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Published: March 31st 2012
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Well it was my 3rd day in HK and I am getting more and more used to the pace and buzz of the place. Again, I was up early and being a Saturday morning there was even less people on the streets at 8am. I thought I would take advantage and get to Tim Ho Wan at 9am again and beat the crowds and within 10 minutes of opening the place was packed. I tried a few more dishes and was happy with each of them and seriously it is a good change from eating re-heated frozen dim sum which quite prevalent nowadays. Didn't have much on the agenda today so basically just relaxed after breakfast, giving the rest of HK a chance to wake up. The weather actually was quite cool this morning and the humidity was more reasonable today. Did a bit of window shopping today and didn't really buy much and I have to say prices were not as cheap as I expected even with the good exchange rate. The really cheap stuff you would not buy while the normal stuff was comparable to home so there was no real point buying too much.
In the afternoon
as the weather cleared (a little bit), I ventured out to the Star Ferry Pier and got on the ferry across Victoria Harbour to Kowloon. For the bargain price of $3 AUD you get a short trip across one of the best city harbours in the world. The boats are old but that is part of the charm, the pier itself is very functional and people are efficiently herded on and off the boats and within minutes we're under way chugging across Victoria Harbour. Although there are road links above and below the harbour as well as the MTR subway, this original mode of crossing is probably the most enjoyable. The time starved locals probably think the ferry takes too long but as a tourist it is most definitely the best mode to cross the harbour. You get excellent views of both HK Island and Kowloon but it also is very peaceful and a temporary time out from the hectic pace of the streets of HK.
As I would be staying in Kowloon next week I didn't want to venture around too much so just did a walk around the Ferry Pier area which included the old train station
clock tower the promenade around the harbour which links to the Avenue of the Stars. This is HK's version of the stars on Hollywood Blvd albeit a smaller version, but where it wins hands down, is the view across Victoria Harbour to HK island. There was an outdoor concert with a (probably famous) local singer belting out tunes in both Chinese and English. She was actually quite decent and I stayed around enjoying the free show despite the blustery conditions. Before heading back to HK Island, I scoped out my hotel for next week which was only a stone throw's from the ferry pier.
Back on HK Island, I went looking for a local congee joint as I needed a warm filling meal after the cool day exploring both sides of Victoria Harbour. Not far from my hotel on Stanley Street was a little strip of roadside eateries. One of the joints was a dedicated congee shop and they also made their own fried dough sticks. As it was mid afternoon, the place was relatively empty but having walked past there a few times so far during my stay, there is actually a queue in the morning
and at lunch time. I ordered a bowl of fresh fish congee which was a whole $2 AUD ! It is a decent sized bowl and was exceptional delicious, the rice and soup cooked to perfection. This has got to be one of the best and cheapest comfort foods you can get and on a cool day like today it really hit the spot. Sometimes the simple things really complete an experience and this just topped off a relaxed day full of local sights.
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