Hong Kong Trip - Day 6 & 7

Sundays are swarmed with housekeepers and maids alike as it is their only day off. It's actually rather frightening to be out on a Sunday. But anyway, started the day in Central looking for Yung Kee, a restaurant famous for their BBQ duck. We found the place but they didn't open until 11 so we walked around the area in the meanwhile and did some shopping. The BBQ duck wasn't as good as it claims to be but it wasn't bad either. The rest of the food there was overpriced due to their reputation but at least we can say that we've tried it. On a side note, they had two dragon statues inside that had eyes that kept glowing red... creepiest thing.

At noon we headed to our Auntie Mamie's workplace for our appointment with her for haircuts (as she is a professional hairstylist after all).. :D My bro went first as he had plans (watching a UFC match live on tv) and then I went. She touched up my roots and then replenished the rest of my hair with some more colour! Then snip snip snip... I didn't get a particularly different haircut, in comparison to what my brother, mom or dad got...

After my transformation, I headed out and called up Amy and met up with her at a Causeway exit. She said she had a K place her friends suggested her to go to... and as I expected, they suggested her to go to the expensive one on the corner of where my brother lived. Nonetheless, we were eager to try it anyways, considering the both of us haven't been to this one before. The place had a grand entranceway with high ceilings. The lobby was lead to the second floor by a grand stairway that curved upwards. When we got to our room, it was big enough for a 6+ people... not to mention, we had our own private washroom in our room too. Indeed it was expensive: the base rate was cheap, HOWEVER, you were forced to buy a box of processed peanut cookie-like snack from them for the base rate price on top. However it was all you can sing until 8, so we had quite a few hours. Their system was also very nifty too: for duet songs, you can chose whether you want to sing with one of the other artists. The Japanese selection was lacking ;b ... but hey, I've yet to find a good enough K place that supports a good J selection anyway... maybe except Japan itself but that's a completely different story <_<!

Time flew by quickly, and it hit 7, so we decided to go get some food. We traveled to SOHO where I was able to experience the longest escalator in the world (during its early years). We ended up deciding on having Italian at Fat Angelio's and had one of their combo meals for two where we were able to had a bit all courses. After the filling meal, we decided to walk Lang Kwai Fong and scout out the area. Apparently HK is really obedient on Sunday nights: everything's already closed by 11, and even Lang Kwai Fong is dead quiet by then.

----

Monday. Shenzhen: Round 2 with the family and two of mom best friends from way back when (Banikie [pronounced Ban-kee] and Virpo [pronounced Ree-bow <_<]). We started the day with dim sum at probably the only few good food places in Shenzhen that isn't dirty and suspicious of poisoning. The dim sum restaurant was part of the train station building, so after food, we did some serious shopping. Me being obsessed with accessories, got myself a handful of fun stuff for insanely cheap prices. The two ladies sure know how to bargain... to the point that it's quite frightening. There was also some scarf and shoe buying action as well.

When it was about time, we walked to the massage parlor. Compared to the last one, this one was more run down, and was more professional as it strictly focused on massaging; no personal tvs or eating while we get strangled. However, Bankie (still don't know how to spell her name...) is a beauty consultant and is close to the workers there so she had all of us use her products. For this one, all us females got facials -while- we got massaged (which was the strangest thing XD;;) and even the guys got treated!

After the 3 hour pampering, it was time to feed the stomaches. Two of the employees there joined in on our dinner, as they were close friends with Banky. We made our way to Mixc mall in two taxis. On the way, I noticed just how much Shenzhen is trying to develop, seeing all the buildings being built and all the new modern looking ones as well. Quite a contrast to how Shenzhen used to be seen as... but anyway, Shenzhen's exit signs are on the floor. Side note.

It seems popular that malls have indoor ice rinks nowadays. Mixc had one. So we had some fusion Shanghainese food... the dishes were almost tapas sizes and they weren't all that great either. Not to mention, the food was expensive and they were going to charge us if we used their wet tissues (which were the only things they provided to begin with)... I recall the dessert being good though, whatever it was.

Hong Kong Trip - Day 5

Saturday. Had dim sum with my mom's big bro, wife and son at the Pioneer restaurant we had the other day. Ah yes, we experienced the "bill payment" magic trick HK people do and not until after a few experiences did we find it "normal." What happens is... when you ask for the bill, for example, the total comes to $420 and they show you that total. If you present them $500, they will flip the bill book and immediately reveal your change of $80. Or, for the advanced restaurants, they may have two possibilities: present them $450, they will reveal a second layer with $30 change. However, if what you present them is not what they predicted, then you force them to return to the bill counter to get the proper change, or documentation if you're using card. However, this totally speeds up the billing progress, resulting in more turnovers and happy customers, as we all know, HK people must hastehastehaste.

Anyway, after good food, we took the MTR to Shenzhen to get ready for some good ol' pampering. We had to go through HK customs then China customs before we made it to the other side. Quite a bit of work... and just through one way, I get a whole bunch of new stamps in my passport :O! When we arrived on the other side, the malls were packed full of people but the atmosphere was completely different. The stores were small, all looked the same, and all had people standing outside of them luring you in by talking endlessly to your face, trying to get your attention. Here, we keep our bags in front of us at all times, in case of pick pockets. Here, smokers sit on the walking stairs and smoke out in the open public. Here, all the clothing look the same. Here, everything is fake.

We went on our way, walked down this creepy back alley, with dark corners and pathways. Then someone suddenly in the middle of the road, chopping pineapples and selling them on sticks for people walking by. After a bit of walking, we arrive at this prettier building. We were first brought down to the basement to change and shower if you wished, then back up to the upper levels for the initial step -- a foot massage. While you were being massaged, you got to watch (Chinese) TV and order food/drinks if you wished. Just for old times' sake, and because there was nothing else on, I watched a Mandarinized version of Card Captor Sakura... episode 12ish, when Syaoran captures the Time card and the following episode when Sakura captures the Power card. lol. Good times. After the foot massage, we were brought to another level for some body massaging! After all that relaxation, we returned to the basement to shower and change back.

When we came back into the lobby, it was pouring buckets of water. Even just one step outside would leave you drenched. Our dinner plans to eat awesome seafood were ruined. Fortunately, there was a restaurant right next door so we decided to eat there instead. It was decent, 'cept the waiter and waitress were whispering about us... Not that I knew what they were whispering about...

Anyway, after the meal, we took a taxi-like service back to the station and MTR'd back. There was an Indian pervert that snuck a picture of me wtf. He sucked at hiding it. Good thing he left after the first station.

Finally we got back to the hotel, drenched to the core. Not much of a shower at the massage place after all... -_-