Day 3 - The Good, the Bad, and the Delicious!
Today was the first day of my course in Hong Kong, but first and foremost it was the first light of Channukah. There was an interesting story in the South China Morning News on Monday about the Jewish community in Hong Kong, which somewhat ironically is about double that of my home town of Mississauga. The two towns have one thing in common in that I do not know any of those Jews in either of them. I do however have Theresa and Aaron back in Oakville who were eager to help me to celebrate, and I was more than happy to get up early to connect via web cam so that we could light the candles together. It was my first ever remote candle-lighting, as well as Theresa and Aaron's first ever. It was exciting and a little emotional!
After class I returned to the hotel to drop off my gear, and to pick up my passport. I then got screwed... but boy do I have good things to say about it! The story:
I had made reservations at a restaurant in Kowloon, so I asked the doorman to put me in a taxi. The driver did not speak any English, so I asked the doorman to explain to h
im that I wanted to go to the ferry terminal to take me to Tsim Sha Tsui. We started heading in the familiar direction, but soon I was lost in thought and only noticed too late that we were in traffic to get into a tunnel... He drove me all the way to Kowloon. What would normally have been a $25 taxi ride (plus a $2.20 ferry ticket) cost me $100 even, and I was angry. I was not sure if it was the driver who had screwed me or the doorman who had explained wrong, but I was out of pocket and not pleased.
I walked around for a while before heading for the restaurant, and found my way into a gallery of Chinese art. I saw these most incredible ivory carvings! They would not allow me to take photographs in the gallery, but the absolute star pieces were in the window, which I was allowed to photograph (seen here).
I went into the restaurant for 7:30 and was seated as asked next to the window. I had my front-row seat for the light show! I had read a review of the restaurant on the web which recommended the drunken shrimp in wine. I ordered that and grilled prawns, both were very good... but the show was how they prepared the shrimp. You see, it had not occurred to me that they brought live shrimp 
to your table and got them drunk, and then boiled them. It was a sight to see, and I am really happy that I had my camera to record it all, first the drinking, then the... rest. (See the videos on my Facebook page)
Before getting onto the ferry home I got a mango juice and bought some souvenirs for the family, and then paid my 1/735 of a belt to catch the ferry back. When I got to the hotel I went to the front desk and told them about the taxi incident, and they actually paid me back, in cash, when I gave them the receipt. This hotel... wow, I still don't have any word for the whole experience that is not glowing! If you are ever in Hong Kong I strongly recommend the Conrad... you will thank me for it!
More later... time to call Theresa!