I am always looking forward to Christmas Day – a day when I will receive "handmade gifts" from a couple of very important people. Kalinda and Felicia are one of those who never fail to intrigue us with their creativity and thoughtfulness. This year, Kalinda made us some really big brown cookies (wrapped in personalised bundle – even with expiry date printed at the base of the packaging!). And Felicia? She cleverly used the wall space in our really tiny HK houe and erected a 1.2m tall "green Christmas tree" – using newspaper and magazine! It is the most creative and original Christmas Tree I ever seen!

Our friends and families have been really kind to us. We received so many good wishes and gifts from abroad. Not to mention the same gesture and goodwill we received from our local HK friends. Right now, we are shifting our home furniture, preparing for the small Xmas gathering at my place tomorrow. Can’t wait to upload more "Boxing Day Party" photos for you guys!

Thanks to Harshad’s latest buy (he finally got his new Nikon DSLR) – we planned our first "semi-professional photography trip". Finally, I found the right occassion to bring out my paparazzi-look-alike 100-400mm Canon L-Lens. I spent quite a bomb on this lens and I only used it thrice. It is a very heavy lens and not ideal for our usual weekend activities. And what is the venue this time? Well, it is another 1-hour bus ride up north – to the Hong Kong Wetland Park.

 

We were so excited and looking forward to visit the park. Afterall, it is very highly publicised and we wanted to visit this place since last year. We have all visited Singapore’s very own Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and would like to check out the Hong Kong version. 

The Hong Kong Wetland Park is situated just opposite a big housing estate. Somehow, the surrounding reminds me of our own Seng Kang/Punggol Estates. Compared with our very desserted & 95% truly natural Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, the Hong Kong park was way way too crowded and artificial. To me, it is a pretty modern wetland. It looks too tidy and man-made. Perhaps only 15% of the entire place is natural. Nevertheless, it is very pretty tourist/family/kids/old folks-friendly. Just not bird-watcher/photographer-friendly.

This is a park for wild birds and swampies but I feel the viewing towers and swamp walking platforms are built too close to the wild life. Despite many signs telling the public to keep quiet, the kids and adults were way too noisy. Therefore, I dun get to see many birds / wild life. In fact, there were more pretty girls than birds to ogle at. This isn’t an ideal place for Harshad to test his new camera. We all agreed that the Hong Kong Island Park at Admiralty has more birds than here.

Well, all of us did enjoyed ourselves. Tracy, Harshad, Hong Fei, Felicia and myself were tigger-happy. I managed to bring home some good shots of nature.

Our trip to Sai Kung was filled with many uncertainties. First of all, we have no idea where is the place. Or what to expect. Best of all, we have no idea how to go there. By MTR, Taxi or bus. In the end, we took those hell-rider-mini-buses there. (Why hell-rider? Beisde the speed-breaking rides, those mini-bus drivers are one of the rudest people you find in Hong Kong. Certainly not tourist-friendly.)

It was a great trip. Throughout our 60-minute journey, we were "teleported" into another era of Hong Kong. It looks so different and very undeveloped. Yet, it has its own unique character of charm and beauty. It has a mixture of mini Taiwan-Malaysia-Vietnam. For those back home – think Changi Village-cum-Pulau Ubin. The funny part is "Sai Kung" to a Hokkien sounds like "Shit Hole".

Right after we alighted the hell-ride, we saw an interesting water feature. Man, I love those gigantic paper boats. It made such great first impression. I wanted to put Elkan in one of those paper boats and snap a photo of him inside. But my uncooperative (super Kiasi) son backed out last second! (Of course, he created a commotion and made me look really stupid in the water!) 

At the waterfront (where you find a row of seafood restaurants), we saw many boats lining along the jetty. It was an interesting sight. The buyers were standing on the jetty, pointing and bargaining. The sellers were standing clamly on their rocky boats, fishing and showing their "live products". This reminded me of the "Floating Markets" of Thailand, but a smaller and systematic one.

As it was early, we walked around this small rusty seatown. We even checked out the property prices here. Verdict – Not cheap at all. However, all of us do agree that Sai Kung is a good place for retirement (it is so slow and peaceful). 

Dinner time – I turned to my most trusted travel bible. Lonely Planet recommended the "Grand-Daddy of Seafood" – Cheun Kee Seafood. We tried it and it was so-so. Honestly, the fish didn’t even taste good at all and it was expensive. So far, I haven’t try any seafood better than the ones we had back home in Singapore or Malaysia. Maybe we didn’t know how to order the other "exotic-looking creatures". Confirm: No more HK-style seafood for me anymore.  

Kelvin and family were here in Hong Kong this week. And I couldn’t even catch up with them – It was really bad timing for me (despite Kelvin booked my time 3 months ago!) On their last night in Hong Kong, Scott and Kelvin arranged dinner somewhere in Causeway Bay. My meeting ends at 8pm and I have to stay back in office until 2am for a very important presentation the next day. No excuse and I am truly very sorry.

Despite my physical absence, I managed to be there with Kelvin and family "digitally" – Yes, digitally. Tracy video-taped me (me working in office) using her iPhone and delivered my digital voice and greetings to them. (Nice try, Joe)

Kelvin was right – we should have let our kids meet up earlier and not on the last night. While it took quite a while for Elkan and Sherry to warm up, Kelvin did a great role to connect the kids. Eventually, they did had a great time together. Back at home, Elkan was explaining each photo and the fun they had. Of course, he didn’t really want to tell me about the photo of he crying when they parted. He just gave me a sad look when we were viewing that photo.

After more than 18 months, Felicia was finally back in Shanghai – Happily Alone! Let’s say it was her "annual leave" (or Anniversary gift) holiday – For a precious 60-hour break, she was 1,000 miles away from her son and those back-breaking household chores! It was an impulse travel decision (made only on Tuesday) and off she flew on Friday morning. What about Elkan? For only HKD80, we parked Elkan from 9am-6pm (cheaper than a carpark fee!) at a childcare center near my office.

Just realised how fortunate we are – as soon as the group got the wind of Felicia’s solo trip to Shanghai – Scott, Harshad, HongFei and Tracy came to my rescue. All of them volunteered to babysit Elkan. Things were certainly not the same with and without Felicia. My friends become more liberal…and they even wanted to stay overnight at my house with Elkan! Even Elkan behaved very differently when his mum wasn’t around – He was 200% naughtier and nosier! Mmm.. not sure this is a good idea to grant any more annual leaves for my wife. Perhaps, I should send both mum and son away the next time.

Despite being away from her "very naughty" son, Felicia found herself surrounded by mothers-&-kids in Shanghai! Nonetheless, I bet she enjoyed her short trip in Shanghai – Over the past 2 days, she visited our good friends – Echo, Johnny and Ming. And not to mention those shopping sites where she accumulated 2 big bags of goodies!

We had a lousy and unlucky Sat evening – Every thing seems to be so so wrong. First, we travelled all the way (from east to west) to Western Market and found out that the restuarant that we wanted to dine was booked for a wedding dinner. We ended up eating Cha-Chan-Ting opposite the street. Then at 8:50pm, we rushed to the bay to catch the "East Asia Games Opening Ceremony Fireworks". Scott was confidently leading the way and we found out that we mixed up the timing! The fireworks supposed to go off at 8pm! What a shame! We laughed at Scott’s silly mistake for misleading us <again!>!

Next, Tracy suddenly made a panic annoucement to the group – SHE dropped her iphone! Just when we decided to go back to trace her iPhone at the HK Cafe, the first firework exploded in the sky! The fireworks were back!??? (Scott was right???) Puzzled and confused, the team dashed for the bay to catch the fireworks. Tracy and I decided to give the fireworks a miss and we headed back to the HK Cafe. The verdict – her iPhone is gone forever…

The group decided to chill out at the roof garden at IFC. Great place but lousy period for everyone – except the Ho Family. Scott was moody and confused about his new girl. Harshad was still suffering from his hangover. Elkan was upset that he couldn’t play PS3 with his favourite Indian buddy. I was feeling so tired and disappointed for missing that firework show. And Tracy was so sad about her missing iPhone.

Well, at least we managed to pose some good happy shots for my blog.  

As promised – Hovman paid for my Singaporean Yummies and I shall grant him an entry on his favourite blog! December is a splendid month to visit Hong Kong / China. The weather is fantastic – cooling, cozy with that magic touch of romance. It is great to dine with your fellow Singaporean buddies overseas – especially over a meal of our favourite Singaporean dishes in such cold season!

(Photo Taken: Bus Ads @ Central, HK – An intended prank or a bold advertising gimmick? It seems that some one defaced the photo with a moustache. See the original photo above. We thought this prank somehow is more provocative than the original ads. It did caught our attention!)