Water Pool Villa, HIdeaway Maldives

A week before taking on a trip to a new resort called Carpe Diem, I got an urgent note from the agent that the resort couldn't be opened in time due to the Gov't delay in issuing a permit for the security system.  So the resort offered to move us to a few other choices of resorts.  So we chose this one and earned back a US$1,000 a night.

This resort was once called Island Hideaway, and it was renovated with 50 water pool villas in addition to its 30 beach villas.  The whole island was so big that you had better take the buggy services to go to the restaurants.  Pros and cons - you would spend more time in the room but you would miss some scenes in other parts of the island.

The room is very spacious at 190 sq. m. Quite a standard Maldivian water pool villa design.  Chose a room facing south with the all day sunshine as the sun is moving south during this time of the year.  The weather was very fine throughout the entire stay.  

大眼雞(木棉魚), Big Eye Fish, Hideaway Maldives

It was the first time I saw this very old friend in the water of Maldives, or I should say "meeting them in person".  This is one of the preferred choices of my grand ma, parents and aunts in my kid's time.  It's also difficult to choose a right one.  If it's not fresh, it's very smelly and the meat very loose.  I recall how my sisters emptied their bowls of rice with this steamed fish juice mixed with soy sauce/ginger/scallions and oil.  Wish my father could also see it on the other side of the ocean.

In the shade, Hideaway Maldives

Ready for a catch of the day, at Hideaway beach resort, Haa Alifu Atoll, Maldives

It looks like quite HK style that the seafood restaurant would have some fish tanks for the customers to pick up the catch.  The only difference is that this fish tank was filled with 100% crystal clear sea water right from the middle of the Indian Ocean.

Bronze fish vs wooden fish, from BKK to Maldives

Sometimes we may have some Deja Vu at some scenes encountered.  This time, a day after I saw this fish sign of Laem Charoeng (a seafood restaurant of BKK), I saw a raw one in a restaurant of Hideaway resort of Maldives.

Coral Residence, Male City, Maldives

This 30 storey apartment compound will be situated on the west coast of Male City (where the beach area is).  A modern shopping mall will be there too.  After the China friendship bridge was built, I had seen quite many changes.  A taxi stand on the arrival area of the Male Airport.  A double decker bus was there too.  The runway has been expanded and a side taxi corridor will be completed soon.  Later on a new airport terminal connected to the current seaplane terminal.  

Male Airport, Maldives

Amazing for the first time I didn't see anyone around this pick up area of the Male International Airport (Maldives).  It was 6:20am though....

Apartment O (陳公館), Hoi Ping Road, Causeway Bay HK

I often thought about having a short term apt. to move in for an entire renovation of my current place.  This thought was taken by one of my family members whose apt. got in trouble causing for an urgent move to a short term apt.  So I could visit this temporary place for my future planning (maybe another long long awaited one).  The rent wasn't that high, at around HK20k (for a 250 sq. ft. unit) a month including some cleaning services and a nice house lounge.  The most considerable point was that it is in the south Causeway Bay, on Hoi Ping Road (Lei Garden).  It's in a very quiet location but yet only 2 minutes you can walk to the busiest part of Causeway Bay - Times Square & Hysan Place.

Grilled salmon, by Paul, Central Embassy, BKK

Another surprise from Paul Thailand

Inflating and deflating, at Central Embassy, BKK

Falcon lounge, Bahrain Airport

His Master's Voice, London, England

I often got asked which play list I listened to.  My answer none.  I even stopped buying songs from iTunes.  Those compressed sound files are somewhat not appealing to me, though I am not insisting on a zero-loss sound quality.  Perhaps my. brain is still with how the sound vibes from the vinyl disc.  That's what a Master's voice is.  

Said Cafe, Oxford Street, London, England

This place seemed to have been opened for a while.  The staff simply didn't know how to use the menu and yet they don't how what is on the menu.  We ordered an iced black coffee but then they came to tell they didn't have any ice cube and said they were making a new one.  So the new one is still without any ice but room temperature.  Regardless of all these chaotics, their coffee and chocolate are very impressive.  Hope to come back some time later.

Breakfast at the Z Hotel Gloucester Place, London, England

Sometimes a nice breakfast is not about the variety.  When I saw my favourite French jam served, it's already my appetite for starting a breakfast. 

Fish n Chips, at the Rock & Sole Place, London, England

Came here with friends and some of them visited London for the first time.  After we brought them to try pies, we shouldn't miss fish & chips.  We ordered a skate fish, rock fish and sole.  When they were served on the table, we made a mistake.  We should order one for 2 persons.  The fish was deep fried so well that it's very crispy and not too oily.  The problem was that as it's a such a large portion that you couldn't finish it all.  When you are half way done, the fish was a bit cooled down and became not so tasty.  The chips were somewhat disappointing.  It wasn't that rich in potato flavour.

Battersea Pie, Covent Garden, London, England

Tried a mushroom chicken pie and it's quite a standard one.  Personally I like it the way they did't make it too greasy and heavy, and yet it's not in heavy seasoning or sauce inside.  

Stature of Queen Victoria, Windsor, England

This stature wouldn't be a stranger to HK people.  She simply reminds me of my school time in Victoria  Park of HK.  Finally I saw her again at her hometown.

The Duchess of Cambridge, Windsor, England

It was quite crowded for many restaurants in Windsor, especially on Sunday.  Pros and cons - we could try the local popular Sunday roast.  The roast beef was a bit too well done but the yorkshire pudding and the steamed carrot made the lunch pretty hearty.