Yesterday I headed off to Wanchai to meet up with friends and celebrate my fifty-ninth birthday. I always set out a bit earlier than necessary and go off and look at something or run some errands on the way. This time I decided to go via Tsim Sha Tsui and ride the Star Ferry to Wanchai, since it's been a while since I have done this.
I took some photos of the mosque next to Kowloon Park. It's much easier to photograph it from the far side of the road.
Kowloon Mosque.
Then, I walked past the infamous Chung King Mansions, headed through the lobby of The Peninsula Hotel and watched the crowds posing for photos in front of Heritage 1881. As far as I could see there were no special events or displays on at this time. I guess the next big event will be Christmas.
Chung King Mansions.
The Peninsula Hotel.
Heritage 1881.
The journey from Tsim Sha Tsui to Wanchai by Star Ferry only takes about eight minutes, but it's very pleasant. The sun was just starting to set as the ferry sailed across Victoria Harbour.
Waiting to board the Star Ferry.
Waiting to board the Star Ferry.
Artwork at the Star Ferry pier.
On board the ferry.
The Tsim Sha Tsui clocktower.
Looking back at Tsim Sha Tsui.
Looking back at Tsim Sha Tsui.
In the middle of the harbour.
The sun going down over Central.
Sunset over Central.
Arriving in Wan Chai.
Star Ferry Man helping us to dock.
I travelled on The Northern Star.
Near the Wanchai ferry pier there's a sitting out area by the waterside that's very pleasant. People come here to exercise and one area is used for staging the Hong Kong Harbour drone shows which have taken place here a few times recently. I haven't gone to see one yet. There are a few nice decorations around this area. There are also good harbour views from the ferry terminal roof, but I didn't go there on this occasion.
Area around Wanchai Ferry Pier.
Area around Wanchai Ferry Pier.
Decorations.
Decorations.
Animal statues.
From this point I should have got onto a footbridge and headed up towards Hennessy Road where the restaurant was, but instead I continued at ground level. This was a mistake, because I soon came to areas where I couldn't cross the road in the direction I wanted to go, so I ended up at the exhibition centre with the golden bauhinia statue outside it.
Golden bauhinia statue.
I walked along the waterfront looking for a way to get across the major roads that were blocking me from getting where I wanted to go. The sunset was getting more beautiful by the minute.
You can lie back in the park and enjoy the sunset.
Sunset over Central.
I also discovered there were lots of little Olympic statues in the park by the water. I only photographed a few as I was running out of time and light. I'll need to come back and have another look.
Fencing statue.
Fencing statue.
Fencing statue.
Volleyball.
Hurdles.
Martial arts.
Horse riding.
Archery.
Finally I found a way to get away from the harbour and up to Hennessy Road. We were meeting in a Thai restaurant called the Ban Ku Ya Club, which was located upstairs on the second floor at 18 Hennessy Road. The restaurant has lots of pictures of a cute, chubby little girl.
Elizabeth, Sarah and Lai were already there when I arrived and we all had a pleasant chat while waiting for Maggie and Linda. Sarah and Elizabeth sorted out the ordering. They decided to go for a set meal for five people, plus a green curry with pork, because green curry is my favourite Thai dish. The set meal included soft drinks, too. I had an iced lemon tea.
We had pomelo salad, chicken with cashew nuts, steamed fish, pork neck, roast chicken, flat noodles with vegetables and prawn. There was tonnes of food. It was all delicious, but I especially liked the steamed fish, chicken with cashew nuts and pork neck.
Pomelo salad.
Flat noodles with prawn and vegetables.
Chicken with cashew nuts.
Green curry with pork, though to be honest it tasted like beef.
Chicken.
Whole fish cooked at the table.
Pork neck. This was one of the best dishes
Roast chicken.
Fried rice.
When we had finished eating, I began to notice a lot of whispering, that I was excluded from, going on. Something was about to happen. My lovely friends, or should I say "friends" in inverted commas, know that I do not like to be the centre of attention, so they had arranged for the staff to make me wear a happy birthday crown, while holding up an enormous birthday banner and then for the entire wait staff to grab hold of microphones and sing Happy Birthday at a deafening volume in Thai, Mandarin and English. I believe at least twice in each language while they and pretty much all the other diners in the restaurant fell around laughing, as they filmed me cringing in embarrassment. It went on for around ten minutes, but it felt like ten years. Thanks guys. Just you wait till it's your birthday.
Me in my birthday crown holding up my enormous birthday banner and being embarrassed to death.
Yes still cringing for about ten minutes till the singing was finally over.
All of us.
On the plus side, having totally destroyed my cake whilst trying to cut it last year, I managed to cut this one easily. It was a mango and sticky rice cake with coconut cream. It was lovely.
My friends gave me a very thoughtful card, assuring me I wasn't really getting old, just more awesome and presented me with five hundred dollars of Marks and Spencer vouchers which I am already planning how to spend in my head.
My cake. At least I could cut this one.
In truth the whole evening was lovely and great fun. Thank you very much for a very special birthday dinner everyone.
This featured blog entry was written by irenevt from the blog Coming to a close..
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