From Coolies to Coulis in Taipa
Start with robust Portuguese ingredients, add essence of the Mediterranean and a sprinkling of Chinese flavouring; top it off with a finishing flourish and what do you have? Antonio’s. Walk the streets of old Taipa Village, located in the oldest and best preserved area of Taipa, Macao and you’re immediately aware of a thread of history that spans from the poorest labourers to wealthy merchants. Formerly home to local fishermen, Taipa...
Reach out in all directions with an Octopus
Travelling around in Hong Kong can be complex for the uninitiated – and is becoming ever more crowded. The Octopus card simplifies your travel immensely – and if you stick to the dedicated routes of the MTR, Tram, Bus, Peak Tram and Star Ferry then you’ll also dodge much of the congestion that otherwise clogs the roads. If you’re familiar with Oyster cards in London then Octopus in Hong Kong will be second nature. If...
Hong Kong – Chun Yeung’s magical Street Market
Markets are always colourful places but we’ve become a little jaded by the repetitious nature of many – especially the more Western ‘Farmer’s Markets’ where quality often comes at a high price. Not so, with Chun Yeung Street Market in Hong Kong’s North Point – a short tram ride away from Causeway Bay. We’ve hopped on the North point tram and clattered our way for about twenty minutes from Causeway Bay to the North Point Road tram...
Macao Part 2 – meandering towards Mammon
Few of the hardened gamblers that ever step ashore in Macao will ever venture into the historic quarter at the centre of Macao Island – but here lies the tale of the passage to Mammon that they have all unwittingly followed. There are numerous visual clues that trace the history of Macao, both in its people and its architecture but a leisurely walk along a relatively straight but undulating mile will encapsulate much of the cultural...
Macao Part 1 – Here there be Dragons!
Outwardly sophisticated in appearance, Macao is a cauldron of gambling, wealth, history and kitsch. As we step ashore in Macao from the TurboJET high speed ferry from Hong Kong, our first impression is one of a clean, sophisticated city similar to Singapore. Not for long… The process of getting here is simple – once you’ve got to Hong Kong! We’ve queued briefly at the Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan, Hong Kong, to buy...
A haven from the hub-bub of Hong Kong
In a city that powers through every 24hrs as if it was its last, Lanson Place offers a peaceful escape for the traveller who seeks some quality down-time but still wants to be part of the action. There’s no shortage of luxury accommodation in Hong Kong but there is a shortage of peace, quiet…and space. With space at such a premium on an island of finite size, it’s inevitable that hotels go higher but rooms don’t seem to get any...
