Hong Kong - August 2020

One Saturday for a change of pace, I caught the tram to Wan Chai, and found a new cafe. I have always loved the energy of Wan Chai and there are many cool cafes. This place is called LHC.

Then headed back to Zara to look for shoes. They are having a sale. Too much brown ? :-)

Found a new Vietnamese place for lunch in Sheung Wan...

Walking Bowen Road at night...

Dumplings at Wang Fu...

The Peak from Pinewood Battery...

Walked to Tin Hau by the harbour one day. I didn't know you could go that far along the seafront. Cut through Victoria Park and had a coffee at NOC in Causeway Bay, then walked home.

On the way back...

One day I went to Wolfgang's Steakhouse for lunch. Great crab cakes, rib-eye and tiramisu...

Went to Kennedy Town one day to stock up on jasmine tea...

Stocked up on beer too. I quite like Tsingtao which is good as it's cheaper than the European ones...

Sunday night beer on a hot day...

One Saturday I went to Cheung Chau to meet my friend Ian for lunch. 

Avocado bruschetta at Oolaa...

IFC on a nice clear day...

The weather has been really nice, and pretty hot. This is the view from my office...

Mr Wolf is a favourite lunch place. Very Western...

Sausages and mash - very English...

Their spin on pavlova...

Another day I had Taiwanese in Kennedy Town...

One Saturday I headed to Lamma Island for a walk. Had a beer while waiting for the ferry on Sok Kwu Wan...

The next day I walked to Wan Chai and then back along the harbour...

Another day on Lamma I witnessed what appeared to be a practice rescue...

Then had lunch in Yung Shue Wan, the other main town...

Bought some shoes online...

Callum got his L plates in Sydney...

! 

Spoiled myself with breakfast at Barista by Givres before heading up The Peak.

Came down Old Peak Road...

I then headed to Causeway Bay to meet a friend. We went to the food court in Hysan Place and had this from Pepper Lunch....

One Sunday I caught the MTR to South Horizons, only because I'd never been there. It's on the island of Ap Lei Chau, reportedly the most highly densely island on the planet. Nothing to see - just residential. 

So I caught a boat to Aberdeen for HKD2.50. This is looking back at Ap Lei Chau...

Then I walked to Wong Chuk Hang and caught the MTR back to Central.

Tai Mei Tuk to Science Park bike ride - August 2020

One Saturday I went to Tai Mei Tuk with some friends to go cycling. We drove to Tai Mei Tuk and had an early lunch at a Thai place I had been to before.

We hired bikes (HKD80 for 3 hours) and rode to Science Park which is almost to Sha Tin. It's an easy ride on a good cycleway and part of it by Tolo Harbour.

We rode for an hour which was about 13km then stopped for a coffee at Science Park at a place called Tom Bar & Grill. This is the view from the restaurant...

It's a really pleasant ride...

Finished and drove back to TST and caught the MTR back to Central.

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...