Hong Kong - July 2020

Summer is in full swing now and July was the hottest month on record ! Weekends are hikes and beach. 

COVID-19 quarantine is still in place both in Hong Kong and Australia so I still can't go home. 

We had a Public Holiday on 1 July and I headed to Cheung Chau for some beach time.

On the weekend I did the short hike with a mate from Chai Wan to Big Wave Bay via Cape Collinson Cemetery. Had a swim at Big Wave Bay, then it rained. So we took cover and when it stopped we walked to Shek O and lay on the beach for the rest of the afternoon.

I've lost 3kg but this photo doesn't really show it...

One day I spoiled myself and bought some Coffin Bay oysters at City Super. Not cheap...

Went to my favourite Taiwanese place for lunch...

On Saturday I had a long gym session then went to Soho Viet for lunch. Over-ordered. The prawn cakes were great...

Walking around Mind-Levels, I got a bit homesick passing by this bar. Little Creatures... 

That night I hiked up the Morning Trail with a friend. Lovely clear day...

Came down Old Peak Road...

Next morning I had brunch at The Peak Lookout restaurant with a friend who has a car, so we drove up.

Lovely view from the restaurant but the coffee was poor !

In the afternoon I headed to South Bay and spent a relaxing afternoon on the beach. 

This is looking back as I was walking out at about 5pm...

I stopped at Wan Chai on the way home for a beer at The Pawn which I had always wanted to try...

The next Saturday I went to Sai Kung with a friend for seafood lunch...

And then he let me drive his car back to TST. First time driving in Hong Kong !

And we bought a case of McGuigan's wine at a pop up from some Aussie guy...

And then I caught the Star Ferry home...

Next day I went back to South Bay for the day. Very hot and I got a bit too much sun...

Sometimes I have breakfast at a cafe close by my office in Peel Street. This all for $80 including a Flat White. The coffee alone would be $40 !

Hong Kong has gone back to partial lockdown meaning the restaurants and bars are closed from 6pm. However takeaway drinking is still ok ! 

So one Friday night with colleagues I went to the bar on top of Pier 3. Beautiful night and hardly a cloud in the sky which is unusual. It had been a very hot day.

Next morning I got up early and walked up Old Peak Road...

Another gorgeous day...

Then headed to lunch at Madame Fu at Tai Kwun for free flow and Chinese food...

I do Mandarin lessons twice a week. I practice by saying something into Google Translate. First attempt was no good !

But the second attempt is right !

As the gym is closed, I'm trying to keep my fitness up with nightly walks. This night I walked up The Peak via Conduit Road and The Morning Trail, and then walked down Old Peak Road. The views are really stunning...

From a BBQ place in Wan Chai - maybe not super healthy but cheap and tasty...

Hong Kong - June 2020

Life goes on but we still can't travel. COVID cases are under control in HK and we are very lucky that there have been only 4 deaths and total cases number just over 1,100. However there's still a mandatory home quarantine for anyone arriving in HK and same in Australia so I am stuck here.

It's now Summer and getting hot. I found a new Thai restaurant in Tai Ping Shan which is part of Sheung Wan. The food was good and it was called Chachawan.

Got an Uber to South Bay one afternoon which was lovely but got rained out as it is typhoon season and the weather is a bit unpredictable.

Trying to maintain gym most weekday mornings and yoga 3 times a week. Classes are still limited sizes so can be hard to get in. 

Yum Yum in Sheung Wan has become a regular lunch place. This is the pork leg. It's very good and I enjoy it with a hot milk tea...

Had beef noodles one day at a local Taiwanese place...

Did a site inspection at the Renaissance Hong Kong Harbour View Hotel, which is where we will have this year's Christmas Party. Great view if you can look past the construction for the new MTR station. Construction has been going on ever since I arrived in Hong Kong.

One Friday night I went for drinks after work with my colleague at Glasshouse IFC. Gorgeous weather...

A new art installation at Tai Kwun...

One Saturday I headed to Cheung Chau to find a new beach. Caught the fast ferry to Cheung Chau and then hiked about 2.5km to this beach, called Coral Beach...

It was deserted other than some kayakers...

Stayed until the sun moved off the beach and hiked back to the town and had Indian for dinner before catching the ferry back.

Brunch at Barista by Givres the next day...

One night I went for dinner by myself in Peel Street...

Cooking at home on my new grill...

Found a new restaurant - Sisombath - Laotian food. Very tasty.

Hong Kong - May 2020

One Sunday I walked to Wan Chai via Bowen Road and had coffee here at Omotesando, a Japanese Cafe. Social distancing means that every second table is blocked from being able to sit at. That's why it doesn't look busy. They did a good Flat White !

Then I caught the bus to South Bay and spent the afternoon on the beach. Lovely day at 27 degrees and the water was lovely.

One of my hiking buddies gave me some hand-made chocolates...

There's a tradition at work that when someone leaves, they have to buy the farewell cakes. And it must be from a posh place. So I was recently given green tea and red bean cake from the Four Seasons.

It was too sweet for me !

I needed new bands for my Fitbit. Got my friend to buy some on TaoBao. Very cheap !

Tried a new place for lunch. This is when we are having social distancing. Mmmm...

And at my Taiwanese place, I tried the pork belly this time...

And then I found a new place which specialises in my favourite Singaporean dish - Hainanese Chicken...

And I have started cooking Tom Yum - it's great...

The management team had a dinner at the Hong Kong Cricket Club at Wong Nai Chung Gap.

Another night I finally had hot pot in Hong Kong. I had had it previously in Shanghai and Beijing. It was quite good.

Cooking at home another recipe from my new cookbook. Vietnamese chicken and it was great !

One day I headed to the flower market in Prince Edward and then took a walk to the goldfish market, which is really just a collection of shops around Tung Choi Street in Mongkok.

A couple of months ago I went to a great Thai place in Wan Chai called Samsen. They have now opened in Sheung Wan so I went for lunch one Saturday. Great food and the chef is Australian.