Just when I thought we have covered most of Hong Kong’s outlying islands last Summer, I realised there are a couple more islands which we haven’t explore. May-June is always the best season to explore these places – Blue sky, good sun and cool breeze. Before the arrival of the dreadful typhoon season (July-Oct), I am going to plan our next 4 weekends visiting all the outdoor attractions (Marine Park, Geo Park and Coral Islands). First stop of my list – Tai O (大澳) Fishing Town.

Located at the north-western part of the Lantau Island, Tai O is also known to many as the "Venice of Hong Kong". Seriously, there is nothing "Venice" or romantic about it. In fact, it has a notorious past. It was a stronghold for pirates back in the 16th century and later a dark territory for the smuggling of drugs, tobacco and guns into China. Today, it is a major tourist attractions for its iconic floating stilt houses (棚屋). It reminded me of those houses I have seen along the river in Malacca River and Mekong River. 

Like Cheung Chau Island, Tai O offers visitors a rare glimpse of its "floating town-life". While the pier is buzzing with shops selling dried seafood and local delicacies, the real Tai O awaits its visitors right deep inside the town. Take a slow walk into the narrow platforms of the stilt houses. A closely-knitted community, most residents leave their doors / windows wide open. Take a peek into their living space and you get to witness their day-to-day life. You see old folks playing mahjongs out on the deck, kids fishing by the water, mothers preparing dinners and fishermen preparing their tools for tomorrow fishing trips.

I feel the Hong Kong Government (and the Tourism Board) should do more to preserve and clean up this beautiful place before it becomes a awful junkyard. Educate the residents to do more for the fragile environment they live in. (After all, they need to keep this place in shape for the tourists.) Today, the residents simply flushed out their rubbish right below their stilt houses. We saw a lot of garbage in the waters. 

Go visit these islands with a empty stomach for there are many nice authentic local food around. Be prepared to queue up especially on a weekend like this. Take your time to explore as there is always a surprise at the next turn.

 

(Photo Taken: Tai O Beach – While out in the sea looking for our dolphins…)

(Photo Taken: Bus-Stop at Causeway Bay, Hong Kong – Watch out for your bus. Not the balls.)

(Photo Taken: Times Square, Hong
Kong – Up in the Air? No one plays football like this.)

(Photo Taken: Takoo City Plaza, Hong Kong – A security guard looking at the newly installed giant football.)

(Photo Taken: Times Square, Hong
Kong – There is no way you are going to miss it! What a big goal post!)

(Photo Taken: "Homeless Shop" at On Wo Street, Central, Hong Kong – One of my favorite lifestyle concept shops in Hong Kong. Visit their homepage here: http://www.homeless.hk)

Yes. This is a REAL Starbucks Cafe – the one and only kind in the world. Here, you enjoy the modern taste (with air-con comfort) in an authentic-looking "Hong Kong 1960s 茶餐廳-themed" cafe (the tiles, the old 60s fans, wall menu, clock, table and chairs etc) If only the babes and the price of our coffee are the same like back in the 60s, that will be perfect.

My 93rd visitor, Randy Ang is one of Singapore’s very creative and charming "not-so-young" men. He was my course’s top graduate back in 1999. And one of my 4 hyper-creative founders of Caffeine Creative.

While I have switched from my "creative suit" to the "dark suit" in the corporate firm, Randy pursues the "out of the world" works. He has accomplished many "unconventional" works. And truly, he never
fails to surprise me. With little film-making experience, he has produced some remarkable films and great arty movies. Indeed, Randy is one of the most versatile creative directors around. From print to film-making, he explored many uncharted roads. A very inspiring and spontaneous character – one who with lots of puny humor too. (He is a naturally media-magnet and we used to call him the "media-whore"!) From Singapore to Shanghai and now in Hong Kong, I keep seeing his works!

Of course, I am not going to write or brag about his biography here. It is too early for this golden bachelor. Well, he was complaining about me "neglecting" and not giving him enough "love" during his last visit in Jan. I hope to redeem myself with this blog. And hopefully, to hook him up with one of my pretty blog readers here. (Yes…he is still available! For short period only!)

Here are two of his very recent works which he has directed and produced. (LOVE LIFE is showing everywhere in HK now!) Enjoy.

              http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=10755584&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1           http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=10869220&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1

Post Script: (Randy – So, can I do one karaoke session with Jay Chou alone? Please…. I promise it is the clean karaoke type lah…. and I only bring a few friends…maybe 10?)

(Photo Taken: Opposite Times Square, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong – Certainly not the typical toy shop. Who needs the vibrator? I am already vibrating and trembling just looking at the window.)

May is indeed a birthday month! Yesterday, Felicia and I celebrated 2 birthdays – Zeph and Auntie Amy (our 4th and 5th this month!) Guess what, we are celebrating the 6th birthday next week for Scott! Coincidentally, they are all foreigners – David (France), Ethan & Zeph (Malaysia), Auntie Amy, Tracy & Scott (Singapore)!

Zeph organised a karaoke party at Causeway Bay. Without Harshad (he is back home in India for 2 weeks), gone the liquor. The singing session was great and superbly well-balanced. We have a good mix of both English and Chinese hits. For both young and old performers. Elkan and Ethan danced their "Nobody" routine. Danielle and Josephine jammed many "unknown" pop hits. Sherry, Zeph, Felicia, Scott and I honed the "evergreens". Tracy – she handled both genres pretty well. The group later even dedicated "Kiss Goodbye" for Scott and Natalie. Good dinner, great company and lovely tunes kept us charged till 1am.

It is certainly difficult not to gain weight with such regular rituals. Fattening cream cakes, big birthday banquets and lots of late-night drinks and snacks. While these birthday stars are getting older, a couple of us are getting heavier and wider. We got to find new "birthday activity". Mic-lifting and singing birthday/karaoke songs doesn’t help to lose those extra calories. (Mmmm….Better cancel that "Dongguan Birthday Party" idea for mine next month. I was thinking of celebrating with 10 of my favorite mummies and mums.)

My Granny (yes, Elkan’s Great Grandmother), Mother and Auntie Amy are in town. Unlike the many family trips before, this is one memorable trip for many. It is filled with so much drama, laughter and unfortunate accidents.

I took leave and brought the family to Macau and Zhuhai. (Haaa… the ladies barely survived the rocky boat ride.) This is my mother’s first trip to Macau and I got her to try her luck at the Venetian Casino. With just 20 cents, she won HKD500 at the jackpot within the first 10 minutes! Me too, triple my winnings at the black jack table within 15 minutes. This was our shortest stay (20 minutes) in and out of the casino with very very good returns.

However, luck wasn’t with Auntie Amy and Elkan. They had a traumatic experience. A very bad one too. Onlookers Felicia and Tracy witnessed one of the most terrifying incidents this trip. We were cycling at Zhuhai when I lost control and rammed our tricycle into a trash-bin at a considerably speed. The accident happened so fast that I cannot react in time to avoid the collision. Due to the sudden impact, my pillion riders (Elkan and Auntie Amy) flew out of the vehicle and landed on the ground. It was a very very scary sight. Fortunately, Elkan and me suffered minor injuries – bruises and cuts. Auntie Amy suffered the most. She did a superman and landed flat on the ground. The outcome could have been worse if the trash-bin didn’t stop our path. We may landed on the rocks. (Our tricycle was thrashed and we have to leave it behind.)

We decided to call off our "cycling activity" and headed to the green-houses to see the "giant fruits". A more rewarding trip indeed – Auntie Amy and Mother managed to coax one of the farmers to give them some chilies and seeds. They too want to start their own "spicy plantation" back in Singapore. The weather turned bad suddenly and we caught ourselves in the heavy downpour. Nonetheless, we managed to get out of this isolated plantation and headed for our next destination – Shopping!

The trip ended well (minus the "do-more-exercise" nagging and the cycling accident). It was a very relaxing 2-day short trip for the family. Easy money at the casino, superb 2-hour massage and lots of good shopping hours for the ladies. Now, they are already talking about their next return to Zhuhai.