16th of February — Felt like I hardly slept during the night, since as soon as I fell asleep, that damn alarm was already bleeping it’s heart out…
- More or less as soon as I woke up and still rubbing my eyes, I got call from uncle at slap bang on 07:00 HKT checking if I still wanted to scatter flowers for mother, as father requested prior me leaving for my three week trip
- Got myself ready double-quick and met uncle at 07:45 HKT in the hotel lobby, then headed to the flower markets in Mong Kok, just a few minutes walk away
- Arriving at the mass of flower stalls, was a little bmused as to why most seemto be closed, unsure if we’d come too early or too late. Howver, after going along a few more streets, found a whole road’s worth of open stalls and after a bit of deliberation picked a modest bunch of flowers
- With flowers purchased, uncle and I headed to 尖沙嘴 (Tsim Sha Tsui) via bus, arriving at the public pier pretty much spot on 09:00 HKT. Seemed we got their at a good time as it was still very quiet since it was post rush hour though more importantly, pre rush of tourists!
- Having got the plastic and paper wrapping removed from the flowers (to try and avoid potentially getting cuffed for littering), I scattered them into the harbour from the same spot where uncle had scattered her ashes on my father and I’s behalf just a little over a year and a half ago. Whilst standing a looking across the harbour reflecting over the time passed, I managed to snap a shot of the flowers in the sea…
- As uncle still had some time to spare before having to head off to work, we went for 飲茶 (Yum Cha) at the same restaurant as the day before in the nearby Ocean Terminal & Habour City. We needed some breakfast and there’s nothing wrong with a bit of tasty 點心 (Dim Sum) to fill one’s stomach!
- I asked uncle if they had any 粽子 (Rice Dumplings) since there are something I’m very fond of and the last time I would have had any was probably a decade ago. Turned out the restaurant didn’t have them specifically, though had mini versions which turned out to be a good thing since these dumplings are extremely filling… a full sized one (about the size of a grapefruit) for brunch would keep you hunger free till well past dinner time!
- In amongst the chit chat, uncle asked if I planned to visit Macau whilst I’m here, which I did so he kindly offered to meet up with me again tomorrow and go there for a day. Time was now getting on and uncle needing to make his way to work, he asked for the bill so that it could be settled and once that was done, we headed our ways. I decided to have a little wonder through Ocean Centre & Harbour City briefly popping back to hotel to sort a few things before heading out again to meet Mr. Eric Ho at the Police Officer’s Club as arranged the day previous
- Taking the leisurely route of the Nos. 7 bus to 尖沙嘴 (Tsim Sha Tsui) and Star Ferry to Wan Chai, then going the remaining distance by foot, I arrived at the Police Officer’s Club at the time I should have, 13:00 HKT. Mr. Ho was already there waiting in the lobby and reintroduced me to the three of the remaining Police Officer’s Club “old timers” with Catherine remembering me very well! Mr. Ho asked us if we could go ahead up to the Chinese restaurant and get a table and some food for lunch whilst he tied up a few loose ends in the office
- 飲茶 (Yum Cha) twice in one day may seem a little extragavant, though to be honest if you’re eating out in 香港 (Hong Kong) and have good company, one could quite easily manage four in a day! There’s such choice of food that you’d be happy be it breakfast, lunch, dinner of midnight snack! ;)
- Mr. Ho did join us not too long after we got the table and having the first dishes arriving. It was certainly most interesting catching up on what everyone has been doing. Catherine herself was most surprised in actually speaking to me as she recalled me keeping her company at the club’s reception on days I came down to see father, not to mention how long ago it was as in that time, she hadn’t even been pregnant though is now a mother of a teenage boy!
- Though it had been a very long time since I last ate in the club’s restaurant not to mention the fact it had again changed caters, the food was quite fantastic. Two things that I’ve not had in eons were the 红豆沙湯圓 (Sweet Red Azuki Bean soup with Tong Yuen) which is a traditional thing to have during new year and the 福建炒飯 (Fukien Fried-Rice), a dish from my maternal home 福建 (Fujian) consisting of vegetables, chicken and lots of seafood such as prawns & shark’s fin all coated with a yummy rich sauce
- Having been treated to lunch by Mr. Ho, I had just enough time to grab a group photo before saying my goodbyes to everyone and then going over to Causeway Bay to get the MTR to Central and see if a visit to The Peak was possible today. Alas by that time of the afternoon, the higher altitudes were completely blanketted in fog once again. Perhaps yet another day! :D
- With time on hand, I took the gentle tram ride back to Causeway Bay for a little wonder and managed to catch one of those rare moments in which all hell breaks loose! The uncommon sight (well, without a Signal 8 typhoon warning anyway) of some trusty bamboo scaffolding which had gone rather pear-shaped and needing the road to be closed off!
- As all this scaffolding fixing commotion was going on, I decided to get on the tram again though this time to Happy Valley and have a wonder around there. This was where I used to live for some 8 years of my life after all and wanted to see how much that had changed. Was pleased to see the block of flats I lived at were still there, not to mention the Girl’s Catholic School which was across the road. In fact, it was probably the first time in the last 10 days of this trip where some place I remember had changed very little. Sure there were the odd didn’t exist before, very tall and slender residential flats… that was the case when I lived in Happy Valley as a child, so “same old, same old!”
- Luck would have it that I caught Happy Valley on horse racing night, meaning it gets very crowded and roads get closed off, so it was back to Causeway Bay to figure out something for dinner since it was now evening
- Couldn’t resist that Shanghinese restaurant for some more of their devine noodles and dumplings so off I went to find the place again and on sitting down at the table and struggling with the menu to see what else I could have, added some stir fried Shanghinese White New Year Cake with vegetables and pork to round off my evening meal
- Returned back to hotel at 21:00 HKT or there abouts and just wanted to have an early night so as to be ready for a possible trip to Macau tomorrow!
So alarm all set for getting my good self out of bed for 08:30 HKT, or so he says! ;)
