Sundays Grocery

Sundays Grocery based in Kennedy Town is a newly opened sandwich shop. A sandwich shop with a little edge however. The inside of it is refurbished in a boutique type design. This sandwich shop sells more than just that, although the sandwiches are the bomb! BANH MI is just so delicious, and surprisingly filling despite it looking towards the smaller end of the scale. Think of it as your asian subway if you will. However, think of it as an asian subway that also sells alcohol, t shirts and freshly squeezed juices. As a westerner it is exactly what I want on those days where I want a fusion of western and asian food. BANH MI is the epitome of this. Located on Belcher Street it is an extremely convenient location (with Kennedy Town opening an MTR soon, it will be even easier to access) 

At around 80HKD a sandwich it is not the most purse friendly lunch, but I promise you will not regret it. 

The infamous Banh Mi

Week 2

During the past two weeks I've been getting into a routine, routines after a while get rather boring and tiering. However as a University student who has not had a proper schedule for two years it is quite refreshing! Working in such a nice office environment with lovely people is also another perk of it too! In a co-working office called The Hive, the place is designed in a nice open space, nice interior, FREE LATTES, water and extremely good air-con! Maybe a little too strong sometimes. However, this all just makes it such a nice environment.

If you are looking for a nice little office to rent in Hong Kong, I definitely recommend a place like The Hive located in Kennedy Town. 

They host little get togethers for all the different companies within the hive, and it is such a nice little fun AND healthy get together.

The photo below shows the little salad they prepared with all the food we all brought together. 

I work for an awesome Australian company that falls under The Lock Group, the people are just so lovely, and yet oh so professional! If you ever have time, check out BRAND X, or DESIGNPMQ, because they work so hard to put it all together, and the people are so genuine! 

They have given us opportunities to experience things we may never have had access or information to, for example a fashion show for the emerging Hong Kong brands, FLUX and also DEMO. 

 A little behind the scenes of the fashion show, with a famous blogger/actress in attendance! I have yet to find out who that "famous somebody" was, but I definitely recognised her face haha!

 Another two interns working under The Lock Group, Cryster & Hao Chian!

 Above and below is a little preview of the Demo collection, designed for men. 

 Below are the models modelling the collection designed by Flux, the designs which are already becoming popular in Melbourne (I heard), and is currently working on developing and opening up to the American market! So look out guys!

Just as a little side note, my favourite song of the moment is RUDE by Magic! I literally cannot get enough of this song, the smooth reggae beat with such funny and cute lyrics. It pulls at my heart strings whilst I bounce happily to the beat. 

This week was a little towards the less hectic side, but the upcoming THIRD WEEK was a lot of food, a lot of hanging out, and just a lot. 

Hong Kong Week 1:

Food Diary of the first week in Hong Kong, I cannot lie, it has not been the healthiest of weeks. Though, who cannot resist a little temptation, when sometimes it really is the only option, to eat out and enjoy the many cuisines that take up so much of Hong Kong's streets. If you have been here before, you will understand what I mean by the vast amount of restaurants that are here. Literally within a minutes walk there will be something to eat, something usually so cheap you will not even be able to concoct something this cheap yourself!

I apologise now for the low quality pictures and the it being a jumbled mess!

 Dinner at the buffet Korean Restaurant, located in the London Plaza on Jordan Road. Delicious, and so many choices! at around $190 HKD, it isn't too bad for a dinner out! Especially if you are hungry, we are vowed to come back here to stuff our faces soon! The price pays promises fun evening cooking your own dinner, as well as choice and taste! Meat, desserts (fruit, mochi, ice cream, tofu). 

A more traditional cantonese restaurant in Kowloon Tong in the major shopping centre located there. This place is relatively cheap,  (UK standards) however there are a million and one places which will do this kind of food for A LOT CHEAPER. 

Another photo from the cantonese restaurant!  

 And.. it appears another! 

 Choux creme, what can I say these look and taste delicious! Food like this just makes your mouth water. Look at it all sitting out, just calling your name.. waiting for you to buy and eat... it's still calling. 

Dinner with my family in the evening, maybe a little less traditional chinese, BUT this sweet and sour pork was delicious. I am quite picky about sweet and sour dishes, normally only a fan of the one sold in my mother and father's restaurant. BUT THIS, I give it 10 thumbs ups! Pork is never that delicious when covered in batter, but this steals the show. Surprisingly the vegetables were super tasty too! This restaurant is based in Che Kung Temple, if you like yourself some non-traditional chinese food, this might just be the place.  

Hello Grandma! You oh so pretty thing :)  

Wan Chai expo, visiting the HK fashion week. Rice = always a win. Duck and BBQ = ALWAYS a win. The milk tea was delicious too. The thing you have to love about HK restaurants and cafe is the extremely quick service. WHO wants to wait around when your stomach is grumbling? HANGRY.  

 Strutting her stuff, this was a cool experience. However it is more like a trade show, where companies and designers have stalls to showcase their designs. (Also some chinese/indian manufacturers). Trade shows are still quite interesting though, the brighton one is a small quaint one if you ever wish to see one closer to home. 

 Ista located in Central, awarded as being one of the Top 100 restaurants in HK. Doesn't sound THAT impressive, until you actually see how many restaurants there are in HK. This was worth it though, the service wasn't as fast as other places, but the food was great and the waiters extremely nice. 

 Tourist photo! Having been here so many times I never even knew this was a tourist attraction. But hey, it seems to be quite a popular one!

Toast Box located in Jordan, quick, tasty, cheap and quite a varied menu. Around $50 for a set like this, pretty good. 

So never in my whole life would I have imagined I would be eating soup at Pizza Hut. However.. that is what I opted for, over the pizzas with weird toppings. This wasn't the most tasty soup I'd ever tried, but the crust was divine. Pizza Hut you disappointed, but I'll always be back at some point. 

 Little tourist picture after our trip the O-zone bar at The Ritz. 

 Lunch with the colleagues at a japanese restaurant not far from the office. Mixed sushi sashimi with rice. Filling but definitely not the tastiest sushi I've had in HK. Actually it felt a little slimely, a little not cold enough, but at least it didn't make my belly unhappy, so that is always a good sign! The egg they serve with these japanese dishes definitely takes the prize though! 

 Chilli Fagara, a taste of szechuan, located in Central you'd think it was an easy place to find. NO - this literally took around 30-40 mins of searching, in the sweltering evening humidity. Though it definitely was worth it. Despite it making us sweat EVEN MORE than it did to find this place. 

We opted for a duck with pancakes, the chilli fish, prawns, sweet and sour chicken, noodles and a complimentary dish of beef. 

For all lovers of chilli, this is definitely the place to go. I love myself some extra hot Nandos and still this was probably a little too spicy for me. Spice on SPICE ON SPICE just really kills your mouth. Tingling mouth for the rest of the evening. 

Holly modelling the fish in literally soup that was 5x spicier than your extra hot Nandos.. I wish the best for anybody who actually drinks any of that "soup". And so with 5 more weeks in HK to go, the adventure continues. 

Reflective Saturdays #5

Hello from Hong Kong, as I sit in my little flat in Jordan. Having decided that a party boat trip organised wasn't where I wanted to be today, at 2:20pm I am sat here. My family are coming to visit a little later, and I am extremely excited! My grandma who I have not had the chance to see in over a month, and my aunties in uncles in a long long time. 

So upon coming here, I knew that I was ready. After what I would almost call a fail in Rabat, I was ready for my next adventure, one where I was fully able to immerse myself in a culture that I had the perfect amenities to adjust to. I was excited, heading onto the 12 hour flight by myself was daunting, but I am not a child anymore. What just one week has made me realise is, we as individuals should never feel we are missing out on anything. Upon this years journeys through different countries, I have found myself more willing to be alone. From the age of 15 I have not had this opportunity, becoming 15 I entered an extremely long relationship, 3 1/2 years to be exact, and then a few months here and there with the same person. Upon leaving this relationship, I was once again thrust into a situation where I was spending time with another person almost 24/7. Until now I never realised how exhausting it is to spend every single waking moment with other people. I used to feel like I needed to plan every waking moment, in making sure I wasn't alone for any ONE moment. I never wanted to spend time alone, I never left any room in my life. Silence did not cut it. I did not want to feel like I was missing out. When in actual fact I was missing out on myself, I never took time for me, to think, to feel and to do anything that enriched my mental state. The feeling of being alone to me was lonely. 5 years later, sometimes I still find myself falling into this trap of feeling "left out" if I do not attend events organised, and then there are times where I do feel alone. But, from all those years of feeling like I needed to be busy, be with people I've realised that I like being alone and it is not lonely, I get to do what I please, and at the pace I decide. Of course, I almost do always go to events planned, for example in this week of arriving in HK, I have stayed at home for 1 evening! That is after returning home from work from 10am till 6:30pm, only once did I decide to stay in. 

I love social events, I love talking to people and I love meeting new people. I like a drink here and there, I like to going to bars and clubs, I like shopping, I love eating out, and above all I like doing all those things with my friends and family. But in the middle of all of that, I like to readjust my emotions and just be myself for a little. 

Credit: Somewhere on Tumblr..

I find it completely okay to be by yourself, decide that you do not want to attend certain events, and events that just are not for you. Do not ever feel like you are missing out, because what is another boat party going to do for you? Nothing more than all the others did. What will you miss from just one dinner with everybody? Probably nothing. 

So in all these years of trying to squeeze everything into a schedule, I just need some time to be by myself, to not have to talk to anybody I do not wish to, to not have to see those I do not wish to. It is empowering, and it makes it ever more special when you see and speak to people, because you chose to; not because you felt pressured to. You will only ever feel lonely if you do not like your own company, so love it, embrace it; because I promise you will love it, more than you would have ever imagined. 

Saigon Greenwich

Saigon is located extremely conveniently and extremely easy to find. In the centre of Greenwich right next to Greenwich park, and opposite Greenwich market. The menu consists of both Vietnamese food and a few dishes which overlap into Chinese. With a private room allowing for large private parties, or open during normal open hours, it is the perfect place to bring a big group of friends or family, if you all want to be in one location. 

The mixed platter consisted of a mixture of fried seafood and fried spring rolls. On the plate next to it is summer rolls, which is definitely my weakness! (I was eating these summer rolls for 2 days after this meal) Anything with vinegar tastes like a little bit of heaven to me. If you're eating food with Asians, don't forget the soup!

Time for the good stuff, the lobster and the lobster noodles! Lobster noodles are delicious, and my family can't seem to get enough of it!

Asian style dessert = FRUIT. The fruit was nice and fresh, and the melon, I just wish you were there to try it with me! Lychee and melon makes for the best sweet snack/dessert/meal, whatever you want to make it!

To top it all off, just a little bit of ice cream.