Kwun Tong, June, 2020

The lobby, Renaissance hotel Wanchai, HK

Breakfast at Cafe, Hotel Renaissance Wanchai, HK

The staycation offer covers a set dinner and a breakfast at HK$1,700.  The set dinner for 2 is about HK$1,600 and the breakfast about HK$600.  Yet with an upgrade to a panoramic harbour view, the offer is a double bargain.

It was not crowded for the breakfast but I can still find a big variety of food choices.  Nice coffee and fruit juices.  If the pool wasn't such a big drawback, I would definitely come back for another stay.

Smoke gets in the pool and green, Renaissance Wanchai, HK

It was quite relaxing to have a green place in such a bustling area as Wanchai.  Perhaps it was too relaxing to attract a big crowd of customers.  It then became a busy noisy and smoking place.  What's more, this place is shared by Grand Hyatt and Renaissance.  Supposed in the enclosed area, no smoking is allowed.  Somehow the poolside bar further made this place as an outdoor smoking area.  I took a quick second to take only 2 photos of the pool and sun deck area.  It wasn't that quiet at the real scene. 

The Harbour at times, HK

HKCEC and Tsimshatsui, HK

Harbour View Room, Renaissance Wanchai, HK

A cloudy rainy morning, ICC, HK

In May and June, weather can be quite extreme.  It can be very sunny on one day but rainy or stormy on the next.

滿福樓 Dynasty Chinese restaurant, Renaissance Harbour View Wanchai, HK

This restaurant, Celestial Court, Unicorn, Tang Dynasty... have been the regular places for me to try some delicate Cantonese cuisine when I worked in Tsimshatsui.  This one used to be in the New World hotel in Tsimshatsui and moved with New World hotel to Wanchai and later on changed to the management of Renaissance.  

As when I noticed the staycation program of Renaissance offered a set dinner by this restaurant, I was determined to book this stay.  The manager told us they had a special offer of a fish maw with goose web at HK$180 (from HK$320).  When it was served, I was surprised to see such a big fish maw.  It's much worth it, so is the set dinner.  The service was good too and I noticed they were in a very good team spirit.  I have noticed they served the dishes right away when they were out from the kitchen and yet not messed up with the order.

Ichigen ramen shop, Central and Wanchai, HK

This ramen shop originates from Susukino of Sapporo.  Their signature shrimp soup noodle is the only item they offer - a very unique Japanese way of specializing in one cooking to serve.  It's surprising to see 3 big branches they landed in HK, in Central, Wanchai and Tsim Sha Tsui.  The soup base was quite impressive but I couldn't take too much of it due to potential allergy from shrimp's head.

I somehow think of the Filipino crew of CX.  She was so excited to talk about this noodle soup and enjoyed so much a hearty hot soup in Hokkaido.  Wish that she is doing well and safe during this hardest hit to the travel industry, as well as all others to make it thru'...

6:45pm, Wanchai harbour front, HK

It was 6:45pm when I got back to this room, it felt so welcoming with this balmy sunset light and a backdrop of the clear blue sky over the harbour.  It also told the sun was reaching the tropic of cancer leaving HK with a long day light (sunrise at 5:30am, and sunset at 7:20pm).

The Harbour keepers - IFC II and ICC, HK

Fok Cheong/Oceanic building compound, Quarry Bay, HK

This big mansion compound isn't a stranger for those who go in for a check-in.  I seldom go in but always walk by.  On this sunny day, I saw this reflection on the other side of the building.  I enjoy seeing it this way.

Ruby Tuesday, K11 Atelier Quarry Bay, HK

Tried this restaurant's other branches quite many years ago and found it quite disappointing.  When this new branch was opened in K11 Atelier in Quarry Bay/North Point intersection, I took the advantage of eatigo 50% discount and thought it could be a try at a lower risk.  Or I should say this restaurant marked the prices by double and urged customers to buy their member cards for 50% off throughout the year.  So if you don't buy their card, you paid an unreasonably high price.  Most of the dishes are over HK$200-300 on the menu.  The half portion spare ribs is HK$300 and 328 for the grilled salmon on caesar salad.

The spare ribs wasn't too bad.  It was shimmered for long hours and then grilled and sealed in a smoky sauce.  However, the caesar salad was very awlful.  First they shouldn't use kale with caesar dressing.  The main ingredient Romaine lettuce was rusty.  Yet, caesar salad was all about a fast hand-toss for all the dressing slightly blended with the lettuce.  They just put a small cup of dressing on the side.  Such a turn off.  When the waitress came to ask if everything was ok, I promptly pointed out the rusty lettuce.  What's amazing was they came back with a small plate of lettuce to make up for the lettuce's part.  That means I had to take out the problematic lettuce from the main dish and kept on enjoying the rest plus the small plate of lettuce.

Disconnected in..., Lamma Island, HK

Every time I see Lamma Island, I feel so warm that all the images of my childhood with my father and aunts.  We had a very good lesson about Nature.  We were so disconnected with electronics.  Disconnected from noises, fights and hatred...