The only way to enjoy the continuous good weather is to go hiking, doing all the familiar routes. Today is my favorite, for the fantastic beach, mountain views. Sai Wan, Ham Tin Wan lunch, Singapore noodle, Dai Wan for a siesta, then Pak Tam Au bus back. A long day, but always enjoyable.
First walked this trail last year, immediately added to my every year must do hiking list. We start from 北港, follow Maclehose trail 4 until the small unmarked turn into Tai No Ancient trail, follow it all the way down to Ho Chung.
It is a good 4 hr walk, more or less the whole trail on beautiful natural stone paths, laid down few hundreds years ago for villagers to bring produces to town to sell.
The crumbling high stone walled terraces, the stream with huge boulders, remnants of old dwellings, the still in good condition sugar cane stone grinder, all added to the mistery of the bygone era.
A waterfront restaurant that we like to go to when in Sai Kung, after walks. It is good with seafood feasts, but also for casual meals, love the alfresco seating.
Dim Sum is fine, the crispy fried soft tofu is excellent, and so is the crispy pork belly, juicy with thin fat layers, like how it should be.
Spent 2 days to prepare a Xmas meal, for the fun of creation and for joy of sharing.
Aperitifs:
Debone duck, season with salt, soy sauce, miso, 5 spices powder and liqueur, stuff with cooked sweetcorn, mushroom, Chinese sausage and minced duck meat, rolled up. Skin had hot water treatment, brushed with vinegar and honey mixture and dried in the fridge for a day.
Baked at 160˚C for 45 minutes the 190˚C for 30 minutes. Meat is tender but skin not crisp yet. Probably need to increase temperature to 210 instead.
Cranberry sauce
Cook the bones of duck to form stock, add 500gm fresh cranberry, cook until soft, season with soy sauce, 5 spices powder, brown sugar, liqueur, sieve to remove bones and skin.
Sweet potato stack
Cheese platter
The walk is pleasant, so close to high rises and with a great open panorama. It is a bit of queueing up to get on the Ferris wheel, but contrary to having one slow spin on the wheel, the move is fast in between stoppings, and we got 3 spins! Fun experience and view of the area.
做個遊客，和友人到慈山寺走走，建設優秀，費用全免，義工導師用心導賞，好難得。
有幸見到數株佛祖悟道的菩提樹，以前寫作葡提樹，一直誤以為是藤科的葡萄，原來是音譯 bodhi tree ，屬無花果科。
樹高大，葉片特別，心形，有修長的勾尖尾，一見難忘，可惜地面打理清潔，完全沒有落葉，想拾一片作書簽留念也不成。
Pick this hike because of the nice Hakka restaurant at 深涌, unfortunately the roof of the old building was damaged in the last typhoon and is under renovation, re-open in January 24.
It is amazing to see the view across 企嶺下海, with residential high rises mushroomed up in high speed.
Entertained visitors to Hk with a seafood and roast goose meal at Saikung water front, alfresco dinner. First is to visit the wet market nearby before 6:30pm, buy the shellfish for cooking at the restaurant, definitely better price than the seafood stall in front of the restaurant.
Learned how to clean razor clam at the market, what a neat way to remove all the sand and organs inside.
Tried 全記, good cooking and pricing of seafood dishes, their roast goose and crispy tofu dishes are great.
I practiced cooking razor clams at home, using a lot of ginger, lemon grass and kaffir lime leaves instead. Cook the condiments first, then at high heat stir in razor clam to mix well, super fragrant and tender.
I had many delicious meals in the 4 days in Taichung, the most memorable is Sur, with 4 young men working in the kitchen.
Very interesting and meaningful mix of fusion ingredients, used with thought, a lot of flavour in every dish, so well executed, bravo!
 |
| fish egg on tofu |
 |
| raw shrimp on warm egg custard |
 |
| Japansed yam on seared squid |
 |
| beef cheek |
 |
| Ma Yau fish |
 |
| cured duck breast |
