Hong Kong 2010 Day 2

We love the cha chan tengs in Hong Kong. A large variety of Chinese dishes at fairly affordable prices, plus my favourite watercress honey drink. We are always looking forward to mealtimes there.

Breakfast

Delectable bo lo buns and egg tarts

Explored the many aquarium stores at Tung Choi Street selling fishes as well as exotic pets like staghorn beetles, iguanas, tarantulas, scorpions etc.

Tung Choi Street

Cute marine fishes

Went to Ap Liu Street flea market, a must-go for Slug everytime.

The Hi-fi shop that Slug must stop by

Went to Hong Kong Industrial Centre in Lai Chi Kok, which is like a factory outlet selling clothing cheaply if you buy in bulk. First had lunch at a cha chan teng nearby. I can't stop raving about soups in Hong Kong - double-boiled, rich and flavourful with assorted ingredients.

The cha chan teng we went to

Soya sauce chicken rice with the savoury spring onion garnish

We analysed this delicious soup - winter melon, carrot, pork bones, barley and dried orange peel

Hong Kong Industrial Centre

Next, it was hours of shopping but did not buy much as the stores were mainly selling winter clothing in gaudy colours.

Can't wear this in Singapore

Storekeepers unpacking the newly-arrived stock

Three towers of factory outlets within the Industrial Centre

Just beside Lai Chi Kok MTR station

Spent the night exploring Mongkok, especially 信和中心 and its 2nd hand CD shops and collectibles shops. We could easily spend hours in 信和中心.

My favourite Rilakkuma shop

Going to have dinner soon!

Another must-try - wanton noodles

Watching HK dramas while eating

Shopped at Windsor House at Causeway Bay

Was proud to have covered so many areas today!

Hong Kong 2010 Day 1

Our fifth time to Hong Kong - our mecca every December. Always back for the delicious food, shopping and hill-trekking.

Cairns Day 8

Last day in Australia. Was actually eager to go home because funds were running low (everything was so expensive!) and we had enough of urban life. We took a walk at Count White Park in the morning, before leaving for Brisbane Airport to catch our flight back.

Had breakfast of hotdogs at some roadside cafe

CBD in the morning

Overlooking Brisbane River

We are going to miss Cairns though, and the wild and sunny outdoors that Queensland has to offer.

Cairns Day 7

Time to leave Mackay for Brisbane. We sped to Mackay Airport as we were getting late, but unfortunately, missed our morning flight and had to pay extra to catch the next flight in the afternoon. Was a little sad to part with the trusty car that took us over a thousand miles, that ran over roadkill, that was caught on speed camera in Mackay, and that harvested a its own roadkill bounty of flies of all sorts.

Works as well as a flytrap

Miners Lodge Motor Inn

Reached Brisbane in the late afternoon. Decided not to rent any car as I was daunted by the confusing network of roads and heavy traffic. Took a cab to our accommodation to Econolodge along Main Street. It was an expensive cab ride of $50!

It was colder in Brisbane, at about 16 deg Celsius, despite the sun shining so brightly in the cloudless blue sky. The Econolodge is a decent and affordable motel situated in a quiet neighbourhood, and we were quite pleased with their clean and modern rooms.

Our room

We then took a Citycat ferry (bloody expensive - $4.50 to just cross over to the other side of the river) to the CBD of Brisbane, and explored that area. Nothing much, mainly expensive retail stores, fine dining restaurants, cultural landmarks and small Asian stores selling large sushi handrolls.

Brisbane River

Exploring the city centre

Brisbane's famous Story Bridge

CBD at night

Boarded the ferry back from the Eagle Street stop

The sophisticated and cosmopolitan feel of Brisbane is so different from the laidback and rugged outdoors of Cairns, Townsville and Mackay that we had experienced and enjoyed previously. Brisbane holds nothing for us and we could not wait to return home the next day.

Cairns Day 6

Left Townsville after having some breakfast at Subway (finally a familiar taste!). Totally geared up for my 390km drive to Mackay.

Our motel, The Summit

Leaving Townsville

Ahh, a beautiful day for our drive

It is commendable that the Aussies have this 'Driver Reviver' initiative - small simple facilities along their highways meant as a pit stop where weary drivers can get out of the car, rest, have some drinks and biscuits, and go for a toilet break. Very beneficial. We stopped at this one, stretched our legs and had some coffee (it was free, but we gave a little tip anyway).

Driver Reviver stop

After the brief break, we continued down the highway. Resisted the urge to stray off our main route and explore beautiful attractions (the white sandy beaches at Whitsunday) and hidden treasures (maybe crocodile-infested creeks). 390km seemed such a daunting distance to me.

Nevertheless, it was a sunny yet cooling afternoon and I was enjoying the drive and the sights that rolled by (definitely not the squashed roadkill).

Dry grassy plains

Cattle grazing leisurely

Soon after we reached Mackay, some racist prick in the car in front of us pointed the middle finger at us at a traffic junction. That got us really indignant. As we drove further on, I felt a little lost and I pulled up at the side of the street and studied the map. At the corner of my eye, I saw a man from the opposite side of the street running across as soon as I stopped. Unexpectedly, he came to our car and tapped on the window. I was taken aback and instinctively placed my fingers on the door lock switch, but stupid Slug actually wound down the window! The man asked us if we needed help and asked where we wanted to go to. I just mumbled a motel name and he started to ramble on a confusing string of directions. We listened half-heartedly and as soon as he was finished, we thanked him and quickly sped off. For a moment, I thought he was going to shoot us.

We did not follow his directions (god knows where it was going to lead us to), and a while later, we decided to seek accommodation at this Miners Lodge Motor Inn. We had a ground-floor unit which had a secure under-cover parking lot right at our doorstep. Plonking onto the bed brought me tremendous relief after such a long day's drive.

Comfortable bed but gawdy quilt cover

Would be leaving for Brisbane the next day.

Cairns Day 5

Packed, checked out of our cozy motel and got ready to hit the road early in the morning. The lady at the counter was really nice and did not charge us for breaking their juice beakers. This motel is highly liked by Slug and I for its friendly service and clean and comfortable rooms. We were reluctant to leave Cairns.

The interior compound of Aspect Central Motel

Grabbed some breakfast and browsed through a huge store selling all kinds of necessities for the outdoors like BBQ grills, fishing and camping equipment before leaving Cairns at about 10pm. We took the Bruce Highway, a major highway in Queensland leading south to Brisbane. Hopefully we could reach some major town by dusk.

Taking the Bruce Highway southwards

Small settlements

Driving was such a breeze! Light traffic, direct route, warm sunshine and relaxing views of the expansive plains. However, what marred the enjoyable driving experience was having to dodge the kangaroo (and other animals) carcasses that littered the highway (usually at the roadside). It was heartwrenching to see the bodies in various states of decay - some freshly killed lying in a pool of blood, while most were already run over, flattened and dried up till they had become powder and drifted away with the wind, leaving behind their brown hide. We could not make out what the smaller corpses were, probably wallabies and rats. And also birds.

What a lovely scene of nature

Came to a petrol station along the highway and bought some refreshments as well as went for a toilet break. Slug bought a handline reel and some prawns for bait.

At the petrol station

Had been driving for 2 hours now. Sugar cane plantations, grazing cows and small towns around us. Nevertheless, found it a peaceful and relaxing cruise. Took care not to exceed their highway speed limit of 100km/h, because there was enforcement by the traffic police - had seen the red police cars by the roadside with the officers stopping other drivers.

Decided to go for a little adventure by turning into a small road leading to some creek where we could do some fishing. I did feel some anxiety driving into some quiet unknown territory with no human presence around us. What if we were attacked? What if our car broke down? What if some mutant a la The Hills Have Eyes emerged from the sugar cane plants and chopped us up for dinner?