18 Grams - Western breakfast and a cuppa

Having been to Hong Kong so many times, I no longer just look for local Chinese food to try whenever I'm in town. I'm game for any cuisine that's worth the calories!

A while back, I'd noticed on openrice.com a café that has been creating waves with its coffee - 18 Grams. Since I love Western breakfast, I decided to give them a go.

Noah's Ark - Bible-size replica

As my family is Christian, we were eager to check out Noah's Ark in Hong Kong. The ark is apparently a full-size replica based on bible dimensions.

We took the ferry from Central Piers, but there are various other modes of transport to Ma Wan Island, on which Noah's Ark sits. Check the official website for directions.

Sai Kung - Seafood and dessert

Although seafood is served at most proper Chinese restaurants in Hong Kong, there are also 3 popular areas to eat it - Lamma Island, Lei Yue Mun and Sai Kung. I'd already been to Lamma Island a couple of times, and decided to check out Sai Kung this time round.

Directions:

• Take the MTR to Choi Hong station, and exit from C2.
• Upon reaching street level, look for the minibus stop about 50m away.
• Take green minibus 1A to Sai Kung Minibus Station. The journey is about 25 minutes.

Upon reaching Sai Kung Promenade, I found the place bustling with activity. People were promoting the sale of fresh seafood on their little boats, and customers were leaning over railings haggling for the best price. It was quite a unique experience that was nice to watch.

Leaf Dessert - Dai pai dong sweet treats

I depend a lot on openrice.com and other online reviews for recommendations on where to eat when I plan my trips to Hong Kong. Most of the time, I enjoy the recommendations. But occasionally, I meet with disappointment.

Leaf Dessert has a pretty good reputation online - both for their desserts and for the fact that they are one of the few remaining dai pai dongs in Hong Kong.

 

Kung Wo Dou Bun Chong - Over a century old

On a visit to Hong Kong in 2012, I remember randomly walking into a traditional-looking shop selling soy bean products for a cup of soy bean drink (tau jiong, 豆浆). The drink, while a tad too sweet, reminded me of the soy bean milk I used to drink as a kid (in Singapore). So I liked it, but didn't take note of the shop's name.

Later on, I came across online mentions about a famous, century-old soy bean products shop in Sham Shui Po, and realised it must have been the one I chanced upon. I promptly noted the address and made a mental note to return.

I did. Although even with the address on hand, the shop was quite hard to locate. We found the street from the map, but couldn't find the correct shop number somehow. Had to get help from a couple of other shopkeepers.

Starbucks celebrates the arts in Mong Kok

Although I could walk into any Starbucks in Hong Kong to get my coffee, I love checking out the more unique branches which cannot be found anywhere else.

One such branch is on Duddell Street in Central - decorated like an old school bing sutt. The other is this one on Sai Yee Street in Mong Kok, which pays tribute to the arts scene in Hong Kong. Local lifestyle brand G.O.D. has a hand in the design of both branches.

This "signage" is made from mahjong tiles.

Granville Road at Tsim Sha Tsui

Granville Road is quite a popular area to shop for youth fashion and fashion by local designers. I don't always drop by the area, usually only if I happen to stay in Tsim Sha Tsui for my trip.

When I do head there, I always stop by Lung Shing Dispensary. This shop may look run down, but it is always crowded with both locals and tourists whenever I am there. They sell toiletries and also brand-name cosmetics and skincare, and their prices are pretty competitive with stores like Sasa and Bonjour.