The 16-hour flight was a doozy, but I made it to Hong Kong fairly unscathed, checking into the glistening, refurbished Mandarin Oriental, ready for full-on pampering. The black silk robe and hot jasmine tea in my room started things on the right foot and then before the jet lag forced me straight into bed, I forced myself to wander.
Surprise, surprise! I wandered my way into a bar -- the glam MO Bar at the Mandarin Oriental's sister property, the Landmark. A stiff drink and meet-n-greet with a lovely gent sitting aside and suddenly I had a companion and an appetite.
Comfort fare was the order of the night and eventually we hit upon the perfect dinner -- Wonton & Dumpling Noodle Soup at Mak's Noodle Shop, a famed purveyor of slurpy Cantonese noodle soups (said noodle soup seen above).
Yum.
Sated, I was still a bit wobbly from the time difference and bid my dinner date adieu and decided to partake in the Mandarin Oriental's "jet lag massage" before making my way to bed.
Good call.
The Mandarin Oriental's spa is luxe on top of luxe and the massage left me as happily limp as one of Mak's noodles.
Needless to say, I slept like a log.
This morning, I woke up refreshed, ready to take on the city. Unfortunately, the city had other plans for me. Before I was going anywhere, I'd have to make it through the rat race.
Part of a bizarre charity event called The Central Rate Race, the streets were full to overflowing with cheering onlookers as a series of odd contests ensued -- all involving inflatable Swiss Cheese.
Not exactly the swank Chinoise experience I was looking for on my vacation. And, I thought the fact that Mickey Mouse had infiltrated in the form of Hong Kong Disneyland was bad enough...
Oh, well.
It was quickly put out of my mind as I ducked into one of Hong Kong's premiere dim sum halls, Maxim's City Hall, a buzzy, clattering restaurant with a breathtaking view of Kowloon and the harbor, as well as exquisite tidbits like Steamed Chicken with Fish Maw, Veal Ribs with Black Pepper Sauce and Steamed Shrimp Dumplings...
Stuffed to the gils, I hailed a cab and ventured to one of Hong Kong's most beloved landmarks - the race track - the Happy Valley Racecourse to be exact. Apparently, Hong Kong residents are race-crazy. And, sitting amongst a few thousand of them on a gloriously sunny day with the sight of magnificent thoroughbreds zooming by I could see why...
Next? A ferry ride to Kowloon to take in the Hong Kong skyline laser show and a taste of life on the other side of the harbor.