told me before I first visited Hong Kong – that you can forgo any kind of food in Hong Kong – but you have to taste all the street food in Hong Kong.  Not only are they cheap they are darn good.  Don’t be mislead that street food in Hong Kong isn’t clean – in fact – they are just as clean – or more than the high class restaurants that you go to in Hong Kong.   I loved the curry fishballs on skewer  and the octopus on skewer – and not forgetting the siew mai on skewer and sweet chilli sauce as well.

Made of flour and eggs – this is a local delicacy – for all Hong Kongers – it’s like an afternoon snack for them.

Fried Hor Fun may not be exactly street food – but you can find them in small chinese cafe in Hong Kong – they are definitely a must try – loved their dry hor fun.  Try the ones with sambal -  it’s in a pretty high class restaurant in Hong Kong – taste different but only if you like it hot.

Polo bun is a must when you are in Hong Kong – yummy to the max.

And my favorite red bean ice dessert – also another must eat and drink.

Some people travel for the love of shopping and some people because of the historical presence in a certain place – but I travel for the love of food mostly – well, besides work of course.  And one of the best oyster bars that I’ve been too – sits right in Asia – Hong Kong at the Sheraton Hotel in Kowloon.  Their Oyster & Wine Bar offers around 800 of the delectable creatures. Check every now and then as you will find different varieties  coming from the different regions where oysters are grown. Some of the oysters are flown from Oregon, Galway, Tasmania, Colchester, Brittany, Japan, Long Island, Chile, South Africa and Vietnam.  Watch out for the Namibian varieties and the Chilean ones when they are offered.

I was in Hong Kong watching a show on tvb about tips for home decoration and in the show – they also teaches you how to choose mattresses and pillows.  They mentioned that most people mistaken that they have to choose the hardest bed for a good night sleep and for their back – in fact that wasn`t true.  As we spend many hours during our lifetime sleeping on this mattresses – it is therefore important to choose the right one and the right kind.  Sure – the price is important – but one`s health is just as important.  I used to wake up with a backache – and after realizing that it was my mattress that is causing my back so much stress – I changed it.  Pay a few thousand dollars for a mattress might sound crazy to some – but if it eliminates my medication taking – like a pain killer – every day – i think it is worthwhile.

The Hong Kong and Kowloon Red Taxis – the best friend told me she took the wrong taxi – when she was in Hong Kong for the 1st time and took a green one instead.  She was being scolded by the taxi driver – muahahah!! poor thing!  Well, for those who are heading for Hong Kong for the first time – there are typically 3 types of taxis in Hong Kong – the read one mostly travel in Kowloon and Hong Kong areas – urban areas.  The green ones are for the new territories and the blue taxis are the ones that operates only in Lantau Island.  If you are going to the airport – you take the red ones.  Fares are not as expensive as in the West – so don’t complain when you take a cab in Hong Kong – because when you are in the west – they are way more expensive.

Need I say more?  hhaha!! i know! i know! i was just teasing you but Mak Noodles were awarded the Michelin Restaurant in 2009 and 2010 – now that must say something to all of you even if you are not a foodie.  Well, I love food and so does all my friends and Mak Noodles is a place you must not miss for authentic noodles. I think they have several locations but the one I am used to going is the one in Central area.  But they have one at the Peak now – so if you are at The Peak – you can try the restaurant there.

Love the wanton alone – highly recommended because the meat is fresh and they have crunchy chestnuts in them.  Love the clear soup as well and I can go on and on about the food but I shall stop here because you will never hear the end of my food experiences.

Some girlfriends of mine from the West are planning a trip back home – they called it the Eat Your Way Through Asia Trip – From Hong Kong to Singapore – then to Malaysia and finally to Bangkok – yes ! all shopping and eating paradise.   They said they were going to try everything they see and even durian – the King Of Fruits and fried cockroaches – hehe!!  that I’ll have to see to believe.  The durian ain’t too bad – but nope I won’t try the cockroaches – if i were them.  But of course – there are so many things to eat and see in Asia – I don’t even know where to begin to be honest.  So I recommended a few things – for the MUST tries and also told them to get some best diet supplements when they get home from their holiday.  Why? because I put on 10Kg every time i go back home.  So here are the few I recommended, let me know if you have any suggestions too.

Crab in Yellow Curry at Harmonique – in Bangkok

Hainanese Chicken Rice in Singapore

Roasted pigeon in Hong Kong – Yung Kee

Grilled stingray in Malaysia.

These are only a few of the must try – so please eat more stuff while you are in Asia – Asia is definitely a food paradize.

Shopping and eating in Asia is a really fascinating experience – but one place you can never get enough of is Hong Kong – the Pearl of the Orient.  I’ve been to Hong Kong so many times – and I still can’t get enough of Hong Kong.  Every year that i visit – there seems to be something new to see, shop and eat.

From Langham Shopping Center in Mongkok to Hot Pot in Tsim Tsai Tsui.

Make sure you try some Herbal Jelly while you are at Causeway Bay – Honey Moon Dessert

And while you are there – try the mango sticky rice roll at Lucky Dessert too.

Yes – the famous Causeway Bay at night – full of cabbies on your right.   I have so many food and places to share with you all – but that will be in another post.  Don’t forget to come back.

Yes.. a trip down memory lane for me when my best friend was just in Macau and brought back some wonderful pictures.  Macau was one of the many places that were on my first year’s trip out of Singapore and while reading about apidexin scam the pictures kept coming in and i thought i should look for some to post them up.

Macau has changed a lot since the last time i was there some 15 yrs ago – but one thing that never changed are the many casinos there – in fact i hear there are more now.   Anyone who have been to Macau would recognized the Grand Lisboa – i had stayed here when I was in Macau.  The 400 luxurious rooms were huge and it wasn’t really expensive either – I’m guessing they hope you leave the rest of your money in the casino as well.  Don’t forget to check out their famous Lotus Pond in the hotel’s lobby.

Yes – there you have it – the casino of course.

A gigantic statue of Guan Yin (that wasn’t there when i visited last)

The Museum of Macau is all about the history of Macau – it’s up on a hill of a 16th century fort – check out the canons and artillery they used back then.

The famous Ruins of St Paul’s – how can anyone miss that right – even if i were to go there every year i would want a picture of the Ruins. Many movies and tv shows were filmed here.

Signs everywhere now.

The Pou Tai Un Temple in Taipa.

The Observation Tower in Macau – also known as the Macau Tower

Up at the Observation Tower – you not only see the awesome views of the entire Macau, you can dine there – watch a show there, shop and of course go for a thrilling walk on the Skywalk – where you walk on glass flooring.

Here I leave you with one of the views of the Macau Tower – both day and night views are different – just like in Paris. By the way – Stanley Ho the owner of the many casinos in Macau – almost all – was in Auckland when he saw the Sky Tower there that he commissioned a similar one to be built in Macau.  The work started in 1998 and opened for the first time in 2001.  Like i said – i have many stories to tell about Macau – next would be the things you can buy and eat in Macau.

The Peak in Hong Kong definitely has the most magnificent view of all of Hong Kong.  I used to go to Hong Kong a few times a year and I see there had been changes of late in Hong Kong and The Peak has also changed a lot too.   While looking for ipad warranty in Hong Kong, a friend also told me about the many restaurants up at The Peak these days.   We all know that while traveling, eating good food is one of the most important part of a travel, so I’m pleased to let you know that have all sorts to cater to just about everyone – from Burger King (they never had that when i visited them last) to Kyo Hachi Japanese Restaurant – dining with a view.

So how did I get to The Peak ?  we drove up there since we had friends and co – workers in Hong Kong but we never fail toi take the famous Tram down the Peak.  It was really fun but awfully crowded if you asked me.  But make sure you go at a time where it isn’t the summer holiday for the kids because the Peak is not only for the tourists – local residents go to the Peak all the time.

Don’t forget to go to Madame Tussauds – at about HK$160 for entrance fees.  You can also do some shopping although I don’t remember buying much there.  Oh ! i did get a Giordano t-shirts and stuff – Oh ! i so miss Giordano!!   They also have a Swarovski store too now! Mann!! i need to go back to Hong Kong for a visit.  Anyhow, Hong Kong is a wonderful place, I could spend days there – and I really missed it – if you haven’t been to Hong Kong – you have to go there for sure – if you are traveling around Asia.

We all love Hong Kong for its shopping and eating but little did we know that around Hong Kong you can also find one of the most beautiful place for hiking – the Dragon’s Back.  It was a really amazing place to find and the girlfriend who was on hemorrhoid treatment wanted to part of the hiking group too.  The hike was a 4.5km and one can easily complete the hike in 2hrs.

We started the trip by going on an MTR ride and then took a short bus trip up to a wooded hillside.   We also headed to Shek O after our morning hike and really enjoyed our day there.