Last Friday night, after a very ordinary Shanghainese dinner at the Xia Mian Guan inside the #Elements Shopping Mall, interesting this one is under a different management from other Xia’s outlets throughout Hong Kong……….. anyway because of the disappointed meal, I wanted to have some desserts, walking around the mall, I eventually went up to the Podium level and took a Picture of Hong Kong at night.  and made a right turn to the Ritz Carlton Hotel HK, and if you happen to have read my previous entry about this hotel you might have thought that I will never go back. Well since I was dressed in a  quite a casual attire, I just had my dessert at the Pastry Gems which is located at the main entrance level….

 

 

a Green Tea Cake, very strong green tea taste with a kind of berries jelly filling in the centre..

Apricot Jivara  – Apricot Chocolate Mousse accompanied with a tube of Apricot Gel, and god I love that so much..

 

Pot de Creme – a Coffee/Dark Chocolate Mousse with gold flakes….

While my friend having a cafe latte, I had my apple flavour tea……

 

 

 

MY last trip to #Seoul #Korea was a last minute plan, I decided to go for the trip only one week before the departure day, thanks to the travel agent, who managed to get us the air ticket  on #KoreanAir and hotel room , over the Golden week holiday of China when a lot of wealthy Chinese going oversea holiday trip!

This was my very first time to fly on Korean Air (KE) which I have heard of many negative comments from my friends mostly living in Vancouver cos KE is one of the cheaper options to fly back to Hong Kong

Flying on the Red-eye flight means that we can arrive Seoul very early in the morning save one night hotel accommodation..

The KE’s A380 at HKG airport

quite a nice seat with a very generous let room!

 

the IFE screen is the same size of the SQ one, and the view cam from the tail …

on this slightly over 3 hours flight, we were offered with pre-meal drinks

and trying the Bibimbap as an inflgiht meal, the Korean chilli sauce which also can be purchased in-flight!!

A better look of the Big Whale after arrival.

Was in #Seoul #Korea about 2 weeks ago.  During these 3 days short trip, Eating and shopping were the main purposes I guess. And having a big full lunch at a local family style restaurant  around the area of the Gahoe Bukchon Hanok village was my favourite on this trip. And it’s only KWR 34,000 for Two, about HKD 300…

 

one of the  BanChan (small dish) and this one is kind of a Garlic Pickles

 The rest of the  BanChan including the popular Kimchi dishes total of 12 dishes

Broiled Octopus, and the  Sliced Pork warp with veggie

 

 Assorted Korean style Tempura, Steamed Egg

 Mini Oyster and Tofu Jjigae(soup) and the Braised Ribs of Beef

 

 last but not least, Korean Grapes

Hi there….it’s been sometimes since my last entry, why? because it’s Summer, too many things happenings, includes spending my time with the new Google +, and the new layout of Facebook, and also have to spend time under the Sun…….wakakakakaka

 

Anyway, browsing my Pictures taken over the summer, I’ve found a couple of interesting places which worth talking about…….

Let’s start it out with this one in Hong Kong

one Sunday afternoon went to this  place called Slim Taste at 11 Stanley Street , Central, Hong Kong, a place which sells paper made stuff but also has a simple menu for lunch and dinner, using  more healthy starch ingredient 紫米, kind of the Asian Rye Rice (oryza sativa L)

Everything you can see, except the paper made furniture( though you can place your own order) are sale items….

 

 

Now back to the food, I had the Rye Rice noodle with Pork Chop and a bowl of hot and sour soup,豬柳紫米麵套餐送酸棘湯

while others were having Stir-fried Rye Rice with shredded pork with vegetable 炒紫米肉絲雜菜

and another rye rice noodle with Beef, and a closer look of thoses Rye Rice noodle..

Quite a different  from the  noodle soup we usually have, because there was no MSG used in the soup base, and frankly the rye rice noodle doesn’t really has any special flavour in it, at less than HKD100/set, with all these paper made stuff, it’s an interesting experience indeed….

hahaha…me cooking…? yes I know how to cook but just once in a blue moon. And this time I was helping a friend in Vancouver preparing 3 dishes, the first one

 

Taiwanese Fried Chicken with Basil leaves (鹽酥雞 ) Stir fried Angus Beef Chunks

Pork Chop with Mayonnaise sauce

 

Late Brunch at the #IHOP

This was the 3rd time I had visited IHOP over my 15 years in Canada….verdict : it’s still a cheaper option for breakfast, however the portion did getting smaller, and frankly I guess I could make better scramble  egg in flight than them…….

Had a very American dinner at the #RubyTuesday in Hong Kong

New location at the Silver Cord Centre at Canton Road..by the time we made our reservation, at the entrance and after we were seated, we had been told that we had about 1 1/2 hours for our dinner and had return the table by then, however at the end we stayed there for 3 hours….reason, one of our friends was late by an hour due to traffic, therefore we placed  the entree orders after he arrived and we kept on ordering drinks and dessert at the end…..

Ruby Refresher…looks so different with the pic on the menu, one helping of all you can have Salad bar….

Ribs Platter : Ribs/Fried Shrimp and Chicken Tender, Parmesan Chicken Penne Pasta

Side dish Baked Potatoe , and Platter 2: Ribs/Chicken wins in Teriyaki Sauce

 

Side dish 2: mashed potatoe, last but not least Ice-cream sundaes….good for 4 people….

 

My collector’s Barbie has finally arrived…..I ordered 2 of them and luckily Mattel sent them out last Friday which was a few days after thet Canada Post finished their strike and back to work…

This is actually my 2nd Farrah Fawcett doll figure after 33 years …….

and Thank god no additional tax or duty……….

 

They did try hard, but still difficult to have the famous Hairdo on a doll figure

Been to the Tsui Wah cafe too many times, in response to my request, one of my friends in Hong Kong brought me to a ‘Cha Chan Tang’ i CWB which was very near to his office….it’s called Glee Cafe (樂心冰室).

Overall the price on the menu is generally cheaper than Tsui Wah by HKD 2-3 dollars, choices  are fewer than what Tsui Wah offers, for breakfast, lunch and tea however is good enough though. The food quality is quite general, except I have found my new favourite snack item here Pineapple Bun with egg and ham, an interesting experience with the sweet taste of the bun and the savoury filling..as the young HK usualy say ‘Ho Duck”  好得(a way of saying good!)

Back in Vancouver had a simple Greek dinner with friends at Mad Greek and eventually 3 of us ordered the same Roasted Lamb Dish which the meat was juicy, tender and full of flavour and most important very filing…..

the Dip trio, homous, tzatziki and tarama and the roasted Lamb

Another dinner in HK Time Square SML(Small, Medium, Large) serving American(New Orlean as they say) dishes at a casual atmosphere, price range depends on the size/portion you order, small, medium or large….since only 2 of us we had everything in medium

my Summer Cooler in the front a mix fruit drink and an OJ at the back, Caesar salad

 

Crostini/Anchovy Mayonnaise, Black Truffle Prawn Toast while the anchovy mayonnaise was really salty even with the crostini, and the grounded prawn meat was used and the taste of the black truffle was at minimum.

 

Sita’s nepalese chix curry coconut milk, red chilli and coriander, not sure if this is an New Orleans cuisine but I really like it as it goes well with the plain rice..and the dessert   creme brulee with vanilla shortbread

 

Tried out a new fine dining at the Whispsers Bar & Fin Dining in Central HK

I tried out the set dinner( plus the soup from the a la carte) while my girl friend had the a la carte menu, food were nicely done and presented, since it’s just open for business for a few months even on a Friday night, there were only 3 tables of 2 people each in the dining room the whole night, hope the bar/lounge can help out with the business…..

 

cured salmon with chopped Scallop, cucumber and Yuzu dressing, Beef consume with quail egg and fish roe(a la carte)

 

Lobster bisque (a la carte)

Linguine wz duck confit n foie gras,  Grilled beef cheeks

 

Slow cooked Salmon(a la carte), Pineapple cake wz orange sorbet

Apple flan wz caramel ice cream(a la carte)

 On my flight going back to Vancouver, I had a chance to experience the latest version of the Long Haul Business Class product..

 

Finally they can balance out the Privacy and the moving space for each seat, and the leg, well maybe I’m too short, I couldn’t touch the ottoman……

 

and now sitting on the Window side you don’t have to trun your head to the side to look out….

 

 

Kind of a better option for people travel together….

 

Mirror, Mirror who’s the most beautiful looking, it’s also the divider for the middle twin seats; after take off try out this new function with the IFE

 

 

For the Apple I-products, you have to use the special adapter for the date transmission, the usual USB port will not do it…

 

 

then watchin gyour own stuff  with the inflight monitor…

 

remark if you want to browse your Photos, can only be done on the Slide Show mode..

 

Personal side reading light and the folding  table….

 

 

 

Arm rest, put it down when you are ready for the bed mod

 

 

Shoe holder right under the arm rest..

 

 

no stowage for take off and landing

 

Bed mode, and it’s really long………Good night!

 

During my last visit to Bangkok, I stayed at the Siam Kempinski Hotel a very nice hotel which is conveniently located near to the BTS Siam station .

 The Lobby

 

 The Hall way and inside the lift..

 The room

 

 

 

 The Balcony  over looking the swimming pool

 Complimentary mini bar except the hard liquor and snack

 Coffee time

 Turn down service

 Complimentary  Tropical fruit   from the Hotel, day 1 Pitaya (Dragon Fruit)

 Breakfast at the Brasserrie Europa Smei Buffet

 Choose your main dish from the Menu

 

 Too bad my Egg Benedict was a bit over the egg yolk and the sauce as well..

 

Bircher Muesli and the Congee….they do look a like don’t they?

 

 

 The Pool area and the complimentary set for the swimmer…

 some Suites have direct acces to the pool

 Have the complimentary Afternoon Tea at the T Lounge

 

Fruit Day 2 : Rambutan

 2nd breakfast sitting outdoor and the fruit for the day 3 Mangosteen

 Day 4 Breakfast

 Waffle from the Menu and the……Middle east delight, but…..with French Bread….

 

 

 

 checking out, and a 3 pieces band plays live music during the Sunday Brunch

Spent a week-end last week In Bangkok after a 6 years absent….. and this trip turned out to be a Eat, Swim, and Massage trip, I even flew on Thai Airways International (TG) for the first time since 15 years ago…Staying at the Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok( will upload another entry for the hotel later)

TG629  a B777-200 aircraft, actually a flight originate from Seoul Korea, stopover in Hong Kong then continue to Bangkok, on this flight there have a couple of Korean crew members who will not change to the traditional Thai costumes inflight when serving..

wow….offering the newspapers again inside the cabin  (this newspaper trolley was actually placed at the aerobridge  and let the boarding pax pick their own)and after passenger

Since the IFE is very minimal i.e. either the Big Screen Broadcast or the audio channel, I decided to be entertained with my own stuff..

 

While I was thinking they’re passing our meal right after take off just like those airlines from Hong Kong do, they’re actualy offering pre-meal drink service with all kinds of chilled beverages…..

Then the meal……hm…looks so familiar oh TG is using the same Caterer in Hong Kong as CX……

 

 Rush to have a Thai Massage after checking in the hotel, late afternoon, and ended up having late dinner around 2300 and surprise! at the KFC, the Thai chicken Salad with steam rice on the left was actually very spicy and……HOT!

The next day after a big Buffet breakfast  at the hotel , spent an hour non-stop swim at the pool went out for a shopping malls hopping as the Hotel  is located conveniently near to the BTS Siam station

 

 Har Having donuts……….? yes and it’s a Durain donuts

Then had some Thai influence dishes….and really enjoy those Chilli Ketchup being offered in South East Asia…

On the way back to the hotel for the Afternoon Tea took a pic with the new Siam Ocean world at the Siam Paragon mall.

 

Having afternoon tea(on the house) at the  T Lounge Siam Kempinski Hotel

 

scone one plain and a raisin….taste even better than the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Hong Kong….

 

And met up with Chris and Tawn at the T Lounge as they have to attend a function later at the same hotel

 

Before going for my 2nd massage A late Dinner with another 2 friends who are currently  living in Bangkok,  Vanilla Brasserie at the Siam Paragon

Chicken Caesar Salad, wow they are generous with the bacon, croutons cheese and chicken than the lettuces  

Tomato and Bocconcini Cheese Salad, Spaghetti with Pig knuckle 

 

Spaghetti with Pork meat ball

3rd day spent the morning for a light breakfast and swim at the hotel then eating journey started again around 1200

While I am not a big fan of having food on the street side, but looking forward to example the authentic Thai food at the food court, Food Connoisseur Chris recommends  me to try out the Food Loft located at the 7/F of the Central Chidlom Department store Chit Lom..a semi-service area, at the entrance you get a 1,000 baht ticket /card  with bar code then the staff will help you to find a table, then you pick the food you like and staff will scan card to record you purchase, collect the receipt return to your table, the staff will collect the receipt and bring you the food….once you are done just proceed to the cashier and pay…

And Thanks Chris, It was really a good place to dine!

Don’t worry it air-conditioned, I was just playing with the card,  Green Curry Prawn with dried rice noodle

Appetizer platter and the Tom Yum Kung Prawn with Vermicelli

Hainan Chicken Rice, and of course the Mangeo with sweeten Glutinous Rice

 

After the lunch took the BTS to MBK mall to do a little shopping, and it’s soo fun when bargaining with the shop-keepers…..

 

anohter snack time at one of the food corner inside the mall..

 

this one kind of a pancake with coconut creme and pumkin

on the way back to the hotel to unload my shopping bags, bumped into………

 

 

After my 3rd Thai massage having a quick dinner at the Food Mall at the Food Hall at he Siam Paragon mall, and Chris you are right it’s a bit pricey for the quite simple delicacies..

Beef Brisket with noodle and the Thai iced milk tea

 

stew Pork with rice..

 

For dessert Swensen’s Ice-cream

 

4th day…the morning of the day I leave Bangkok, have seen lots of friends taking pic with this sculpture now it’s my turn…..

 

Found this pic of the World’s Royal families…..

light lunch before my flights Fish ball noodle and a Young coconut drink, and another type of fried rice noodle, but this one is a bit sticky and soft….

 

DQ in BKK……

the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi  International Airport is big, however……the air-conditioning system is not working well cos the air-con outlet are fixed on the ground not on the ceiling…….so the whole airport is a bit warm during the day time……

 

the B744 I’m going to take and the one with a vintage livery parked next to us..

Bye Bye Bangkok

was  bit surprised as the crew pour the creme from a milk pot instead of giving me the individual package….. and the decor inside of the washroom….

 

I used my charm to ask for this orchid which only offer to female pax…… and at last back to Hong Kong..