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.

Sai Kung Rock Pools - May 2020

I've always wanted to go to Sai Kung Rock Pools. It's a bit of a hike. I caught the MTR to Hang Hau, minibus 101M to Sai Kung and then another bus to Sai Wan Pavilion. 

Started here in Sai Kung. Gorgeous day.

First part of the hike is from Sai Wan Pavilion along a level road. That is really the colour of the water - I haven't enhanced the photo.

We walked through a small village and stopped for an iced coffee. This is the first beach you come to - Sai Wan Beach...

Walking to the next beach and looking back...

Then looking down to the next beach, Ham Tin Wan...

There are four beaches here. Kept walking to the next beach, Tai Wan, and had a swim. Water was gorgeous...

Then headed back as I wanted to get to the Sai Kung Rock Pools.

This is the highest pool. One guy jumped off the rock to the right but I wasn't game...

Then walked back to Sai Wan beach and caught a boat back to Sai Kung. It cost $130 and took about 30 minutes. Easier than waiting for a bus ! Some very nice boats come into the beaches.

Tai-O to Tung Chung - May 2020

1st May is a Public Holiday so I decided to do a new hike, Tai O to Tung Chung. I got up early and caught the MTR to Tung Chung and then the number 11 bus to Tai O. Took about 90 minutes door to door.

I met my hiking buddy and we went for a coffee in Tai O and then headed off. The walk is 15km but mostly flat. My legs were a bit sore from Dragon's Back yesterday but okay.

It's a lovely day. Started here in Tai O...

Had a pre-hike coffee at a nice little place with a terrace on the water.

Just leaving Tai O...

We stopped along the way at a very local village and had some lunch. Oyster omelette and some fried rice. The scenery is very nice and green.

Came across this sculpture made of tree roots...

And nearby there was another one. We are near the airport now.





That's the airport behind that bridge...

This is in a park near the end of the walk nearly to Tung Chung. The whole walk was 15km and took 3.5 hours. The views weren't as stunning as a hilly hike but I enjoyed something different.