$67!

It's getting boring report that it's still bloody hot. According to the the weather forecast 'a fresh northeast monsoon' is now affecting the area, so it should start to cool down -- but probably not in the next couple of days though.

Despite the the heat I still end up walking a great deal, the downside obviously is that for most of the time I look like a sweat drenched tourist (which is what I am I suppose).

This evening I had a really good Thai meal from one of the restaurants in Times Square (next door to where my hotel is). I then went to Lan Kwai Fong.

Lan Kwai Fong hasn't really changed over the years. However, I get the impression that the better bars are to be found in SoHo. I went to Insomnia for a drink. And for $67 I got a bottle of Filipino San Miguel. It's a nice beer, but I can get the same beer for less than $10 in Wellcome (yes I know the bar has its overheads to cover).

I actually had a couple of beers before calling it quits. Standing aside the cost of the beer (which probably isn't too bad when compared globally), the main reason for leaving when I did was the rubbish the band were playing. I thought I left the 'Grease Mega Mix' behind me when I stopped going to dodgy student nightclubs!

Mak's Noodles

So after yesterday's bowl of noodles for lunch, today was the turn of the place opposite -- Mak's Noodles. Despite appearances it wasn't scary at all (and there was an English menu)!

I ordered a bowl of beef brisket noodles with wontons. The beef brisket was just melt in your mouth tenderness and the soup was fantastic. The wontons were almost an after thought to be honest, but they did taste good.

Supposedly the bowls are small so that the noodles never get a chance to go 'soggy'. I'm not so sure that's the real motive. Either way this place and the one I went to yesterday are definitely worth visiting in the future.

Still Roasting

Today started out cloudy and hot. It soon turned into sunny and hot.

Fish Ball Noodles

My lunch today was from a place called Tsui Chai Kee on Wellington St, Central. I think they're recommended in the Michelin guide or something (judging by the signs/stickers in the window). I was actually looking for a place called Mak's Noodles. However, when I found it it looked a bit scary (i.e. a no sign of any English menus) and this restaurant was opposite (and had bi-lingual menus).

I ordered the fish ball noodles. It was really good, and the fish balls were full of flavour and nothing like the processed things I sometimes used to have at school!

I'll have to be brave and try Mak's Noodles another day. They're also 'Michelin Recommended' and their speciality is apparently beef wonton noodles.

Back to School

It could almost be a Pavlovian response -- I decided that I might as well trek out to KGV this morning.

The walk from Mong Kok MTR station took less time than I remember, but it was definitely as hot. I've no idea how we did this whilst carrying a bag full of school crap (and in long trousers to begin with). It's just as well we started using the bus (and I wore shorts when it wasn't winter).

Not a lot has changed since the last time I was there a few years ago.

Afterwards I caught the No.9 bus to the Star Ferry. A nice air conditioned bus which meant I was able to cool down properly!

A Scorcher

There has been no let up in the really hot, humid, sunny weather.

In the afternoon I took the number 6 bus to Stanley. From my seat on the top deck I experienced the regular twists and turns of the route. I also got to see the cool blue waters of the swimming pools of various apartment blocks on the south of the Island. They looked extremely!

After a quick look at some of the shops in Stanley market I need to cool off. Unfortunately I had to make do with a cold beer rather than a dip in a pool!

More Tarts

Before I caught the ferry to Hong Kong I thought I go and find some egg tarts -- a totally nutritious way to start the day!

I didn't have time to get the bus to Coloane so I had to make do with the next best thing. I went to the bakery/cafe that Andrew 'Lord' Stow's ex-wife set up. Margaret's Cafe was tucked away in a narrow side street close to the Grand Lisboa.

The egg tarts were just the job. All I need to do now is to conduct a side by side blind tasting to see which ones I tasted are the best!

Tarts

A scorching hot sunny day here in Macau!

I started it off with a bus trip to Coloane Village, on one of the islands south of my hotel. The sole purpose of my trip was to go to Lord Stow's bakery and have a couple of Portuguese egg tarts (pictured) for breakfast. An excellent start to the day!

After a very quick look around Coloane, I got the bus back to Macau peninsula. The rest of the day I spent generally wandering around, looking at a few UNESCO 'World Heritage Sites' (no idea of what the criteria is for becoming one) and getting very hot and sweaty!

Macau

So after a combination of two flights, a ferry and a hotel courtesy bus I am now ensconced in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Macau.

The hotel is brand new (it only opened a couple of months ago) and has got to be one of the best places I've ever stayed at. It doesn't have a casino attached, which is a good thing!

I had a short time yesterday afternoon to explore the area near to the hotel. This includes the mega-casinos/hotels of the MGM Grand, Wynn Macau, Star World and the Grand Lisboa. Lots of neon!

I went for dinner at the 'Noodle and Congee Corner' which overlooks one of the gaming floors at the Grand Lisboa. I had a massive bowl of 'hand pulled' noodles (you can see the chefs making them) and then wandered amongst people losing (and maybe winning) money at a variety of different games. I was definitely not tempted to join them!

Body Clock

It's 10.30am Singapore time which translates to 3.30am in the UK. I've got a bit of a dull headache caused by tiredness. I've decided that a 'pre-brunch' beer is the perfect remedy! Everybody sat near me is drinking juice, but I believe it's never too late/early for a bee

Jinx?

The last time I flew out to Singapore Tottenham lost 1-0 to Wigan. This time it was different opposition (West Ham), but the same crap result and scoreline. Rubbish. Maybe my globetrotting is jinxing the team I support?

Deja vu

The 'deja vu' title refers to the fact that I'm sat in exactly same seat (48D) on exactly the same aircraft (9V-SKJ) that just transported me from London. This time it's taking me on the relatively short trip to Hong Kong.

My brief transit through Changi was notable for the rubbish shave I had – useless disposable razors! The shower I also had at least perked me up a little bit and the nasi lemak I wolfed down in super quick time was delicious.

Bored

I'm a bit bored.

As I write this there is a touch more than three and a half hours until we get to Singapore and I haven't really got anything to 'occupy me'! The thing is I've finished my book, and although I did bring another one it is in my checked luggage. The film choice is the same as when I flew out to Singapore for the August Bank Holiday weekend – and I watched the ones I wanted to then (although I have just watched 'Cyrus').

I've just spent a bit of time making a 'Playlist' from some of the music in the KrisWorld system. I don't feel particularly tired so I can't see the point of trying to attempt any snoozing. I guess I'll just have to listen to the music, watch the moving map and count down the time until we land.........