Top Deck at Jumbo

Ok, I admit it. My life has started to read like the Wallpaper Guide to Hong Kong. But I'm not convinced that is a bad thing, certainly not based on recent dining experiences.

Today was the turn of the Top Deck at Jumbo. A floating restaurant in Aberdeen.

Overpriced drinks - check

Dubious Western menu - check

Total tranquility relaxing with books for an entire day - check

A great day just relaxing with a book or two. I finally got to order a pina colada (of course I sang the song, repeatedly) along with a few glasses of fizz and various other beverages. Well, it would be rude not to. We were there for about 7 hours.

Ace. The perfect lazy Sunday, even if it was a Saturday.

Books, boats and flushing sounds..

Well, it is sometime since I had time for sit down and a "proper" update. So where to start?

Well firstly a little more on Japan (my true love...). Whilst I was there for the weekend I was fortunate to take a trip to Kamakura. This will, at some point, fill an entire post on its own. About an hour by train out of Tokyo it is a beautiful area by the sea, filled with temples, and the Great Buddha. He was pretty Great!

But, I will write a whole post with the beautiful pictures of Kamakura so for now I'll leave you with that little 'fluffer'...

Linking slightly to fluffers (this is Japan), have you ever been on a Japanese toilet?? These high-tech machines create a whole new bathroom experience!

Firstly, the lid lifts automatically for you (IR sensor). As you sit there is another sensor you can run your hand in front of (no need to touch - hygiene is king) which creates a flushing sound so no one can actually hear you on said toilet! There are then at least three "spray" options you can choose (for washing), and the whole lid closing / flushing is again automatic. It amazes me that after all this there is rarely soap in the bathrooms. In HK you can hardly move for soap and antiseptic sprays (I've told you before that my apartment lifts are disinfected every two hours...)

So yes, Japan, the future of toilets...

Back in HK it has been one exciting trip (to dinner) after another. Thursday night was the China Club. Everyone in HK is a member of somewhere and this is a members-only restaurant. However, it is not so strict that if you pretend to be someone else they throw you out (as demonstrated by our table being all female, yet a male "member" was dining that evening...).

The China Club is amazing. Set over three floors there is the main restaurant, the private dining rooms and the library and terrace. The food was delicious, but the whole experience was surreal. Displays of tea pouring (an art) and noodle making (I still have no idea how it is done) take place in the middle of the restaurant. The decor is traditional old Chinese. Yellow walls, intricate drawings and dark wood. The China Club also has an enormous collection of modern Chinese art.

Some beautiful, some slightly alarming (such as the man with a machete in his forehead and the bowl with live goldfish swimming around models of decapitated women).

The Library is amazing. 500 books on China, and a lot of others. Huge sofas and that library smell. Drinks on the terrace and for once the weather was kind and we were able to sit out. An amazing dining experience.

I am now very amused as have just found a blog "hong kong schmong kong" while searching for photos - I made it to dinner straight from the airport. Just.

Last night was a junk trip to, amusingly, Poi Toi O - of my earlier blog. Once again the food was amazing and being on the boat at night in lovely weather, cruising round the harbour, was great.

I think I have a slight preference for being there in the day as the views are so spectacular. However, rocking up on an enormous yacht (as opposed to falling out of the number 16 us) was fun!

I think I'm in HK for a few days now (I'll try mum!) so looking forward to settling back in. After weeks of sitting and eating I think a peak hike or three is in order. I just need to fit this in around the dinners I have planned... Hmm.

Fugu, sake, black rain and more flight delays

Hello all. Apologies I have ｂｅｅｎ a little neglectful of late. What can I say, the joys of work. Many, many meetings. I still find it slightly odd to be sat in negotiations with people sipping milky iced coffee through straws. At least it is noｔ　ｊｕｇｓ　ｏｆ，　increasingly　ｗａｒｍ，　ｍｉｌｋ．

Ｉ　ａｍ　ｂａｃｋ　ａｔ　Ｔｏｋｙｏ　ａｉｒｐｏｒｔ，　ｗａｉｔｉｎｇ　ｆｏｒ　ｍｙ　（ｖｅｒｙ）　ｄｅｌａｙｅｄ　ｆｌｉｇｈｔ．　Ａｇａｉｎ，　ｄｕｅ　ｔｏ　ｒａｉｎ．　Ｆｏｒｔｕｎａｔｅｌｙ（？）　ｉｔ　ｈａｓ　ｂｅｅｎ　ｓｕｃｈ　ｂａｄ　ｗｅａｔｈｅｒ　Ｉ　ｄｉｄ　ａｔ　ｌｅａｓｔ　ｒｅｃｅｉｖｅ　ａｄｖａｎｃｅ　ｗａｒｎｉｎｇ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　ｄｅｌａｙ　ａｎｄ　ｇｅｔ　ｔｏ　ｈａｖｅ　ａ，　ｍｕｃｈ　ｎｅｅｄｅｄ，　ｌｉｅ　ｉｎ　－　ｒａｔｈｅｒ　ｔｈａｎ　ａ　５ａｍ　ｓｔａｒｔ．．．

Ｔｈｅ　Ｔｏｋｙｏ ｆｕｎ　ｃｏｎｔｉｎｕｅｄ　ｉｔｓ　ｅａｔｉｎｇ　ｔｈｅｍｅ．　Ｏｎ　ｔｈｉｓ　ｔｒｉｐ　Ｉ　ｔｒｉｅｄ　Ｆｕｇｕ．　Ｔｈｅ　”ｄｅａｄｌｙ”　ｂｌｏｗｆｉｓｈ．　（Ｐｕｆｆｅｒ　ｆｉｓｈ）．　Ｏｎｌｙ　ｌｉｃｅｎｓｅｄ　ｒｅｓｔａｕｒａｎｔｓ　ｃａｎ　ｐｒｅｐａｒｅ　ｉｔ　ａｓ　the　ｐｏｉｓｏｎ　ｋｉｌｌｓ　ｙｏｕ．　Ｗｅ　ｈａｄ　ｆｕｇｕ　ｓａｓｈｉｍｉ，　ｆｕｇｕ　ｒｉｓｏｔｔｏ，　ｆｕｇｕ　ｓｏｕｐ，　ｆｕｇｕ　ｓｕｓｈｉ　ａｎｄ　ｆｕｇｕ　ｊｅｌｌｙ．　Ａ　ｐｒｏｕｄ　ｍｏｍｅｎｔ　ｆｏｒ　ｍｅ　－　ｍａｎａｇｉｎｇ　ｔｏ　ｅａｔ　ｊｅｌｌｙ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｃｈｏｐｓｔｉｃｋｓ！　Ｂｒｉｎｇ　ｏｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｆｌｙ　ｃａｔｃｈｉｎｇ．．．

Ｆｕｇｕ，　ｗｈｉｌｓｔ　ａｎ　”ｅｘｃｉｔｉｎｇ”　ｍｅａｌ　（ｙｏｕ　ｍａｙ　ｄｉｅ）　ｉｓ　ａｃｔｕａｌｌｙ　ｆａｉｒｌｙ　ｔａｓｔｅｌｅｓｓ　ｉｔｓｅｌｆ．　Ｔｈｅ　ｆｏｏｄ　ｗａｓ　ｈｏｗｅｖｅｒ，　ｄｅｌｉｃｉｏｕｓ．　Ａｎｄ　Ｉ　ｄｉｄｎ‘ｔ　ｄｉｅ．　Ｈｕｒｒａｈ．

Ｉｎ　ｃｅｌｅｂｒａｔｉｏｎ　（？）　ｏｆ　ｓｕｒｖｉｖｉｎｇ　ｍｙ　ｌｕｎｃｈ　（Ｉ　ｓｔｉｌｌ　ｔｈｉｎｋ　ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ａ　ｐｌｏｙ　ｔｏ　ｐｏｔｅｎｔｉａｌｌｙ　ｒｅｍｏｖｅ　ｍｅ，　ｓｏｍｅｗｈａｔ　ｐｅｒｍａｎｅｎｔｌｙ，　　ｆｒｏｍ　negotiations）．　Ａｓ　ｉｔ　ｍ￥ｗａｓ　ｍｙ　ｌａｓｔ　ｎｉｇｈｔ　ｉｎ　Ｔｏｋｙｏ，　ｔｈｅ　ｅｖｅｎｉｎｇ　ｍｅａｌ　ｗａｓ　（ｏｆ　ｃｏｕｒｓｅ）　ｍｏｒｅ　ｓｕｓｈｉ．　Ｔｈｉｓ　ｗａｓ　ａｃｃｏｍｐａｎｉｅｄ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｔｈｅ　ｓａｋｅ　Ｉ　ｓｈｏｕｌｄ　ｈａｖｅ　ｂｅｅｎ　ｄｒｉｎｋｉｎｇ　ｗｈｉｌｅ　ｅａｔｉｎｇ　Ｆｕｇｕ．　Ｉ　ａｍ　ｑｕｉｔｅ　ｔａｋｉｎｇ　ｔｏ　ｓａｋｅ！Ｉ　ａｍ　ａｌｓｏ　ｓａｄｄｅｎｅｄ　ｔｈａｔ　Ｌｏｎｄｏｎ－ｓｕｓｈｉ　ｗｉｌｌ　ｎｅｖｅｒ　ｂｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｓａｍｅ　ａｇａｉｎ．．．

Ｔｈｅ　ｓｕｓｈｉ　ｗａｓ　ｅｘｃｅｌｌｅｎｔ，　ｂｕｔ　ｔｈｅ　ａｐｐｅｔｉｓｅｒｓ　ｗｅｒｅ　ｓｎａｉｌｓ　ｂｏｉｌｅｄ　ｉｎ　ｓｏｙ　ｓａｕｃｅ．　Ｉ　ｈａｖｅ　ｎｅｖｅｒ　ｅａｔｅｎ　ａｎｙｔｈｉｎｇ　ｓｏ　ｃｌｏｓｅ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｍｅｌｌ　ｏｆ　ｃａｔ　ｆｏｏｄ．　Ｔｈｉｓ　ｄｉｄ　ｒｅｓｕｌｔ　ｉｎ　ａ　ｑｕｉｔｅ　ａ　ｈｉｇｈ　ｌｅｖｅｌ　ｏｆ　ｓａｋｅ　consumption．　Ｙｕｍ，　Ａｎｄ　ｈｕｒｒａｈ　ｆｏｒ　ｎｏｔ　ｈａｖｉｎｇ　ｔｏ　ｇｅｔ　ｕｐ　ａｔ　５ａｍ！

Ｉ　ｗｉｌｌ　ｈｏｐｅｆｕｌｌｙ　ｂｅ　ｂａｃｋ　ｉｎ　ＨＫ　ｆｏｒ　ａ　ｖｅｒｙ　ｅｘｃｉｔｉｎｇ　ｅｖｅｎｉｎｇ　ａｔ　Ｃｈｉｎａ　Ｃｌｕｂ．．．　Ｃａｎ：ｔ　ｗａｉｔ！　Ｙｅｓ，　ｔｈａｔ　ｉｓ　ｆｏｒ　ｍｏｒｅ　ｆｏｏｄ．　Ｉ‘ｌｌ　ｔｒｙ　ａｎｄ　ｆｉｔ　ｉｎ　ｓｏｍｅｔｈｉｎｇ　ｏｔｈｅｒ　ｔｈａｎ　ｍｅｅｔｉｎｇｓ　ａｎｄ　ｅａｔｉｎｇ　ｓｏｏｎ！　

A really long commute??

Well, if I ever thought international travel was glamorous I am now pretty much over that! Today was a flight to Tokyo, yes exciting, but it is late, I am tired and I have work in the morning.

The reason you 'benefit' from this sleepy post is that my room is 'not quite' ready so I am in the business centre. I'm not entirely sure when the hotel expected me to check in but in two minutes we are in tomorrow...

Airline managed to yet again not load a vegetarian meal (I honestly do request one when I book) but they did have red wine that tasted suspiciously like ribena - mmm.

My flight companion was of the chatty variety and for once I did not feign (ok, no feigning about it usually) sleep - I chatted for the entire flight. Seriously, talking to strangers appears to be what I do these days. A complete change from my London "if in doubt look at the floor" approach!

Anyway, much good chat about snake vodka, dubious meal choices and the woeful lack of vegetarian meals (admittedly he had not actually booked his...). I was almost disappointed when we landed.

Right, off to harass someone about my 'room'. I do hope you are tremendously well. Please send news as I am going to be sat in meeting rooms for the next few days so I believe it is my turn to live vicariously!

Po Toi O

Well, today we nearly did not arrive at our planned destination. A few mishaps along the way, including the loss of the details of where we were going to whilst en-route. Ahem. However all is well that ends well and after a mammoth journey (boat, walk, quick trip to see Dragon Boat Festival, metro x3, bus, walk) we arrived at Po Toi O. Truly worth the trek. Even better with the revised route we took home (far quicker).

A tiny fishing village it is absolutely stunning and possibly my favourite find so far. We went to eat (obviously, it's what I do) and this is literally a point at the live fish you want, eat it 15mins later kind of place. Delicious.

Macau - the Vegas of Asia!

Well, I still have a million things to tell you about Tokyo but time has been flying by, I landed back in HK Thursday (just) and free time has ceased to exist! The wonders that are the internet police have not made things easy either - grr!

Anyway, here I am and hello. It is NOT raining. This is tremendously exciting so I will type fast as there is a seafood restaurant on a beach I really should get to...

Yesterday we went on a day trip to Macau. Ferry, apologies, TURBOJet, across from HK to Macau in an hour. Slightly choppy weather = lots of vomiting passengers. Nice.

Anyway, we arrived stomachs intact and managed to fight our way through the hordes of people offering "tours" to hop on the bus to the centre of town. Under 30p for those of you tempted by the taxis (GBP20).

Macau is odd. Arriving at the Largo do Senado (main square) it was like being in Disneyland. Cobbled streets, colourful colonial buildings and no dirt or litter in sight. Also well over 35degrees and far less humid than HK. Step two (step one was the bus) was to throw on the factor 50!

A bit of a wander around Macau in the heat then followed. It is a beautiful place, Portugal in Asia. Then throw in a mix of Las Vegas as you spot the super casinos on the skyline. Enormous towering buildings, many direct copies of their Vegas namesake. Macau is a gamblers paradise.

We went for lunch (Portuguese of course) at Alfonso III. This took a bit of finding (I question my map skills, v poor that day) but was worth it. The staff were predominantly Portuguese-Chinese and were all having a very bad day (apparently there had been a bit of a party the night before). Lots of screaming and shouting. Six customers left before getting their food stating "we are customers, we expect customer service". Sounds harsh but the waitress did say (ok - shout) "I know you want me to take your order, just hold on!" and other such gems so you can see their point.

I am pleased we opted to be less demanding on the service front as the food, when it arrived, was wonderful! I thoroughly recommend a trip (Alfonso III, Rua Central). I had "fish with vegetables" which turned out to be a whole fish, swimming in a bowl of olive oil, covered in about four bulbs (yes, not cloves) of chopped, roasted garlic. Delicious! That will keep that vampires away!! (The garlic was the vegetables, and it covered the whole plate...)

Post lunch we cabbed it across to the Venetian casino. The web assures me it is the biggest casino in the World - it is pretty massive.

Strolling through the gambling floors we opted for drinking our cash rather than gambling it (bellini-tini anyone?) while people watching. It was truly ENORMOUS.

We rounded off the day with a trip to see Cirque du Solei, which I had never seen before but am a massive fan of such things so I sat, garlicky and spellbound, resisting the urge to snooze in the very comfortable seats.

Ferry home, late night noodles and bed. Yawn. Definitely a day trip worth doing but I'm not sure I could have stayed longer. Overall, a very odd place. But do go see it.

How do you eat a poached egg with chopsticks?

Seriously. How do you do it? This was the dilemma I was faced with at Tokyo airport early yesterday morning as I tucked into breakfast (number two). Not an easy task!

I made it back safely after a few (ok many) moments of concern about the tornado alert in HK and a pretty delayed arrival. Lots of passengers screaming as we landed as we went through (for "went" read "fell") pockets of air and strong winds.

Amber rain alert, which briefly turned to black (!), fortunately did not prevent the safe arrival of a good friend of mine. Hurrah! And she bought me mini cheddars, Hip Hip Hooray!

Only thing to do in receipt of such gifts was to take her somewhere nice, so we went to Hutong. Amazing views and absolutely wonderful food. (Please can more people visit so I have an excuse to go again!).

Dark walls, view of the bay, amazing service, brilliant company and a good old natter!