Saturday, November 26, 2011

Well off the tourist path

Trying to not look like a tourist in Hong Kong is difficult and not just because I carry a camera around. For all those times when I felt short in Australia, I feel like a giant over here. I've been eating quite well, but tonight I decided to venture well away from the tourist areas to try a place a Sydney chef recommended.

I spent the morning at Mui Wo walking around the Po Lin Monestary and climbing up to the giant Buddha. That was certainly touristy, but something you have to do. In the afternoon, I took the ferry across the harbour to Kowloon and Mong Kok.

This city was more of what I think of when I thought of Asia. Packed, neon signs everywhere, hawker markets, stall selling crap everywhere, and electronics galore. I was getting pretty hungry do I headed towards the restaurant. After a good 30 minute walk east of Mong Kok I finally hit Kowloon City. And I didn't see a single other tourist on that walk. After a bit of searching, I found the restaurant, Chong Fat Chiu Chow.



The restaurant had no menu and the owner spoke only a bit of English. But that was more than my understanding of Mandarin or Cantonese. I can only guess this was the "menu."



After talking to the owner (my guess) I ended up going with goose, prawn and fried rice. Having no idea how they'd be cooked, I just went with it. The goose came out first with a vinegar dipping sauce. I could eat this every single day, without a doubt.



Small slices of rich goose, the small layer of fat and skin with just a bit of cooking juices and soy sauce.

Next came out the prawns and fried rice. These huge prawns were wok charred with an addictive sauce.



It was a bit difficult working the shells off with a chop stick, but well worth it. I also think its the first time I ate the head of a shrimp. Not sure if I was supposed to, but it was crunchy ad rich.



I could have had a few more dishes, but the place was filling up and I didn't want to take the table up much longer. Walking around the neighborhood, there were all sorts of food stalls and butchers, seafood and fresh veggies.

I wrapped up the night watching the nightly laser show of the skyline. This could be one of the coolest skylines I've seen. It goes on for miles and all the sky scrapers have lights on them that they choreograph to music.



Location:Hong Kong

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