Havn’t been spending the CNY in HKG for a long long time, this year, because of the last minute standby duty call from the office, I am managed to have one…..

Arriving HKG around 1900 on the CNY eve, after checking into the hotel, had a quick dinner with a couple of my fellow crew members at the food court of City Gate Tung Chung.

 CNY decoration at the Novotel CityGate, and my Korean dinner set….

It’s cold and raining I didn’t go out, but stayed inthe room watching those TV CNY variety show just like when I was a kid. On the first day of CNY, non-stop Whatsapping with friends in the morning, then heading out to meet up with my cousins and went to visit my Auntie at noon, didn’t have any breakie or lunch, cos I knew that I would be served with of the CNY goodies……

 all those nibbles and the gadget which helped me ate a lots of those melon seeds…

 all those goodies, sweeten coconut flavour rice cake, water chestnut cake and turnip cake…..

Dinner with friends at a popular local Chinese BBQ shop Tai Hing, nowadays lots of shops open for business just to entertain the tourists from the Mainland….Years before, nearly 95% of the restaurants and shops would have closed for business from 4- 8 days….

my BBQ goose and pork on Rice…..

On the 2nd day of CNY since I needed to fly back to Vancouver in the afternoon I treated my self a big Buffet breakfast at the Hotel’s cafe as my Open Year meal….

 

Once I was back to Vancouver, did some banking stuff and prepared myself to get on the flight at night to HKG, arriving HKG on the early morning of the 4th day of CNY, it was such a chilling day with only 8C, I was shivering right after my shower at my friends’ home and had to turn on the Fan type heater which I found it’s quite useless…..

The Sun….I haven’t seen for a few weeks!

At night a gathering with some old school mates and had a very nice meal at 名門私房菜

want to try this Duck feet…..?

The Deep Fried Lotus root is a must try, 2 big piece of Lotus Roots stuffed with minced pork, crispy on the outside and moist and soft in the inside…..

 

On the 5th day I flew down to Penang via Kuala Lumpur on MH Malaysian Airlines.for a very short eating trip…..

again my last experience with MH was in 1991……and I was upgraded to Biz class, so cannot really compare with this trip…

the travel agent got me a nice leg room seat though!

oh there were crew Duty Travel on my flight! and sitting in Economy Class only,  today there was 0 in their Business class, I just feel that the Biggest airlines in Hong Kong does really spoil their staff, cos they will be sitting in Biz whenever the seats are available…..

 

quite a colourful cabin and they do have the broadcast entertainment.

 

I still prefer my own Angels accompany me….as usual after the drinks and nuts, here come they Breakfast…

 

Transiting at the KUL airport to Penang,  this B737-800 with new interior and AVOD TV, but the flying time on this flight is only 35 minutes…..

 

 and sneak view of their domestic Biz class

 cool they still using Silverware in this cabin……. and even for this ultra short flight, drinks and nuts being served!

 Lobby of the G hotel with welcome ice-cream!

 Early dinner at 5pm…Nasi Kandar, South Indian style mix rice…..

 

Roti accompany with the dishes..

 

 After the early dinner driving around the city, and haha you can still find this within some area………..

 At the new developing area, this is called the Straits Quay with a modern shopping mall, and high-end condos and housing area

 

 later in the evening met up with a local friend and had something light at this delicious

 a pesto pasta for my friend, and I have the green salad

 the most delicious are their cakes

Sticky Date pudding , Berrilicious Chocolate Pavlova,Peach Frangipane

 6th day of the CNY….went to for a 1 1/2 hours swimiing before heading out for breakfast……

Bfast 1 Hokkien Mee(prawn noodle) and 

 Wonton Mee

 

Bfast 2 Soft broil egg n charcoal grill toast wz teh Tarik

 

 this is the stove making the toast!

 Lunch…… see how busy they are serving drinks….. and Taro cake

Penang Char Kuey Teow

 afternoon snack……I usually don’t like the KFC in North America, however whenever I’m in South east asia I will have one

 A Chinese Dinner…..for the CNY the Malaysian/Singaporen Chinese love to have this dish Yusheng a prosperity Toss, since it is the first dish of the dinner over the CNY everyone on the table will use their fresh clean chopstick to toss and mixed the ingredients then eat….for a good year!

 

Other dishes though taste good, really cannot compare to the Hong Kong ones….

 Tofu with dried scallop sauce, steamed Cod fish

Fried  onion and Chicken

 after a full dinner, a cool drink under a warm night would be great!

Winter warmers, hahah having the iced fruit tea with this cute champagne glass

 

 Back to Hong Kong for one night and headed back to Vancouver, before getting on the flight stopped by the newly renovated Business class lounge The Wing

The main dinning area

 

 the lounging area, now come with extra food as well…..

 last but not least , I just love the new item onthe Biz Class menu, the Bircher Museli

Quite a long one, if there are any typo error, I will update it later…….

 

 

It’s hardly been two months…..I have already heard of soo many Sad news….either my own friends, someone who I don’t know in person,  or celebrities…

Last night the captain of my flight from Hong Kong told us that he was being called out to operate the flight because of the original one was sick.  11 hours later after we arrived Vancouver, and being told that he passed away in the hotel room even before we took off…..Captain Mike, though we don’t really know each other that well, I will remember all those Ups and Downs over the numerous flights we flew together!

May you Rest In Peace…….

Browsing the internet and found this blog  talking about the food on different classes of the CX888 flight  which is soo familiar to me ……I just post the pics regarding the first class(if you are smart enough you know the reason behind), the rest you can go to the blog directly and read however it’s in Chinese…..enjoy….. Bosco’s Food Blog

 

 

 

 

 

it’s such a popular show around the world, and  there are more and more younger or I shd say kid contestants…?

this round, Australia, an 11 years old boy….

 

What good is sitting alone in your room, come hear the music plays, Life is a Cabaret old chum, Come to the Cabaret!

13FEB2012 marks the 40th anniversary of Cabaret the movie……

 

Oh dear another famous one from my time  just left us on Saturday afternoon….

Whitney may you RIP, and free from all those Drugs and Alcohol……

 

 

The Winter of 2011 was so cold that I couln’t bear it, specially deep in my heart!  I  had a very tensed and tiring Christmas, in between my flying schedules, I went to the Hospital to visit my friend who was in the Intensive Care Unit whenever I was in Vancouver.

Since the first day he was there, he was kind of in a coma, I didn’t think he could have noticed that I was there seeing him stil,  I hope he could feel my spiritual supports,  the night before Christmas, his situation was so bad that, I rushed to the hospital right after I stepped out of the aircraft once I received the phone call from his sister. Luckily he could make it, and he turned slightly better,  the following 2 weeks, he regained his conciousness though he could not talk, he could response to us.

2012 silently came, maybe I was too tired, I felt sick after I flew back from New York, and didn’t go to see him cos I didn’t want to spread the virus to him or other patients within the ICU. I gave his sister a call on the 2nd night once I felt a bit better, and been told that his situation had gone bad again. How depressing, he was doing ok just 3 days ago. I went to see him the next day morning, but only had a chance to see him once after a 5 hours waiting, he was sleeping after the nurse gave him morphine injection. No choice, I had to come back the next day. 

Though I needed to fly to Hong Kong at night,  I went to see him during the day, didn’t drive cos the weather forecast there would be Snow, and I’m not a good dirver. I took the subway instead, just I was about to reach downtown, a phone call from other friends who were already at the hospital, asking me to be there as soon as possible.

Once I got there, I noticed that the nurse was removing all the equipments which were used to treat him over the past one and a half month and transferring him to a single room  which all of his friends could visit him privately.   I felt strange that when there were over 15 people gathered in the room and waiting………we all knew that he would leave that night, but frankly it’s really hard for me to see him go, I finally decided to leave and bid my  farewell to him, I was bursted into tears while talking to him,  the sad news came while I was on the public transport, I just couln’t stop the tears…..and I looked at my watch, his birthday was only within 3 days…….

I kept on going for flight, and the weather forecast was really accurate, the Snow finally came and it was the first snow storm of Vancouver this winter. Once the aircraft took off, it flew into the air, with the wind and snow, the turbulance was strong, it’s like he was crying heavily as well……While working,  it could cover my sorrow, once I was resting at the crew bunk, tears just came out…….the  layover in Hong Kong was the saddness one meeting up with our mutual friends and talking about our past was just like putting a needl into our hearts.

His funeral was only 3 days after I returned back to Vancouver and 2 days ahead of the Chinese New Year. The night before there was the 2nd Snow storm warning in Vancouver, during the funeral, I made a speech, lots of memories during that tiny 3 minutes……

Time had come, I finally had to walk his coffin with other friends and accompained to the crematoruim, Snow had gone, and turned into heavy rain just like my tears…

Lewis, we knew each other in 1986, we started out just like others eating, drinking, clubbings, talking non-sense friends, but we eventually grew together,  you became my best friend, sharing our laughters, our problems,  God knows that 2 years after you moved to Vancouver, Fate also brought me there as well! I thank you for all your supports all these years specailly my early days in Vancouver after I was being dumped, without you I might not be able to face the challenge sensibly. I know leaving us at the age of 49 is a bit too early, however as a kind person like you, God has treated you well by not further suffer in this World.

Rest In Peace my dearest friend…

 

 

 Last month other than my 2 weeks holiday trip, I did have a few nice meals in Hong Kong…..

A Chinese Dinner at the Chung’s Cuisine at Time Square CWB

 Appetizer Roasted Goose with Mango Sauce, compare with the traditional Plum sauce, it gives you

a refreshing touch

Soup: you can guess it’s still my favourite, but becoming unwelcome World Wide!

Braised Abalone with e-fu noodle, Stir-fried King Scallop with special mushroom(紅牛菌)

 

 Deep Fried fish fillet with  white wine creme sauce sounds like a western dish!! Mixed veggie

Dessert: Sweet Hasma, Jujubes, soup 棗皇羊肚菌雪蛤茶

last but not least  a cake from …..Airport Regal Hotel cake shop!

 

 

A French dinner at Chez Les Copains, a kind of Private kitchen by a female Cordon Bleu Chef

Bonnie So at Sai Kung on a Sat night.

Clams and Mussels

 

 the Chef’s cook books, Goose liver Pate

 Stuffed Poulet de Bresse 

 French Sausages and Duck Confit

Angel Hair with Fish Roe, Risotto with fresh White Truffle

 Dessert: Meringue, and a Dark Chocolate Gateau 

A Sunday Brunch Buffet at my Favourite Place, 8/F of the Conrad Hotel Hong Kong

The Brunch Buffet is co organized by the 2 Restaurants on the 8/F

The Nicholini’s  Italian Restaurant  and the Brasserie on the Eighth  French Restaurant

While I usually visit the first one when I was living in Hong Kong.

Today  brunch with free flow of Louis Roederer Brut Premier champagne

 

 one thing that has never changed……..so much food, so much time, but only one stomach!

 

 

 Baked Salmon, Roast Beef, Lamb, and Ham all in one plate!

 oh gosh, I just had the goose liver pate the night before, and now I’m having pan fired Foie Gras

 order to make pasta, and some Indian Curry

 Since I didn’t find a Chicken dish from the buffet tables,I order one from the Entree menu….

 assorted desserts…

 To end such a delicious meal with a bowl of mixed berries accompanied by

a scoop of Vanilla Ice-cream and strawberry sauce….

 

 Hi there…how is everyone doing? Last Nov I had my final 2 weeks annual leave of 2011 and went to visit relatives in #Sydney, #Australia, and friends in #Singapore..

I first flew all the way from Vancouver to Sydney via Hong Kong for a quick 3 days meet up with cousins, I remember last time I was here 20 years ago, the official people treated people like me, single Asian traveler unfriendly, however on this trip they are very friendly, the culture has been changed or my Canadian Passport makes the difference…?

Since my  older cousins are retired and not living near to the City, I decided to meet them up at the suburban area..my very first time to travel on the train system in Sydney

 

 There are lots of Pelicans at a place called The Entrance Park!

Dinner at a local club house The Range, having my Australian Steak and oh well an Aussie version of Buffalo Wings

 

Another younger relatives accompany me going around Sydney  before I heading back to Hong Kong at night.

Sydney Harbour front with the Sydney Opera house

 

 

A place called the Gap around Watsons Bay  doesn’t the landscape looks like some places in Bali, Indonesia?

 s smoggy Sydney skyline  and the Bondi beach without the Sun…….

 

after a one night layover in Hong Kong, heading to Singapore as the 2nd of my trip…

Before going to the flight had my breakfast at the  Plaza  Premium Traveler’s Lounge at the HK International Airport

 

 

 My annual SQ experience……well, the Haagen Dazs Ice- cream is gone……..how sad, however the service from the crew and other offering was as good as usual, and a snap shot of their regional Business Class seat on my way out, actually the earlier generation of the long-haul angled flat bed seat…..

 Staying at the Studio M Hotel which offers loft type room

 

 

Dinner at the Eat Coast Lagoon Food Village

Chicken Riace and the Singapore Rojak

 

Chilli Squid and the Laksa

 

Going to the Haw Par Villa is free of charge nowadays…..I just like visiting the 18 Levels of Hell…….

light lunch

Ipoh chix chop curry Hor Fun and Sin style Fish ball fish cake Lo mein

 

 this is made in Malaysia!

 kuih(cake) lapis, kuih bengka and ang koo kuih,

and a Home made dinner at a friend’s place…Kari ikan pari (Curry Stingray)

 

 Dahl(malaysian mixed veggie), Ayam masak kicap manis(Malay Chix with Soy Sauce)

 Sambal kachang botol( Veggie with sambal)

 At the Sky Deck of the Sand’s Casino and Resort at the Marina Bay

Lunch:

Nonya food: Pie tee, Mee Siam

 

 Babi pong teh(Pork ) and Sarawak kolo mien

 Fried carrot cake

 

 my favourite breakfast items as an afternoon tea!!

 Dinner……finally something nor South east asian……

at the Marche, a Swiss Market style Restaurant, though they do have a branch at the Peak in Hong Kong

this is the very first time I try them…..

Swiss Rosti with Chix cheese sausage, Crepe with chix and veggie

 Grilled Lamb Chop and the Roasted Pig knuckle

 Movenpic Ice-cream

 terminal hopping at Changi Airport

 having my last Singapore taste on this trip!

chix Rice, Laksa and Prawn noodle

 

 

The very first commercial flight of the new B787  by All Nippon Airways  on 26OCT2011 fom Tokyo (NRT) to Hong Kong, spending one night at the HK International Airport the plane is scheduled to return back to Tokyo on 27OCT..(pics courtesy of JL from HK)

The arrival of the flight NH7871/26OCT

 

Before leaving Hong Kong