After a good night sleep, we woke up to a beautiful morning in Hong Kong.

Today, we decided to explore Central – the city central of Hong Kong, the happening place. We took the train nearest to our Hotel（尘沙水） to Central（中原）and went hunting for both food and good shopping. The first thing tha caught our eye as we went out of the station was Marks and Spencers. (Well, at least it caught the eye of my partner). I was more interested in locating H&M and Zara. Looking around us and at the shops present at this area, we concluded that this was the REAL “Orchard Road” of Hong Kong. Not, Tsim Tsa Shui as KC had mentioned.

Our first stop was locating a Wanton noodle store along Stanley Road. It had the most delicious Wanton Noodles. they also served 2 other kind of noodles, which was popular among the locals.

The noodles cost HKD 25 for Wanton, 38 for the Shrimp Roe and Meat Slices respectively.

This was the shop we ate from …
MAK’S NOODLE (麦克云吞面世家)
ADD G/F, 77 Wellington Street, Central
TEL 852-2854-3810
OPENING HOURS 12pm to 8pm (closed on the first three days of Chinese New Year, Mid-Autumn Festival, Dragon Boat Festival and Winter Solstice)
DIRECTIONS Central MTR Station, Exit D1 & D2

After the very satisfying meal, we went shopping, or was it food hunting again? We got ourselves a local dessert. Apparently this auntie only sells 2 hours a day along this street. It was some red bean cake. Not too bad.

We also went in search of Nai Cha (Milk Tea)（奶茶）. Located this quite famous place 阑芳园 around the corner, with loads of magazine features. Had our milk tea along with the also famous local snack of French Toast with a twist – with kaya.

We finally made it to M&S, after our breakfast x2. Not my shopping haven, as I get this back home in SG. Ms Lee, on the other hand, was torn between getting more stuff and being able to carry it back to Shanghai.

Later on, we went exploring the area and went in and out of various buildings, walk around quite a bit. Landed up at an open space in the middle of the city, where we began to take snaps of the towering skyscrapers of the city.

We also finally discovered H&M along and I was excited. Managed to get a couple of things in that short span of time we were there.

After our shopping, we went for dessert at 杏花楼 and had Jiang Chuang Nai（姜撞奶）, and Yang Zhi Gan Lu（杨枝干露）. Yummy!

Also had X.O. Fried Chee Cheong Fun.

For the strangest reason, I decided to take this flight of escalator that I saw everyone taking. We went up and up and up and up. For a split moment I thought we were on our way up to the Peak, but the final flight of escalator only brought us up the mid-levels. Once there, we realized that there wasn’t anywhere else to go to. There wasn’t an escalator that headed downwards. (Paiseh, make you walk so much!!!) We headed down on foot, via another route. Passed some very expensive housing there – Tycoon court.

This was where we made our descent after a long ride up on the escalator. (I wonder how the locals do it every single day?!)

Went passed Garden Hotel and reached the place where the Tram officially begins to take tourist up to the Peak. We did just that.

Got in line of the long queue and waited patiently to get our turn onto the tram. Wasn’t the best designed manner of crowd control, but I guessed it worked for the Chinese people there.

The tram ride up to the peak was very nice. I did not get a place to sit though. The view was good and at certain locations where the track was very steep, it was quite exciting. Took no more than 15 mins, but cost HKD 85 for a 2 way trip.

Me on the tram …

The view was very good on the Peak. It was not worth it to pay for the Peak Observatory Tower. It cost more money and there was too much tourist there. Very noisy. I recommend going over to the building beside it – the mall. There is less people there, and even though the building was shorter the view was still as good.

Below are some of our very unsuccessful shots of getting a couple shot.

Decided to get some drinks at the peak but ended up at Bubba Gump for Shrimp and LOADS of onion rings. Way too much food for 2 persons. It was all AMERICAN Sized. Be-warned! Food served here is also not exactly very cheap. But you get what you paid for, considering it is the Peak!

After the very scrumptous meal, we were to head down to Central again to meet up with KC and Ron, who was visiting from Guangzhou. The Queue to to take the Tarm down to Central was amazingly long!!! We waited for about 1/2 hour or more before we got our turn. the wind was strong and cold. I was ill-prepared without my jacket, lulled into thinking that the weather was very warm as it had been the night before when I had just landed. (Do bring a jacket up to the peak.)

Back on “Ground”, we walked from the Garden Hotel to where we were supposed to meet for dinner. The Cha Can Ting (Tea House) opposite Yung Kee. The guys were already there. We had absolutely no appetite after our meal at the Peak.

Above is a shot of the Financial District by night. It remains a happening and crowded place after hours, as the nightlife, restaurants, bars begin their business.

Drinks after was at this place above Lan Kwai Fong. Introduced by KC, it was a nice little bar above all the noisy and rowdy bars.

LKF was a nice hang out place, but it was too loud, and too much westerners that it didn’t feel cool anymore. It was happening, but I felt that Xin Tian Di at Shanghai was still a cut above it.

It was great to meet up with you guys!!!