Hong Kong continued II ...

Day 3 - Sunday - 21 August 2005:

So, after waking up bright and early at 11 am and noting much to our joy that though it was grey and gloomy, it wasn't raining, we went to check out the Goldfish Market (left) and Flower Market at Mong Kok, where they were selling - what else? - goldfish and flowers respectively. Colourful, bright, and interesting for all of 30 minutes, before we decided to head off for a dim sum lunch with friends at Zen at Pacific Place. In spite of the trendy decor and seemingly posh setting, the bill for at least eight rounds of delicious dim sum came up to an astoundingly affordable ~S$25. Mmm-mmm! Highly recommended if you're in the vicinity.



After that, we finally managed to indulge in some sight-seeing by taking a tram to Times Square, modelled after Times Square in New York and also where Hong Kongers gather on New Year's Eve. Following that, we wandered off to the Island Beverley, an upmarket version of The Heeren, where to our delight, we stumbled upon Julia's Gallery, a tiny shop selling designer brands at discounted prices (Shop no. 338, 3/F Island Beverley, Tel: 31889806, Mobile: 92108349). After not having spent much money for the past two days in what is allegedly Asia's shopping paradise, my wallet was soon lighter by 1600 HKD (~S$345) as I purchased a pink Marc Jacobs trenchcoat, an off-white Marc Jacobs military jacket and a Diane von Furstenberg Eli dress (Spring 2005 collection).

Left: Marc Jacobs military jacket (though that's obviously not me)

Right: Diane von Furstenberg Eli Dress (again, not me)

Broke, burdened and incredibly happy, we returned to Pacific Place to meet another group of friends for dinner. We had intended to go The Peak for dinner and take in the great views, but unfortunately, the rain had recommenced, so we went off to Yung Kee to try the famous roasted goose. However, the goose wasn't that great with four out of the five of us rating it a six out of 10 at best. After-dinner conversation consisted of what a male version of a tai tai should be called with xiao bai lian (a guy who lives off a women's money) and gigolo being offered up as answers. This was just slightly less intellectual than what we talked about the night before: online dating and its economic impact on prostitution (which would make a great Masters dissertation, come to think of it).

And just because our shopping appetite had yet to be sated... well, R's appetite anyway, because she still had cash in her wallet, we returned to Causeway Bay, stopping briefly to buy some snowy mooncakes from Tai Pan (the "snowy mooncakes" leader) to bring back to Singapore. We couldn't find any thing decent to buy, so we went off for dessert at Lucky Dessert (next to World Trade Centre), where we had a total of six desserts, including a delicious dish consisting of bananas wrapped in pastry (extreme right).

We were contemplating returning to the hotel when another friend of mine, U., decided to come out and see me. So he arrived at the dessert place (just after we finished dessert no. 6) and despite it being a Sunday (and he being Muslim), he decided to bring us to a nearby pub so that we could have a conversation in more decent surroundings. Unfortunately, we hadn't reckoned on the English Premier League broadcast which ensured the pub was fully occupied, even at 11 pm on a Sunday night, so we had no choice but to got Tsui Wah, a 24-hour eatery, where R. and S. ordered some more food (left) while U. and I caught up. My gosh, how much can they eat?

Day 4 - Monday - 22 August 2005:

Monday, the only day we couldn't sleep in and the day we were returning home. As if to taunt us, it was hot and sunny. Bloody hell. We headed off to the airport, cursing our luck and the fickle weather gods. Our bad temper soon vanished once we found the Disney Store at the airport where I purchased some Eeyore accessories as well as a quick Tinkerbell pin. R., incredibly enough, spent S$100 on miscellaneous items. Disney, the store that turns rational adult women into squealing, screaming kids.

And from then on, there was nothing else of note, other than T. calling to welcome me home just as the taxi deposited me at my doorstep. And the only thing I can think of to express my reaction when I heard his voice is... :D!