A Splurge in Hong Kong - Dinner at the T'Ang Court, Langham Hotel - April 14, 2012

Since I flew Cathay Pacific, one of the world's finest airlines ( in my opinion ),

for my trip to India, I was allowed a stopover in Hong Kong on my return.  I

spent five days there, enjoying all the sights and sounds.  I hadn't been in 4 

years and, while it certainly would have been more fun if I had been with friends,

I managed to enjoy myself alone.  For the most part, I ate at the little small 

places in the Tsim Shat Sui area of Kowloon where I was staying.  One night,

however, I decided to indulge myself and went to my favorite online review

site, TripAdvisor, to look at their recommendations for dinner.  I chose to 

dine at T'ang Court at the Langham Hotel, a Cantonese restaurant, rated #8 out

of 3,332 restaurants in Hong Kong by TripAdvisor.  It was superb.

I was most impressed with the Langham Hotel, itself.  In my past life as a 

working RN, it's the kind of place my friends and I might have chosen on one

of our "queen" journeys.  It was most elegant and lovely and the T'ang Court

was equally so.  I was greeted by name by several of the staff and shown 

to a table in the beautiful dining room.  Soft strains of taped ehru music,

the two stringed Chinese musical instrument I have always enjoyed, played

softly in the background.  Since it was Easter night, there were only a few

tables occupied but the diners seemed most engrossed in their meals.  

Lobby, Langham Hotel, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China

Lobby flowers, close up

Main dining room, T'ang Court

Dining room flowers

The menu was incredible, filled with all sorts of chef's special recommendations 

and set menus.  Having lived in the San Francisco area for over thirty-five 

years, which houses one of the world's largest Chinese populations, good 

Chinese food, especially Cantonese, is not foreign to me.  Instead of choosing

a meal, I picked multiple items from the menu - appetizers, soup, some of the

chef's recommendations, all of which were outstanding.  I know I went over-

board with my selections and, as the staff's eyes grew wider and wider, I 

asked them to advise me.  I ended up with three fewer items which was a

good thing.  By the time I was ready to leave, I could barely walk!!!

The table was very simply and elegantly set with a single green orchid in a glass.

Everything, throughout the meal, was accompanied by sauces.  My pitcher of

jasmine tea was most elegant.  Each item of food was savored and enjoyed to the

fullest.  I spent about two hours dining, listening to the lovely music and enjoying

the ambiance.  It was nice to be away from the clatter and noise of the Nathan Road

dining spots.

Lovely pink shadow from my cocktail

Many paged menu

Jasmine tea

T'ang Court Appetizer plate - fried eel, octopus sashimi, jellyfish,

roast duck, roast pork

Kimchi appetizer

Braised noodles with whole small abalone

Braised seafood and beancurd soup

Crisp tofu skin appetizer ( this was fabulous )

Roast suckling pig...the skin was exquisite

View of the table with some of the dishes

Roast pigeon ( its head came on a different plate )

Jelly fish and pork

A trio of desserts

This was a wonderful feast - if only I could have shared it with someone special,

it would have been absolutely perfect.  Every morsel was an exquisite taste and, 

as you can see, there was certainly enough for two - or, even, three people.  This

was my third trip to Hong Kong - and, sadly, since I'm 67, probably my last.  I 

will never forget dinner at the T'ang Court at the Langham Hotel, one of the 

great meals of my life.  I returned from India and had a visit with my primary

care physician.  It seems I lost 25 pounds during my four month sojourn in 

India....possibly, I lost 30 pounds but my Chinese feast probably restored 5

pounds!!  The price of this meal, before the gratuity - $125 US dollars!!

Mellow Yellow Monday - The Lights of Kowloon, Hong Kong - April 9, 2010

I am participating in Mellow Yellow Monday, #168 -
add your bit of yellow to join in the fun!

Shadow Shot Sunday - Cocktail Shadows - T'ang Court, Langham Hotel, Hong Kong China - April 8, 2012

I am participating in Shadow Shot Sunday 2

Take your shadow shots and join in the fun.

Hong Kong - Victoria Harbor, Symphony of Lights, April 8, 2012

I spent twelve hours yesterday, out and about, walking the streets of Kowloon, then
heading toward Victoria Harbor.  I booked a night "Symphony of Lights" cruise to
see the spectacular light show, then wandered around a bit more, taking in the sights,
sounds, smells and energy that is Hong Kong.  It was amazing to me not to see one
person in a colorful sari.  India is not that far away.  Mostly, I encountered the younger
generation, perched on precarious shoes, dressed in mini everything, giggling, holding
hands, or visiting tourists such as me, some with money being spent in the many
exclusive shops everywhere or others bargaining in little stores.

The light show, of course, was spectacular.  The overcast cleared up to give us an
incredible viewing.  No one puts on an extravaganza like Hong Kong.

Victoria Harbor, before sunset

One of several harbor tour boats

Hong Kong is one of the world's most popular cruise ports

Lights begin coming on about sunset

The show, sponsored by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, takes place every

night at 8PM, when the weather is good.  44 buildings, on both sides of 

Victoria Harbor, participate in the display.  It is the largest permanent sound

and light show in the world.  For more detailed information on the Symphony

of Lights, check out:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Symphony_of_Lights

or http://www.tourism.gov.hk/symphony/english/details/details.html.

The Ship of Rajasthan - Tourist Fun and Hard Working Beast - April 6, 2012

Jaipur, a lovely city in Rajasthan, certainly does much to entertain the huge number of 

tourists that come in huge numbers.  While I certainly didn't clambor aboard a camel ( or

even an elephant which could have accommodated my proportions more easily, I

thought the creatures looked quite elegant in their fancy garb.

When off duty, these "ships of the desert" were allowed to rest in the sunshine.

Besides offering transport for tourists, these animals, however, were often used to

pull carts and were hard working at the tasks for which they were employed.

                         

My very dear friend and respected mentor always gives me grief when 

I do this kind of post, saying I give people the wrong impression of 

India.  I will admit that, outside, Jaipur, I really didn't see camels but,

in Jaipur, they were a presence in many places.  I do think that there 

are other parts of Rajasthan that one will find them.  

I am now in Hong Kong but I miss India so much and I still have many

posts of my four months there.

Quit Monkeying Around - Indian Monkeys - April 2, 2012

In our travels about India, we saw quite a few monkeys.  We were always warned not
to get too close to them so I heeded the advice and stayed respectfully back.

All these monkeys were in Jaipur, in a area of houses near a jewelry shop where we

stopped to look at some lovely Rajasthan creations.  Lala, my taxi driver, was 

especially anxious, that I not get too near the mother and baby.

These last photos were taken in Patiala, on the Punjab University campus.