Wet markets, Temples and shopping in Hong Kong
Today Lisa, the housekeeper, took me with her to the "wet market". It's a big building with lots of butchers on the ground floor selling fresh meat, any cut, chopped to order. You can even get your fresh live chicken, dressed while you wait/shop.
Upstairs you can wander the aisles of produce and poke at all the interesting vegetables, to the amusement of the vendors.
These are the 1000 year old eggs in their special treatment covering. You have to remove the concoction casing them and boil before eating. Kind of scary to look at but very tasty and interesting texture.
There was a condiment section with pickled veg and sauces.
Another aisle had dried and cured meat and fish.
Afterwards I rode the KRC train in from Sheung Shui to Tsim Sha Tsui East and strolled around the downtown Kowloon area. An interesting stop at a local temple Tin Hau, dedicated to the Chinese goddess of the sea, had spiral incense hanging from the ceiling and bamboo poles.
There was so much smoke that it was hard to breath and I didn't stay long.
The crowds on the street are surprising. Don't they all have jobs or something? It's a little overwhelming but I'm getting used to the bustle again. I walked along Nathan Road and ducked into a little electronics shop to buy myself a camera since my trusty rusty canon finally gave up the ghost. :^(
I hope this new Panasonic works out since I didn't really research it. However rather than look it up now and have buyers remorse, I'm just glad I have a functioning camera so I don't miss out on so many perfect moments.
Wandered around Temple St Market area, checked out all the neat stalls and somehow restrained myself from buying anything until I stumbled upon a "Sasa" beauty product store. The glamorous looking clerk assured me I "needed deep repair". Well there went all my resolutions, and I left clutching several pots and jars of potions and lotions of "magical deep repair".
Retraced my steps to Jordan Road where I popped into my aunt's office to say hi. She's really centrally located and conveniently close to the Jordan MTR. I resolutely averted my eyes from a pair of fabulous leather boots 50% off. Maybe I'll go back tomorrow to check them out. (Please note I managed to avoid purchasing them but it was a struggle)
Rushed over to the Taiwanese consulate (politely disguised as Chung Hwa Travel Agency) to pick up my passport and styling new student visa. It's good for 2 months and then I have to go travel around (not a bad excuse) and reset my time for studying.
This entry doesn't really communicate the level of hyper energy that I feel buzzing in the air here....