James Bond Island, Thailand

Ok, this solitaire stone in the water is the landmark for Phang Nga. Because of the James Bond movie taking shots around this place, the Stone was then named as James Bond Island

Phang Nga, Thailand

Phang Nga is about 2 hour drive at the North East from Phuket Island. Lots of scattered islands and hills in this area - kind of mysterious.

Hong Kong Island south

On the left is Lamma Island, then top left is Lantau Island. The right bottom is Stanley. A bit up is Ocean Park to Aberdeen.

Jiu Fen, Taipei

Jiu Fen, in the north eastern tip of Taiwan. Jiu means "9", Fen means portion or part. The story behind is that once a time the owner of this place divided the area into 9 parts to his family members. Now this place turned into a place for tea houses and their speciality is yam and taro balls.

Batu Cave, KL, Malaysia

Went to the Batu Cave in Kuala Lumpur in 2004. Look at this long stairway. The temple up in the Batu Cave put some baskets of sands before the stairway, and hoped the visitors can help bring those baskets of sands when they are on the way to the Cave. So my friends and I did bring two baskets of sand. I remember I even walked up all the way without a stop, so as to train my might and main at the same time.

hong kong night view

Took this photo in 2004 from the peak. For most of the tourists, it is a hot spot to view the night view of Hong Kong.

Sok Ku Wan, Lamma Island

Sok Ku Wan, on Lamma Island, is a place for seafood. Besides, the atmosphere is very transquil.

Rodeo Drive, Los Angeles

Rodeo Drive, where most of the up-market boutiques and shops are there.

Los Angeles

The first time when I flew from Honolulu to Los Angeles, it was 8pm. I sat on the window side and saw a spectacular view of a big land of different lights. It looks like a big crystal ball coming from the outer space and crashed into this land. The scattered parts of the crystal ball got spread out in a diameter of 150 miles.

Gallery Hotel, Singapore

When this hotel first came to the market in the mid. 90's, the name boutique or fashion hotel got noted. Look at the cool design of the swimming pool. You will find yourself swimming up in the sky, or you are like fish in the fish tank being watched by other people

Penang Bridge, Malaysia

The first time I went to Penang was in 1990. I was amazed at seeing such a long bridge from the airplane. It links the Penang Island to the Malaysia mainland.

Peranakan Mansion, Penang, Malaysia

This Mansion is worth for a visit if you are into the Chinese culture in the late 19th century to early 20th century. I do see some of the stuff inside this mansion I saw when I was a kid. In fact, Penang preserved quite a lot of old Chinese cultural stuff.

Covent Garden, London

Can't explain why I like this name so much "Covent Garden". Sounds like a place for hiding away. In fact, it's not. It's a very busy place for various things.

London Eye

Haven't been up there. Just passed by. I really enjoyed that day in January for such a blue sunny sky of London, as you often hear about the gloomy weather of London.

Tung Tak noodle snack shop

When my office was still in Yaumatei/Mongkok area, I used to go to this shop for my lunch. Rice noodle, or stir fried noodle with soya bean drink. Sometimes got a sticky rice roll with Chinese doughnut in it.

Gala Shopping mall

Used to go to this shopping mall at my high school time. It was a place for trendy stuff.

Sai Yeung Choi Street

Sai Yeung Choi means water crest. The direct translation is "western" for sai, "foreign" for Yeung and Choi as "vegetable". So I guess it's probably originated from a foreign place. However, don't think you can come here for Sai Yeung Choi. It's not for vegetable. If anyone knows why it's named, let me know. Thanks.

Mongkok, Kowloon

On the left is London Restaurant but you can't go in for an Angus steak! It's for dim sum and Chinese food. Don't know why they came up with such a name. I guess this restaurant has been in Mongkok for more than 40 years.

I went to Mongkok this morning for a breakfast meeting.  Haven't been in Mongkok for a long time after my office moved to Wanchai.  So the King Wah Center is still there on Shan Dong Street in junction with Nathan Rd.  Look at the right pic.  You will see King Wah was once a complex of cake shop, restaurant, roof top garden and a night club!  Look at the windows - no air-conditioners.  Of course, the cool thing is the traffic policeman in the center of this Shan Dong Street and Nathan Road.

再興燒味 Zhoy Hing BBQ pork

My new office is very near to this renowned BBQ pork shop. There is always a long queue in lunch and dinner time. Actually I need to tell you if you want the pork which is less burnt and the taste to be more modern, this is not the one you would want. When I was a kid, I was brought to a local restaurant and given a bowl of rice topped with the honey glazed BBQ pork. The soy sauce is kind of sweet. The pork has certain "bean paste" aroma in it, which is called ”豉味”. So nowadays not many BBQ shop they can make the BBQ pork with this aroma. Just simply pork glazed with honey. Someone may find this pork a bit too burnt. However, this is what I tasted when I was a kid, especially I loved that burnt parts.

My cooking - steamed snapper

Bought this wild catch snapper from Ap Lei Chau market (in the South of Hong Kong Island). Wild catch fish is the best! So it's easy to steam fish. Remember to dry the fish body with a clean towel, and put a slight dash of salt on it. Then put some green onion beneath the fish body so that the steam will go in from the bottom of the fish. Then put some ginger on it. For a fish about 20 oz, it should take about 9-10 minutes. But you should note the fish body temperature and the thickness and judge how long it should take. There is no equation but all depends on your experience. Remember steamed fish should be in high heat. Then when it's almost done, put the green onion on it and cover the lid again for about 10-15 seconds. Then pour some heat oil on it. Finish it with the soy sauce. I use 2 different types of soy sauce. One is the traditional one and the other is the soy sauce for steamed fish. Why I use both because the soy sauce for steamed fish is a bit too sweet and it doesn't taste like soy sauce. For the traditional soy sauce, I find it a bit too salty. So I use both half and half to balance it.

My cooking - Tomato with egg

Since my father didn't have the appetite, I made this one for him to take it more easily. Besides, I made the egg softer (as you can see). First stir fry the egg to 80% done. Then put some ginger slices (about 3-4 slices) in the wok with some oil until you smell the ginger from the wok. Then put the cut tomato with a slight dash of salt. Let it cook for about one minute. Then put some water, tomato sauce, vinegar and sugar to your taste. Then thicken it with cornstarch (not too heavy as the egg will make it thicken a little bit later). Then put the egg and turn off the heat. Stir them together and done!

My cooking - steamed pork with pickled vegetable 炸菜蒸豬肉

I often take photos of dishes done by the others and forget take photos of my own made dishes. So this is my home cooking and my favourite too. It's also the first dish I learned when I was 9. All thru' the years, I still enjoy making it. The key to making it nice is to buy the classic pickled vegetable ("squeezed vegetable" in Chinese and actually it's a root part) from the big clay jar in the grocery. Choose the one with deep red chilli. Don't worry it's not hot and spicy. Then cut it into very thin slices. BTW, it does require certain skill in slicing and what we call "knife skill". If you cut it in thick slices, the aroma of the pickled wouldn't penetrate into the meat. Then soak the slices with water for about 5 minutes. Actually I don't count it. Then slice the pork. After done, drain the water of the pickled. Then put the sliced pork together. Put some sugar, sesame oil, slight soy sauce, little white pepper powder. Then use your hand (yes, of course rinse your hand first) and massage the meat into the pickled. This is the important part as the pickled aroma will get into the meat. Even squeeze the meat with the pickled. Then put some corn starch, massage it a little bit. Then put some oil and massage it to finish. Steam it in medium heat for about 10-12 minutes (depending on the size and your stove power). I usually put it in the rice cooker for steaming as the rice aroma will make the dish even nicer. So the ingredients is up to your preference. Remember not to steam it in high heat as it will make the meat dry out.

See's Nut Chew Bars

OK, a nice gift from USA. Look at the word "awesome". Yes, it's awesome. The packing and the bar inside. The packing is really 50's. It tastes really good - the selected nut, the nougat (though personally I don't like) and the chocolate coating. Not sure if we can find it in the See's candy shop in HK. If you do find it, get one bar to entertain your taste buds...

Hennessy Rd

See how busy Hennessy Rd is, especially at the night time of every Friday night or Saturday afternoon. Look at the buses and they keep on to the far end.

High Cliff

Another intrigue building I often look at it from any angle. It won quite a number of architecture awards. Check www.highcliff.com.hk

Happy Valley

Happy Valley - the horse racing course and which is why (I guess) is called "happy".

upper Happy Valley

Look at how densely built of all these buildings are on the upper Happy Valley.

water skiing, off Repulse Bay

What is good about Repulse Bay is the calm water condition which is good for water skiing and other water sports.

GUAN IM at Repulse Bay

This big Guan Im was built on the Eastern end of Repulse Bay, of course a tourist spot for photos.... I heard Japanese, Thai, Korean, Mandarin, English, French, German around me...

Repulse Bay

I prefer the old Repulse Bay as the sand is more powder. About 15-18 years ago, it was reclaimed with a large area of rough small rocks. Yes I call it as small rocks rather than sand. Don't know why the planner bought such rough quality of small rocks.

villas by the sea

Look at how the houses were built on the rocky area by the sea.... Don't you want one?

3 bros off Repulse Bay

When I first visited Repulse Bay at my high school time, I often thought of 3 little brothers in the sea. Every time when I return, I often get happy to see them still united.

tourist place, repulse bay

OK, I found myself a tourist for taking this photo. This place is a must for all the inbound tour.

a mega mall, repulse bay

This place was bought by Emperor Group and renovated for more than 8-10 years. It is soon to be open in the coming summer. Do you still remember KFC and McDonald's were there?

Beach rd, Repulse Bay

the Starbucks used to be a property agent, and was a Dairy Farm Ice Express station (I think more than 25 years ago). Above it should be Oliver's Deli shop - where I got my morning sandwich for a day of hiking and swimming.

BBQ Canteen

This place used to be a canteen selling various snacks. Now a BBQ canteen - getting commercial.

villas on repulse bay rd

Lots of luxury villas around this corner of the west end of Repulse Bay

Star Ferry

This is the cheapest ferry ride for a breath taking view of Victoria Harbour. From Wanchai to Hung Hom the fare is HK$6 (US$0.85). I often told the foreign visitors to take Star Ferry for once.

Hung Hom

Hung Hom - on the right is Harbour Plaza Hotel. On the left is Whampoa Garden.

North Point

This ship reminded me of my younger time that my father brought my sisters and me to Sai Kung (a far away place on the north east of Kowloon) for swimming.

Behind the boat is North Point. Then back far behind is a very tall building. That's One Island East and my apt. building is just next to that one.

Causeway Bay

It's in between Causeway Bay and Tin Hau. Lots of residential buildings - high and higher and even up on the hill slope.

HKCEC

The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre is said to look like a "flying" turtle. Don't you find it so?

Tsimshatsui East

The ex-Regent (in the middle) Hotel is now Inter-Continental.

TST west

Another sky scrapper is going to be there on the west of Tsimshatsui, Kowloon peninsula. Also noted is the hazy weather covering the Victoria Harbour. Yes, air pollution, especially when we have off shore wind from the Mainland China - lots of factories causing air pollution.

cultural centre

On my ferry ride to Hung Hom from Wanchai, I took a photo of Cultural Centre. Noted the Olympic sign is on the right. Also noted are all those tall buildings behind. When Kai Tak Airport was no longer used, lots of high rise buildings have been built for the past 10 years. This is Hong Kong.

Lee Kgun Man, Hong Kong

When I was a kid, I often watched a TV commercial for this Lee Kung Man (the shop at the left) cotton in-wear. It's still there on Johnston Road in junction with Hennessy Road. BTW, the book shop next to it is another nostalgic re-visit.

Pawn shop as restaurant, Wanchai

Finally dropped by this old pawn shop and it's renovated as a restaurant. The event promoter did a very good job. They had a light beaming from the other side of the road that it's hardly noticed.