Hong Kong - Muggy Saturday

8.00am Saturday - It's warm and steamy(24C & 85% humidity already). But we're in Hong Kong for a two day stop over. Doing the sites :)

So here we have a few photos with brief comments. Too weary to write masses of text :)

Not sure what these chubby little blue thingies down at Harbour City were - but all of Hong Kong seemed to want to be photographed with them...

Firstly, the ferry. A trip on the water is always a must. And makes for great views of Hong Kong. $3.40HK (approx. 43c Aus) buys you a token to get onto the ferry from Kowloon to Hong Kong Island.

Unless of course, you have an Octopus...

Hong Kong Island -

Garbage collection, local style

Hong Kong business district

Hong Kong Park...

Hong Kong Park is also home to the Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware. Until 1978, it was the residence of the Commander of British Forces in HK. It was converted to a museum in 1984 and claims to be the first museum in the world to specialize in the collection and study of tea and tea wares. 

On display, an exhibition of "Chinese Tea Drinking" featuring a collection of different tea pots, cups, bowls and ewers, including what is reputedly the world's oldest surviving teapot (C4th)as well as displays and films about the history of tea and tea preparation in China. 

Also of note, a smiling,jolly security guard. He had no English (and we have no Cantonese), but he followed us from gallery to gallery on the upper floors offering a series of unsolicited mimes which translated roughly as:

1. You really should be taking photos in here, so many interesting things to remember!
2. Please take one of our brochures, there's one for each gallery and they have lots of information - and they have English and Cantonese text :) :) :)
3. And the truly memorable "horrors of foot binding" 

Fascinating, free (and air conditioned!)

Next, a trip to the Peak for those spectacular views back over the Harbour. I really hate heights, but it's what you do in Hong Kong, right? So I agreed to take the Peak Tram up to the top.

It's steep. Very steep... And this is just the station at the Peak Tram stop.

Pretty impressive views from the top, though. 

And several refreshing walks around the edge. Lots of joggers and locals walking their dogs

Back over to Kowloon again on the ferry -  starting to rain with a thunderstorm threatening

Then another HK institution dim sum at the Luk Yu Tea House (Stanley Street). Frommer's famously reviewed it:

Luk Yu, first opened in 1933, is the most famous dim sum teahouse remaining in Hong Kong. In fact, unless you have a time machine, you can't get any closer to old Hong Kong than this wonderful Art Deco-era Cantonese restaurant, with its ceiling fans, spittoons, individual wooden booths for couples, marble tabletops, wood paneling, and stained-glass windows... the service can be indifferent, those looking for a slice of a bygone era should make a point of dining here.

Our review, food very good - all the dim sum classics (lovely fresh har gau, sui mai,BBQ pork buns and sensational egg tarts!). Service - not indifferent, a little brusque perhaps, but friendly and efficient. Cheaper than Chinatown in Melbourne and certainly worth a visit.

Then a trek back to the hotel, trying to avoid the coming rain and heat by dodging through air conditioned shopping malls and walkways. A few sights on the way...

Flags of PRC & HK...

Bamboo scaffolding (at the YMCA)...

Advertising...

 

Bridal parties everywhere - sweltering in their finery...

In the background - more advertising. Foreground, 1881  Heritage Centre (once the HQ of the HK Maritime Police). WBM's photo just about sums up Hong Kong for me.

And finally, back at the Langham. Frazzled and bedraggled...

Bainbridge Island

The floor had stopped moving this morning, so we started the day with breakfast at Bacco cafe - oatmeal, omelette, carrot and apple juice (yes I know, but it was yummy juice!).

I had been searching Ravelry for locals' recommended yarn shops and Churchmouse Yarns on Bainbridge Island came top of the list. And because it needed a 35 minute ferry ride to the island, John was keen to come too. ($6.50 each for a ticket that lasts for two days - that's a whole lot of entertainment.) It was pretty bracing on the "sun deck" but we stayed topside during the trip out - taking touristy photos of Seattle and Mt Ranier (huge, 26 glaciers!).

Off the ferry and  "follow the salmon" - a line of fish stencilled on the ground leading to downtown Bainbridge Island.

Churchmouse Yarns and Teas was absolutely delightful; busy, chatty, freindly staff, beautiful yarns, needles (lots of choice), hard decisions to be made. (No books, too heavy, no new Offhand Design bag - I do have one or two at home.) John went for a walk around the Island and said he would meet me outside the shop in 30 minutes time. 45 minutes later, I postponed luch for another 30 minutes. So what did I buy? A couple of patterns from the Churchmouse range (I chose simple designs for "on the road" knitting), Hand Maiden Cashmere, Camelspin and some beautiful Rosewood circular needles made by Asciano.

Thanks to another recommendation (from the ladies at Churchmouse) we wound up at the Harbour Public House for lunch. Front row seats overlooking the marina. Beers and ciders on tap (Perseus Porter for John and Foxcreek Cider for me). Nice lunch, more freindly staff, but these compulsory "gratuities" take a bit of getting used to - and gobble up the cash :(

But of course, I had forgotten to buy any tea (it is Churchmouse Yarn and Teas)

so I had to drop back there on the way to the ferry.

Great shop. Highly recommended!