Hong Kong, 12/29/08
Tuesday, 30 December 2008 01:38
Hong Kong...
First off, Hong Kong has the most amazing thing--in-town check-in. At two of the main train stations, they have check-in counters for all flights, INCLUDING checking in your luggage. So, instead of schlepping your luggage all the way to the airport, you just take it to the Metro station and then it finds its own way onto the plane!
Sunday - We're staying at Uncle David's place in Hong Kong (the same Uncle David whose place we stayed at in Taipei). It's located on top of a giant shopping mall, Elements (named so for the wings--Wood, Metal, Water, etc.), which is on top of the Metro station. The ULTIMATE in convenience. After we settled in and freshened up, we just walked around a bit, getting familiar with HK.
Tonight, we had our first real dinner date, the first in a long time. We went to Gaddi's, a French restaurant in the Peninsula Hotel. Beautiful place, and the best foie gras I've had. Worth every penny, and it would be many pennies...
Amuse bouche - salmon tartare in a cucumber gelee wrap
The foie gras "salad"
Vanessa's pigeon
Chocolate souffle
The souffle with sabayon
On Monday, we went to see a tailor to have some suits made. I ended up being fitted for three suits and four shirts, and Vanessa one suit and three shirts. They say HK is THE place to have bespoke tailoring done, so we'll see how it all comes out.
More to come...
Taipei City, 12/26/08Friday, 26 December 2008 12:57
Night market pictures!
After the night market, we went to a Haagen Dazs Cafe; only in Asia...
Taipei City, 12/25/08Friday, 26 December 2008 10:31
Merry Christmas everyone!
This morning, we went to get our hair washed at this place right across the street from where we are staying. They spend about 45 minutes, washing, massaging, then blow drying (no blow drying for me 'cuz I ain't got no hair right now). It was very nice, but Vanessa doesn't like massages much, and we think it triggered a migraine headache that bothered her the rest of the day (but she's fine now).
It was a pretty easy day. We had lunch at this Italian place, Chianti. They had the usual suspects (risotto with white truffle sauce, Neopolitan pizza, handmade pasta, mozzarella caprese) and was pretty tasty. After, we came back for some afternoon naptime!
 Taipei 101
Dinner was hosted by Vanessa's eldest uncle, Uncle Martin, at this private club on the 33rd floor of the Taipei World Trade Center building. The view was very nice, and the food deliciously Chinese. From what I understand, Taiwain is a true melting pot of what China has to offer. People from just about every part of China fled to Taiwan when the Communists came through, so you can find a little of every kind of food here, from Canton-style, to Shanghainese, to more northern styles. It's a great sampling of authentic Chinese food. The restaurant has a section with private dining rooms, each with a view and dedicated wait staff. There were several courses, all plated individually, and very tasty.
  Shark Fin Soup  Bao with sweet sesame paste  View from private dining room  Uncle Martin Day after Christmas, we went to an exclusive hot spring spa resort for lunch and a bath.
 Villa 32  The Spa  Amuse bouche  Seafood sampler (seared tuna, prawn, abalone, crab)  Rib eye cap  Dessert trio (emascerated fruit, strawberry mousse, raspberry chocolate)  Strawberry pastry  Mushroom made of meringue
Evening at the ghetto-fabulous night market--pictures to come... |
