Refused to bow to the fact that we had not seen a single dim sum eatery so far..
We were determined to find one by hook or by crook on the fourth day.
So we walked for almost 40 minutes just to find the one that Don recommended.
Just that there was an issue about Don's recommendation..
First and foremost, there is no specific address.
Only "On the right of Novotel Hotel at Jordan, on the 8th storey"
But Novotel Hotel is at Tung Chung..
And the right side building of Novotel Nathan Hotel does not sell dim sum as verified by one of the stall owners there -.-
Finally we gave up on Don's suggestion and settled for a really old Dim Sum stall along Parkes Street.
Chee cheong fun paled in comparison to Singapore's dim sum in fact.
The outer skin was too thick and doughy.
Even the malnourished custard buns did not have oozing fillings.
Har kau and the porridge was good though..
The former was generously filled with succulent prawns and the latter was so smoothly authentic.
Dim sum was average on the overall.
It was really random when my dad conversed with the boss of the shop only to realise that he once lived in Singapore for 13 years and was once a chef for Pan Pacific Hotel.
Passer bys would have thought that the two of them were old friends who got reunited.
Total damage was HKD$ 135,
A little too steep we thought.
*****
After breakfast,
We decided to forgo the last day's itinerary for some serious shopping for the guys back home.
Simply strolled around,
Digesting the heavy dim sum with ease..
The morning streets of HK are indeed the best to move around.
Half emptied and other than birds chirping, it was mostly quiet.
Weirdly so,
The atmosphere suddenly reminded me of some childhood memories..
As if I was transported back to the older quiet days back at the old Clementi home with Grandma alone.
Especially so when all my aunts had gone to work..
We came back to Mido Cafe again.
After asking the friendly staff some questions, we got to know that Mido Cafe opens at 8am on Monday to Saturday and 10am on Sundays.
If not for dim sum,
We would have popped inside the true blue old HK cafe for a meal.
Directly opposite the cafe was Yau Ma Tei Community Centre rest garden.
Uncles and ah peks gathered at a small corner with informal gambling..
Like those you would see in TVB dramas when the poor sole breadwinner of the family came across this "gambling den" and lost his meagre pay to luck..
Then we were off on a quest to look for this.
The very same one which he regrettably passed on buying at Victoria Peak..
According to various sources from the hotel bellboy to the Mido Cafe's auntie..
All of them referred us to In's Point.
The problem about Hong Kongers..
Your questions are often met with a very vague and rushed answer.
So where exactly is In's Point..?
After having small disagreements and making many detours, we finally found it..
It was the building next to our hotel but it would not be opened till 4pm -.-
And very surprisingly,
The prices at In's Point was no where cheaper than Victoria Peak.
So off we went, split up in two groups.
Daddy and Ming took another trip up to Victoria Peak.
While Mommy and I went to look for the stuff that Don wanted.
After getting his loot,
(A Bruce Lee statue and Michael Jackson statue)
Daddy was damn chirpy and active..
LOL
Usually he hated shopping..
But that very same day, he was shopping himself.
Got himself a pair of pants and a pair of black shoes from H&M..
As well as another two pairs from G2000..
o.0
So the four of us spent the WHOLE afternoon at Central's H&M.
Total damage about HKD$2000.00.
H&M
I did not understand the craze for it previously.
Till I stepped into the 4 levels boutique.
Really..
*****
Dropped our shopping loot back at the hotel before proceeding for dinner on our final night in HK.
Along the way..
Sino Vegetarian Restaurant
G/F, 131-135 Parkes St, Yau Ma Tei (at Jordan MTR Exit A)
Behind Tai Koon Mansion, at the end of Saigon street.
The food was really good indeed.
Variety was there..
Innovation was evident.
The restaurant is not situated at a conveniently sighted area..
But the constant flow of customers plus queues on a Monday night proved how likeable this eatery is =)
Seemed like we did not learn our lesson from our first night.
We ordered the set for four persons.
The humongous portions were really not for normal human consumption.
Filled beyond max..
Zzz monster kicked in.
As we walked around Tsim Sha Tsui,
Certain things changed but familiarity lingered..
Espirit shops were relocated, Miramar Hotel became The Mira..
But Parklane remained the same..
The crowded streets remained bustled.
As mommy and I popped into one of the shops, this was how daddy and Ming looked like while waiting..
I thought they looked cute hahaha..
Ended the fourth day with this dessert.
Ginger milk pudding..
Absolutely loved this smooth insomniac remedy.
We were taught by the boss that we should eat it by scooping off layer by layer.
*****
We woke up to the last day of the trip..
Weather got cooler..
Not totally satisfied with the previous day dim sum, we thought we would squeeze in another dim sum before our departing flight at a nearby restaurant along Yau Ma Tei.
The signature HK porridge standard was there.
Siew mai and the chestnut cake was sumptuous too.
I loved this the most.
Why cant Singapore's dim sum dining allow us to add our own gravy separately?
Total damage was HKD$110
That was even cheaper than the previous day..?!
Looking around the restaurant..
There was an unbelievable number of elderly chilling out with their pots of tea.
I recalled the almost zero number of old folks on the streets throughout our stay..
So
This was where they were hiding =p
It is really blissful for them to be able to sit and relax and not worry about work at their age..
Reading newspapers after papers after pots of tea..
Ming and I split up with Daddy and Mommy to buy more food stuff home..
Then we thought since we did not manage to dine at Mido Cafe, we would pop over for some takeaway coffee for mommy..
Been there three times but we did not dine in -.-
Finally heading home..
On our way to the airport,
Situated at a blind spot on the middle concrete divider along the expressway sat two traffic police officers holding on to a hand held speed camera.
They were sitting as though they were riding a horse.
So I guessed the ways and means to which traffic police officers discover offences have internationalised across borders.
Very quickly, the taxi drive picked up his walkie talkie..
Giving warning to other fellow cab drivers..
And vice versa, the driver received the same notification from another driver..
That was really some synergy going on against the scheming summons =D
Well I wonder if the traffic police knows about this conspiracy and coming up with more ways to counter that..
Hurhurhur..
We finally reached Terminal One.
And yes, cab drivers are the friendliest lot of the Hong Kongers.
He wished us a safe trip and hoped to see us again =)
I certainly hoped that there would be more of such trips to come..
HK was the furthest from home that Daddy and Mommy have travelled.
So glad that they enjoyed themselves =)
Till then..
*****
