I Heart The Peak

Hi again all. Nice of you all to drop by to my blog again after a while.

Today was going to be another fairly low-key day before hitting some Disney action, but that didn’t mean we weren’t on our feet for the best part of 10 hours. So what did we get up to?

Hitting The Peak

Well, today seemed like it may be the pick of the days, weather wise, so we decided to head up. And by up I mean up Victoria Peak, or simply “The Peak” as it seems to be known. With typical days seeming like they may be on the cloudy or rainy side, greeting a fairly sunny morning meant we had to head up. So it was back on with the walking shoes, across Victoria Harbour (well under it by train actually), and off to catch the Peak Tram upward.

Onward and Upward!

Even though it was a glorious morning we seemed to beat most the people, with just a small wait before jumping on a tram up to the top. When we reached the top we were greeted with the spectacular views across Hong Kong Island and the Harbour, albeit a little hazy. At the top there was ample opportunity for kitschy photos. I would like to say that some of my poses were Kate’s idea… but I can’t really blame her.

Yes, that’s the building from Batman coming out of Kate’s head

Insert Titanic reference here

Now I bet you can’t get this image out of your head

Boy I was tired after running this rickshaw all the way up to the top

It was lunchtime at the top and while dumplings were on the agenda again, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity for something I can’t get at home. Sure… we can get McDonalds at home, but unlikely I was going to find a “Korean McSpicy”. So of course I had to eat one. At the top of the peak no less. It was so-so… fine as far as a McDonalds burger goes but hardly spicy. Boo.

McSpicy… yeah right

I also came across a Sesame Wasabi Pork Floss Bun. Now pork floss buns are my absolute favourite treat from Breadtop back home. This was more like a normal bread roll with pork floss in it. Can’t say this was much chop… too much bun for my liking. The wasabi was a nice touch though.

So-so Pork Floss Bun

By this time we were about done with the peak and headed down. We had our sights now set on another must do of mine while in Hong Kong. Now I have never been one to wear a suit much, and being of a rather small stature, finding a well fitting suit has always been an impossibility. So dammit, I wasn’t leaving Hong Kong without a bespoke suit!

Riding the tram down (not really)

Before I went I did a fair bit of internetting and decided upon Jantzen Tailor. It seemed to be the best compromise between price and quality. So off it was to find them. Thankfully we did our research as it was hidden on the 5th floor of a nondescript office building. And upon entering it seemed a bit dodgy, but quickly things seemed a-ok. One of the myriad helpers came to our aid, quizzing us for what we were after and thrusting hundreds of fabric samples our way on which to decide. In the end, I decided to go with getting two different suits made. When in Hong Kong…

It was then time for the measuring. I don’t think I have had a measuring tape go over every centimetre of my frame like that… it seemed nothing was being left to chance. It made me feel like I might have made the right decision of which tailor to go with. But alas my reader, we won’t know until at least Wednesday when I need to pop back for another measuring and an initial fitting. Oh the suspense!

The next couple of hours flew by wandering some nearby shopping malls. How all these stores stay in business I have no idea. Actually, what is more difficult to fathom is what all the people who are out shopping at all hours are usually doing with themselves?

By this time we had the craving. The craving for Yum Cha. And how convenient that we had to go by Hong Kong MTR station again! Who would have thought we would be back near Tim Ho Wan again so soon?! Well, I did of course. This time we got some of the favourites (like the BBQ Pork buns and fried dumplings for me, the rice beef rolls and egg cake for Kate) and also threw some new ones in there, including the spring rolls, chiu chow style dumplings, and pork and prawn dumplings.

Too much to choose from!

Kate and I laughed about what bags I would ditch first if push came to shove… the shopping or the yum cha. I figured we could get the shopping back home if we really needed to 🙂

I know which bag I’m hanging on to for dear life

And the verdict? The spring rolls I could take or leave (a bit too much lemongrass was Kate’s opinion which I totally agreed with), the chiu chow dumplings weren’t really my thing, but oh boy, the pork and prawn dumplings were heaven! Add another staple to the list.

Pork and Prawn Dumpling Goodness!

After that food and a bit of a rest we went for a bit more of a wander. What struck us was how crazy that there could be amazingly pristine malls and buildings and then supremely old and almost slummy residences wedged between them. The contrast between old and new Hong Kong was right there at every turn.

Juxtaposition

Oh, and so was a Mona Lisa holding a mobile phone, made out of toast…

Why not a Mona Lisa with a mobile phone made out of toast?

I don’t know why. It’s Hong Kong.