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Monday, October 31, 2016

A Trip To Central...



We leave Tai Koo MTR for an afternoon in Central...


After roaming around in Central we landed up at Din Tai Fung...



Here come our noodles...


Waiting with great expectations for our xiaolongbaos to be served...



The Din Tai Fung story...


Our amazing xiaolongbaos...


And some spinach...
That all makes for an excellent early dinner...


Sunday, October 30, 2016

Diwali In Hong Kong...



Happy Diwali...

This year marks our second Diwali after shifting out of India. Last year, we celebrated our first Diwali in Songdo - The Magical Flame Of Diwali, In An Alien Land...
And this year, we are celebrating the festival of lights with family in Hong Kong.
Celebrating Diwali abroad is indeed quite a challenge - firstly, you don't have holidays for Diwali, secondly, the traditional earthen lamps (diyas) required for celebrations are not available and thirdly, there is hardly any festivity in the air, no place to buy mithais - traditional sweets.
But then we as the Indian diaspora, adapt - we adapt pretty fast and we light up homes to usher in a new hope for joy and prosperity for the future!

The Amazing Hong Kong Skyline...



It is always a treat to watch the Hong Kong skyline. The skyline that you see in Quarry Bay is quite different from the skyline that one sees from Central, but it is nonetheless enthralling...


A ferry boat...


A cruise ship sailing out of Victoria Harbour...


Photo time! Where's the "V" sign?


The sky is overcast today otherwise, it would have made for a good view...





A photography drone flies in the sky...




Hong Kong lights up, for Diwali?





It's always fun to be here...





Livin' It Up... In Hong Kong!



It's such a delight to be here, again, in Hong Kong!


The vibe of the city is so different from any other city I have seen so far...


At Tai Koo station...


We headed to Kowloon for lunch...


The number of Mercedes and Rolls Royces you see in Hong Kong is not funny...



Our pilgrimage to Sarvanaa Bhavan, the mecca of South Indian cuisine, begins...


The menu...


South Indian food is always so delightful!


Idli sambhar...


Rava masala dosa - the flaky semolina-rice crepe is so delicious...


Filter coffee...


With payasam for dessert...


Indian television channels in Hong Kong...


A flower shop in Kowloon...

ሰላምታ ሆንግ ኮንግ - Selamta Hong Kong!



And we are travelling again, now to Hong Kong, to celebrate Diwali with family there!


Checking in for our flight - we are travelling on Ethiopian Airlines, which operates a fifth freedom flight between Incheon and Hong Kong, which then flies onwards to Addis Ababa...


I am flying on Ethiopian Airlines after 35 years - the last time I flew on Ethiopian between Addis Ababa and Bombay in 1981, on board their Boeing 727!


And I was eagerly waiting to board their nextgen Boeing 787 Dream)liner...
Neeti finds it really strange that these things about aviation delight me... but that's how I am!


Boarding from Gate 125...


A glimpse of the aircraft from the aerobridge...


The colourful wings of Ethiopia...



The IFE welcomes us on board...


Their inflight magazine Selamta proudly says they have been flying for 70 years...


The IFE gets switched on...


A United Boeing 737 besides us...


The United flies this Boeing 737 between Narita, Tokyo and Incheon...


"The Spirit Of Africa"


This was one of the best inflight meals I had in a long time - a delicious and hearty chicken curry with rice, vegetables, salad and a pannacotta...


Approach into Hong Kong!!!


We are welcomed into Hong Kong!



And now looking forward to some restful time here in Hong Kong!