Hong Kong  (Jan 2009)

One of my friend from Hong Kong once said proudly, "Hong Kong is the No.1 modern city in the world with many skyscrapers, fashion malls and fine restaurants....", although I was not 100% convinced, it is interesting to go there to explore what happened after my last visit in 2002.  At the end of 2008, it came true.

The 6-day trip plan is as follows:

1. Fly from NYC to HK, stay at North Corner （北角）

2. Causeway bay （铜锣湾）

3. HKUST （科大）

4. Saigon （西贡），Tsim Sha Tsui （尖沙咀），Victoria Peak（太平山） and the Center （中环）

5.  Stanley(赤柱），Deep water bay（深水湾), stay at Tsing-yi (青衣）

6.  Lantau (大屿山)

Dining:

Although it is the said to be the heaven for eaters, I kind of felt disappointed. I had to admit I had really high expectation and compared them with the high level restaurant  I tried. But it still has some highlights such as Lung King Heen (龙景轩), Chuen Kee Seafood Restaurant (全记)， Honeymoon Dessert (满记)，Superstar Seafood Restaurant (红星), and Prince of Bun. Most of time I was trying the Chinese restaurants there, and I realized that the standard for Chinese food in Hong Kong was authentic and traditional. Different from it, the mainland now has more creative dishes with many varieties.

Sightseeing:

The best impression is Hong Kong's night. The light show at Tsim Sha Tsui  is a must-see experience, way better than the light show in Luxor. The river, the light, and skyscrapers (the most distinguished one is Bank of China) altogether, performed a most fantastic and splendid show.

Then it is Victoria Peak, a romantic place to see the sun-set and night view. There is also a Madame-Tussauds at the peak featuring many Hong Kong stars such as Miriam Yeung, Kelly Chan, Twins etc.

I took a half-day taxi tour with Simon, since I had been to all the famous places, he took me to somewhere not listed on the travel guide. It is Stanley,  a western style town by the sea. I could not believe Hong Kong has a small and quiet town like those in the US. There is a farmer market, a board walk, and some historical building which was moved from the the center city by the English. Sami told me the British loved this place and they did not allow Chinese to step in, what a shame! I also found some historical pillars.

The last day I decided to go to Lantau to visit the largest Buda statue. I took the subway from Tsing-Yi and then switched to the bus to continue onto the mountain. It is the only undeveloped rural place in Hong Kong with many trees, farm lands and few people. For about 1.5 hours, I got to Po Lin Monastery (宝莲禅寺). Looking upforward from the mountain foot, the golden Buda Statue is gorgeously sitting in the sky with clouds around him. After climbing onto hundreds of steps, I got a closer look. His eyes are long and smiling, looks very gentle and nice, sitting on the lotus seat.

Shopping:

No trip to Hong Kong can complete without shopping. I wonder if it has the largest density of stores in the world. Fashions, jewelries, cosmetics, from low level to upper end, you can find anything in Hong Kong. But on the other hand, you can also find the similar staff in the States or China. I just can not understand: do you really need to go to Hong Kong for shopping?

这次Memorial Day之行，Montreal+ Quebec City，回味一下Quebec的法国风情。

一路上还算顺利，到达Montreal是晚上9点半，饥肠辘辘的我们自然把restaurant作为1st Stop, 我选择了一家以Foie Gras

出名的店：

Au Pied du Cochon

www.restaurantaupieddecochon.ca

有很多种方法做的Foie Gras,我们试了Foie gras tout nu和Plogue à Champlain ，很不错，一个是煎鹅肝，还有一个是鹅肝配pancake,酸酸甜甜的sauce.他家的猪蹄膀好像也很有名。

早上起来以后，先去了著名的smoke meat店，Schwartz's, http://www.schwartzsdeli.com/

去了城里，Notre Dame，广场，Art Museum，然后在old town走了一会儿，去一间据说很好的甜食店,看了一眼就是一间bakery，（Olive & Gourmando (351 St. Paul West)）于是就走了，不过去吃早餐的话应该也还好吧。

Montreal的旅游咨询：

蒙特利尔最壮观的建筑、教堂和难以计数的博物馆就位于此地。您可以购买售价C$20的Montreal Museum Pass，可通行无阻于蒙特利尔25间博物馆(包括大多数以下所介绍的博物馆)，但该票只有两天的使用期限4。您可以在博物馆、闹区的Infotourist等地购买，电话514-873-2015。或参观网址：http://www.tourism-montreal.org/1_0/cartmusa.htm，获得更多详细信息。

　　Mount Royal Park
　　Mount Royal Park也是当地人所称的Mountain，启用于1876年，是由纽约中央公园的设计者－Frederick Law Olmsted所设计。Montreal之名便是Mount Royal两字结合而成。这个蒙特利尔最大(494英亩)、最好的公园是您欣赏各种植物、鸟类的最好场所，其中的步行道也相当适合散步、慢跑和骑自行车。冬季也可在此滑雪、溜冰。Centre de la montagne提供各种活动，帮助您利用园内的各种丰富资源。Smith house有园内相关展出项目，而Chalet Lookout则是您欣赏蒙特利尔城全景的绝佳地点之一。
　　交通：由Camilien-Houde Parkway 或Remembrance Road，或在Mont-Royal地铁站下车后，转搭11号公车。
　　电话： (514) 843-8240

　　Musee des Beaux Arts(Fine Arts Museum)
　　为这是加拿大最古老，也是最重要的艺术机构之一，因此当然也名列为蒙特利尔主要的美术馆。从1860年成立至今，Montreal Museum of Fine Arts便以能够吸引各种不同人的欣赏为指导方向。这里有北美最好的收藏，总计超过来自世界各地的30000件收藏品，年代由古至今都有。除了各地的收藏之外，该美术馆的建筑本身也值得您的欣赏。
　　地址：1379 - 1380 Sherbrooke Street West，Peel/Guy-Concordia地铁站
　　电话：(514) 285-2000
　　网址：www.mmfa.qc.ca/a-sommaire.html
　　开放时间：周二至周日11 a.m. － 6 p.m.周三至晚间九点。
　　参观非常设展作品需购票，票价约C$10，学生和老年人可以半价参观。

Old Montreal(Vieux Montreal)
　　Old Montreal述说着1642年蒙特利尔成立以来的历史，原本就充满博物馆、精品店、咖啡厅和广场的热闹地区，在增加了夜间照明后更加迷人。
 

　　Place d'Armes & Basilica Notre Dame
　　建立于17世纪末的Place d'Armes如今已成为蒙特利尔重要的地标之一。广场旁的建筑、广场内的纪念物已都成为蒙特利尔各个阶段的里程碑。站在广场中间的是蒙特利尔的创建者Sieur de Maisonneuve的雕像。在110 Rue Notre Dame Quest上的就是Basilica Notre Dame。这个浩大的新哥德式长方形教堂于1829年启用，内部是中古世纪的装潢：彩色玻璃、蓝色圆顶天花板，以及松树和胡桃树所制的雕刻，您不可错过。该教堂足以容纳5000人，圣诞夜时尤其热闹。您可致电514/849-1070，可免费参观并有导览。

中午我们在一个French Bistro ：L'express， 3927 St. Denis Street， Montreal, QC H2W 2M4 Canada
我们点了烤鹌鹑，salmon,还有一个甜点，是用蛋白作的，外面是焦糖，很特别。

下午我们决定去皇家山顶看风景，顺便路过St. Joseph 教堂，发现它的建筑风格很类似巴黎的圣心教堂，连环境的很相似。