Hong Kong Day 5: Celebrating my birthday @ The Peninsula Hotel and HK Island

Day 5
Saturday, 7 June 2014

Our original itinerary was shuffled a little to suit today's arrangement made by hubby.  Initially it was supposed to be a surprise, but I think because it's too obvious (changing the original itinerary which I prepared is too obvious, don't you think?) and he couldn't contain his excitement kua, or that he didn't want me to wonder why the phone calls coming into our local HK sim number.

So we had breakfast at Tim Ho Wan Dim Sum rated 1 star Michelin.  We went to their original shop at Sham Shui Po.  The walk from the MTR was around 10-15 minutes through closed shops, or shops doing trading/transportation businesses.  There weren't many people around that area at that time, and we didn't see many eateries too, so trying to look far ahead if we could spot a queue coming from a shop...

Finally found it!

Got a ticket, waited a short while before we were given a table.  Whilst waiting, we asked the waiter the fastest way to get to Tsim Sha Tsui as we had our lunch appointment at 12noon, and also selected our dishes from an English menu.

The food was gloooorrrriioouuusss!!  Now this is what we were really waiting for!  Hong Kong dim sum ROCKS!!  Pity we only got here the second last day, and tomorrow it'd be too rush to eat here again before flying off.  The har gau is exactly like what we've read - soft skin, fresh huge prawns, not starchy.  

The char siew (BBQ pork) bun was served the last, and I understand that later it's for the right reason... save the best for last!  Trays and trays of char siew bun were balanced on the waitresses' palm and served to almost each table... within minutes the trays were empty!  When we dug into the bun, it was warm and soft!  Now if we have to fly back to HK, this would be one of the reasons to.  

We didn't stay long, like I said we had to rush for our next eating appointment.  We took a cab because the MTR station was quite a walk.  Hubby didn't want us to run and sweat arriving at the hotel, so we hailed down a cab.  The jam into TST was typical and expected, said the cab driver who was not really chatty.  

Arrived at The Peninsula.  I'm 36 today - such a big girl (age wise, not size ok) and this is my first time into the much talked about The Peninsula.  The kids, well... what can I say?  They are just too blessed and fortunate!  

Lunch appointment made at Spring Moon restaurant.  

This is one of their signature dish... the Hangzhou Beggar's Fortune Chicken which needed to be booked in advance... cost a freaking HKD680 for this (close to RM300)

Needs to be knocked up first

Crispy pigeon?  

Xiao long pau

This is very nice... eel with honey glazed and topped with crispy fried ginger... even the vege on the side were delicious!

Braised bean curd in some special sauce

And a specially ordered cake from hubby... he had the hotel arranged this.  The most lovely and tastiest sponge fruit cake I've ever eaten!  Even the cream was not too heavy or over sweet!

And whilst we went gallivanting later, the hotel kept the balance of the birthday cake for us.  

Another must-do in HK was to take the Star Ferry across to HK island... and so we did.  The walk was pleasant and much needed, after all the food we intake.  Breakfast was great, lunch was equally good if not better but William with the smallest capacity stopped half way through lunch, and we relied on Vic to help us to clear the dishes.  She's good, and despite being very full herself, I appreciated her efforts.

The bill, least to say... is one I would not approve.  But hubby insist so I let him exercise his veto power.

Need to buy property?  Haha... 

Shopping area in Causeway Bay... but we didn't walk around here

At night we checked out Tung Po which is a Dai Pai Dong style of eating, but in air conditioned.  Booking is highly recommended as the place is always very full.  We were given dinner slots at 5:30pm or 6pm (I can't recall exactly now).  

From North Point MTR exit, it's just a stone's throw away across the road. 

This was when we arrived, but man, the crowd just swelled in minutes!  There were those who walk in and had to wait in the "waiting area"... what you see here is just a part of the eatery.

Service was fast (what you expect, right?) and we ordered lamb, pork knuckle, frog porridge, pork ribs and mantis prawn (I think)... seriously, I forgotten the exact names.

The cold beer was amazing!!

This ends our eating spree and walking spree for today.  From dim sum to hotel to dai pai dong, it's back to our studio and packing up now.