As usual, took a short nap at the Skyview Lounge before having breakfast at Burger King. Checked in at 4.10am for our 6am flight. Was seriously feeling more lethargic (due to lack of sleep) than excited.
A breakfast enriched with fat and cholestrol
Me and Slug after checking-in
It was a rainy morning. Fell asleep on the 3.5 hour long flight, and woke up with bloodshot eyes and feeling even more tired. Temperature was about 21 deg, but I would not say it was exactly freezing. However, as we were queuing to check out at the Hong Kong airport, I espied a couple of PRC old folks secretly sniggering at my pink top which bared my shoulders. Realised everyone there was wrapped up to their necks in thick sweaters and scarves, so I tried to hide behind a large foldout map of Hong Kong that I had grabbed from one of the shelves.
Whole check-out process took 30 minutes. My patience was wearing thin and my lips were dehydrating. Finally decided to put on my jacket because I underestimated the chilly winter winds. Hurriedly fled to the airport bus terminus to catch A11, the Airport Express Bus that would take us to our rented apartment in Causeway Bay.
Arriving at the new and modern Hong Kong Int'l Airport
Airport Bus Terminus
Slug and I queuing up for the bus
Bus fare was HKD40. Not cheap. Starting to realise the high cost of living here. Finally reached Causeway Bay after an hour.
Along the near-empty roads on Lantau Island
The 22km-long Tsing Ma suspension bridge
Took us a really long time to find Great George Building, the apartment we rented. Tried to ask for directions but communication with the locals was difficult. Most of the passers-by spoke only Cantonese, and attempts to speak in Mandarin with them were rewarded with awkward smiles. In the end, decided to rely on the mute but reliable map.
Contacted Mr Chiu, whom we rented the apartment from, and he took us to our room, which was one of four bedrooms in that apartment. I went into a daze when I saw the spartan living conditions in that small cramped room, which were duly justified by the cheap daily rental rate. At the bare minimum, our room was equipped hot shower and drinking water was provided.
Great George Building
A room that even a fugitive would take offense if offered to him
An equally gloomy bathroom
Having slowly got over the fact that we had to put up with such austere accommodation for the next seven nights, we washed up and tried to make up for lost sleep by napping for a full three hours. Woke up in the late afternoon, and much to our surprise, the sky had started to darken even though it was only 6pm.
Walked around the streets groggily in search of something to eat, and settled for dinner at a small and humble-looking cafe along Hennessy Road.
Chicken baked rice that came with some weird but delicious soup
Slug enjoying his pork chop rice
Again, not cheap, but no choice. That was the cheapest we could get for some decent food. After dinner, walked around the Causeway Bay, Wan Chai and Central areas.
Bright neon lights of Hong Kong
Some establishment selling snake soup
Heavy traffic along brightly-lit Gloucester Road
Commercial buildings decorated with Christmas lights
A market stall that was still operating
We grew up reading black-and-white Old Master Q comics
Gazing at the Kowloon nightscape across the sea
It started to get chilly out in the streets and we sought some warm comfort at Pacific Place, a posh shopping centre in Admiralty that houses many high-end fashion brands. Would rather do the shopping back in Singapore since prices here were about the same as those back home.
Inside Pacific Place
Corridor connecting Pacific Place to Queensway Plaza
Slug browsing through albums at HMV in Queensway Plaza
Soon it was closing time for the shopping malls and we were back onto the streets again. Surprisingly, despite the late night, business was still going on for some of the roadside shops and street stalls. As we walked our way back to our apartment leisurely, we stopped by a bird nest shop and had some sweet dessert there.
Some stalls still operating in the back alleys
At the bird nest shop (shopowner surreptitiously making an appearance in the picture)
Slug and I enjoying some dessert
Bird nest soup with lychees
After that, we visited their local supermarket, Park'n'Shop to buy some cup noodles before continuing our way back. Even at 11+pm, Causeway Bay was still buzzing with activity. We took a walk along Jardine's Bazaar, where the shops like those selling clothes and cosmetics were still open.
Causeway Bay still alive at night
Jardine's Bazaar
Slug in front of a snack shop
This snack shop selling stewed cow tripe and snails braised in XO sauce (eew!)
We returned to our apartment, feeling cold and exhausted. It was a nightmare bathing because it was freezing, even with the shower heater. We warmed our stomachs with a big bowl of 出前一丁 cup noodles, which came with a tasty braised egg.
The apartment with such a Hong Kong-style metal gate
The 出前一丁 cup noodles
The lousy TV only had six channels, of which, 5 were in Cantonese. Could not understand most of what we heard. Decided to sleep, in preparation for more walking the next day.
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