Central is the financial hub of Hong Kong. It’s also home of the Tai Ping Koon - the oldest western-style restaurant in Hong Kong. Founded in 1860, the restaurant serves giant soufflés among its specialties. Naturally we ordered one. It was bigger than my head. It was bigger than my body. I’m a fan of desserts this big.
After lunch we walked a bit around Cental before heading onward to the pier.
Six days of hanging out in Shenzhen and it was time to head back to Hong Kong. Pokin’s aunt passed away last year and she wanted to pay her respects to her aunt, uncle and grandparents. All of them were cremated in Chai Wan so that’s where we went.
First thing we did was prepare paper packages. You fill paper bags with all the things you want to provide your ancestors in their afterlife and then you burn it so they receive it.
It can include clothes and money.
They sure cover their bases with what they print on the money.
Once the packages were prepared we put it in the furnace to send off.
And then we wiped down the face plates.
Good bye, goo mah and goo jung, grandma and grandpa.
Today’s not a day to go and visit people. It’s a day to get your fortune told.
Well we went and visited loads of people.
First stop, Uncle Adolf’s house. Uncle Adolf moved to Pok Fu Lam which is located on the South Side of HK. The metro line doesn’t run south, so we got a ride from the Admiralty MTR and drove around to the south side.
Pok Fu Lam used to be a dairy farm but is now a swanky residential area. It was a fine day and Uncle Adolf lives in the Penthouse suite so we got a good view of the South China Sea and Lamma Island. Brunch on a rooftop is not a bad thing at all.
Next stop, cousin Shirley’s place in Tseung Kwan O on the other corner of Hong Kong.
They live beside a mall with the best name in the world.
That’s right, PopCorn Mall. They’ve even got a PopCorn mascot.
Since it was the Year of the Horse, they had some horses too.
Cousin Shirley lives in a tall high rise tower. She’s on the 53rd floor. That’s almost as high as I fly.
Eventually we went back down to the ground floor to meet with Auntie Connie, do another group photo, and then it was time to make our way back into Shenzhen, China.
Day two of Chinese New Year. 開年.
Today’s the day families are supposed to visit. So we started the day with some family visits and family portraits.
That got old quick, so in the afternoon we went to see the Monkey King. In 3D. With subtitles.
It is your numeration, not your responsibility.
Through transmigration, you can live after die.
With dialogue like this, you bet I thought it was the most awesomest movie I’d see so far this Chinese New Year.
Pokin’s dad lives across a reservoir from the tallest mountain in Shenzhen - 梧桐山, or Wutong Mountain.
And the family thought it fitting to do a family hike for Chinese New Year before visiting the Hongfa temple in celebration.
So we set out at 8am in the morning to get to the entrance.
It was a little early for my tastes but if my best bear bud can get up so can I.
And off we went down cement paths and up concrete steps.
Across bridges,
Past ridiculous signs,
And vendors selling all sorts of crazy looking trail snacks.
Eventually we made it to the top, where we could see most of Shenzhen,
And a TV tower.
After that, it was back down the mountain to the Hungfa Temple to give and receive blessings.
Which would have been a fine idea if about a million other Chinese people didn’t have the same thought.
We spent almost as much time waiting to get into the temple as we did doing the 12 mile hike.
My Best Bear Bud wasn’t feeling great about it all.
As for me, I just took a nap in his backpack while we were waiting in line.
Eventually we got into the temple, got some incense, lit some incense, waved them in front of various buddhas, fought the crowds out of the temple, took the bus home, and made dinner.
And that was our 過年 Chinese New Year - a full day and 29,000 steps later.
Word in the house was that lai see packages were being prepared. These are auspicious red packets containing money that are given to kids, colleagues and baby bears like me.
Naturally I came out to supervise.
Nicholas received a bunch from various cousins, aunts, uncles and family members.
I made sure to take them all for myself.
I had a good haul. This is a good start to Chinese New Year.
Today we made jiaozi, or dumplings. I don’t care much for them, but they are a New Year tradition so I thought I’d do my part by watching the work get done.
Chinese New Year is the biggest Chinese holiday of the year. Most offices are closed for at least a week, many for a full two weeks. So before the shutdown, I thought it to be a fine idea to visit Pokin’s dad’s office. First of all I heard it was a food business. Second I liked the notion of a boss-to-bear-boss chat.
But a quick look around proved that there was little in the way of chocolate or hot cocoa. On that point alone, I have decided I like my office better.
Plus I can play games in my office.
Well at least I can entertain myself watching Eric make crepes for the employees.
So I went to China.
So far it’s not too bad as festivities go.
I had a good haul. Time to see how Quatchi did.
We caught up over Skype video chat.
He might have had gotten a santa hat that fit but I got more presents. So there.