Today started off with breakfast at Tsui Wah. Wanted to try their Satay Beef Instant Noodles, and apparently it is only sold during breakfast times. The beef was so good! The breakfast set comes along with a side of scrambled eggs, a small bun and a drink. Next, I went to Yee Shun Milk Company, which is said to be the best steamed milk pudding in Hong Kong! The pudding was silky smooth, but a tad too smooth for me. Following after, went to try Xing Fu Tang’s Brown Sugar Boba Milk, another popular boba tea brand from Taiwan. This version is by far the best! The drink itself is very creamy and the bobas have a good chewy texture. It is also very pretty to take photos, the store itself deserves lots of photos too!
Tsui Wah Restaurant 翠华餐厅
20-22 Cannon Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
24hrs (daily)
MTR: Causeway Bay Station Exit D1
#1: Satay Beef Instant Noodles Breakfast Set HK$38, comes with scrambled eggs, mini buttered bun and coffee/tea. +HK$3 to change drinks.
Xing Fu Tang 幸福堂
Shop 5, 36 Jardine's Bazaar, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
1100-2230hrs (daily)
MTR: Causeway Bay Exit D2
#2: Xing Fu Tang - BEST Brown Sugar Boba Milk version ever!
#3: Brown Sugar Boba Milk (with Cheese Cream) 焰遇幸福 (黑糖珍珠鲜奶), HK$30.
#4: Look at that extra brown sugar and the pretty torching! Took the tram down to Sheung Wan, to Barista Jam. Taking the train will be a lot faster, but I love the tram! The nice gusting of wind and you get to people watch from above (from 2nd deck of tram)! Barista Jam’s coffee was good, but actually pretty normal, like how a usual cup of good coffee will taste like. After trying % Arabica’s coffee, most of the coffee is just gonna be normally good. Hahahahaha...
Barista Jam
Shop D, 126-128 Jervois Street, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
1000-1800hrs (Mon, Sat), 0800-1800hrs (Tue-Fri), 1100-1800hrs (Sun), Closed on PH
MTR: Sheung Wan Station Exit A2
#5: Barista Jam.
#6: Cappuccino, HK$36.
Then, I moved on to Tai Kwun. A former Central Police Station that houses the Central Police Headquarters, Central Magistracy and Victoria Prison; now a centre built for heritage and arts. The former Victoria Prison was the most interesting section at Tai Kwun! Witness how prison life is like in Hong Kong. The prison cells were so small that it fits exactly a small bunk bed and a single bed next to it. That small amount of space to fit 3 inmates. Other that the prison museum, there is also other exhibitions and restaurants. This place is great for taking photos!
Tai Kwun 大馆
10 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong
1000-2000hrs (daily)
Exhibition: 1100-1800hrs (daily)
MTR: Central Station Exit D1, D2
There is many places to explore at Tai Kwun with permanent and temporary exhibitions, but I didn't really went round to explore as the weather was very very warm. Sharing from the pamphlets that I got at Tai Kwun, there are 6 main permanent exhibits of the original buildings of the place.
#7: Tai Kwun.
Police Headquarters Block - aka Block 1, discover the story of the Central Police Station , the fascinating stories of the people who worked at the police station and the compound's development through games and miniature models.
Central Magistracy - aka Block 9, discover high-profile cases in Hong Kong's history.
*8: Barrack Block.
Barrack Block - aka Block 3, discover the Central Police Station's major responsibilities and the major emergencies handled over the years.
#9: Prison Yard, Hall D.
Hall D - aka Block 14, discover how food was once used as a form of punishment in prison, and the diet of the prisoners.
#10: Get a glimpse of a real prison cell inside Hall B!
Hall B - aka Block 12, discover how life is like in a cell, and the history of Victoria Prison and the Hong Kong correctional system.
#11: Each of this tiny cell sleeps 3 inmates!
#12: Hall F.
Hall F - aka Block 17, discover the procedures of admitting into the prison:
Confirming the prisoner's identity - name, age, charges and length of sentence.
Body search.
Prisoner number as the new identity - these numbers were also be on uniforms and towels.
Confiscating personal property.
Body check - for any health diseases. All prisoners need to bathe, have a hair cut, clean shave and undergo a health check.
Collecting daily necessities - each prisoner is given 3 sets of prison uniforms, slippers, blanket, plastic basin, toothbrush, plastic cup and a spoon; which are required to be returned upon release.
Getting the fingerprint - black ink is spread on a copper plate with a roller, then fingers are placed on the plate, then on a form. Today, electronic fingerprint scanner is used instead.
Mug shot - taking a prisoner's photo against a height chart, dressed in his uniform with his prison number holding up, informally known as a 'mug shot'.
Prison identity card - this card list their personal information, work assignments in prison and any permissible possessions, and he needs to carry it around at all times. 2 dates are printed on the card, the original release date and an earlier date - 2/3 of the original sentence for good behaviour.
Following the prison rules.
#13: In between the blocks of the prison. Next, coffee time again! I went to the nearby Elephant Grounds for coffee. Wanted to get the famous ice cream sandwich as well, but gosh it’s HK$68! All the popular stuff are so expensive! Then, to Yum Cha for dinner, the popular “vomit” Custard Lava Buns! Got that, along with Siew Mai and one of the items from the November Special - Crab Roe menu. The filling of these liu sha baos is thicker, which makes it easier to eat, without worrying that it will drip everywhere. But as compared, Social Place’s version is better. The Shrimp and Pork Siew Mai was awesome, and each siew mai is topped with plenty of crab roe. The Crab Roe bun was okay only, tasted a little similar to the marinade of a Chicken Pau. Ordered this only because of the cute piece of crab on the bun.
Elephant Grounds
61 Caine Road, Central, Hong Kong
0800-2100hrs (Mon-Fri), 0900-2200hrs (Sat, Sun)
MTR: Central Station Exit D2
#14: Elephant Grounds.
#15: Elephant Grounds.
#16: Cappuccino, HK$40.
#17: Look at that pretty latte art! I love my cappuccinos with cocoa powder sprinkled on!
Yum Cha 饮茶
L3, 20-22 Granville Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong
1130-1500hrs, 1800-2300hrs (daily)
MTR: Tsim Sha Tsui Station Exit B2
#18: One of the best Siew Mais that I have ever had! Look at that amount of crab roe!
Shrimp and Pork Siew Mai with Crab Roe 蟹籽烧卖, HK$59 (4pcs).
Custard Molten Buns (yellow buns) 睇住流沙 (黄包子), HK$49 (3pcs).
Seafood, Pork, Vermicelli and Vegetable Buns (white buns) 有双蟹包 (白包子), HK$69 (2pcs).
#19: These crab buns are one of the items on the November Special, Crab Roe menu. They don't have an English name. The filling consists of many ingredients, mainly pork, seafood (like crab roe, crabmeat and prawns), vermicelli and mixed vegetables.
#20: Their cute custard buns that come with 2 eyes. People always order this to poke a hole as the mouth and squeeze out the liquid custard, so it looks like it's 'vomiting'. Love their custard filling but Social Place's bun as it's slightly more soft. Lastly, went to the nearby Wellcome (supermarket) to see if I could find the Hong Kong food items and snacks that I wanted to get, as the branch near my hotel do not have. Managed to get almost all the items, probably only left to hunt for Oreo Hot Chicken Flavour and Cream Collon Cheesecake Flavour. And... That’s it for day 3!
Rates calculated as SG$1 = HK$5.65
Expenses for Day 3 Tsui Wah, Satay Beef Instant Noodles Breakfast Set HK$38 +$4 to change drink (Coke Lemon) Yee Shun Milk Company, Steamed Milk Pudding (cold) HK$36 Xing Fu Tang, Brown Sugar Boba Milk, HK$30 Barista Jam, Cappuccino HK$36 Elephant Grounds, Cappuccino HK$40 Yum Cha, Custard Molten Buns HK$49 (3pcs) Crab Roe Siew Mai HK$59 (4pcs) Seafood, Pork, Vermicelli and Vegetables Bun HK$69 (2pcs) Wellcome: - Pretz Crunchy Cheese HK$12.90 x2 - Pretz Sweet Potato HK$10.90 x3 - Pretz HK Shark’s Fin Flavour HK$89.90 (12pkts) - Imperial Big Meal, Braised Beef Noodles HK$18.90 x2 - Mentoes Matcha HK$6.50 - Fruitips (extra large) Lychee HK$12.50 - Lindor Extra Dark Chocolate HK$15.80 (3pcs) - Healthworks Pear with Rock Sugar Drink (500ml) HK$6.90 Total Expenses for Day 3: HK$588.90 = SG$104.23 Previous Expenses: SG$1,199.17 Current Total Expenses: SG$1,303.40