HOPE

When Cindy called me "你来香港看看Tammy，不要有遗憾！" I wanted to fly to Hong Kong right away but there was a meeting to organise at work and the client kept changing the meeting dates.  Still, I managed to spend three days in Hong Kong (Dec 11 - 13).  Cindy treated me like a queen.  She made sure there was a car to me at the airport when I arrived.  We ate wanton noodles, strolled around in Wanchai, had afternoon tea in 金凤茶餐厅.  But the real order of the day was to get a cake for our dear friend, Tammy, who is currently in hospital.

Tammy and I shared much great times and good food together.  So it's very hard for me to accept that she is dying.  The name of the cake is "Hope".

The next day, the 12th of December, was Tammy's birthday.  Cindy and I went to visit Tammy in the hospital.  I think she was delighted to see me.  We both sense that this could be my last meeting with her but I think deep in my heart I just couldn't believe it is happening.  Cindy said most visitors brought Tammy's favourite food.  I realise now that it might seemed cold but I brought a plush toy, and a set of ceramic measuring cups for baking.  I guess I what I really want her to do is to get well, get up and get out!

I hope that we'll be baking and travelling together again very soon.  

Update 25/12/2019.  Tammy passed away on Christmas morning.

到香港公干

四月十八日到香港出差几天，其实最放心不下得是家中的长辈。还好有Naw在家。Naw是我们请来的帮佣，已住进我们家5个月，母亲也逐渐把厨房里的大小事务交给她。今天午餐一桌菜都是Naw煮的。回国后在家好好与家人吃一顿饭，也是种简单的的幸福。

在香港W酒店做conference，一切都非常顺利。酒店的员工都很专业。多年来在新加坡、曼谷、河内、巴厘岛都host过conference, 我对曼谷的Mandarin Oriental服务的评价是最高的。目前觉得W Hong Kong可以媲美。

在conference的前一天抵达香港，中午checkin 后便一直呆在房间里工作到下午三点多，忽然觉得好饿！酒店楼下是圆方(Elements Mall), 便下去”正斗“吃了碗云吞面。我点的云吞面是小份的：半个面＋4颗云吞。那样的话，还可以尝尝蛋挞仔。大份的云吞面则是整个面＋6颗云吞。

明晚的晚饭定在丽思卡尔頓酒店(Ritz Carlton Hong Kong)102楼的天龙轩(Tin Long Heen)，所以务必先探索一下。金碧辉煌的米其林二星餐厅。 我们定了三间private room。 Minimum spending 是HKD30,000。

空前绝后的view。

然后回到W继续苦干。从房间内可以欣赏夕阳。

晚餐也在圆方里解决了。独自享受了一整只“桃花源”(Tim's Kitchen)的烧鹅脾，够奢侈吧？

开会咯！我为同事们安排了好多好吃的。

Conference的最后一天，眼看还有一小时便要结束了，心想这几天都过得还蛮写意的 （暗地里偷笑）。不料我们的Global CEO这时才给我发了个难题：要我在会议结束以前弄来24只招财猫！

我临危不乱，使命必达（握拳）

一切都归功于W 的Concierge。年轻的职员为我上網查询，写了地址，还打印了地图。我迅速地搭德士前往，然后又迅速地把猫儿们带回会议室。All done in under an hour.

会议结束了，告别甲级的W，搬进油麻地的Cityview Hotel。缺了WIFI, 多了点私人空间。好好享受下午茶：花园街兰亭咖啡阁新鮮出炉鸡批 and 无敌蛋挞。

因为时间的关系，都没跟在香港的朋友联系。抱歉呐！下次一定约你们出来吃饭。

自己吃早餐。点得太多，差点儿吃不完。

HONG KONG: GOOD TIMES

Some people say that the true test of friendship is the time your friends spend on you.  It means, then, that I have true friends in Hong Kong for during my recent visit they kept me very busy indeed.  Knowing my love for good food, they rallied around, entertained me and took me out for some of the best suckling pig, 奶油猪仔包，菠萝包，蛋挞，鸡派，奶茶, 清汤牛腩面 in town.  They showered me with gifts of homemade cake, crispy egg rolls, cookies, Chinese sausages and salted fish.  They skipped work on Monday just so they can accompany me for 早茶。

Dinner with Ally, Cindy, Pearl & Tammy

<新斗記> 铜锣湾店

新斗記佐敦店曾获得2012年米芝莲一星的美誉

这道招牌的「火山石乳豬」被視为必叫之菜

Lunch with Sally Yim

北角 <凤城酒家>
 渣华道62～68号 ｜62 – 68 Jaffe Road
+852 2578 4898

旧茶楼feel   有不少街坊fans

主角出場: 灌湯餃

Tea time with Sally

湾仔<金凤茶餐厅>

湾仔春园街41号

历史悠久的传統港式茶餐厅

蛋挞，鸡批，奶茶

湾仔<檀島咖啡餅店>

蛋挞

***

A friend once commented that I’m 长情.  Can it be a way of telling me that I can't let go of the past?  As I get older I find myself more in awe of historical architectures around the city than spanking new malls.

***

The electric trams are still running!  Though I do feel a sense of forlorn knowing that the old ding-dings are being replaced by modern new ones.

***

Traditional local diners (茶餐厅) are part of Hong Kong's charm and character.  Sadly, soaring rents have forced several tiny boutiques and local diners to shutdown completely.  Over the past years, small shops in Causeway Bay, especially those in Russell Street, Lockhart Road and Jaffe Road have been gradually replaced by chain stores operated by international companies.  A November 2012 report by global real estate adviser Cushman & Wakefield indicated that the average rent in Causeway Bay is now higher than New York’s Fifth Avenue and Paris’s Avenue des Champs-Elysees!

<德兴隆>

店面格局怀旧 沒有冷气设备

无敌豆腐花

 

<龍鳳冰室>
湾仔春園街16號

怀旧装潢冰室   

TVB actor 林子善所投资的茶餐厅   林子善在电视剧<怒火街頭2>里饰演米佐治

***

I've always had a penchant for street markets ( 街市).  I especially enjoy the hustle and bustle during the early mornings when hawkers open their stalls.  The narrow alleys comes alive.  So much action!  A man, with a dog on leash, haggles with a butcher, an old lady yelps in surprise as a fish leaps out of its tank and lands on the floor, colourful fruits and vegetables are stacked neatly side by side.  The dim sum trolley is loaded with steaming baskets of goodies.  Next to where I'm standing the baker slides open her shop door and the scent of freshly baked bread immediately fills the air.  I take it all in, the sights, sounds and smells.  It's like watching a movie.  There comes a day when all these that I treasure will disappear into new and modern constructions in the name of redevelopment and progress.  Will it be for the better?  I need to believe that it will be so.

After dinner on a Saturday evening Tammy, Cindy, Pearl, Ally and I hung out in my hotel room with a constellation of conversations at our feet.  At one point, the inevitable question was raised. "How many years have we been friends?" Some mental calculations followed. “23,” came the shocking revelation.  A reminder that old architectures may collapse and street markets may become outdated, there remains our friendship. Strong, steadfast, forever.