The August Break 2014, #14

The August Break 2014, #12

The August Break 2014, #11

Monocle Shop, Hong Kong 2013

We dropped into the Monocle store, had a look around, a good conversation with the storekeeper and other patrons, picked up a few issues.

Hop Inn, Hong Kong 2013

Finding a place to stay in Hong Kong can be difficult for the young but not so affluent traveller. When travelling, I like to find a place that's a combination of affordable, comfortable, clean and pretty. It took awhile to find that place in Hong Kong but I finally found it in Hop Inn. Located in two locations in Tsim Sha Tsui, each room in Hop Inn is individually designed by a local artist or illustrator. No two rooms are the same! The rooms are small (as are most rooms in HK) but cozy and comfortable. Very important as we spent quite a bit of time lazing around our beds, catching up on long-neglected videos and social media. 

We stayed at the location in Carnavon, located on the highest floor of the building, high above the bustle of TST. There is so much personality at Hop Inn, the walls are signed by every one who has passed through, there are little touches of flora, fauna and recycling, and the corridors are endlessly sunny during the day. Not to mention how special each room is, I was lucky enough one day to still be in the hostel as the cleaning lady was going around her rounds of cleaning checked-out rooms and she allowed me to go in to the two rooms she had finished. Very cool rooms they were, I wish I could have gone into the rest. And ironically I don't even have photographs of our own room.

Wing Wah Noodle Shop, Hong Kong 2013

Everyone needs to eat at least two bowls of wanton noodles in Hong Kong just to realise how different wanton noodles can get when made by different stalls. We tried our second bowl at Wing Wah Noodle Shop at Wan Chai near the end of our trip. I can't wait to try out more bowls when I next go back to Hong Kong!

Central Day & Night, Hong Kong 2013

Bustling, overwhelming and teeming with people by day. Mysterious, glowing and dazzling by night.

Mak's Noodle, Hong Kong 2013

I like how Central has a mix of low-end and high-end eateries. Mak's Noodles seems like it would be more comfortable set in a suburban neighbourhood but there it is in the middle of Central, set amongst the skyscrapers that make Hong Kong a financial metropolis. Walk inside, and you forget all about that. Mak's Noodles is as homely as they come, with the clientele to match. The noodles were insanely delicious, and so different from what we have at home.

Pak Lee Cafe Since 1964, Hong Kong 2013

After getting hopelessly lost in HKU, climbing up steep staircases, winding our way around a foreign campus, we hopped into the first cab we saw and made our way back to Central. First stop, some sustenance at Pak Lee Cafe Since 1964, a new & hip descendant of the original Pak Lee Cafe, a bing sut that opened in (you guessed it!) 1964. Looking at the glistening honey rolling off my french toast and sausage, it's easy to see how the cafe has managed to survive for 50 years.