Three-cheese pizza from Pizza Hut
Dazzling fireworks
To tell the truth, I am NOT looking forward to 2009, amidst all the economic gloom, price hikes, ageing and worst of all, the start of my three-year torture. I can only hope for a swift and painless end to all of these.
At Bakerzin in Vivocity
Next it was on to Powerhouse for another night of drinking, dancing and guy-watching.
Always cam-whoring with Peipei's camera
Making a birthday wish over a jug of alcohol
Now Peipei had the spastic CY posture
As the night drew to an end, my heart felt heavy because we were faced with the prospect that there wouldn't be anymore Ladies Nights for us next year. And it didn't help that we were constantly reminding one another ... only 11 days left to school!
I hate the casinos in Macau. To look at it from another angle, we were just persevering to win our money back. However, instead of being a virtue here, perseverance was just making a mockery out of us, because in the end, we lost quite a handsome sum, nearly as much as the previous visit. I just hate ourselves for being so delusional, but we deserved it.
After packing and a nice long relaxing bath (probably won't have something like that for a long time), we lazed around in the room watching cable TV before checking out at noon.
Snacking on Calbee crisps unavailable back home
Having our welcome (or rather, farewell) drinks at the hotel bar
Last lunch at our regular eatery
Two glum and destitute souls with a few dollars left for lunch
Even this seemed expensive to us
One last trip to Rio, whereby we decided to play at the Sic Bo table (first time ever since we arrived two days ago). We managed to win a HKD100 but that was little comfort compared to what we had lost. Nevertheless, every cloud has a silver lining!
At 5+pm, we left Rio moaning in exasperation, " 我们被老虎咬了 (Jackpot machine is 老虎机 in Chinese)!" We got to the airport at about 7pm, and we were really turned off by the yakking aunties in the queue lugging bags of local pastries. Super noisy. We could not stand the hunger anymore and bought some tasty calamari and egg tarts for a whopping SGD10. I really would stave off airport food except that this time I needed to reserve some energy to carry my luggage and rush to be the first in the check-in queue.
Although the aerial view of Singapore's night scenery from the plane was stunning, I did not feel at the least willing to go home.
Till the next trip again.
Yaohan department store
My lunch of seafood ramen with a huge bunch of my favourite seaweed
Slug and I by the roadside near Yaohan
After a while, Slug started whining, and a hurried trip to Rio shut him up immediately. The whole afternoon was spent (or maybe, wasted) fiddling with the jackpot machine, lapping up the free flow of Coke, and experiencing short spasms of excitement whenever we attained the bonuses. We made some more winnings, before going for dinner at our regular cha can ting again. There are really not many food outlets around.
Dinner of fried fish strips with rice, and mantis shrimps with salt and pepper
Our favourite hangout in Macau
We realised we were on a losing streak when we lost all our profits from yesterday and this morning within a few hours to the jackpot machine. However, we still refused to wake up from the false hope that we could recoup our losses as long as we continued playing. I was so reminded of the National Council on Problem Gambling advertisement that haunted TVs some time back, especially the desperate "再 多一把". It describes our situation perfectly.
We ended the night several dollars poorer and resigned to the fact that ... we were just meant to hand over our money to casinos! See why I hate coming to Macau?
Woke up feeling dreadful, as if the trip had come to an end. We packed our luggage before venturing out to Wan Chai, Mongkok and Causeway Bay for some last-last-minute shopping. Had breakfast in Wan Chai (we were deeply disappointed that our favourite 冬菇亭 had closed down) and suddenly Slug had to go back to our apartment for some urgent toilet business, so I went for a cheap manicure at a nail salon nearby. Slug joined me at the salon later, and we entertained ourselves by reading the tabloids and nail magazines.
Breakfast of macaroni soup at a cha can ting in Wan Chai
Wah Chai market streets
Bought egg noodles at the noodle store
Very big and tantalizing prawns on sale
Hong Kong is indeed quite happening. Throughout our stay here, we were bombarded with interesting and somehow bizarre news both in the social and entertainment scene. On the first day of arrival, a double-decker bus had exploded into flames. On Friday, it was reported that a panda had attacked a zookeeper at Ocean Park, and the next day, many unfortunate pedestrians were hurt and burnt when some goon threw two bottles of acid from an apartment onto the busy streets below in Mongkok. And from the juicy tabloids, we were enthralled by the raging news of Vivian Chow's fiance having an affair with a foxy Miffty (coupled with her raunchy pictures), and Cecilia Cheung's mother having to pick rubbish for a living because the former was forbidden to give her any allowance. All these somehow made us look at Hong Kongers in a different light.
The PRC manicurist tending to my nails kept quizzing us on how Singapore is like, the cost of living, the education system and the language spoken there, and we suspected her intentions. In the end, she did a marvellous job and did not even charge me for the pink diamantes she used to decorate my nails. An shabbily-dressed old woman, who had entered not long ago and had been sitting in a corner and staring at me all this while, stood us and bade us farewell when we were about to leave, urging us to come again. We were floored when she revealed that she was the boss of the salon. Appearances are so deceiving!
I became a Rilakkuma fan overnight and I fell in love with the specialty shop in Mongkok selling Rilakkuma towels, clocks, stuffed toys, notebooks, stickers, bento sets etc. Slug could not stop looking at speakers and amplifiers the whole time, constantly spewing names like McIntosh, Rotell and Mission and rambling about how good the quality of their audio equipment was.
Back to Causeway Bay for our third (and last) KFC meal, no thanks to Slug the KFC junkie, before lugging our heavy bags out of our apartment at 6pm (black night sky fooled us into thinking it was already 8pm).
Causeway Bay MTR station
My first Rilakkuma collectible
I liked KFC's chocolate marshmallow pie - fluffy marshmallow cream with liquid chocolate within a crumbly digestive cookie crust
We took a cab to Shun Tak Ferry Terminal, and boarded the ferry bound for Macau at 8pm.
Passengers dozing off on the ride
Slug and I on the ferry
After arriving at the ferry terminal in Macau and clearing the checkpoints, we waited a long time for the Holiday Inn Hotel shuttle bus, before we gave up and took a cab there instead. The hotel gave us a free room upgrade, much to our delight, and it was bigger and comfortable room on the 25th floor.
We were famished so we returned to our usual cha can ting opposite of our hotel for a late-night dinner. Although expensive, we were still quite pleased with their cooking.
Seafood noodles in a creamy broth and with a generous chunks of seafood
Slug's Three Treasures Rice
The cha can ting's dizzying variety of dishes
We then headed to Rio for some fun with our favourite masquerade-themed jackpot machine. There's nothing more fun in this world than to strike different combinations with those cute jackpot icons and watching the numbers roll in front of our eyes. And the clatter of the coins gushing out of the machine. We concluded our session at 2am, making some SGD$40. I had a bad feeling about it because it got Slug all hyped up and hopeful again as he believed we really could make money just by sitting there and pressing the buttons of the jackpot machine. Hurriedly dragged him out of there and back to our hotel for a good night's rest.
Slug admiring the glowing splendour of the watches in a pawnshop
Thanks to Ms Carebear, walking around in the hotel room in a bathrobe is the norm for me!
Shau Kei Wan MTR station
The great restaurant where we had lunch
Roast meats rice with the tasty garlic and spring onion condiment
Slug's favourite quail egg siew mai (unique!)
After lunch, we walked around Shau Kei Wan town centre and found it to be a pleasant neighbourhood town.
Main road of Shau Kei Wan
Dried geckos and the skinned face of an antler on display at a TCM shop
Market street at Shau Kei Wan
We proceeded to the bus interchange there and took Bus #9 to To Tei Wan along Shek O Road, which was the staring point of the 8.5km trail from Shek O Road to Tai Long Wan (aka Big Wave Bay). The bus stops along the remote Shek O Road all looked the same, and it did not help that no passengers got off along this road. Luckily, with the assistance of the helpful bus driver, we alighted at the correct stop. When we alighted, we saw a group of local hikers and were assured that we were in the correct place.
Quiet and deserted Shek O Road
Group of hikers on the opposite side of the road
At the beginning of the trail
This trail from Shek O Road to Big Wave Bay is Stage 8 of the Hong Kong Trail
Before we set off, we took a good look at the map and hiking pointers (Slug was quick to point out and whine that this hike was more suitable for experienced hikers) and used the public toilets provided at the starting point. Then we came to a long long long flight of stony steps, and as we went higher up the hill, we had amazing views of the sea off Shek O. We also came across a large group of serious local hikers (as could be seen from the metal and wooden hiking sticks they were holding) and a few pairs of local and angmoh hikers. Suddenly felt silly to be wearing slippers for the hike, but heck, Slug and I were just amateur hikers!
Our starting point
Starting off with shallow steps
Blurry view of Stanley across the sea
Nearing Dragon's Back
We could see Dragon's Back from where we were
Taken by Slug the nature photographer
Slug still lagging behind!
Slug started to whine and complain about the distance and strenuous climb that I put him through, which greatly annoyed me. We came across a friendly angmoh couple who said hi to us, and we struck up a conversation with them. They gushed about how lovely the view was at Shek O Peak, and I could not help but realise the guy kept staring at my slippers. We continued on our way after that, and soon reached a pavillion where we rested for a while.
Many more stone steps
The pavillion that marked the beginning of Dragon's Back
After the rest, we walked for a short distance and came to Shek O Peak, where we got a breathtaking view of Shek O below and the sea beyond. The wind at the top was very strong and chilly! Slug loved the sensation of standing on the rocks and opening his arms wide (ala Jack and Rose in Titanic), enjoying the wind and a wider view of Shek O due to his elevated position.
At Shek O Peak
Shek O town and beach
From Shek O Peak, we began our walk along Dragon's Back, so named because it is a path along a ridge, and the up and down terrain resembles the undulating spine of a dragon. As we walked along the sandy path, we felt really exposed and our precarious position on the peak seemed like an accident waiting to happen (either being struck by lightning or rolling down the grassy slopes).
Beginning the Dragon's Back
Walking on Dragon's Back
We walked on and on the sinuous and seemingly never-ending path, taking in the sights and the wind. We came across a few benches and hikers (the latter rarer) along the way. I hated it whenever we had to climb up a mini peak along the ridge, because there were no properly constructed stairs! The 'stairs' were made up of a haphazard arrangement of rocks surrounded by fine sand, and thus made it really slippery. No thanks to my increasingly worn out slippers, I slipped a few times but luckily they did not result in a fall. At one point of time, a topless and muscular hunk jogged past me, and we applauded (to ourselves) his bravery - for baring his chest in this chill, and for dashing down those slippery dangerous steps!
Golf course beside Shek O
On all fours trying to climb up the mini peak
Dragon's Back
Our destination - Big Wave Bay
Shek O Peak - 284 metres above sea level
Sometimes there were proper stairs (but still sandy and slippery)
After experiencing such great views, Slug wasn't complaining anymore!
Steps on the left for hikers, and slippery slope on the right for mountain bikers (who would be in the right mind to cycle on a ridge!)
On all fours again trying to negotiate the treacherous slopes
Dragon's Back ended finally, leading us into a more shady path into the greenery. After walking for a while more, the sandy path evolved into a tarred road, and we reached a junction whereby we had to choose between Tai Tam or Big Wave Bay. The directions were a bit vague, but we chose to go to Big Wave Bay. We thought the junction signalled the impending end point of our exhausting hike, but we were so wrong! Big Wave Bay was another 1.5km away!
Path leading into a forest
End of Dragon's Back, and choosing between walk to Tai Tam or Big Wave Bay
Whooping in delight thinking that we had completed the trail
Another 45 minutes to reach Big Wave Bay? Our legs were breaking!
We rested for a while at the junction to catch our breath, sip some lukewarm lemon tea, relieve ourselves and inhale the crisp forest air. Ahhhh. Then I was shocked when I inspected my feet - soles of my slippers were thinning, and slippers and jeans stained with sand! What a sorry state my new slippers were in now! At least, my pretty painted nails remained intact, contrary to what Peiying predicted about rocks chipping the polish off my nails.
Resting at the junction
Looked like I dipped my feet in concrete
It was nearing 5pm, and we quickened our pace so that we would not be stuck in the forest when the sun set. From the junction, it was again another seemingly never-ending path through the trees and passing the streams. Along the way, we met some more hikers, including one with a lovely Husky that left drool on my skirt. Ick.
Walking on and on
Descending into the darkness
After descending a long flight of steps, we knew we were nearing Big Wave Bay. To conclude the hike in advance, let me say that it could have been completed within 3 hours, but we took 4.5 hours, and that was including toilet breaks, rests on the benches, ooh-ing and aah-ing at the scenery, and some horsing around. No wild animals were encountered, the only wild animals I saw were the hovering Black Kites in the sky and a half-dead moth. I was hoping to get close to snakes and hares, but I guess the ridge top is too dry for them to thrive.
We finally reached ground level, and came to a village of two-storey houses. Some were simple and unkempt, like those seen in Lei Yue Mun Village, while some were like bungalows, with Harley Davidsons and gardens to boot. We made our way to Big Wave Bay.
Exploring this quiet village
A cute cartoon outside a refreshment kiosk
Big Wave Bay was totally empty, except for us and four surfers trying to catch the waves. True to its name, the waves were tall (of course, not to the extent of tsunamis) and forceful, sending foamy mist into the air when they crashed into the rocks. The icy sand was so fine that it would give way even when we were treading lightly on it, thus making it a bit difficult to walk. The clouds grew thick and heavy, casting a grey gloom over what should be a beautiful beach.
Big Wave Bay
Watching the surfers trying to ride on the waves
Only a few successful cases
After we had enough of the beach, we walked over to a big carpark nearby, intending to take the same bus back to Shau Kei Wan. However, we waited for nearly 30 minutes, but the bus was nowhere to be seen. A minibus that also went to Shau Kei Wan suddenly came along, and we hopped on it. Within 20 minutes, we were back at Shau Kei Wan. Decided to have dinner at a unostentatious cha can ting where we did not expect to serve spectacular cuisine, but indeed, our expectations were exceeded when we were served the pork cutlet in Hawaiian sauce with rice, fried fish fillet and vegetable soup. Very homely and delicious. And I just love watercress drink with honey.
While waiting for the bus
Modest-looking cha can ting
A memorable last dinner in Hong Kong
With that, we took the tram back to Causeway Bay, enjoying the night scenes along the way. However, the ride took 20 minutes, whereas the MTR could have gotten us back within 10 minutes. Spent the night doing some last-minute shopping in Causeway Bay, especially SOGO (strawberry daifuku back in stock, yoohoo!) and HMV, before returning to our apartment with dread. Leaving for Macau the next day, and there were tons to pack (the prohibited items were a challenge)!
