Tim Ho Wan, Hong Kong 2013

The reason we were in Sham Shui Po was to try the dim sum at Tim Ho Wan, the world's cheapest Michelin Star restaurant! The original outlet that was awarded the Michelin star was originally located in Mongkok but sky-rocketing rents have caused that outlet to close down. We headed to the Sham Shui Po outlet because it was convenient to Tsim Sha Tsui (where we stayed). And I glad we did that. The Sham Shui Po outlet feels like it's been there for years and has a down-home atmosphere as compared to the mall outlets. We arrived at about 11am and were surprised to be seated almost immediately, there are so many horror stories of one-hour long queues that I was quite prepared to wait!

Tim Ho Wan has also made its way to Singapore but the queue never dwindled below one hour and reviews were inconsistent, never tempting me to join in. So I kept my expectations in check, not sure what to expect. Well, rest assured Tim Ho Wan is worthy of its Michelin star. The food was excellent! The BBQ Pork Buns were amazing, the crust was sugary crisp and the pork fillings, so smooth and creamy! Another stand-out were the spring rolls, I don't usually like spring rolls, but I am making an exception for this one!

Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong 2013

We stepped into the neighbourhood of Sham Shui Po on the way for our breakfast dim sum (post coming up!). Home to many industrial and wholesale stores, it's definitely off the beaten track for travellers and that's exactly what we wanted to see, life in Hong Kong as it is.

2013 Recap

Happy 2014, everyone! I hope you have been enjoying the festivities and celebrating the new year in your own little way.

2013 was a very good year in travel. I travelled to 2 new cities (Perth & Hanoi), 1 new-to-me city (Hong Kong) and repeated trips to Bali with friends for much-needed R&R. Work-wise, I am still finding my foot in my new supervisory role. I am still figuring it all out and trying to balance work & life. It's still a year of discovery and growing up. I can see this going on for awhile yet.

Here's my annual recap of what I did this past year. It was a bit of a quiet year despite all the travel.

January

+ Jersey Boys The Musical
+ F.I.R. Light Up The Way Concert

February

+ Perth

March

+ Bali
+ Completed my cervical cancer vaccination injections

April

May

June

July

+ The Addams Family Musical

+ Hanoi

+ Received a pay raise

August

+ Really really busy at work with exhibition openings and events.

September

+ Won Fu WONDERFUL 2013 Live Tour

October

+ Began swimming on a regular basis

November

+ Hong Kong

December

+ Bali

Pregio by Barista Caffe, Hong Kong 2013

After browsing Island East Markets, we retreated to Pregio by Barista Caffe for a mid-day caffeine boost. Besides coffee, Pregio also serves up Italian Western meals, but we weren't hungry so we gave the food a miss.

C requested for a cup of siphon coffee while I went for the unusual with a caffe banana (iced coffee mixed with banana). The caffe banana definitely takes some getting used to and I think its best suited to a coffee drinker accustomed to filter coffee because the banana adds on to the acidity of the coffee.

If you are looking for a quiet neighbourhood to retreat from the constant hustle and buzz of Hong Kong, Quarry Bay is that place. Besides Pregio, there are a few other coffee shops and cafes that are gaining quite a name for themselves, Camper's, Espresso Alchemy and Yo Bago. These places are definitely on my list for the next trip!

Island East Markets, Hong Kong 2013

Island East Markets is Hong Kong's own little farmers' market, taking place every Sunday in Quarry Bay, nestled among the Taikoo Place complex of skyscrapers. Dreamt up by noted Hong Kong food blogger, Janice Leung, Island East Markets has a little of everything for everyone!

Having only one Sunday in Hong Kong (the day that we landed), Island East Markets was a priority on our list of things to see. We arrived way too early for the market, thinking that we could explore the cafes in the area first. Turns out the cafes were all closed too, but we discovered that Taikoo Place houses several public art and we whiled away the time trying to discover them all.

As we were wandering around Taikoo Place, the Island East Markets opened up for business, and people began trickling in. While IEM is on the smaller side, the range of stalls are extensive and are refreshed regularly to prevent visitors' fatigue from the same old stores every week.

Be warned that prices of the food are pricer than street food but they are worth it, with most of them made from organic ingredients or home-made with care. We sampled the yogurt from Sour Times Dairy Company and radish cake from Patchun Foods. Also spotted among the stalls were lobster rolls, wines, cheese, various types of cakes and desserts, handmade fashion and jewellery, and of course, organic produce.

What I enjoyed most about the markets were the diversity of people who visited - expats, locals, kids and the odd tourist (like us) - and the rather odd location of the markets. Quarry Bay is tucked far away from the buzz of Hong Kong, a quiet little residential area that co-exists with Taikoo Place. Having seen Quarry Bay on a Sunday, I wonder what it's like on a Monday.