We started the day at the Aberdeen fish market. I’ve shown you pictures of Aberdeen before, but not the fish market. This place used to be wall-to-wall boats (junks, sampans) where people lived. Their shedding of debris, sewage, etc., was not great for the local waters, so the government moved them into huge “resettlement” buildings on a nearby island called Ap Lei Chau and then connected the island with a bridge. Most of the boat people still make their living on the water, but just don’t live on the boats anymore. Gopal’s office is just past Aberdeen so he dropped us off while he got the car washed. We weren’t allowed to take pictures in some areas, presumably because the fish might not be legal…. So I took pictures only in the allowed areas.
Aberdeen Fish Market -- each fish company offloads its fish in such areas
Fresh fish...
Yummy clams....
After we had our fill of seafood, Monika and I got the car from Gopal and parked it in one of the Aberdeen carparks. Then we walked through this really nice park where all the elderly Chinese were out visiting with their friends. I love the fact that in all public parks, smoking is prohibited because they don’t want their elderly to breathe second-hand smoke. Hong Kong has really gone all out for anti-smoking, clean air, reducing the carbon footprint, and other clean environmental habits.
Aberdeen park
We headed for a cappucino at — would you believe — McDonald’s “McCafe.” Monika and Gopal tell me their cappucinos are better than Pacific Coffee and Starbucks — and cheaper! I like the way they decorate the tops…
McCafe cappucinos
After a leisurely coffee, I went looking for a new pair of walking shoes, which I found. They’re much more comfortable than the ones I brought with me. Then we browsed through the Aberdeen Market, which is a large three story building in the center of town. They sell fruit and vegetables on the ground floor, and everything else on the next two floors. It’s so very convenient to go for your dried fish and chicken feet and then turn around and buy a new dress or have a suit made.
One stop shopping
Around 1:00 we stopped for a quick lunch at a local Japanese fast food restaurant. In less than 3 minutes, I had a miso soup and a bowl of rice with beef and vegetables. Monika had miso and a bowl of mushroom congee (rice and noodles in a slightly thickened broth). Their pickled ginger comes in small sealed cellophane packages.
Having had enough of Aberdeen, we drove to the Hong Kong Cricket Club where we left the car (Monika and Gopal are members) and picked up the bus to the ferry terminal in Central. The Cricket Club is about mid-way between Central and Repulse Bay at the top of the gap in the mountains. Anyway, Gopal’s mother (age 96) had been in the hospital ever since I got here, and she just returned home, so Monika wanted to go visit her. I got to go along for the ride, and had met Gopal’s mother years ago. She now lives on Lantau Island in a village called Discovery Bay. It is a 20 minute ferry ride from Central ferry pier.
Discovery Bay Ferry
Beautiful inside accommodations
Discovery Bay is a relatively new community. There are no cars, only golf carts, bicycles, and buses. The area around the bay has been developed with several pricey restaurants and shops. It was my first time there and it was nothing at all like Hong Kong. It would be a great place to have a small apartment just to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. However, it won’t be long before this place is full of tall apartment buildings, too. Rentals are lower, and it would be ideal for someone who works from home and doesn’t need to be traveling back and forth by an $8 ferry every day. They do run fairly frequently, though, so for many people it’s worth the more relaxed atmosphere.
View from Gopal's mother's apartment. Discovery Bay.
Discovery Bay waterfront promenade
After visiting and watching a few Indian soap operas with Gopal’s mother — an experience in itself — we hopped the ferry back to HK, armed with chicken curry and a stack of chapatis for dinner, compliments of the cook-boy. We took the bus to the Cricket Club, met up with Gopal, and we all drove back to Repulse Bay. Dinner and a movie: My Week with Marilyn. Quite a story! It was a good day. ’til tomorrow….