Noah's Ark, Sushi, Goldfish and shots
Trip Start
Jul 18, 2010
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72
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Trip End
Mar 04, 2011
Tsuen Wan, China
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Today I’m not feeling so great… too late a-night plus my incapability to consume any alcohol anymore is not mixing so well. Still, I meet Benjamin at his apartment and head down to the clubhouse. It is incredible! So stunning in design and only $15HKD for entry! I manage to get some wear out of one of my new bikinis from work, yus. No, bad. A couple of old-school thinkers in the pool don’t quite agree with my skin-display. Bah! For the next 40minutes we swim, well Ben does, I try not to drown. We spend the last 15minutes relaxing in the Jacuzzi before the clubhouse closes for lunch. There are Sauna’s in each changing room, so we both separately relax with the smell of heated wood, whilst Christmas songs play on a loop. I don’t feel like it should be Christmas, the weather is still so warm and with Mainland not really celebrating Christmas, I’ve not had the usual subjection or Light-turning-on events, Carols, Heaving Christmas shops and mince pies. In fact, bar Peter I’m the only one taking a Christmas holiday!
I meet Benjamin for a coffee and we plan our afternoon. The weather isn’t too great today, but at least it’s mild! We arrange to meet back at Ben’s apartment after a quick change, to head out for food and over to Park island (another mystery view from my window - now explained!). We bump into Leon in the lobby, he’s just back from lunch in the clubhouse! So arrange to meet him at the ferry port. Ben takes me to ‘MX’ fast-food place around the corner… this isn’t your greasy burger and fries joint though. Far from it! I order a chicken in creamed mushroom sauce, plain rice, vegetables and chips. Oh my god, it was amazing. The boys mocked me for the rest of the day saying that only my British-taste could think that that was a delicious meal?! Cheek! It was great though, very healthy and $25HKD?! What. £2.50 or thereabouts!
After food, Ben takes me to the strangest shop I’ve ever encountered, selling 2nd hand clothes, crockery and kittens?!?! Ohhh, they were so cute though. I was contemplating getting g one, but then it would be difficult to explain to work if my handbag started mewing when crossing the border. We head on at a leisurely-pace to meet Leon. The ferry is horribly-quick, and bangy. I didn’t like that, Some haul-banging noises throughout the short journey over. We arrive at the port, there is a Noah’s ark attraction here?! Just lots of animals I guess, milling around an enormous Ark built on the shore!
We take the beach walk… okay, so walking along the beach, in December and being comfortable is more than a little much for me! Although it’s still a mild (?!) 22 degrees today. We head to Café Roma bar/restaurant. It’s lovely, sitting on the terrace, beach view, good music & company, and they have buy one get one free on all drinks?! Heaven surely. The manager here is leaving soon, so has put on drinks offers, she’s French much to the interest of the boys! Park island is interesting, very manufactured, but so peaceful.
It’s starting to get late and I’m meeting a colleague for dinner, so we decide to make some plans for later on on HK island. The sun is now setting and we have the most amazing walk along the bay to the ferry dock. A Purple and misty-blue sky starkly offset by the contrast of the now lit-up highway bridge. Wow. on the ferry back, the sky turns black so quickly, I’m always amazed at how quickly the sun rises and sets here. I’m sat next to the window, so still a little entranced by the pretty lights of the tower blocks as we dock. Wondering why we’re not leaving I turn to see both Ben and Leon are asleep! Haha. Afternoon drinking is hard work! I arrange to call one of the boys when I finish dinner, and meet them on HK island. I’m meeting my colleague at Prince Edward station, a very easy journey from where I am, but I still manage to get lost on the way to the MTR, again, and arrive 20minutes late! Again! We decide on Sushi, yum! I haven’t had in a sushi restaurant since my first night in HK. We order far too much. Eva’s friend joins us for dinner, a graphic designer and very nice to speak with. I’m told over dinner that I’m going to be asked to help with some internal-English exams for the merchandisers soon??? I have no idea of the detail, ever!
After dinner, I call Ben, he’s a bit laissez-faire tonight, so I figure I’ll go back to Tsuen Wan to speed up the process. Eva takes me to the famous Goldfish market, a street sole(!)ly dedicated to selling goldfish, even until 4am!?! Crazy. I love the city! They also introduce me to a very cheap clothes market on the street parallel, strange, it’s famous for cheap clothes and fruit! I will definitely come back here next week, for the clothes obviously.
I get a call from Leon, he’s confused as to why I’m goldfish shopping… I don’t blame him! He’s on the MTR out now to HK island, so after a quick thanks and goodbye to my friends, I jump on the MTR too. I meet Leon with almost ease in Central and we head off up the ‘Longest escalator in the world’ to Soho district. Jam-packed with a warren of bars and restaurants. Leon hasn’t eaten yet so we go to a Mexican restaurant and wait for his friend Matthew.
After food and a few beers, we head out to Lan Kwai Fong to a bar ‘Jardine terrace’… I think. Dimly lit expensive drinks and free jelly shots… I guess it evened out?! Time flies and I have so much fun getting to know Leon and his other French friends. They’re all really nice, speaking in English in front of me. I get chatting to one of their Boyfriends, I though I heard an English accent, Nope. Kiwi! Incredible. He’s from Auckland so we have a good chat. Time flies and it’s 3amalready. Leon and I decide to head back to the apartment and get some drinks en route. We talk about, everything, and suddenly it’s 6am and the sun is coming up?! How! We bid Bon nuit and head off to bed, setting plans for me to steal some internet in the morning.
