茶果嶺 鯉魚門 筲箕灣, 2014

Another day in Lei Yue Mun, Kowloon, HK

Front with the skyscrapers

 

Eastern Hong Kong and Kowloon

1. highway between Shaukiwan and Chai Wan. 2. Lei Yue Mun and Devil peak on the top. 3. Diamond Hill. 4. Lohas Park (日出康城) and Tseung Kwan O industrial city (right). 5. Yau Tong. 6. Shaukiwan

HK coastal defence museum (海防博物館), Ah Kun Arhm 亞公岩, HK

Photo 1: shows the HK street names changed to Japanese. Photo 2: a Japanese general squatting on the Sai Wan terrace (near Kornhill/Sai Wan Ho). Photo 3-5: some old memories. Photo 6/7: See that Rowntree's pastilles, Life Saver mint, Kit Kat. Please also check how good of our seniors had their calligraphy. Really makes me feel ashamed.

Old map of Quarry Bay and Causeway Bay HK

Went to the HK coastal defence museum and saw the old maps of some parts of HK. Photo 1: Alrich bay is Shaukiwan. Quarry Point was where the Tai Koo dock and now Tai Koo Shing. Photo 2: East Point was East Point road (leading to Excelsior hotel) and Morrison Hill was a hill.

 

決戰, Stand firm

曾媽媽與她的生炒骨

初中時有一位同學，在某一天午飯時候，他不屑校內飯堂所弄的生炒排骨飯，誇言自己母親所弄的生炒骨有多棒。 當年才入廚數年的我，自然想找個機會一嘗伯母這道菜。

終於有幸到了照片中這房子，踏進屋內，已聞到陣陣炸排骨酥香味，隨即走向廚房，眼前一大盤粉白淡黃的炸排骨，整齊地如兵馬俑列陣舖排。細問曾媽媽為何排骨只是半炸熟，曾媽解說，炸物要分兩段，原因是要讓肉汁與外皮穩定下來，及讓它風乾三數小時，曾媽更說弄生炒骨是不能急的，從醃肉、風乾到完成，足足一整天。我即時打了一個大問號 ﹣ 一整天？ 想著自己一輩子也不會為了弄一道生炒骨要花上一天？ 那我的搖控車、單車還有石澳泳灘怎辦？

當時曾媽邊說邊切芥蘭，小小的一段一段斜切，曾媽看到我好奇的目光，說著 “江仔不能啃粗梗的菜，要慢慢小心地切。” 。 曾媽對兒子的呵護備至，完全反映在她做菜的一絲不苟，令我對自已的廚藝深感漸愧，甚至不算是廚藝，粗枝大葉把食物弄熟加點調味就是，還好多多少少受這些影響，日後也不至於太粗略。

晚飯時，曾媽看著兒子一口飯一口餸，不消十分鐘已扒了兩大碗飯，曾媽一臉心滿意足，懶理“辛勞”這二字，這就是曾媽的幸福，曾媽的一個家。

直至目前為止，再沒有碰過多一位媽媽要如此費心，花一整天去弄一道生炒骨，自問也沒這本事，或許可以說，要留待只有曾媽才有這份高尚情操。再或許的是，我們平時就像江仔一樣，看不見母親這份厚意，更把它當作是理所當然，還有百般挑剔，通常到了能領悟箇中情義時，往往只在追憶中憑記。倒不如在彼此有生之年，先偷步把追憶變成感激，體驗人與情。

Local snacks at prices of 20 years ago, Lei Yue Mun Kowloon HK

I was surprised to see all these local snacks at an amazing pricing level. I gotta ask the shop sales lady why they could sell BBQ pork at prices more than half of the market price in downtown. She proudly told me they own their shops and don't need to bother the rent! I bought some "chicky" pastry 鷄仔餅 and (photo 2) "wife" pastry 老婆餅. It was still very warm and of course I took it right away. Then I also bought some BBQ pork (HK$25 for half lb vs HK$50 half lb in other shops) and local snacks. HK$10 (vs HK$20-30 in town) for one pack of mini-egg pastry and others. Good to come here for this kind of local snack instead of going to visit Ku Kee or Ki Wah/Wing Wah...etc.