AWESOME!!!! MJ totally rocks

Prisoners from Philippines do an MJ.....Freaking awesome!!!

Nasi Goreng - Room Service in Jakarta

I miss Malay food. It's about the only cuisine that you can't find easily in Taipei. The meal tasted as good as it looks!!! Room service in Sari Pan Pacific, Jakarta.

Wat Pho - Reclining Buddha

Let's take a break away from food, shall we?

I was in Bangkok about a month ago and did some sightseeing over the weekend.  We visited 3 temples and took lots of pictures. Here are the ones from Wat Pho (วัดโพธิ์), or also known as Wat Phra Chetuphon (วัดพระเชตุพน)

Couple of interesting facts:
1) Famous for the huge Reclining Buddha statue it houses
2) Has the most number of Buddha images in Thailand.
2) Standing at 20 acres large, it is the largest Wat in Bangkok.
3) Built around 200 years ago (and thus it is is also technically the oldest)
4) Rebuilt by Rama I when the capital was moved to Bangkok.

Eyes are engraved with mother-of-pearl decoration,

The gold plated reclining Buddha is 46 meters long and 15 meters high.
(Designed to illustrate the passing of the Buddha into nirvana)

Feet are also engraved with mother of pearl decorations

Sole of feet shows 108 auspicious characteristics of the true Buddha

Standard lunch/dinner in Hong Kong - Roasted Meat

I was staying on Queen's Road West over the weekend. It is on the west side of Hong Kong island which (I know this because Isa forced me to look at her precious map upon moving into her place) is a stone's throw away from Central (aka the hustle bustle of IFC mall, Lan Kwai Fong and so on).

Queen's Road West is famous for its many Teochew restaurants. When dusk falls, you will find many nice cars parked along the roads and the restaurants full of people. Day time, however, with banks, cafes and a small wet market nearby, you can also be guaranteed with lots of activities and things to see. 

Perpendicular to Queen's Road West is Possession Street. The name, I find rather amusing, is NOT a direct translation of the chinese name. The chinese name directly translated is, erm..... Water Hole street. I guess that's why they had to change the name??? But what I don't get is why call it Possession street? Is it because nearby there is a street full of funeral parlors? Haha, okay, not funny.

Within an hour of moving into Isa's place, I couldn't resist popping into one of the Hong Kong stalls selling roasted meat. (This is after I had a heavy late lunch and was at her place less than 2 hours later). The meal cost only 36 HKD and comes with a large bowl of salted vegetable soup. Totally enjoyable.

No wonder HK is known to be the land of eating and drinking.

Where I stayed over the weekend (west side of HK island)

Typical Hong Kong stall on Possession Street selling roast meats

Inside the stall - Many people getting take away

My lunch/dinner - Roast Pork, Char Siew, Roast Duck  plus a salted egg

Salted Vegetable Soup - On the house

Lunch at Yung Kee on the last day...

After checking my luggage into the Hotel Express station, we took a cab to the famous Yung Kee restuarant which was about 10 mins away by taxi. Had to wait for about 20 minutes for our seats (which isn't long by Hong Kong standards). Service was great, food was fantastic. (Usually food is fantastic and service is not so great...) I'm not complaining but I didn't manage to eat the pigeon dish (my craving) so I guess I will need to visit Hong Kong again soon.

Almost missed my flight as we were having so much fun but anyway it was totally worth it.

Thanks Isa, I had a great time!!

Address: 32-40 Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong

  Famous Yung Kee Restaurant (Near Lan Kwai Fong)

Appetizer - Century Egg with Ginger (Very extremely popular)

Kok Poh - Blending of 2 types of tea

Goose Wings
(My Grandpa's favourite - Yes, we are Teo Chew)

Veggies - Xiao Bai Chai

3 Types of Roasted Meat - Goose,, Suckling Pig and Char Siew

Close Up -
Since this is what everyone goes to the restaurant for

Closer...
Doesn't it make your mouth water?

(This shot is especially for BP) 

View from my hotel window

I love the idea that I can see the mountain from my window. Feels like my living room in Taipei...

Just in front of the mountain is the Hong Kong Jockey club. They have horse races every Wed and Friday. :)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

In the spirit of National Day......

Monster Rabbit

Monster Rabbit taken at Danshui, Taipei. Don't tell me that you are not impressed. I don't believe you...:D

Supper in Hong Kong

Day One in Hong Kong and I couldn't resist going out for supper with Isa. Met her at IFC and we walked over to one of the cafes at Jubilee Street. I've been to Hong Kong so many times before but I have to admit that every single time I'm here, it feels quite exciting as the city is just soooo "ALIVE!!". Love the food and love the hustle bustle!!! (Disclaimer: I'm not as excited as some people I know about being in Hong Kong, aka THE Hong Kong crazies, who rave about Hong Kong almost as if its the best place in the world. My excitement is very much moderate in comparison. :P)

Taken from the window in the cafe.

You can see the reflection of the cafe's lights from the glass. I was totally lazy to stand up and take a proper picture but I had a damn good view of some superbly nice cars parked next to that shoddy looking building. Porsche, BMWs and the likes....Really nice cars with damn interesting license plates. I remember once I saw a license plate on a car that was "2 FAST" . Hehe....Rich people....I thought it was hilarious!

Okay, now to the food.....

Pork Bun with condensed milk

Dish Number 1: Wanted something sweet and was conflicted between getting Buo Luo Bao (Pineapple bun with a slab of button) and this Pork bun with condensed milk. Both are equally sinful. I know!! In the end, I decided to try "something new" and ordered the latter. I didn't exactly know why it was called Pork bun. There was nothing porkish about it I commented..... Isa suggested that it was probably baked using pork lard or something. Ewwwwww...... Disgusting as it sounds (I mean Isa's theory), it was super yummelicious. I thought I had died and gone to heaven. 

"Swiss" style chicken wings

Dish Number 2: This dish is introduced as "Swiss" styled chicken wings. Swiss style chicken wings??? Come on! The chicken wings were cooked in dark soy sauce. Exactly like the type that you can get in Singapore. Its very very chinese style, I mean, do they even have dark soy sauce in Switzerland??? Even though  I knew it would have been better if I removed the chicken skin, I admit that it was not really what happened in the end. I ate everything ....but the bones...(almost wanted to chomp down the bones though. ) 

Dumpling in soup

THE only healthy choice: This is Isa's clubbing comfort food (and definitely the most healthy dish I've had since I got here). She tells me that she goes to the cafe's 24 hour branch for supper after clubbing and almost always orders this dish. It was quite wholesome....I think it had spinach fillings or something like that.

Note: Some pictures were taken with the TZ-10's food mode. Isa swears that it is all about choosing the right mode which makes all the difference. To be honest, I have always used the camera's Intelligent mode and just let the software decide. After staring hard at the picture, I still couldn't tell that much of a difference but anyway, I have never been one who is perceptive about such things so oh well....she is probably right.  :D