Skip to main content

8 hours to kill in Hong Kong

Described as the fragrant harbor meaning Hong Kong this bustling region in south China was our layover as we headed to Japan for spring break.

Having visited at some leisure few years back we were hoping to visit some fondly remembered eateries but this time around we were early.   As in too early.   This is what happens when you connect through another airport and there is no control on the itinerary.

We landed around 5 am.  But by the time we cleared customs and immigration the airport express train service had begun and so we went to check out our options to see if we could visit the gambling destination of Macau.   An island with an economy much like Vegas,  an hour's ferry ride from HK was going to be a tight timetable so we instead chose to loiter on HK island and were able to take in lot of sights and sounds and flavors - some different than the last visit.  A cacophony of people, vehicles and vendors plying everything from baked goods to fancy jewelry it is a city that winds up and down and is a mish mash of crooked and crowded streets that sell street food from all continents but suddenly open into large glitzy shopping neighborhoods at the next bend on an escalator.   Yes, some neighborhoods actually have outdoor escalators to move people up the hill with a roof overhead to shelter them from the frequent rain squalls.
We enjoyed some desi chai equivalent (at Tsui Wah - yes chai bilkul wah wah thee) with toasted bun and condensed milk for breakfast  (which was early dinner time in CA) and later strolled the harbor which was heavily foggy.

Barely could make out Kowloon island a mile across the strait.

Grabbed few noodles and Japanese curried rice before boarding next flight to Nagoya.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Of chocolates

I like chocolates. Godiva Dark with Almonds - not sure of the naked woman on the horse to be the icon of some choice cocoa based products but tastes good. Started in Belgium but now owned by some Turks. Cadburys - Fruit and Nut Milk Bars - awesome combination of dried fruit pieces along with a medley of nuts makes your toungue dance - started by a Brit now owen by Kraft USA. Lindt Hazelnut spheres - made by a Swiss confectioner are divine balls that melt in your mouth with a lingering nutty taste Ghirardelli Milk Crisp Squares - crunchy and light these milk squares are easy on the palate but pack some serious calories - all good I say! Originally founded by an Italian who moved around till he landed in SF Bay today also owned by the Swiss Lindt empire.

Columbia SC

 The Palmetto state.  One of the confederate kinds. History dating couple centuries back.  We visited the capital yet again this time to take in the SC State Museum. Occupying the former digs (literally remodeled) of an erstwhile cotton mill this structure is an amazing piece of reimagination.  Four floors of excitement for kids and young at heart alike. Located on the shores of the Congaree River formed when the Broad meets up with the Saluda River, this edifice is approx. 60 years old.  The front of the building has a more modern planetarium that was added about a decade ago.  The museum itself has different areas of interest segregated on each of its four floors. The first floor has gift shop and a diorama of some of the local geography including the swamps and the state beaches with audio guides to help understand what fauna thrives locally. The second floor is all about natural history and showcases animal kingdom that may have survived on this latitud...

Cost of entrepreneurship

Last night I attended a guest lecture on the subject of disruptive technology and entrepreneurship.  Lecture was free but it was used as a pitch by the University that hosted it to attract new customers. The speaker was somewhat respectable fellow who happened to hail from India and spoke eloquently.   One of the key message was around how the professors in this university were ranked among the very best money can buy. Cost of the MBA program mere $110,000 and oh we also buy some dinner if you have late class.  So now the math is simple-  is learning to be entrepreneurial worth the cost of entry? That is assuming you end up being one.   What of those that do not?  or the ones that are not successful at being the entrepreneur?  Is that being a pessimist before even being handed the glass. What I found strange is that people will bet big money on the glimmer of hope that they might just make a entrepreneurial debut and hit it big.  The unive...