Library on Wheels

(Photo Taken: Mobile Library at Soho East, Hong Kong – From Mobile Clinic to Mobile Pet Spa, you can get almost everything on wheels here in Hong Kong.)

Hold the Lift Door

(Photo Taken: Old Lift at Causeway Bay, Hong Kong – When I was young, mum would scold me for meddling with the lift door. Well, here is one lift door that you have to push and pull.)

Rooftop BBQ Party

Last evening, my boss, David threw a rooftop BBQ party for the whole department. It was another new Hong Kong experience for the Singapore family. We had never been to a rooftop BBQ party before. And it was a great experience for all of us.

David’s house is a 20-minute steep walk hike up at the Mid-Levels. His house and rooftop are big – at least 2,400sqft in total! The night view overlooking Soho, Central and the harbor was beautiful. The atmosphere (music, candles, weather) and settings were just perfect! There were lots of food, drinks and even toys for the kids. This is really the kind of life I never get to enjoy back in Singapore.  Strangely, we always had that impression that Hong Kong is too congested and over-crowded. But there are always space for us to roam and chill out (the hills, the beaches, the forests and many many rooftops!)

It was pretty windy and cold last night. I had to give Felicia my own sweater. Braving through the chilly December wind with only a t-shirt, I am surprised my body was able to regulate itself and kept me warm throughout the night.

There is no argue that the French has the world’s greatest chefs! Barbecuing with the French was an eye-opening experience. It is an art! This is something we Singapore BBQ-lovers should learn from. David has invented a peculiar way of barbecuing. And his secret? The hair-dryer. He demonstrated the ease of starting and keeping the fire consistent with no sweat. Forget about those fire-starters and all that tiring fanning. All he needed to do was to press that button – out came the hot air and rise the fire! Simply innovative! And the food tasted so good!

As usual, Elkan was the loudest kid in the group. He was playing, screaming and running wildly with his new French girl (David’s 2-year old daughter) on the rooftop. Not forgetting Harshad (who just messaged me about his broken bones), he was loud, tipsy and stole the show last night. (He was so loud that the estate security guard came up to check on us!) At midnight when all of us were leaving, Harshad started drinking vodka with our French hosts. I got this strange feelings he slept on the rooftop last night – just like the show “Hangover”.

This was the last big gathering party for me this year. Most of us are clearing leaves and departing for work. I am clearing my outstanding leaves for the year – leaving only 4 working days till the end of 2010. Chowpo and Paul are leaving for their work assignment in Japan next Monday. Subu, Mike and Tracy are leaving Hong Kong for their holidays. And sadly, Felicia and Elkan are heading home to start their new life in Singapore. (Well, on the bright side, my Wahbiang Clan brothers from Singapore are on the way here in less than 48 hours!)

Just 3 more weeks to the end of 2010. Lots of departures and reunions. This is going to be quite an unusual Christmas for me. Maybe it is a good time for me to make short trips to visit my friends in China and Taiwan.

Coke-Jamming Christmas!

(Photo Taken: Coke Mascots at Causeway Bay, Hong Kong – Causing today’s jam – The not-so-fat Santa Claus, the crumbled and recycled-looking Giant Coke Can, the sad Polar Bear, the made-of-paper Vending Machine-Transformer and a snobbish looking Red-Nose ReindeerMan. Where are the pretty angels? No free coke. Just free entertainment. And causing lots of jam. Where is Pepsi when you need them?)

Sign Off

(Photo Taken: Interesting signs outside a property at Sai Wan Village, Hong Kong New Territories)

Let’s dine at the…

(Photo Taken: The “Very Good Restaurant”, North Point, Hong Kong – Risky to name your restaurant this manner. If it doesn’t lived up to its name,  simple just add the word “NOT” before the name.)

Visiting the Ghost Village of Wong Shek

Yesterday, Tracy organised our 4th Sunday hike. This time, we traveled up north to Wong Shek Pier (黃石碼頭) and hiked the 3.5km Wong Shek Tree Walk Trail. (Check out our trail here: http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=896609)

Located at the most northern parts of the New Territories of Hong Kong, this area was filled with hikers and picnickers. There is a direct bus (698R) from Taikoo Shing to Wong Shek Pier Bus Terminal. (The returning bus ride took almost 2 hours!) Unlike the previous 3 hikes, this is a gentle tireless hike with good combination of water, trees, rocks, streams and swamps. There were a few cows wandering freely in the park and that explained why our path was littered with piles of cow dungs. We have to hike carefully to avoid stepping on them. Harshad, Tracy, Elkan and me went off the main path to check out the mini creatures at the mangroves.

There is an abandoned “ghost village” at the end of our hike. The human occupants were long gone and the vacant buildings are now home to a group of wild monkeys. Gone were the old road, leaving only poles of old rusty lamp-posts, outlining its previous path. The entire compound is now taken over by overgrown grass, shrubs and bushes. This must be a big difference from its glory days in the 60s.