Journey to Hong Kong

China’ most prominent dissident Liu Xiaobo was sentenced by the court to 11 years in jail on Christmas Day.

This is the fourth time he has been imprisoned because of his political position and his writings. He was researching in the US while the student democratic movement broke out in China in 1989. He rushed back to China and gave support to the students. He was jailed afterwards by the Chinese government.  

But that marked only the first sentencing he, as a dissident, received of a series to follow. Each time he was released, he kept on writing and speaking his mind about how to make China a better and democratic country, and each time he was sentenced to imprisonment or a labour camp.  

How Liu’s wife, Liu Xia, supports him is touching. She married him when he was in the labour camp. She sent him books when he was in prison so that he knew what her thoughts were and it was a way of communication between them, Liu Xia said. They also wrote poems to each other.

After the latest jail sentence was announced, Liu Xia told reporters in a clam voice: “If he (Liu Xiaobo) can persevere in the face of the ordeal, so can I.” Liu will be over 60 years old when he is released, she said.

She has had her head shaved. She is such a strong and steel-willed woman, just like her husband.

You may have heard of Hong Kong style milk tea, which uses evaporated milk to give the tea a very smooth and creamy taste. But you may not know that the evaporated milk used here is mostly imported from Holland. According to a report, 70% of the local restaurants use Black & White evaporated milk, a brand from Holland.  

As a daily drink for many of the Hong Kong people, the tea is offered in almost all the Hong Kong restaurants.

Kam Fung restaurant, at No. 41, Spring Garden Road, Wanchai, is one of the local restaurants that are famous for making top quality Hong Kong style milk tea. Both hot milk tea and cold milk tea are reputedly delicious. Their chicken pies and egg tarts, the restaurant’s signature snacks, are also popular. So the best time to visit is afternoon, for afternoon tea.

Kam Fung is a typical local restaurant so be prepared to be seated at a table with others in a packed and small place. And be warned that the restaurant does not have a good reputation for service.

There is raving review about this small restaurant in North Point on Hong Kong Island. It specializes in food like marinated goose meat, noodle, chicken feet, etc. They sound very local right? I dare you to try. But not to worry what to order because the restaurant is full of posters advertising the interviews they gave to the media. Just point to the dishes on the poster and you will not be disappointed.

Since the restaurant was recently rated one star by Michelin, it has been packed all the time. There are also complaints of bad service from customers.  So do expect queues and not comfortable seating and probably not very good service.

Address:
Hung’s Delicacies
Shop 4, G/F, Ng Fai Building, 89-94 Wharf Road

You can view photos and comments (mostly in Chinese) of the restaurant here.

This time I recommend another hiking route in Hong Kong, a  walk from Ng Fai Tin (五塊田) to Tai Miu （大廟），called High Junk Peak (釣魚翁山）country trail.

high junk peak trail

Clear Water Bay

It takes about 3 hours to finish the walk. There is a bus stop at the entrance to the trail and for a start, you will have to climb some stairs.  After a short walk, you will find Tseung Kwan O development area with buildings after buildings at the right, and Clear Water Bay at the left. The view of Clear Water Bay is spectacular. And at some point, you will see the High Junk Peak, among Hong Kong’s most pointed peaks. People with stamina and strength will try to climb up, but not me.

After reaching Tai Miu (meaning big temple in Chinese), you can walk to Po Toi O Village Road and from there to reach Po Toi O village, which is famous for seafood. The village is actually small and there are only two restaurants, Seafood Island and Fat Kee. Personally I like the food in Fat Kee, but the seating is more comfortable in Seafood Island. You can take No.6 minibus to Po Lam Station from the village.

Po Toi O fishing village

How to get there:

Take the 103M minibus from Tsueng Kwan O Station, or the No. 6 minibus from Po Lam Station, and get off at Ng Fai Tin. Ask the bus driver to alert you if you don’t know where to get off.

This route is not very fitting for hiking in summer as there is little shade along the way. But it is perfect for now, when it is getting cool.