MTR Fare Saver Map

Okay, so none of you are probably interested in this Google Map, which lists some of the MTR Fare Saver machines around the more popular tourist spots here in HK. You only save about 2 HKD, which only gives you enough to take a free ride on the tram-system. Still better than nothing. Besides, if it's popular enough for the locals....



(yes, those pictures are recycled)

I didn't put all the Fare Savers on the map nor am I planning on updating it right now (even though the machines do get moved from time-to-time). If it's useful enough for people I'll let others tweak it (or I might) so let me know. You know, for those two people that actually visit this blog. =)

Lastly, there's a whole slew of terms and conditions on the MTR's Fare Saver page (English, 中文) so be sure to read them before you use it.

Food: 香港的台灣小吃 (Taiwanese Food in Hong Kong)

Two for one today; I've been looking for some good Taiwanese food and have finally found them... in Mongkok!

毓民私房牛肉麵
花園街3-5號地下9號舖 (3 Fa Yuen St)
旺角 (Mong Kok)
Phone: +852 2377-3013





輕鬆飲 (Easy Drink - Easy Go)
登打士街43H登打士廣場地下1號 (Shop 1, G/F, Dundas Square, 43H Dundas Street)
旺角 (Mong Kok)
Phone: N/A



Yummy enough to get one now to drink, and one to go for later!


How good are these? I've been to each of them almost a half dozen times since Ivy recommended 毓民私房牛肉麵 to me earlier this month (and promptly stumbled across the 珍珠奶茶 stall) and I still want to go back. The line at 輕鬆飲 actually gets quite long - stretching into the street and past the neighboring stores at night (but luckily still moves fairly quickly). For only 10 HKD for 700CC it's quite a bargain. And even better, both the 珍珠 and noodles are very QQ. Mmm.

For 毓民私房牛肉麵, they actually aren't that crowded for lunch, but gets quite packed in the evening (probably for all the shoppers at the Ladies' Market. Give them a try if you're up there. Doesn't quite beat a trip to 台灣, but in a pinch they do quite nicely.

Other food recommendations to-date:

- とん吉 (Tonkichi) [香港 (Hong Kong)]
- Maxwell Food Centre [新加坡 (Singapore)]
- 清真牛肉館 (Islam Food) [九龍城 (Kowloon City)]
- 建興亞婆豆腐花 (Kin Hing Tofu Dessert) [南丫島 (Lamma Island)]
- 小杨生煎馆 (Yang's Fry Dumpling) [上海 (Shanghai)] -- more --

Random Bits

Just thought I'd drop a few notes here:

• I didn't notice this until now. For all those Nikon SLR users, Nikon Hong Kong offers image sensor cleaning at its Service Centers. Unfortunately, it looked like it used to be free until the beginning of this month - it now costs 300 HKD or a 50% for Nikon products covered by a Nikon Hong Kong Ltd. warranty card.
• Oh, and lastly... a "double bed" = bed for two people to share while twin beds = small separate beds. But y0u knew that already, right?
• The Hong Kong subway system, the MTR, has a number of kiosks scattered around the city since 2002 that offers discounts on rides for Adult Octopus cards. They call it "Fare Saver" and it looks like the purpose of the kiosks it's to encourage people to walk around the city. A press release explicitly states that: "The objective is to encourage people who live or work farther away from MTR stations to walk there to use railway service." The locations as of this post are:

Location of MTR Fare Saver => Designated MTR Station
Kai Tak Garden Shopping Arcade => Wong Tai Sin [1250 steps]
China Resources Building => Wan Chai [1300 steps]
CC Wu Building => Wan Chai [600 steps] / Causeway Bay [860 steps]
Tai Wo Hau Shopping Centre 2 => Tai Wo Hau [850 steps]
Enterprise Square => Kowloon Bay [1500 steps]
Emperor Plaza => Tsuen Wan [760 steps]
Home World Provident Centre => North Point [820 steps] / Fortress Hill [860 steps]
Tsing Yi Garden Shopping Centre => Tsing Yi
[1100 steps]
Cheung Fat Shopping Centre => Tsing Yi [750 steps]
Prosperous Garden Shopping Arcade => Yau Ma Tei [450 steps]
Harbour City => Tsim Sha Tsui [809 steps]
Peninsula Centre => Tsim Sha Tsui [1080 steps] / East Tsim Sha Tsui
Sheung Tak Shopping Centre => Tseung Kwan O [830 steps]
Fu Ning Garden Commercial Complex => Hang Hau [1050 steps]
Central - Mid-Levels Escalators & Walkway System => Sheung Wan [1250 steps] / Central [1230 steps] / Hong Kong [1080 steps]
Broadway Computer City => Sheung Wan [675 steps]
The Household Center => Mei Foo [750 steps]
Tai Kok Tsui Municipal Services Building => Olympic [1038 steps] / Mong Kok [990 steps] / Prince Edward [1050 steps]
Kwai Chung Estate Shopping Centre => Tai Wo Hau [1099 steps]
Kwai Sing Centre => Kwai Hing [1173 steps]
Kwai Shing East Shopping Centre => Kwai Hing [715 steps]
Shatin Galleria => Fo Tan
-- more --

Food: とん吉 (Tonkichi)

とん吉 (Tonkichi)
告士打道280號世貿中心412室 (280 Gloucester Road, World Trade Centre, Fourth Floor)
銅鑼灣 (Causeway Bay)
Phone: +852 2577 6617

Second location:
廣東道100號彩星集團大廈B/F B室 (100 Canton Road, Basement)
尖沙咀 (Tsim Sha Tsui)
Phone: +852 2314 2998




This Singapore import is quite popular. The wait can get up to two hours even on a weekday to the point where they stop giving out numbers at 8 pm. Reservations are available for the weekdays, but are full for the next couple of months. However, the reason for the wait is an authentic tonkatsu experience that rivals anything you would find even in Japan.

To start, after you order, the waitress hands you a mortar and pestle with sesame seeds to grind your own sauce.


After it gets to the consistency you like, you reach over and grab the tall container that contains トンカツソース (tonkatsu sōsu) to mix with your sesame seed puree. The other two containers contain dressing for the shredded cabbage - here you have a choice of yuzu- (guess that makes it ponzu) or seaweed-flavor.



The primary dish of course is the tonkatsu:


You can get either the pork loin:


Or pork fillet:


Your order comes with miso soup and rice


Lastly, to finish off the meal, you get watermelon slices for dessert (although you can order a proper dessert if you're still hungry)


If you get a seat against the window, you can see Victoria Harbour


Other food recommendations to-date:

- Maxwell Food Centre [新加坡 (Singapore)]
- 清真牛肉館 (Islam Food) [九龍城 (Kowloon City)]
- 建興亞婆豆腐花 (Kin Hing Tofu Dessert) [南丫島 (Lamma Island)]
- 小杨生煎馆 (Yang's Fry Dumpling) [上海 (Shanghai)] -- more --

Photos: 年宵市場 (New Year Fair)

For the past week there's been quite a throng of crowds as people have been preparing for Chinese New Year. In Hong Kong in particular, there are special fairs called 年宵市場 (New Year Fair) that sell a variety of things for the holiday. Here are some pictures of the fair in 維多利亞公園 (Victoria Park).



You'll first hit the crowds as you approach the park. Luckily there are plenty of police to direct the pedestrians and the crowds make an orderly entrance.


When you get to the entrance you'll notice that at night there are generally three groups: (1) couples, (2) groups of friends, or (3) parents with young children.


It's so crowded that lanes are specifically designated for one-way walking and there are plenty of signs to direct you towards an exit if the crowds get too much for you.


Once you're inside, what you see is simply a sea of heads.


People running the stalls make a lot of noise to attract your attention.





Some of the things on sale range from the playful such as stuffed bananas, balloon giraffes, street signs, paintings, or pinwheels....






... to plants and flowers for luck and decoration.




Of course, what fair would be complete without street food?



Once you're done, you can take your bags of goodies and head for the exit.


新年快樂! 恭喜發財!
-- more --

Food: 清真牛肉館 (Islam Food)

清真牛肉館
Main location:
九龍城龍崗道1號地下 (G/F, No. 1 Lung Kong Rd, Kowloon City)
電話 (phone): (852) 2382 2822 / 2382 8928
Open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Second location:
九龍城打鼓嶺道33-35號地下 (G/F, No. 33-35 Tak Ku Ling Rd, Kowloon City)
電話 (phone): (852) 2382 1882
Open 11:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.

More info:
- Official website





This local treat is located near the old Hong Kong airport. There is no MTR stop nearby so your best bet to get there is by bus (1A, 9, 101, and 111 stop nearby - see map) or by taxi.

This is one of the dishes they're famous for - 牛肉餡餅:




Other dishes to consider are:
咖喱羊腩


三絲粉皮








蔥油餅


If you get a chance try it. If you're interested, you can take a look at some other recommendations:

- 建興亞婆豆腐花 (Kin Hing Tofu Dessert) [南丫島 (Lamma Island)]
- 小杨生煎馆 (Yang's Fry Dumpling) [上海 (Shanghai)]
-- more --

Photos: Christmas in Hong Kong

Merry Christmas! Apart from the bright lights on the side of the buildings, the shopping malls in Hong Kong are quite festive with many decorations in the public areas. At times, you might be blinded due to the throng of shoppers snapping photos in front of the (often) elaborate decorations. Hit the "more" link for some additional pictures.





IFC


Times Square






Harbour City




Langham Place






New Town Plaza


Hope you enjoyed the pictures. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! -- more --